Donald Trump Signs Executive Order to Pull US out of Paris agreement
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw from the ambitious Paris Agreement on Climate Change, a fulfilment of a campaign promise.
Notably Trump had withdrawn from the Paris Agreement immediately after his first inauguration in January 2017. Joe Biden reversed that decision later.
According to the Trump team, the Paris Agreement places unfair economic burdens on American workers, businesses, and taxpayers. It hampers the economic and national security of the United States while allowing the world's leading polluters such as China to continue to pollute.
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ordered the liquidation of Go First, marking a dramatic end to the airline's 17-year legacy in the Indian aviation industry. The decision follows the airline's prolonged financial struggles, which led to the suspension of its operations nearly three years ago. In May 2023, Go First filed for insolvency, citing severe financial distress, and subsequently entered into an insolvency resolution process that ultimately failed to find a sustainable solution.
India Seventh Largest Coffee Producer in the World: Government
India is now the seventh-largest coffee producer globally with exports reaching $1.29 billion in FY24, almost double the $719.42 million in 2020-21, the commerce and industry ministry said.
India's coffee is primarily cultivated in the ecologically rich Western and Eastern Ghats, areas renowned for their biodiversity. Karnataka leads in production, contributing 248,020 metric tonnes in 2022-23, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. These regions are home to shaded plantations that not only support the coffee industry but also play a vital role in preserving the natural environment, helping to maintain the ecological balance of these biodiversity hotspots.
The Department of Science and Technology, under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, inaugurated the first astronomical observatory in Eastern India atop Panchet Hill in the Garpanchkot area of Purulia district, West Bengal. This marks an important milestone in the advancement of astronomical research in India. It is the sixth astronomical observatory in the country, following observatories in locations such as Ladakh, Nainital (Uttarakhand), Mount Abu (Rajasthan), Girbani Hills (Pune), and Kavalur (Tamil Nadu).
The observatory is named after Satyendra Nath Bose, a prominent scientist known for his work in quantum mechanics and Bose-Einstein statistics.
Karnataka Clinches Vijay Hazare Trophy for Record 5th Time
In the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2024-25 final, Karnataka emerged victorious by 36 runs against Vidarbha at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. This win marks Karnataka's fifth Vijay Hazare Trophy title. The thrilling encounter saw Karnataka posting a commanding total and defending it successfully, despite a spirited fight from Vidarbha's batters.
Karnataka's fifth Vijay Hazare Trophy title comes after previous wins in 2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18, and 2019-20. The team has established a strong legacy in domestic cricket, becoming one of the most successful teams in the competition's history.
IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant Lucknow Super Giants' New skipper
Rishabh Pant was announced as Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) new skipper for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Rishabh Pant was bagged by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs. 27 crore after a ferocious bidding war at the IPL auction.
Pant made his IPL debut in 2016 for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), and has been part of the team since, before being elevated as captain in 2021.
Om Birla Inaugurates 85th All India Presiding Officers' Conference in Patna
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the 85th All India Presiding Officers' Conference (AIPOC) in Patna, Bihar. The two-day conference, which brought together key figures from legislative bodies across India, focused on the theme, "75th Anniversary of Constitution: Contribution of Parliament and State Legislative Bodies in Strengthening Constitutional Values." This conference was held in Bihar for the third time.
The conference served as a platform for brainstorming and discussions on the role of Parliament and state legislative bodies in upholding and strengthening the values enshrined in the Constitution of India.
During the conference, Speaker Om Birla released the 8th edition of Practice and Procedure of Parliament, a key reference book on parliamentary practices. Additionally, he inaugurated the Neva Seva Kendra in the Bihar Legislature premises, aimed at improving services for the legislative body.
Uttarakhand Clears Uniform Civil Code Rules
Uttarakhand is set to become the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), as the state government has approved the UCC rules manual. The state's Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, cleared the manual and decided on key provisions related to registration services, the facilitation of live-in relationships, and the introduction of Tatkal services. The government is also implementing advanced digital platforms to ensure efficient and widespread access to these services. Training of officials is underway, with a state-wide mock drill planned to prepare the stakeholders for smooth implementation.
Scope of UCC: It aims to unify laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and maintenance across all faiths and communities in the state.
Online Portal and App: A dedicated portal and mobile application have been developed to facilitate online registrations and services, ensuring greater public access and ease of use.
