Aden (Yemen): The conflict in Yemen intensified Sunday, as government forces launched attacks against Iran-backed Houthi rebels along the Red Sea and Houthis fired into neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen's government. The Yemeni government vowed to send more forces to the Red Sea coast and one official conceded a "painful" defeat last week when Houthis captured...

New Delhi: Mirzapur: The Movie, featuring actors Ali Fazal, Divyenndu and Pankaj Tripathi, among others, has earned over Rs 220 crore at the domestic box office. The film, which released on September 4, marks the first big-screen outing for the Mirzapur universe, which began as a streaming series in 2018 and went on to become one of...

Cairo: An Iranian cargo vessel was struck early Sunday off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said, and Tehran postponed a plan to brief neighbouring countries on its contested efforts to manage shipping in the strait. The attack drew attention back to the strait after threats to shipping in the Red Sea intensified...

By Prabhata Kumar Panigrahi, OP Khordha: Poor sanitation and inadequate infrastructure at Government High School, Gurujang, have left students struggling with severe hardships, despite the State Government spending crores of rupees under various schemes to improve educational infrastructure. Established in 1969, the school has 724 students from Shishu Vatika to Class X. Among them, eight are in...

Mahakalapada: A historic red-brick building in Jamboo under this block of Kendrapara district, once believed to have served as a meeting place for British administrators, is now in a dilapidated state, owing to years of neglect. The imposing structure is believed to have been built before the 1866 (Na'Anka) famine and is regarded by local residents as...

Chitrakonda: As many as 52 of the 180 Anganwadi centres (AWC) in 18 panchayats of Swabhiman Anchal under this block in Malkangiri district do not have their own buildings, forcing children to attend preschool classes in community centres, schools and private verandahs. The AWCs at Jantri under Andrapalli panchayat and Guralur under Papulur panchayat are operating from...

Morada: A 57-year-old woman was beaten to death with a stick allegedly over a piece of betel (paan) at Tiansi village under Barakand panchayat in Mayurbhanj district, police said Sunday. The deceased was identified as Bilasi Naik, wife of Ananta Naik, 62. Police registered a case (356/26) and launched an investigation. According to police, Dhiren Naik, 37,...

TRINATH MOHANTY, OP Bhubaneswar: A hawala fraud racket appears to be spreading its tentacles across the state, with fraudsters targeting people in different districts by promising to provide U.S. dollars in exchange for Indian currency. At least 10 people have allegedly fallen victim to the racket in the past week, losing more than Rs 1.5 crore in...

AJIT KUMAR MOHANTY Puri: The counting and inventory of ornaments kept in the Ratna Bhandar (Treasure Trove) of the Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri is underway in phases in accordance with the state government’s guidelines, keeping the temple’s rituals and daily schedules in mind. Three days ago, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, who had come to Puri to...

Baragada: The principal of a private higher secondary college in Bardol on the outskirts of Baragada district has been arrested for allegedly taking a 15-year-old tuition student to a hotel room and sexually assaulting him, police said. The accused, identified as Debadatta Pradhan, 35, of Bardol village, was produced in court Sunday. His bail plea was rejected...