Daily Excelsior

Leh, Apr 24: In a major boost to the promotion of cultural and heritage tourism in Ladakh, a mesmerising Sound and Light Show was inaugurated yesterday, at the historic Leh Palace by the Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena. The project, implemented by the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) under the Ministry of Tourism, has been executed at a cost of 8.57 crore, reflecting [] T

ISLAMABAD, Apr 24: Pakistan has returned the total USD 3.45 billion it owed in debt to the United Arab Emirates, the countrys central bank said Friday. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in a social media post confirmed the repayment and said that the transaction was completed on Thursday. State Bank of Pakistan repaid a deposit of USD 1 billion to Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), UAE on April 23, 2026. Deposits of USD 2.45 billion were repaid last [] The post Pakistan repays USD 3.45 billio

MUMBAI, Apr 24: Superstar Salman Khan on Friday announced that his upcoming action film with filmmaker Vamshi Paidipally will be released on Eid 2027. The untitled film, produced by Dil Raju under his banner Sri Venkateswara Creations and featuring Tamil star Nayanthara as the female lead, went on floors in Mumbai earlier this week. Salman shared the news while posting a behind the scenes video from the sets on his Instagram. Thoda durr ki sochna chahiye, Thats why announced Eid.. [] The post Sa

BANGKOK, Apr 24: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Thailands Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Friday during a visit aimed at strengthening the countries strategic partnership and expanding cooperation. The two agreed to strengthen collaboration in fighting transnational crime and cyberscams and other areas, Thai government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said. She said Anutin thanked China for its continued support for Thailand, while Wang congratulated Anutin on retaining his office afte

SRINAGAR, Apr 24: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday attached a plot of land belonging to a terror accused in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The attached property at SK Bagh area of Budgam belongs to Tafazul Hussain Parimoo, a resident of Sheikh-ul-Alam Colony in Nowgam here. Parimoo is presently in NIA custody in a case registered under various sections of the UA(P) Act, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act, the officials added. (Agencies) The post NIA At

LONDON, Apr 24: Vikram Doraiswami wrapped his tenure as Indias High Commissioner to the UK this week to head over to Beijing, where he will take up his new post as Ambassador to China. UK Foreign Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific Seema Malhotra hailed Doraiswamis role in taking the bilateral partnership to a new level during the course of his over three-year assignment in London. The British Indian minister referenced his unflappable nature and charm in overseeing the successful conclusion []

ISLAMABAD, Apr 24: Pakistans capital Islamabad continues to remain closed for heavy traffic on Friday as authorities await the possible visit of top leaders of the US and Iran for peace talks, which were stalled due to differences on key issues. The administrations of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi had closed all major roads and markets in VVIP movement areas on Sunday amid indications that the talks could begin any day during the week. More than 10,000 security [] The post Islamaba

SAMANA (PATIALA), Apr 24: Activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa, who had been sitting atop a 400-foot BSNL tower for about 560 days demanding stricter laws against sacrilege incidents in Punjab, was finally brought down on Friday morning, officials said. The development brought to an end a dramatic protest that began when Khalsa (43) climbed atop the tower in Samana near Patiala on October 12, 2024, demanding stringent punishment for the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib. He was brought down by [] The

NEW DELHI, Apr 24: The Supreme Court on Friday referred to another bench a plea of alleged middleman Christian Michel James in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case seeking his release from jail. The Delhi High Court had on April 8 dismissed the petition of the British national in the case, saying there was no merit in the plea of James who was extradited from Dubai in December 2018. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices [] The post SC refers to another benc

Guwahati, Apr 24: The Gauhati High Court on Friday rejected an anticipatory bail petition of Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with his allegations that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmas wife possessed multiple passports and undisclosed properties abroad. The single bench of Justice Parthiv Jyoti Saikia rejected Kheras anticipatory bail application filed on Monday after he was asked by the Supreme Court to approach the Gauhati High Court, a lawyer representing the Congress leader

NEW DELHI, Apr 24: The Congress on Friday said the Panchayati Raj system has been an important medium for womens empowerment and its further revival is far more urgent than increasing the strength of Lok Sabha to ensure personal political survival. On Panchayati Raj day, the Congress also said that it is fully committed to strengthening the spirit of Gram Swaraj and congratulated the village heads and members of the panchayats and local bodies across the country Congress president Mallikarjun []

SRINAGAR, Apr 24: Six tourists from Bengaluru were injured after a lift reportedly collapsed at a hotel in the Hyderpora area of Srinagar on Friday, and were later shifted to Bone and Joint Hospital Barzulla for treatment, officials said. The incident occurred at a hotel in Hyderpora where the group was staying. The injured were brought to the hospital with varying degrees of leg and lower body injuries. All patients were reported to be stable, according to information received. The [] The post

