People / Daily Excelsior
New Delhi, May 6: The government has notified cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims nationwide, under which they will be entitled to a maximum amount of Rs 1.5 lakh per accident per person. According to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the scheme has come into force with effect from May 5, 2025. Any person being a victim of a road accident arising out of the use of a motor vehicle, occurring on [] The post Govt Notifies Cashless Treatmen
NEW DELHI, May 6:Indias service sector activity accelerated slightly in April largely driven by a quicker increase in new order inflows, which also underpinned a faster expansion in employment, a monthly survey said on Tuesday. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services PMI Business Activity Index reached 58.7 in April, up from 58.5 in March, indicating a sharp and stronger expansion in service sector output. The headline figure was above its long-run average of 54.2. In the Purchasing Manager
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, May 2: Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting retaliation from the Indian Army, officials said on Thursday. This is the eighth consecutive night of unprovoked firing along the LoC, amid heightened tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed. Civilians living along the LoC and IB have begun cleaning their community and
GUWAHATI, Apr 30: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that each time Pakistan dared to challenge Indias unity and integrity, Indian soldiers courageously rose to the occasion and defeated the enemy to uphold the countrys pride. His comment comes at a time when Pakistani troops engaged in unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in multiple sectors across four districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting Indian forces to respond effec
MUMBAI, Apr 28: When you do so many successful films together, it becomes tricky, says actor Emraan Hashmi, who doesnt view returning to the Bhatt camp with Awarapan 2 as a reunion. Hashmi earlier this month announced the sequel to 2007s Awarapan, produced by his uncle Mukesh Bhatts banner Vishesh Films, on the occasion of his 46th birthday. He made his acting debut with the production houses Footpath in 2003. The actor, whose last project with the Bhatts was 2016s [] The post Its not like we pa
MUMBAI, Apr 28: South actor Srinidhi Shetty says she has no qualms about being called a flowerpot in her 2018 debut film KGF: Chapter 1 as she knew about the length of her role in the superhit Kannada film franchise right from the outset. In the KGF franchise, directed by Prashanth Neel, the actor played the headstrong Reena Desai opposite lead star Yashs towering Rocky. It was produced by Hombale Films. I didnt mind being a flowerpot in KGF [] The post Didnt mind being a flowerpot in KGF, it w
WASHINGTON, Apr 27: Elon Musk spent years building cachet as a business titan and tech visionary, brushing aside critics and sceptics to become the richest person on the planet. But as Musk gained power in Washington in recent months, his popularity has waned, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research. Just 33 per cent of US adults have a favourable view of Musk, the chain-saw-wielding, late-night-posting, campaign-hat-wearing public face of President
SEOUL, Apr 27: South Koreas main liberal opposition party tapped Sunday its former leader Lee Jae-myung as presidential candidate in the upcoming June 3 vote. The Democratic Party said Lee has won nearly 90 per cent of the votes cast during the partys primary that ended Sunday, defeating two competitors. Lee, a liberal who wants greater economic parity in South Korea and warmer ties with North Korea, has solidified his position as front-runner to succeed recently ousted conservative President Yo
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 25: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is following the situation between India and Pakistan very closely and with very great concern and appeals to both governments to exercise maximum restraint and ensure no further deterioration, his spokesperson said. We were very clear in our condemnation of the terror attack that occurred in Jammu and Kashmir, on the 22nd, two days ago, which killed a large number of civilians, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General,
New Delhi, Apr 25: Former ISRO chief and chairperson of drafting committee behind the ambitious new National Education Policy (NEP) K Kasturirangan passed away in Bengaluru on Friday, officials said. He was 84. He left for heavenly abode this morning at his residence in Bengaluru. His body will be kept at Raman Research Institute (RRI) for paying last respects on April 27, the officials said. Known as the man behind education reforms listed in NEP, Kasturirangan had served as chancellor [] The p
MUMBAI, Apr 23: The rupee depreciated 25 paise and settled for the day at 85.44 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday, on surge in crude oil prices and importer demand for the American currency. Forex traders said the American currency recovered, supported by Donald Trumps softened stance particularly towards the Federal Reserve and China. However, positive domestic markets and weak US dollar index and foreign fund inflows supported the domestic unit at lower levels. Forex traders sa
SRINAGAR, Apr 22: At least 12 tourists were injured in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said. The attack took place at Baisaran, a meadow accessible only by foot or ponies, where a group of tourists had gone visiting this morning, they said. According to an eyewitness, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the tourists from close range, resulting in injuries to several persons. My husband was shot in the head while [] The post 12 Tourist
New Delhi, Apr 20: Only 60 per cent of countries have legislations and standards governing food and beverages in schools, according to the Global Education Monitoring Report by UNESCO. The report has been published in partnership with the Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which is the research initiative of the School Meals Coalition. Only 93 out of 187 countries have legislation, compulsory standards or guidance on sch
