The Department of English at Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib, organized a One-Day National Seminar dedicated to World Water Day 2025. The seminar on "Water and Humanity: Crisis, Culture and Sustainability" brought together distinguished scholars, environmentalists, and academicians to discuss the urgent need for water conservation and sustainability. The event began with a formal welcome by Dr. Ankdeep Kaur Attwal, Head, Department of English, who greeted the esteemed dignitaries and participants. She highlighted the relevance of the seminar, emphasizing the growing global water crisis and the need for collaborative efforts to address water conservation challenges.In his presidential address, Dr. Pritpal Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the University, underscored the importance of preserving water for future generations. He pointed out that while agriculture contributes to water depletion, untreated industrial effluents pose a far greater threat, leading to severe health issues such as cancer, kidney diseases, and waterborne infections. He also drew attention to the rise of corporate hospitals in Punjab, linking it to increasing health risks due to water pollution. He called for immediate action in this regard and proudly shared the contribution of the University in water conservation. He shared that the University is committed to saving water and has established sewerage water treatment plant, Run-off and RO water water recharge and rain water harvesting. He also shared that the University has orgainsed number of tree plantation drives. In his inaugural address, Dr. Sukhwinder Singh Billing discussed the two main aspects of the water crisis: availability and quality.

Japan has raised serious concerns over the recent, and one of the longest, intrusion by the Chinese Coast Guard ships in the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed islets in the East China Sea.

Marking the longest intrusion in the territorial waters of Japan, Chinese Coast Guard ships left on Monday night after sailing for 92 hours and 8 minutes near the disputed Senkaku islands.

The amount of activity by Chinese vessels near the Senkaku Islands is "clearly escalating," Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said on Monday.

His remarks came as the Chinese Coast Guard ships continued to operate within Japan's territorial seas near the uninhabited islands since the early hours of Friday, reports the leading Japanese news agency.

The Department of Sociology, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, organized a National Seminar titled “Understanding Women and Equality in Its Complexity.” The seminar aimed to explore the multifaceted nature of gender equality and advocate for inclusive policies that promote gender justice. The event was graced by Prof. Prit Pal Singh, Vice Chancellor, and Prof. Sukhwinder Singh Billing, Dean Academic Affairs.

Er. Inderpal Singh and Er. Hira Lal Goyal have joined as Director (Distribution) and Director (Commercial), respectively, of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) today.

Their appointments were made by Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary, Department of Power, Punjab, for a tenure of two years from the date of joining. However, they will not be eligible to continue in service beyond the age of 65.

India’s office leasing market broke previous records in 2024 at 81.7 million square feet (MSF), 19 per cent increase from 2023 and its highest-ever leasing in a calendar year, a report showed on Tuesday.

The IT/ITES sector constituted the largest share, accounting for 42 per cent of total leasing demand, up from 28 per cent in 2023, according to the report by real estate data analysis platform CRE Matrix and CREDAI.

“It was the overall business sentiment and a strong demand for flexible workspace models which powered India’s office leasing to record levels,” the report mentioned.

Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai led the market, collectively accounting for 62 per cent of the demand and recording a 20 per cent year-on-year growth.

South Korea will work to facilitate the growth of the critical mineral recycling industry, with a goal of achieving a 20 percent recycling rate of key critical minerals by 2030, the industry ministry said on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the plan as part of a broader government initiative aimed at stabilising supply chains.

Under the plan, the ministry will work to foster the growth of the critical mineral recycling industry by streamlining related regulations, creating industrial clusters and expanding infrastructure for companies in the sector, reports news agency.

Through such efforts, the country aims to recycle 20 percent of strategic critical minerals essential for advanced industries, like batteries and semiconductors, by 2030.

Speculation is mounting over the possibility of martial law or a state of emergency in Bangladesh, with talks of a military takeover gaining traction. Concerns are growing that the army could move against the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government amid increasing tensions between the military and both the administration and student-led movements.

The deployment of the Bangladeshi Army in Dhaka has further fueled coup rumours. Reports indicate that troops from the Savar-based 9th Division of the Bangladeshi Army are being mobilised and have begun entering the capital in a phased manner.

According to the country's leading media outlet, Northeast News, sources within the security establishment suggest that the army is looking to consolidate control, particularly in Dhaka.

Wildfires in South Korea's southeastern county of Uiseong appear to be getting out of control due to unpredictable strong winds and extremely dry weather, government officials said on Tuesday, citing a gradual drop in the area's fire extinguishing rate.

The forest area affected by the wildfires in Uiseong, about 180 kilometres southeast of Seoul, increased by over 4,000 hectares (ha) overnight to 12,699 ha as of early Tuesday morning, despite all-out firefighting efforts by authorities.

According to the Korea Forest Service, Uiseong's fire extinguishing rate has moved backwards over the past day, dropping from 60 per cent on Monday evening to 54 per cent as of 9 a.m. Tuesday.

A combination of unpredictable strong winds and extremely dry weather is hampering firefighting efforts there, the officials said.

Widespread protests flared in Pakistan's Karachi as the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) took to the streets against "state brutality and enforced disappearances" and demanded the release of the arrested Baloch leaders, including its chief Mahrang Baloch.

Pakistan has charged Mahrang Baloch and several other activists with terrorism after she led the sit-in protest against the illegal arrest and illegal police remand of the relatives of the victims of enforced disappearances.

Meanwhile, in a police crackdown, several individuals, including BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch, were taken into custody on Monday for allegedly violating section 144.

"Police scuttled the gathering, and around six protestors, including Sammi Deen Baloch, have been arrested on violation of Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code and locked up in Women Police Station," said Pakistan's Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza.

The Gabba, Brisbane’s iconic stadium, is set to be demolished following the 2032 Olympic Games, with cricket moving to a new 60,000-capacity venue in the Victoria Park area. This state-of-the-art stadium is being built as part of the Olympic infrastructure.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli unveiled the plans for the future of the state's sports venues on Tuesday, highlighting cricket’s central role in the decision. The sport had been in limbo due to the uncertainty surrounding the Gabba’s future after the state won the 2032 Olympics bid in 2021. This development provides much-needed clarity following years of speculation and shifting proposals.

Cricket Australia welcomed the announcement and said, "This decision gives us certainty about venues and scheduling which in turn allows us to ensure Brisbane hosts the very best possible international and domestic cricket. We strongly advocated building a stadium in Victoria Park together with Queensland Cricket, the AFL and Brisbane Lions, and cricket will play a major role in ensuring this significant investment delivers long-term benefits for cricket fans and the people of Queensland.