Daily Excelsior News

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: The year of tariffs was marked by a steep 50 per cent US duty on Indias exports in 2025, but Indian exporters adapted by diversifying markets, keeping export growth resilient with momentum likely to extend into 2026. As one of the senior-most officers of the commerce ministry put it, trade is like water, it finds its own course, the countrys merchandise exports responded with agility to a series of disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-22), [] The post Tariff-hit 2

Srinagar, Dec 28: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday defended the house arrest of its party MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and other leaders, saying they want to create turmoil, which will not be allowed. Talking to reporters at Pahalgam in south Kashmir, Abdullah said the leaders were probably not happy that Jammu and Kashmir was on the path of progress. You should ask those leaders what they wanted to do. We are doing as much as we can. [] The post They Want Turmoil: Farooq Ab

Jammu, Dec 28: A senior police officer in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on Sunday laid emphasis on human intelligence (HUMINT) collection to counter cross-border narcotic smuggling and terror networks. The Deputy Inspector General of Police, RajouriPoonch Range, Tajinder Singh, while addressing a comprehensive intelligence, security and crime review meeting in Poonch, urged officers to augment operations through innovative intelligence collection and analysis techniques, a police spokesman

NEW DELHI, Dec 28 : SHANTI Bill will go down in history as one of the Modi Governments biggest science reforms, said Union Minister Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh in a media interview here today. The Minister observed that while parliamentary discourse on reforms has traditionally focused on public welfare schemes and governance measures, the long-term socio-economic character of the nation will increasingly be shaped by reforms in science and technology. The third term of Prime Ministe

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: As Indias healthcare system buckles under a non-communicable diseases (NCDs) epidemic, experts advocated setting up of micro-hospitals which they claimed can curb Indias deaths due to NCDs by replacing fragmented tertiary models with specialist-led coordinated care and reduced wait times. WHO data reveals that NCDs account for an estimated 63 per cent of all deaths in India, they said. Hospital bed density lags at just 0.55 per 1,000 population far below the WHOs 3 [] The po

New Delhi, Dec 28: Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday urged former Congress president Sonia Gandhi to return the correspondences and documents of first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the Prime Ministers Museum and Library, stating that they belonged to the country and not to any individual. In an interview with PTI Videos, Shekhawat also said Aravalli Hills controversy was a classic example of the Congress creating an issue out of a non-issue. Talking ab

NEW DELHI, Dec 28:The finance ministry has directed public sector banks and financial institutions, including insurance companies, to promptly report vigilance-related matters concerning whole-time directors (WTDs) of their respective companies. The directive from the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the ministry follows several instances where adverse information about board-level appointees was not promptly reported. In many cases, it said, such critical adverse inputs like privat

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Indias food delivery growth in 2026 will be driven by customer experience, speed and value consciousness, according to aggregators magicpin and Swiggy. Anshoo Sharma, CEO & Founder of magicpin, Indias third-largest food delivery platform, believes growth will come from deeper merchant inclusion and catering to value conscious users. We are scaling by onboarding a wide range of merchants, from single, standalone local restaurants to large brands and national chains, enabling t

Bareilly (UP), Dec 28: Uttar Pradesh Police have detained two suspected Kashmiri men, allegedly after villagers complained about their suspicious activities in Bareilly district, officials said on Sunday. The incident came to light on Saturday morning when villagers complained, on the polices X handle, about two Kashmiri men who allegedly were found begging at houses in Dhimri village in the Ahladpur area, police said. Izzatnagar police launched a search after suspecting their language and manne

SYDNEY, Dec 28: Australians have been voicing concerns over the prospect of US Virginia-class submarines being armed with nuclear weapons while serviced in Australia due to risks relating to radioactive waste and regional security, the ABC broadcaster reported on Sunday. Local residents in the Western Australian city of Rockingham have voiced these concerns during the meetings with Australian navy representatives ahead of plans to host the submarines at the HMAS Stirling naval base near the city

MOSCOW, Dec 28: Russia does not intend to attack anyone in Europe, but its response to any strike will be devastating, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday, noting the EUs war party has become a stumbling block in Ukraine peace efforts. Lavrovs warning came on a day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump at the latters Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. My message for European politicians who seem to have problems getting to [] The post Mo

KATHMANDU, Dec 28: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, was on Sunday named the prime ministerial candidate as he and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) inked a pact to jointly contest the March 5 Nepal elections. The seven-point agreement, reached after overnight marathon negotiations, designates 35-year-old Balen as the parliamentary party leader and the prime ministerial face, while Rabi Lamichhane will continue as chairperson of the RSP, the fourth-largest p

