A celebration of India’s handloom heritage is currently underway in Vijayawada, with the “Silk Weaves Expo – Festive and Wedding Edition 2026” drawing handloom enthusiasts and festive shoppers to the A-Plus Convention Center at Benz Circle.

The six-day exhibition, being held from September 8 to 13, is open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It features an extensive collection of sarees, kurtis, dress materials, fashion jewellery and accessories.

The expo brings together handwoven creations from several parts of the country. Visitors can browse Uppada, Bhagalpuri, Banarasi and Tussar silks, along with Kantha, Dhakai Jamdani, Muslin, Baluchari, Tangail, linen and other varieties.

Double-weave ikat, gitcha silk and cotton offerings provide relatively affordable options, while designer silk sarees cater to those looking for elaborate festive and wedding wear.

The exhibition also features Lucknow chikankari, Rajasthani Dabu prints, Gujarat Patola and a range of dress materials and running fabrics. Colourful saree borders, embellished blouse pieces and other accessories add to the shopping experience.

With discounts offered across several product categories, the expo provides visitors an opportunity to explore the richness and variety of Indian textiles under one roof. “This Ganesh Chaturthi special edition will conclude on September 13. We want people to make the best of this opportunity,” said the organisers.

The Andhra Pradesh Public Transport Department (APPTD)-APSRTC Employees’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Thursday said it would continue its third phase of agitation until the assurances given by the APSRTC management during talks are formally recorded and communicated in writing.

The decision was announced after discussions between APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director N. Balasubramanyam and JAC representatives led by conveners Y. Srinivasa Rao and P. Damodara Rao.

Addressing the media after the meeting, the JAC leaders said the management had agreed to issue the official minutes of the meeting incorporating the assurances made during the discussions.

They said the management had also agreed in principle to reopen the four depots that were earlier closed. The JAC State Executive Committee would meet after receiving the written minutes and decide on its future course of action. Until then, the third phase of the agitation, announced earlier to oppose the alleged privatisation of APSRTC through private electric bus operations, would continue as scheduled, they said.

The JAC has been demanding that all electric buses be procured and operated directly by APSRTC instead of private operators. It has also sought the reopening of the four closed depots, withdrawal of tenders issued to private electric bus operators, and protection of employees’ interests while strengthening the State-run public transport system.

JAC co-conveners P.V. Ramana Reddy, G.V. Narasayya, Ch. Sundarayya, S.V. Seshagiri Rao and K. Surya Prakash Rao, besides other union leaders were also present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, Mr. Balasubramanyam said the State government was framing its electric bus policy in-line with the Centre’s push for eco-friendly public transport while ensuring that the interests of APSRTC employees were safeguarded. He said the management had accepted nearly 90% of the demands raised by the Employees’ JAC and expressed confidence that the remaining issues could also be resolved through dialogue.

The Higher Education for Persons With Special Needs (HEPSN) wing of Andhra Loyola College (ALC), Vijayawada, in collaboration with EnAble India, Bengaluru, organised a day-long workshop on digital accessibility for persons with low vision.

As many as 20 participants, including government employees, corporate professionals, job seekers and students benefitted by the programme. The training was conducted by Senior Executive, Enable India Y. Rajesh, along with trainers Keerthan Kumar, Bhuvaneswari and Nagababu.

The participants received hands-on training in Android and Windows accessibility features, including screen magnification, font enlargement, high-contrast display, dark mode, screen readers, cursor enhancement and other assistive technologies designed to improve digital access for education, employment and daily life.

Mohamad Abbas, a B.Tech graduate seeking employment, said the workshop enhanced his confidence in using accessibility tools that would help him perform better in competitive examinations and the workplace, while Rama Satyanarayana from the Bhimavaram Collectorate noted that the practical sessions introduced him to several accessibility features that would improve his efficiency and reduce eye strain while handling official work.

G. V. Lakshmi Priya, a senior accountant in the Department of Telecommunications, said the training enabled her to customise digital devices for more comfortable and productive office work. Similarly, Yerra Naidu, from the Agriculture Department, Srikakulam, said the workshop demonstrated how assistive technology can empower persons with low vision to work more independently and confidently.

The participants appreciated the practical nature of the programme and exuded confidence that the newly acquired digital skills would enhance their academic, professional and personal lives.

Andhra Pradesh police on Friday (June 19, 2026) registered a case against Krishnalanka Circle Inspector (CI) Nagaraju in the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna, 25.

