Shillong, National awardee and self-taught filmmaker Pradip Kurbah has bagged two major honours at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival, with his film ‘Ha Lyngkha Bneng’ winning Best Film and Kurbah himself being awarded Best Director, officials said on Friday.

The awards were presented by the Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema , which annually recognises outstanding feature films from the Asia-Pacific region, they said.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma congratulated Kurbah on the remarkable achievement.

Reacting to the win, Kurbah shared his excitement in an Instagram post: "I’m overwhelmed, humbled, and filled with gratitude. Ha Lyngkha Bneng has just won Best Film and Best Director at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival."

In a significant step towards enhancing its operational logistics capabilities, the Indian Navy inducted the 10th Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 24 (Yard 134), during a formal ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on April 22. The event was graced by Commodore AKK Reddy, AGM (Production and Repairs), Naval Dockyard (Mumbai), as the Chief Guest.

The ACTCM Barges are critical logistical assets designed to facilitate the transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of ammunition and other essential articles to and from naval platforms, both alongside jetties and in outer harbours. The induction of these barges is set to significantly bolster the Indian Navy’s operational efficiency and readiness.

CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun is organising an International Conference “Shaping the Energy Future: Challenges and Opportunities” (SEFCO-2025) from April 23 to 25, 2025. SEFCO conference is annually organized by students and young scientists at CSIR-IIP, Dehradun which is a platform to facilitate discussions on innovative solutions, explore collaborative opportunities in energy & chemical sector.

1st edition of “SEFCO” Conference was organized in 2017. The present 7th edition is an international conference with a theme of “Catalysing a Sustainable Future with Affordable Energy and Chemicals."

The inauguration ceremony of SEFCO held on 23 April 2025 was graced by Chief Guest Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee and Guest of Honour Sh Alok Sharma, Director (R&D), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. Dr. Manoj Srivastava, Secretary, SEFCO 2025 in his opening remarks gave an overview of genesis and relevance of SEFCO and its journey since inception. Dr. Harender Singh Bisht, Director, CSIR-IIP and Chief Patron of the conference, after paying homage to his holiness Pope Francis, welcomed distinguished guests and delegates and highlighted work done at CSIR-IIP and shared his vision on the way forward.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted the release of the ‘I Am Circular’ Coffee Table Book, curetted by the International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE). The book is a vibrant celebration of India’s innovative spirit in driving the circular economy forward.

Tech-Driven Inclusive Development

In his keynote address, Additional Secretary, MeitY and Director General, National Informatics Centre Shri Abhishek Singh emphasized the importance of enabling ecosystems that foster innovation for sustainability. “This initiative aligns with MeitY’s vision of integrating technology for responsible growth and inclusive development. The ‘I Am Circular’ book stands as a proud representation of India’s innovation potential in the domain of circular economy,” he stated.

MeitY extends its appreciation to the International Council for Circular Economy, for facilitating the successful execution of this initiative, he said. He added that ‘I Am Circular’ Coffee Table Book is not merely a publication—it is a testament to India’s creative potential, an ode to responsible innovation and a symbol of our national commitment to building a sustainable, circular future.

The Centre has re-appointed T. Rabi Sankar as Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), for a period of one year with effect from May 3, 2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. This is his second extension. Mr. Sankar is in charge of foreign exchange, currency management and government accounts department in the RBI. He was appointed as the Deputy Governor in May 2021. He was the Executive Director of RBI prior to that.

The Centre has accelerated work on 17 major infrastructure projects worth over ₹14,096 crore across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand, as part of its ongoing efforts to boost development and streamline project execution.

The projects were reviewed in a high-level meeting chaired by Amardeep Bhatia, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) framework. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the meeting brought together senior officials from central ministries, state governments, and project developers to assess and address key implementation challenges.

A total of 19 issues affecting these 17 projects were taken up during the review. The discussion focused on resolving delays through stronger inter-ministerial and inter-state coordination. One of the significant projects reviewed was the four-laning of the Jaunpur-Akbarpur road, estimated at ₹3,164.72 crore. The project, which faces hurdles in two work packages, is expected to improve regional connectivity and enhance road infrastructure.

A 1% Tax Collected at Source (TCS) will now apply to high-end goods priced above Rs 10 lakh from from April 22, 2025, following amendments introduced in the Finance Act, 2024. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued fresh guidelines to enforce the levy, which aims to plug tax leaks and boost visibility on big-ticket purchases.

Whether you're buying a designer handbag, a vintage watch, a yacht, or even a racehorse—if the price tag crosses Rs 10 lakh, the seller is now required to collect TCS and deposit it against your PAN. Buyers can later claim this tax as credit while filing their income tax returns, similar to how TDS functions for salaries.

In a remarkable blend of patriotism and innovation, a young entrepreneur from Motihari, Bihar, has launched the state’s first-ever Modi Memento Museum, featuring 56 exclusive souvenirs once gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The one-of-its-kind museum is drawing attention for its inspiring origin and for serving as a heartfelt tribute to the Prime Minister’s Namami Gange initiative—a nationwide mission to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga River.

Back in 2019, Prime Minister Modi announced an auction of mementos and gifts he had received at various public functions and official engagements. The proceeds from the auction were directed toward funding the Namami Gange Programme.

Amaravati, the planned capital of Andhra Pradesh, is set to create history as it targets to become the world's first city to be powered entirely by renewable energy as town planners look to build an ultra-modern yet environmentally sustainable 'people's capital'. With an ambitious plan to harness 2,700 megawatts (MW) of green energy, the city aims to meet all its electricity needs through sustainable sources like solar, wind, and hydropower, officials said.

Andhra Pradesh chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's dream new capital city project firmly aligns with India's broader commitment to clean energy and climate action.

The foundation stone for the greenfield capital city on the banks of Krishna river is expected to be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi sometime this month. The Rs 65,000-crore project is spread across 217 square kilometers, with Andhra Pradesh Capital Region spanning an area of 8,352 sq km.

Oscar Piastri has shown he has the pace to fight for the Formula 1 title. In winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, he showed he can win an argument, too.

For the first time this season, a penalty played a key role in deciding a race win as Piastri went top of the standings with his victory.

Piastri’s two earlier wins this season had been dominant drives from pole position. This time he had to get past four-time champion Max Verstappen.

Verstappen started on pole but went off the track when battling for the lead with Piastri at the very first corner. He stayed in front but got a five-second penalty. Piastri argued he had got in front of Verstappen on the inside of the corner and deserved the place.