Jammu, Dec 28: Over 8,000 runners across age groups from eight to 80 years participated in the Run for Unity marathon, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Police here on Sunday, officials said. The marathon was flagged off by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), headquarters, M K Sinha and ADGP Armed Anand Jain and passed through various city routes before culminating at the starting point at Gulshan ground, a police spokesman said. He said the participants included students from [] The

Leh, Dec 28: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, emphasised that tourism is a key pillar of Ladakhs economic growth, significantly contributing to livelihood generation for local communities while strengthening allied sectors such as hospitality, transport, handicrafts, and eco-tourism. He underscored the need to promote sustainable and responsible tourism practices to protect Ladakhs fragile ecosystem and ensure inclusive, long-term benefits for the region and its people. The Lt

MOSCOW, Dec 28: The lifting of several US restrictions on funding for the Paks II nuclear power plant in Hungary has allowed Rosatom to take its work to a new level, including with Hungarian and European contractors, the Russian state corporations CEO, Alexey Likhachev, told Sputnik. Weve now ramped up our work. As you know, the Americans have lifted several restrictions on funding for the Paks II plant. This has allowed us to restart financial flows and take our work [] The post Rosatom took wo

LONDON, Dec 28:An Indian man who accused his manager at a KFC franchise outlet in south-east London of wrongful dismissal and race discrimination has won nearly 67,000 pounds in compensation after a tribunal ruled in his favour. Madhesh Ravichandran, from Tamil Nadu, told an employment tribunal hearing that his Sri Lankan Tamil boss discriminated against him and used references such as slave and Indians are fraudsters directed at him. In details from the hearing published this week, tribunal jud

MARIETTA (US), Dec 28: As India prepares to procure up to 80 military transport planes, US aerospace major Lockheed Martin has pitched its C-130J Super Hercules as the best choice and said an additional fleet of the aircraft will provide it a stronger heft for tactical airlift among the Quad nations. If Lockheed Martin gets the opportunity, then it will set up a mega hub in India to produce the iconic aircraft and it will be the first such global [] The post Lockheed Martin pitches C-130Js as be

DHAKA, Dec 28: Bangladeshs newspaper Editors Council has accused a section of the interim government of allowing the recent spate of violence in the country after the death of Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi was shot in the head on December 12 during an election campaign in Dhaka. He was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment but died of his injuries on December 18. The same evening, a mob set on fire the offices of two mass [] The post Editors Council accuses section in Ba

New Delhi, Dec 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said an old, blurry photograph of three Buddhist stupas of Baramulla found in France has revealed Kashmirs glorious past dating back nearly two thousand years. In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, Modi said large human-made structures were discovered in Jammu and Kashmir, a development which will fill you up with pride regarding its cultural and historical heritage. For years, people had been seeing some tall mounds in Baramullahs [

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: At the 140th Foundation Day event at the Congress headquarters here on Sunday, Shashi Tharoor supported the views of his party colleague Digvijaya Singh, saying the organisation should be strengthened. Tharoor was seated next to Digivijaya Singh during the function at the partys Indira Bhawan headquarters. Singh created a flutter on Saturday by lauding the organisational power of RSS-BJP as he shared Narendra Modis old picture and said how a grassroots worker went on to [] Th

BARAMATI, Dec 28: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said industrialist Gautam Adanis journey serves as an inspiration to hardworking youth who dream big. He was speaking at the inauguration of the Sharadchandra Pawar Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence in Baramati in Pune district. The centre of excellence, funded by the Adani Group chairman, has been established under Vidya Pratishthan, the educational institute governed by the Pawar family. Sharad Pawar said Adani came from the

Ahmedabad, Dec 28: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said India has recorded a 97 per cent reduction in malaria cases and the country will be free of the disease in a short time. He was addressing the All India Medical Conference IMA NATCON 2025 of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Shela here. Thanks to various healthcare related schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Mission Indradhanush, we have recorded 97 per cent reduction in malaria cases and we [] The post With 97% Drop In Cases, I

New Delhi, Dec 28: On the 140th Foundation Day on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress is not just a political party, but the voice of Indias soul that has stood with every weak, deprived and hardworking person. He attended the 140th Foundation Day function at the Indira Bhawan headquarters of the party here. In a post on X, he said, The resolve is to fight even more strongly the battle for truth, courage, and to protect the Constitution against [] The post Cong Not Just A Political Party, But

Jammu, Dec 28: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district have recommended the suspension of an Arabic lecturer of a government higher secondary school for allegedly ordering the construction of a platform on the school building to be used for offering prayers, officials said on Sunday. Quoting a letter issued by the chief education officer (CEO), Rajouri, the officials said Munnawar Hussain, Lecturer (Arabic), posted at Higher Secondary School, Chingus, was prima facie found to have dir

