In a historic move, the UN Climate Change COP29 has included tourism in its action agenda, with over 50 governments endorsing the COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism. This groundbreaking initiative, spearheaded by the COP29 Presidency under Azerbaijan, aims to transform the global tourism sector into a climate-resilient, low-carbon industry.

A spokesperson for the COP Presidency said these initiatives are set to play a vital role in tackling climate change and promoting urban resilience.

With its tourism declaration, the COP29 Presidency is focused on supporting the tourism sector, a key economic driver, in adopting sustainable practices to reduce its environmental impact.

Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan along with Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday launched a World Bank report titled ‘Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People’ that covers six states in India.

Pradhan complimented the World Bank team for the detailed report and urged them to adopt a pan-India framework as well.

“Such in-depth diagnostics on skilling and jobs will enable stakeholders to create new architectures and make progressive policies for empowering our population,” the minister said.

The Jobs at Your Doorstep report serves as both a diagnostic and roadmap to providing strategic linkages and convergence between education and the jobs agenda of India. It goes deep into the job landscape of six states — Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan — and identifies key priority sectors and roles that offer the highest employment potential for young people graduating from secondary school.

A remarkable archaeological discovery has come to light at Kanhirapoil in Madikkai panchayat where 24 pairs of prehistoric footprints and a human figure have been found carved into rock on private property. Experts believe these carvings date back to the Megalithic period, providing a fascinating glimpse into ancient culture.

The find was first reported by local archaeology enthusiast Satheesan Kaliyanam, following which archaeologist Professor Ajith Kumar and history Professor Nandakumar Koroth confirmed its significance during a site visit.

The carvings, made with iron tools, include footprints varying in size from six to ten inches, suggesting representations of both children and adults. At the end of the footprints, a human figure has been intricately etched, accompanied by four circular pits around it.

Mali’s ruling junta on Thursday appointed a new prime minister from the ranks of the military generals, a day after firing his predecessor for criticising the military regime. The move effectively consolidates all power in the African country in the hands of military generals. Mali has been ruled by military leaders since the junta seized power in 2020 and staged another coup the following year.

Choguel Maiga, who was a civilian and criticised the junta for postponing the presidential election scheduled for 2024, was removed on Wednesday, a move announced in a presidential decree issued by Gen. Assimi Goita, Mali’s leader, and read on state television channel ORTM.

Goita on Thursday appointed Gen. Abdoulaye Maïga as prime minister, according to an announcement on ORTM by Alfouseyni Diawara, secretary general of the Malian presidency. The two Maïgas are not related.

On World Fisheries Day, the Centre launched a number of projects for the marine and inland aquaculture sectors on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

Union Minister for Fisheries Rajiv Ranjan Singh said the initiatives are aimed at transforming the fisheries sector and strengthening India’s blue economy.

One of the major schemes is the fifth ‘Marine Fisheries Census 2025’, which the Ministry hopes to complete in 45 days with the help of 3,500 staff.

The census, for the first time, will be fully digital, leveraging mobile apps and virtual servers to collect and process data in real-time, the Centre said, making the process 80% faster than before.

Retirement fund body EPFO logged 9.33 per cent growth in net member additions in September at 18.81 lakh compared to the year-ago month, showed payroll data released on Wednesday.

Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) enrolled around 9.47 lakh new members in September 2024, representing an increase of 6.22 per cent over September 2023, the labour ministry said.

This surge in new memberships can be attributed to growing employment opportunities, increased awareness of employee benefits and EPFO's outreach programmes, it noted.

According to the statement, EPFO has released provisional payroll data for September 2024, revealing a net addition of 18.81 lakh members.

Armenia has became the104th full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced on Thursday.

Established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of France Francois Hollande on November 30, 2015, ISA's objective is to scale up solar energy, reduce the cost of solar power generation through aggregation of demand for solar finance, technologies, innovation, research and development, and capacity building.

Sharing a post on X, Jaiswal wrote, "Armenia becomes the 104th full member of the International Solar Alliance. The Republic of Armenia handed over the @isolaralliance Instrument of Ratification, during the meeting of Amb. Vahagn Afyan of Armenia to India with @Abhishekifs, Joint Secy (ED&MER) and Head of Depository, in New Delhi today."

General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, has been honoured with the rank of Honorary General of the Nepal Army.

President Ramchandra Paudel conferred upon Dwivedi the rank of Honorary General of the Nepal Army during a special ceremony at President House, Sheetal Niwas.

The Indian Army on Thursday described this "exchange of honorary generalship, a unique and cherished tradition between the Indian and Nepali Armies," which "highlights the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and military ties between the two nations."

As per the Army, this practice reflects the mutual respect and enduring friendship between the two countries, particularly in the realms of military cooperation, defence collaboration, and shared strategic interests.

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will confer the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the years 2022 and 2023 to 82 young artists in a special ceremony, tomorrow, 22nd November, 2024 at 11 A.M. at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi. The award ceremony will be presided over by Dr Sandhya Purecha, Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Smt. Uma Nanduri, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

The award ceremony will be followed by the festival of performing arts featuring the recipient of Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar at three different venues Meghdoot Theatre Complex, Rabindra Bhawan, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi; Abhimanch Theatre, National School of Drama, Bhawalpur House, New Delhi and Vivekanand Auditorium, Kathak Kendra, Chanakyapuri from 22 to 26 November, 2024.