Based on a complaint lodged by Sai Krishna’s mother, G. Vijaya Lakshmi, the Krishnalanka police on Friday (June 19, 2026) booked a case against Mr. Nagaraju under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 127(4) (wrongful confinement) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and other charges.

It was alleged that the Krishnalanka police took Sai Krishna into custody on May 9, and he has been missing since then. His mother filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court, which directed the NTR Commissionerate police to produce Sai Krishna by June 29.

Ms. Vijaya Lakshmi alleged that CI Nagaraju tortured and beat her son to death. Later, the Krishnalanka police disposed of the body, she alleged in her complaint.

The police also booked the CI under wrongful confinement for 10 or more days, and other charges. The investigation is under way

The case so far

On Thursday, the Second Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate court directed the police to preserve the CCTV footage of the Krishnalanka police station from May 1 to June 1, 2026, on a petition by Ms. Vijaya Lakshmi. The court also directed the police to produce the call data records (CDRs) of the mobile phones of Sai Krishna and his mother for the same period, to establish their locations. Advocate Mallemudi Satish Babu, for the petitioner, said the footage and other evidence had to be preserved to bring out the truth.

It was the second allegation of harassment against the Krishnalanka police in recent weeks. Perupogu Kranthi Kumar, 42, son of Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) State president Perupogu Venkateswara Rao, died on May 21 after recording a video in which he alleged harassment by the same Circle Inspector. On a complaint by his father, the Krishnalanka police registered a case of suspicious death under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts can contact the Tele-MANAS helpline at 14416.

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday assured the party cadres that they would be accorded the highest priority when the party comes back to power.

All welfare and organisational activities under “Jagan 2.0” would be carried out through the party cadre, he said at a meeting of former local body representatives, party leaders and key workers from the Rampachodavaram Assembly constituency at the party’s central office in Tadepalli.

Stressing that the next two years would be crucial for the YSRCP, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy urged the party workers to remain actively engaged with the people. He called upon them to identify public issues, support the poor and strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

The meeting was attended by Rampachodavaram constituency in-charge Nagulapalli Dhanalakshmi, former sarpanches, MPTCs, ZPTCs and other party functionaries.

Claiming that public dissatisfaction with the ruling coalition government was steadily increasing, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said people were comparing the performance of the present administration with that of the previous YSRCP government.

He alleged that several promises made by the coalition before the elections remained unfulfilled, leading to growing disappointment among women, farmers, youth and other sections of society.

Mr. Jagan said the YSRCP, during its tenure, had implemented almost all promises made in its election manifesto and introduced governance reforms such as the village secretariat and volunteer systems, doorstep delivery of welfare benefits, improvements in education and healthcare, and enhanced support for farmers.

Referring to tribal welfare, he said over 3.22 lakh acres of land was distributed under the Recognition of Forest Rights programme during the YSRCP’s tenure, apart from setting up medical colleges, educational institutions and healthcare facilities in tribal regions.

He also alleged discrimination in compensation payments to the families displaced by the Polavaram project and vowed that the YSRCP would continue to fight for their rights.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the government of targeting political opponents by foisting false cases. He expressed confidence that the political situation would change in the coming years.

Assuring the party workers of his support, he said that their welfare and interests would receive more attention when the YSRCP returned to power. “You stand with the people and fight for their causes. I will stand by you in every other matter,” he told the party activists.

The Vijayawada International Airport at Gannavaram has recorded an unprecedented surge in passenger engagement and revenue generation over the last 12 years, from 2014 to 2026, Airport Director M. Lakshmi Kantha Reddy has said.

In a statement on Saturday, he said the total annual revenue rose from ₹5.98 crore in 2014-2015 fiscal year to ₹87.97 crore in 2025–2026 financial year, marking a revenue growth of 1,370%, while the annual passenger traffic expanded by 504.12%, surging from 2,33,617 travellers in 2014-15 to 14,11,325 in 2025-26.

In 2014, the airport was connected to just three destinations— New Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. In addition to these, the airport is now directly connected to Mumbai, Chennai, Kadapa, Kurnool, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam, he said. The year-on-year commercial flight movements grew by 225.58%, scaling from 5,386 in 2014-15 to 17,536 flights per year in 2025-26, he said.

The airport was also formally designated as an official Indian embarkation point for the Haj pilgrimage in 2023. The airport has managed the departure of 2,861 Haj pilgrims over the last three years, he pointed out.

