Cebu: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India's expertise in counter-terrorism goes far beyond theoretical knowledge, having been shaped by decades of confronting cross-border security challenges. He noted that every strategy adopted by the country has been tested in real-time situations and has proven effective. Addressing the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Singh said...

Tiruchi: Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials conducted fresh searches at premises linked to former Tamil Nadu minister K.N. Nehru Thursday, amid investigations into allegations of large-scale corruption in recruitment to the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department. According to preliminary information, officials searched his residences in Tiruchirappalli and Chennai, along with other properties linked to...

United Nations: India has said that more women in the armed forces can lead to greater protection for women who are disproportionately impacted by conflicts. India's Permanent Representative P. Harish said Wednesday (local time) that the dangers to women and girls from conflicts call for "greater representation of women in armed forces can greatly enhance" the UN's...

Nagpur: The Congress has registered a second consecutive victory in the Nagpur Division Graduates' constituency of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a region widely regarded as a stronghold of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Congress candidate Abhijit Govindrao Wanjarri defeated his BJP rival, Sudhakar Kohle, by a margin of 3,271 votes...

Hatadihi: A four-member team has been formed to investigate allegations that pensions meant for 30 deceased beneficiaries were fraudulently withdrawn using forged thumb impressions in Danara panchayat under Hatadihi block in Kendujhar district. The team comprises the assistant block development officer, block social security officer and two panchayat executive officers (PEOs). It will investigate alleged irregularities across...

Rourkela: Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, in collaboration with scientists from IIT Guwahati, IIT Bombay and NISER Bhubaneswar, have developed lead-free materials that change their light-emission properties in response to heat and moisture, opening up potential applications in anti-counterfeiting, humidity sensing and lighting technologies. The research focuses on bismuth-based organic-inorganic hybrid compounds as...

Nilagiri: With the annual tourist season at Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Baleshwar district approaching, damaged roads and neglected visitor facilities have raised concerns over the Forest Department’s preparedness to welcome tourists. Spread across 272.75 sq km of dense sal forest, the sanctuary generally remains open from November 1 to June 15. However, several essential facilities remain in...

Pottangi: Polling for Andhra Pradesh’s Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad elections in Kotia panchayat, Koraput district, has been rescheduled from 3 to 5 November, with vote counting moved from 5 to 7 November. According to a notification issued by Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha, the revised schedule was announced through letter No. 905/ SEC-B1/2026....

Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to tackle urban flooding and protect the state’s natural water systems, the state government has proposed a comprehensive statewide framework to identify, restore, protect and monitor natural drainage channels, water bodies and flood-retention areas across all urban local bodies (ULBs). The proposed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aims to prevent encroachment, unauthorised filling,...

Nandapur: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has directed the Koraput Collector to take steps to improve the deteriorating condition of Padua PM SHRI Higher Secondary School in Kulabir panchayat under Nandapur block of Koraput district. In a letter dated October 23, 2026, NCPCR Registrar Sudha Choudhury asked the district administration to ensure compliance...