ONGOLE: The Ongole POCSO Court on Thursday sentenced a man to three years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 75,000 in connection with a sexual assault case reported in May 2020 within the Komarolu police station limits of Prakasam district. According to police, the convict, A Madhava Rao (38), had called a 12-year-old girl, a student of Class 7, to his house on the morning of May 31, 2020. He allegedly sent her to the terrace under the pretext of fetching a sand bowl and followed her upst

VISAKHAPATNAM / RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Three Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with police in the Kintukuru forest area under Rampachodavaram Police Station limits in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district on Wednesday. ASR SP Amit Bardar, addressing a press meet in Vizag, stated that the operation was launched based on credible intelligence about the movement of CPI (Maoist) cadres. Around 7 am on June 18, during a combing operation by the district police, Maoists opened fire on the personne

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday directed the State government to file a counter over delay in setting up the Police Complaint Authority (PCA) cells at district level. Hearing a petition filed by a differently-abled person Tirumala Krishna of Mahanandi in Kurnool district, who claimed that 13 FIRs were filed against him across the State for a single social media post, Justice Nunepally Harinath found fault with the government for failing to set up the State and district-leve

VIJAYAWADA: NTR district is set to celebrate International Yoga Day in a festive atmosphere on June 21, with nearly 9 lakh participants expected across 650 ward and village secretariats, according to NTR District Collector G Lakshmisha. The Collector, along with Joint Collector S Ilakkiya, held a video conference with Municipal Commissioners and MPDOs on Thursday to review preparations. He said the districts programme is part of a massive state-wide initiative, with around 2 crore people set to

NELLORE: Senior TDP leader and Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy on Thursday came down heavily on former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of instigating chaos, promoting betting culture, and misusing public emotions over the suicide of a YSRCP activist. Addressing the media at Duttalur, Somireddy blamed Jagan for encouraging betting culture in the State through slogans like Why Not 175? It was this illusion that pushed YSRCP activist Nagamalleswara Rao into betting los

GUNTUR: The State government has launched the procurement of Black Burley tobacco through Markfed, assuring farmers that every leaf will be purchased. Minister for Agriculture, Marketing, and Cooperation K Atchannaidu inaugurated the procurement centre at the Paruchuru Agricultural Market Yard on Thursday, reinforcing the states commitment to agricultural welfare. Leading a farmers rally from Paruchuru junction to the market yard, the minister inspected facilities and announced that HDR and HDM

VIJAYAWADA: Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh met former British Prime Minister and founder of Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) Tony Blair in New Delhi on Thursday, and discussed issues related to usage of AI tools in the education system and the Andhra Pradesh government. During the meeting held with Lokesh in Mumbai in July last year, Tony Blair promised to extend cooperation for usage of AI tools in the education, and in the activities of the AP State government through his TBI.

VIJAYAWADA: Finding fault with the Telangana government for raising objections to the GodavariBanakacherla project, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated that their arguments lack logical basis. Naidu advised the Telangana government to focus on completing the projects it has undertaken on the Godavari River, rather than opposing the interests of the lower riparian state. He added that he would not object to Telanganas projects on the Godavari and suggested that the Telangana government appr

VIJAYAWADA: Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh urged Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, and Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya to extend support to Andhra Pradesh in the construction of Sports City of global standards in Capital Amaravati. As part of his two-day visit to New Delhi, Lokesh met Mandaviya on Thursday. Informing that the Amaravati Capital works are going on at a brisk pace, he sought the support of the Sports Ministry in the construction of the Sports City. The Andhr

VIZIANAGARAM: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila slammed former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for unveiling the statue of YSRCP activist Nagamalleswara Rao, who allegedly committed suicide after losing huge money in betting, at Rentapalla village in Palnadu district. What kind of message is given to society by paying tributes to Nagamalleswara Rao, and unveiling his statue? she questioned Jagan. Attending a district-level party review meeting in Vizianagaram on

