Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: With the aim of promoting awareness about the importance of data protection and privacy, an awareness programme on Data Privacy Day 2026, organised by NHPC Limited was held here today The programme was organized in collaboration with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI). Bhupender Gupta, CMD, NHPC, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Director (Projects), Mahesh Kumar Sharma, Director (Finance) and Santosh Kumar, CVO along with senior officials were present during the

Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Jan 30: Marking a significant expansion of Kias footprint in the region, AM Group inaugurated the AM Kia Showroom along with the launch of the All-New Badass Seltos, followed by the inauguration of the AM Kia Workshop, here today. The unveil ceremony was held at AM Kia Showroom, Omara Colony, followed by the workshop inauguration at Plot No. 7, Industrial Estate, IID Centre SICOP, Udhampur 182104. The event was graced by chief guest MLA Pawan Gupta. [] The post

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 30: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) today said that industrial growth in J&K cannot be achieved through excessive controls, repeated fees and endless permissions. It stressed that a trust-based, facilitative and entrepreneur-friendly regulatory framework is essential for MSMEs to survive, grow and generate employment. In a statement, FCIK sought the intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying that before speaking of Ease of D

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Jan 30: Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, today presented the second best tableau award to Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Secretary, Culture, J&K, at Rashtriya Rangshala Camp here recognising J&Ks outstanding performance in the 77th Republic Day Parade. Renowned theatre personality and former Secretary of J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Balwant Thakur, who conceptualized the tableau, was present among other dignitaries. The tableau was p

Excelsior Sports Correspondent Jammu, Jan 30: Jammu and Kashmir posted a fighting total of 227 runs in their first innings against Jharkhand on Day 1 of the Mens U-23 CK Nayudu Trophy match at BSL Cricket Stadium, Jharkhand today. The innings was anchored by Basit Nazir, who played a superb knock of 111 runs off 265 balls, showcasing great temperament and class under pressure. His innings included 14 boundaries and a six.Udhay Partap Singh provided valuable support with a well-compiled [] The po

LONDON, Jan 30: An Indian-origin drug dealer has been jailed for 20 years by a court in north-west England for plotting a range of firearms and drugs offences. Naginder Gill, 47, used the handle indianoceon on the encrypted communications platform EncroChat in the plot involving 59-year-old Carl Ian Jones, and 29-year-old Harly Wise. While Jones was handed a 30-year sentence, Wise was jailed for 25 years at a sentencing hearing at Bolton Crown Court on Thursday. The UKs National Crime [] The pos

Alcaraz, Djokovic to meet in Australian Open final MELBOURNE, Jan 30: Olivia Gadecki and John Peers became the first team to win consecutive Australian Open mixed doubles titles since 1989 after beating the French pair of Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 on Friday. The Australians trailed 7-5 in the final-set tiebreaker before coming back to lead 9-7. On match point and with Peers serving, Guinard hit a backhand into the net to clinch victory for the home [] The post Olivia,

NEW DELHI, Jan 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, saying his call for swadeshi is the fundamental principle for a developed India. The prime minister said Mahatma Gandhi always laid strong emphasis on swadeshi, which is also a fundamental pillar of the governments resolve for a developed and self-reliant India. My tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on his death anniversary, Modi said in a post [] The post V-P, P

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: Talented Shubham Singh Pundhir delivered a sensational innings of 165 runs off 311 balls, guiding Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) to a dominant position over Himachal Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy encounter at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium, Himachal Pradesh. Pundhirs knock, studded with 19 fours and a six, was the cornerstone of J&Ks strong batting performance. The innings was ably supported by Abdul Samad (61 off 82 balls, 34, 16), Kanhaiya Wadhawan (56 off 51 [

