Chennai: Veteran political leader and AINRC founder N Rangasamy Wednesday took oath as the Chief Minister of Puducherry for the fifth time. Two other cabinet members--Malladi Krishan Rao from the regional party and A Namassivayam of the BJP, also took oath as ministers in the AINRC-led NDA government. Lt Governor K Kailashnathan administered the oath of office...

Thiruvananthapuram/Wayanad: Kerala is likely to know the name of its next Chief Minister later Wednesday, with indications that the Congress high command could make an announcement before noon. The delay in the decision has kept the camps of three top contenders--AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala...

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday hiked import duties on gold and silver to 15 per cent from 6 per cent as part of measures to curb inbound shipments of precious metals amid a rising import bill due to the West Asia crisis. Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarion call for curbs on gold purchases, along...

Bhubaneswar: Even after three days of its investigation into the killing of GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, the Crime Branch (CB) is yet to question one of the two alleged women victims in the case, drawing accusations from the victims’ family that investigators are delaying the probe deliberately. Swain was killed after allegedly harassing and attempting to...

By Arindam Ganguly, OP Bhubaneswar: The alleged irregularities and suspected paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 examination have left many aspirants across Odisha distressed, with several describing the controversy as mentally exhausting after years of preparation. The issue has now snowballed into a nationwide controversy, prompting the CBI to register an FIR following a complaint from the...

Sambalpur: Police busted an illegal LPG cylinder black-marketing racket operating from a roadside dhaba under Jujumura police limits in Sambalpur district and seized 62 cylinders, police said Tuesday. A 19-year old youth identified as Subhas Bishnoi and a minor girl was detained in this connection, said Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo while addressing a press conference...

Gania(Nayagarh): A road blockade was staged in Nayagarh district Tuesday following the recovery of the half-burnt body of an 18-year-old youth, with family members alleging he was murdered over a personal relationship. The deceased, Sanjay Pradhan of Kandhamirigi village under Khandapada police limits, was found Monday near the Balisahi– Erundipathar road under Gania block. His identity was...

Jharsuguda: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition filed by Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, dealing a setback in the ongoing legal dispute over the constituency’s 2024 Assembly election results. Tripathy had approached the apex court challenging a decision of the Odisha High Court, which refused to quash an election petition filed against him at a preliminary stage....

Nabarangpur: Police in Nabarangpur district arrested two men in connection with the killing of Jagannath Gouda, who was found dead with injuries in a farmland near Biriguda village under Kodinga police station limits May 10, officials said Tuesday. Police said a special team was formed with senior officers, including the superintendent of police and the sub-divisional police...

Malkangiri: A woman Maoist cadre has surrendered before police in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district, close to the Malkangiri border, officials said Tuesday. The surrendered cadre has been identified as Podiyam Lakshmi, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of the Maoist organisation. Authorities said a reward of Rs 5 lakh had been...