Champai Soren, veteran leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, will take oath today as the next Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The 67-year-old was invited by the Governor to take oath late this evening -- more than 24 hours after the arrest of his predecessor Hemant Soren in an alleged money laundering case.

Governor CP Radhakrishnan's move came hours after Champai Soren met him earlier on Thursday, pleading that he be called to take oath.

"There is no government (in the state) for 18 hours. There is a situation of confusion. Being the constitutional head, we expect you will soon take steps for the formation of a popular government," read his letter to the Governor.

With two more places declared Ramsar sites, Tamil Nadu now has the highest number of such sites in the country.

The State government had submitted proposals for the Longwood Shola Reserve Forest in The Nilgiris and the Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary in Ariyalur. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ramsar Sites Secretariat accepted them, and both places were designated as Ramsar sites on January 31. The total number of such sites in the State now stands at 16, the highest in the country, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, said in a press release.

Longwood Shola covers 116.07 hectares. It is among the places deemed Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. It is home to more than 700 species of flora and fauna. Of the 177 bird species, 14 are endemic to the Western Ghats. It is rich in herpetofauna diversity, with several species endemic to the Western Ghats, and is also considered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to be threatened. Longwood Shola is an integral part of the fragile Nilgiris ecosystem, and is a major source of water for Kotagiri, supplying water to 18 villages downstream.

The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest survey vessel Sandhayak in Vizag on Saturday and the ship is expected to boost the force's surveillance apparatus in the strategic waterways. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command will be among the distinguished guests to grace the occasion.

"The event will mark the formal induction into the Navy of the first of four survey vessel (large) ships under construction at M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata," a Navy spokesperson said.

Sandhayak was delivered to the Indian Navy on December 4 after completing a rigorous and comprehensive trial programme both in the harbour and at sea.

Every year on February 2, World Wetlands Day (WWD) highlights the crucial role these ecosystems play in our lives and the health of our planet. This year’s theme, “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing,” underscores the deep connection between the well-being of wetlands and our own. These vital freshwater havens support over 100,000 species, forming the foundation for our existence. They provide sustenance for billions, with rice grown in wetland paddies forming a staple food for 3 billion people and contributing 20% of global food production.

Beyond food, wetlands act as nature’s shock absorbers, softening the impact of rainfall and reducing the risk of floods and storm surges.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath underscored the historical challenge faced by farmers under previous administrations, "where fair compensation for their produce was elusive" and the "haunting specter of farmers' suicides pervaded" parliamentary discussions, an official statement said.

The remarks came during the inauguration of the 'Kisan Mela' organised by the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) on Picnic Spot Road, Lucknow, on Wednesday,

Surat Airport in Gujarat has been officially designated as an ‘International Airport’ by the Indian government, according to a ministry of civil aviation statement shared by news agency ANI.

“It is hereby declared that Surat Airport in Gujarat as an International Airport with immediate effect,” the ministry said in its statement.

This decision follows the Union Cabinet's approval in December, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to designate Surat Airport as International Airport.

The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), a leading institution for journalism and mass communication, has been granted deemed university status by the Ministry of Education.

With this new status, IIMC is now authorised to offer degrees, including doctoral.

The UGC had demanded the deemed university status under a distinct category.

The status extends to IIMC New Delhi and its five regional campuses located in Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir), Amravati (Maharashtra), Aizawl (Mizoram), Kottayam (Kerala), and Dhenkanal (Odisha).

"A big thanks to the Ministry of Education for declaring IIMC New Delhi and its five regional centres as a Deemed to be University. IIMC is committed to giving its best to promote education, training, and research in mass communication," the institute stated in a post on its social media handle X, formerly Twitter.

The Uttar Pradesh Government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as part of its mission to eradicate filariasis from the state, is all set to launch the Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign from February 5 to 15. The campaign will be conducted in 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

"During this campaign, proficient health workers will conduct door-to-door visits, administering filariasis prevention medication to the entire population, with the exclusion of children under two years of age, pregnant women, and those facing serious illnesses," as per a press release from the Chief Minister's Office.

It's noteworthy that the central government has set a targeted deadline of 2027 for the complete elimination of filariasis from the country.

India and Oman on Wednesday signed an agreement that would provide a framework for collaboration in new areas of defence engagement including procurement of military equipment. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was firmed up at a meeting of India-Oman joint military cooperation committee (JMCC) in Muscat.

In the talks, the two sides also carried out a comprehensive review of their defence cooperation and explored ways to boost it in line with their shared strategic interests.

The two sides specifically focused on possible collaboration in the defence industrial sector at the meeting. The Indian delegation at the talks was led by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane.

India picked up their first gold of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun stage in Cairo, Egypt, when Rhythm Sangwan and Ujjwal Malik combined to defeat the Armenian pair of Elmira Karapetyan and Benik Khlghatyan 17-7 in the 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal match on Day Two of competitions, at the Egypt International Olympic City Shooting range on Saturday.

Earlier, Arjun Babuta and Sonam Uttam Maskar won silver in the 10m air rifle mixed team event as India ended the day with one gold and two silver medals to their kitty. Anuradha Devi had opened the team’s account with a silver in the women’s 10m air pistol on Friday evening.

10m Air Pistol Mixed Team of Rhythm Sangwan & Ujjwal Malik won Gold at ISSF World Cup in Cairo????????