THE HEADLINES:
- Donald Trump promises to act with historic speed and strength to fix every single crisis facing US ahead of his inauguration as the US President in Washington tonight.
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar discusses with his Japanese counterpart progress in bilateral cooperation and developments regarding Quad.
- Uttarakhand Cabinet approves Uniform Civil Code manual.
- Sealdah Court in Kolkata to pronounce quantum of sentence to Sanjay Rai for rape and murder of doctor of R G Kar Medical College this afternoon.
- Today is last day for withdrawal of nominations for Delhi Assembly elections.
- And in Women’s Hockey India League, JSW Soorma Hockey Club to take on Delhi SG Pipers in Ranchi.
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Mr. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States today. The presidential oath will be administered by Chief Justice John Roberts at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC.
Ahead of the ceremony, the 78-year-old Trump addressed a victory rally in Washington, DC, last night. Speaking to a packed arena, Mr Trump promised to act with historic speed to address every crisis facing the United States.
The inaugural ceremony has been moved indoors due to forecasts of intense cold weather in Washington, DC. The last time an inauguration was relocated indoors due to severe cold was in 1985, during former Republican President Ronald Reagan’s second swearing-in.
As part of the official transfer of power, Mr. Trump will also deliver his inaugural address during today’s swearing-in ceremony. JD Vance will take the oath as the Vice President.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the event. The ceremony will be attended by several foreign leaders, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today met Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Washington DC. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said, they discussed the progress in their bilateral cooperation and developments pertaining to Quad. Dr Jaishankar also met Foreign Affairs Minister of Australia Penny Wong.
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In Uttarakhand, the State Cabinet has given its nod to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) manual, paving the way for its implementation in the state. This decision is expected to set a precedence for other states of country, reflecting the state’s proactive approach towards governance and social reform.
Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his optimism about the UCC’s impact. He stated that Uttarakhand’s adoption of UCC will serve as an inspiration for the rest of India.
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.
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Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today said Bihar is land of genesis of democracy and it has inspired the civilization. The Speaker said as Presiding Officers have great responsibility to serve people through legislative process.
Addressing the inaugural session of 85th session of All India Presiding Officers’ Conference in Patna today, Mr Birla raised the concern of maintaining the decorum and prestige of the Houses of the legislative bodies.
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Sealdah Court in Kolkata will pronounce the quantum of sentence for Sanjay Rai for rape and murder of the PGT doctor of the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital today. He was declared guilty in the case by the court on Saturday last week.
The Judicial Magistrate said, the evidence, submitted by the investigation agency CBI, proves that Sanjay Rai is guilty in this incident. The body of the PGT doctor was recovered from a seminar hall of the R G Kar Medical College on 9th August last year. Sanjay Rai was arrested by the Kolkata Police on 10th August. Later, he was handed over to the CBI and CBI has charge sheeted against Sanjay Rai in the case.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said, the youth are the asset of the country, who will contribute to nation-building and prosperity. Addressing the NCC Republic Day Camp 2025 in Delhi, Mr Singh said that India’s culture is bound together by the unity of its 140 crore people, and the development of each individual reflects the development of the society. He also urged the people to prioritise discipline, unity and national integrity in their lives as these are foundations of a nation on the path of development.
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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has emphasized the need for a cultural renaissance in the country by reconnecting with its rich heritage and classical languages. Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Bhavan’s Nandlal Nuwal Centre of Indology in New Delhi today, Mr Dhankar highlighted the interconnectedness of Indian knowledge and its global outlook. He reiterated that India has always strived for peace and harmony.
The Vice President expressed anguish over the misrepresentation of India’s history by colonial powers, who often dismissed the nation’s traditions as unscientific.
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The Department of Posts has organized a three-day event to mark the celebration of 75 Years of the adoption of constitution of India in New Delhi. The event is taking place at the National Philatelic Museum and offering a variety of fun and engaging activities for visitors of all ages. It aims to engage citizens in reflecting on the values enshrined in the Constitution while fostering a sense of unity and national pride.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the Indian Constitution is our guiding light to take the country on the path of progress and prosperity.
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Today is last date for withdrawal of nominations for Delhi Assembly elections. A total of 719 candidates are in fray for 70 seats. The highest number of 23 candidates are in New Delhi assembly constituency, while the lowest number of five candidates are in Patel Nagar and Kasturba Nagar seats. The Voting for the Delhi Assembly elections will be held on the 5th of next month while counting will take on 8th February.
