CATEGORIES

Alternative route to Leh-Ladakh: MoD seeks transport ministry nod for tunnel

THE Union Ministry of Defence has recommended that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) approve the construction of the Bhubhu Jot tunnel.

2 injured in parcel bomb explosion in Ahmedabad, family feud suspected

TWO people were injured when a parcel bomb exploded at a residence in the Sabarmati area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Police said on Saturday.

AGITATOR TO VICTIM & A BRUSH WITH GANDHI

MID the melee and uproar at Makar Dwar of Parliament, the image of Pratap Chandra Sarangi, frail and bloodied, with a handkerchief pressed against his forehead, evoked a strange sense of irony. It felt as though the wheels of time had come to a full circle for the BJP MP from Balasore.

Govt to check commercial viability of D2M tech

AFTER the \"reasonably successful\" preliminary trials of direct-to-mobile (D2M) technology - telecast of live TV channels on smartphones without an internet connection - Prasar Bharati has sent a detailed proposal with findings to the government to seek approval for initiating large-scale testing to check its commercial feasibility.

Indian skills will help build 'New Kuwait': PM

Modi addresses diaspora, meets 101-year-old former IFS officer Mangal Sain Handa after granddaughter's request

Cong launches campaign to uphold Ambedkar's legacy, lines up rallies

TAKING the Ambedkar row from Parliament to streets, the Congress launched a nationwide campaign on Saturday.

No grounds to reject Oppn's no-trust notice against V-P

THERE is no constitutional ground to reject the impeachment notice submitted by the Opposition seeking the removal of Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, said constitutional expert and former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary.

Net forest cover rises, but decreases in biodiverse regions like Western Ghats

INDIA's net forest coverage increased by 1,445 square kilometers during 2021-23, but it lost the natural forest density in biodiverse-rich Western Ghats, Northeast, open natural ecosystems and mangrove forests, according to the biennial data released by the Central government on Saturday.

THE RISE & RISE OF AMBEDKAR AS AN ICON

HE fracas over an insult to Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar leading to fisticuffs between the members of the ruling coalition and the opposition within the parliament complex underlined two distinctive trends.

PROTECT SOIL AFTER A YEAR OF LANDSLIDES

In December, a landslide occurred in the rocky Thiruvannamalai on the slopes of the Annamalaiyar Hill, after a heavy rainfall unusual for the region.

Odisha girl clears Tamil talent exam

A 16-year-old girl from Ganjam district in Odisha -- presently a Class 11 student at Government Higher Secondary School in Velliyangadu -- has successfully cleared Tamil Talent Search Examination (TTSE), securing 91 out of 100 marks.

3,700 govt schools in TN face internet loss over ₹1.5 cr bill

AT a time when the state government is promoting smart classrooms and hi-tech labs across schools in Tamil Nadu, more than 3,700 high and higher secondary government schools may lose their internet connection as they have not been able to settle outstanding bills worth ₹1.5 crore to BSNL.

Odisha's forest size grows, Ganjam tops the districts

From 2,438.96 sq km in 2021, the western Odisha district's forest cover reduced to 2,376.91 sq km in 2023.

Forest dept directed to secure nesting grounds of Olive Ridleys

IN a bid to check the decline in Olive Ridley mass nesting, the state government has directed the Forest department to take adequate measures to secure the habitat of these endangered species in the current season.

RAINS WASH AWAY HOPES OF FARMERS

The torrential showers have affected paddy crops in vast tracts of agriculture fields in several districts across state

15 hurt in bus accident in Kendrapara

As many as 15 persons, including three women and two children, sustained injuries in a road accident at Badapada village under Pattamundai rural police station here on Saturday.

Giant python rescued from village

FOREST officials on Friday rescued a giant python measuring 18.5 ft in length from Rajendranarayanpur village in Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district.

Strict vigil at borders as paddy purchase starts in Sundargarh

WITH kharif procurement commencing in Sundargarh from Friday, the district administration has initiated measures to keep strict vigil on all border entry points to check illegal arrival of paddy stocks from neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Sports meet of AVEI held

The annual sports day of AUM Valley Educational Institution (AVEI), Titilagarh was celebrated on Thursday and Friday.

50% crop damage likely in Ganjam

CONTINUOUS rain for the last three days is likely to damage around 50 per cent of kharif paddy crop in Ganjam district.

Woman murdered by husband, body recovered from house after 2 days

DECOMPOSED body of a woman allegedly murdered by her husband two days back, was recovered from their house at Jenkeda village within Gaisilet police limits here on Saturday.

OSOU's three-day event on LMS comes to an end

A three-day competency development programme on learning management system (LMS) organised by Odisha State Open University (OSOU) for all faculty members concluded on Friday.

Odisha shivers as rains lash for 2nd day in a row

RAINS triggered by the depression lashed Odisha for the second consecutive day on Saturday, bringing mercury further down across the state.

INCESSANT DOWNPOUR AFFECTS PADDY CROPS, GOVT SEEKS REPORT

EVEN as paddy procurement is underway in many districts, the low-pressure induced incessant rains have caused widespread damage to standing paddy and vegetable crops in large parts of the state.

Man extorts ₹4.96L by blackmailing woman, arrested

Police on Saturday arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly extorting ₹4.96 lakh from a woman by blackmailing to make her objectionable photos and videos viral.

Complete PDS rice lifting: Dept directs districts

KEEPING its word of distribution of ration under public distribution system to beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA) every month from the new year, the state government has directed collectors to complete PDS rice lifting from godowns for January by Saturday, and report compliance.

6th edition of DAV united fest commences on a colourful note

HIGHER Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj and his Industry colleague Sampad Chandra Swain inaugurated the sixth edition of DAV United Festival here on Saturday.

HOST OF EVENTS TO CONNECT NRIs WITH ODISHA

THE Odisha government has planned a host of activities to ensure a memorable experience for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) during the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention to be organised in the city from January 8 to 10.

Capital to witness a myriad cultural programmes ahead of PBD convention

FROM Patha Utsav and flash mobs to walkathon and musical evenings, a series of cultural events will dot the state capital for the next three weeks ahead of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) conclave from January 8.

Academician's word book to help tribal kids learn their language

An English professor of NIT-Rourkela Seemita Mohanty has come out with a multilingual picture word book in six tribal languages for first generation tribal learners in Sundargarh. She tells Prasanjeet Sarkar how it would help the children learn the basics in their language