KAKINADA : The Food Corporation of India (FCI) on Monday has launched an awareness campaign in Kakinada district to educate the public about fortified rice and address misconceptions surrounding it. Concerns have arisen among certain sections of the population who mistakenly believe that the fortified rice distributed through the Public Distribution System (PDS) contains plastic. As a result, some individuals have been removing the fortified kernels during the rice-cleaning process before cookin

KADAPA: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila Reddy staged a novel protest on Wednesday, offering coconuts in front of the Kadapa Collectorate, demanding the establishment of the long-promised Kadapa Steel Plant. Sharmila, accompanied by Congress leaders, broke coconuts to symbolise their disappointment with the TDP-led NDA government and the previous YSRC government for failing to fulfil their promises. Later, Sharmila, along with a large number of activists, submitted

VIJAYAWADA: Hailing the able leadership of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party (JSP) c hief Pawan Kalyan has said the TDP supremo will continue as the CM for another 10 years. Highlighting the achievements of the TDP-led NDA government in the State Assembly on Wednesday, Pawan Kalyan exuded confidence that Andhra Pradesh will emerge as a $1 trillion economy in the coming five years. Accusing the previous YSRC regime of ruining the State, Pawan Kalyan

VIJAYAWADA: The State Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat on Wednesday, is learnt to have approved the proposals submitted by the technical committee to invite fresh tenders for the Amaravati Capital City development works. The Cabinet is believed to have given its nod to mobilise advances to contractors for taking up the development works. As the Assembly is in session, the decisions taken by the Cabinet were not disclosed by the gov

VISAKHAPATNAM: A pharmacist working at the Visakhapatnam Central Jail Hospital was caught red-handed while attempting to smuggle ganja into the prison. The accused, identified as Kadiyam Srinivas (50) from Pendurthi, was apprehended during a routine security check by jail authorities. Jail Superintendent S Kishore Kumar revealed that Srinivas, who had been serving on deputation at the jail hospital for the past year, was found carrying the contraband hidden in a food container. During the search

GUNTUR: The Andhra Pradesh State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (AP SCPCR) has taken suo-moto cognizance of the attempted suicide by two students at the Sattenapalli SC Welfare Girls Hostel and directed district authorities to investigate. The students, Saritha (19) and Akhila (16) reportedly consumed sleeping pills on Sunday, citing harassment by the hostel warden, whom they accused of retaliating after they complained about poor living conditions. During a surprise inspection on

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Indian Navys UH-3H helicopter, retired in June 2024 after 17 years of service, was officially installed on RK Beach Road on Wednesday. The helicopter joins an impressive lineup of naval assets on display, including an anti-submarine aircraft and a Sea Harrier fighter plane, as part of the TU-142 Aircraft Museum in Visakhapatnam. Speaking to TNIE, Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) Commissioner KS Viswanathan stated, The estimated cost of the projec

VIJAYAWADA: As part of his Swarnandhra Vision 2047, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has decided to make field visits, and interact with people directly to get their feedback on various development programmes and welfare schemes and their views for the rapid economic growth of the State. Speaking in the AP Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Naidu highlighted the development initiatives of his government in the first 150 days. Accusing the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government of destroying the State

VIJAYAWADA: Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Nara Lokeshinformed the Legislative Council on Wednesday that necessary action will be taken against former Kadapa Regional Joint Director (Education) Raghava Reddy after completing an inquiry within the next 45 days. In response to questions raised by MLCs Bhumireddy Ramgopal Reddy, Duvvarapu Rama Rao, and B Tirumala Naidu regarding atrocities committed by the former RJD, the HRD Minister revealed that the State government had received sever

VIJAYAWADA: The State government is aiming to reduce the financial burden on the poor by increasing access to generic medicines and promoting their usage, said Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav. Accusing the previous YSRC government of neglecting generic medicines, the minister revealed that, of the total sale of medicines worth Rs 10,000 crore in the State, generic medicines account for only 7%. Replying to questions raised by the MLAs, Minister Satya Kumar informed the House that there are o

