Sunder Hindurao Patil, the esteemed Founder and President of the Udaan 7 Colours Foundation based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, has been honored with the Bharat Seva Puraskar 2025 by the Indian NGO Awards Council. This prestigious recognition is awarded to individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment and impact in the realm of social work, and Patil has been acknowledged for his outstanding contributions, particularly in the areas of social service and blood donation initiatives. His relentless efforts have not only saved lives but have also inspired countless others to engage in philanthropic activities. Under Patil's leadership, the Udaan 7 Colours Foundation has emerged as a beacon of hope for many in the community. The organization is dedicated to various life-saving social initiatives, focusing on the critical need for blood donation and other humanitarian efforts. Through innovative programs and outreach activities, Patil and his team have successfully mobilized resources and volunteers, creating a significant impact on public health and welfare. Their work exemplifies the spirit of altruism and community service, making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. Receiving the Bharat Seva Puraskar is a testament to Patil's unwavering dedication and the profound influence of his work. It highlights not only his personal commitment to social causes but also the collective efforts of his organization in fostering a culture of giving and support within society. As he continues to lead Udaan 7 Colours Foundation, Patil remains focused on expanding their initiatives and reaching even more individuals, ensuring that the foundation's mission of saving lives and uplifting communities endures for years to come. Sunder Hindurao Patil, through the Udaan 7 Colours Foundation, is making a remarkable impact in the community by engaging in vital social work. The foundation is committed to the noble cause of saving lives by offering free blood services throughout Mumbai. This initiative is crucial, as it ensures that individuals in need do not face the daunting challenge of locating this essential resource during critical times. The efforts of Udaan 7 Colours Foundation are not just about providing blood; they represent a lifeline for many families who might otherwise experience despair in emergencies. By streamlining the process of blood donation and distribution, the foundation plays a pivotal role in alleviating the stress and urgency that often accompany medical crises. Their dedication to this cause reflects a deep understanding of the community's needs and a commitment to making a difference. Through the tireless work of Sunder Hindurao Patil and the Udaan 7 Colours Foundation, countless lives are being touched and saved. The foundation's proactive approach ensures that no one has to endure the anxiety of searching for blood when it is most needed. This compassionate initiative not only highlights the importance of community support but also inspires others to contribute to such life-saving efforts, fostering a spirit of solidarity and care among the people of Mumbai.

In the realm of visual arts, few individuals shine as brightly as Richard M. Vaz, a distinguished artist and dedicated fine arts teacher from Maharashtra. Vaz’s journey in the world of art is not just a testament to his extraordinary talent but also an illustration of his unwavering commitment to nurturing future generations of artists. His multifaceted approach to art—encompassing creation, mentorship, and community-building—makes him a significant figure in today's artistic landscape. Vaz's artistic prowess has been recognized on several prestigious platforms. His recent selection for the Mannikarnika International online art exhibition underscores his ability to resonate with a global audience. This recognition is not an isolated achievement; it reflects a series of accolades that showcase his artistic contributions. Notably, he was honored with the All India Merit award at the Kolkata Art Foundation's online exhibition, reinforcing his reputation as an artist of considerable merit. Furthermore, the Rabindra Ratna Pursakar awarded to him by the Veyil Foundation in Bengaluru highlights his influence and dedication in the field. The recognition doesn't stop there—his selection for the upcoming Art Festival 2024 by the Bharat Art Society positions him alongside some of the most prominent names in the art community. Notably, he has also received the Golden Achievement Award from Dream Paintbrush, which speaks volumes about the impact he has made in the visual arts sector. Such accolades not only affirm his artistic talents but also signify his role as a leading figure in the contemporary art scene. However, Vasza's contributions extend far beyond his own artistic creations. He is deeply invested in empowering aspiring artists through education and mentorship. By organizing workshops for amateur artists and students, he fosters a supportive and inspiring environment where creativity can flourish. These sessions are crafted to enhance skills, promote innovative thinking, and instill confidence in budding artists. Through these efforts, Vaz not only imparts technical knowledge but also encourages artistic expression and individualism among his students. In an age dominated by digital interaction, Vaz has harnessed the power of social media to expand his reach and influence. He actively shares his artwork online, providing a glimpse into his creative process while also motivating others in their artistic journeys. His online presence serves as a platform not only for showcasing his talent but also for building a community around shared interests and artistic exploration. Richard M. Vaz's impact in the visual arts community is profound. By balancing his artistic pursuits with a strong commitment to education and community engagement, he exemplifies what it means to be a modern artist. His dedication to fostering creativity and supporting other artists makes him a beacon of inspiration, not just in Maharashtra but on a global scale as well. As we look to the future, it's clear that Richard M. Vaz will continue to be a vital force in the visual arts scene. His journey reflects a promise of growth, creativity, and community, making him an artist to watch in the coming years. For anyone interested in the rich world of visual arts, connecting with Vaz’s work presents an opportunity to engage with a vibrant community led by a passionate mentor and artist.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new building of the Central Ayurveda Research Institute at Rohini, New Delhi yesterday virtually. The new state-of-the-art building will be constructed at around 185 crore rupees. The 2.92 acre facility will combine tradition and innovation, offering new opportunities for holistic healing, specialized clinics, and skill development. In his address, Mr Modi emphasised the government’s focus on making healthcare accessible to the poorest of the poor. Prime Minister said that the government is also promoting traditional Indian medicine systems like AYUSH and Ayurveda. He said that over the past decade, the AYUSH system has expanded to more than 100 countries. Mr Modi highlighted that the first World Health Organization (WHO) institution related to traditional medicine is being established in India. He added that a few weeks ago, he inaugurated the second phase of the All India Institute of Ayurveda. Prime Minister said India has the potential to become the world’s health and wellness capital. Mr Modi said that the day is not far when the world will adopt “Heal in India” as a mantra like “Make in India.”   Speaking at the event, Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent charge), Ministry of Ayush, expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for his leadership. He said this facility will drive forward research and quality healthcare, making a lasting impact on millions of lives across the country.

