Category Archives: Education

RMetS Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 Opens for Entries

The world’s favourite weather photography competition returns today as the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) officially opens entries for the Weather Photographer of the

Year 2026. Now entering its second decade, the competition invites photographers from around the globe to submit striking images that capture the power, beauty and impact of

weather. It celebrates outstanding photography that showcases both dramatic weather events and the growing influence of climate change.

The dedicated Climate Award also returns for 2026, recognising images that connect weather with wider environmental change. As a visual medium, photography offers a

powerful way to communicate complex scientific ideas and engage global audiences.

Prof Liz Bentley FRMetS, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said:

 “The Weather Photographer of the Year competition continues to showcase the remarkable ways in which weather shapes our world, from moments of natural beauty to events of significant impact. As our climate changes, these images play an increasingly important role in helping people understand and engage with the science behind weather and climate.”

The competition is free to enter and open to photographers of all levels, from seasoned professionals to enthusiastic amateurs.

The 2026 categories include:

 • Weather Photographer of the Year – awarded to the most striking image of weather in action (£1,500 prize).

 • Mobile Weather Photographer of the Year – celebrating the best images captured on a smartphone or tablet (£500 prize).

 • Climate Award – recognising photography that tells a compelling story about our changing climate (£500 prize).

 • Public Favourite – decided by a global public vote.

 Key Dates

• Entries open: 11 June – 20 August 2026

• Shortlist announcement and public vote: 22 October 2026

• Winners announced: 17 November 2026

Telangana Village Sets Example by Choosing Government Schools for All Children

Hyderabad, June 10 (UDN): In a significant step towards strengthening public education, residents of Babapur village in Telangana’s Nirmal district have unanimously resolved to enrol their children in government schools, demonstrating strong faith in the state’s public education system.

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The decision was taken after a series of discussions held at the village level, where community members deliberated on ways to improve educational opportunities for children while supporting government institutions. The resolution was formally adopted during a Gram Panchayat meeting, with villagers agreeing that all school-going children from the village should attend government schools.

Babapur, a predominantly agrarian village under Lakshmanachanda Mandal, has drawn attention for what many see as a rare and inspiring collective commitment to public education. Villagers believe that increased enrolment will not only benefit students but also contribute to the overall improvement and growth of government schools.

Village Sarpanch Padigela Lakshmi said quality education is vital for the future of children and the development of the community. She expressed confidence in the capabilities of government school teachers and emphasized that public educational institutions continue to play a crucial role in providing affordable and quality education, particularly for rural and economically weaker families.

Education experts and local residents have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a model that could inspire similar efforts in other villages across Telangana and beyond. They noted that community participation is essential for strengthening government schools and ensuring better educational outcomes.

The resolution comes at a time when governments across the country are investing heavily in upgrading school infrastructure, enhancing teaching standards and improving learning environments. Observers believe the Babapur initiative sends a strong message about public trust in government education and highlights the role communities can play in shaping the future of local institutions.

The village’s collective decision is being viewed as a positive example of grassroots leadership and community-driven action aimed at ensuring quality education for every child while reinforcing the importance of a robust public education system.

Dr. Ketan Deshpande Recognized by Cambridge Judge Business School for Outstanding Contribution and Social Impact

Pune , June 9 :  Friends Union for Energising Lives , the Pune-based public charitable trust and NSE Social Stock Exchange – listed non-profit, has announced that its Founder, Chairman and Managing Trustee, Dr. Ketan Deshpande, has been formally recognised by the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School, for his outstanding contribution to the Cambridge India Business Society and for FUEL’s exemplary philanthropic work.

The recognition was conveyed through a letter dated 30 May 2026, issued on the occasion of the Cambridge India Business Dialogue 2026, and jointly signed by Prof. Gishan Dissanaike, Dean of Cambridge Judge Business School, and Prof. Jaideep Prabhu, Vice Dean and Director of the Centre for India & Global Business.

The letter acknowledged Dr. Deshpande’s steadfast support and mentorship of the Cambridge India Business Society over the past three years, crediting his guidance with helping shape it into one of the most active student-led communities at the School and enabling the growth of its flagship annual Dialogue. It further recognised FUEL’s pioneering work in career guidance, skill development and youth empowerment, which has touched the lives of over a million young people across India and opened doors of opportunity for those who need them most.