VIJAYAWADA: Communist Party of India (CPI) State Secretary K Ramakrishna has condemned the State governments proposed move to implement the PPP model for maintaining rural roads. He urged the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to withdraw the proposal to impose toll taxes on rural roads . In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ramakrishna criticised the government for planning to burden rural communities with taxes for road repairs, calling the move atrocious. Ramakrishna referred to the CMs announ

VIJAYAWADA: YSRC president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his associates of systematically spreading misinformation to mislead the public and divert attention from their governance failures. Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, Jagan claimed the campaign was aimed at covering up the governments inability to fulfil its key poll promises, including the much-acclaimed Super Six initiatives . The former chief minister alleged that Naidu

GUNTUR: Andhra Pradeshs cotton farmers are grappling with severe distress as delayed procurement and price reductions leave them in financial turmoil. Despite the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) setting up 31 procurement centres across the State, only 20 are currently operational, with the remaining 11 yet to commence the procurement process. Farmers, who faced significant losses in the past two seasons due to fake seeds and declining prices, had hoped for better returns this year. However, he

ONGOLE: Tollywood director Ram Gopal Varma has been given another week to appear before the Prakasam district police for an inquiry related to a cybercrime case filed at Maddipadu Police Station. The Ongole Rural Police have rescheduled his appearance to November 25, following his request for additional time. Commissioner N Srikanth Babu confirmed that fresh notices were sent to RGV through both WhatsApp and registered post on Wednesday. The Tollywood director had earlier communicated through hi

VIJAYAWADA: The State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the State Secretariat on Tuesday, cleared investment proposals to the tune of Rs 85,083 crore. In its maiden meeting after the formation of the TDP-led NDA government, the SIPB discussed the investment proposals and agreements signed with various firms during the past five months While seven firms that come under the purview of Industries and Commerce Department wi

GUNTUR: The political rivalry between the TDP and the YSRC in the State has escalated into a war of words on social media, prompting a surge of police complaints from both sides. The TDP-led government, accused of cracking down on YSRC supporters, has faced counter-allegations of fostering online vitriol against YSRC leaders and their families. Former minister Vidadala Rajini filed a complaint against derogatory posts targeting her, while YSRC Guntur district in-charge Ambati Rambabu lodged 10 c

GUNTUR: Tollywood director Ram Gopal Varma has requested a weeks time to appear before the Ongole Rural Police in connection with a cybercrime case filed against him at Maddipadu police station. The case, based on a complaint by a TDP leader, alleges that Ram Gopal Varma made derogatory remarks about Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, his son and HRD Minister N Lokesh, and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan during promotions for his Telugu film Vyuham. After registering the case, Maddipadu p

GUNTUR: In a significant move to rejuvenate sports infrastructure, officials from the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) have announced plans to transform the Nandamuri Taraka Rama (NTR) Municipal Sports Stadium into a state-of-the-art facility. Located in Brindavan Gardens, the stadium is Guntur citys sole sports hub and attracts 4,000 to 6,000 visitors daily, including athletes and walkers. However, years of neglect have left its courts, walking tracks, and other amenities in disrepair. GMC Co

VIJAYAWADA: The State government has intensified efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), reporting significant progress in 2024. Between January and October, the State achieved a presumptive TB examination rate of 2,343 per lakh population and a TB notification rate of 155 per lakh. A total of 69,371 cases were notified, meeting 83% of the target. The treatment success rate stands at 94%, with 41% of patients cured and 53% completing treatment.