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of Maldives Dr Abdulla Khaleel held bilateral discussions in New Delhi yesterday. Dr. Jaishankar reaffirmed the importance India attaches to its bilateral ties with the Island Nation and assured continued support to Maldives, under India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Vision SAGAR. They took stock of progress made on the understandings reached during the state visit of the President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to India in October last year and followed up on issues that need further focus from both sides.   The Foreign Minister of Maldives appreciated the timely emergency financial assistance extended by India to Maldives in times of need, reflecting on India’s role as the “First Responder” of Maldives. He reaffirmed President Muizzu’s and the Government of Maldives’ commitment to work closely with India in realizing the Joint Vision for the India-Maldives Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.Both countries sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects under Phase-III in Maldives, through grant assistance by India.

India and Iran reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relationships, including Chabahar Port, agricultural cooperation, trade and economic issues, as well as cultural and people-to-people ties. The 19th India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations were held in New Delhi yesterday. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, Majid Takht Ravanchi co-chaired the meeting.   The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the discussions also covered current regional and global developments, including the situation in Afghanistan, West Asia, and the South Caucasus. The Foreign Secretary highlighted the significance of Chabahar Port in supporting Afghanistan’s reconstruction and economic development. Both sides reiterated their commitment to deepen cooperation in multilateral fora, including the UN, BRICS, and SCO.   During his visit, Dr. Ravanchi also called on External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. Their discussions focused on bilateral matters and current regional challenges. Both sides agreed to continue the momentum of high-level exchanges to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Himachal Pradesh is all set to welcome the New Year 2025, with almost all preparations completed. This time, due to snowfall, a large number of tourists are flocking to the hilly areas. As a result, traffic jam is witnessed in Shimla and Manali.   A large number of tourists are arriving in the state’s tourist destinations to celebrate the New Year. Almost all tourist spots in Shimla and Kullu are teeming with tourists. The administration has deployed special police forces to maintain law and order and provide facilities to tourists and other people. Arrangements are also being made to deal with the traffic congestion. Tourists from other states are enjoying the snow in Kufri, Narkanda, Solang Nala, Kothi, and Atal Tunnel. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecast snow and rain in the state once again from 2nd January 2025. The department has also issued a cold wave alert for the lower plains in the next 24 hours.

The Railways will run three thousand special trains during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, out of which 560 trains will operate on ring rail. The Maha Kumbh will be held from January 13 to February 26 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. General Manager of North Central Railway Upendra Chandra Joshi told reporters that a total of 560 ticketing points are being made available at nine railway stations in Prayagraj. These are Prayagraj Junction, Subedarganj, Naini, Prayagraj Chheoki, Prayag Junction, Phaphamau, Prayagraj Rambagh, Prayagraj Sangam and Jhunsi, beside in the fair area. He informed that about 10 lakh tickets can be distributed from these counters per day. In view of the Maha Kumbh Mela, Railways has now started the facility of issuing railway tickets 15 days in advance.   Railways will operate more than 10,000 regular and more than 3000 special trains. Out of these 3,000 special trains, 1800 trains will be run for short distance, 700 trains for long distance and 560 trains will be run on the ring rail. He informed that in view of the heavy crowd in Maha Kumbh, more than 18,000 personnel of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and State Railway Police are being brought to Prayagraj on duty from all parts of Indian Railways.

