India to host 12th regional 3R and circular economy forum in Jaipur
India is set to host the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur from March 3 to 5, 2025. The event will focus on the theme “Realizing Circular Societies Towards Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific.”
Established by the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) in 2009, the Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum serves as a platform to help governments in the Asia-Pacific region integrate 3R and circularity into their policies. The last Forum was hosted by Cambodia in 2023, while India previously hosted the eighth edition in Indore in 2018.
Announced by Union Minister Manohar Lal during a curtain-raiser event at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, the 12th forum is expected to welcome over 500 international and domestic participants. The three-day event will feature plenary sessions, country-specific discussions, theme-based roundtables, and networking opportunities.
RBI launches Financial Literacy Week 2025
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the tenth edition of Financial Literacy Week (FLW) 2025 on Monday, with the theme "Financial Literacy: Women's Prosperity."
According to the RBI, the FLW 2025 will be observed between February 24 and 28, 2025.
The top management and regional heads of the Reserve Bank, NABARD and heads of select commercial banks attended the launch ceremony.
The event was inaugurated by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, who emphasised the importance of empowering women to play a significant role in driving the country's inclusive and sustained economic growth.
India, UK resume negotiations on Free Trade Agreement
India and the UK have resumed negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement on Monday.
This announcement has been made by the Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his UK counterpart Jonathan Reynolds who is in Delhi, the statement said.
The two sides have agreed to resume negotiations towards a balanced, mutually beneficial and a forward-looking deal that delivers mutual growth and builds on the strengths of two complementary economies, it said.
Honorary Knighthood medal presented to Bharti chief Sunil Mittal
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has received the insignia of the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).
He was presented the medal on on Friday (February 21, 2025) for the award that was received last year, with presence of friends and family at the British High Commissioner’s residence in New Delhi.
Mayadhar Raut, known as 'father of Odissi dance', passes away at 92
Renowned Odissi dancer Mayadhar Raut (92) died on Saturday at his Delhi home, his son Manoj Raut said.
"He had breakfast this morning, surrounded by his grandchildren and the rest of the family. He wasn't experiencing any illnesses and passed away due to old age," Raut told PTI.
The last rites will be conducted at the Lodhi Road crematorium on Saturday.
The Padma Shri awardee, born on July 6, 1933 in Odisha, is considered the "Father of Odissi dance", having steered the revival of Odissi in 1950s with Shastra-based knowledge.
His training to become one of the foremost artistes of the dance form began at the age of seven with learning the 'Gotipua' dance form, a precursor to the classical Odissi dance.
PM Modi lays foundation stone of cancer hospital in MP’s Bageshwar Dham
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the Bageshwar Dham Medical and Science Research Institute in Madhya Pradesh’s Garha village at the invitation of Bageshwar Dham chief Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri.
The hospital, aimed at providing free medical treatment to cancer patients from underprivileged backgrounds, will be equipped with state-of-the-art chemotherapy and cancer treatment facilities.
Specialist doctors will oversee patient care, ensuring advanced medical support. The project, estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore, is expected to be completed within two to three years.
Addressing a massive gathering, PM Modi expressed his gratitude for visiting Bundelkhand twice in a short span. “This time, I came at the invitation of Balaji. It is truly Hanuman Ji’s blessing that this centre of faith is now transforming into a centre of health as well,” he said.
Global Investor Summit: PM Modi says MP can be among top 5 GDP states
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025 in Bhopal on Monday, lauding the state’s progress and highlighting its potential to become one of the top five states in India in terms of GDP. He emphasized Madhya Pradesh’s crucial role in shaping India’s economic future.
Addressing investors, PM Modi spoke about the world’s growing optimism toward India’s economic trajectory. “This is the first time in India’s history that the world is so optimistic about our future. Just a few days ago, the World Bank stated that India will remain the world’s fastest-growing economy in the coming years. A representative from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also said that the future of the world is in India. These examples reflect the world’s confidence in our country, which is inspiring every state, including Madhya Pradesh. This confidence is evident at MP’s Global Investment Summit today,” he stated.
Coaching institutes refund Rs 1.56 cr to students after govt intervention
More than 600 students have received refunds of Rs 1.56 crore from coaching institutes after the intervention of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
According to an official statement on Saturday, the department has "successfully secured refunds amounting to Rs 1.56 crore for over 600 aspirants and students in the education sector."
These students, enrolled in coaching centres for civil services, engineering courses and other programmes, were previously denied rightful refunds despite following the terms and conditions set forth by the coaching institutes, it added.
The relief was made possible through grievances filed by the students via the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), which facilitated a streamlined process for dispute resolution.
‘Conclave,’ Chalamet win at SAG Awards, setting up Oscars battle
Papal thriller “Conclave” claimed the top prize on Sunday at Hollywood’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Timothee Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan made him the surprise best actor winner, at the last major honors ahead of next weekend’s Oscars.
The “Conclave” cast of Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini won best movie ensemble at the SAG Awards, a red-carpet ceremony that streamed live on Netflix. The film tells the story of the secret maneuvering at the Vatican during the selection of a fictional pope.
Fiennes spoke on behalf of the cast about the need for supportive communities, in filmmaking and in life, as he accepted the SAG trophy on stage in downtown Los Angeles.
“We do recognize the supreme importance of (community) in our work and in the world,” Fiennes said. “That’s what we’re celebrating tonight.”
PM Modi picks Omar Abdullah, 9 others for nationwide anti-obesity drive
A day after addressing the issue in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday nominated 10 prominent figures from various fields to spearhead a nationwide campaign against obesity. Among them is Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has enthusiastically joined the movement.
“As mentioned in yesterday's #MannKiBaat, I would like to nominate the following people to help strengthen the fight against obesity and spread awareness on reducing edible oil consumption in food. I also request them to nominate 10 people each so that our movement gets bigger!” PM Modi wrote on X.