NEW DELHI: As the first contingent of pilgrims embarked on Haj to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the overall data shows that as many as 5,446 Muslim women will be travelling as “Ladies Without Mehram” (male companion) for the pilgrimage, with Kerala taking the lead again accounting for 4,477 women in this category.This is the largest…

LAKHIMPUR KHERI: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve authorities have pinned their hopes on Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly to ascertain the exact cause behind the death of 25 vultures, whose carcasses were recovered from a field under Bhira range of the Dudhwa buffer zone, officials said on Thursday.The carcasses of vultures, a protected species under the…

SRINAGAR/SHIMLA/DEHRADUN: After a warm Sunday, temperatures dropped sharply across Kashmir Valley, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as snowfall and rains lashed many parts of the northern hill states on Monday.Snowfall was reported from Sonamarg in north Kashmir and Sadna Pass in Kupwara district, while Srinagar saw a heavy downpour in the afternoon. Heavy snowfall at Pir…

Nitish Kumar while leaving after attending a cabinet meeting at the Old Secretariat in Patna. Samrat Choudhary, who is now the Bihar CM, and others were also seen. (PTI photo) With Nitish Kumar stepping aside, Bihar’s political transition has unfolded much as expected since he announced his move to the Rajya Sabha. Once Nitish signalled…

Bengal to go through 9.5 days of dry spell KOLKATA: Bengal will have to go through an unprecedented unbroken spell of dry days — nine-and-a-half days over the next fortnight from Monday — because of the upcoming elections.The orders, which came from the respective district authorities, shocked both the hospitality industry and those who like…

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar Wednesday underlined India’s strong commitment to safe and unimpeded transit passage of maritime shipping, saying attacks on merchant shipping were completely unacceptable.The minister gave vent to India’s concerns related to merchant shipping disruptions in Strait of Hormuz, while participating in a meeting convened by Japan to discuss supply…

NEW DELHI: A PIL petitioner, on whose plea Supreme Court directed CBI and ED to probe the alleged siphoning of 40,000 crore from bank loans by various Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) companies, on Thursday complained to SC that the agencies have only been arresting officials of the beleaguered corporate and not the kingpin.After advocate…