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At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
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Day: January 26, 2026

Global tourism grows 4% in 2025

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New Delhi: International tourism continued its upward trajectory in 2025, with global tourist arrivals rising 4% compared to the previous year, according to a new report by the UN World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism).

Worldwide, an estimated 1.52 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded during the year. This marked the strongest performance since the pandemic, and confirmed tourism’s return to long-term growth patterns.

Improved air connectivity, eased visa rules, and strong demand from major source markets supported the recovery. Travel demand remained resilient despite higher travel costs and global economic uncertainty, the UN Tourism report pointed out.

Europe continued to attract more international visitors than any other region in 2025. The region received nearly 793 million international tourists, accounting for more than half of global arrivals. Europe also stayed above pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong intra-regional travel and steady long-haul demand.

Southern and Mediterranean destinations recorded strong performance during peak seasons.

Asia and the Pacific recorded one of the fastest growth rates globally, with international arrivals increasing by around 6% in 2025. The region welcomed approximately 331 million visitors as borders fully reopened and flight capacity improved.

Despite the sharp rise, the Asia-Pacific has not yet returned to 2019 volumes. Arrivals remain below pre-pandemic levels, mainly due to a gradual recovery in major markets and a slower return of long-haul travel.

Japan emerged as the leading destination in the region, while Southeast Asian countries continued to gain momentum.

The Middle East continued to outperform global averages, with arrivals well above pre-pandemic figures. Investments in tourism infrastructure and year-round connectivity supported growth.

Africa recorded solid gains, led by North-African destinations. Improved accessibility and regional travel helped sustain demand.

Tourism in the Americas grew modestly in 2025. While demand remained stable, growth was slower compared to other regions, reflecting capacity constraints and economic factors.

According to the report, global tourism is expected to grow further in 2026, with projected growth of 3 to 4%, provided economic conditions remain stable. Regions yet to fully recover are expected to narrow the gap as air routes expand and travel confidence strengthens.

The 2025 performance underlines tourism’s resilience and its continued role as a key driver of global economic activity.

Gukesh roars back with crucial win at Tata Steel Masters

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New Delhi: World champion D. Gukesh staged a timely comeback on Sunday, defeating Vladimir Fedoseev after suffering two straight losses at the Tata Steel Masters 2026 in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands.

Playing with the black pieces, the 19-year-old Indian outplayed the Russian Grandmaster in a tactically sharp contest. The win lifted Gukesh back to joint fourth place on the leaderboard with four points, restoring momentum to his campaign, according to reports.

In an all-Indian encounter, Arjun Erigaisi and Aravindh Chithambaram played out an engaging draw, sharing the point after a closely fought battle.

R. Praggnanandhaa also had to settle for a draw against 14-year-old prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, who had earlier stunned Erigaisi in the tournament.

At the top, Nodirbek Abdusattorov continues to lead the standings with 5.5 points, despite suffering a setback against a resurgent Anish Giri, who beat the Uzbek grandmaster with the black pieces.

Javokhir Sindarov remains second on the table with five points, following a solid draw against Vincent Keymer.

After the rest day on Monday, action resumes on Tuesday with key matchups for the Indian players. Gukesh will face Matthias Bluebaum, Praggnanandhaa takes on Chithambaram, while Erigaisi is set to play Hans Moke Niemann in the ninth round.

The tournament is entering a decisive phase, with the standings still wide open and several contenders firmly in the title race.

Tripura to emerge as Southeast Asia gateway: Scindia

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New Delhi: Tripura is being developed as a gateway to Southeast Asia under the prime minister’s vision of a ‘Developed Northeast’, ‘Local to Global’, and the ‘Act East Policy’, Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Sunday.

Speaking at Dumbur Lake in South Tripura, the Union minister laid the foundation stone of the Rs450 crore Matabari Tourism Circuit at Narkel Kunja. The project aims to place Tripura firmly on the global map of spiritual and eco-tourism.

Chief Minister Manik Saha joined the event virtually, while State Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury was present at the venue. During his three-day visit, Scindia announced development projects worth Rs750 crore for the State.

The Matabari Tourism Circuit will connect the Tripura Sundari Temple, Chabimura, and Dumbur Lake into a single integrated tourism destination. Of the total project cost, Rs276 crore will be funded by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

The project will feature floating jetties, eco-friendly resorts, and modern visitor facilities, according to an official statement. Cultural experiences rooted in local traditions will be a key focus. The aim is to give the Dumbur region a distinct international tourism identity.