NEW DELHI, Jan 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Venezuelas acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Friday. This was the first time the two leaders spoke since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the United States. Spoke with Acting President of Venezuela, Ms. Delcy Rodriguez, the prime minister said in a post on X. We agreed to further deepen and expand our bilateral partnership in all areas, with a shared vision of taking India-Venezuela relations to new [] The post PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 30 : Pakistans security forces killed 52 terrorists, mostly belonging to the Taliban, in separate operations across three provinces in the last 24 hours, the army and officials said Friday. Six terrorists were killed in Punjab province early Friday while on Thursday, 41 were killed in two separate intelligence based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan and five Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) men, including a commander, were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Counter Terroris

*J&K to launch Comprehensive Cancer Control Strategy Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 30: A high level consultation on cancer burden, research and care in Jammu and Kashmir was convened at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together senior officers from NITI Aayog, Department of Health Research (DHR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of Jammu and Kashmir and the leading clinicians, researchers and public health experts from premier national institutions. The meeting w

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: The Inter-State Youth Exchange Programme, organised by MY Bharat Jammu under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, witnessed a series of lively and informative sessions on its second day at Kalika Dham, Jammu. The programme aims to empower youth through knowledge-sharing, discussion, and practical guidance on real-life issues. Ranjeet Kalra, Senior Teaching Faculty at Jammu University and ace sports administrator led an interactive se

GUWAHATI, Jan 30 : In a bid to win the Assam Assembly elections for the third time in a row, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday advised the state BJP brass to fight on twin planks: development and a secure state. Shah, who wound up a two-day visit to Assam, held a nearly two-hour-long meeting with senior leaders of the BJP state unit at the party headquarters here, with a focus on discussing strategy for the state elections, expected [] The post BJP to fight Assam polls on twin planks of de

DHAKA, Jan 30: The US on Friday issued a security alert for its citizens in Bangladesh, asking them to remain vigilant and avoid crowds as political violence or extremist attacks may occur, potentially targeting rallies, polling stations, and religious sites during the election period. In an advisory posted on its official website, the US Embassy in Bangladesh also instructed its citizens to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings. Bangladesh will hold p

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Army Commander, Northern Command, today chaired a joint security review meeting at Nagrota to assess the evolving security situation in the region. Senior officers and key stakeholders from various security agencies participated in the meeting. During the review, detailed discussions were held on maintaining close coordination in ongoing operations, improving joint preparedness and further strengthening the counter-terroris

KATHMANDU, Jan 30 : Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Friday urged all political parties and the general public to dedicate their efforts towards realizing the aspiration of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for civil liberty, democracy and national sovereignty. Nepal observes Martyr Week every year from Magh 10 to 16 according to local Bikram Samvat calendar and the last day is observed as the Martyr Day, falling this year on Friday, January 30. The day is observed by remembering [] The

MELBOURNE, Jan 30: Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will meet in the Australian Open final after each came through epic, momentum-swinging, five-set semifinals on Friday. Top-ranked Alcaraz fended off No. 3 Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 in a match that started in the warmth of the afternoon and, 5 hours and 27 minutes later, became the longest semifinal ever at the Australian Open. That pushed the start of Djokovics match against defending champion Jannik Sinner [] The po

Excelsior Correspondent KARGIL, Jan 30 : On the occasion of the 34th National Good Governance Webinar, former Deputy Commissioner of Kargil, Shrikant Suse, currently serving as Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara (Jammu & Kashmir)delivered a presentation as an awardee under the Prime Ministers Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2023 on behalf of Kargil District. The presentation was virtually made from Kupwara before officials of the Ministry and senior officers and District Magistrates from

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: A drone, suspected to have originated in Pakistan, briefly hovered over Indian territory along the International Border (IB) in Samba district today, officials said. The drone was spotted over Ratanpur village in Ramgarh sector around 7.40 pm, the officials said, adding that the suspicious flying object returned towards the direction of Pakistan after hovering for couple of minutes. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Subsequently, a search opera

