Daily Excelsior

Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan 19: An explosion in central Kabul on Monday killed at least seven people, said Italian NGO EMERGENCY which runs a hospital in the Afghan capital. A deadly explosion hit a central Kabul hotel on Monday (January 19, 2026), city police and the Afghan government said, and an AFP journalist saw firefighters near the scene. Twenty people have been received at EMERGENCYs Surgical Centre in Kabul following an explosion this afternoon in the Shahr-e-Naw area, near the hospital. []

Srinagar, Jan 19 : The Director General of Police (DGP) Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat (IPS), presided over a high-level security review meeting here on Monday to assess preparations for the Republic Day celebrations. Senior officers briefed the DGP on current intelligence inputs, existing security deployments, and operational readiness. The discussions focused on comprehensive measures to fortify security protocols, protect public spaces, and ensure the seamless execution of events at all des

CS lead Apex Committee assesses progress of implementation across J&K JAMMU, JANUARY 19: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a meeting of the Apex Committee of Mission YUVA, during which he reviewed the district-wise and panchayat-level performance of the flagship self-employment initiative across the Union Territory. Deputy Commissioners from all districts participated in the meeting through video conferencing. Commending the Labour & Employment Department for its meticulous monitoring

Jammu, Jan 19: Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, on Monday, chaired a high-level security coordination meeting here, emphasising the importance of meticulous planning and close coordination to ensure smooth conduct of Republic Day celebrations. Jammu will host the main Republic Day function on January 26 at M A Stadium, where Lt Governor Manoj Sinha is scheduled to take the salute and unfurl the tricolour. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will be the chief guest at the event. [

Srinagar, Jan 19: Nearly two years after a tragic boat capsize in the Jhelum river, the long search for the last victim ended on Monday when locals recovered the body of Showkat Ahmad Sheikh near Srinagars Lasjan. This followed a grim breakthrough last week, when Sheikhs severed foot was found during sand mining and later identified by his widow. Officials said the search operation was intensified immediately after the identification of the foot, which the widow recognised by the shoe. [] The po

SRINAGAR, Jan 19: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday paid homage to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Indian Armys special forces, who was martyred during the ongoing anti-terror operation in Kishtwar district. I salute the supreme sacrifice of our braveheart Havildar Gajendra Singh. His supreme sacrifice will remain etched in our hearts. The entire nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved family of our martyr in this difficult hour, Sinha said. One soldier was killed

Leh (Ladakh), Jan 19: More than 1000 athletes will take part in the Ladakh leg of the 2026 Khelo India Winter Games starting in Leh on Tuesday. The Nawang Dorjan Stobdan (NDS) Stadium, the Army rink and the frozen Gupukhs Pond will be the centres of attraction till the Games end on January 26. The opening ceremony of KIWG 2026 will take place Tuesday afternoon. Four hundred and seventy-two athletes will take part in two ice sports skating and [] The post Khelo India Winter Games 2026 Begins Tue

Jammu, Jan 19: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday laid the foundation stone for Meerz Health Care Hospital in Srinagar. This will be 180-bedded super speciality hospital and boost medical infrastructure and enhance healthcare services for Srinagar city and nearby Districts. The Lieutenant Governor congratulated and extended his best wishes to the Meerz Group and everyone associated with the hospital. He highlighted that the private investment in healthcare infrastructure is the cornerston

NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Power Minister Manohar Lal on Monday said the Electricity Amendment Bill is likely to be introduced in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament. The bill seeks to bring reforms in the power sector and ensure the profitability of debt-ridden power distribution companies. The minister made these remarks on the sidelines of the inauguration of the IIT-Delhi-CERC-Grid India Centre of Excellence in the national capital. On Sunday, the power ministry said that power distribution ut

NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Consumer electrical goods maker Havells India on Monday reported a 7.9 per cent increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 300.05 crore in the quarter ended December 31, 2025. The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 277.96 crore in the October-December quarter a year ago, according to a regulatory filing from Havells India. Its revenue from operations was up 14.3 per cent to Rs 5,587.89 crore in the December quarter. It was Rs [] The post Havells Q3 net profit up

NEW DELHI, Jan 19 : As a follow up to the announcement made by by PM Sh Narendra Modi on November 3, 2025, the Research Development Innovation (RDI) funding for industry-backed projects will start by the end of this month, with the funding framework having entered into the execution phase, and two public sector institutions poised to start funding industry-backed projects. This was disclosed following a review of the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund scheme at a meeting chaired []

SRINAGAR, Jan 19: Three alleged drug peddlers were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir in two separate operations, a police spokesperson said on Monday. In the first instance, police arrested two men in Shopian district and recovered 58 grams of heroin from them. Shopian Police arrested two drug peddlers at Naghard Wachi and recovered 58 grams of heroin from their possession, the spokesperson said. He said a case was registered against the duo under relevant sections of the law and an [] The post Thre