Scindia said the project marks a turning point for Tripura. “This is not just infrastructure. It is the foundation of livelihoods,” he said. The circuit is expected to create 4,000 to 5,000 jobs, both direct and indirect. Nearly 30% of the workforce will be women.

Local self-help groups and youth will play an active role in tourism activities. Tour guides will also be trained at leading institutions to ensure quality services.

The Union minister praised the natural beauty of Dumbur Lake, highlighting its calm waters, green islands, and spiritual significance. He described the region as a rare blend of nature, culture, and faith.

He also lauded the warmth and hospitality of the people of Tripura, calling it the state’s greatest asset. “Tripura is a treasure that deserves global attention,” he said.

Scindia credited strong coordination between the Centre and the State government for Tripura’s development progress. He praised Saha’s leadership in driving growth.

The Union minister also announced that 22 projects have been approved to promote engineered bamboo in the Northeast. Termed “Green Gold”, the initiative aims to boost the regional economy while supporting sustainable development.

Four Odisha personalities among Padma awardees announced

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New Delhi: Four distinguished personalities from Odisha have been selected for the Padma Shri Awards 2026, one of the country’s highest civilian honours. Their contributions to culture, literature, crafts, and tribal studies have earned the State national recognition.

The awardees from Odisha are veteran Prahlad Natak artist Seemanchal Patra of Ganjam district, Santali linguist and researcher Charan Hembram, master weaver Sharat Kumar Patra, and tribal writer and educationist Mahendra Kumar Mishra, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Hembram is known for his lifelong work in preserving the Santali language and tribal heritage. Through more than 1,500 “Itun Asra” centres, he has worked to empower tribal youth and safeguard indigenous traditions.

Seemanchal has devoted over eight decades to promoting Prahlad Natak, a traditional folk theatre form of southern Odisha. He has also invested much of his personal savings to ensure the survival of the art form.

Weaver Sharat has earned recognition for innovation in ikat weaving. He has developed over 50 natural dyes and revived traditional dyeing practices. His work has helped train hundreds of marginalised weavers and revive the sector.

Mahendra has authored more than 25 books and contributed over 100 research papers. His work has played a key role in preserving tribal languages and literature for future generations.

Meanwhile, the ministry released the complete list of Padma Awards 2026 on Sunday. A total of 131 individuals have been selected across fields such as art, social service, public affairs, science and engineering, medicine, literature, education, sports, and civil services.

Among them, five will receive the Padma Vibhushan, 13 the Padma Bhushan, and 113 the Padma Shri. The list includes 19 women, six foreign nationals or Persons of Indian Origin, and 16 posthumous awards. The award ceremony will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in March or April.

At the national level, late actor Dharmendra and former Kerala Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan will be honoured with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously. Former Supreme Court judge Justice K. T. Thomas, Hindustani classical musician N. Rajam, and writer-educationist P. Narayanan will also receive the honour.

Prominent Padma Bhushan awardees include singer Alka Yagnik, actor Mammootty, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and former Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, industrialist Uday Kotak, and former tennis star Vijay Amritraj, according to an official statement.

Among the Padma Shri recipients are cricketer Rohit Sharma, Indian women’s cricket team Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Paralympics gold medallist Praveen Kumar, and Indian women’s hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia. Actors R. Madhavan, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Anil Rastogi, and Arvind Vaidya have also been selected.

Odisha marks 77th Republic Day with State-level celebrations

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Bhubaneswar: Odisha celebrated the 77th State-level Republic Day with grandeur and patriotic spirit at Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati unfurled the National Flag at 8.30AM and took the ceremonial salute during the parade. The venue was festively decorated and echoed with patriotic songs and police band performances, according to an official statement.

The governor was received by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma, DGP Shri Y. B. Khurania, and Deputy Director General, NCC, Commodore Vikram Singh, who escorted him to the flag post.

A total of 46 contingents from defence services, police units, and educational institutions took part in the parade. The march-past was supervised by SDPO Rakesh Kumar Sahoo, with Sarat Chandra Jani, Deputy Commandant of the 1st IR Battalion, Koraput, serving as Parade Commander.

Cultural programmes followed the parade, featuring traditional performances such as Sahijata, Pasumukha, Bada Ghoda, Dolajata Patuara, and a Santali dance, presented by renowned cultural groups from across the state.

