Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh - The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has raised serious concerns about the water quality of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers at the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage site in Prayagraj, deeming it unsuitable for bathing. In a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the CPCB highlighted that the rivers are contaminated with high levels of bacteria originating from human and animal excreta. The CPCB's findings, presented on February 3 and noted by the NGT in an order dated February 17, show that on January 12 and January 13, the water quality at most monitored locations failed to meet the primary standards for bathing in terms of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and fecal...

The end of 2024 marks a historic milestone in global politics—a quarter of a century of leadership under Vladimir Putin, a figure who has indelibly shaped history. From his early days as a KGB agent to becoming one of the most dominant forces in modern history, Putin's rise defied the odds, cementing his place as a defining figure on the global stage. Vladimir Putin became the Acting President of Russia on December 31, 1999, following the resignation of Boris Yeltsin, the then-President of Russia. Yeltsin, after eight years in office, passed on the presidency to Putin, who was serving as the Prime Minister at the time. This marked the culmination of Putin’s rapid rise in Russian...