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Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the law promotes 'equality.' (Photo: X/@pushkardhami)
India's Uttarakhand implements common civil code
Jan 30, 2025
THE INDIAN state of Uttarakhand has begun implementing a common civil code to replace religious laws, a move that has raised concerns among minority Muslims about a possible nationwide rollout by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s BJP has long advocated for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to standardise laws on marriage, divorce, and inheritance across India. On Monday, Uttarakhand became the second Indian state to enact such a law.
Goa, which had a common civil code from its time as a Portuguese colony, was previously the only Indian state with such a system.
Supporters argue that the UCC ensures equal rights for Muslim women by ending polygamy, setting equal property inheritance rights for sons and daughters, and requiring divorce cases to be settled in civil courts. The law also mandates registration of live-in heterosexual relationships, with non-compliance leading to a fine or up to three months in jail.
Uttarakhand state chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the law promotes "equality." Speaking at a press conference, he stated, "This code is not against any sect or religion. Through this, a way has been found to get rid of evil practices in society."
The BJP has pushed for a nationwide common civil code, but the proposal has drawn opposition, particularly from Muslim groups who see it as an infringement on religious freedoms.
Opposition and concerns
Muslim leaders say the UCC interferes with Islamic laws on marriage, divorce, and inheritance.
"This is an attack on our identity," Asma Zehra, president of the All India Muslim Women Association, told AFP.
She said the law would create "huge challenges" for Muslim women by causing conflicts between state laws and religious practices.
"This law is totally biased against Muslims and is a manifestation of Islamophobia," she added.
Some critics have also raised concerns about provisions requiring live-in relationships to be registered.
"It is absolutely contrary to the right to privacy and personal autonomy," senior lawyer Geeta Luthra told AFP. She said the state should not interfere in consensual personal relationships.
The Uttarakhand assembly passed the UCC bill in February last year.
(With inputs from AFP)
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Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court on October 23, 2024, in New York City for a pretrial hearing ahead of his retrial on sex crime charges
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Harvey Weinstein asks court to speed up retrial amid health concerns
Jan 30, 2025
Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood producer, pleaded with a New York court to move up his retrial for sex crimes, citing his poor health and the harsh conditions at Rikers Island jail, which he described as a "hellhole." During a hearing in Manhattan on Wednesday, Judge Curtis Farber set the trial date for April 15, but Weinstein, 72, argued he might not survive that long due to his deteriorating health.
Weinstein, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, told the judge he is battling multiple health issues, including cancer, diabetes, and heart problems. He emphasised that every day at Rikers is a struggle, calling the facility "medieval" and claiming he was recently given the wrong medication. "I can't hold on anymore. I want justice for myself and this to be over with," he said.
Attorney Arthur Aidala addresses the media following Harvey Weinstein’s court appearance on October 23, 2024, in New York CityGetty Images
Weinstein’s lawyers have repeatedly criticised the medical care he receives at Rikers, describing it as substandard and unhygienic. They urged the court to prioritise his case, citing his declining health. Judge Farber expressed sympathy but explained that his schedule is packed, including a murder trial in March. However, he agreed to consider moving Weinstein’s trial up by a week.
Weinstein’s 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault was overturned last year by New York’s highest court, which ruled that the trial was unfair because testimony from women not involved in the case was allowed. He now faces a retrial on charges of raping an aspiring actor in 2013 and sexually assaulting a production assistant in 2006. Additionally, a new charge alleges he assaulted another woman in 2006.
Weinstein’s legal team argued that the new charge was added unfairly to strengthen the prosecution’s case. Prosecutors, however, defended their decision, stating the allegation required careful investigation.
Once a powerful figure in Hollywood, Weinstein co-founded Miramax and The Weinstein Company, producing acclaimed films like Pulp Fiction. His downfall in 2017 sparked the #MeToo movement as numerous women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct.
Weinstein remains in custody due to a separate 16-year prison sentence for rape in California. His lawyers are appealing that conviction, claiming he did not receive a fair trial. As he awaits retrial in New York, Weinstein continues to fight for his freedom while battling serious health challenges.
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Ameesha Patel responds to marriage rumors with Salman Khan, sharing her lighthearted thoughts during an AMA
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Ameesha Patel responds to marriage rumours with Salman Khan: "Finding the right partner is key"
Jan 30, 2025
Ameesha Patel recently addressed the curious questions from her fans about the possibility of her marrying Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. During a fun Twitter chat, Ameesha was asked about the idea of marriage, especially considering that both are still bachelors and, as the fans pointed out, “good-looking.” The actress laughed at the suggestion and shared her thoughts, acknowledging that people love seeing attractive individuals come together. She even joked that it was a “great reason” for fans to want her and Salman to tie the knot.
Ameesha recalled how after her iconic debut film Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai with Hrithik Roshan, fans were eager for the two to become a real-life couple. When Hrithik announced his marriage, many fans were left heartbroken, highlighting the way on-screen chemistry often sparks similar hopes for off-screen relationships. Ameesha further expressed her openness to marriage but humorously mentioned that finding the right partner has been a challenge.
She also looked back on her time working with Salman Khan in Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002). Despite the film’s lack of commercial success, she fondly remembered their pairing and the fun they had on set. However, she also commented that the movie's failure could partly be attributed to Salman’s involvement in the controversial hit-and-run case, which took the media’s focus away from the film and toward the scandal, affecting its box office performance.