Responding to the recognition, Dr. Ketan Deshpande said:

“This honour belongs not to one person, but to a mission and a movement. For 19 years, FUEL has worked to open doors of opportunity for first-generation and underserved youth across India. To have that journey seen and valued by an institution like Cambridge is both a privilege and a renewed responsibility. In the same spirit, we are honoured that Cambridge alumnus Dr. Yusuf Hamied has adopted the School of Science at FUEL SkillTech & Entrepreneurship University. As Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam reminded us, dreams are not what you see in sleep — they are what do not let you sleep. There is still so much to build.”

The acknowledgement marks a significant milestone in FUEL’s growing international engagement and reflects the organisation’s deepening association with Cambridge Judge Business School and the wider Cambridge community.

India Opens Doors to Global Education: Three Top Foreign Universities Receive Approval to Establish Campuses

New Delhi, June 10 (UDN): In a landmark step towards strengthening India’s position as a global education hub, Letters of Approval (LoAs) were handed over to three globally reputed foreign universities from the United Kingdom and Australia to establish campuses in India. The approvals were presented in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

 x.com/EduMinOfIndia

The universities receiving approval are the University of Bristol, UK, and the University of York, UK, both of which will establish campuses in Mumbai, while the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, will set up its campus in Bengaluru.

The initiative is a significant milestone under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes the internationalisation of higher education by attracting leading global institutions to India while also encouraging Indian universities to expand their international footprint.

The upcoming campuses in Mumbai and Bengaluru—two of India’s foremost centres of innovation, technology, and enterprise—are expected to provide students with world-class academic and research opportunities without requiring them to study abroad. The institutions will offer future-oriented programmes in cutting-edge fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Security, Data Science, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Creative Industries, Immersive Arts, Renewable Energy, Health Sciences, Transport Systems, and Education Technology.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Education Minister said the arrival of globally renowned universities reflects growing international confidence in India’s higher education ecosystem and the transformative reforms introduced under NEP 2020. He noted that the initiative would create new avenues for research collaboration, innovation, skill development, and global academic exchange.

The establishment of these campuses is expected to enhance access to high-quality international education, strengthen India’s knowledge economy, and contribute to the vision of making the country a global centre for learning and innovation. The move is also seen as a major boost to the aspirations of Indian youth and the broader goal of building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

With this development, India continues to emerge as a preferred destination for global academic institutions, further reinforcing its role in shaping the future of higher education and research.

Parlini Land Launches Multilingual Children’s Language Learning App

App offers low-stimulation, play-based educational games that enable families around the world to raise digitally literate children in their heritage or second language

MALTA, June 9: Parlini Land, a multilingual educational app that enables children to learn up to 11 different languages, has launched on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Created for children ages three to eight, Parlini Land offers a library of quality, play-based educational games that feature fun, low-stimulation screen time. Activities on the app include number tracing, spelling, colour and shape recognition, matching, counting, flashcards, puzzles, and more. Parlini Land gives families around the world the ability to raise digitally literate children in their heritage or second language.

“The impetus for creating Parlini Land started when I became a mother,” explained Francesca Borg Bellanti, Parlini Land’s founder. “I noticed a gap that millions of families face but rarely talk about: the internet is overwhelmingly in English. For families who speak another language, whether it’s Arabic, Hindi, Irish, Polish, or Greek, it can be incredibly hard to find screen time that is genuinely engaging, age-appropriate, safe, and educational in their language. That’s the problem we’re solving with Parlini Land.”

Parlini Land is teacher-approved. The app supports language learning in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Greek, Irish, Hindi, Arabic, Swedish, and Polish. The immersive user experience features real human voices (not AI) in the child’s chosen language. The experience is calm and designed for low stimulation. It’s engaging, not addictive.

Borg Bellanti added, “Parlini Land is for bilingual families, perhaps in diaspora communities, who where parents want to keep a heritage language alive at home. We enable parents to introduce a new language naturally through play. The alternative is to surrender to English being the language of childhood, which is the risk parents face when every game, cartoon, and app a child interacts with is in English.”

Terahertz Biophotonics: Understanding the Path Towards PracticalApplications

Researchers summarize the recent developments and future research directions toward the broader implementationof terahertz biophotonics

Biophotonicsrefers to the development and application of light-based technologies to study biological systems.The application of terahertz (THz) frequency range in biophotonics is considered a promising avenue for advancing biological research. However, several challenges still limit practical adoption, although recent developments show strong potential. In a new study, researchers present a comprehensive review of recent advancements and emerging applications of THz biophotonics, highlighting promising areas and future research directions that can expand its adoption.