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And now, news from Mahakumbh 2025.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has enforced robust measures at a massive scale to ensure the availability of safe and hygienic food for millions of devotees, at the Maha Kumbh 2025 underway in Prayagraj. By deploying Food Safety Officers, Mobile Food Testing Labs (Food Safety on Wheels), and through awareness campaigns, FSSAI is at the forefront of ensuring food safety during Maha Kumbh Mela. More from our correspondent:
“FSSAI, in collaboration with Government of Uttar Pradesh, has deployed 10 Mobile Food Testing Labs, along with food analysts to cater to the different sectors of the Maha Kumbh area. These mobile food testing labs have been conducting on-the-spot testing of food items for adulteration and spoilage. The Mela is divided into five zones and 25 sectors, with Food Safety Officers deployed in each sector to regularly monitor hygiene and safety standards. To strengthen surveillance, a total of 56 Food Safety Officers have been deployed across the area. Hotels, dhabas, and small food stalls within the Mela premises are also undergoing regular inspections to verify food quality. These comprehensive arrangements, spearheaded by FSSAI, reflect the government’s unwavering commitment to public health and food safety. Anand Kumar, Akashvani News, Mahakumbh Nagar, Prayagraj.”
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Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav has said, sustainable circularity can drive the country’s growth and reshape the future. Addressing the International Conference on Sustainable Circularity in New Delhi today, Mr Yadav said, the transition to a circular economy is not a choice but it is imperative. The Minister also highlighted the automotive sector’s critical role in meeting Sustainable Development Goals.
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Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said that efforts are on to ascertain the cause of mysterious deaths of 17 people in Badhaal village of Rajouri district during the past 45 days. Mr Sinha said the health and other departments conducted an investigation into the matter but the exact facts could not be ascertained. The police has formed an 11 members Special Investigation Team and efforts are being made to ascertain the cause of deaths. The Inter-Ministerial central team has started investigations in collaboration with the local administration. The team is being assisted by experts from animal husbandry, food safety and forensic science labs.
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Three Israeli women held hostage by Hamas since 7th of October 2023, were released yesterday in Gaza as part of a new ceasefire agreement. They are the first of 33 Israeli hostages expected to be released under the deal, which also includes the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners. We have a report from our West Asia correspondent:
“The three released hostages have been reunited with their families in Israel. Among the Palestinian prisoners freed was prominent political figure Khalida Jarrar, a member of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Palestinian Legislative Council. The agreement outlines a comprehensive exchange program scheduled over the next six weeks, involving the release of 33 Israeli hostages and approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Simultaneous to these exchanges, a significant humanitarian aid operation is underway, with plans for 600 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily. In a major humanitarian initiative, the United Arab Emirates has launched its largest phase of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, sending 20 trucks carrying 200 tonnes of essential supplies to Gaza. The ceasefire deal, described by negotiators as a “day-by-day” process, faces significant political challenges within Israel. Vinod Kumar, Akashvani News, Dubai.”
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In the Women’s Hockey India League, JSW Soorma Hockey Club will take on Delhi SG Pipers today at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Hockey Stadium in Ranchi. The match is scheduled to start at 6 this evening.
In the Men’s section, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers will face JSW Soorma Hockey Club at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, with the match set to begin at 8:15 in the evening.
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In the Tata Steel Chess Tournament being held in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, Gukesh will face World No. 2 Fabiano Caruana of the USA in Round 3 today. Gukesh remains unbeaten after becoming the youngest world champion in history last month in Singapore. In other matches, World No. 4 Arjun Erigaisi will take on compatriot R Praggnanandhaa, while another Indian, Leon Luke Mendonca will compete against Pentala Harikrishna.
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In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” at 9.30 tonight, we will bring an insightful discussion on “Ensuring Road Safety” with Mahmood Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and Anil Chhikara, transport expert.
During the program, listeners will have the opportunity to ask questions to our experts relating to Road Safety such as do’s and don’t’s, responsibilities of various stakeholders such as citizens and government.
To participate, simply dial the telephone numbers 011 – 23421050 and 011 – 23314444, 9:30 PM onwards tonight.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Donald Trump promises to act with historic speed and strength to fix every single crisis facing US ahead of his inauguration as the US President in Washington tonight.
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar discusses with his Japanese counterpart progress in bilateral cooperation and developments regarding Quad.
- Uttarakhand Cabinet approves Uniform Civil Code manual.
- Sealdah Court in Kolkata to pronounce quantum of sentence to Sanjay Rai for rape and murder of doctor of R G Kar Medical College this afternoon.
- Today is last day for withdrawal of nominations for Delhi Assembly elections.
- And in Women’s Hockey India League, JSW Soorma Hockey Club to take on Delhi SG Pipers in Ranchi.
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