#global26 The Rafah crossing is effectively the sole ‌route in or out of Gaza ‌for nearly all of the more than ‍2 million people who live there.

Source: The Hindu

#global26 Ynet said the arrival of the destroyer at the southern port on the Gulf of Aqaba, near Israel’s borders with Egypt and Jordan, was pre-planned and part of ​ongoing cooperation between the U.S. and ⁠Israeli militaries.

Source: The Hindu

#global26 With a population of 3,00,000, Bougainville has set a deadline of 2027 to achieve independence from Papua New Guinea, and needs to reopen the Panguna mine to build its economy.

Source: The Hindu

#social26 A grain ATM or Annapurti (meaning “provider of grain”), much like a banking ATM, is an automated machine that dispenses food grains (wheat and/or rice). It can release 50 kg of grain in five minutes. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), which launched a grain ATM project in Odisha in 2024, it can reduce waiting times by 70%. It can also address other inefficiencies in what can often be a long process requiring authentication, the weighing of grains, and other steps.

Source: The Indian Express

#social26 The Supreme Court on Friday (January 30, 2026) declared that the right to menstrual health and access to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) measures in educational institutions is part of the fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Source: The Hindu

#environment26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the local population and those passionate about wetland conservation for the designation of Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah and Chhari-Dhand in Kutch as Ramsar sites.

Source: The Hindu

#science26 The AI model, dubbed “Project Genie”, allows users to simulate a real-world environment through prompts with text or uploaded images, potentially disrupting how video games ​have been made for over a decade and forcing ⁠developers to adapt to the fast-moving technology.“Unlike explorable experiences in static 3D snapshots, Genie 3 generates the path ahead in real time as ​you move and interact with ⁠the world. It simulates physics and interactions for dynamic worlds,” Google said in a blog post on Thursday.

Source: The Hindu

#global26 Rubaya produces around 15% of the world's coltan, which is processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal that is in high demand by makers of mobile phones, computers, aerospace components ​and gas turbines. The site, where locals ⁠dig manually for a few dollars per day, has been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel group since 2024.

Source: The Hindu

#science26 In India, Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) is the principal ore of Rare Earths (RE). In BSM ore, the prescribed substance monazite occurs, which is a phosphate mineral containing Uranium and Thorium.

Source: The Indian Express

#science26 These high-strength REPMs are crucial for a wide range of technologies – from electric vehicles and renewable energy systems to electronics, aerospace, and defence applications. However, their manufacturing is concentrated in just a handful of countries, with China alone controlling over 90 per cent in both manufacturing and processing of raw material needed to produce these magnets.

Source: The Indian Express

#science26 Polyoxometalates (POMs) are discrete metal–oxygen clusters (of Mo, W, V, etc.) with precise nanoscale structures. Certain POMs possess rigid, crown- or donut-like geometries with ~1 nm internal cavities, enabling selective trapping of ions or molecules. Due to strong redox activity, structural stability, and self-assembly, POMs are used in catalysis (water splitting, oxidation reactions), energy storage (batteries, supercapacitors), molecular electronics, drug delivery, antimicrobial agents, and nanofiltration membranes for selective ion transport.

Source: The Hindu

#science26 Aluminium phosphide (Celphos) is a fumigant pesticide used for grain preservation. On exposure to moisture, it releases phosphine gas, a highly toxic mitochondrial poison causing cardiogenic shock and metabolic acidosis. Mortality is high due to lack of a specific antidote. Recent PGIMER research shows early targeted therapy can significantly improve survival, marking a major public-health breakthrough.

Source: The Hindu

#polity26 16th FC.

Source: PRS

#polity26 16th FC.

Source: PRS

#polity26 16th FC.

Source: PRS

#polity26 16th FC.

Source: PRS

#polity26 16th FC.

Source: PRS

#culture26 vibrant experiential cultural destinations: The new scheme, tentatively titled DESH (Development of Excavation Sites and Heritage Complexes) takes it further by positioning heritage at the heart of cultural tourism with a more integrated impact. Through several tangible measures, the new scheme projects to at least double the visitor footfall within three years of the completion of the project.

Source: The Indian Express

#culture26 Exposition of Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka

Source: PiB

#environment26 Birdwatchers in Kannur have sighted an Isabelline shrike, a rare migratory bird believed to have arrived from the Mongolian region during the winter season. This marks the first recorded sighting of the species in Malabar and only the second in Kerala.

Source: The Hindu

#environment26 Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of eastern gorilla found only in the high-altitude forests of the Virunga Mountains and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Central and East Africa. They are herbivorous, live in stable social groups led by a dominant silverback, and show complex social behaviour. Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, their population has increased due to intensive conservation. Major threats include habitat loss, poaching, disease transmission from humans, and regional conflict.

Source: The Hindu