Bhubaneswar: The scale of destruction emerging from Venezuela is heartbreaking. Two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck less than a minute apart west of the capital, Caracas, causing widespread damage, collapsing buildings and triggering frantic rescue efforts across affected regions. Families have been left searching through rubble for loved ones, while emergency…
Bhubaneswar: Residents of Puri will soon be able to avail a special darshan facility at the revered Jagannath Temple (Srimandir) through a new Aadhaar-based entry system designed to provide a more convenient and streamlined temple visit experience. The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) and aims to enable…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to promote Odisha’s culinary heritage and strengthen food-based tourism, the state government has issued detailed guidelines for Odia cuisine restaurants seeking incentives under the Odisha Tourism (Amendment) Policy, 2026. The new framework outlines eight key eligibility criteria that restaurants must fulfill to qualify for financial assistance and support from the…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant move aimed at strengthening drug safety and curbing self-medication, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has made it mandatory for consumers to obtain a doctor’s prescription before purchasing syrup-based medicines, including commonly used cough syrups. The decision follows an amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, through the Drugs (Fifth…
Bhubaneswar: The third edition of the Bhubaneswar Film Festival (BFF) is set to be held from June 25 to 28 at Jayadev Bhawan, bringing together a diverse selection of acclaimed films from various Indian languages as well as international cinema. The festival aims to celebrate the art of filmmaking, promote cultural exchange and provide a…
Bhubaneswar: Customs officials at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad have seized smuggled gold worth more than Rs 4.26 crore that was cleverly concealed inside a speaker box in an aircraft lavatory. The seizure was made on Friday aboard IndiGo flight 6E-1478, which had arrived from Dubai. Acting on specific intelligence, customs officers carried…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police has put in place an extensive security and crowd-management plan for the upcoming Debasnana Purnima celebrations in Puri, with 72 platoons of police personnel set to be deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual ritual on June 29. Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania recently reviewed the security, traffic,…
Bhubaneswar: Three Indian seafarers have been confirmed dead following a US military strike on the Palau-flagged commercial vessel MT Settebello off the coast of Oman, prompting a strong diplomatic protest from India and renewed concerns over the safety of civilian shipping in the region. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal described the…
Bhubaneswar: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all food business operators across the country to immediately discontinue the use of newspapers for packing, wrapping, or serving food, citing significant health and safety concerns. In a fresh advisory, the food safety regulator warned that newspapers are not suitable for direct contact…
Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards improving child nutrition and early childhood development, the Odisha government has increased financial support for supplementary nutrition provided to severely underweight children and pre-schoolers under its Anganwadi services. Under the revised provisions, the daily nutrition support for severely underweight children aged 6 months to 6 years has been increased…