JAMMU, Dec 21: Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Dr. Devansh Yadav today conducted an extensive tour of various areas across Jammu city to take stock of the arrangements put in place for celebrations of Christmas. The purpose of his visit was to review the arrangements made on the Eve of Christmas and ensure all necessary civic amenities were in place. During the tour, the Commissioner visited various churches, including prominent ones like St. Marys Church, Valmiki chowk, Gandhi N

JAMMU, Dec 21: The Union Ministry for Education, has approved projects worth Rs 85 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) for nine higher education institutions in Jammu & Kashmir. The decision, taken during the third Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting announced on December 20, 2024, underscores the governments commitment towards transforming higher education infrastructure and fostering inclusivity and excellence in the region. Among the sanctioned projects, Baba G

Kulgam, Dec 21: As many as 30 smartphones were recovered by the cyber cell of the Jammu and Kashmir police in Kulgam. The operation was carried out after receiving multiple applications and reports about the missing and stolen mobile phones from the general public, said police. Moreover, Cyber Cell Kulgam solved huge online financial fraud cases in which an amount of Rs 11,09,565 was recovered and has been refunded to the victims account after completing all legal formalities and the [] The post

New Delhi, Dec 21: India has been awarded the hosting rights for next years Junior World Cup involving competitions in rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) said on Saturday. This will be the countrys third top International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) event in recent times after the senior World Cup in Bhopal in 2023 and the season-ending World Cup Final earlier this year, reinforcing Indias stature as one of the sports top destinations in []

MOSCOW, Dec 21: Russias Tsentr (Center) group of forces has repelled 12 Ukrainian counterattacks and eliminated up to 580 Ukrainian soldiers over the past day, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday. We have repelled 12 counterattacks of the Ukrainian armed groups. The enemy has lost up to 580 soldiers, a German-made Leopard tank, an infantry combat vehicle, US-made M113 and M117 armored carriers, four cars, a Polish-made 155-mm Krab howitzer, two 152-mm Msta-B howitzers, two 152-mm D-20

PESHAWAR, Dec 21: Sixteen soldiers died and eight others were injured as terrorists attacked a security check post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwest Pakistan early Saturday, security sources said. The terrorist attacked Lita Sar check post in Makeen in South Waziristan district bordering Afghanistan, sources added. This is one of the biggest attacks on the security forces in months. The attack comes days after Pakistani security forces killed two terrorists in an intelligence-based op

BERLIN, Dec 21: The death toll from the terrorist attack in the German city of Magdeburg, when a car rammed into a crowd at a Christmas market, has risen to 5, the Spiegel newspaper reported on Saturday. The Bild newspaper reported earlier in the day that the death toll had risen to four, 41 people had been severely injured, 86 victims had been taken to hospital, and 78 people had sustained minor injuries. On Friday evening, Germanys NTV broadcaster reported [] The post Death toll from terrorist

JAMMU | Spine problems are increasing in whole world, Backache became third most common cause for patients to visit Hospitals. Same time technological advancement in spine surgery are also increasing very fast and making spine surgery as a day care procedure. Percutaneous Endo-fusion is blessing for geriatric population and specially with high BMI patients, as it is done through Percutaneous route with very small cut and incision only between 7mm to 10mm cuts. Surinder Gupta 42y/M Resident of Bi

Anantnag, Dec 21: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Sunday accused the Jammu and Kashmir government, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, of depriving the people of the Union Territory of their main source of livelihood. Speaking to reporters at the Liver village panchayat in Anantnag, Iltija Mufti protested against the proposed railway line passing through the orchards and raised concerns about its impact on the livelihoods of local residents. People here are not opposed to

SRINAGAR, Dec 21: A life-size cut-out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on display in Srinagars Lal Chowk was adorned with a pheran a traditional Kashmiri cloak on International Pheran Day on Saturday. A local poet from Budgam district in central Kashmir, Jamal Ali Karbalai, alias Jamal Budgami, draped a beige pheran over the life-size cut-out of the Prime Minister, attracting a large number of onlookers, including tourists. We have been celebrating Pheran Day for the last four [] The post PMs

MUMBAI, Dec 21:In a bid to promote the National Pension System (NPS) ecosystem, various stakeholders including banks on Saturday announced Association of NPS Intermediaries to foster collaboration and strengthen subscriber welfare. This association comprises stakeholders including pension fund managers, points of presence (bank and non-bank), central record keeping agencies, trustee banks, custodians, aggregators, annuity service providers, pension agents, retirement advisors, and other industr

New Delhi, Dec 21: The Congress on Saturday hit out at the Election Commission for tweaking an election rule to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents such as CCTV camera and webcasting footage, asking why the poll panel was afraid of transparency. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the party would legally challenge amendment. If there was ever a vindication of our assertions regarding the rapidly eroding integrity of the electoral process m