VIJAYAWADA: The seventh State-Level Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) meeting, chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the State Secretariat on Thursday, approved investment proposals for 19 projects worth Rs 28,546 crore. These investments are expected to generate employment opportunities for 30,270 people. So far, across the seven SIPB meetings, investment proposals worth Rs 5,34,684 crore have been approved, creating job prospects for 4,73,969 individuals. The board also reviewed pro

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu took strong exception to the attitude of YSRCP president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy , and the tours of the latter intended to promote rowdyism and violence in the State. Referring to Jagans use of the phrase rappa rappa narakadam (slaughter) from film dialogues, Naidu questioned whether this meant he would kill people in real life too. He slammed Jagans psychological outlook, stating, His condolence tours are instigating rowdyism

VIJAYAWADA: Former Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said the overwhelming response to his recent tours was a standing testimony to the huge anti-incumbency that has set in within one year of the TDP-led NDA government. Speaking to the media at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli on Thursday, Jagan said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is scared due to his failure in governance, and that his impatience is being manifested in diversion politics, and foisting false cases

VIJAYAWADA: The State government on Thursday constituted a State Level Steering Committee (SLSC) to oversee the submission of proposals to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for procuring 750 electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme. These e-buses, sanctioned by MoHUA, will be deployed across 11 cities in the State. As per the schemes guidelines, each participating state must form an State Level Steering Committee headed by the Chief Secretary to review and forward proposals

KADAPA: In a strong move to protect the rights of senior citizens, the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) of Jammalamadugu, A Sai Sree, annulled a property gift deed executed by an elderly couple in Proddatur, Kadapa district, after their five daughters abandoned them. The order was issued under Section 23 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which empowers authorities to revoke property transfers if children fail to care for their elderly parents. According to

TIRUMALA: Tirupati district administration has launched a large-scale legacy waste clearance and beautification drive across gram panchayats surrounding the temple town to restore its sanctity, which draws 1.22 lakh devotees daily. District Collector S Venkateswar is leading the campaign, with execution by the District Panchayat Raj Department. District Panchayat Officer Suseela Devi said workers have cleared between 12,000 and 15,000 tonnes of decades-old waste from various locations. The clear

CHITTOOR: A 25-year-old woman was publicly humiliated and assaulted in Narayanapuram village of Kuppam mandal, on Monday. The incident came to light on Tuesday, sparking outrage over the inhumane treatment. The woman was tied to a tree and physically attacked over a debt repayment, allegedly by a man named Munikannappa. The victim has been identified as Sirisha. According to reports, Sirisha's husband, Timmarayappa, had borrowed Rs 80,000 from Munikannappa three years ago. After failing to repay

VIJAYAWADA: The Department of School Education has successfully completed the 2025 teacher transfer and promotion exercise across Andhra Pradesh, marking one of the most comprehensive administrative undertakings in the education sector. The large-scale operation was conducted under the supervision of Director of School Education V Vijayarama Raju and involved personnel from Government, Zilla Parishad, Municipal Corporation, and Municipal schools. A total of 67,732 transfers and 4,477 promotions

VIJAYAWADA: The Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta has reportedly instructed Intelligence Chief Mahesh Chandra Ladda to inspect and submit a report on the functionality and other technical issues related to the chopper, currently being used by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The move came after a technical snag was reported in the chopper on Monday when it was allocated to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. Goyal, who was on a two-day visit to the State, r

GUNTUR: Palnadu SP Kanchi Srinivasa Rao on Monday briefed the media regarding the proposed visit of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to Rentapalla village in Sattenapalli constituency on June 18. SP Srinivasa Rao said YSRCP Sattenapalli in-charge Gajjala Sudheer Bhargav Reddy had submitted a request for police permission but failed to provide essential details, including expected crowd size, vehicle movement, barricading, and accountability for event management. Despite repeated follow

VIJAYAWADA: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Andhra Pradesh Committee has appealed to Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu to extend the Talliki Vandanam scheme to low-income contract, outsourcing, and sanitation workers earning less than Rs 25,000 per month. In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, CPM state secretary V Srinivasa Rao criticised the exclusion of these workers from the scheme despite promising to cover all individuals with monthly incomes below Rs 25,000 before electio

