The Israeli Cabinet has approved a ceasefire framework proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza. Under the plan, Hamas is expected to release all surviving hostages in the coming days, while Israel will release approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and withdraw most of its forces from Gaza. To oversee and support the implementation of the ceasefire, the United States will deploy around 200 troops to Israel.

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Israel has become the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state, over three decades after it broke away from Somalia in 1991.
Located in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland has its own government, constitution, currency, and has held regular elections, functioning as a de facto state despite lacking global recognition. The move has drawn sharp criticism from Somalia and raised concerns within the African Union over sovereignty and regional stability.

The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of concerns over its recent definition of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges. Under the current definition, an Aravalli hill is a landform rising at least 100 metres above local relief, while an Aravalli range consists of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other. The move follows criticism that the height-based criteria could exclude ecologically sensitive areas from protection.

The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel INSV Kaundinya, a traditionally built engineless “stitched ship,” has sailed from Porbandar to Muscat on its maiden overseas voyage. Built using ancient stitched-plank techniques with coir rope and natural resin, the vessel retraces historic India–West Asia maritime routes. With a crew of about 18, it will cover nearly 1,400 km in around 15 days, highlighting India’s efforts to revive its seafaring heritage and strengthen cultural ties with Oman.

The Government of India has said that the nation has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy with a *nominal GDP of approximately $4.18 trillion* , moving ahead of Japan in global rankings. India’s economy has shown strong growth, with real GDP expanding at 8.2% in Q2 of 2025-26. The government stated that if current trends continue, India could surpass Germany to become the third-largest economy by 2030. The milestone reflects sustained expansion in consumption, investment and output despite global challenges.

The United States has withdrawn from over 60 international organisations, including UN bodies and the India-France-led International Solar Alliance. US President Donald Trump signed the memorandum yesterday titled Withdrawing the United States from International Organisations, Conventions, and Treaties that are Contrary to the Interests of the United States.

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Madhav Gadgil, one of India’s most influential environmental scientists and authors, passed away in Pune on January 7 at the age of 83 after a brief illness. A pioneer in ecological research and conservation, Gadgil founded the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science and chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, shaping national discourse on sustainable development and biodiversity protection. His work helped establish India’s first biosphere reserve and influenced major environmental policies. Recognised globally, he received prestigious honours including the UN’s Champions of the Earth award, the Padma Shri, and the Padma Bhushan.

India has successfully repatriated 349 sacred gemstones linked to the relics of Lord Buddha, originally excavated in 1898 at Piprahwa (Uttar Pradesh).

The gems, once held abroad, resurfaced for auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, risking permanent private sale.

Following alerts by scholars and heritage activists, the Indian government intervened, halted the auction, and brought the artefacts back through a public–private partnership.

Now reunited with other Piprahwa relics in India, the return marks a major moment in cultural diplomacy, heritage protection, and global restitution of antiquities.

Delhi’s long-defunct Rajghat Thermal Power Plant — silent for over a decade — could soon become the city’s coolest after-dark destination.

The government is mapping out a mega nightlife hub across 28 acres along the Yamuna, inspired by global icons like New York’s High Line, London’s Battersea Power Station, Essen’s Zollverein Coal Mine and Toronto’s Distillery District.

Expect cafés, live concerts, Sufi nights, DJ gigs, rooftop bars, night markets, VR zones and even a 50-metre sky-deck!

Officials say this could finally give Delhi a vibrant night culture, boost tourism and create a buzzing social scene — all while turning unused industrial land into one of the capital’s hottest hangouts

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Hot water freezing faster than cold? It’s real—and it’s called the Mpemba Effect.
Once dismissed as a fluke, a 2026 breakthrough from JNCASR (India) used supercomputer simulations to show why it happens: hot systems can take microscopic shortcuts in non-equilibrium thermodynamics, reaching equilibrium faster than colder ones.
Why it matters:
Industry: The effect appears in polymers and granular gases, not just water
Energy: Insights could enable faster, greener cooling technologies
Science: A big win for Indian computational physics
Science doesn’t just explain reality—it rewrites our intuition.

Imagine feeling drunk after eating a normal meal — without touching alcohol. This happens in a rare medical condition called Auto-Brewery Syndrome (ABS), where certain yeast and bacteria in the gut ferment carbohydrates from food into alcohol.

The alcohol then enters the bloodstream, causing symptoms such as dizziness, slurred speech, and impaired coordination.

Doctors say ABS is triggered by an imbalance in the gut microbiome, often due to yeast overgrowth like Candida or Saccharomyces, and is made worse by high-sugar, high-carb foods such as bread, pasta, and sweets.

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India celebrates Republic Day on January 26 because it marks the day in 1950 when the Indian Constitution came into force, officially turning India into a sovereign democratic republic.

Although India became independent on August 15, 1947, it continued under colonial-era laws until the Constitution was adopted and enforced on January 26, 1950.

The date was deliberately chosen to honour an earlier milestone: on January 26, 1930, the Indian National Congress had declared Purna Swaraj (complete independence) in defiance of British rule, making the day symbolic of India’s long struggle for full sovereignty.

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