India and Myanmar today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence co-operation. 

The MoU was signed in New Delhi after the talks between Minister of State for Defence, Shripad Yesso Naik and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services of Myanmar, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. 

Defence Ministry in a release said, the talks were aimed at enhancing defence co-operation, review joint exercises and training provided to Myanmar Defence Services. It also aims to strengthen maritime security by joint surveillance and capacity building, medical co-operation, pollution response and for developing new infrastructure. 

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced in the State Assembly that the Sachivalaya or Secretariat building in Bhubaneswar will now be called ‘Lok Seva Bhavan’.

“In a democracy people are masters and we all exist to serve them,” said Mr. Patnaik while making the announcement during the budget discussion on the expenditures of the home and general administration departments.

“If our State has grown at a rate higher than the national growth rate, if the State has attracted investment worth crores of rupees, it is because of the peaceful law and order situation here,” said Mr. Patnaik.

Odisha has been vindicated! Odisha has received the geographical indication (GI) tag for its local version of the Rasgulla. Odisha that has also been claiming the sweet as its own, has received the GI tag for 'Odisha Rasagola'. The formal certification was issued by Chennai-based GI Registry on its website.

This tag comes amid a years-long debate between West Bengal and Odisha over where the sweet had originated. In November 2017, West Bengal was granted the tag which led people to erroneously believe that the GI Registry recognised Bengal as its place of origin, which is factually incorrect.

The Odisha Small Industries Corporation Ltd that has been awarded the GI tag said in its submission, "Odisha Rasagola is very soft to feel, juicy and non-chewy in consistency and can be swallowed without teeth pressure. The rasogolla/rasgulla prepared in other places is circular in shape, milk white in colour and basically spongy and chewy in consistency." The Odisha government had filed for geographical recognition of the 'Odishara Rasagulla' with the GI Registry in Chennai last year.

Former Congress Minister M. Mukesh Goud passed away on Monday afternoon at a corporate hospital after prolonged illness.

He was 60 and is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter.

The end came at around 3 p.m. The Congress leader was suffering from cancer, and was undergoing treatment for past seven months.

As his condition deteriorated, family members of the former Minister had shifted him to a corporate hospital late last night. Rumours flew thick and fast about his death on Sunday night, prompting his son and Youth Congress leader Vikram Goud to issue a statement. The hospital authorities too had said his condition was very critical.

Six-time world champion Mary Kom in 51kg category and Simranjit Kaur in 60kg category grabbed a gold each in 23rd President's Cup Boxing Tournament  in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. 

The Olympic bronze medallist Mary decimated Australian April Franks 5-0 in finals. Simranjit Kaur defeated Indonesia's Asian Games bronze medallist Hasanah Huswatun 5-0 in the final bout.

With this, Indian boxers finished their campaign in the Tournament with nine medals. The rich haul comprised seven gold and two silver. 

Meghalaya Assembly Speaker and former Chief Minister Donkupar Roy passed away today in a Gurugram hospital. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed anguish at the demise of Dr. Roy. Mr Modi said, Dr Roy, who was passionate about Meghalaya’s progress, served the state with great diligence and helped transform many lives. 

The Prime Minister offered condolences to family and supporters of Donkupar Roy. 

Rail traffic on Bihar's Darbhanga-Samastipur section of East Central Railways, ECR, has been suspended due to flood water posing threat to the track between Hayaghat and Thalwara station. 

Chief PRO of the ECR, Rajesh Kumar, told AIR News that thirteen trains including four express trains have been cancelled. Fifteen trains have been diverted and nine short terminated. 

Rail officials have reached the site for monitoring the situation. 

Meanwhile, the flood situation continues to be grim in Darbhanga, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur. 

IPS officer VK Johri has been appointed as the next Director General (DG) of country's largest border guarding force, BSF, an official order said Sunday.

The order has been issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) that is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has Home Minister Amit Shah as its member.

Johri, a 1984-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, is presently serving as the Special Secretary in the external intelligence agency RAW, under the Cabinet Secretariat.

He will take over the charge of the Border Security Force from incumbent Rajni Kanti Mishra, who retires on August 31. The order also stated that Johri has been appointed as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Union home ministry with "immediate effect."

Global Tiger Day is being celebrated across the world today. This day is observed every year to create awareness about tiger conservation and protection of natural habitat of tigers. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the results of the fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation in New Delhi. The Tiger Estimation exercise is believed to be the world’s largest wildlife survey effort in terms of coverage, intensity of sampling and quantum of camera trapping. India conducts the All India Tiger Estimation every four years. The Government and National Tiger Conservation Authority have also carried out an economic valuation of tigers in mitigating the adverse impact of climate change.  

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday launched the revamped website of Odisha Tourism, odishatourism.gov.in. The website has the potential to empower lakhs of people operating in the tourism and hospitality sector and showcase Odisha to the world.

“It has been our constant endeavour to showcase Odisha to the world. Tourism is amongst the most sustainable routes to maximising employment opportunities for our youth and ensuing shared prosperity through community participation,” the Chief Minister said while launching the revamped digital platform of Odisha Tourism.

“Leveraging digital technologies is consistently helping us unlock the true potential of Odisha Tourism. Our digital platform will also empower lakhs of people operating in the tourism and hospitality sector, individually and collectively, by virtue of it being an all-inclusive participatory platform,” he said.