Katra/Jammu, Dec 28: A robust security plan has been put in place at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district to handle the heavy influx of devotees during the New Year, Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti, has said. He said more than 550 CCTV cameras are keeping a vigil on the yatra track and surrounding areas, with live feeds being monitored round-the-clock from a centralised control room. The control room is jointly [] The post Comprehensive New Yea

JAMMU, Dec 28: A rusted mortar shell was defused in a village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. The mortar shell was noticed by some locals in forward Bandi Chechian village of Haveli tehsil on Saturday evening, the officials said. They said the area was immediately cordoned off by police and later the explosive shell was safely defused by the army experts. The post Rusted Mortar Shell Defused Near LoC In J&Ks Poonch appeared first

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Dec 28: The US and India ties in 2025 have been a rollercoaster ride as punitive and reciprocal tariffs, a conflict with Pakistan and stringent immigration policies strained and tested the bilateral relationship in a manner not seen in decades. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US to meet President Donald Trump and the signing of the 10-year defence framework pact between the two countries were seen as the high points in the relationship. The year [] The po

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Indian badminton navigated a difficult 2025 marked by injuries and uneven top-level performances, but Lakshya Sens title win, a World Championships medal from Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, and encouraging strides by the next generation offered measured optimism in a transitional season. The year often felt more like one of reassessment than consolidation, with established names struggling for consistency as fitness setbacks disrupted preparation and rhythm across

Srinagar, Dec 28: Authorities on Sunday placed several leaders, including PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, under house arrest to prevent them from joining the students protest against the existing reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said Mehbooba Mufti, her daughter Iltija Mufti, Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdi, PDP leader Waheed Para, and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Mattoo have been placed under house arrest. The move came after these leade

New Delhi, Dec 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the rich cultural and historical heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, sharing an inspiring account of how a long-forgotten ancient Buddhist complex in Baramulla was rediscovered with the help of a blurred photograph preserved in a museum in France. Addressing the 129th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister said the discovery reflects Kashmirs deep civilisational roots and is a matter of pride for th

Srinagar, Dec 28: The Cyber Police, Srinagar, conducted raid at the Rajbagh area, where they had carried out raids officials said on Sunday. A police officer said that During the raid, police recovered a office-related documents and electronic equipment, the officer said. Police also detained two persons in connection with FIR No. 20/2025 registered under Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act and Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Cyber Police Station, Srinagar. The de

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday embarked on a submarine sortie at the Karwar naval base in Karnataka, officials said. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi accompanied the President onboard INS Vaghsheer, a Kalvari class submarine. The President is also the Supreme Commander of the armed forces. This maiden sortie onboard a Kalvari Class Submarine by President Murmu is the second by a President. APJ Abdul Kalam was the first president to undertake a [] The post Pr

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed Operation Sindoor in the 129th episode of Mann Ki Baat, saying that todays India does not compromise on its security. Addressing the nation in his radio show, PM Modi said that pictures of love and devotion towards the country emerged from all across the country. Acknowledging the nations achievements in 2025, the Prime Minister said, 2025 gave many moments that made every Indian proud. From national security to sports, [] The post

New Delhi, Dec 28: The dastardly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 not only pierced through the heart of humanity but also cast a grim shadow on tourism in the Valley and impacted the sector at large. The attack in Baisaran meadows, a prime tourist location, in its immediate aftermath, had dealt a big blow to the tourism and hospitality sector in the Union territory, and hit the psyche of many potential tourists, domestic and foreign, who [] The post Terror Struck Tourists In Dead

NEW YORK, Dec 28:Indian-American lawmaker Ro Khanna has condemned the killing of a Hindu garment factory worker in Bangladesh, urging the global community to speak out against such vile acts of hatred and bigotry. Dipu Chandra Das, 27, was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Baluka in Bangladeshs Mymensingh district earlier this month. About 12 people have been arrested so far in connection with the murder. In a social media post on [] The post US lawmaker condemn

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Adani Group plans to invest Rs 1.8 lakh crore next year in defence manufacturing, with a focus on strengthening capabilities in unmanned and autonomous systems as well as advanced guided weapons as it looks to play a stealth anchor role in Indias future warfare capabilities, sources said. Adani Defence & Aerospace in 2025 transitioned from extended planning cycles to rapid deployment with some of its military hardware being used in Operation Sindoor. Next year, it [] The post

HYDERABAD, Dec 28: GMR Group has passed the qualifying round to submit a bid for the USD 800 million new Taif International Airport project in Saudi Arabia, according to the National Center for Privatisation & PPP of the Arabian country. Besides GMR, Bengaluru International Airport Ltd Tamasuk consortium, Turkeys TAV Airports Mada International Holding consortium, Irish company Daa International-led consortium, and Kalyon Insaat consortium, were qualified for the project bidding. The project w