SIRSA (Haryana), Dec 21: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and a host of other leaders paid their last respects to former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala at the Teja Khera village here on Saturday. A prominent Jat leader and five-time chief minister of Haryana, Chautala died in Gurugram on Friday at the age of 89. A state funeral will be held late afternoon in the village. On Saturday morning, people [] The post VP Dh

BENGALURU, Dec 21: An arrest warrant has been issued against former India cricketer Robin Uttappa in connection with alleged fraud related to Employees Provident Fund (EPF) deposits, officials said on Saturday. The warrant of arrest issued by Shadakshara Gopala Reddy, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner II and Recovery Officer, K R Puram stated that Rs 23,36,602 is to be recovered from Uthappa, the defaulter. The former cricketer is the director of Centauries Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd, Indirana

SRINAGAR, Dec 21: PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said the proposed increase in GST for Kashmiri shawl would finish the craft and appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to address the issue. She also alleged that the Centre was trying to make the people of Jammu and Kashmir dependent solely on tourism. The Kashmiri shawl is not just a means of livelihood for us but an identity of Jammu and Kashmir. It is famous all [] The post Proposed GST Hike For Kashmiri Shawl Will

SRINAGAR, Dec 21: Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti, on Saturday voiced serious concerns over the proposed 28 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike on handicrafts, warning of dire consequences for J&Ks most vital industries. There is widespread fear among the people about the proposed GST hike, which they feel will hit the Kashmiri craft. The 55th GST Council meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is underw

RAJOURI/JAMMU, Dec 21: The Army has increased its operational footprint in the Jammu region, including the strategic occupation of the upper reaches of the Pir Panjal range, a senior officer said on Saturday. The Army is playing a pivotal role in military-civilian coordination in creating a stable environment in the region, the officer said. The officer emphasised that the Army will continue its efforts to promote peace, security, and development in this region. In recent times, the Indian Army

KABUL, Dec 21: Afghanistan rejects US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens statement about its isolation, as Kabul is maintaining relations with other countries, Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman of the Taliban-led (under UN sanctions for terrorism) Afghan government, said. On Wednesday, at a Council on Foreign Relations meeting in New York, Blinken, comparing events in Syria and Afghanistan, said that interim Afghan government had found itself in a complete isolation since the very beginning

NEW DELHI, Dec 21: Housing sales are estimated to fall 21 per cent annually across nine major cities during October-December period to 1.08 lakh units on high base effect, according to PropEquity. Real estate data analytics firm PropEquity on Saturday released the sale numbers for Indias top nine housing markets Delhi-NCR , Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Thane. It has estimated sales to rise only in Delhi-NCR. As per the data, the total sales of [] The post

BANDA ACEH (Indonesia), Dec 21: Two decades after a catastrophic tsunami destroyed her village, Tria Asnani still cries when she recalls how she lost her mother while trying to escape the giant waves. Asnani, now a school teacher, was only 17 at the time. Her father, who was a fisherman, never returned home from sea. She doesnt know how she survived. I cannot swim. I could only rely on dhikr (Islamic prayer). On Dec 26, 2004, a powerful 9.1-magnitude earthquake [] The post Indonesians mark 2 dec

LOS ANGELES, Dec 21: Actors Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett are set to star alongside Hollywood star Anne Hathaway in Verity, an upcoming film from Amazon MGM Studios. The film is an adaptation of a book by the same name from author Colleen Hoover, whose earlier novel It Ends with Us was recently turned into a movie, starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Verity will be directed by Michael Showalter, who also helmed Hathaways [] The post Dakota Johnson,

Jammu, Dec 21: The Youth Congress on Saturday staged a protest in Jammu against the detention of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) President Uday Bhanu Chib, after several national and state office bearers were detained by Assam Police. Speaking to news agency a protestor said, We have come here to protest the unconstitutional arrest of our leader. On Friday, IYC President Uday Bhanu Chib and several national and state office bearers were detained by Assam Police. The leaders, who had gathered [] The

ISLAMABAD, Dec 21:Pakistans military courts sentenced 25 civilians to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for attacking military installations during riots which erupted following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in May last year, the Army announced on Saturday. On May 9, 2023, Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters allegedly attacked several military installations, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the ISI building in Faisalabad, to vent their anger

KYIV, Dec 21: Ukraine brought the war into the heart of Russia Saturday morning with drone attacks that local authorities said damaged residential buildings in the city of Kazan in the Tatarstan region, over 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the front line. The press service of Tatarstans governor, Rustam Minnikhanov, said that eight drones attacked the city. Six hit residential buildings, one hit an industrial facility and one was shot down over a river, the statement said. A video [] The post

