Water levels in the Baitarani River are rising, leading to fears of a minor flood in the low-lying areas of Jajpur district. Official Dilip Raut stated that the water level at Akhuapada might cross the danger mark. Floodwaters have already washed away a 60-foot temporary road connecting Beleswar to Kusi, causing distress to locals. While Odisha has received heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours, officials clarified that most reservoirs are empty and no major flood is expected immediately. The weather is expected to improve after another 24 hours. https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/zeeodisha/state-news/water-level-of-the-baitarani-river-is-rising-this-area-may-be-slightly-affected/3262022

The 77th Van Mahotsav week was celebrated in Ranpur, Nayagarh district, under the Khordha Forest Division. Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy attended as the chief guest, urging everyone to plant a tree for their mother. Over 1,000 saplings were planted during the event, with a future goal of planting 10,000 more trees. Local officials and forest department staff participated to promote environmental conservation. https://odishatazanews.com/?p=207366

The Indian T20 squad for the upcoming 3-match series against Zimbabwe has been announced under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. Notably, Sanju Samson has been excluded from the 15-member squad, while 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi retains his place. The team features six changes compared to previous series, including the return of Rinku Singh and Mayank Yadav. Four new faces—Prabhsimran Singh, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, and Harsh Dubey—have received maiden call-ups. All matches are scheduled to be played in Harare starting July 23. https://odishasambad.in/indias-squad-for-the-tour-of-zimbabwe-announced/

Odisha CM Mohan Majhi reviewed Rath Yatra preparations in Puri, emphasizing a smooth experience for devotees. Key measures include tightening inner cordon passes to block unauthorized entry, utilizing AI and drones for crowd management, and ensuring safety for women. The CM directed the police to monitor social media rumors and instructed all departments to complete remaining works by July 12. Servitors have committed to timely completion of rituals to avoid previous delays. https://otvkhabar.in/odisha/cm-directs-tight-security-and-crowd-management-ahead-of-rath-yatra-12139863

A scooter caught fire while moving on the Nabarangpur-Kosagumuda road on Monday. Sandeep Panda, a teacher from Pujariguda school, narrowly escaped injury when the vehicle suddenly stopped and burst into flames. Although the fire brigade arrived and controlled the fire, the scooter was completely destroyed. Short-circuit is suspected to be the cause of the fire. https://www.dharitri.com/scooty-suddenly-caught-fire-while-it-was-moving-and-then/

Two Assam Rifles personnel were martyred and several others injured following a suspected militant attack in Manipur's Ukhrul district. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon in the Nungsang Kong area when the 40 Assam Rifles team was ambushed. Security forces have launched a massive search operation to track down the attackers. Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam condemned the attack, stating it was an attempt to disturb peace in the region. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/2-assam-rifles-jawans-martyred-in-terrorist-attack-in-manipur-12139830

During the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Syama Prasad Mukherjee in Bhawanipatna, a joining ceremony was held where three female Sarpanches from Karlamunda block—Swarnalata Sahu, Kaushalya Rana, and Diptirani Sahu—joined the BJP. Along with them, a former Sarpanch, several ward members, and youth organizers also joined the party in the presence of Government Chief Whip Saroj Padhan and other senior leaders. https://www.dharitri.com/three-women-sarpanchs-of-karlamunda-block-join-bjp/

Millions of people gathered in Tehran for the funeral of Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking one of the largest gatherings in the country's modern history. Mourners lined a 10km route to pay their final respects. During the procession, crowds shouted slogans against US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, with placards calling for their assassination. Supporters carried red and white flags, symbolizing martyrdom and revenge according to Shia traditions. The body will be taken to Qom for rituals before burial in Mashhad. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/khomeinis-last-journey-12139867

The ICC is planning to reintroduce the Asia Cup in a 50-over format ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. The tournament is likely to be held in Bangladesh around June or July next year. While an official statement from the Asian Cricket Council is pending, it is expected that Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will participate. Fans may also witness another high-stakes India vs Pakistan clash. The final decision will be made by the ICC after discussions with the ACC. https://odishasambad.in/asia-cup-2027-is-set-to-return-to-the-50-over-format-with-bangladesh-confirmed-as-host/

Indian Railways is set to launch the country's first hydrogen-powered train on July 17. Developed indigenously under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, this 10-coach train is the world's longest and most powerful broad gauge hydrogen train with 2400 kW capacity. Designed by RDSO Lucknow and built by ICF Chennai, it features zero carbon emissions, using hydrogen fuel cell technology that produces only steam and heat as byproducts. The train has a range of 250 km per refueling and a testing speed of 120 kmph, placing India in an elite group of nations like Germany and Japan. https://argusnews.in/national/indian-railways-hydrogen-train-july-17