NELLORE: A bomb threat triggered a high alert at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota on Sunday night. The Tamil Nadu Command Control Centre reportedly received an anonymous call alleging the presence of terrorists on the SHAR campus. Following the threat, security forces were swiftly mobilized. From the early hours of Monday, intensive searches were conducted across the SHAR premises. Teams from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and local police combed the area t

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA), in coordination with the Department of Skill Development and Training, will organise a Job Mela on June 18 at the CRDA Skill Hub Center in Tullur. The initiative aims to provide employment opportunities for youth in Amaravati and surrounding areas. Reputed companies including MVR Infra Project Ltd., Varun Motors Pvt. Ltd., Skillcraft, KVM Projects Ltd., and Shriram Finance Ltd. will participate in the event. Available

VISAKHAPATNAM: The State government is gearing up for the 11th International Yoga Day, set to take place in Visakhapatnam on June 21, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the grand event. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed preparations, inspecting RK Beach Road, where five lakh people are expected to perform yoga simultaneously. Naidu examined the setup, reviewed logistics, and instructed officials on security, transportation, sanitation, and crowd management. Stressing meticulou

ONGOLE: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials on Monday caught K Srinivasa Rao, a Senior Assistant at the Markapur Irrigation (Special Division) Office, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from contractor Y Srinivasa Reddy. The bribe was allegedly demanded for processing pending contractual bills. According to ACB officials, the complainant had completed irrigation works and requested Rao to forward his bills for approval. However, Rao allegedly demanded Rs 30,000 to move the files.

KAKINADA: Kakinada Assistant Food Control Officer B Srinivas and his team have identified five unauthorised Mango Jelly (Mango Tandra) manufacturing units operating in the rural outskirts of the district. The crackdown took place in Thammavaram and Panduru villages, where notices were issued to the owners. Speaking to TNIE , Srinivas said that while mango jelly production intensifies during the mango season, operating such units without approvals from the food control, revenue, and labour depart

TIRUPATI: Unidentified assailants allegedly murdered a 33-year-old realtor in Madanapalle of Annamayya district late on Sunday night. Police said six unidentified persons entered the house of Gangadhar, son of late Narapugari Krishnamurthy, at around 11 pm and fatally attacked him with sticks and stones. The incident took place near Ram Thulasamma Kalyana Mandapam on Basinikonda bypass road. The murder took place in front of his wife, Vanitha, who reportedly witnessed the attack helplessly. DSP

GUNTUR: An alleged financial fraud amounting to Rs 34.34 lakh, involving an outsourcing employee: Gangabhavani, has rocked Chilakaluripet Municipality, leading to a climate of fear among municipal staff. So far, disciplinary action has been initiated against 11 employees, with higher officials calling for further action, signalling the seriousness of the irregularities. Municipal Chairman Shaik Rafani wrote to the Director of Vigilance on June 12, urging a comprehensive investigation into the mi

VIJAYAWADA: MLC and Jana Sena General Secretary Konidala Nagababu likened Deputy Chief Minister Konidala Pawan Kalyan to nuclear energy, highlighting his multifaceted leadership and unwavering commitment to development and welfare. Speaking at a virtual meeting with NRI Jana Sainiks and Veera Mahilas from Perth, Australia, Nagababu thanked the expatriate supporters for their continued financial and moral backing of the party. The general perception is that nuclear means explosive, but nuclear en

VISAKHAPATNAM: Chief Minister and TDP supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu urged party workers to actively communicate the achievements of the coalition government during the past year, stating that the development and welfare programmes undertaken must reach every household. Addressing a review meeting with party workers from the erstwhile Visakhapatnam district on Monday, Naidu stressed the importance of grassroots mobilisation and participation in governance. He acknowledged past shortcomings in pa

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on Rajampet MP PV Midhun Reddys anticipatory bail plea in the liquor policy case to Wednesday after extensive arguments. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the CID, alleged that Midhun Reddy played a crucial role in the liquor policys formulation and execution. He claimed liquor orders were selectively awarded to companies that paid kickbacks, leading to a Rs 3,500 crore loss. Statements from accused and witnes

