An Island of 1,25,000 people drew the Indian Prime Minister for three days at the end of June. Was it just a goodwill visit, or more than it meets the eyes? One thing that is vindicated by this visit is that, in diplomacy, small is not trivial. Geography makes some islands large for geopolitics. The purpose of...

The recent controversy over thousands of errors in Odisha’s newly published school textbooks is far more than an editorial lapse. It highlights a deeper concern about the quality of school education and its role in shaping the nation's future. The Odisha government’s decision to investigate the reported 1,678 errors and suspend senior officials reflects the gravity of...

The Haryana government’s bid to secure a second one-year extension for Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi is about more than administrative continuity. It is about whether governments are beginning to use service extensions to avoid uncomfortable decisions. If the Centre approves the proposal, Rastogi will remain in office until June 2027. By then, his two 1990-batch colleagues, Sudhir...

Tehran: A high-level Indian delegation Friday paid tributes to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in US-Israeli strikes in February, in Tehran. The delegation, comprising Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita paid their respects to the Iranian leader in Tehran. Represented India at...

New Delhi: Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia believes Portugal will have to significantly raise their level if they are to overcome neighbours Spain in a blockbuster Round of 16 clash in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Tuesday, warning that another disjointed display could bring an end to Cristiano Ronaldo's illustrious World Cup career. Portugal booked their place...

Bhubaneswar: At least 26 coastal villages in Odisha have been recognised by the IOC-UNESCO under its Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme, marking a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to strengthen coastal disaster preparedness. Official sources said a total of 381 tsunami-prone coastal villages have been identified and are being developed as Tsunami-Ready Villages through various disaster preparedness...

Bhubaneswar/Koraput: Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany, Director of CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) in Lucknow, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Odisha (CUO). The appointment has been made by President Droupadi Murmu in her capacity as the Visitor of the Central University of Odisha. According to an official notification issued by the Ministry...

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at seven locations across Odisha and Rajasthan and arrested three accused, as part of its investigation into a Rs 2.07-crore 'digital arrest' scam in which a retired public servant was allegedly coerced into transferring funds under the threat of fabricated legal action, a statement said Friday. According...

Jaipur: Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar underwent angioplasty at a private hospital in Jaipur Friday, hospital sources said. Dhankhar was admitted to a hospital near Jawahar Circle for routine medical examinations. Following cardiac investigations, doctors advised angioplasty, which was performed later in the day. Sources said the procedure was part of a pre-planned cardiac evaluation. Former chief...

Bhubaneswar: Odisha's ruling BJP Friday lodged a police complaint against a man for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. BJP's media cell coordinator Sujit Kumar Das along with state vice-president Jatin Mohanty filed a written complaint at the Maitree Vihar Cyber and Economic Offences Police Station, the party said in a statement. The...