Excelsior Correspondent KARGIL, Jan 30 : Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon today attended a one-day workshop on HumanWildlife Conflict Management, organised by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Wildlife Protection Division, Kargil (UT Ladakh) in collaboration with WWF. The workshop was attended by Executive Councillor Aga Syed Mujtaba, Executive Councillor Er. Punchok Tashi, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests / Chief Wid

NEW DELHI, Jan 30: The India U-19 team, currently playing in the ongoing U-19 World Cup, had a virtual interaction with batting great Sachin Tendulkar ahead of their crucial Super Six clash against Pakistan. With England sealing their semifinal spot with a win over New Zealand on Friday, Sundays clash between India and Pakistan has taken on added significance, with only one team set to advance to the knockout stage from Super Six Group B. In what was an invaluable [] The post India U-19 team int

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environmemt and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana today met various public delegations at Civil Secretariat here who apprised him of their issues and grievances. During the interactions, the delegations apprised the Minister of a range of grievances and developmental concerns related to their respective sectors. The Minister gave a patient hearing to all issues raised and reaffirmed the Governments commitment to add

NEW DELHI, Jan 30: The Government has blocked the Wingo App for allegedly sending fraudulent SMSes from users phones using them as mules to allegedly carry out large-scale message-based cybercrimes, officials said today. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The action was taken by the Union Home Ministry and its anti-cybercrime agency, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), after getting numerous complaints against the Android application. The agency said the app users were unkn

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Jan 30: Demonstrating his unwavering commitment towards public welfare and a future-ready Jammu & Kashmir, BJP Jammu & Kashmir president and Rajya Sabha Member, Sat Sharma, CA, forcefully raised key issues related to the promotion of sports and youth development in the Union Territory during the ongoing session of the Rajya Sabha. Through an unstarred question, Sat Sharma sought detailed information from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports regarding the es

Ranbir Singh Pathania rspathaniamla@gmail.com When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke in a celebratory tone of India and addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as my friend, it was not just diplomatic warmth. It was recognition of a strategic shift. India and the European Union a bloc of 27 nations have ultimately moved decisively towards a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signalling one of the most quintessential economic realignments of this decade. Let us unde

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, President, J&K Apni Party called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, today. Meanwhile, a public delegation led by Er. Sandeep Majotra, Member District Development Council Nagri Kathua called on Lieutenant Governor. Subsequently, a delegation headed by Rajinder Sharma, former Mayor, Jammu Municipal Corporation also called on the Lieutenant Governor. The post Altaf Bukhari, others call on LG appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Jan 30: The police arrested a drug-peddler and recovered some quanity of charas and cash from his possession in Rajouri area today. Official sources said that a Police team from Rajouri led by SHO Abid Hussain Shah during Naka at Salani Bridge, Rajouri intercepted a vehicle Hyundai i-20, bearing registration No. JK11H/3459. On questioning the driver of the said vehicle disclosed his identity as Rajan Kumar, son of Kashmir Singh , resident of Saranoo, Tehsil and D

Jammu, Jan 30: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Friday chaired a joint meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) and all-party representatives here, emphasising coordination among parties for a result-oriented session. The meeting focused on finalising the agenda, ensuring coordination, and preparing for the Budget Session scheduled to start on February 2, an official spokesperson said. The committee included key members from various political parties,

Jammu, Jan 30: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that hope will emerge from Gandhian values and principles amid growing global despair, asserting that Mahatma Gandhis ideals continue to offer guidance in times of conflict. Paying tributes to the Father of the Nation on his punyatithi (death anniversary) at a function organised by Gandhi Global Family here, Sinha said the grand celebrations of Gandhi Jayanti in J&K over the last six years have had a transformational [] The

Jammu, Jan 30: The Jammu Police have filed a chargesheet in a high-profile cheating and fraud case involving six accused persons, including a serving Sub-Inspector of J&K Police. In a statement, The accused have been charged with duping a Hyderabad-based businessman of Rs 3 crore under the guise of selling fake Kashmir Blue Sapphires. The accused persons include, Mohd Rayaz S/o Reham Ali, R/O Gurdanbala Rajouri, A/P Chinor Jammu. Mohd Taj Khan S/O Haji Jumma Khan, R/O Potha Surankot Poonch, [] T