New Delhi, Apr 19: Indias first prototype fast-breeder reactor in Tamil Nadus Kalpakkam is expected to be commissioned next year, nearly two years after it got the go-ahead from the nuclear regulator, officials have said. The commissioning of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) will mark the second stage of Indias three-stage nuclear programme that aims to recycle spent fuel to reduce the inventory of radioactive waste. The PFBR being developed in Kalpakkam is the first-of-its-kind nuclear
New Delhi, Apr 18: The manuscripts of Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Munis Natyashastra are among the 74 new documentary heritage collections that have been added to UNESCOs Memory of the World Register. Entries on scientific revolution, womens contribution to history and major milestones of multilateralism from 72 countries and four international organisations were included in the register. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X on Friday described the inscriptions as a proud moment for every In
KOLKATA, Apr 13: BJPs Purulia MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging the Centre to declare select bordering districts of West Bengal as disturbed areas under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), alleging repeated attacks on the Hindu community. In his letter dated April 13, Mahato alleged that districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia and South 24 Parganas have witnessed violence against Hindus, with the state administration turning a blind eye
New Delhi, Apr 13: When the government ordered the closure of 199 District Agrometeorological Units (DAMUs) in January 2024, around 130 employees chose to stay unpaid but unwavering because farmers still relied on them. They went to court, secured a stay and kept working, helping farmers navigate worsening weather and rising climate risks. On March 31 this year, their salaries were finally released following court intervention a long-awaited relief after a year marked by sacrifice, resilience
New Delhi, Apr 12: Addressing the long-standing concern that ODI cricket is heavily tilted in favour of batters, the International Cricket Council (ICC) may tweak the use of two-ball rule in the 50-over format, it has been learnt. The ICC Cricket Committee, headed by former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, has made the recommendation to use one ball in ODIs. The two new ball-rule is in place for more than a decade now. The recommendation needs be ratified by the ICC [] The post ICC may tweak two-ba
New Delhi, Apr 10 : Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was brought to India on Thursday after being successfully extradited from the US, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said. The 64-year-old Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin landed in Delhi in a special plane on Thursday evening, ending days of speculation of when and how he will be extradited, officials said. The NIA said in a statement that it had secured the successful extradition [] The post 2
Guwahati, Apr 10: Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday that resolving problems faced by retired employees and utilising their experience for nation-building are priority areas for the government. He said that new rules have been framed with regard to pension disbursement, including for families of deceased employees, in tune with contemporary times. The employees contribute their peak years to the country, to nation building. There is an increasing population of retired people now and
New Delhi, Apr 10: Tokyo Olympics medallist Lovlina Borgohain could move down to the 70kg category after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) scrapped her current 75kg weight class for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, forcing her to pick a new division. The IOC on Wednesday announced the event programme and athlete quotas for the LA Games. With the rejig, Borgohain will have to either move down to 70kg or bulk up to +80kg. This is brand new information for me. [] The post Lovlina Borgohain consi
LONDON, Apr 8: The High Court in London on Tuesday refused the government of Indias application seeking permission to appeal in Britains Supreme Court against the discharge of Sanjay Bhandari, the defence sector consultant wanted in Delhi to face charges of alleged tax evasion and money laundering. Lord Justice Timothy Holroyde handed down the judgment at a brief pronouncement hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in response to the Indian governments application filed last month. It followed H
DUBAI, Apr 8:Irans foreign minister said on Tuesday that he and US envoy Steve Witkoff will be in indirect talks in Oman over Tehrans nuclear programme. Abbas Araghchi made the comments to Iranian state television while on a visit to Algeria. There was no immediate acknowledgement from the US that Witkoff would lead the US delegation. US President Donald Trump had described the talks this Saturday in Oman as being direct talks. (AP) The post Irans foreign minister says he will have indirect tal
New Delhi, Apr 8: Actor Sunny Deol says his upcoming film Jaat needs to be simply enjoyed instead of being labelled as a religious film. The actor attended the films promotional event in Delhi on Monday evening alongside his co-stars Randeep Hooda and Vineet Kumar Singh. He assured that the makers have no intention to uplift or downgrade anybody through the movie. People get sensitive when you talk about (labelling films). We should not be talking about all these things. [] The post Not trying t
TEHRAN, Apr 5: Irans rial currency traded Saturday at a record low against the US dollar as the country returned to work after a long holiday. The rial had plunged to over 1 million rials during the Persian New Year, Nowruz, as currency shops closed and only informal trading took place on the streets, creating additional pressure on the market. But as traders resumed work Saturday, the rate fell even further to 1,043,000 to the dollar, signalling the new [] The post Irans currency falls to reco
United Nations, Apr 4: India and China are the only developing countries in the world with significant private investments in AI in 2023, according to a UN report. India ranks tenth. The 2025 Technology and Innovation Report, issued by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), also states that India ranked 36th in 2024 on the Readiness for Frontier Technologies index, improving its position from 48th in 2022. India ranks 36th out of 170 nations on a global index measuring a countrys [] The post India R