While Ameesha’s fans continue to root for her personal life, the actress remains focused on her career. She is currently preparing for the release of her upcoming film Run Bhola Run. Meanwhile, Salman Khan will star in Sikandar, which is slated for an Eid 2025 release. Ameesha’s lighthearted response to the marriage talk shows her sense of humour and her appreciation for her fans, while also reminding everyone that marriage isn’t just about fulfilling public expectations—it’s about finding the right partner at the right time.
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Muhammad Yunus
Yunus dismisses Bangladesh’s growth boom as ‘false narrative’
Jan 30, 2025
BANGLADESH’S interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, said last Thursday (23) that the country's high growth under ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina was “fake” and criticised the world for failing to question her alleged corruption.
Yunus, 84, an economist and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, assumed leadership of the south Asian country’s interim government in August after Hasina fled to India following weeks of violent protests.
Hasina was previously credited with turning around the economy and the country’s massive garments industry during her 15 years in power, although critics accused her of human rights violations and suppressing free speech and dissent.
Hasina, who led Bangladesh since 2009, is being investigated there on suspicion of crimes against humanity, genocide, murder, corruption and money laundering and Dhaka has asked New Delhi to extradite her.
Hasina and her party deny wrongdoing, while New Delhi has not responded to the extradition request.
“She was in Davos telling everybody how to run a country. Nobody questioned that,” Yunus told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in the Swiss Alpine resort. “That’s not a good world system at all.”
“The whole world is responsible for making that happen. So that’s a good lesson for the world,” he said. “She said, our growth rate surpasses everybody else. Fake growth rate, completely.”
Yunus did not elaborate on why he thought that growth was fake, but went on to stress the importance of broadbased and inclusive growth, and the need to reduce wealth inequality.
Annual growth in the country of 170 million people accelerated to nearly eight per cent in the financial year 2017-2018, compared with about five per cent when Hasina took over in 2009, before the impact of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine pulled it down.
In 2023, the World Bank described Bangladesh as one of the world’s fastestgrowing economies.
“Since its independence in 1971, Bangladesh has transformed from one of the poorest countries to achieving lowermiddle income status in 2015,” it said.
The student-led movement in Bangladesh grew out of protests against quotas in government jobs that spiralled in July, provoking a violent crackdown that drew global criticism, although Hasina’s government denied using excessive force.
The protesters recommended Yunus as the chief adviser in the interim government tasked with holding fresh elections.
Yunus, who has promised to hold elections by the end of 2025 or early 2026, said he was not interested in running.
Known as the “banker to the poor”, Yunus and the Grameen Bank he founded won the Nobel for helping lift millions from poverty with tiny loans of fewer than $100 (£80.4) offered to the rural poor, too poor to gain attention from traditional banks.
“I’m not driven by growth rates,” Yunus said. “I’m driven by the quality of life of the people at the bottom level. So I would rather bring an economy which avoids the whole idea of wealth concentration.”
Ties between Bangladesh and India, who have strong trade and cultural links, have become fraught since Hasina was ousted and she took refuge in New Delhi.
Yunus has demanded that India send Hasina back to Bangladesh so she can face trial for what it says are crimes against protesters and her opponents, and crimes she is accused of committing during her tenure.
Calling China a long-term friend of Bangladesh at this difficult time, Yunus said the strained relationship with New Delhi “hurts me a lot personally”.
“Bangladesh India ties should be the strongest. You know, you cannot draw the map of India without drawing the map of Bangladesh,” he said, referring to the fact that his country’s land border runs almost entirely alongside India’s.
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Coldplay electrifies Ahmedabad with a record-breaking performance at Narendra Modi Stadium, drawing 1.34 lakh fans
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Coldplay breaks record for India’s biggest concert with 134k attendees; surpasses Diljit, Bieber
Jan 30, 2025
Coldplay has set a new benchmark for live performances in India, drawing a staggering 1.34 lakh fans to their concert at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on January 28. This historic turnout not only marks the largest ticketed concert ever held in the country but also broke previous records set by Diljit Dosanjh and Justin Bieber, who each attracted 50,000 attendees to their respective shows.
As part of their Music of the Spheres World Tour, Coldplay performed five sold-out shows in India—three in Mumbai and two in Ahmedabad. The final gig in Ahmedabad became a landmark event, breaking the band’s own global record of 83,000 attendees at a Sydney concert in November 2023. The massive audience at Narendra Modi Stadium, which included fans both in the stands and on the ground, solidified Coldplay’s status as one of the most popular bands in the world.
The concert was also streamed on Disney+ Hotstar, garnering an impressive 83 lakh views and 16.5 crore minutes of watch time. A significant portion of the viewership came from states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi-NCR, and Tamil Nadu, reflecting the band’s widespread appeal across India.
Coldplay’s electrifying setlist featured fan favourites such as "Yellow," "Viva La Vida," "Hymn for the Weekend," and "Clocks," creating an unforgettable experience for the audience. The band also paid tribute to India by performing "Vande Mataram" on Republic Day, garnering cheers from the crowd.
After the tour, lead singer Chris Martin expressed his gratitude, calling India a “beautiful country” and thanking fans for their love and kindness. He even made a trip to the Kumbh Mela with his girlfriend, actress Dakota Johnson, further cementing his connection with Indian culture.
This record-breaking concert just proves India’s growing prominence as a hub for international music concerts. While artists like Diljit Dosanjh and Justin Bieber have previously drawn massive crowds, Coldplay’s historic achievement has rewritten the rulebook, setting a new standard for live performances in the country. With their unforgettable shows, Coldplay has not only won the hearts of Indian fans but also etched their name in the annals of India’s concert history.
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