The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant step in advancing renewable energy solutions that benefit both nature and people.

The agreement, signed by IUCN Deputy Director General Stewart Maginnis and IRENA Deputy Director-General Gauri Singh, establishes a framework for joint action to ensure that the global shift to renewable energy not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also safeguards biodiversity, supports communities, and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Through this partnership, IUCN and IRENA will work together to promote the rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewables while mitigating potential environmental impacts. The collaboration will focus on developing tools to assess biodiversity impacts, creating projects that deliver co-benefits for conservation, and sharing policy guidance, research, and best practices. Both organizations will also explore capacity-building initiatives and technical cooperation to strengthen sustainable energy development.

Union Minister of Roads, Transport and Highways Mr Nitin Gadkari today inaugurated India’s first commercial electric truck battery swapping and charging station at the Delhi International Cargo Terminal Private Limited (DICT) in Panchi Gujran village on the GT Road near Ganaur in Sonipat.

Addressing the event he said that the day is not far when India will be number one in producing aviation fuel and urged farmers to use stubble instead of burning it so that it can be used to produce fuel, thereby strengthening their economic condition. He said that farmers will now be the fuel provider, work is now being done to make fuel from stubble also. He said that in our country, 5 million tons of stubble are being used to make bio-bitumen. In Maharashtra, Nagpur and Jabalpur roads are also being built using stubble.

Talking about ethanol,he said that ethanol is being produced from corn, which has increased the market for corn. Mr Gadkari said, Companies are working on developing flexi-engines. Agricultural machinery is also now going to be equipped with flex engines. He said that with all these efforts , we have succeeded in curbing the pollution due to stubble burning.

Palau, a Pacific island nation successfully hosted the world’s first-ever live underwater interview. In a bid to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the ocean, President of Palau Surangel Whipps Jr, conducted the interview with Estonian Olympic swimmer and activist Merle Liivand.

The under-sea chat was facilitated by technology called the LiFi Talking Mask, which uses light to transmit sound underwater. Palau is an archipelago of around 340 islands east of the Philippines and is extremely vulnerable to rising seas. Whipps has acknowledged some of his country’s atolls could be lost in coming years.

Earlier, former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed made history in 2009 when he held an underwater cabinet meeting with scuba-clad officials.

In 2019, former Seychelles President Danny Faure conducted an interview from a submersible craft in the Indian Ocean.

Fiji has launched its first-ever National Child Safeguarding Policy, setting a new national benchmark for child safety across all sectors of society. The new policy ensures that all services involving children are delivered in a safe, respectful, and child-friendly manner. It outlines concrete measures for institutions and organisations to prevent harm, including a mandatory Child Protection Code of Conduct, child-safe recruitment and vetting processes such as criminal background checks, and tailored risk mitigation strategies. The launch came amid growing regional concern about child protection across the Pacific, where cultural taboos, limited resources, and underreporting have often left cases of abuse hidden or unresolved.

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prahlad Joshi today attended the 90th Foundation Day celebrations of the National Sugar Institute in Kanpur as the chief guest. On this occasion, he said that Regular B.Tech and M.Tech courses related to the sugar industry will be run by the National Sugar Institute under the guidance of IIT Kanpur.

He also performed the Bhumi Pujan at the National Sugar Institute, for transformative infrastructure projects including a 350-bed hostel, a centralised mess and a state-of-the-art tissue culture lab, with an investment of around rupees 59 crores.

These infrastructural developments will significantly enhance NSI’s academic and research capabilities, fostering excellence in sugar and ethanol innovation.

Telangana state has launched its dedicated Tourism Police units, marking a significant step toward enhancing tourist safety. A week-long induction program for the first batch of 80 personnel commenced at the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM) in Hyderabad. Organised by the Department of Tourism, the Orientation and Sensitisation of Tourist Police programme aimed at building capacity, strengthening visitor facilitation, and improving the overall tourism ecosystem in the state.