ROME, Dec 21:Pope Francis told Vatican bureaucrats on Saturday to stop speaking ill of one another, as he once again used his annual Christmas greetings to admonish the backstabbing and gossiping among his closest collaborators. A wheezing and congested sounding Francis, who just turned 88, urged the prelates instead to speak well of one another and undertake a humble examination of their own consciences in the Christmas holiday season. A church community lives in joyful and fraternal harmony t

TEL AVIV, Dec 21: The Israeli military says a rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv overnight, leaving 16 people slightly injured by shattered glass from nearby windows. A further 14 people sustained minor injuries as they rushed to shelters when air raid sirens sounded before the projectile hit just before 4 am Saturday, the military said. The attack comes less than two days after a series of Israeli airstrikes on Yemens Houthi rebel-held capital, Sanaa, [] The post Rocket fired from

JAMMU, Dec 21: The Government on Saturday announced change in working and duty timings in Government Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. An order signed by Secretary to the Government Health and Medical Education Department, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah reads, in partial modification to Government order no. 272-JK (HME) of 2024 dated 03.4.24, it is hereby ordered that working days and duty timings from 1st December to 28th/29th February in Government medical Colleges and gove

NEW DELHI, Dec 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called upon people to make mediation a part of their lives, saying it is a powerful way to bring peace and harmony to ones life. In a post on X to mark the World Meditation Day, he said apps and guided videos can be valuable tools to help incorporate meditation into daily routines in the age of technology. Today, on World Meditation Day, I call upon everyone to make meditation [] The post Make meditation a part of life: PM Modi appeared

Mumbai, Dec 21: Allu Arjun-starrer Pushpa 2: The Rule has emerged as the most-watched movie of the year 2024 with 10.8 lakh solo viewers, according to a year-end report by BookMyShow. As 2024 draws to a close, the entertainment platform has come out with a report, titled #BookMyShowThrowback, highlighting the pivotal trends that defined cinematic experiences in India and globally, as well as the meteoric rise of live entertainment. Pushpa 2: The Rule, a sequel to 2021s blockbuster Telugu film []

AGARTALA, Dec 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) at Prajna Bhavan here. Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with governors, chief ministers of all the eight northeastern states, and senior officials, were also present at the event. There will be intense deliberation on the future roadmap for the region, besides reviewing progress of the councils work for this year, Scin

NEW DELHI, Dec 21: Back-to-back Olympic medals after a hiatus of 50 years and the revival of the much-awaited HIL lit up the year for Indian hockey which also saw one of its biggest stars walk into sunset after a glorious career. With their third-place finish in the Paris Olympics this summer, the Harmanpreet Singh-led mens team proved that the historic bronze in the Tokyo Games three years ago was not a flash in the pan. The medal ensured the [] The post Hockey in 2024: Consecutive Olympic meda

NEW DELHI, Dec 21: Former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur has been appointed as chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council for a term ending on November 12, 2028. Click Here To Join Daily Excelsior on WhatsApp And Get Latest News In a communication to Justice Lokur, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the retired top court judge would head the council which also comprises other distinguished jurists. I have the pleasure to appoint you, with immediate effect, as [] The po

Jammu, Dec 21: In a major development, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council has requested the general secretaries of all the recognised and affiliated sports associations to submit the details of the government employees and the political persons holding offices in the sports bodies functioning in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The notification issued by the Chief Account Officer (CAO) of Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, has requested the General Secretaries of all recognised UT of J

CHANDIGARH, Dec 21: Punjab Police has arrested two persons and recovered two pistols and cartridges from their possession, a top officer said on Saturday. In a major breakthrough, CI (Counter Intelligence) Pathankot apprehends two persons based on reliable input, leading to the recovery of 2 Glock pistols, 4 magazines, and 14 live cartridges of 9mm caliber, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X. A case has been registered in the matter and further investigation [] The

New Delhi, Dec 21l: Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati on Saturday called for a nationwide protest on December 24 against Union Home Minister Amit Shahs remarks on Babasaheb Ambedkar. In a series of posts on X, Mayawati said that Shahs remarks have hurt the hearts of the people. Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the author of the original book in the form of the super-humanistic and welfare constitution for the self-respect and human rights of the Dalits, deprived and other [] The post Mayawati ca

New Delhi, Dec 21: Ahead of the upcoming 2025 Delhi Assembly Polls, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute AAP Chief and Former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, in the excise policy case. On December 5, the Enforcement Directorate sought permission for sanction of prosecution against Arvind Kejriwal. This move comes after months of investigations into the Delhi governments excise policy, which has been at the center