Government department tableaux drew public attention by showcasing Odisha’s development initiatives and flagship schemes. Departments including Agriculture, Health, Energy, Tourism, Mission Shakti, School and Mass Education, Housing and Urban Development, and others participated in the display.

Senior officials, including additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, commissioners-cum-secretaries, and senior police officers, attended the programme.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the 77th District-Level Republic Day celebration at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, where he took the salute during the ceremonial parade.

On the occasion, the CM paid tribute to India’s freedom fighters and honoured the martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation’s unity and security. He said the Republic stands as a reminder of the sacrifices that shaped the country and the responsibility to safeguard its democratic values.

Ukraine pushes deeper cooperation with Poland, Lithuania

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New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday held high-level talks with his Lithuanian and Polish counterparts Gitanas Nausėda, and Karol Nawrocki respectively, in Vilnius, stressing the urgent need for unity and close coordination as the war continues.

The discussions focused on energy support for Ukraine, strengthening air defence systems, and expanding interceptor production. Leaders also reviewed European defence initiatives, including the PURL and SAFE programmes, which are expected to deliver results this year, according to reports.

Ukraine’s path toward EU membership was another key topic. Zelenskyy also briefed his counterparts on recent peace talks held in the UAE and ongoing engagement with international partners, especially the US.

The Ukrainian president thanked Lithuania and Poland for their consistent and practical support, with special emphasis on energy assistance. He said every form of help has made a real difference for the Ukrainian people.

During his visit, Zelenskyy also met with Lithuania’s Health Minister, Marija Jakubauskienė, and Lithuanian volunteers Jonas Ohman and Edmundas Jakilaitis. He acknowledged their direct support for Ukraine since the early days of the conflict.

At Rasos Cemetery in Vilnius, Zelenskyy paid tribute to those who died in the January Uprising of 1863–1864. He recalled the shared struggle of the Ukrainian, Polish, Lithuanian, and Belarusian peoples against the Russian Empire.

He said today’s fight echoes that history, with Ukrainians defending the future of coming generations. Zelenskyy emphasized that Europe stands for the values of people, nations, and cultures, noting that unity has always proven stronger than oppression.

Zelenskyy highlighted unprecedented support from Poland and Lithuania since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on February 24. He also acknowledged strong backing from the Baltic states, Northern Europe, Germany, France, the UK, Southern Europe, Romania, Moldova, the United States, Canada, and Japan.

He said such unity was unimaginable in the 19th century but is now a powerful reality. The president called for support to remain fully effective, consistent, and unconditional, warning against hesitation or political delays.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s defence is also Europe’s defence, and stressed that collective action must be strong enough to remove any future threat to the continent.

India’s 77th Republic Day parade blends cultural grandeur with military might

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New Delhi: India marked its 77th Republic Day with a sweeping showcase of heritage, technological progress and defence capability, as Kartavya Path in the national capital transformed into a grand stage of colour, rhythm and power.

The celebrations revolved around the theme of 150 years of “Vande Mataram”, while also drawing attention to the Indian military’s recent operational achievements under ‘Operation Sindoor’. European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended the event as chief guests, lending a strong diplomatic dimension to the occasion.

President Droupadi Murmu led the ceremony, arriving at the boulevard in a ceremonial buggy and taking the salute, accompanied by the visiting dignitaries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, senior ministers, service chiefs and foreign diplomats watched the spectacle unfold.

The parade opened with a vibrant cultural presentation titled “Vividata Mein Ekta”, as over a hundred performers displayed a wide range of musical traditions symbolising unity in diversity. The marching columns were led by Parade Commander Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding of the Delhi Area.

Military strength formed a central theme of the event. A tri-services tableau recreated key elements of Operation Sindoor, featuring replicas of advanced weapon systems. A glass-enclosed operational centre rolled past, depicting coordinated battlefield action using platforms such as BrahMos and S-400 missiles.

For the first time, the Army demonstrated a phased “Battle Array” format, beginning with reconnaissance elements in combat attire, followed by high-mobility vehicles. Indigenous helicopters, including the Dhruv and its armed variant Rudra, flew in formation overhead, simulating battlefield support. Armoured columns followed with T-90 Bhisma tanks and the Arjun main battle tank, backed by Apache and Prachand combat helicopters. Mechanised units such as BMP-II infantry combat vehicles and the Nag missile system added to the display.

