As many as 100 villages located in the forested regions of Odisha are set to receive funds directly in their own bank accounts to carry out forest protection, management and convergence works in respective community lands.

The Project Appraisal Committee (PAC) of Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has approved Community Forest Resource (CFR) plans for 100 villages in phase I under Forest Right Act while the Odisha government has proposed to implement it in 400 villages.

“The State has sought funds of ₹64 crore for 400 CFR plans. It was advised by the PAC that CFR plans for 100 villages may be taken in phase-I. Depending on the learnings from these, the CFR projects for other 300 villages may be placed in subsequent years,” the proceeding of PAC meeting stated.

The European Commission intends to propose a ban on the use of PFAS, or “forever chemicals”, in consumer products, with exemptions for essential industrial uses, the European Union’s environment chief told Reuters.

PFAS, or Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, do not break down in the environment, raising concerns about the consequences of them building up in ecosystems, drinking water and the human body.

They are used in thousands of items, from cosmetics and non-stick pans to aircraft and wind turbines, due to their resistance to extreme temperatures and corrosion.

The Supreme Court today (January 21) proposed to modify its earlier decision which said that ad hoc judges can be appointed in High Courts only when vacancy is 20% or more of the total sanctioned strength of the High Court. The special bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justices BR Gavai and Suryakant was hearing the matter relating to the pending appointment of Ad Hoc Judges in various High...

The first three-day International Pashmina Festival cum Exhibition organised by Nepal Pashmina Industries Association and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries has drawn the attention of consumers towards delicate, lightweight and warm natural fibre obtained from Chyangra or Pashmina goat. Nepal is one of the prominent producers of authentic Pashmina, often branded as “Chyangra Pashmina” to emphasise its high quality and originality. The production involves traditional weaving methods passed down for generations. In Nepal, genuine Pashmina is often branded as Chyangra Pashmina with a government-certified label.

The wool is combed by hand from the undercoat of Pashmina goats during their natural shedding season. The wool is cleaned of impurities and hand-spun into fine threads. Expert artisans use traditional handlooms to create the fabric. Natural dyes are used to colour the fabric, and intricate embroidery is often added for embellishment. The exhibition, which will run until January 25 showcases Over 150 domestic stalls, with more than 40 stalls showcasing pure Nepali Pashmina.

A high-speed train project connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai in just 30 minutes was announced by Etihad Rail yesterday. The train will travel at speeds of up to 350 km/h, dramatically reducing travel times and enhancing connectivity between the two emirates.

Etihad Rail, which will oversee the development and operation of the project, estimates the initiative will contribute Dh145 billion to the UAE’s GDP over the next 50 years. This new high-speed train is distinct from the previously announced Etihad Rail passenger service, which shares the same network as the UAE’s freight trains.

As part of the announcement, UAE leaders reviewed the country’s first passenger train fleet, which will operate at speeds of up to 200 km/h. The first four passenger stations will be located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah, strategically improving access to rail services for residents and visitors. These stations will be integrated with metro and bus lines, creating a seamless and interconnected transport network.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2025, in the Institutional Category, for its excellent work in disaster management.

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar was instituted by the Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to recognise and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by individuals and organisations in India in the field of disaster management.

The award is announced every year on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual.

In the Masters section of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025 held in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju emerged victorious against Germany’s Vincent Keymer after an intense 72-move battle, which was the longest game of Round 5. Playing with the white pieces, the Chennai-born grandmaster showcased exceptional strategic prowess, eventually forcing Keymer to resign under time pressure. This victory marked Gukesh’s second win of the tournament and his first after three consecutive draws.

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa maintained his consistent form, securing a draw against Dutch GM Max Warmerdam. The game, which saw Praggnanandhaa playing with the black pieces, was evenly balanced throughout. Despite pressing aggressively, the young Indian could not break Warmerdam’s defence, and the match concluded in 39 moves. This was Praggnanandhaa’s second draw of the tournament. After five rounds, he is tied for the top position with Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov at four points apiece.

In another all-Indian encounter, Arjun Erigaisi and Leon Luke Mendonca played out a stalemate, with both players continuing to search for their best form in the tournament. Similarly, Pentala Harikrishna shared points with Wei Yi of China in a relatively short game.

The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brig. (Dr.) B. D Mishra kickstarted the opening ceremony of the 5th edition of Khelo India Winter Games today at NDS Ice Hockey Stadium Leh. The opening ceremony of the Khelo India Winter Games at Leh welcomed participants, dignitaries and the audience with bursts of colour and enthusiasm. The Festive vibes were high as the NDS stadium came alive with the band performances and cultural dances. Jabro, the traditional dance of the nomadic changpas of Eastern Ladakh was performed in the opening ceremony.

More than 400 athletes from across the country are participating in the Khelo India events in two categories Ice Hockey and Ice Skating. The event not only attracted audiences from local or national level, but also Tourists from foreign Countries are attending it. The Concluding ceremony of Khelo India at Leh will take place on the 27th of January, 2025. The second leg of Khelo India will be held in the famous Ski Resort Gulmarg of Jammu Kashmir in February this year.

The All-India Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) remained unchanged at 1,320 and 1,331 points for December 2024 as compared to points for November 2024. According to the data released by the Ministry of Labour and Employment today, the CPI-AL and CPI-RL for December eased to 5.01 per cent and 5.05 per cent, compared to 7.71 per cent and 7.46 per cent in the same month the previous year.
The corresponding figures for November last year were 5.35 per cent for CPI-AL and 5.47 per cent for CPI-RL. The data showed that sub-indices including Pan, Supari, Fuel and Light, Clothing, Bedding, and Footwear and miscellaneous, for both agricultural and rural labourers, marked a marginal rise in December.

The Indian short film Anuja secured nomination in the Best Short Film (Live Action) category at the 97th Academy Awards. The film will compete against Alien, I’m Not a Robot, The Last Ranger, and A Man Who Would Not Remain Silent. The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were announced on Thursday by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott.

The Netflix movie musical Emilia Perez led the nominations, giving the streaming service another shot at its first Best Picture trophy. It was followed by the historical drama The Brutalist and the box-office smash Wicked.

Emilia Perez, a Spanish-language story about a Mexican drug lord who transitions to a woman and starts a new life, earned 13 nominations. The Brutalist, a 3 1/2-hour tale about a Holocaust survivor and architect chasing the American dream, and The Wizard of Oz prequel Wicked each picked up 10 nods.