Jammu, Apr 24: A revenue official and a forest guard have been suspended in Jammu and Kashmirs Samba and Doda districts respectively for alleged dereliction of duty, officials said. In Samba district, Deputy Commissioner Ayushi Soodan ordered the suspension of a girdawar Pankaj Singh Jamwal for failure to complete the digitisation of revenue records within the stipulated timeframe despite repeated directions, an official order said. The tehsildar, Bari Brahmana had reported that no jamabandis (o

KOLKATA, Apr 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a boat ride on the Hooghly river here on Friday morning and met with boatmen and morning walkers. Modi posted a few photographs of his river trip on social media, in which he is seen seated on a wooden boat with a camera in hand, and the iconic Howrah Bridge and the Vidyasagar Setu are visible in the background. Tried my hand at photographing this great river. Also caught a close glimpse [] The post PM Takes Boat Ride On Hooghly River In Kolkata

Lucknow, Apr 24: Two men have been arrested in Noida for allegedly working with Pakistani handlers, including from the ISI, as well as some gangsters and radical YouTubers of the neighbouring country. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) investigating the presence of Pakistani sleeper cells created through social media found that two men, one from Meerut and another from Delhi, were allegedly in direct contact with Pakistani operatives and planning a major disruptive act. ADGP (Law and O

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Resolve issue of Gair Mumkin Khad Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 23: A delegation of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce & Industry, under the leadership of its president, Arun Gupta called on Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and discussed with him a wide range of issues pertaining to industry and general public. While speaking on the occasion Arun Gupta said that time and again Chamber is putting the issues, but no proper response is received for the solution to these issues. He [] The post JCCI tea

NEW DELHI, Apr 23: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said education must not be confined merely to securing employment, but should serve as a powerful instrument for social responsibility, inclusivity and character building. Addressing the annual day function of a government college here, Birla called upon the youth to align their aspirations with the broader national vision and ensure active participation in democracy, saying true progress becomes meaningful only when opportunities and dev

NEW DELHI, Apr 23: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met heads of banks to discuss risks related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) following global concerns over Anthropics Mythos model threatening data security of financial systems. The meeting assumes significance in view of development of the Claude Mythos AI model by Anthropic, claiming that it has found vulnerabilities in many major operating systems. According to sources, risks and measures needed to deal with AI were discussed

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 23: A senior Indian diplomat met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres here and underscored Indias strong commitment to multilateralism. Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Ambassador Sibi George called on Guterres at the UN headquarters Wednesday. Both exchanged views on UN reforms and imparting greater voice to the Global South, which India has consistently championed including through initiatives such as India-UN Development Partnership Fund, MEA official

Mumbai, Apr 23: Sanju Samson carried his bat with a splendid 101 not out, while Akeal Hoseins stunning 4/17 powered Chennai Super Kings to a crushing 103-run victory over a listless Mumbai Indians in their Indian Premier League clash here on Thursday. Samson stood tall with a 54-ball 101 (10x4s, 8x6s) in the first half, which took a faltering CSK to a challenging 207/6. In reply, Mumbai Indians endured a horror start, slumping to 11 for three inside the first [] The post Samson, Hosein power CSK

Pushp Saraf pushapsaraf@yahoo.com Behind the scenic grandeur of Gilgit-Baltistan lies a region of chronic instability. It bears the scars of periodic eruptions of violence, political marginalisation, and a sectarian fault line that Pakistani authorities have never allowed to heal. At the heart of this tension is the systematic repression of the regions Shia-majority population, a community that Islamabad has long regarded with deep suspicion: partly because of its roots in the former princely st

Tarun Vijay tarunvijay2@yahoo.com Through Sanskrit, Bharatvarsh descends into your heart. Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak, RSS Since the days of invaders, the first attack by our enemies has been on the pillars that sustained the nation and its people-libraries, books, authors, and gurus; and then on common men, women, and children. The motive was to dismantle the belief system, erode societys confidence, and eliminate the institutions that gave strength to the masses. They sought to destroy the

Harsha Kakar kakarharsha@gmail.com Entering a conflict without a defined end state, away from the homeland, consuming reserves of munitions beyond levels of production, while facing falling popularity at home can be difficult for any head of state. Trump is going through this phase since initiating the Iran conflict with Netanyahu, against the advice of his generals. He was promised victory in days, which has now extended into weeks. His delusions of victory, a puppet regime installed and contro

Top Comdrs of tri-services to attend Situation in last one year, roadmap ahead to figure Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Apr 23: A Joint Commanders Conference (JCC) is proposed to be held on the anniversary of Operation Sindoor on May 7 to discuss situation during past one year and roadmap ahead especially if Pakistan-backed terrorists try to commit another terror act. The conference assumes significance as it is being held between May 6-8 in Jaipur exactly a year after Operation Sindoor carried [] The po

