Daily Excelsior

KATHUA, May 24 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office, and Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that abrogation of Article 370 led to revival of development with change of mindset in Jammu & Kashmir. The Minister was addressing a training camp under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Prashikshan Mahabhiyan2026 at Lakhanpur on S

SRINAGAR, May 24: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said that India trusts its youth to lead the country to greater heights. Addressing the Special National Integration Camp organised by National Cadet Corps (NCC) Directorate, Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, the LG said, India places its hope and confidence in its youth, trusting that the young generation will lead the nation to greater heights. NCC cadets must honour that trust by living the values of the NCC and [] The post

New Delhi, May 24: The recent talks between Ladakh representatives and the Centre marked a positive step, activist Sonam Wangchuk said, though he cautioned that trust-building in the region remained incomplete, citing unresolved cases from last years protests, seizure of personal devices and action against institutions linked to the movement. In an interview with news agency on Saturday following the latest round of discussions with a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sub-committee, Wangchuk said h

LANGATE (HANDWARA), May 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited the residence of Member of Parliament Er Rashid and MLA Langate Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh to offer his heartfelt condolences on the demise of their father, Khizar Mohammad Sheikh, who passed away last week after a prolonged illness. Khizar Mohammad Sheikh, 85, breathed his last at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi where he had been undergoing treatment. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Minister Javid Ahmed

NEW DELHI, May 24: India and the US are poised to soon firm up the much-awaited trade agreement that will be both beneficial and sustainable and will advance the mutual interests of both nations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday while asserting that the overall bilateral ties are set to witness an upward trajectory. Rubio, currently on a four-day visit to India, made the remarks after holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that focused [] The post

NEW DELHI, May 24: Indias Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal has been appointed as the countrys Chef de Mission for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, according to IOA sources. Ravi Bengani is the Deputy Chef de Mission, while Vandana Rao and Rahul Swami will travel with the Indian contingent as general team managers for the Games, scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 2. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P T Usha will be part of the [] The post Davis Cup skipper Rohit Rajpal

LEH/JAMMU, May 24: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday launched an ambitious ecological restoration project to reclaim nearly 800 acres of barren land near Spituk and transform it into a productive ecosystem through innovative freshwater recharge techniques. This was a major initiative launched by the LG aimed at reversing land degradation in the cold desert region of Ladakh. Officials said that the pilot project has been undertaken on the directions of the LG Saxena after identifyi

ISLAMABAD, May 24: Irans Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam said on Sunday that a positive stride was taking place, apparently towards a peace deal between his country and the US, following the latest mediatory efforts by Pakistan. He said in a social media statement that Pakistans interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, after returning from Tehran, congratulated me on the achievements of the negotiations with the officials of my country. With conservative optimism, we can hope that, if the oth

CANNES, May 24: Cristian Mungius Norway-set drama about political polarisation, Fjord, has won the Palme dOr, handing the Cannes Film Festival s top honour for the second time to Mungiu, the Romanian director of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. At a 79th Cannes Film Festival that saw few films cause a stir, Fjord found wide admiration for its engrossing tale of what Mungiu called left-wing fundamentalism. It stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as Romanian Evangelicals who move [] The post Norwa

MELBOURNE, May 24: A spearfisher was mauled on the Great Barrier Reef on Sunday in Australias second fatal shark attack in just over a week, police said. The 39-year-old man was with three friends diving from a boat at Kennedy Shoal off the Queensland state coast south of Cairns when he was attacked, Police Inspector Elaine Burns said. The man had been spearfishing when he was attacked and died from a critical head injury, Burns told reporters. The victim, a [] The post Spearfisher mauled on Gre

NEW DELHI, May 24: A worrying post-pandemic orthopaedic trend has emerged across India, with doctors reporting a significant rise in cases of hip arthritis and avascular necrosis (AVN), a painful condition caused by disruption of blood supply to the hip bone, particularly among younger and middle-aged adults. Experts at the 2nd DELHI HIP 360 Conference, held at Crowne Plaza New Delhi on Sunday, warned that the post-Covid era has accelerated hip joint damage and increased the demand for Total Hip

PAHALGAM, May 24: Even as the NIA has filed a comprehensive chargesheet in the Pahalgam terror attack, investigators are aggressively tracing a global supply chain to determine how a US-manufactured GoPro camera supplied to China ended up in the hands of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit, senior officials said on Sunday. The high-tech camera recovered from the terrorists, who were neutralised in an encounter in Dachigam forests last July following the attack, has opened a critical new line of

ISLAMABAD, May 24: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday praised Donald Trump for his diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in West Asia, underlining that the US President held a productive call with different leaders, including Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. Trump held a phone call on Saturday with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan and Pakistan. Trump had a telephone conversation with Pakistans Army Chief, Fiel