The primary goal is to ensure all citizens have equal access to legal services, regardless of their location or socio-economic background.
Former High Court judge Rohit Arya is BJP's Coordinator for Madhya Pradesh's 'One Nation, One Election' Panel
Former Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Rohit Arya was appointed as Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) party's coordinator for the state's 'One Nation, One Election' committee.
BJP State head Vishnu Dutt Sharma appointed Justice Arya as coordinator along with Pushyamitra Bhargava. Arya joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last July (2024), three months after he retired.
This partnership is focused on the development of a Flight Laboratory dedicated to the advancement of Fixed Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the creation of sophisticated Flight Control Computers (FCC).
L&T, known for its expertise in defence systems integration and manufacturing, is leveraging IIT Kanpur's renowned aerospace engineering capabilities. The flight laboratory at IIT Kanpur, already a hub for cutting-edge research in aviation technology, will now see an infusion of L&T's industry know-how to further these initiatives.
Denis Law, Manchester United & Scotland Legend, Dies
Denis Law, the iconic Scottish footballer renowned for his prolific goal-scoring and charismatic presence, passed away at the age of 84. Affectionately dubbed "The King" and "The Lawman," Law's illustrious career left an indelible mark on both Manchester United and the Scotland national team.
He began his professional career with Huddersfield Town in 1956, where his talent quickly became evident. In 1960, he moved to Manchester City for a British record transfer fee of £55,000, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess. A subsequent transfer to Torino in 1961 further highlighted his versatility and adaptability in European football.
On the international stage, Law earned 55 caps for Scotland between 1958 and 1974, scoring 30 goals—a record he shares with Kenny Dalglish. He represented Scotland in the 1974 FIFA World Cup, further cementing his status as a national icon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya on their Foundation Day on January 21.
On January 21, 1972, the states of Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya became full-fledged states under the North Eastern Region (Re-organisation) Act, 1971. The princely states of Tripura and Manipur were merged with India in October 1949.
Meghalaya became an autonomous state through the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act 1969.
ICSI Elects Dhananjay Shukla as President for 2025
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) appointed Dhananjay Shukla as the president and Pawan G. Chandak as the vice president for this year (2025).
Shukla is a commerce and law graduate. He is a fellow of ICSI and is a practising company secretary in Gurugram. As mentioned in the press release, Shukla has also expertise in the areas of corporate law, securities law and taxation.
Dhananjay has also served as the vice president of the ICSI for the year 2024. With an experience of more than 20 years, he has helped various start-up ventures to be set up in India by foreign promoters.
IIM-Bangalore Introduces its First Hindi MOOC Course on ESG and Sustainability in Business
IIM Bangalore introduced its first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), titled 'From Theory to Practice: Implementing ESG and Sustainability in Business,' hosted on Swayam, a Government of India initiative designed to provide free, high-quality education across diverse subjects. The course will be imparted in Hindi language.
This 12-week programme begins on January 24 and is for MBA and BBA students, working professionals, and executives who want to deepen their understanding of sustainable growth and holistic value creation.
Swayam courses include video lectures, e-texts, self-assessments, and discussion forums. While the course is free for all, students can enrol for the examination by paying a nominal fee and obtaining a certificate.
Flamingo Festival 2025 Concludes in Andhra Pradesh
The three-day Flamingo Festival 2025 in Andhra Pradesh concluded with calls to protect the rich biodiversity of the region, specifically in Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary. The event, which attracted numerous visitors, particularly bird watchers and photographers, was hailed as a major success. The closing ceremony saw the participation of Ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and Anagani Satya Prasad, who expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for the revival of the festival, which had been dormant for some time.
Held across several prominent locations in the region, the Flamingo Festival served as a platform to raise awareness about the ecological significance of these areas.
Pankaj Mishra's 'The World After Gaza': A Guide to Challenging Times
Pankaj Mishra's latest book, 'The World After Gaza', is a poignant exploration of the ongoing war in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, a conflict he describes as a devastating blow to the ideals of human rights and morality. Published by Juggernaut Books, this treatise delves into the atrocities and systematic injustices of the war, presenting a stark reflection on global moral decay.
The World After Gaza is a response to the war in Gaza, written during the ongoing conflict.
Mishra describes it as an attempt to make sense of the crisis through historical context, not necessarily a literary or analytical masterpiece.
The book reflects a profound need to document the atrocities and address the moral and political incapacities of the modern world.