New Delhi, Jan 19: The Congress on Monday attacked former chief justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud over his remarks that bail should be the rule and not the exception when expeditious trial is not possible, and asked what stopped him from doing the right thing when he was the Chief Justice of India. Congress spokesperson and head of the partys social media department Supriya Shrinate said the bail application of Umar Khalid was filed in 2023 but was [] The post Cong attacks ex-CJI Chandrachu

New Delhi, Jan 19: Opposing the new VB-G RAM G Act that has replaced the MGNREGA, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have claimed that work for the countrys rural population will now become a revdi, to be handed over to them as the government decides, and will no longer be a right. Writing this in a letter to the rural folk, the Congress leaders have alleged that their right to work is being stolen even as states are [] The post Work Will Be Revdi Handed Over By Modi Govt, No L

Jammu, Jan 19: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said Kashmiri Pandits are always welcome to return to their homes in the Valley, as the displaced community observed the 36th anniversary of their exodus in Jammu and reiterated demands for a comprehensive policy on their return and rehabilitation. However, the former chief minister expressed scepticism about whether the migrated community would want to come back in a permanent manner, considering they have built new lives wh

Leh, Jan 19: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has deputed 18 officers for duty in connection with the Republic Day celebrations scheduled to be held on January 26, 2026. See Notification Click Here.. The post Ladakh Administration Deputes 18 Officers For Republic Day Celebrations appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

New Delhi, Jan 19: The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission (EC) on Monday to display the names of those on the logical discrepancies list at gram panchayat bhavans, block offices of talukas and ward offices in West Bengal. The court noted that 1.25 crore voters in the state figure on the logical discrepancies list. Logical discrepancies in progeny linking with the 2002 voter list include instances of a mismatch in the parents name and the age difference between a [] The post SIR: SC d

Washington, Jan 19 : Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged US President Donald Trump last week not to carry out a strike on Iran, arguing that Israel is not fully prepared to withstand Tehrans retaliation, according to The Washington Post, citing an unnamed source close to the White House. A US official said a major consideration was the lack of a substantial American military presence in the region, which Israel had relied on to help intercept Irans ballistic missiles during the [] The post N

London, Jan 19 : British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday that US President Donald Trumps threat of tariffs against allies over Greenland is completely wrong and a trade war is in no ones interest. Trump said Saturday that he would charge a 10% import tax starting in February on goods from eight European nations, including the UK, because of their opposition to American control of Greenland, setting up a potentially dangerous test of US partnerships in Europe. Greenland is [] The post Sta

Hanoi, Jan 19 : Vietnams most important political conclave began Monday, as the ruling Communist Party convened to decide the countrys leadership and broad policy course for the next five years. A total of 1,586 delegates from across Vietnam gathered in the capital, Hanoi, for the National Congress, the partys highest decision-making body, which meets every five years to elect its top leadership and set priorities shaping the countrys political and economic direction. Delegates will elect about

Adamuz (Spain), Jan 19 : Spanish police said Monday that at least 39 people died in the a high-speed train collision Sunday in southern Spain and rescue efforts were continuing. The collision took place Sunday afternoon when a high-speed train derailed, jumped onto the track in the opposite direction and slammed into an incoming train near Adamuz. Rescue efforts were still underway Monday morning. Dozens more were injured from the crash. The Spanish Red Cross set up a help centre [] The post Tol

Beijing, Jan 19: Chinese police detained those in charge of a steel factory in the Inner Mongolia region after an explosion on Sunday killed two people and left 84 others hospitalised. Eight other people remain unaccounted for. A pressurized storage tank designed to hold steam and high-temperature water exploded in the factory, Baotou city officials said Monday. The blast occurred at a Baogang United Steel plant in the city of Baotou around 3 pm local time Sunday and caused tremors [] The post F

New Delhi, Jan 19 : State-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Monday reported a 13 per cent improvement in net profit to Rs 5,100 crore for the third quarter ended December 2025. The bank had earned a net profit of Rs 4,508 crore in the same quarter a year ago. Its total income rose to Rs 37,253 crore from Rs 34,752 crore in the year-ago period, PNB said in a regulatory filing. Interest income during the quarter also rose to [] The post PNB Q3 net profit rises 13 pc to Rs 5,100 cr appeared first