New Delhi, Jan 30: Use of artificial intelligence in Swedens national breast cancer screening programme has revealed that AI-supported mammography screening is more effective than standard mammography, according to full results from a 2023 trial published in The Lancet journal. AI-supported breast cancer screening identified more women with clinically relevant cancers without a higher rate of false positives, the results show. Researchers from Lund University and other institutes in Sweden, Norw

New Delhi, Jan 30: Palestine may not be averse to US President Donald Trumps idea of transforming the Gaza Strip into a Mediterranean Riviera, but only if such a plan is meant for Palestinians themselves and not imposed at their expense, Palestinian Foreign Minister of State Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said on Friday. In an interview to news agency, she also said that Indias participation in President Trumps Board of Peace could help. Well, a Riviera for its people. I mean, [] The post Palestine We

JAMMU, Jan 30: The Ministry of Home Affairs has promoted five AGMUT cadre IPS officers to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP), including three officers who have been granted proforma promotion while on Central deputation. As per an order issued by the Ministry, Dr Shiv Darshan Singh Jamwal and David Lalrinsanga have been promoted to the DGP rank in Level 16 of the pay matrix, with effect from Feb 1, 2026, or from the date they assume charge, [] The post Five AGMUT Cadre IPS Officers Pro

New Delhi, Jan 30 : Realty firm Godrej Properties Ltd on Friday said it has bought 8.5 acre land to build a housing project with an estimated revenue of Rs 2,000 crore. In a regulatory filing, Godrej Properties informed that it has acquired a 8.5-acre land parcel through outright purchase at Mahalunge, Pune. The proposed development will primarily comprise group housing and is expected to offer a developable potential of approximately 2.1 million square feet, with an estimated revenue potential

New Delhi, Jan 30 : Facebook India has posted around 28 per cent increase in standalone profit at Rs 647.45 crore for financial year ended March 2025, according to the companys regulatory filing shared by Tofler. The company had logged a profit of Rs 504.93 crore a year ago. Revenue from operations grew 25 per cent to Rs 3,792.91 crore in FY2025 from Rs 3,034.82 a year ago. The companys total expenses for the fiscal were reported as Rs 2,881 [] The post Facebook India FY25 profit rises 28 pc to

New Delhi, Jan 30 : The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has placed in the public domain the recommendations of an expert group on revising Indias Consumer Price Index (CPI), proposing a new base year of 2023-24 to better reflect evolving consumption patterns and global best practices. An analysis by SBI Research suggests that applying the new weights to existing indices could raise headline CPI inflation marginally by 20-30 basis points, while periods of high food inf

New Delhi, Jan 30 : The Adani Group has won credit ratings from Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) for three of its companies, a move that could pave the way for broader access to Japans debt markets as the Indian conglomerate accelerates its expansion plans. Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR), a leading Japanese rating agency, has assigned long-term foreign currency credit ratings with a stable outlook to Adani Ports & SEZ Ltd (APSEZ), Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), and Adani [] The post Adani secu

New Delhi, Jan 30 : Eco Hotels & Resorts Limited on Friday said it has signed a strategic deal to develop a new hotel property in Ayodhya, in line with the companys expansion plans in high-potential religious and cultural tourism destinations. The upcoming property will feature 33 rooms and is strategically located with direct access to the main highway at a 7 km distance from the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The hotel is positioned to cater to the tourists and devotees [] The post Eco Hotels & Resor

Ottawa, Jan 30 : Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he expects the United States to respect Canadian sovereignty after media reported that US officials had met a group advocating for the separation of the province of Alberta from Canada. Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with the countrys premiers, Carney addressed the issue when asked about the meetings between US officials and the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), a group pushing for a referendum on the provinces independenc

