Trump Administration Officially Changes Name of Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America
The Trump administration's Interior Department said that it had officially changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and the Alaskan peak Denali to Mount McKinley.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the name changes as part of a flurry of executive actions, making good on a campaign promise.
These changes reaffirm the Nation's commitment to preserving the extraordinary heritage of the United States and ensuring that future generations of Americans celebrate the legacy of its heroes and historic assets.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Uttar Pradesh government to expedite the notification process for declaring the Dhanauri water body near Jewar airport as a wetland. The Dhanauri water body, covering 112.89 hectares, is vital for local biodiversity, especially for migratory birds.
Tata Tops India, Apple Leads Globally in 2025 Brand Rankings
In the latest Brand Finance Global 500 report for 2025, Tata Group solidified its status as India's most valuable brand, achieving a brand value of $31.6 billion—a 10% increase from the previous year. This marks the first time an Indian brand surpassed the $30 billion threshold. Globally, Apple continued to dominate with a brand value of $574.5 billion, maintaining its lead over competitors.
Ranked 60th among the world's top 100 brands, Tata Group maintained its AAA- brand strength rating.
On the international front, technology giants continue to lead:
Apple retained the top spot with a brand value of $574.5 billion, an 11% increase from the previous year.
Microsoft held the second position with a brand value of $461.1 billion, marking a 35% growth.
Google ranked third with a brand value of $413 billion, up by 24%.
PNB Pioneers Real-Time Cybercrime Response with Clari5 Integration
Punjab National Bank (PNB) became the first Indian bank to implement Clari5's National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) Integration Solution, marking a significant advancement in fraud prevention and complaint management. This state-of-the-art system, developed in collaboration with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), enables automated, real-time processing of cybercrime complaints across all retail banking channels, including Internet and Mobile Banking, ATMs, UPI, and NEFT/RTGS.
The solution features automated lien marking, intelligent account freezes, and customizable whitelisting to protect customer interests. Rivi Varghese, CEO of Clari5, praised PNB's visionary leadership and commitment to innovation, and stated that this integration sets a new benchmark for the Indian banking sector.
Madison Keys Wins Australian Open 2025 Women's Champion
Madison Keys, the American tennis star, made history by clinching her first-ever Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open. She defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka with a scoreline of 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in Melbourne. This victory cemented her position as one of the most remarkable players of her generation.
Keys made her professional debut at the age of 14 in 2009, and it didn't take long for her to make a mark in the tennis world:
In 2010, she secured her first title on the ITF circuit.
By 2012, she added two more titles to her name.
Odisha Warriors Clinch Inaugural Women's Hockey India League Title
A stunning display of finishing Odisha Warriors won the inaugural women's Hockey India League with a 2 - 1 win over JSW Soorma Hockey Club in Ranchi, Jharkhand at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium.
Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Savita (JSW Soorma Hockey Club)
Upcoming Player of the Tournament: Sonam (JSW Soorma Hockey Club)
Top Scorers of the Tournament: Yibbi Jansen (Odisha Warriors), Charlotte Englebert (JSW Soorma Hockey Club)
Player of the Tournament: Jyoti (JSW Soorma Hockey Club)
Arshdeep Singh is ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year
Indian left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh was crowned the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year 2024 for his influential role in the team's World Cup title triumph, which cemented his reputation as one of the leading short format bowlers.
He was also named in the ICC T20I Team of the Year 2024 earlier in the day alongside Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.
Republic Day 2025: Debutants Who Made Their Mark This Year
The Republic Day Parade 2025 was a remarkable showcase of India's defence capabilities and evolving military strategies. Several key debuts highlighted India's progress towards self-reliance and gender empowerment within the Armed Forces. The event featured the debut of the Tri-Services Tableau, women officers leading the parade, cutting-edge defence technology from the DRDO, and the Indian Coast Guard's participation. Each element reflected the nation's growth in defence strength, technological advancements, and commitment to a secure, empowered future.
The tri-services tableau made its debut at the 76th Republic Day Parade, the tri-services tableau symbolised the spirit of jointness and integration among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The tableau theme, 'Shashakt aur Surakshit Bharat' (Empowered and Secure India), represented the Armed Forces' commitment to national security and seamless coordination.
International Conference Marks 125 Years of Solar Physics Research in India
An international conference titled 'Sun, Space Weather, and Solar-Stellar Connections' was held in Bengaluru from January 20 to 24, 2025, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO). Organised by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), the event gathered over 200 solar physicists from India and abroad to discuss advancements in solar magnetism, solar-stellar connections, and space weather.
Established in 1899, KSO has been pivotal in advancing solar astrophysics in India. Its extensive repository of photographic images has provided invaluable insights into solar phenomena such as sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. The observatory's unique location and state-of-the-art equipment have significantly contributed to our understanding of the Sun's behaviour and its impact on Earth.
The "Hamara Samvidhan – Hamara Swabhiman" campaign, launched on January 24, 2024, by the Vice President of India at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, commemorates the 75th anniversary of India's Constitution and its establishment as a Republic. This year-long initiative aims to deepen citizens' understanding of the Constitution and promote legal empowerment across the nation.
Over 1.3 lakh citizens took the Panch Pran Pledge on the MyGov platform, reflecting their commitment to nation-building.
On January 24, 2025, the campaign concluded with a significant event at Parmarth Triveni Pushp, Arail Ghat, Prayagraj, coinciding with the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Rajnath Singh Flags off 'SANJAY' Battlefield Surveillance System
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off 'SANJAY - the Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS)' from South Block, New Delhi.
SANJAY is an automated system that integrates the inputs from all ground and aerial battlefield sensors, processing them to confirm their veracity, preventing duplication and fusing them to produce a Common Surveillance Picture of the battlefield over a secured Army Data Network and Satellite Communication Network.
On the eve of Republic Day 2025, President Droupadi Murmu approved gallantry awards for 93 personnel from the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces. These awards recognise their extraordinary bravery and selfless service to the nation. The honours included 2 Kirti Chakras, 14 Shaurya Chakras, 1 Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 66 Sena Medals, 2 Nao Sena Medals, and 8 Vayu Sena Medals. Among these, several awards have been conferred posthumously, reflecting the ultimate sacrifice made by the recipients.
The Kirti Chakra was for Major Manjit and Naik Dilwar Khan ((Posthumously).
Nao Sena Medal was for Lieutenant Commander Sourabh Malik (Navy) and Lieutenant Commander Satyam Singh (Navy).