New Delhi: The Centre has defended its decision to temporarily suspend Telegram's services across India ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination, telling the Delhi High Court that the messaging platform's architecture and repeated misuse for examination-related frauds left the Union government with "no other option" but to invoke emergency blocking powers under the Information Technology Act....

Bhubaneswar: Southwest monsoon remains active over Odisha and is likely to cover the entire state within the next four to five days, according to Regional Centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) Thursday. Under the combined influence of monsoon and Nor’Wester, rain activity is expected to continue across Odisha. Hot and humid conditions are also expected to persist...

Brussels: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at NATO allies Thursday, announcing a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe that will depend on how fast they take responsibility for their own security. "This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading,...

Bhubaneshwar/Angul: Angul District Police in Odisha solved an armed robbery and kidnapping case within 12 hours of its occurrence, arresting four accused persons of a Maharashtra-based gang, including two who sustained bullet injuries during an exchange of fire with the cops at the wee hours Thursday, officials said. "On June 17 at about 6:10 p.m., Talcher Police...

New Delhi: The government has ratified 8.25 per cent rate of interest on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2025-26, which is likely to be credited to over seven crore contributing members this month, a source said Thursday. EPFO provides the rate of interest on EPF after it is ratified by the government through the Finance Ministry....

Moscow: Ukraine hit a Moscow oil refinery for a second time in a week and disrupted commercial flights at Moscow airports in one of its biggest drone attacks since Russia's invasion more than four years ago, Russian officials said Thursday. The Russian Defence Ministry said that its air defences overnight shot down 555 Ukrainian drones over multiple...

Vancouver (British Columbia): Qatar brought a cheering section to the World Cup by treating a large contingent of supporters to an all-expenses-paid trip to North America. Some 1,000 Qatari fans have descended Vancouver, via jets chartered by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ahead of Thursday's match against Canada. The fans are staying...

New Delhi: In its bid to beat the extreme May heat in most parts of the country, BCCI is contemplating an early start to the IPL, eyeing a March 10-May 15 window for future editions starting next year, Board secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI in an exclusive interview. However, he made it clear that due to international...

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Brussels: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that America's allies in Europe must take the lead on the defence of their own continent and help turn NATO into a read hard-line military alliance. At a meeting of NATO defence ministers, Hegseth called for a reboot of the 32-nation organisation to turn it into a NATO 3.0...