Chennai: Two workers were killed after a powerful explosion triggered a major fire at a licensed fireworks factory near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district Thursday, officials said. The accident occurred at the manufacturing unit in Namaskarithanpatti while employees were engaged in production work. The explosion sparked a fire that rapidly spread through parts of the premises,...

New Delhi: India have withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, opting to prioritise their high-profile international friendly against five-time world champions Brazil in October, All India Football Federation (AIFF) deputy secretary general M Satyanarayanan said Thursday. India's withdrawal from the upcoming tournament also means they will miss the opportunity to face some of Southeast Asia's leading...

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government Thursday directed hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat and Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana to provide free emergency treatment to road accident victims under the PM-RAHAT scheme. The hospitals were also asked to ensure compliance with the guidelines of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The Prime Minister-Road Accident Victims' Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment...

 Jagatsinghpur: Odisha Vigilance has cracked down on a major financial fraud case involving government officials over the alleged misappropriation of public funds to the tune of Rs 3.02 crore in Jagatsinghpur district, officials said. In this connection, two former officials of Tirtol block in Jagatsinghpur district were arrested by Vigilance sleuths Thursday. The accused persons were identified...

Mumbai: An original series on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh is being developed by Collective Studios' Historyverse, the makers announced Thursday. The yet-to-be-titled series, which is made in association with Hathiramani Commercial Ventures and co-produced with investor and entrepreneur Manish Hathiramani, will explore Bhagat Singh's formative years, his influences and the experiences that shaped him into one of...

New Delhi: From the recent student mobilisation at Jantar Mantar to demands over admissions, metro concessions and access to education, issues that have fuelled Delhi's campus protests are set to find their way into the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) election campaign, with student organisations gearing up for the September 18 polls. The university Thursday announced that...

New Delhi: Air India and Air India Express will begin mandatory psychoactive substance testing of all their pilots Thursday, expanding checks beyond regulatory requirements, following the captain of a Phuket-Delhi flight that suddenly lost altitude tested positive for marijuana, according to sources. The two Tata Group-owned airlines together have more than 5,000 pilots. The comprehensive screening will...

Mumbai: Actress and politician Kangana Ranaut has issued a clarification with regards to her earlier remark on Gen Z during the student protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital. On Thursday, the actress took to the Stories section of her Instagram, and shared a video of herself, speaking to the camera as she furnished the clarification....

New Delhi: Union Minister Giriraj Singh Thursday hit out at the Opposition for bringing monkeys into Parliament and said they have crossed all limits. His remarks came after several Opposition members, including Congress MPs Pawan Khera, Imran Pratapgarhi, and Jebi Mather, participated in a demonstration while raising slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre. Khera led...

Darwin: Veteran Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc surpassed Sri Lanka great Rangana Herath to become the most successful left-arm bowler in the history of Test cricket. Starc reached the landmark during the opening Test against Bangladesh at Marrara Cricket Ground when he dismissed opener Shadman Islam. The wicket took his Test tally to 434, moving him one...