Addressing the participants, Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), Mahesh Bhagwat, said the initiative reflects a joint effort between the Police Department and the Tourism and Culture Department to ensure safety and hospitality across key destinations. Director, NITHM, Prof. Venkata Raman, underscored the state’s focus on projecting Telangana’s positive image globally through skilled, visitor-friendly personnel. The 80 Tourism Police will be deployed across nine Police Commissionerates at major places of tourism attractions, including Somasila, Ananthagiri, Ramappa, Yadagirigutta, Pochampally, Buddhavanam, Bhadrachalam, and Hyderabad.

To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has launched ‘Sardar@150 – Unity March’ campaign in Chandigarh, yesterday, which will be carried on till December 6th across Punjab. The march is featuring a series of national activities including creative competitions and awareness campaigns aimed at connecting youth to the values of unity, patriotism and nation-building.

The Governor urged the youth to actively participate in the campaign and register themselves at www.mybharat.gov.in/mega_event to become a part of this nationwide movement dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Recalling Sardar Patel’s greatest contribution of unifying over 560 princely states into a single nation, Sh. Kataria said his leadership inspired the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat and Sashakt Bharat’.

The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor has become one of the biggest contributors to the economy of Uttar Pradesh. Since the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2021, over 25.28 crore devotees have visited Baba Vishwanath, providing the state’s economy with an estimated 1.25 lakh crore rupees boost. The Chief Executive Officer of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Vishwabhushan Mishra, said that consistent inflow of devotees and tourists from different states of India and countries around the world is providing large-scale employment opportunities for local traders, shopkeepers, boatmen, priests, street vendors, and hotel businesses. According to Professor Rajnath, an economist at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, tourists visiting Kashi Vishwanath Dham spend an average of over 5 thousand rupees per person. Even using the conservative estimate of rupees 4 to 5 thousand per visitor, approximately 1.25 lakh crore rupees have flowed into the state economy over the past three and a half years.

Seventy per cent of devotees visiting Kashi Vishwanath Mahadev Dham come from South India, and approximately 15 per cent come from other states and districts. After visiting Kashi, these devotees often visit Vindhyavasini Dham, Tirthraj Prayag, Ayodhya, Mathura, Chitrakoot, Naimish, etc. This creates a ripple effect in the economy, further increasing the state’s GDP.

The first-ever Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference will begin in Mehsana in North Gujarat today. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will inaugurate the conference. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will be present at the inaugural session. The conference will focus on sectors including dairy and food processing, agriculture and agro-based industries, automobile components, engineering, renewable energy, and tourism. The initiative launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 aims to take the success of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit to every region of the state.

Akashvani correspondent reports that the two-day conference will feature 33 seminars, roundtable discussions, B2B and B2G meetings, and an MSME Conclave. Over 13,000 participants, including more than 200 international delegates, have registered for the event. Partner countries – Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Netherlands -along with global organisations such as JETRO, World Bank, ICBC, and the Russian Federation will take part in the event. A major attraction is the Regional Exhibition, spread over 18,000 square metres, showcasing North Gujarat’s industrial products – from agro produce like cumin, fennel, and isabgol to dairy products and auto components. The Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet will bring international buyers from 40 countries, offering export opportunities to local entrepreneurs. Delegates will also visit key industrial and heritage sites such as Maruti Suzuki, Banas Dairy, Dudh Sagar Dairy, and the Modhera Solar Park, besides cultural destinations like Rani-ki-Vav and Vadnagar. Mehsana conference will highlight North Gujarat’s industrial strengths, while connecting local enterprises with global investors and markets.

California has officially recognised the Diwali festival as a state holiday. It has now become the third state in the United States of America, after Pennsylvania and Connecticut, which declare Diwali as a state holiday.

Governor of California Gavin Newsom signed the bill introduced by Assembly member Ash Kalra, granting paid time off to state employees and allowing schools to observe the festival. Community leaders hailed the move as a milestone that honours the contributions of Indian Americans to the state’s economy, government, and society.