WASHINGTON, May 24: A man who opened fire Saturday near a White House security checkpoint is dead after being shot by officers who returned fire, the US Secret Service said. It was the third incidence of gunfire in the vicinity of President Donald Trump in the past month. The law enforcement agency said in a statement posted on X that the man was in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue when he pulled a weapon from his bag [] The post Suspect dead after opening fire near White appeared

KARACHI, May 24: At least 20 people were killed and nearly 70 injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a shuttle train in Pakistans Balochistan province on Sunday, authorities said. The explosion occurred near Chaman Phatak railway station in Quetta. Pakistans Railways Minister, Hanif Abbasi, confirmed the explosion and said there were passengers on the shuttle train and the explosion had hit the engine and three bogies. The train was going from Quetta Cantt station to the City Railway

NEW DELHI, May 24: Brokerage firm Bernstein said concerns surrounding the Adani Group following the 2023 short-seller episode and subsequent US regulatory developments now appear largely behind the group, potentially paving the way for a revival in foreign funding and broader investor participation. In a report covering four listed Adani companies Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Adani Green Energy, Adani Power and Ambuja Cements Bernstein said many global funds had stayed away from the

NEW DELHI, Mar 24: Indias transportation fuel demand growth is expected to slow sharply in the second half of 2026 as government-led fuel conservation measures, elevated crude oil prices and a weakening rupee weigh on mobility and consumption trends, according to energy analysts. Petrol and diesel prices have been hiked by about Rs 5 per litre each in three instalments since May 15 as oil companies passed on a part of soaring international oil prices to consumers. The price hikes [] The post Fue

NEW DELHI, May 24: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said his party will not rest until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns and a foolproof system is put in place to prevent paper leaks like in NEET. He shared a video of students protesting in Hyderabad, highlighting the NEET paper leak and demanding Pradhans resignation. They also raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pradhan. When millions of youth are on the streets, the future of 22 lakh children [] The post

NEW DELHI, May 24:The Supreme Court collegium has recommended the appointment of Justice Meenakshi M Rai, a judge of the Sikkim High Court, as the next Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. The recommendation was made in view of the retirement of the incumbent chief justice on June 4, according to a statement uploaded on the apex court website. The collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, held its meeting on May 22, it said. The Supreme [] The post SC collegium recommends Justice

NEW DELHI, May 24: State-owned Indian Railway Finance Corporation is planning to mobilise USD 2 billion through external commercial borrowing, primarily in Japanese yen, to fund business growth in the current financial year. The external commercial borrowing (ECB) is part of the Rs 70,000 crore resource mobilisation plan approved by the board of Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) for the ongoing financial year. We have just signed a loan agreement with the consortium of banks for raising

NEW DELHI, May 24: State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has emerged as the highest profit-making firm in the Indian financial sector in the March quarter, netting a little over Rs 23,400 crore. Even among Central Public Sector Enterprises, the Corporation maintained the number one position for fourth-quarter profit for FY26. Last week, LIC reported a 23 per cent jump in net profit to record Rs 23,420 crore in the just concluded March quarter as compared to Rs 19,013 [] The post

MUMBAI, May 24: Overseas travel spending by Indians, including holiday trips, declined by USD 212.43 million to USD 1.09 billion in March compared to February, according to the Reserve Bank data. The outward remittances for travel were at USD 1.3 billion in February and USD 1.65 billion in January this year. The RBI data on Outward Remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) for Resident Individuals shows overseas spending by Indians under different categories, including travel, ma

NEW DELHI, May 24: Realty firm Knowledge Realty Trust (KRT) will invest Rs 700 crore over the next three years to develop 1.4 million sq ft of office space in Bengaluru as part of its expansion plan, a top company official said. KRT is a real estate investment trust (REIT), sponsored by realtor Sattva Group and investment firm Blackstone. In an interview with PTI, KRT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shirish Godbole said the company is looking for the acquisition of [] The post Knowledge Realty Tru

NEW DELHI, May 24: The combined market valuation of 6 of the top-10 most valued firms surged by Rs 74,111.57 crore last week, with Reliance Industries emerging as the biggest gainer. Last week, the BSE benchmark climbed 177.36 points, or 0.23 per cent. Markets ended the week with marginal gains amid a highly volatile and range-bound trading environment. Benchmark indices witnessed sharp intraday swings throughout the week, driven by persistent rupee weakness, mixed global cues, sectoral rotation

BENGALURU, May 24: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, chief of IAF, has emphasised self-reliance as a strategic necessity for developing resilient indigenous defence capabilities. He was speaking during the 48th Flight Test Course graduation ceremony here on Saturday. Eleven test pilots and six flight test engineers of the 48th Flight Test Course graduated from the Air Force Test Pilots School (AFTPS) on completion of a rigorous 48-week multidisciplinary training curriculum. According to an official s