VIJAYAWADA: The State governments latest education reform to extend school hours sparked a heated debate among stakeholders. While parents have largely welcomed the move, teachers warn it could increase the burden on students, especially those in rural and tribal areas. Starting Wednesday, a 10-day pilot project will be launched in one high school or high school plus per mandal across the State. The project, ending on November 30, aims to gather feedback from stakeholders before deciding on perm

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu proposed implementing the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to ensure pothole-free roads in rural areas across the State. During a discussion on irrigation projects in the Assembly on Tuesday, he suggested constructing new rural roads under the PPP model, akin to the approach used for National Highways in India. Highlighting the lack of sufficient financial resources for large-scale infrastructure projects, the Chief Minister recalled how the NDA

VIJAYAWADA: A heated debate unfolded in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council between members of the ruling NDA government and the opposition YSRC over the buildings constructed at Rushikonda during the previous YSRC regime. The treasury benches criticised the previous government for demolishing the Haritha Resorts, accusing them of misusing over Rs 420 crore of public funds to build palatial structures for the Chief Ministers camp office. Meanwhile, YSRC leaders countered the claims, asserting

VIJAYAWADA: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan congratulated Vijayawada's special task force, set up in line with Home Minister Vangalapudi Anithas directions, for cracking the cases of missing women and children. Taking to social media platform X on Tuesday, the actor-turned politician accused the previous YSRC government of not taking any action regarding 30,000 missing women and girls. But change is here. The NDA promised a Strong Law and Order in AP, and today I am proud of the at VjaCityPol

VIJAYAWADA: Civil Supplies, Food, and Consumer Affairs Minister Nadendla Manohar announced that the State government has procured paddy worth Rs 418.75 crore, and deposited payments into the bank accounts within 48 hours of sale, bringing joy to farmers. Recalling the ordeal of farmers who previously had to wait longer for payments, the minister highlighted that the growers are benefitting from the coalition governments effective paddy procurement process in Andhra Pradesh. Minister Nadendla Man

VIJAYAWADA: The State has achieved remarkable progress in its fight against anaemia by distributing 99.9% of adolescents (aged 1019 years) with four Blue Iron-Folic Acid (IFA) tablets in schools and 106.8% of pregnant women with 180 Red IFA tablets during 202324. These efforts have earned Andhra Pradesh the first place in anaemia prevention among adolescents and the second place for IFA supplementation in 202324, as reported in the recently released Socio-Economic Survey 202324. This recognition

VISAKHAPATNAM: Within hours after receiving the complaint, the Visakhapatnam city police arrested four individuals on charges of gang-raping a woman on Tuesday. The accused were identified as Batha Vamsi (27), a final-year LLB student and worked part-time as a Swiggy delivery agent, Boddu Jagadish (27), a fellow final-year LLB student, also worked as a Swiggy delivery agent, Polipalli Anand (28), worked part-time as a cashier and the fourth accused, Davulapalli Rajesh (23), a final-year LLB stud

VISAKHAPATNAM: A day after the incident of cutting hair of students for coming late to school came to light, the Alluri Sitarama Raju district administration on Tuesday suspended the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) principal and Chemistry teacher after conducting an inquiry. On Friday (November 15), a group of second year Intermediate students of KGBV in GM Kothuru village of G Madugula mandal arrived late for the morning assembly and classes. School principal U Sai Prasanna reportedly m

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who envisages interlinking rivers by taking Godavari water to Krishna and from there to Banakacherla to provide irrigation facilities to every acre of land in the State, seems to be mooting the idea of taking up irrigation projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model on the lines of developing National Highways. Taking water to Banakacherla, thereby completing the interlinking of rivers is my life ambition. That is my dream. But it wil

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council witnessed a heated exchange on Monday between the treasury benches and opposition YSRC MLCs during a discussion on the law and order situation in the State. Responding to questions raised by YSRC MLCs Varudhu Kalyani, Kalpalatha Reddy, and Yesu Ratnam about the increase in crimes against women over the past six months under the TDP-led NDA government, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha launched a scathing criticism of the opposition. She accused t

VIJAYAWADA: Speaker Ch Ayyanna Patrudu suggested Housing Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy take action against officials if they are found submitting inaccurate reports to the Assembly. During the Question Hour in the Assembly on Monday, TDP MLAs Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu, PGVE Naidu, Palla Srinivasa Rao, and Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary raised concerns over irregularities in the State housing scheme. In response, the minister informed the House that out of 31,274 houses sanctioned in Visakhapatnam

