India are all set to make their debut in the FIFAe World Cup 2024 featuring eFootball, which will be held between December 9 and December 12 at the SEF Arena, Boulevard Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia.

The World Cup, which will be held as part of the FIFAe Finals 2024 in Riyadh, will feature competitions on both console and mobile platforms. Chinmay Sahoo, Ibrahim Gulrez, and Saksham Rattan will represent India in FIFAe World Cup (Console), while Danial Shakeel Patel will be the eTigers' sole representative in FIFAe World Cup (Mobile).

The domestic qualifiers for the FIFAe World Cup were held in October, with participants from across the country fighting it out across three rounds of in-game events. The top eligible athletes from the FIFAe Ranking list based on the online qualifier results were invited for online trials, based on which the squad was selected.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday to establish a Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) at the level of foreign ministers.

According to a press statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, the agreement outlines the formation of new Joint Working Groups in sectors including trade, investment, education, technology, agriculture, security, and culture, and these groups will operate under the JCC to review and monitor bilateral relations between the two nations.

Union Minister of State for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh on Tuesday launched 'Nano Bubble Technology' for cleaning and purifying water of the National Zoological Park in Delhi, and to promote the health of aquatic animals.

According to an official release, this technology can effectively clean dirty pond water by eliminating algae and similar growths. It is being tested in the zoo for the first time as a 15-day trial. If successful, it will be used in the zoo.

Kirti Vardhan Singh explained that the primary goal of this technology is to keep water clean, ensuring the health and well-being of aquatic creatures. "Clean water helps prevent foul smells, algae buildup, and discolouration often caused by dirty pond water. This new technology will improve water quality and benefit the animals," he said.

World Soil Day is celebrated annually on December 5 to highlight the importance of healthy soil. The day serves as a reminder of the critical role soils play in our ecosystem and the need to protect and conserve this invaluable resource for future generations. It also aims to raise awareness about soil degradation. This natural resource is made up of a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and organisms.

World Soil Day is celebrated globally, with various events and activities to raise awareness about soil conservation and its sustainable management.

Every year, on December 5th, the world comes together to celebrate the selfless efforts of individuals who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a global observance that shines a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of volunteers across the globe.

IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTERRING
Volunteer work often goes unnoticed, yet it plays an essential role in shaping societies and improving the lives of individuals.

Whether it’s helping in disaster relief efforts, supporting local educational programs, or contributing to environmental conservation, volunteers are the unsung heroes who step up to meet the needs of others without expecting anything in return.

The World Maritime Conference 2024 is scheduled to be held in Chennai from 4th to 6th December. The Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan will be the Guest of Honour. Internationally reputed speakers and panelists will discuss the future of the Global maritime scenario. US, UK, Germany, Spain, Asia Pacific Countries will participate in the discussions. This conference will be conducted in India after 15 years, will discuss various futuristic developments and present challenges in the Maritime World.  The conference will be attended by more than 300 delegates from all over the World.

Singapore contributed the highest Foreign Direct Investment to India in the July-September quarter, with 50 per cent of the inwards investments coming in from the neighbouring country.

FPI inflows to India rose 43 per cent to USD 13.6 billion in the July-September quarter of 2024-25, data made available by DPIIT showed. Over USD 7.5 billion or 50 per cent of the total FDI came from Singapore.

Singapore stands with India, Singapore High Commissioner in India, HC Wong, wrote in an X post, sharing the FDI figures.

The West Bengal cabinet on Monday gave its nod to the proposal of appointing at least one legal advisor to assist the police in every subdivision of the state, a well-placed source said.

He said a notification in this regard would be issued soon.

The cabinet also decided to appoint people to fill up 1,500 vacancies in various departments, he said, adding that recruitment would be done on both contractual and permanent basis.

Of them, 583 contractual junior engineers would be recruited in the Public Health Engineering Department and another 700 people would be appointed in different municipalities, the source added. PTI SCH ACD

India’s Pavan Kampelli on Monday claimed the bronze medal in eFootball, the country’s first-ever podium finish in the event, at the 2024 Asian Esports Games in Bangkok.

On way to the bronze medal, Pavan, popularly known as ‘Mr Tomboy’, also defeated the 2022 eFootball World Finals Winner (Mobile), Asgard Azizi of Team Indonesia, 2-1.

Pavan competed against some of the best eFootball players from across Asia and faced a tough start against eventual winner, TXRO of Team Thailand.

However, he showed remarkable resilience and bounced back by securing hard-fought victories over players from Indonesia, Syria, and Laos -- all with an identical 2-1 margin -- to bag the historic medal.

The University of Oxford has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s PRAGATI initiative as a transformative model for governance, urging the global community to learn from India’s innovative approach. In a study titled “From Gridlock to Growth: How Leadership Enables India’s PRAGATI Ecosystem to Power Progress,” the university highlighted the platform’s role in revolutionizing project monitoring and resolution in India.

Launched in 2015, PRAGATI—an acronym for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation—has redefined the management of large-scale infrastructure projects and social programs across the nation. The platform combines digital tools, real-time data, drone feeds, and video conferencing to expedite project timelines while ensuring development reaches even the remotest regions.

The report emphasizes PRAGATI’s success in breaking bureaucratic inertia, fostering a “Team India” mindset, and instilling accountability and efficiency across central and state governments. By bringing diverse stakeholders together on a single platform, the initiative has tackled complex challenges such as land acquisition and inter-ministerial coordination, significantly advancing infrastructure development.