GUNTUR: In a major step toward rural industrial growth, Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar laid stone for a Flatted Factory Complex under the SERP-MSME initiative in Kolakaluru of Tenali mandal. The facility is expected to promote micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), generate employment, and offer skill training, especially for local women. The project received a significant boost with philanthropist Ponnekkanti Suvarchala Sashikiran and her family donating one acre of landworth a

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the police to submit complete details regarding the case filed against YSRCP senior leader Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy over his remarks on the Amaravati capital issue. Justice T Mallikarjuna Rao issued the orders, adjourning the hearing on Sajjalas anticipatory bail plea to June 18. During the hearing, Sajjalas counsel, S Dushyant Reddy, argued that the Tadepalli police had registered a case based on a complaint by K Sireesha. This, he c

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and HRD and IT Minister extended warm congratulations to students from the Telugu States who secured top ranks in the NEET-UG 2025 examination. Taking to X, they praised the hard work and excellence demonstrated by the young aspirants. Naidu posted, Hearty congratulations to all the medical students who passed NEET UG 2025. Well done! Students from both Telugu State have done exceedingly well. Kudos to Kakarla Jeevan Sai Kumar from Telangana for sec

VIJAYAWADA: The state government, spearheaded by HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, has launched a large-scale initiative to provide free JEE and NEET coaching to over 1,00,000 students across 1,355 government junior colleges as part of a major educational reform. This unprecedented program aims to bridge socioeconomic gaps and elevate rural talent to national level. Under the Andhra Pradesh Model of Education, students in the MPC and BiPC streams will benefit from expertly curated Physics, Chemistry, Bi

VIJAYAWADA: Swachh Andhra Corporation Chairman Kommareddy Pattabhiram launched a strong attack on former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of drastically slashing funds under the Amma Vodi scheme and misleading the public with inflated promises. Speaking at the TDP national office on Sunday, Pattabhiram said that while Jagan had promised to allocate Rs 50,000 crore over five years, only Rs 23,877 crore was released. He slashed Rs 2,178 crore citing maintenance and reduced the nu

ONGOLE: In a tragic road accident near Yerragondapalem-Adda road junction in Prakasam on Sunday morning, one person died and 15 agricultural workers sustained injuries. According to officials, the workers from Gaddameedipalli and Veerabhadrapuram villages in Yerragondapalem mandal had completed papaya harvesting and were transporting the produce to Markapur in a mini-lorry when the accident occurred. As the lorry approached the Yerragondapalem Adda junction, a speeding Bolero from the opposite d

VIJAYAWADA: Minister for Information and Public Relations Kolusu Parthasarathi strongly criticised the YSRCP for allegedly inciting violence during a protest in Podili , accusing the party of undermining peace and disrespecting women . Addressing a press conference at the TDP central office on Sunday, he expressed outrage over reports of stones and slippers being thrown at women and police during a demonstration against the derogatory remarks made on a vernacular TV channel supporting the YSRCP.

VIJAYAWADA: The YSRCP criticised the TDP-led NDA governments first-year performance, accusing it of failing to implement its Super Six promises due to financial indiscipline, and excessive publicity without substance. Former Finance minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, speaking to the media on Sunday, highlighted public disillusionment, noting that none of the promised schemes have reached beneficiaries, unlike the clear welfare calendar under the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government. Buggana pointed

VIJAYAWADA: In a major step to support farmers ahead of the Kharif season, the government released water from Prakasam Barrage into Krishna Delta on Sunday. NTR District Collector G Lakshmi Sha, Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad, and Gannavaram MLA Yarlagadda Venkatrao participated in the ritualistic release after offering poojas. Officials have begun releasing 1,000 cusecs of water daily 700 cusecs into the Ryves Canal and 300 cusecs into the B