The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) is all set with its Space Docking experiment known as the SpaDex mission. Its powerhorse rocket PSLV C60 will lift off tonight from spaceport Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Two satellites – SDX01 called also Chaser and SDX02 called Target – will be placed into a 470 km circular orbit at 55-degree inclination with a local time cycle of about 66 days. Both Target and Chaser satellites will be placed in the same orbit at a distance of 10 to 20 km.      The SpaDex Space Docking experiment once successful will establish India as the country that can successfully undertake human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions. This is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission that will enable India to plan a mission to the Moon and build its own Bhartiya Antriksh Station where the satellite can dock and get back to Earth. In space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required for common mission objectives. This needs precision in inter-satellite separation, velocity and navigation, transfer of electric power between two docked spacecraft, composite spacecraft control, and payload operations after undocking. India will be the fourth country to master docking and undocking technology.

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar will be on a three-day official visit to Qatar from today. During the visit, he will meet the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said, the visit will enable both sides to review various aspects of bilateral relations, including political, trade, investment, energy, security, culture, and people-to-people, as well as the regional and international issues of mutual interest.

President of Bihar Religous Board and secretary of Mahavir Temple Trust, Patna Acharya Kishore Kunal passed away due to heart attack this morning. He was 74.         Former IPS also connoisseur of Sanskrit, Kunal was known as champions of the cause of charity work through religious bodies.         On his initiative Mahavir Mandir Trust started running several hospitals including Mahavir Cancer Hospital, Mahavir Child Hospital in the state.         Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Bihar BJP President Dr. Dilip Jaiswal have expressed grief over demise of Kunal Kishore.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met prominent leaders in the national capital yesterday to invite them for Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. The Maha Kumbh will be held from January 13 to February 26 at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. Among those the UP Chief Minister met were former President Ram Nath Kovind, BJP National President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Mizoram Governor Gen VK Singh. Yogi Adityanath presented each dignitary with an official invitation along with symbolic gifts, which included a logo of Maha Kumbh, a Kalash (sacred urn), literature about the event, and a New Year desk calendar and diary. In social media posts, UP Chief Minister shared pictures of his meetings with these dignitaries and expressed gratitude to them for their valuable time. With just 15 days left for Maha Kumbh to begin, Uttar Pradesh government has intensified efforts to invite distinguished personalities and general public from the grand event.

A devastating plane crash in Kazakhstan has claimed the lives of 38 people, including both pilots, while half the passengers - 29 people miraculously survived. The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 jet, carrying 67 people, was flying from Baku to Grozny when it made an emergency landing near Aktau, Kazakhstan, due to adverse weather conditions. The Associated Press posted a video of the crash which showed passengers being taken out from the aft section of the aircraft, an area which is generally considered safe in a crash. According to an analysis in 2015 by Time Magazine of US federal data from 1985 to 2000, the seats in the back of the plane had a fatality rate of 32%, compared to 39% in the middle and 38% in the front. The back middle seats had the lowest fatality rate, at 28%. The airline's president, Samir Rzayev, praised the pilots' "heroism" and dedication to saving lives, saying, "While this tragic accident brought a significant loss to our nation, the crew's valiant dedication to their duties until the last moment and their prioritization of human life have immortalised their names in history," according to the Azerbaijani news agency report. The pilots had collectively logged over 15,000 flight hours, and the plane had recently passed a technical inspection. Investigations are ongoing, but preliminary reports suggest the plane may have been damaged by a Russian anti-missile system. Some experts point to evidence of shrapnel damage to the aircraft's elevator and rudder controls. However, Russian authorities have denied involvement, and the cause of the crash remains unknown. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had warned against speculating about the cause of the crash before the results of the investigation came. The crash has raised concerns about air safety in the region, particularly given the recent military activity in the area. Ukrainian drones have targeted Grozny in recent weeks, and there were reports of Ukrainian drone attacks in the North Caucasus Federal District on the day of the crash. As the investigation continues, the airline and authorities are working to determine the cause of the crash. The plane's black box has been recovered, and its analysis is being conducted in line with international aviation standards.