24NEW DELHI, Apr 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled the loss of lives in an accident in Tehri Garhwal in Uttarakhand and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Eight people were killed and two others injured after a pickup vehicle fell into a deep gorge in the Chamba area of the Tehri district. The loss of lives due to an accident in [] The post PM Modi condoles deaths in Uttarakhand due to accident; announces ex g

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 23: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today inaugurated the New School Building of Swami Pranavanand Vidyamandir in Panjgrain, Nagrota. The School is run by Bharat Sevashram Sangha, a renowned socio-cultural and philanthropic organisation. Bharat Sevashram Sangh started pre-primary to Class 8 education here in 2014 under Har Ghar Shiksha. Over half the students are from poor families; they have illuminated countless lives. Addressing a gathering on the occas

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Apr 23: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Green Jobs and Green Entrepreneurship are set to become the defining driver of the Green Economy of future, with sectors such as renewable energy, electric mobility, green fuels and circular economy creating large-scale employment opportunities for the youth. The

NEW TEHRI, Apr 23 : Eight people died and two others injured when a utility pickup vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a 300-metre deep gorge near Chamba in Tehri district on Thursday, officials said. The accident occurred around 2.15 pm near Nail village on the Chamba-Koti Colony road. The victims, all of them from Thyoldhar village in the Ghansali, were returning home from a funeral, when the driver lost control of the vehicle, Tehri District Magistrate Nitika [] The post 8 killed, 2 in

J&K Govt visible only in elite functions: LoP Suhail Bhat Srinagar Apr 23 Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today accused opposition parties, particularly Congress, of obstructing efforts to fast-track the implementation of womens reservation in Parliament, saying delays linked to census and delimitation processes could prevent its implementation before the 2029 general election. Click here to watch video Addressing a press conference here, Rathore said the G

Journalists often become voice of unheard Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 23: Chief Justice of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh High Court Justice Arun Palli said today that true value of journalism lies not in speed alone; but in verification, balance and integrity and asserted that journalism remains one of the noblest responsibilities in public life. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Justice Palli made these remarks in his address after presenting RK Chhibber Memorial Best Journalist

Tantray, Meenia, Vinod Kumar get honours JAMMU, Apr 23: Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Justice Arun Palli today presented the Prof R.K. Chhibber Memorial Trust-Press Club of Jammu Journalism Awards to TV Bharat Senior Correspondent Amir Tantray, Dainik Jagran Deputy Chief Reporter/Bureau Chief Ajay Meenia and Gulistan News Consultant Editor Vinod Kumar. Each awardee received a cheque for Rs 25,000 and a memento. The awards were presented at a function organised b

NEW DELHI, Apr 23 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday invited the German industry to co-develop and co-produce with India, as he underscored the need to forge partnerships based on reliability and shared interests amid the current shifts in geopolitical alignments and disruptions in supply chains. He was addressing Indian and German defence industry leaders during the Defence Investor Summit in Munich on the final day of three-day maiden visit to the European nation. Singh invited the G

Sporadic incidents of violence KOLKATA/CHENNAI, Apr 23: West Bengal registered a record voter turnout of 92.72 per cent in the first phase of assembly polls today amid sporadic incidents of violence, while Tamil Nadu recorded unprecedented voting of 85.14 per cent as the BJP pushed to unseat Mamata Banerjee in Bengal and expand in the South. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp In the first phase, 152 constituencies in West Bengal went to polls, while voting for the 234-member [] The p

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 23: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today attended the foundation day of Sarv Shakti Chandi Mata Mandir at Dhammi, Nagrota. The Lieutenant Governor paid obeisance at the holy temple and prayed for peace, prosperity and well-being of all. The religious proceedings were marked by the lighting of the Akhand Jyot and the traditional reciting of Ved Path. During his visit, the Lieutenant Governor also reviewed the ongoing construction works of Yatri Halls, being dev

Six of 9 J&K University VCs now on extended tenure Nishikant Khajuria JAMMU, Apr 23: Vice-Chancellors of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, have been granted extension in tenure, thus taking the number of varsity heads serving on extension to six out of the total nine State Universities in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp While the Vice-Chancellor

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 23: In a significant step towards strengthening access to justice and expanding outreach of legal services to the grassroots level, Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority in the presence of Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority and other Judges of the High Court at Jammu today flagged off a fleet of Multi Utility Vehicles for District Legal S

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 23: In a stern move aimed at enforcing discipline and ensuring smooth functioning of courts, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed all officers and officials of the District Judiciary in the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh to strictly adhere to prescribed office timings, warning that any violation will be viewed seriously and dealt with under relevant provisions of law. According to a circular issued by the Registrar General MK Sharma, [

