Puri: Braving hot and humid weather, lakhs of devotees Monday witnessed the ceremonial bathing ritual of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, followed by the unique ‘Gaja Besha’ (elephant attire), at the 12th-century shrine in Puri. The ‘Snana Yatra’, one of the most significant rituals in the Srimandir calendar, marks the beginning of the annual Rath Yatra festivities....

Bhubaneswar: Days after allegations of custodial torture surfaced at Chandaka, Kabisuryanagar and Talachua Marine police stations, another case has emerged from Khordha district, where a family has accused Banpur police of torturing a man to death. The deceased was identified as Tofan Nayak of Bhimpur village. His family alleged that police detained him on suspicion of theft...

New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Ata Hasnain are set to represent India at burial ceremonies for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei next week, people familiar with the matter said Monday. Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the ceremonies. The burial ceremonies will...

Malkangiri: Odisha Police arrested a couple from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu in connection with an alleged robbery case in the eastern state's Malkangiri district, officials said Monday. According to Malkangiri SP Vinodh Patil H, a jewellery shop in the district headquarters town was robbed five years ago, following which the accused had left the place and settled...

Mumbai: India's external debt stood at $762.8 billion at end-March 2026, an increase of $26.3 billion over its level at end-March 2025, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monday. The external debt to GDP ratio increased to 20.8 per cent at end-March 2026 from 19.8 per cent at end-March 2025. Outstanding debt...

Dubai: India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to boost cooperation on water resource management, according to an official statement Monday. The agreement was signed at the inaugural edition of Saudi Arabia's national water conference, Saudi Water Week, being hosted in Jeddah. "A significant step in advancing the India-Saudi Arabia strategic partnership," said the...

Nottingham: New Zealand won a test series in England for the fourth time by wrapping up a 160-run victory in the third test at Trent Bridge Monday, bringing an end to the international career of home captain Ben Stokes. Resuming on 103-4 and chasing an unlikely 373 to win, England was dismissed for 212 soon after lunch...

New Delhi: Centre Monday decided to withdraw temporary restrictions on the retail sale of petrol and diesel to commercial consumers from July 1, restoring normal fuel purchases for industrial, institutional and transport sector users after a brief period of curbs aimed at safeguarding domestic fuel supplies. According to a government order, commercial buyers will once again be...

Deir-al-Balah: Israeli forces struck a tent sheltering displaced people in the central Gaza Strip Monday, killing at least three Palestinians, including an 8-year-old boy and his grandfather, medical officials said. Health authorities in the coastal enclave said the drone strike hit a neighbourhood in Deir al-Balah, one of the least damaged towns in central Gaza. Al-Aqsa Martyrs...

Jajpur: A court Monday sentenced a 29-year-old man to life imprisonment for murdering his girlfriend, a university student, five years ago. The Jajpur Additional District and Sessions Judge, Biswseswar Biswa Prakash Ray, awarded life imprisonment to Rakesh Kumar Swain and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh, said a government counsel. The court also sentenced Swain's aide,...