GUNTUR: Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, accused the previous YSRCP government of large-scale corruption, fake certifications, and neglect of infrastructure. Inflated bills and forged documents have tarnished Andhras image in Delhi. Every rupee we receive now is being spent on repairing roads, he stated. Speaking at the unveiling of NT Rama Raos statue in Thakkellapadu, alongside MLA Dhulipalla Narendra, Dr Pemmasani praised NTR as a

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has called for widespread participation in the 11th International Yoga Day in Visakhapatnam on June 21. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance as the chief guest, Naidu emphasised the theme Yoga for One Earth, One Health, urging people to incorporate yoga into their daily life for enhanced health and longevity. The Yogandhra initiative, running from May 21 to June 21, aims to engage at least two crore people through extensive yoga sessions

VIJAYAWADA: AP Pollution Control Board Chairman P Krishnayya lauded the pollution-free operations of Manthena Satyanarayana Raju Arogyalayam and highlighted yogas benefits for physical and mental well-being. Speaking at the 11th International Yoga Week celebrations in Amaravati on Sunday, he urged citizens to promote greenery and protect the environment. The week-long yoga training, supported by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy under the Yoga Samavesh initiative, saw 1,23

GUNTUR: Health and Family Welfare Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav launched the IEC (Information, Education & Communication) material of STOP Diarrhoea Campaign-2025 in Tenali of Guntur district on Sunday. It includes posters, banners and other awareness tools. The event was attended by District Medical & Health Officer K Vijayalakshmi, District Immunisation Officer A Shravan Babu, and other health officials. The Government of Andhra Pradesh, in coordination with the Ministry of Health & Family Welf

NELLORE: Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Minister Ponguru Narayana has directed officials to make grand arrangements for the upcoming Roti festival at the renowned Bara Shaheed Dargah in Nellore. The festival is set to begin on July 6, and preparations were reviewed at a high-level meeting held on Sunday at SR Sankaran Hall in the Collectorate. Narayana highlighted the historical significance of Bara Shaheed Dargah, and revealed that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has s

VIJAYAWADA: With the lifting of the 61-day annual fishing ban at midnight on June 14, fishermen across Krishna district resumed operations on Sunday morning, bringing back boats to sea in anticipation of a good fishing season. The ban, enforced under the Andhra Pradesh Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1994, aims to conserve fish and shrimp during the breeding season and is lifted annually in mid-June. According to the Fisheries Department, all 23 fish landing points including the Gilakaladindi Fi

VISAKHAPATNAM: After a 61-day halt to protect marine life during the breeding season, fishing activity resumed in full force along the Andhra Pradesh coast on Saturday night. Over 1,900 mechanised and motorised boats in Visakhapatnam district alone returned to the sea on June 14, as the annual fishing ban officially ended. Each vessel, carrying between eight to ten fishermen, marked the beginning of a fresh season. The ban, enforced under the AP Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1994, was in effect

HYDERABAD: A 51-year-old inspector-rank officer from the Intelligence department of Andhra Pradesh, posted at Masab Tank in Hyderabad, was allegedly duped of Rs 69,000 after his phone was reportedly hacked on June 12. According to his complaint, the officer had visited a bank in Adarsh Nagar that day to withdraw Rs 31,500 using his debit card. Around 12.55 pm, he received a call from someone claiming to be an SBI customer service executive, informing him that Rs 49,000 had been debited from his

NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said while India has become the fourth-largest economy in the world, the real competition with the top two economies, the United States and China, has just started. Addressing the Annual Summit of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Naidu said India should strengthen its global product manufacturing capabilities and avoid falling into the middle-income trap. Today, we are the fourth-largest economy. Another two years,

ANANTAPUR: A pall of grief descended over Pudagundlapalli Thanda in Gorantla mandal as news broke that Mood Murali Naik, a brave soldier of the Indian Army, was martyred in the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan. Murali Naik, aged around 23, had joined the army in December 2022 and served under Army No: A3451489H, in the AV (OPR) trade. Murali Naik hailed from a humble backgroundhis parents, M. Jyothibai and M. Sreeram Naik, are daily wage earners in the remote tribal hamlet. His sacrif