KADAPA: Pulivendula DSP Murali Naik and Circle Inspector Jeevan Ganganath Babulu questioned Mule Venkata Krishna Reddy, personal assistant to late former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy (former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddys uncle), at his residence on Monday morning. The questioning, which began at 7 am, was conducted in the presence of legal representatives, and the officials recorded his statement. It is pertinent to know that in 2002, Krishna Reddy had filed a private complaint in the Pu

TIRUMALA: The newly constituted Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board, which met for the first time at Annamayya Bhavan here on Monday, took several key decisions, including surrender of non-Hindu employees working in Tirumala to the State government. Cancellation of lease of land given to Visakha Sarada Peetham, and provision of Darshan to local people on first Tuesday of every month. Disclosing the details of the meeting to mediapersons, TTD Trust Board Chairman BR Naidu said the bo

VISAKHAPATNAM: Uttam Bahadur Singh, a Nepalese man missing for four years, was reunited with his family in Nepal. Discovered near Visakhapatnam railway station on September 14, 2024, by the Association for Urban and Tribal Development (AUTD), Uttam had suffered from mental illness for a decade. Once a cook, he had been wandering across different regions. After receiving care at the TSR shelter, the Shraddha Foundation provided medical assistance and facilitated his safe return. Social worker Sha

GUNTUR: The Bapatla district police arrested six individuals for kidnapping an online trader in Chinaganjam Mandal. According to the police, the accused were identified as G Anand Kumar, K Kalki, N Narendar, B Umesh Reddy, S Kiran Kumar, and J Sai Kumar, all from Hyderabad. The victim was identified as P Venkata Krishna Rao (48), from Bethalavaripalem village in Chinaganjam mandal, and working as an online trader. The incident occurred when the six accused barged into Krishna Raos house and dema

GUNTUR: Two female students from the SC Welfare Girls Hostel in Sattenapalli attempted suicide on Monday, reportedly due to harassment by the hostel warden. Saritha (19) and Akhila (16) consumed sleeping pills late Sunday night at the hostel in Venkatapathi Colony. When the girls failed to wake up on Monday, hostel officials rushed them to a local hospital before transferring them to Guntur GGH for better medical treatment. According to reports, the students had previously complained to higher a

VISAKHAPATNAM: A shocking incident has emerged at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in GM Kothuru village of G Madugula mandal in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, where the principal (special officer) allegedly cut the hair of several girl students as punishment for arriving late to school. The incident occurred on November 15 and came to light on Monday, sparking widespread outrage from parents and locals. Reports indicate that as many as 15 students arrived late for the school prayer sessi

VIJAYAWADA: The TDP-led NDA government will not install smart meters on motors used for agricultural purposes, announced Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar on Monday. During a session in the Legislative Council, Ravi Kumar criticised the previous YSRCP government for leaving the power sector burdened with a debt of Rs 1.29 lakh crore. He also highlighted the negative impact of the cancellation of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) by the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government, which, according to h

VIJAYAWADA: Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav said Aurobindo, which maintained the 108 ambulances, committed looting in the name of service. Replying to the issue raised by TDP senior MLAs Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy and Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar during a discussion in the Assembly on Monday, the minister said the government is yet to pay Rs 800 crore to Aurobindo and will take a decision on payment of dues after conducting an inquiry into the allegations against it. Accusing Aurobindo, which

VIJAYAWADA: YSRC leaders, including former Minister Adimulapu Suresh and former SC Corporation Chairman Kommuri Kanaka Rao, accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of resorting to cheap political tactics aimed at creating divisions within Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in the name of categorisation to serve his political interests. Speaking to the media at the partys central office in Tadepalli on Monday, the YSRC leaders alleged that Naidu lacks sincerity on the issue of categorisation and

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) in-charge Chairman Thakur Rama Singh, along with commission member P Venkata Rama Reddy, visited the Polavaram Hydro Power Station on Monday to assess the progress of ongoing construction. The inspection focused on critical components of the project, including the canal system designed to transport water from the Polavaram Multi-Purpose project to the power station and other key structures such as the service bay. Updates on th