Biophotonics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the development and application of light-based technologies to study, monitor, and treat biological systems. The ability to directly image cells and molecules has led to many fundamental discoveries in the past century. More recently, the terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum has attracted growing interest as a promising frontier for advancing biological research.

 The THz frequency range is associated with several fundamental biological processes. Although THz radiation is strongly absorbed by water, traditionally viewed as a limitation, this property can enable sensitive characterization of hydration states and water content. Compared to visible light, THz waves can also penetrate certain biological tissues more effectively. However, despite steady advancements, the adoption of THz biophotonicsstill lags behind visible light-based techniques in directly observing cellular and molecular dynamics.This is largely due to several challenges, including relatively low spatial resolution (a consequence of the longer THz wavelengths), high sensitivity to water that complicates measurements, slower imaging speeds, and bulky instrumentation. Fortunately, recent developments suggest strong future potential.

 To highlight these advancements, Associate Professor Kazunori Serita from theGraduate School of Information, Production, and Systems, Waseda University, Japan, together withSpecial-Appointment ProfessorMasayoshi Tonouchi from the Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Japan, presented a comprehensive review summarizing current efforts to address limitations and improve the adoption of THz biophotonics. The study was published in the Journal of Physics PhotonicsonMay 28, 2026.

 “THz biophotonics is a fascinating research area for next-generation biomedical technologies.Currently, THz biomedical applications are restricted to a few niche domains with many technical limitations.Recent developments in emerging THz technologies have greatly increased the potential for overcoming these technical limitations,” says Serita.

In their review, the researchers first outline how THz radiation interacts with biological processes, highlighting key advantages such as sensitivity to molecular fingerprint spectra and the ability to enable non-invasive, non-destructive, and label-free measurements. They also discuss the strong dielectric dispersion and absorption of water. Next, they trace the historical development of key THz technologies, including THztime-domain spectroscopy, the evolution of THzimaging techniques, and the emergence of THz metamaterial biosensors that can be used to probe complex and small biological samples.

A major focus was on fields that show strong potential for early application. For example, THz imaging is gaining attention in skin cancer diagnosis due to its sensitivity to tissue composition and is progressing toward clinical trials. Wound assessment is another field where THz imaging is being increasingly applied. Margin assessment in breast cancer is also a key area where THz technology has high potential for practical clinical application, offering a pathway to simplify current procedures. The review also highlights applications in drug discovery and pharmaceutical analysis.

Beyond these areas, the review identifies emerging directions such as single-cell THz imaging, molecular-scale THz studies, diagnostics for internal organs (including the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems), and THz-based blood analysis. In addition,it highlights future technologies that can enable THz observation of cells and molecules under physiological conditions, including the recently developed “point-terahertzsource” technology by Serita and colleagues.

 “THz measurement technologies can benefit not only medicine, but also a wide range of industries, including drug discovery, food inspection, environmental monitoring, semiconductor evaluation, and biotechnology,” says Serita.

Finally, the researchers presented the main areas for future research, includingidentifying the precise origins of THz contrast in biological samples and improving the understanding of water dynamics to improve reliability.

“Our study provides a roadmap of emerging approaches that could help transform the field of THz biophotonics from proof-of-concept studies to practical biomedical applications,” concludesSerita.

Prof Oramah’s appointments to the Royal African Society Patronage and Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund herald continued recognition of his global leadership and pan-African impact

Professor Oramah served as President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank from 2015 to 2025, playing a central role in its evolution into one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions

CAIRO, Egypt, June 5, 2026/ — Following a transformative decade at the helm of Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com), Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, GCON, former President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has received a number of distinguished appointments and recognitions reflecting his continuing impact and the broad demand for his expertise across finance, health, and pan-African development.

Members of the Royal African Society unanimously elected Professor Oramah as the Society’s second Patron at an Extraordinary General Meeting. Founded in 1901, the Royal African Society is the United Kingdom’s leading organisation dedicated to building understanding, engagement and partnerships across Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world, convening policymakers, business leaders, academics and civil society through events, research and advocacy. The appointment comes as the Society marks its 125^th anniversary and deepens its focus on Africa’s economic transformation, creative industries, and global partnerships. Arunma Oteh, Chairperson of the Royal African Society, noted that Professor Oramah’s election reflects the Society’s commitment to engaging with leaders who are shaping Africa’s economic future, and that his experience, global perspective, and longstanding commitment to pan-African cooperation will significantly strengthen the organisation’s work and broaden its impact.