JAMMU, Jan 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has accorded sanction for renaming Kathua Railway Station in honour of Martyr Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary, recognizing his supreme sacrifice for the nation. As per Government Order No.129-JK(GAD) of 2026, issued by the General Administration Department, the Kathua () Railway Station will now be officially known as Martyr Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Kathua Railway Station ( ). The order, dated January 29, 2026, was issued by [] The post Ka

Jammu, Jan 30: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today paid tributes to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his Punyatithi. I believe that Bapu is a living guide for todays world. His philosophy of non-violence, truth, and self-reliance proves as essential today as during Indias independence struggle, providing timeless wisdom for navigating contemporary crises and bridging divides that threaten global societys collective future, the Lieutenant Governor said. He was speaking at the solemn e

Dibrugarh, Jan 30: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the North East by refusing to wear gamosa, presented by President Droupadi Murmu at the At Home reception hosted by her on Republic Day. All dignitaries, including those from abroad, had worn the scarf as a mark of respect, but Gandhi was the only person to refuse to do so, Shah claimed, while addressing a public rally at the Khanikar Parade Ground here. [] The post Rahul disrespected

New Delhi, Jan 30: The Union government is continuously attacking the poor and undermining their statutory right to employment, the Congress Delhi unit said Friday at a protest against the removal of the MGNREGA scheme. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, who attended the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram Yatra event, said the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) gave legal right to employment benefiting lakhs of families but the the Centre was eroding these provisions. Th

NEW DELHI, Jan 30: The Delhi High Court on Friday questioned the DGCA on the indefinite relaxation given to airlines with respect to the implementation of new norms on weekly rest and leaves for pilots. Issuing notice on a public interest litigation (PIL) on the issue, a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia asked the aviation regulator to explain the rationale behind its decision to immediately withdraw the new flight-duty norm which said that no [] The post Why indefinit

Mumbai, Jan 30: The proposed merger of two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions each headed by Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a plane crash two days ago, and his uncle Sharad Pawar is very much on course, with talks reaching an advanced stage even before the deputy chief ministers death, sources said. However, the merger will also bring with it change in power dynamics as the NCP (SP) camp believes that veteran leader Sharad Pawar will now [] The post Merger Of Two NCP Factions Very Much O

Srinagar, Jan 30: Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday paid rich tributes to the martyrs on the occasion of Martyrs Day, remembering their supreme sacrifices for the nation and the ideals of freedom, justice and democracy. In a post on X, the Office of the Chief Minister, said that the Chief Minister remarked that the sacrifices made by the martyrs will continue to inspire generations to come. The post further said that a two-minute silence was observed at [] The post CM Omar Abdullah P

Ganderbal, Jan 30: In a fresh action against corruption in the Revenue Department, the Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a serving Patwari in Ganderbal for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe for official work. In a statement, The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Patwari, Revenue Department, Mouza Gadoora, Ganderbal, while accepting a bribe of Rs. 15,000 from the complainant. The CBI registered the instant case on 28.01.2026 against the said accused. It was all

Srinagar, Jan 30: Night temperatures rose across most of the Kashmir Valley as the 40-day period of extreme winter, Chillai Kalan, concluded on Friday, officials said. Several areas, including Srinagar, saw the mercury settle above the freezing point, providing relief from intense cold that defines this period. According to the the Meteorological Department officials, the minimum temperature in the Srinagar city settled at 1.3 degrees Celsius, up from the previous nights minus 0.6 degrees. This

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 30: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said that his stand on certain issues may have been seen as pro-BJP by the media, but he has only seen it as pro-government or pro-India. Tharoor said that he has made it clear in the past as well that on some international matters, he does not like to talk about politics and instead prefers to speak about the country. It is not something new, I have always said so, [] The post My stand not pro-BJP, but pro-govt or pro-I