NEW DELHI, Dec 28:Power regulator Central Electricity Regulatory Commission is considering rationalising transaction fees on power trading exchanges, which aims to potentially lower electricity prices as the power sector gears up for market coupling. The development came as the power regulator moves ahead with market coupling, a reform expected to improve efficiency, deepen liquidity and promote price convergence across exchanges. The move could lead to a reduction in the overall cost of power

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Fitness firm Fittr is moving towards providing a holistic preventive healthcare service, combining diagnostics with doctor consultations, to target non-communicable diseases, according to its founder and CEO Jitendra Chouksey. The firm has earmarked investment of up to Rs 15 crore to set up company-owned diagnostic laboratories in five metro cities, while also collaborating with partners to expand its lab network to 5,000 pin codes across India, Chouksey told PTI. We are movi

Islamabad, Dec 28: The Pakistani government has once again found itself embarrassed on the world stage, now acknowledging the impact of Indias strategic and precision strikes on their military installation during the escalation in May, following Operation Sindoor, which came in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. This time around, the embarrassment came from Pakistans Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who, during the year-end press

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Srinagar, Dec 28: In a major crackdown on employment-related fraud, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a detailed chargesheet before the Court of City Judge (Sub Registrar) Srinagar in connection with a large-scale job scam, wherein dozens of unemployed youth were allegedly cheated of lakhs of rupees on the false promise of jobs in reputed hospitals and banks, officials said. In a statement issued, The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed

Excelsior Correspondent REASI, Dec 27: Minister for Education, Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo today inaugurated newly constructed Academic Block of Government Degree College (GDC) Pouni in Reasi district, marking a significant milestone in strengthening higher education infrastructure in the region. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister emphasized the Governments commitment to expanding access to quality higher education in rural and remote areas. She said that the n

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 27: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday laid the foundation stone to build 320 houses completely damaged during flash-floods and land-slides in Reasi District. Funded entirely by High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS India) at an estimated cost of Rs 32 crore, the initiative will provide 320 affected families in Reasi with modern, prefabricated Smart Houses without any burden on the Government exchequer. Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor had laid th

Justice (Retd.) G D Sharma pallav5354@gmail.com When on October 26, 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to the Union of India, the total area of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir was approximately 2,22,000 to 2,23,000 square kilometers. Its total population according to 1931 Census was 31.21 lakh (approximately). The break up shows that in Jammu Division four districts were Hindu dominated whereas, remaining Mirpur district and Poonch estate (Jagir) had Muslim domination. Out of total popul

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 27: Parkash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj was celebrated at Gurdwara Digiana Ashram Jammu under the supervision of Mahant Manjeet Singh, head priest of Dera Nangali Sahib Poonch. A large number of devotees participated along with various Sikh organizations of J&K including Sikh United Front, Shiromani Akali Dal, BKNSS, Sikh Naujwan Sabha, local Gurdwara Committees, Members of DGPC Jammu with zeal and enthusiasm. The Ragi Jathas including Bhai Satwant Si

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 27: In a high voltage drama, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti today held a strong protest demonstration in front of the Lok Bhavan ( Secretariat cum official residence of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha), demanding revocation of the MBBS admission list of SMVD Institute of Medical Excellence. Click here to watch video Raising slogans such as LG go back, the protesters also torched an effigy even as Policemen deployed there tried their best to snatch dummy [] The

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 27: Under the patronage of Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Judicial Academy), Justice Arun Palli and guidance of Chairperson and members of the Governing Committee for J&K Judicial Academy, the Jammu & Kashmir Judicial Academy today began a 2 day orientation programme on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, with reference to SAMVADs Training Manual on Essential Interventions and Skills for

Vishal Sharma As the current year recedes into oblivion and the New Year nears, its time for a sober reflection. Every time when we lurch towards an indistinguishable space between two years, such an occasion arises,when before one looks ahead one looks back to consider whats been done or undone or hasnt been done. Whats been learnt or unlearnt or hasnt been learnt. A year in a lifetime is but a blip, many may say. Is it? Well, enough can [] The post A sobering reflection appeared first on Daily

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 27: An exhibition depicting the inspiring life journey, ideas, and contributions of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was inaugurated at the BJP Headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, under the nationwide Atal Smriti Varsh programmes being organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha (RS) Member of Parliament, Sat Sharma, BJP J&K general secretary (Organization), Ashok Koul, and Lok Sabha, MP, Jugal Ki