New York: Days after reportedly speaking directly with Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, US President Donald Trump has ramped up his campaign against the country, declaring the airspace closed, signalling possible military action. In a terse Truth Social Post Saturday afternoon, he said, “... please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY”....

Chennai: A deepening weather crisis triggered by Cyclone Ditwah has prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts Sunday, warning of extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds. The intensifying cyclonic system over the southwest Bay of Bengal continues to advance towards the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast, bringing widespread rain bands...

Hong Kong: China's factory activity contracted for the eighth straight month in November, according to an official survey on Sunday, underscoring challenges for the country's economy despite the US-China trade truce. The official manufacturing purchasing managers index rose slightly to 49.2 in November from 49 in October, China's National Bureau of Statistics said. The PMI is measured...

New Delhi: As global flight operations disrupted due to a software issue in the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, IndiGo said it has completed the update on the mandatory Airbus system enhancement across its A320-family fleet. All 200 aircraft have now been fully updated and compliant as required, said the Indian carrier. “This programme involved a carefully...

Colombo:  The death toll from severe weather triggered by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has risen to 153, while at least 191 people remain missing as rescue operations intensify, local media reported, citing the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Sri Lanka continues to battle harsh weather conditions, as heavy rainfall, swelling floodwaters, and persistent landslides disrupt life across...

Kendrapara: A silent ecological crisis is unfolding along the coast, where unchecked mushrooming of illegal prawn gheris between Dhamra and Paradip is rapidly reshaping the landscape. What was once a thriving ecosystem is now increasingly dominated by unauthorised aquaculture enclosures -- some even encroaching on the protected zones of Bhitarkanika National Park -- sparking alarm among conservationists...

Dharakote: After 28 years, electricity finally reached Subarnapur village under Jhadabandh panchayat in Ganjam district Saturday, a month after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s intervention. With light bulbs illuminating their homes for the first time, villagers danced and played drums in celebration. For decades, the community lived in darkness, with children studying under dim lantern light and...

Basudevpur: A massive pygmy killer whale was found dead near Kasia fishing jetty in Basudevpur block of Bhadrak district Saturday morning. Local residents and fishermen flocked to the site to catch a glimpse of the rare marine mammal, which had apparently washed ashore, creating a mix of curiosity and concern among onlookers. Forest and marine fisheries officials...

Bargarh: In a major push to position Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary as a leading ecotourism hub in India, the Odisha government approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Rs 71.19 crore for large-scale development in and around the sanctuary and Hirakud wetland. The approval was formally communicated by Deben Kumar Pradhan, Additional Secretary to Forest, Environment and Climate...

Bhubaneswar: In order to promote innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among the youth, Directorate of Higher Secondary Education (DHSE), in collaboration with Research and Entrepreneurship wing of IIT Bhubaneswar and UNICEF, organises OdiaPreneur Smart Odisha Hackathon 3.0. Students from Higher Secondary Schools and Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas can take part in the state-level hackathon. DHSE director Niyati Pattnaik launched...