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 23: Vanshika Jamwal, a student who secured the highest rank in the Post Graduate Hindi Course 2023-25 of Jammu University, was presented with the Shanti Shaligram Medha Puraskar 2025 by the Hindi Sahitya Mandal, Jammu, here today. The award was given at a special function organized by the Mandal at Kala Kendra, in which former Additional Secretary of the JK Akademi for Art, Culture and Languages, Arvinder Singh Aman was the chief guest. Prof Rajni Bala, [] The

Heroin, US-made pistol, vehicles seized Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 23: Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested three hardcore criminals in Bishnah area in two separate cases, recovering heroin, a pistol, live cartridges and vehicles from their possession. Addressing media persons here, SP Headquarters Jammu, Anna Sinha said in the first case, one Amit Kumar of Sehora, who is involved in six FIRs related to attempt to murder and abduction, was apprehended. She said 254 grams of heroin (chi

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 23: Principal Sessions Judge Jammu RN Watal has convicted Sanjeev Kumar in the Rahul Puri murder case and sentenced him to life imprisonment under Section 302 RPC, while also awarding three years simple imprisonment under Section 4/25 of the Arms Act, with both sentences to run concurrently. The judgment was delivered by Principal Sessions Judge Jammu R N Watal in a case arising out of FIR No. 39/2016 of Police Station City, Jammu. The prosecution was [] The po

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Apr 23: The School Education Department today ordered the attachment of the In-charge Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla with immediate effect. As per a Government Order No. 159-JK (Edu) of 2026 dated April 23, Abdul Rashid Mir, who was also holding additional charge as CEO Bandipora, has been attached to the Directorate of School Education Kashmir. The order, issued from the Civil Secretariat Jammu, stated that the decision has been taken by the competent

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 23: Jammu & Kashmir has achieved a historic milestone in table tennis as Ritvik Gupta clinched the Under-17 Boys National Title at the UTT 87th Inter-State Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships, organized under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). The prestigious championship was held at the New Multipurpose Hall in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, where top young paddlers from across the country competed for national honours. I

LONDON, Apr 23 : A new MoU between the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) and Imperial College London has paved the way for deepening India-UK ties in the life sciences sector. The Indo-UK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor, agreed in Bengaluru this week, will facilitate cross-border innovation collaboration to leverage mutual biological research and entrepreneurial ecosystems. The corridor is designed to create and foster a long-term vision for greater bilateral innovation and

NEW DELHI, Apr 23 : Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday reaffirmed Indias commitment to strengthening regional connectivity, enhancing trade and deepening people-to-people ties across the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states. During a virtual address to the 13th Meeting of SCO Transport Ministers in Kyrgyzstan, Gadkari highlighted the focus on multimodal connectivity, sustainable infrastructure, and green mobility. According to a social media post from Gadkaris office, the

Excelsior Correspondent SAMBA, Apr 23: Three individuals were arrested with 3.78 grams of heroin-like substance from Rakh Barotian area under the jurisdiction of Police Station Vijaypur here today. During checking of vehicles on link road leading towards Rakh Barotian area near AIIMS residential complex, Vijaypur, a scooty bearing registration number JK02DT-1246 was intercepted, a police official said. On search of three people riding on the scooty, he said, 3.78 grams of heroin-like substance w

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Apr 23: A series of events were organized by the Department of Libraries & Research today across Kashmir division to commemorate the World Book & Copyright Day-2026. World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated on April 23 every year to promote the love for reading and writing; power of publishing, making reading accessible for all and the importance of protecting intellectual property through copyright laws. The Day also signifies the potential of books and liter

Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Apr 23: A youth, working as porter with the Army was killed in a road accident near Gurdiwala village in Sathra area of Tehsil Mandi in Poonch District today. Official sources said that the youth was travelling from Gali Pindi towards Jandrolla when his motorcycle met with an accident. He lost control over the speeding bike and rolled down into a deep gorge along his two-wheeler. The locals of the area rescued him and tried to shift [] The post Army porter dies in

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Apr 23: High Court upheld the detention order passed against two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and dismissed their pleas challenging the orders of PSAs citing the preventive detention is devised to afford protection to society. Justice M A Chowdhary upheld the PSA of Ishfaq Ahmad Sheikh of Chakoora, Litter and Mohammad Ashraf Mantoo of Bijbehara. The duo was detained by the District Magistrates of District Pulwama and Anantnag vide orders dated 26.04.2025 and 30.04

Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Apr 23: In a strong action against drug trafficking, the police in Rajouri today detained a notorious drug- peddler under PITNDPS Act. A police spokesman said that the accused- Munshi Khan, son of Khan Mohd, resident of Dhanour Dindian in Rajouri district, was involved in multiple cases of drug- peddling. Taking cognizance of his continuous involvement in such illegal activities, the competent authority issued detention orders under the PITNDPS Act, and sent him