New Delhi: India Monday categorically rejected a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that called for linking Washington's security assistance and bilateral trade to improvements in New Delhi's record in religious freedom. In its report, the USCIRF criticised India for what it called increasing cases of alleged violations of religious freedom and recommended...

Athens: Greece has no plans to participate in any military operation in the Strait of Hormuz, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Monday, stressing that the country has no intention of becoming involved in war. Speaking at a regular briefing, Marinakis said Greece's current involvement in the European Union's Operation Shield is "geographically defined in the Red Sea...

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government Monday appointed retired district judge Laxmidhar Biswal to lead the judicial inquiry into the devastating fire at SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack, in which at least 10 people died and 11 others suffered burn injuries. The panel is required to submit its report within 60 days, according to a notification issued by...

Patna: BJP president Nitin Nabin, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and three other NDA candidates Monday won the Rajya Sabha elections in the state, an official said. Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur of the JD(U), BJP leader Shivesh Kumar and Rashtriya Lok Morcha president Upendra Kushwaha also emerged victorious, said Khyati Singh, the Secretary of Vidhan Sabha,...

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Monday congratulated the BJP's Rajya Sabha poll nominees and the Independent candidate backed by the party for winning the election, though the official announcement in this regard is yet to be made. The BJP Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal and its sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar are the official...

Beijing: China Monday called on all countries to immediately stop military operations in West Asia in response to US President Donald Trump's appeal to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open for international transport, ruling out Beijing joining any international naval force risking its close ties with Iran. The effective closure of the vital waterway by Iran...

Colombo: Sri Lanka Monday announced a four-day working week with every Wednesday a public holiday as a contingency measure for possible fuel shortages in view of the war in West Asia. Currently, the island nation follows a five-day work week. "It was decided to declare every Wednesday a public holiday with effect from March 18," Commissioner General...

Berhampur: The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Odisha Monday arrested three persons from Rajasthan for allegedly looting gold ornaments from a trader near Berhampur railway station while posing as CBI officers. Gold ornaments weighing 88 gm, valued at around Rs 14.80 lakh, were seized from their possession, an officer said. At least two unidentified persons intercepted the...

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Monday closed proceedings on actor Celina Jaitly's petition on her brother Vikrant Jaitly's detention in the UAE and asked the Centre to continue to provide legal assistance to the retired major. Observing that the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has met Vikrant Jaitly nine times since his arrest, and the detainee...

Bhubaneswar: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party scored a major success in the Rajya Sabha elections held in Odisha, Monday. Of the four seats in the state, the BJP and its supported candidate together secured three seats, while the opposition Biju Janata Dal managed to win only one. BJP state president Manmohan Samal and sitting MP Sujeet Kumar...