New Delhi, Jan 19 : Shares of IT services company Tech Mahindra on Monday climbed nearly 4 per cent after the firm reported a 14.11 per cent jump in profit to Rs 1,122 crore in December quarter FY26. The companys stock rallied 3.80 per cent to Rs 1,734.05 on the BSE. At the NSE, shares of the firm jumped 3.85 per cent to Rs 1,734.90. The earnings were announced after trading hours on Friday. The Mahindra group company had reported [] The post Tech Mahindra shares jump nearly 4 pc after December

New Delhi, Jan 19 : India is set to transition into the upper middle-income country category by 2030, coinciding with its emergence as the worlds third-largest economy by 2028, according to a research report released by SBI here on Monday. The report highlights Indias rapid economic ascent, placing it among the fastest-growing major economies globally over the past decade. The analysis shows that India now stands at the 95th percentile in the global distribution of average real GDP growth for []

New Delhi, Jan 19: Simran Bala, a 26-year-old CRPF Assistant Commandant hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, will lead an all-male contingent of her force during the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path in Delhi on January 26, officials said on Monday. While there have been instances when women Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers commanded various Republic Day contingents, this is the first time that a lady officer will command a party of more than 140 male personnel during the [] The post J

New Delhi, Jan 19 : India should press the European Union (EU) to clear the dense web of non-tariff barriers for domestic products, especially in the agri and pharma sectors, under the proposed free trade agreement, as such restrictions often blunt the benefits of tariff reductions, think tank GTRI said on Monday. The conclusion of the India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations is expected to be announced on January 27 during the visit of the EU team here. The [] The post EUs dense web of

New Delhi, Jan 18: Bharatiya Janata Party set the ball rolling for the election of its new president with top party leaders submitting nomination papers of Nitin Nabin, the partys 45-year-old working president, for the post on Monday. BJP President Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over a set of Nabins nomination papers to K Laxman, the Returning Officer for the election, in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and senior leaders Dharmendra

New Delhi, Jan 19: Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Monday used the metaphor of cinema to underscore the role of the countrys youth in building a Viksit Bharat, saying they would be its actors, producers, directors, and many times its audience too in this journey. In his address to a gathering of NCC cadets here, he cited tennis great Roger Federer to emphasise the importance of hard work and perseverance, and recalled the valour and sacrifice made by [] The post You will be actors, direc

SULTANPUR (UP), Jan 19: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi did not appear before the MP-MLA court here on Monday in connection with a defamation case against him, following which the court fixed February 20 as the next date of hearing, a case lawyer said. Gandhi, the Raebareli MP, was scheduled to record his statement before the court. However, his counsel Kashi Prasad Shukla informed the court that the Congress leader could not be [] The post Rahul Gandhi Ski

SRINAGAR, Jan 19: Joint team of security forces on Monday carried out a comprehensive mock drill at Qazigund Railway Station to assess emergency preparedness and enhance passenger safety measures, officials said. As per details, drill was jointly conducted by Kulgam Police, Armys 9RR, CRPF, SDRF, F&ES, IRP, Health Teams. The drill was aimed at testing response mechanisms to potential emergency situations, improving coordination among different security agencies, and ensuring swift evacuation and

Jammu, Jan 19: A paratrooper, who was critically injured in a gunfight with terrorists, succumbed to his injuries as a massive search operation to track down terrorists believed to be hiding in the upper reaches of Kishtwar district entered its second day on Monday, officials said. The operation was launched in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt on Sunday, leading to a gunfight that left eight soldiers injured, primarily due to splinter injuries caused by a sudden grenade

New Delhi, Jan 19: The Lokpal on Monday urged the Delhi High Court to extend the time granted to it to consider as per law the issue of granting sanction to CBI to file a chargesheet against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query scam. A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Renu Bhatnagar directed that Lokpals application seeking two more months to comply with the direction be listed on January 23 before the bench which passed the [] The post Cash-For-Query: Lokpal Mov

Jammu, Jan 19: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that displaced Kashmiri Pandits are always welcome to return to their homes, emphasising their rightful place in the Valley. However, he expressed scepticism about whether the migrated community would want to come back, considering they have built new lives where they currently reside in other parts of the country, with their children engaged in employment and education. The statement of the former chief minister came on

Jammu, Jan 19: The Indian Armys White Knight Corps on Monday paid rich tributes to Special Forces Havildar Gajendra Singh, who laid down his life while bravely undertaking a counter-terrorism operation in the Singpura area during the ongoing Operation TRASHI-I in Kishtwar. In a post on X, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of White Knight Corps and all ranks expressed deep respect and homage to the fallen soldier, acknowledging his supreme sacrifice made on the night of January 19, 2026. [] Th

Valentines Day is one of those days where little efforts matter a lot. And nothing says I made this for you better than a homemade cake with personal touches. The good news? You dont need fancy tools or professional skills to decorate a beautiful Valentine cake at home. With a few basic items and a bit of creativity, you can turn a simple cake into something thoughtful and memorable. Lets walk through easy, fun, and stress-free cake decor ideas you [] The post DIY Valentine Cake Decor Ideas You

