Apple farm waste may soon help protect metal pipes, machinery, and infrastructure from corrosion.

An international research team led by Nagaland University (NU) has found a way to turn discarded apple leaves into a highly effective, eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor, offering up to 96.2% protection for copper in harsh chemical conditions.

The study, carried out in collaboration with the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), shows that tiny carbon particles made from apple leaves can shield metals from corrosion without using toxic chemicals commonly employed in industry.

The authors of the study are Ambrish Singh of the NU’s Department of Chemistry and Yujie Qiang, Ye Zhang, Xinyang Liu, and Ying Jin of the USTB’s National Centre for Materials Service Safety. The former is a visiting professor at the USTB.

Their findings were published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, a leading international scientific journal.

In a landmark move for urban resilience in the Global South, Mumbai is slated to host the ‘Mumbai Climate Week 2026’ from February 17 to 19.

This significant milestone marks India’s first city-led initiative dedicated to fostering local action through citizen-driven solutions and is grounded in the critical recognition that the climate crisis is, at its core, a fundamental child rights issue.

In a strategic partnership, UNICEF India and YuWaah have been named the official youth engagement partners.

The organisers aim to empower the next generation to become active agents of change within their communities. These efforts seek to bridge the gap between grassroots student participation and high-level civic leadership, ensuring a cleaner and safer future for all.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Friday (January 16, 2026) announced that European Union leaders Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will be the chief guests at India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations.

In a briefing to media persons ahead of Republic Day, he said that the 90-minute Republic Day Parade on January 26 along Kartavya Path will be themed around 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, a theme that will also anchor the Beating the Retreat ceremony.

In a symbolic move to end VIP culture, the Defence Secretary announced to the media that enclosures at the Republic Day Parade will be named after rivers of India, while those at the Beating the Retreat ceremony will be named after musical instruments. For the first time, a European naval contingent will also take part in the parade.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) continues to play a transformative role in India's skill development landscape through its flagship CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative, a national programme aligned with the Government of India's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Skill India.

Designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and industry-ready skills, the initiative integrates skill development with science and technology by leveraging CSIR's extensive research infrastructure, nationwide laboratory network, and deep scientific expertise.

The programme aims to address real-world industrial, societal, and entrepreneurial demands while enhancing employability across diverse sectors, Ministry of Science & Technology said in a statement.

The state government on Tuesday launched a five-year scheme ‘Aame Padhiba Aama Bhasare’ along with a 100-day campaign to prevent child marriage and a pilot project to prevent teenage pregnancy and support teenage mothers.

Launching the initiatives, deputy chief minister Pravati Parida said women empowerment is the key to a developed Odisha and providing a safe, equal and respectful environment to women and children is the priority of the state government.

Under the five-year scheme, early childhood education will be provided to children in the age group of 3-6 years in their mother tongue in line with the National Education Policy, 2020. In the first phase, the scheme will be implemented in Munda, Kui, Saura, Kuvi, Gondi and Koya languages in Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts.

Indian boxing icon Vijender Singh has been appointed as a member of the Asian Boxing Council, marking another significant milestone in his journey from an elite athlete to global sports administrator.

Vijender, India's first Olympic medallist in boxing, brings with him nearly two decades of experience at the highest level of the sport, both in amateur and professional boxing.

His appointment to the Asian Boxing Council reflects his deep understanding of the sport and his continued commitment to its growth across the continent.

Speaking on the development, Vijender said, "I am honoured to be appointed as a member of the Asian Boxing Council. I would like to thank the Boxing Federation of India and its leadership for entrusting me with this responsibility.”

Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday announced an annual literary award for best works in languages including Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Marathi.

The award, under the auspices of the state government, will carry Rs 5 lakh cash prize, he said, adding it is named as "Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu (Classical Language Literary Award)." In the first phase, awards will be for the best works in the languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odiya, Bengali and Marathi.

In his address at the valedictory event of the Chennai International Book Fair, the chief minister said the Sahitya Akademi awards announcement had been cancelled following the alleged intervention of the Union Culture Ministry.

Underlining what he called the uncertainty over the awards, he said political interventions, even in art and literary awards was dangerous.

A team of Indian scientists has uncovered a rare, subterranean amphibian species in Maharashtra’s northern Western Ghats, throwing light on one of the least understood groups of animals on the planet.

The newly identified species, Gegeneophis valmiki, is the first addition to its genus in more than a decade, underscoring how much of India’s biodiversity still lives unseen, beneath the soil.

The species was first collected in 2017 from the Valmiki Plateau in Satara district by Dr. K.P. Dinesh, Senior Scientist at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). It has now been formally described following years of detailed study.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the Bagurumba Dwhou 2026, a major cultural event celebrating the rich heritage of the Bodo community, at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. Calling the festival a tribute to Assam’s cultural pride, the Prime Minister said Bagurumba Dwhou honours the great traditions of the Bodo society and reflects the state’s journey from conflict to cultural resurgence.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said it had been his privilege to witness Assam’s culture closely and observe the traditions of the Bodo community. He remarked that no Prime Minister had visited Assam as frequently as he had, underlining his consistent desire to provide Assam’s art and culture a larger platform and global recognition through grand celebrations. He cited large-scale Bihu festivities, Jhumoir Binondini, the grand Bodo Mahotsav held in New Delhi one and a quarter years ago, and other cultural programmes as part of sustained efforts in this direction.

New Delhi will host the 2nd Global Buddhist Summit (GBS) on January 24-25, as the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Culture, brings together global Buddhist leaders, scholars and policymakers to deliberate on contemporary global challenges through the lens of Buddha Dhamma.

The Summit, to be held at Bharat Mandapam, will be organised under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice, and Mutual Coexistence”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the two-day event as Chief Guest, continuing the tradition set during the inaugural Global Buddhist Summit held in New Delhi in 2023.

At a time marked by rapid social, political and environmental change, the Summit seeks to explore how the timeless principles of Buddha Dhamma – compassion, wisdom, harmony and coexistence – can offer meaningful responses to conflict, alienation and uncertainty in the modern world. The deliberations will emphasise ethical leadership, social harmony and sustainable living in an era shaped by technological advancement, consumerism and environmental stress.