Additionally, in April 2026, Kenyan President H.E. William Ruto appointed Professor Oramah as an independent member of the Governing Council of Kenya’s newly established National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) for a three-year term. The NIF represents a strategic pivot towards investment-led growth, designed to crowd in private capital and reduce Kenya’s dependence on sovereign borrowing. Professor Oramah sits alongside statutory members including the Central Bank of Kenya Governor, Attorney-General, top financial leaders and other experts as one of four independent experts appointed to the council.

Professor Oramah has also been appointed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention as Senior Advisor on Strategic Financing, alongside senior advisors on international cooperation, strategic partnerships and debt swaps. The appointment is intended to support the acceleration of Africa CDC’s Africa Health Security and Sovereignty agenda by strengthening its ability to mobilise capital, shape high-level policy and build strategic partnerships across the continent. It also reflects Professor Oramah’s continued engagement in health sovereignty, an area in which he played a central role in during his tenure at Afreximbank through initiatives including the African Medical Centre of Excellence in Abuja.

These appointments build on recognition that accompanied Professor Oramah’s departure from Afreximbank. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred on him the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the nation’s second highest national honour, in recognition of his contributions to Africa and to Nigeria, which received over US$52 billion in financing support from the Bank during his tenure. The Woodhall Capital dinner reception hosted at its Lagos headquarters in March 2026, which brought together distinguished figures from finance and industry to celebrate his contributions to African trade and economic development, was one of several such receptions held across the continent in recognition of Professor Oramah’s legacy.

Commenting on his latest appointments and continued engagement, Professor Oramah said: “Africa’s development is a multigenerational endeavour, and those of us who have been privileged to serve in leadership have a responsibility to remain in the arena. Whether through strengthening health financing systems, building the infrastructure that drives inclusive growth, or championing the institutions that tell Africa’s story to the world, the work continues. I am deeply honoured by each of these recognitions, and I remain committed to contributing wherever I can to Africa’s journey towards sovereignty and self-reliance.”

Professor Oramah served as President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank from 2015 to 2025, playing a central role in its evolution into one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions. Under his leadership, Afreximbank helped advance several continental initiatives, including the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), and programmes aimed at strengthening manufacturing and creative industries across African economies. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of both the Fund for Export Development for Africa (FEDA) and the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE).

El Niño: The Climate Phenomenon That Shapes Global Weather Patterns

Understanding the Science Behind Rising Temperatures, Droughts, and Extreme Weather Events

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As weather experts warn of a possible El Niño influence during the upcoming monsoon season, concerns are growing over its potential impact on agriculture, water resources and global temperatures. Though it originates in the Pacific Ocean, El Niño is among the most powerful climate phenomena affecting weather patterns across the world.

What is El Niño?

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate event characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Occurring every two to seven years, the phenomenon disrupts normal atmospheric circulation and alters weather patterns on a global scale.

The event forms part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a recurring climate cycle that influences rainfall, temperature and storm activity across continents.

The Science Behind El Niño

Under normal conditions, strong trade winds blow from east to west across the Pacific Ocean. These winds push warm surface waters toward Asia and Australia while allowing cold, nutrient-rich waters to rise along the western coast of South America through a process known as upwelling.

During an El Niño event, these trade winds weaken significantly or even reverse direction. As a result, the vast pool of warm water shifts eastward toward the coasts of Peru and Ecuador. The warmer ocean surface heats the atmosphere above it, triggering major changes in wind patterns and atmospheric circulation.

These changes create a chain reaction across the globe, influencing rainfall distribution, temperatures and storm systems thousands of kilometres away from the Pacific Ocean.

Global Weather Impacts

The effects of El Niño vary from region to region but are often dramatic.

Asia and Australia

Many parts of Asia and Australia experience reduced rainfall during El Niño years. The resulting dry conditions can trigger severe droughts, water shortages, crop losses and an increased risk of wildfires. In India, El Niño is closely monitored because it can weaken the southwest monsoon, the lifeline of the country’s agricultural sector.

North and South America

While Asia often becomes drier, parts of the Americas experience the opposite effect. Heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides frequently affect countries along the eastern Pacific coast. Southern regions of the United States generally witness wetter and stormier winters, while northern areas tend to remain warmer and drier than usual.

Rising Global Temperatures

El Niño releases enormous amounts of stored ocean heat into the atmosphere, often contributing to record-breaking global temperatures. Several of the warmest years in recorded history have coincided with strong El Niño events.

Impact on Marine Ecosystems

The warming of Pacific waters also affects marine life. Reduced upwelling limits the supply of nutrients that support phytoplankton, the foundation of the ocean food chain. As food availability declines, fish populations such as salmon, tuna and anchovy can suffer significant losses, affecting fisheries and coastal economies.