Following the construction of the interim 16,850 sq. m. terminal in 2017, construction is rapidly progressing on a Mega Integrated Terminal Building. Spanning 51,300 sq. m. with an investment of ₹791.59 crore, the terminal is on track for completion by December 31, 2026, the Director said.

Andhra Pradesh Minister for MSMEs, SERP, and NRI Empowerment Relations, Kondapalli Srinivas, has welcomed the Centre’s decision to introduce the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 to support the industries affected by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Minister said the scheme would ensure crucial financial assistance for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by extending additional credit facilities backed by a Central government’s guarantee.

He said the initiative would help industries overcome liquidity stress and strengthen their operations amid the global uncertainty.

Andhra Pradesh currently has around 20.77 lakh MSME units. Of these, about 4.98 lakh units, constituting nearly 24 per cent, are engaged in the manufacturing sector, while nearly 10 lakh units, accounting for 48 per cent, operate in the services sector. Another 5.74 lakh units, representing 28 per cent, are involved in business and trading activities.

Mr. Srinivas said the ECLGS 5.0 scheme offers 100% credit guarantee coverage for MSMEs in the event of loan default, while non-MSME sectors would receive up to 90% guarantee coverage.

Eligible borrowers can avail of additional working capital assistance of up to 20% of the highest working capital utilised during the fourth quarter of the 2025-26 financial year. Under the scheme, each borrower can receive additional loans up to ₹100 crore. The scheme will apply only to loans sanctioned before March 31, 2027 and disbursed by June 30, 2027, he said.

The Minister clarified that only borrowers maintaining regular repayment records with banks and financial institutions would be eligible for the scheme.

He added that the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) would independently implement and monitor the programme. Mr Srinivas urged MSMEs affected by the West Asian crisis to utilise the facility to strengthen their businesses.

Two second-year engineering students of SRM University-AP, Amaravati, allegedly duped several fellow students by promising high returns on investments and campus placements in private companies. The police have launched an investigation acting on several complaints in this reagard.

Mangalagiri Rural Police Station SI Chirumamilla Venkateswarlu on Thursday told The Hindu that two students, identified as P. Vijay Narasimha and E. Varun Sai, allegedly collected nearly ₹1 crore from their fellow students from the university by promising lucrative returns on investments and employment by the time they completed their four-year engineering courses.

The police said that the duo had reportedly repaid a portion of the money as returns to some students who had initially invested after believing their claims.

Mr. Venkateswarlu said police were verifying the bank accounts of the accused, tracing financial transactions, and gathering more information. A portion of the amount had also been recovered from the accused, he said.

According to the police, the accused were not from affluent backgrounds but allegedly projected themselves as wealthy before their fellow students.

Meanwhile, the university authorities confirmed that it had constituted a disciplinary committee to inquire into the allegations and that an internal investigation was in progress. The university has so far identified five victims and summoned both the students and their parents for inquiry.

The university stated that appropriate and stringent action would be taken based on the recommendations of the disciplinary committee.

The BJP SC Morcha on Sunday (May 17, 2026) organised a cultural rally and ‘Dappula Bharat Pradarshana’ in Vijayawada as part of the 135th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The event, themed ‘Dalitula Atma Gaurava Gunde Chappudu’ (Heartbeat of Dalit Self-Respect), featured Dalit culture, traditional art forms, and Ambedkarite ideals.

The procession began at the Municipal Stadium and moved along Bandar Road and M.G. Road amid drum performances, fireworks, and cultural displays by thousands of ‘dappu’ artists. A large statue of Ambedkar mounted on a trolley was the main attraction.

Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav, BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, and BJP SC Morcha State president Panthala Suresh led the rally and later offered floral tributes to the Ambedkar statue. BJP SC Morcha leaders, party workers, cultural artists, and supporters from across the State took part in the event.

Organisers said the programme was aimed at building self-confidence and cultural awareness among Dalit youth, and at spreading the ideals of equality, self-respect, and constitutional values that Ambedkar upheld.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Suresh said Ambedkar’s ideals should reach every section of society, and that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working to fulfil Ambedkar’s vision. He demanded that 17,000 village-level ‘chatimpu’ posts be filled, along with appointments for ‘dappu’ artists in temples and Lalita Kala institutions. He also urged the government to provide free bus travel for ‘dappu’ artists.

Drum beats, folk performances, and slogans praising Ambedkar’s contributions to social justice and the Indian Constitution marked the rally.