Mumbai: Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed more than 1 per cent lower Wednesday, in tandem with a weak trend in Asian markets as the conflict in West Asia intensified, driving oil prices higher. Falling for the fourth straight session, the 30-share BSE Sensex tumbled 1,122.66 points or 1.40 per cent to settle at 79,116.19. During...

New Delhi: India supports a Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process that can deliver lasting peace and development for all in the Southeast Asian country, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Wednesday. The external affairs minister also highlighted the importance India attaches to its ties with Myanmar, saying the country lies at the confluence of New Delhi's three...

Dubai: Iran's judiciary chief Wednesday threatened those who say or do anything in support of the US-Israeli airstrike campaign now targeting the Islamic Republic. Gholam Hosseini Mohseni Ejehei made the comments in an interview with Iranian state television. His remarks raised the possibility of those detained facing death penalty charges, as cooperating with an enemy can carry...

Sunit Mishra Bhubaneswar: Elections for four Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha will be held March 16. Of the four seats, voting is unlikely in three. However, the fourth seat has triggered fresh political developments. Instead of attempting to split opposition votes directly, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state has adopted a new political strategy....

New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi marked the festival of Holi with party leaders and workers at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in the national capital Wednesday, conveying a message of unity, harmony and festive cheer. The celebrations at the AICC office were attended by senior party...

Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack has imposed traffic restrictions on certain routes of both cities March 5 and 6 in view of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's two-day visit to Odisha beginning Thursday. Shah is scheduled to arrive here around 8 pm and will stay overnight in the city, officials said Wednesday. According to his schedule,...

New Delhi: Finnish President Alexander Stubb began a four-day visit to India Wednesday to bolster bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas, including trade, investment and critical technology. Stubb will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday, following which the two sides are expected to firm up several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to boost cooperation...

New Delhi: In a move aimed at reducing dependence on China for critical minerals, Japan is in discussions with India to jointly explore rare earth deposits in the desert state of Rajasthan, according to reports. The talks come after India recently identified three hard-rock rare-earth deposits in Rajasthan and Gujarat, containing an estimated 1.29 million metric tons...

Dubai: Israel's defence minister Wednesday threatened whoever Iran picks to be the country's next supreme leader, saying he will be "a target for elimination." Israel Katz made the statement on X. "Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world...

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Tuesday extended warm greetings to the people of the state on the occasion of Holi, wishing everyone a happy, safe and harmonious celebration. He urged citizens to celebrate the festival of colors with joy and responsibility, while maintaining peace and brotherhood. He also called on people to follow safety norms...