Why It Matters for India

For India, the biggest concern is the impact on monsoon rainfall. A weaker monsoon can affect agricultural output, reservoir levels, drinking water supplies and rural livelihoods. Farmers and policymakers closely monitor El Niño forecasts to prepare for potential rainfall deficits and drought conditions.

Looking Ahead

Climate scientists continue to study how global warming may influence the intensity and frequency of El Niño events. While El Niño itself is a natural phenomenon, rising global temperatures could amplify its effects, making extreme weather events more severe and unpredictable.

As meteorological agencies keep a close watch on Pacific Ocean conditions, governments and communities are being urged to strengthen climate resilience, improve water management and enhance disaster preparedness to reduce the risks associated with future El Niño events.

Conclusion

El Niño remains one of the most influential climate drivers on Earth. Its ability to alter rainfall patterns, intensify heatwaves, trigger floods and disrupt ecosystems highlights the interconnected nature of the global climate system. Understanding its causes and impacts is essential for improving preparedness and mitigating risks in an era of increasing climate uncertainty.

ITM Skills University launches AI-First MCA program

NaviMumbai , June 4 : ITM Skills University has announced its AI-First Master of Computer Applications , a two-year postgraduate program built around artificial intelligence, generative AI, data science, cybersecurity, and advanced software engineering, with applications open for the 2026 batch. The program is built in collaboration with industry practitioners and includes a mandatory six-month paid industry internship.

The curriculum is structured around the market skill gap and current requirements of technology employers now hiring for MLOps, Large Language Models , DevSecOps, Agentic AI, LangChain, Spark, and cloud-based systems. Rather than classroom instruction alone, students learn through production deployments, live projects, GitHub-based development workflows, and real-world system demonstrations, so the work mirrors a professional engineering environment from the start. The program also carries more than 350 hours of structured training in data structures and algorithms, system design, mock interviews, portfolio development, and communication skills, which together build the employability and professional readiness employers screen for.

The six-month paid internship places students inside professional technology environments for an extended, immersive stretch rather than a brief attachment. Beyond academics, students receive one-on-one industry mentorship, a MacBook from the first day of the program, international exposure through a Dubai immersion experience, and the option to study a subject abroad. The university also offers incubation support and seed funding of up to INR 1 crore for promising student startup ideas.

ITM Skills University states that graduates are prepared for roles with recruiters including Amazon, Walmart, Samsung, Flipkart, PayPal, TCS, Goldman Sachs, Google, Microsoft, Paytm, Uber, Apple, LinkedIn, Atos, and EY, with salary opportunities of up to INR 16 LPA.

Dr. Lakshmi Mohan, Pro Vice Chancellor, ITM Skills University and Director, ITM Business School, said:

 “We built this program around one test: can the graduate ship a working AI system on day one of the job, not just describe one. The six-month paid internship and the production deployments are where that gets proven, and it is what employers ask us about when they return to hire. Every skill and certification carries an important question, will this make the students just employable or will it empower them to build systems in their role. We have aced the program structure for the future.”

ITM Skills University, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, is part of ITM Group of Institutions, founded in 1991 with a single conviction: that education is only worth the career it makes possible. The university offers programs designed around employment outcomes.

Adani Foundation, Anushkaa Foundation Launch Initiative to Treat 10,000 Children with Clubfoot

Mumbai, June 3: The Adani Foundation and Anushkaa Foundation have announced a joint initiative aimed at providing comprehensive treatment support to 10,000 children affected by clubfoot across India.

The programme is designed to ensure early detection, timely medical intervention, and sustained rehabilitation for children born with clubfoot, a congenital condition that, if untreated, can lead to lifelong mobility challenges. The initiative will focus on expanding access to corrective treatment, including the widely used Ponseti method, along with physiotherapy and follow-up care.

Through this collaboration, both foundations aim to strengthen outreach in underserved and rural communities, where access to specialised orthopaedic care is often limited. The programme will also work with hospitals, healthcare professionals, and local health workers to identify affected children at an early stage and ensure proper treatment pathways.

Representatives from both organisations stated that the initiative reflects a shared commitment to improving child health outcomes and enabling children to lead active, independent lives. They emphasised that early intervention can significantly improve recovery rates and prevent long-term disability.

The project is expected to create a large-scale impact by combining medical support, awareness campaigns, and community-level engagement, ultimately helping thousands of children regain mobility and improve their quality of life.