Scientists in Germany have identified a type of fungi that is capable of breaking down synthetic plastics, offering a potential new weapon in the global fight against plastic pollution.

A team at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin found that certain microfungi can survive exclusively on plastics, degrading them into simpler forms.

While this is a promising breakthrough, especially when it comes to tackling oceanic plastic pollution, experts cautioned that it is not a silver bullet.

The Maharashtra government on Sunday declared the geoglyphs and petroglyphs in Ratnagiri as ‘protected monuments’ under the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960, reported TOI.

The group of petroglyphs at Deud, Ratnagiri, dates back to the Mesolithic era (roughly 20,000-10,000 years ago), according to a notification by the culture department.

Geoglyphs and petroglyphs are different types of ancient art forms. They involve the creation of images or designs on the earth’s surface or rock surfaces.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried out a successful maiden flight test of Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), GAURAV from the Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force. Ministry of Defence in a statement said that the test was conducted off the coast of Odisha. GAURAV is an air-launched one thousand-kilogram class glide bomb capable of hitting targets at long distances. It has been designed and developed indigenously by the Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad. During the flight test, the glide bomb hit the target erected at Long Wheeler’s island with pinpoint accuracy. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, IAF and industry for the successful flight test. He termed it a major milestone in the country’s effort to develop indigenous defence technologies for further strengthening the capability of the Armed Forces. 

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh attended the launch ceremony of the book titled '75 Great Revolutionaries of India' by Rajya Sabha MP Bhim Singh in New Delhi on Sunday.

Speaking to ANI at the launch ceremony of the book, Harivansh Narayan Singh said, "Rajya Sabha MP Bhim Singh has done a creative and inspiring work. He worked on the lesser-known and unknown heroes of history".

Hailing the MP Bhim Singh for bringing up this book, Singh added, "He researched and collected facts. In this row, he prepared 3 books on the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the nation...It is a beautiful work (done) by him."

The Rajya Sabha Dy Chairman said one gets inspiration for building a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) from the sacrifices of these lesser-known heroes.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data on the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) says, India’s IIP records a growth of 4.2 per cent in June 2024. Further, the growth rates of the three sectors, Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity have registered a growth of 10.3 per cent, 2.6 per cent and 8.6 per cent for June 2024.

The Government has issued operational guidelines for the implementation of Model Solar Village under PM-Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana today. The New and Renewable Energy Ministry in a statement said that under the scheme emphasis has been placed on creating one Model Solar Village per district across the country. The Ministry said that a total financial outlay of 800 crore rupees has been allocated for this component, providing 1 crore rupees per selected Model Solar Village. It said that to be considered under this scheme, a village must be a revenue village with a population size above 5,000 or 2,000 for special category states.

The Ministry said that the villages will be assessed on their overall distributed renewable energy capacity installed in six months after the declaration of the potential candidate by the District Level Committee. The winning village in each district, with the highest renewable energy capacity will receive a central financial assistance grant of one crore rupees.

In February this year, the government approved this scheme intending to increase the share of solar rooftop capacity and empower residential households to generate their electricity.

The JUICE mission of the European Space Agency is set to complete a new manoeuvre and break two records.

This is the first time the spacecraft will use two objects to carry out a gravity assist maneuver, and for the first time, it will also attempt Lunar-Earth flyby.

The Lunar-Earth Gravity Assist (LEGA) is likely to save JUICE many propellants, which the mission will use at a later stage.

This is a tough manoeuvre which was first planned 15 years ago and for this, the spacecraft should be launched at a precise second so that it is able to find the Earth and the Moon in the correct position.

In a significant technological breakthrough, the Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, (IIT Indore) has delivered ten pairs of Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG) based shoe sole energy harvesting units to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). These shoes, are designed to harness energy from human motion, providing a sustainable power source for electronic devices.

These shoes utilize advanced tribo-pairs, specifically Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) and Aluminium, to generate power with each step. This energy is then stored in a central device within the shoe sole, ensuring a reliable power source for small-scale electronic circuits. Additionally, the shoes are equipped with sophisticated tracking technology, including RFID and a satellite-based GPS module for live location tracking.

Professor Suhas Joshi, Director of IIT Indore, emphasising the military applications of this technology, said, "The real-time location tracking capabilities enhance the safety and coordination of military personnel, boosting operational efficiency and security. The TENG-powered shoes can support essential GPS and RFID systems, providing a self-sustaining and dependable solution for various military needs. As the demand for efficient and portable power sources continues to rise, IIT Indore's innovations, including the TENG-based shoe sole technology and other advanced DRDO projects, are set to revolutionize energy harvesting, real-time tracking, and various defence and industrial applications. These advancements offer sustainable and practical solutions for a wide range of needs, highlighting IIT Indore's pivotal role in pioneering the future of defence technology."

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame was sworn in for his fourth term after securing over 99 per cent of the vote. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo, during which Kagame pledged to uphold peace, national sovereignty, and national unity. In a post on X, the President expressed his gratitude to the citizens for their support. However, Rights activists have criticized the election outcome, arguing that it highlights the lack of democratic processes in the country. Only two out of eight candidates were allowed to run in the presidential race,  and those who criticised Kagame were barred from participating.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, released the 25th issue of its publication titled “Women and Men in India 2023”.

The publication is a comprehensive and insightful document that attempts to bring a holistic view of the situation of women and men in India and provides data on a wide range of topics such as Population, Education, Health, Participation in Economy, Participation in Decision making etc. among others. It presents data disaggregated by gender, urban-rural divide, and geographical region, which helps to understand the disparities that exist between different groups of women and men. The publication includes important indicators as derived from published official data of different Ministries/Departments/Organizations.

“Women and Men in India 2023” not only highlights the progress made towards gender equality but also identifies the areas where significant gaps remain. By examining various socio-economic indicators, the publication offers some analysis of trends over time, thereby enabling policymakers, researchers, and the general public to make informed decisions and contribute to the development of gender-sensitive policies.

The report is a crucial resource for understanding the demographic changes and their implications for both women and men in India. It serves as a vital tool for advocacy and action to promote gender equity and ensure that development efforts are inclusive and sustainable.