SRINAGAR, May 24: The people of Ladakh have achieved in seven years what Jammu and Kashmir could not do in 70 years, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para said on Sunday, a day after the Centre made an offer of constitutional safeguards to Ladakh. There is a lesson in it for Jammu and Kashmir, Para said in a post on X. The Centre has made an offer for constitutional safeguards under Article 371, instead of the Sixth Schedule, and [] The post Ladakh Achieved In 7 Years What J&K Could Not

SRINAGAR, May 24: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today attended the Special National Integration Camp organised by National Cadet Corps (NCC) Directorate, Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. During his interaction with NCC cadets from across the country, the Lieutenant Governor emphasised that this special camp is a living symbol of Indias spirit, where every cadet is not just witnessing history but actively shaping it. India places its hope and confidence in its youth, trusting that the young gener

NEW DELHI, May 24: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday said it will issue refunds to students who were overcharged during the class 12 post-result process due to technical issues. This comes a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sought a detailed report from the CBSE over complaints of technical glitches faced by students during the re-evaluation process. In a notice, the CBSE said that on May 21 and 22, certain technical issues led to incorrect [] The pos

NEW DELHI, May 24: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the Red Fort area car blast case in Delhi has found that a chargesheeted accused, linked to an offshoot of global terrorist outfit Al-Qaida, allegedly misused an artificial intelligence (AI) platform for terror engineering, official sources said on Sunday. They said the accused persons had also made rocket Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and tested them in the Qazigund forest in Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag district. The gl

Karachi, May 24: At least 24 people were killed on Sunday in a blast targeting a train carrying military personnel in Pakistans turbulent southwestern province of Balochistan, a senior official said. A train suffered partial damage in the blast, while 10 vehicles parked in the area were also damaged, police said. The impact of the explosion shattered the windows and glass panels of nearby buildings, Geo News reported. The explosion occurred on Sunday (May 24) near Chaman Phatak railway station [

KARGIL, May 24: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon today met Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and discussed implementation of minority welfare schemes, tourism promotion and other developmental issues concerning the Kargil region. During the meeting, Dr Akhoon highlighted the need for effective implementation of Central minority welfare schemes in Kargil, includ

JAMMU, May 24: Security forces on Sunday intensified search operations and strengthened the cordon in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district with the deployment of additional troops to track down suspected terrorists believed to be hiding in the area, officials said. They said the operation in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt was expanded following a brief encounter between the security forces and the terrorists during an intelligence-based operation on Saturday. Search operations have been intensif

SRINAGAR, May 24: Security forces have recovered a cache of ammunition from a hideout in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. Police, Army and Central Reserve Police Force launched a search and destroy operation in Nilsar orchards in the Chandoosa area of Baramulla on Saturday based on information about the presence of a hideout there, the officials said. During the search, the security forces recovered 14 rocket-propelled grenades and nine boosters. Police have tak

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, May 24: The body of a Punjab Police assistant sub-inspector with a gunshot injury was found near the Fatehgarh Churian-Majithia road in Amritsar on Sunday, an officer said. Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar (Rural), Suhail Mir Qasim said police received information about the body of ASI Joga Singh early Sunday. A police team, led by the Station House Officer of Majithia police station, reached the spot soon after the information was received. A forensic team also exa

JAMMU, May 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Transport Department has issued strict directions mandating reservation of seats for women and specially-abled persons in all Public Service Vehicles operating across the Union Territory, warning transport operators of strict action, including suspension or cancellation of permits, for any violation. According to Circular issued by the office of the Transport Commissioner, authorities observed that previous instructions regarding reservation of seats for wome

New Delhi, May 24: In light of the reported outbreaks of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, the World Health Organisation (WHO), under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005, on May 17, determined the situation to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also officially declare

Washington, May 24: A person who approached a White House security checkpoint and began firing at officers has died, according to federal officials. The US Secret Service said in a statement late Saturday that, according to a preliminary investigation, the person approached a checkpoint shortly after 6 pm ET, removed a weapon from his bag and began firing at posted officers. Officers returned fire and hit the suspect, who was transported to an area hospital, where he later died, according [] The

NEW DELHI, May 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a coal mine accident in Chinas Shanxi Province, and conveyed condolences to President Xi Jinping and the people of China. Ninety miners were killed in a gas explosion in the coal mine in north China, the official media in Beijing reported on Saturday, adding that 201 miners have so far been rescued. Saddened by the loss of lives in a mining [] The post PM expresses grief over coal mine accident

