Delhi was the most polluted city in India in 2022 with PM 2.5 levels more than double the safe limit and the third highest average PM10 concentration, according to an analysis of Central Pollution Control Board data.

PM2.5 pollution in the national capital has reduced by over 7 per cent in four years, from 108 micrograms per cubic metre in 2019 to 99.71 micrograms per cubic metre in 2022. However, it still remains way below the desired level.

The government's flagship National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) targets to reduce pollution by 20 per cent to 30 per cent by 2024 (as compared to 2017 levels).

A team of UP ministers, led by state Finance minister Suresh Khanna, held an interactive session evoking a respectable response from potential investors in Chennai. The team has been in Chennai for the last two days to invite the investors to Global Investors Summit due to  take place in Lucknow on February 10-12

Nearly 70 bulldozers and excavators cleared 200 hectares of forest land in Assam's Lakhimpur district on Jan 19, affecting over 201 families, most of whom are Bengali-speaking Muslims.

Altogether 43 excavators and 25 tractors were pressed into action, while 600 police and CRPF personnel were deployed along with 200 civil officials for the drive in Mohghuli village.

After wider consultations and discussion, India has decided to celebrate the National Science Day (NSD) this year on February 28 on a new theme, ‘Global Science for Global Wellbeing’ to match the spirits of the G-20 presidency.

After unveiling the theme on Jan 9 , union minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said: “National Science Day is celebrated every year on February 28 to commemorate the discovery of ‘Raman Effect’ by Indian physicist Sir C. V. Raman on 28 February 1928. However, this year, the country has decided to celebrate on a new theme that is in sync with India assuming the Presidency of G-20.”

An Indian-American aerospace industry expert has been appointed as NASA's new chief technologist to serve as principal advisor to Administrator Bill Nelson on technology policy and programmes at the space agency's headquarters .

In his position, AC Charania will align NASA's agency-wide technology investments with mission needs across six mission directorates and oversee technology collaboration with other federal agencies, the private sector, and external stakeholders.

The position works within NASA's Office for Technology, Policy, and Strategy.

Iranian activist Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has been sentenced to five years over "propaganda" and acts against national security.

Hashemi was arrested in the capital Tehran on September 27 for encouraging residents to demonstrate amid nationwide protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death.

Hashemi has faced similar charges before, and in 2012 was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison for "propaganda against the Islamic republic".

Hashemi's late father, president between 1989 and 1997 who died in 2017, was considered a moderate and advocated improved ties with the West.

The leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada are expected to set aside simmering trade tensions and pursue deeper economic integration at talks on  Jan 10 that will also cover security and migration.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will host his US counterpart Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for three-way talks known as the "Three Amigos" summit.

Underlining the contribution of non-resident Indians, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on  Jan 10 said remittances sent to the country by overseas Indians were about USD 100 billion for the year 2022, an increase of 12 per cent in one year.

Speaking at a session during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city, she described NRIs as the "real ambassadors of India" and appealed to them to use made-in-India products and services as far as possible so that the country's individual brand can be promoted across the globe.