Uttarakhand cabinet gives nod to implementation of UCC in the state

The Uttarakhand State Cabinet has given its nod to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) manual, paving the way for its implementation in the state. Speaking to the media after the Cabinet meeting in Dehradun, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his optimism about the UCC’s impact. He stated that Uttarakhand’s adoption of the UCC will serve as an inspiration for the rest of the country.

The Uniform Civil Code seeks to ensure that all citizens are governed by a common set of laws in matters of personal relationships, promoting equality and justice.

President Trump Inauguration Day Speech: From declaring plans to “take back” the Panama Canal to blaming US inflation on government overspending, Donald Trump’s speech after being sworn in as the 47th President of US was a blitzkrieg of claims and announcements.

In a speech packed with eye-catching assertions, he also claimed that China now controls the Panama Canal, that America’s emergency response system is broken, and that immigrants from prisons and mental institutions abroad are being granted sanctuary in the US.

Dr. Krishna Ella, co-founder and Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech International, one of India’s leading vaccine makers, was earlier this week conferred with the India Fellowship of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) – among the country’s science academies – for the year 2025. This is the first year that the INSA has awarded fellowships to representatives from the industry.

“Dr. Krishna Ella, a prominent Indian scientist and entrepreneur, leads Bharat Biotech in ground-breaking vaccine development. His achievements include India’s Covaxin, the world’s first clinically proven conjugated Typhoid Vaccine, ROTAVAC, and the first preservative-free vaccine, Revac-B mcf Hepatitis B Vaccine. Bharat Biotech also introduced India’s first cell-cultured Swine Flu vaccine and manufactures the world’s most affordable Hepatitis vaccines. Additionally, they were the first globally to develop a vaccine for the Zika virus,” said the citation on the website of INSA.

The ‘Musi River Historic Buildings’ in Hyderabad have been put on the 2025 World Monuments Watch, in an announcement made by the New York-based organisation on late on Wednesday (January 15, 2025). Gujarat’s ‘Bhuj Historic Water Systems’ is the other site in India named by the WMF on its list of 25-sites facing risk due to the water crisis and climate change.

“As Hyderabad confronts environmental challenges and rapid change, World Monuments Fund highlights heritage as a pathway for rejuvenation alongside environmental conservation and climate adaptation,” says the WMF document that puts it on the watch.

Pakistan launched its first home-made observation satellite on Friday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northern China, Pakistan's space agency said.

The PRSC-EO1 satellite will boost Pakistan's ability to monitor and manage natural resources, respond to disasters, and improve urban planning and agricultural development, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) said in a statement.

This type of satellite uses electro-optical sensors to collect data and images of the Earth's surface by detecting and measuring reflected sunlight or emitted radiation.

New champions emerged in the Tata Mumbai Marathon as unheralded Berhane Tesfay of Eritrea took the men's elite title while Kenya's Joyce Chepkemoi Tele won the women's crown in Mumbai on Sunday.

Tesfay clocked 2 hours 11 minutes and 44 seconds to complete the 42.195km distance and win his maiden international full marathon title as thousands of Mumbaikars turned up for the marquee event which is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.

The tiny African nation of Eritrea finished 1-2 as Tesfay's compatriot Merhawi Kesete was second in 2:11:50s while Ethiopia's Tesfaye Demeke (2:11:56s) was third.

Tele, meanwhile, won the women's elite crown in 2:24:56s, finishing ahead of Shitaye Eshete (2:25:29s) of Bahrain and Medina Deme Armino (2:27:58s) of Ethiopia.

In India Open Badminton in New Delhi, Demark’s Viktor Axelsen won the Men’s singles title. He defeated Hong Kong’s C. Yiu Lee in straight sets 21-16. 21-8 in the final today.

In Women’s singles, South Korea’s An Se Young defeated Thailand’s P. Chochuwong 21-12, 21-9 in the final to win the title.
The duo of Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin of Malaysia are the new Men’s Doubles Champions. In the final, they defeated the pair of Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea 21-15, 13-21, 21-16;

The Women’s Doubles crown went to the Japanese pair of Arisa Igarashi and Ayako Sakuramoto who, in the final, defeated South Korea’s pair of Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Hee Yong 21-15, 21-13.
China’s pair of Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin won the Mixed Doubles title, beating France’s duo of Thom Gicquel & Delphine Delrue 21-18, 21-17 in the final

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the naming of the iconic Cultural Center in Jaffna built with Indian assistance, as Thiruvalluvar Cultural Center. In a social media post, Mr. Modi said, it is also a testament to the deep cultural, linguistic, historical and civilisational bonds between the people of India and Sri Lanka.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is set to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 in Davos, Switzerland, underscoring India’s commitment to inclusive growth and transformative development. Before his departure, Vaishnaw emphasized India’s remarkable progress in ensuring equitable opportunities for all, particularly for marginalized communities.

India’s Model of Inclusive Growth

Before his departure for the prestigious global event, Vaishnaw outlined India’s impressive strides in ensuring development for all sections of society, with a particular focus on those who have historically been excluded from progress. He pointed out that Prime Minister Modi’s focus on inclusive development has brought about transformative changes in the lives of those at the bottom of the pyramid.

The Government of Odisha's Electronics and IT Department and Singapore's Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) signed an MoU to establish a Global Competency Centre in Bhubaneshwar to foster FinTech collaboration, with a focus on developing an inclusive and sustainable InsureTech and related areas.

The MoU was signed during the official visit of Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to Odisha on Friday, according to a press release by GFTN. Tharman is on the State Visit to India from January 14 to 18. The initiative marks another positive step commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore in 2025.

Commenting on the MoU, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said, Odisha aims to leverage GFTN's global expertise and resources to drive innovation and create tailored Fintech solutions in the state.