Over 1 cr people join anti-drug movement in J&K Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 23: The ongoing anti-drug campaign, Nasha Mukt JK Abhiyaan has recorded remarkable achievements and impact across awareness generation, rehabilitation, law enforcement, treatment, surveillance and prevention initiatives, reflecting an unprecedented whole-of-government approach against the menace of substance abuse in Jammu and Kashmir. As on today, the campaign has mobilized lakhs of citizens, strengthened inst

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 23: SCOPE Academy of Public Sector Enterprises (APSE) today organized an Executive Development Program (EDP) for Junior and Mid-Level Executives of CPSEs. The programme was inaugurated by Atul Sobti, Director General, SCOPE. Ayush Gupta, Director (HR), GAIL and Member, SCOPE Executive Board addressed the concluding session and distributed certificates to the participants. Themed The Career Journey to Personal Effectiveness and Leadership the program was attende

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 23: Punjab National Bank (PNB) today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) to provide customized salary account services and concessional interest rates on personal loans for its employees. The MoU was formally signed by PNB Circle Head, Jammu, Pankaj Kumar Verma and Additional CEO of SMVDSB, Alok Kumar Maurya during a ceremony attended by senior officials from both organizations. Under this partn

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 23: Des Raj, a retired Deputy General Manager (DGM) of NABARD today assumed charge as the Managing Director of the Jammu Central Cooperative Bank Ltd. (JCCB). Des Raj, son of Kamla Ram brings with him vast administrative and banking experience gained during his tenure with NABARD. His appointment strengthen the functioning of the Cooperative Banking sector in Jammu region and further to improve financial services offered by the bank. The Jammu Central Cooperati

Excelsior Correspondent CHANDIGARH, May 23: Central Bank of India today organized a Mega Retail Credit Outreach Camp at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Headquarters, Chandigarh. The programme was led by D P Khurana, Corporate General Manager, along with S K Singh, Zonal Head, Chandigarh and Ram Kumar Yadav, Regional Head, Chandigarh. The event was graced by the chief guest, Mayor of Panchkula, Shyam Lal Bansal. Om Prakash, Chairman, Shivalik Development Board, also marked his presence

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 23: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Transport Department to assess the progress achieved in road safety, traffic enforcement, technology integration and implementation of key recommendations aimed at improving traffic management and reducing road accidents across Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting besides ACS PWD and Principal Secretary, Home was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Health; Commissioner Secretary, Law;

Sameer Rekhi rekhi7sameer@gmail.com As a young officer, I served on the Patnitop-Jawahar Tunnel stretch in 2000-01, a difficult mountain stretch of the time. The roads were narrow, weather-beaten and vulnerable to heavy rain, fog, snow and landslides. Yet traffic discipline was not an impossible dream. It was enforced and therefore, it largely worked. Lane driving was strictly monitored. Over-speeding, dangerous overtaking, lane jamming and overloading were treated not as minor violations but a

Day-to-day hearing vital in national security cases *Special Court asked to prioritize trial, avoid adjournments Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has ruled that prolonged incarceration without timely conclusion of trial violates the fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, even in cases involving stringent anti-terror legislation such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Further, the High Court observed t

Inter-Zonal Sports Competitions Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU/UDHAMPUR, May 23: Under the aegis of the Directorate of Youth Services & Sports, Inter-Zonal District Level Competitions in Kabaddi concluded at MA Stadium and Khel Gaon Nagrota, while the District Level Inter-Zonal Tournament for Boys U-14 and U-17 was inaugurated at Subash Stadium. In Kabaddi Girls U-14, Jammu zone defeated Satwari, Gandhi Nagar beat Miran Sahib, Khour outplayed Akhnoor and Chowki Choura defeated Bhalwal in t

NEW DELHI, May 23 : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said the government does not interfere in exchange rates as these are determined by market forces and influenced by several global factors. However, he said, the government is always conscious of taking steps to promote exports, reduce import dependence and promote a greater degree of investment into India. The government does not interfere in the exchange rate. It is a matter of market forces, and it is [] The post Govt

NEW DELHI, May 23 : India and the US will continue to work closely for the global good, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed him on the West Asia crisis and bilateral cooperation in defence, strategic technologies, trade and energy security. Rubio, who met Modi shortly after landing in New Delhi, invited the prime minister on behalf of President Donald Trump to visit the White House in the near future, according [] The post Modi, Rubio di

Consumer court orders bank to pay Rs 48,400 to woman for failing to refund money of failed ATM transaction NEW DELHI, May 23 : A consumer court here has directed a bank to refund Rs 10,000 to a woman and pay additional compensation and litigation costs after a failed ATM transaction amount was not reversed for several months. The bench comprising President Divya Jyoti Jaipuriar and Member Rashmi Bansal of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held the Bank of [] The post Consumer c