Among the systems showcased were the Suryastra universal rocket launcher, BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Akash air defence platforms. The Defence Research and Development Organisation presented its hypersonic glide missile LR-AShM, designed for precision strikes on both static and moving targets using indigenous avionics and sensors.

A military contingent from the European Union made history by participating in the parade, carrying the grouping’s operational flags. It marked the EU’s first appearance in such a ceremonial event outside Europe.

The Navy contingent, led by young officers, was followed by a tableau themed “Strong Navy for a Strong Nation”. It traced India’s maritime journey from a reconstructed fifth-century vessel, now named INSV Kaundinya, through Maratha-era warships to modern indigenous platforms such as aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and destroyer INS Udayagiri. The display also highlighted the circumnavigation route of INSV Tarini, symbolising women’s growing role in maritime exploration.

The Air Force contingent marched in step as fighter jets roared overhead in a dramatic “Spearhead” formation, popularly termed the Sindoor Formation. Rafale, Su-30, MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft cut across the sky, followed by transport planes and helicopters, culminating in a fly-past of 29 aircraft.

Thirty tableaux from States, Union Territories, ministries and departments reflected the blend of cultural legacy and modern development. Motorcycle teams from central forces thrilled spectators with daring formations, bringing energy and spectacle to the finale.

Together, the parade painted a portrait of an India rooted in tradition yet confidently stepping into the future, where cultural pride, technological ambition and national security marched side by side.

Olive ridley conservation steps up along Tamil Nadu coast

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New Delhi: Olive Ridley turtle conservation efforts have stepped up along the Tamil Nadu coastline as multiple agencies are working together to protect the endangered species during the peak nesting season.

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is leading the initiative in coordination with the Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network, the Fisheries Department, the Greater Chennai Corporation, and the Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group. Marine Elite Force units are conducting joint coastal patrols to enhance ground-level protection.

Awareness drives among fisherfolk have expanded across coastal districts. Approximately 5,000 fishermen have participated in 175 awareness programs so far. These sessions focus on safe fishing practices and the importance of protecting nesting turtles, according to reports.

To reduce accidental turtle deaths, 2,613 Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) have been procured. Distribution is underway at major fish landing centres. Live demonstrations are also being held to show how TEDs work in fishing nets, according to reports.

As of January 24, a total of 427 turtle mortalities have been recorded across 10 coastal districts. Officials say continuous coordination with the state-level task force and local fishing communities is helping address the issue.

Authorities have stressed that conservation efforts will remain active as the nesting season reaches its most critical phase. The focus remains on prevention, awareness, and rapid response along the coast.

Invisible killers in water: Scientists warn of rising global threat from deadly amoebae

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Children leaping into rivers and families cooling off in swimming pools are scenes that feel safe and familiar on hot summer days. But scientists now warn that invisible organisms lurking in these waters may pose a growing and little-known threat to human health.

Free-living amoebae are single-celled organisms found naturally in soil and water. While most are harmless, some species can cause severe and often fatal infections. The most infamous is Naegleria fowleri, commonly called the “brain-eating amoeba”, which can enter the body when contaminated water goes up the nose during swimming and trigger a rare but deadly brain disease.

A new scientific perspective highlights that these microbes are spreading worldwide due to climate change, aging water infrastructure and weak monitoring systems, according to the Biochar Editorial Office of Shenyang Agricultural University, which published the findings in the journal Biocontaminant.

What makes these amoebae especially dangerous is their resilience. They can survive high temperatures, resist chlorine, and even live inside modern water distribution systems that people assume are safe. “They can tolerate conditions that kill many other microbes,” said corresponding author Longfei Shu. “This makes them extremely hard to control.”

Even more concerning, amoebae can act as shelters for other pathogens. Bacteria and viruses can hide inside them, protected from disinfectants that would normally destroy them. This “Trojan horse” effect allows harmful microbes to persist in water systems and may contribute to the rise of antibiotic resistance, ScienceDaily reported.

As global temperatures climb, heat-loving amoebae are expanding into regions where they were once rare. Recent outbreaks linked to recreational water exposure have already raised alarms in several countries.

The researchers are calling for a coordinated “One Health” approach that connects public health, environmental science and water management. They stress the need for better surveillance, faster diagnostics and more advanced water treatment methods.

“Amoebae are not just a medical issue or an environmental issue,” Shu said. “They sit at the intersection of both, and addressing them requires integrated solutions that protect public health at its source.”