NEW DELHI, Jan 19: The Delhi High Court on Monday will pass an order on a plea by expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar seeking the suspension of his sentence in the case of the death of the Unnao rape survivors father while in custody. As notified by the high court, Justice Ravinder Dudeja will pronounce the verdict at 2.30 pm. On March 13, 2020, Sengar was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment by the trial court, besides imposition of [] The post Unnao rape: HC to pass order on plea b

New Delhi, Jan 19: Lieutenant Governors or administrators of five Union territories will now have the power to authorise officers to search any premises or seize any record related to misleading advertisements claiming magical properties and remedies for the treatment of certain diseases like cancer and diabetes. In an order notified in the gazette recently by the Home Ministry, the government has delegated the powers to LGs or administrators of the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Laksha

Leh, Jan 19: An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale struck Leh district of Ladakh on Monday. According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at 11:51 am (IST) at a depth of 171 km. There was no immediate report of any casualties. The post 5.7-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Leh In Ladakh appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Srinagar, Jan 19: Three flights to and from Srinagar airport were cancelled on Sunday due to a NOTAM issued at Delhi airport in view of Republic Day arrangements, officials said. According to Srinagar airport authorities, the cancellations were effected by the respective airlines following restrictions at Delhi airport. A passenger advisory was issued urging travellers to check the latest flight status with their airlines before proceeding to the airport We regret the inconvenience caused to pas

Mumbai, Jan 19: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday questioned the shifting of corporators-elect from ruling ally Shiv Sena to hotels, asserting that no party could easily stake claim to the BMC mayors post, going by the mandate in the recent civic polls. In the recently concluded civic polls, the alliance of the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won a clear majority in the 227-member BMC, securing 89 and 29 seats, respectively. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) [] The post Why Shiv Sen

New Delhi, Jan 19: Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday accused Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi of spreading misinformation about the VB-G RAM G scheme, and asserted that the new Act will strengthen the Right to Work. Addressing a press conference here, the Union minister referred to Congress nationwide campaign against the new Act that will replace MGNREGA, and said the opposition was spreading lies that employment would be provided only in certain pan

New Delhi, Jan 19: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to host the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from January 21 to 23, positioning India at the centre of global dialogue on democratic governance and electoral practices. The three-day conference will be organised by the India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. According to the press release, IICDEM 2026 is exp

Srinagar, Jan 19: There was some respite from cold wave conditions in Kashmir as minimum temperatures across the valley rose by a couple of degrees, officials said here on Monday. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, up from the minus 4.7 degrees Celsius on the previous night. The tourist resort of Sonamarg in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district registered a low of minus 8.3 degrees Celsius and was the coldest recorded place in the [] The post Slight Respite Fro

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New Delhi, Jan 19: Silver prices surged on Monday to breach the record Rs 3 lakh-per-kg mark in futures trade for the first time, riding on strong investor demand and positive global trends. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), silver futures for March delivery skyrocketed by Rs 13,553, or 4.71 per cent, to hit a record of Rs 3,01,315 per kilogram. In the international market, the March silver futures contract jumped by USD 5.81, or 6.56 per cent, to hit [] The post Silver Prices Breach Rs 3 L

Srinagar, Jan 19: In a major action against misuse of government welfare schemes, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K has filed a charge sheet against a former Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department employee for allegedly fraudulently availing migrant relief worth over 18 lakh by misrepresenting his service status and unlawfully registering as a migrant along with his family members. In a statement, The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K has pro

Rajouri/Jammu, Jan 19: A 45-year-old woman was found tied with a rope inside a plastic bag in Rajouri district, police said. The woman, Azeem Akhtar, was freed and rushed to the GMC Hospital in a serious condition late Sunday, they said. The bag was spotted by some locals in an isolated stretch in the districts Tandwal area. The police are waiting for Akhtar to get better and give her statement. The post Woman Found Tied Inside Plastic Bag In Jammus Rajouri; Police Launch Probe appeared first on

JAMMU, Jan 19: After a night-long halt, security forces resumed their search operation on Monday to track down terrorists believed to be hiding in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district, officials said. The operation was launched in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt on Sunday, leading to a gunfight that left eight soldiers injured, primarily due to splinter injuries caused by a sudden grenade attack from the hiding terrorists. The operation was suspende

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 18: Padma Shri Dr Milind P Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Management Jammu, will be leading the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) delegation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, Switzerland. Highlighting the significance of this global engagement, Prof B S Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, stated that Dr Kambles leadership at the WEF reflects Indias commitment to building a strong, inclusive and innovation-dr