AWARDS

82nd edition of the Golden Globes award ceremony held in Los Angeles on January 5.

• The 82nd edition of the Golden Globes was held in Los Angeles on January 5.

• 'The Brutalist' film earned seven nominations across various categories.

• 'Shogun' dominated the Television category, winning four awards.

• Shogun's wins included Best Series (Drama), Best Actress (Drama), Best Actor (Drama), and Best Supporting Actor.

• Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light' received two nominations but didn’t win any awards.

• Adrien Brody won the Best Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for 'The Brutalist'.

• Pamela Anderson took home the Best Female Actor award in a Motion Picture – Drama for 'The Last Showgirl'.

• 'El Mal' (Emilia Pérez) received the Best Original Song award.

• 'Flow' won the award for Best Motion Picture – Animated.

• The Golden Globes ceremony celebrated the best in film and television for the year.

NATIONAL NEWS

The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2025 is set to be inaugurated by PM Modi in Bhubaneswar.

• The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention 2025 will be inaugurated by PM Modi in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

• The event will take place from 8th to 10th January 2025 with the theme "The Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat."

• A large number of Indian diaspora members from over 50 countries have registered for the convention.

• PM Modi will officially inaugurate the PBD Convention on 9th January 2025.

• The President of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Carla Kangalu, will be the chief guest and address the event virtually.

• PM Modi will remotely flag off the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for Indian expatriates, starting from Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi.

• The Pravasi Bharatiya Express will travel to various tourist and religious destinations in India for three weeks.

• The Valedictory Session on 10th January will be presided over by President Droupadi Murmu.

• During the session, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2025 will be presented to outstanding members of the overseas Indian community.

• The Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, will be held on 8th January 2025.

The new Jammu Railway Division, along with several other railway projects, inaugurated by PM Modi.

• PM Modi inaugurated the new Jammu Railway Division and several other railway projects on 6th January via video conferencing.

• The Jammu Railway Division will include four key railway sections, covering a total distance of 742.1 km.

• The sections are Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (423 km), Bhogpur-Sirwal-Pathankot (87.21 km), Batala-Pathankot (68.17 km), and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar (163.72 km).

• Charlapalli New Terminal Station in Telangana was also inaugurated, designed to ease congestion at existing stations in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, and Kacheguda.

• The Charlapalli Terminal has been built at a cost of over 400 crore rupees and features nine platforms, including four new ones.

• The terminal will handle 20 long-distance trains and accommodate more passenger traffic, improving connectivity in the region.

• PM Modi laid the foundation for the Rayagada Railway Division Building under the East Coast Railway.

• With the addition of the Jammu Railway Division, Indian Railways will now operate with 70 divisions across its 17 zones.

• The new infrastructure projects aim to enhance connectivity and passenger services across various regions.

India’s first ‘Generation Beta’ baby was born in Aizawl.

• India's first 'Generation Beta' baby was born in Aizawl.

• The baby boy, named Frankie Remruatdika Zadeng, is the first child of Gen Beta in India.

• He was born at Synod Hospital in Aizawl, Mizoram.

• Mark McCrindle, a futurist, coined the term 'Gen Beta' for children born between 2025 and 2039.

• By 2025, Gen Beta will account for 16% of the total global population.

• Gen Beta will be the children of Gen Ys (millennials) and older Gen Zs.

• This generation will experience a seamless integration of the digital and physical worlds.

• Gen Beta will grow up with advanced technology, shaping their experiences and lifestyles.

STATE NEWS

Odisha Chief Minister inaugurated 11-day famous Adivasi Mela.

• Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi launched the 11-day Adivasi Mela in Bhubaneswar.

• He also inaugurated the 'Shaheed Madho Singh Haath Kharcha' scheme for tribal students.

• Under the scheme, Rs 5000 annually will be provided to 2 lakh tribal students.

• The state government has allocated Rs 156 crore for the scheme.

• The Chief Minister inaugurated several stalls displaying Adivasi products at the Mela.

• A key attraction of the Mela was a photo exhibition of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and other tribal freedom fighters.

• The exhibition highlighted the contributions of tribal leaders from both India and Odisha.

• The event aims to promote tribal culture, heritage, and entrepreneurship.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India has 3rd largest metro network in the world after China and US

• India now holds the title of having the third-largest operational metro rail network globally, following China and the USA.

• In 2022, India surpassed Japan, marking a significant achievement in metro rail infrastructure.

• India's metro network has now surpassed the 1000 km milestone, underscoring its rapid growth.

• On 5 January 2024, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated a 2.8 km stretch of Delhi Metro Phase-IV between Janakpuri and Krishna Park.

• The 13 km stretch of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor connecting Sahibabad to New Ashok Nagar was also launched by the PM.

• The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), part of the Namo Bharat project, spans 82 km in total.

• In October 2023, the first 17-km section of the RRTS between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot in Uttar Pradesh was inaugurated.

• The RRTS now extends to Delhi, linking to New Ashok Nagar, enhancing the metro connectivity in the region.

• India’s metro network expansion reflects its commitment to modernizing public transport and urban infrastructure.

Lionel Messi awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

• Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina's men's football team, was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the USA.

• The award ceremony took place at the White House on 5 January 2025.

• Messi was among 19 individuals recognized for their distinguished contributions, though he was absent due to a prior engagement.

• He became the first men's football player to receive the prestigious award.

• Messi is the second footballer to be awarded, following Megan Rapinoe, who won it in 2022.

• Currently, Messi plays for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the USA.

• The Presidential Medal of Freedom was conferred by President Joe Biden, whose term ends on 19 January 2024.

• Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th President of the USA on 20 January 2025.

• This award marks a significant recognition for Messi's influence both on and off the football field.