New Delhi, Apr 3: Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor Khan says she and actor-husband have got into the habit of cooking at home, but he is any day a better cook. The actor was speaking at the launch of her nutritionist Rujuta Diwekars book The Commonsense Diet on Wednesday. Theres nothing like a home-cooked meal after a hard days work. I mean, now Saif and I have started cooking ourselves. We enjoy it quite like that, so we kind of also [] The post Saif a better cook, I cant even boil an egg: Ka
Jhansi, Apr 3: Thirty teams will compete in three divisions in the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship to be held here from April 4-15. This will be the first time the mens tournament, to be held at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, is being played in the new three-division format. The Senior Women National Championship was played in the same new format in March. The domestic competition, which will now also feature promotion and relegation battles, has [] The post Hockey Indi
New Delhi, Apr 3: The Congress on Thursday accused the government of bulldozing in the Lok Sabha the statutory resolution confirming the imposition of Presidents rule in Manipur, and said this was adding insult to injury. Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the frequent flier flies off again. This time it is to Bangkok. Look East by all means but why continue to ignore Manipur? Ramesh said on X. And [] The post Ad
New Delhi, Apr 2: Gold price stayed flat at its all-time high level of Rs 94,150 per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday amid concerns over imposition of reciprocal tariffs by the US, according to the All India Sarafa Association. On Tuesday, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity surged by Rs 2,000, the steepest in nearly two months, to hit a fresh peak of Rs 94,150 per 10 grams. Gold of 99.5 per cent purity also [] The post Gold Trades Flat At Peak Level Of Rs 94,150 Per 10 G; Si
BANGKOK, Apr 2:Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive here on Thursday on a two-day visit, during which he will hold talks with his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra and attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit. Modi will be given a grand welcome by the Indian community in Thailand and is scheduled to meet Shinawatra at the Government House, where he will be accorded a ceremonial welcome. On Thursday evening, the Prime Minister will join the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral [] T
NEW DELHI, Apr 2:The Government has approved the appointment of NCAER Director General Poonam Gupta as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for a period of three years, according to sources. The post of the Deputy Governor of RBI fell vacant after M D Patra demitted office in January. The sources said the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) approved Guptas appointment for the post of Deputy Governor in the RBI for three years from the date of [] The post Govt appoints NCAER Director
NEW DELHI, Apr 2:Goods from sectors, including agriculture, precious stones, chemicals, pharma, medical devices, electricals, and machinery may get impacted if the US will go ahead with imposing reciprocal tariffs on Indian products, according to experts. They said that these sectors could face additional customs duties from the Trump administration because of the high tariff differential or gap, which is the difference between the import duties imposed by the US and India on a product. At the
LOS ANGELES, Apr 2:Val Kilmer, the brooding, versatile actor who played fan favourite Iceman in Top Gun, donned a voluminous cape as Batman in Batman Forever and portrayed Jim Morrison in The Doors, has died. He was 65. Kilmer died Tuesday night in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and friends, his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, said in an email to The Associated Press. Val Kilmer died from pneumonia. He had recovered after a 2014 throat cancer diagnosis that required two [] The post Val Kilmer, To
New Delhi, Mar 31: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Monday slammed the Modi governments education policy, charging its core agenda is centralisation of power, commercialisation and outsourcing of investments to the private sector, and communalisation of textbooks. Noting that these three Cs haunt Indian education today, the Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson said in an article that this carnage of Indias public education system must end. In the article The 3Cs that haunt Indian education to
TOKYO, Mar 30: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Japan on Sunday an indispensable partner in deterring growing Chinese assertiveness in the region and announced upgrading the US military command in Japan to a new war-fighting headquarters. Hegseth, who is on his first Asia trip with Japan as his second stop, also stressed the need for both countries to do more to accelerate the strengthening of their military capability as the region faces Chinas assertive military actions and a possible
KATHMANDU, Mar 30: The Nepal government has downsized the security team deployed for former king Gyanendra Shah, a day after pro-monarchy protests in parts of the Nepalese capital turned violent. The number of security personnel at the Nirmal Niwas, the private residence of the ex-king, has been reduced from 25 to 16 after Fridays protests, during which protesters pelted stones, attacked the office of a political party, set vehicles on fire and looted shops. Two persons, including a TV cameraman
Mumbai, Mar 30: Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor says she doesnt care about how she is perceived for her fashion choices and simply enjoys having fun with her outfits, no matter the occasion. The actor turned showstopper for renowned designer Rahul Mishras collection The Silk Route under his brand AFEW at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI on Saturday night. Asked how her fashion sensibilities have evolved over the years, Janhvi told a news agency: I have started caring less [] The post I have st