South Korea Parliament Impeaches Acting President Han Duck-soo
South Korea's political crisis deepened, when parliament voted to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo. This follows the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier in December 2024, which was triggered by his brief imposition of martial law on December 3. Han had been serving as acting President since Yoon's suspension, but his refusal to appoint three judges to the Constitutional Court led to growing opposition calls for his impeachment. This marks a significant moment in South Korea's political history, as it would be the first time an acting president is impeached.
In a strategic move to bolster its healthcare portfolio, Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani, acquired oncology-focused platform Karkinos Healthcare for Rs. 375 crore. This acquisition, completed through Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Ltd (RSBVL), is a significant step towards expanding the company's reach in cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
Reliance's subsidiary RSBVL acquired 10 million equity shares and 36.5 million optionally fully convertible debentures of Karkinos, with the transaction entirely in cash.
Karkinos, founded in 2020, specialises in providing innovative technology-driven solutions for early cancer detection and management. It has partnered with around 60 hospitals and is setting up a 150-bed cancer hospital in Imphal, Manipur.
DPIIT Partners with boAt to Boost Start-up Ecosystem in India
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) entered a strategic partnership with boAt, a prominent Indian audio and wearables brand, to foster innovation and support DPIIT-recognised start-ups, especially in the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) and manufacturing sectors. This collaboration aims to provide essential mentorship, resources, and guidance, helping start-ups scale both locally and internationally. With boAt's industry expertise and the government's backing, the initiative is poised to empower the Indian start-up ecosystem.
DPIIT and boAt will create tailored programs to mentor start-ups, innovators, and entrepreneurs. These initiatives will cover critical stages like prototype development, offering expert guidance and hands-on support.
ISRO Launches Historic SpaDeX Mission for Space Docking
India's space journey took a giant leap as ISRO successfully launched the SpaDeX mission to demonstrate space docking capabilities, marking a key milestone in space exploration. Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR), the PSLV-C60 rocket carried two small spacecraft, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), to low-Earth orbit. This mission set the stage for autonomous docking and undocking technologies, positioning ISRO as the fourth global player in this field after Russia, the US, and China.
The primary aim of SpaDeX is to develop technology for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of spacecraft in low-Earth orbit.
The successful SpaDeX mission not only boosted India's space capabilities but also laid the groundwork for complex future missions, such as satellite servicing, space station assembly, and lunar exploration.
Bumrah Breaks Record for Fastest 200 Wickets by an Indian
Jasprit Bumrah achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 wickets in Test cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the MCG in Melbourne. Bumrah's achievement is notable not just for its speed but also for the efficiency with which he has attained this milestone in just 44 Tests, surpassing the previous Indian record held by Mohammed Shami. His performance in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, including four wickets in the first innings and a key dismissal in the second, has cemented his place among the fastest bowlers to 200 Test wickets globally.
Haryana Steelers Win Maiden Pro Kabaddi League Title
The Haryana Steelers won their maiden Pro Kabaddi League title after they defeated Patna Pirates in the final.
The Steelers won with a score line of 32-23 with Shivam Patare scoring 9 points, Mohammadreza Shadloui bagging 7 and Vinay adding 6 more to the cause. The champions were awarded Rs. 3 crore while the Pirates, the runners-up, were awarded Rs. 1.8 crore.
Twelve teams played for the title.
The 2024 Pro Kabaddi League was the eleventh season of the Pro Kabaddi League, a franchise-based Kabaddi league in India.
South Africa Becomes First Team to Qualify for ICC World Test Championship Final 2025
South Africa overcame Pakistan by two wickets in a breathless conclusion at Centurion to win the first Test and become the first team to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 at Lord's from 11 to 15 June 2025, barring any subsequent point deductions.
The Haryana government, under Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, made several significant decisions to enhance employee benefits, improve governance, and address public concerns. The decisions were announced after a state cabinet meeting, including increases in gratuity limits, updates to development charges policies, and reforms in public service exams.
The Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) limit for state government employees was raised by 25%.
New limit: Rs. 25 lakh (up from Rs. 20 lakh), effective January 1, 2025.
Judicial officers are also included in the gratuity enhancement.
Aim: To provide greater financial security to employees and their families.
Gujarat CM Launches SWAR Platform to Bridge Language Barriers
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the SWAR (Speech and Written Analysis Resource) platform, aiming to enhance communication and accessibility for citizens by overcoming language barriers. This citizen-centric initiative aligns with the state's continuous efforts to improve ease of living. The platform, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's Bhashini Team, leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to make government services more inclusive.
The platform utilizes Bhashini, an AI system, enabling seamless speech recognition, especially for citizens facing language or technical barriers.
Vitul Kumar Assigned Officiating Charge as CRPF Director General
The Ministry of Home Affairs assigned senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Vitul Kumar the officiating charge for the post of Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) following the retirement of the incumbent force chief, Anish Dayal Singh.
Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is currently serving as the special director general of the CRPF.
According to an office memorandum issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, he will hold the position until a regular appointment is made or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away at the age of 100 in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Known for his strong moral values, humanitarian work, and pivotal role in the Camp David Accords, Carter's presidency faced challenges, including an economic recession and the Iran hostage crisis. Despite his one-term presidency, Carter later gained respect for his global peace efforts, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
He was elected as the 39th U.S. President in 1976 after defeating Gerald Ford.
His presidency faced economic challenges, including high inflation, interest rates, and the Iran hostage crisis.
Key achievement: The Camp David Accords (1978), securing peace between Israel and Egypt.
Karnataka University Creates History, Appoints First Transgender Guest Lecturer
In a historic move towards inclusivity, K. N. Renuka Pujar became the first transgender person appointed as a guest lecturer at a university in Karnataka. The 27-year-old's groundbreaking achievement marks a significant milestone in promoting equal opportunities in academia. Pujar joined the Kannada Department at Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University's Nandihalli campus.
Renuka Pujar's appointment paves the way for more transgender individuals to pursue education and achieve their goals, serving as a symbol of hope and perseverance. It is a step towards inclusivity and representation in academia. Her journey showcases the power of determination, the importance of education, and the role of community support in breaking barriers.
Nestled in Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal, the 18th Elephant and Tourism Festival captivated both local and international visitors. Hosted at the Baghmara Intermediate Community Forest near the renowned Chitwan National Park, this five-day event aligned with New Year and Christmas celebrations. The festival concluded on December 30, serving as a vital driver for tourism in the region with its diverse and unique attractions.
The Odisha State Government reconstituted the Odisha State Law Commission (OSLC) in pursuant to the resolution of the Government of Odisha in the Law Department published in the State Gazette in March, 2016. Justice Biswanath Rath, former Judge of the Orissa High Court was appointed as the Chairperson of the Commission.
Surya Prakash Mishra, Sr. Advocate and Soura Chandra Mohapatra, were appointed as Members of the Odisha State Law Commission.