KADAPA: Despite three years since the breach of Annamayya project due to unprecedented floods triggered by Cyclone Jawad, reconstruction efforts remains in limbo. Investigations and design studies for rebuilding the project are ongoing, with officials emphasising a cautious approach to ensure future resilience. The breach occurred on November 19, 2021, when heavy rains upstream caused the Cheyyeru River to swell beyond capacity, leading to the failure of a ring bund. The sudden inflow of over 5

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who in recent times underlined the need for increasing population, has came up with bills removing the restrictions on those having more than two children to contest the local body elections. The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday passed the bills to amend the AP Panchayat Raj and AP Municipal Acts. As per the amendments, individuals irrespective of the number of children they have, can contest the local body elections hereafter. In fact

VIJAYAWADA: BJP floor leader in the State Assembly P Vishnu Kumar Raju and Adoni MLA PV Parthasarathi called on Twenty Point Programme Chairman Lanka Dinakar at his office in the State Secretariat, and urged him to take the irregularities that occurred in TIDCO houses during previous YSRC regime, which diluted the spirit of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, to the notice of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to initiate action. As part of poverty alleviation, houses should be provided to the poor unde

VIJAYAWADA: Though the opposition YSRC has boycotted the Assembly session, MLAs of the ruling TDP-BJP-JSP combine seem to have assumed the role of opposition by confronting the ministers on various issues. The ministers giving replies during the Question Hour are facing a series of supplementary questions from the MLAs on various peoples issues. The MLAs are virtually competing with one another to raise the issues related to their respective constituencies, and are pressing for immediate action.

GUNTUR: Art and creativity remain vital even in the age of artificial intelligence, said Vasireddy Vikrant, Executive Director of Nagarjuna Cements Group, at the closing ceremony of VVIT Balotsav 2024. The three-day Childrens Festival, hosted by Vasireddy Venkatadri Institute of Technology (VVIT), concluded on a high note, drawing thousands of students from across the nation and a crowd of over 25,000. The festival celebrated Telugu culture through competitions spanning 61 categories, including

GUNTUR: Andhra Pradesh State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) member Bathula Padmavathi on Sunday ordered a thorough investigation into the death of a 16-year-old girl who allegedly jumped off her hostel building in Narasaraopet of Palnadu district. It may be recalled that the intermediate first-year student, identified as J Anusha of Vellaturu village in Bollapalli mandal, took the extreme step on Saturday reportedly following an argument with her classmate over a pen. The

VISAKHAPATNAM: The City of Destiny is set to get Indias longest cantilever glass skywalk bridge, spanning 50 metres, near the Titanic Viewpoint at Kailasagiri. The bridge, which will come up at an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore, will offer panoramic views of the sea and surrounding hills, enhancing the tourist experience in the region. Construction of the bridge is scheduled to commence on Monday (November 18). Designed to boost the citys tourism appeal, the project will showcase Kailasagiris natu

TIRUPATI: Nara Ramamurthy Naidu, younger brother of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and former Chandragiri MLA, was cremated with full State honours at his ancestral village Naravaripalle on Sunday, drawing thousands of mourners from both Telugu States. His mortal remains were brought by a special aircraft from Hyderabad. He breathed his last at AIG Hospital on Saturday morning. He had been unwell for a long time. A huge crowd gathered at the family residence of Naidu to pay their last respec

VISAKHAPATNAM: Sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested Saurabh Prasad, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of East Coast Railways Waltair Division in Visakhapatnam, and two others in connection with a bribery case. The other two accused were identified as proprietors of private firms. A 1991-batch Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer, Prasad was caught red-handed in Mumbai while accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from a proprietor of a Mumbai-b

VIJAYAWADA: Medical practitioners across the State and the rest of the country have expressed dissatisfaction with the National Task Force (NTF) appointed by the Supreme Court, which concluded that a Central Protection Act for doctors is unnecessary. The panel, consisting of 11 eminent doctors, felt that existing State laws are sufficient to address violence against medical professionals. The Supreme Court constituted the NTF following the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder incident to evalu