JAMMU, Dec 21: In a significant achievement, the University of Jammu has secured the prestigious A++ grade with a CGPA of 3.72 on a seven-point scale from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha congratulated the University for this remarkable Feat, extending his congratulations to the Vice Chancellor, faculty, staff, scholars, and students for their dedication and hard work. LG emphasized that Jammu Universitys success is a testament to its

Jaisalmer, Dec 21: The 55th GST Council meeting which is expected to decide on reducing tax rate on health and life insurance, besides considering rate rejigs on 148 items began here on Saturday. The GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minster Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising her state counterparts, is also expected to deliberate on bringing Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) in Goods and Services Tax fold. One of the major items on the agenda of the Council is to decide the [] The post GST Council

Karachi, Dec 21: New Zealand Cricket has sent a delegation to Pakistan to inspect security and other arrangements for a scheduled tri-series in January. Besides hosts Pakistan and New Zealand, South Africa is the third team in the event. Pakistan is hosting the multi-team event as a curtain raiser to the ICC Champions Trophy in February and March. The New Zealand delegation, including security expert Reg Dickason and New Zealand Players Association representative Brad Rodden are in Karachi and L

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 21: The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York organized Meditation for Global Peace and Harmony to mark First World Meditation Day at the UN Headquarters in New York on December 20, that saw attendance by over 600 people. The landmark event was attended by Philemon Yang, President of the General Assembly, Under Secretary General Atul Khare and several other dignitaries. Keynote address on the occasion was delivered by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, [] The post P

Srinagar, Dec 21: The 40-day-long period of harsh winter, Chillai Kalan which started in Kashmir on Saturday unleashed its icy grip, freezing Kashmir to the core. On the first night of the Chillai Kalan, overnight temperatures across the Kashmir Valley dropped several degrees below the freezing point, the meteorological centre Srinagar said. The summer capital of Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 8.5 degrees celsius marking the coldest night since 1974, when it reached minus 10.3C

Srinagar, Dec 21: Jammu and Kashmir police have destroyed seized drugs worth Rs one cr in Sopore sub district, officials said. The action was carried out on Friday in compliance with an order issued by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Court in Baramulla, directing the destruction of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances through incineration. According to police, the incineration took place at a designated and approved location in the Lassipora in Pulwama district. The d

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Chandigarh, Dec 21: An explosion-like sound heard outside the Wadala Bangar police chowki in Punjabs Gurdaspur district triggered panic in the area, prompting police to launch an investigation, officials said on Saturday. This is the third such incident in the past seven days. A blast occurred at the Islamabad police station in Amritsar on December 17. No one was injured in it. The Gurdaspur incident occurred around 9.30 pm on Friday, according to the officials. They said local people heard [] T

NEW DELHI, Dec 21: As he embarked on a two-day visit to Kuwait, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India and the Gulf nation have shared interest in peace, security and stability in West Asia. Modis visit to Kuwait, the first by an Indian prime minister in 43 years, comes two weeks after the collapse of Bashar al-Assads regime in Syria and amid signs of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The last Indian prime [] The post PM Modi Embarks On 2-Day Visit To Kuwai

Srinagar, Dec 21: Chillai-Kalan, a 40-day harshest winter period, commenced with an intense cold wave conditions as Srinagar has recorded the coldest night of December in the last over two decades. After 1990, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded the coldest night in the month of December at minus 8.5 degree Celsius, which is the third lowest December temperature ever recorded in Srinagar in the last 133 years. Shopian in South Kashmir recorded a low of minus [] The post A

UT Admn, Hill Councils to get funds for development *Formal order expected anytime soon Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Dec 20: The Union Ministry of Finance headed by Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to undo the cut of Rs 976 crore imposed in budget of the Union Territory of Ladakh and a formal announcement in this regard is expected to be made anytime soon. This will help the UT administration to initiate more developmental works in the Himalayan region and will also [] The post Finance Ministry all set to

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh today conferred Hospital Administration Excellence Awards on distinguished Hospital Administrators and emphasised their role in integrating medical care. Dr. Jitendra Singh also emphasized the pivotal rol

Enhance J&K package from Rs 28400 cr to Rs 75000 cr * Dr Jitendra assists Jammu Chamber team Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: A delegation of Jammu Chamber of Commerce & Industry led by its president Arun Gupta accompanied by Anil Gupta senior vice president and Rajesh Gupta, secretary met the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry in presence of Dr Jitendra Singh MoS in Prime Ministers office. During interaction Arun Gupta apprised [] T

ONOE bills referred to 39-member JSC NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Parliament was adjourned sine die on Friday, capping off a tumultuous session that saw a robust debate on the countrys Constitutional journey and the introduction of two landmark bills on simultaneous elections before plunging to a new low of political animosity over alleged insult of B R Ambedkar. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp As Parliament met on the last day of Winter Session, the overhang of mutual bitterness [] The pos