New Delhi: India’s foreign exchange reserves have risen to the highest-level since November last year to $686.14 billion, which shows a resilient economy amid global uncertainties. According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country's forex kitty swelled by $8.31 billion for the period ended April 18, over the previous reporting week, which is...

United Nations: The Security Council has 'condemned in the strongest terms' the Pahalgam terrorist attack and urged all countries to cooperate in bringing all those involved in the massacre, to justice. The members of the Security Council “stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations...

Vatican City: In an outpouring of global respect and sorrow, world leaders, royalty, and religious dignitaries gathered Saturday in St. Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 following a stroke. The funeral ceremony commenced at 10:00 a.m. local time (1:30 p.m. IST) in the iconic...

New Delhi: In the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan has resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC). Over the past two days, Pakistani military posts have been targeting Indian positions with small-arms fire. The Indian Army has given a strong and appropriate response to these provocations, official sources said....

Rourkela: A largescale tax evasion racket in the construction of carriages of heavy cargo vehicles has come to light in and around Rourkela, sources said Friday. Though the vehicles are purchased and modified in Odisha, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) filings are being done in neighbouring Jharkhand, thereby resulting in significant revenue losses for the Odisha...

Baripada: Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha announced on social media platform X that the number of Royal Bengal tigers in Similipal has increased to 40 — a development that has brought joy to wildlife enthusiasts. Efforts are under way to raise the tiger population to more than 100 by...

Bolangir: Two people were killed Friday afternoon when a tree fell on a moving auto-rickshaw during a thunderstorm near Kasabahal village under Puintala block in Bolangir district. The incident occurred during a Nor’wester storm, which brought strong winds and light rain. A large neem tree was uprooted and collapsed onto the auto-rickshaw, killing the driver and a...

Malkangiri: A large number of live turtles were seized by the Motu Forest department in Kalimela block of Malkangiri district, officials said. Based on a tip-off regarding interstate turtle smuggling, forest officials set up a vehicle checkpoint at the Motu outpost early Friday morning. After some time, a speeding Bolero vehicle approached the checkpoint. When officials tried...

Malkangiri: Security forces have seized a Maoist dump in the Chitrakonda block of Malkangiri district, officials confirmed Friday. According to sources, personnel from the 177 Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF), stationed at the Ghanabeda and Gurusetu camps in Swabhiman Anchal of Malkangiri, launched a search operation following intelligence inputs. The operation targeted forest areas near...

Bhubaneswar: Subhadra Yojana, the state government’s ambitious scheme aimed at empowering women financially, will now be enriched with skill training programmes. This was stated by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also holds the portfolio of Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti. In a media interaction event held here Friday, Parida announced that Subhadra Yojana would...