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Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a traditional Odisha Ikat handloom textile to Puan Maharani, Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament, during his official visit, showcasing India’s rich textile heritage and Odisha’s renowned weaving traditions on the global stage. Popularly known as Bandha, Odisha Ikat is one of the state’s most celebrated handloom art forms. The textile is created using a highly skilled tie-and-dye technique, where yarns are carefully tied and dyed before the weaving process begins. This intricate method produces elaborate patterns, rich textures and designs that appear identical on both sides of the fabric. Distinguished by its flowing curvilinear…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has stepped up Covid-19 surveillance and preparedness measures in districts bordering Andhra Pradesh following a recent increase in coronavirus cases and reports of two suspected Covid-related deaths in the neighbouring state. State Public Health Director Dr. Rabindranath Mishra said Odisha continues to maintain active surveillance and regular testing across healthcare facilities. He assured that no Covid-19 positive cases have been detected in the state so far and urged people not to panic. “Covid surveillance is ongoing across Odisha, and testing is being conducted regularly. All samples tested so far have returned negative results. There is no…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s political landscape is abuzz with speculation following reports that senior leader and former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Pravat Biswal is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). If the move materialises, it would mark a significant political development, particularly in Cuttack district, where Biswal has remained an influential figure with a considerable support base. Political observers believe his induction into the BJP could strengthen the party’s organisational presence in the region while posing a challenge to the BJD ahead of future electoral battles. Biswal, who represented the Cuttack-Choudwar Assembly constituency, has been associated with the BJD…
New Delhi: Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply after the United States launched a fresh round of military strikes against Iran following Tehran’s reported announcement that it was closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit routes. According to reports, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared the closure of the waterway after an incident involving a commercial vessel that allegedly failed to follow instructions issued by Iranian authorities. Tehran warned that the Strait would remain closed “until further notice” and cautioned against any foreign intervention in the region. In response, the United States launched what…
Udala: Passenger bus services came to a standstill in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Sunday after the Udala Motor Workers’ Association launched an indefinite strike, alleging police inaction in the assault case involving bus conductor Rabindra Parichha. The association announced the shutdown during a press conference on Saturday, expressing dissatisfaction over what it described as a delay in taking action against those responsible for the attack. Association secretary Harish Chandra Das alleged that two suspects had previously been detained by police but were later released without any legal action. Following the strike call, all passenger bus operations from Udala were suspended…
Sundargarh: A minor girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by a group of seven men in a forest in Odisha’s Sundargarh district on Saturday night, police said. Five accused have been detained by the police for questioning. According to the complaint, the girl, a resident of Chhattisgarh, had come to visit her maternal uncle’s house in the Bandega area under Talsara police limits. She stepped out of the house at night when two men on a motorcycle kidnapped her and took her to a nearby forest. Five other men were already waiting at the spot. The girl was allegedly raped…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has identified more than 1.01 crore women beneficiaries for the fifth instalment of the Subhadra Yojana, which is scheduled to be disbursed on Rakhi Purnima, August 28. The decision was reviewed at a high-level preparatory meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Friday. The meeting assessed administrative and technical readiness to ensure the seamless transfer of financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries. Officials informed the meeting that 1,15,75,633 applications have been registered under the scheme so far. During the 2026-27 financial year, an additional 3,17,966 fresh applications were received. Following scrutiny and eligibility verification, 1,02,04,396…
New Delhi: The World Bank has approved $890 million in financing to support India’s ambitious rooftop solar programme, a move expected to expand access to clean energy for millions of households and create approximately 1.7 million jobs across the renewable energy sector. The funding will support the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the Government of India’s flagship initiative aimed at promoting rooftop solar installations in 10 million urban and rural households across the country. The programme seeks to reduce electricity costs for families while boosting domestic manufacturing and adoption of solar energy technologies. India has committed to achieving net-zero…
Mumbai: The fourth installment of the popular Dhamaal franchise, directed by Indra Kumar, attempts to revive the slapstick comedy series with a larger scale adventure, but struggles to recreate the charm that made the original film a success. Featuring Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Jaaved Jaaferi, Sanjay Mishra, Riteish Deshmukh, and Ravi Kishan, Dhamaal 4 follows a treasure-hunt adventure packed with action, misadventures and over-the-top comic situations. However, critics have pointed out that the film relies heavily on the franchise’s familiar formula without offering much that feels fresh or innovative. The storyline combines elements of adventure films with the franchise’s trademark…
Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess preparations for the upcoming Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri and directed officials to ensure seamless coordination for the smooth conduct of the world-famous festival. Emphasising the importance of timely rituals, robust security arrangements and effective crowd management, the Chief Minister instructed all departments and stakeholders to work in close coordination to ensure an incident-free Rath Yatra. According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Majhi stressed the need for uninterrupted communication among officials and agencies involved in the festival to facilitate quick decision-making and…