Justin Trudeau the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada stepped down after years of leading the country. Facing internal party struggles, criticism of his policies, and a growing lead by the opposition Conservative Party, Trudeau announced his resignation, saying he could no longer be the best option for Canada's leadership.
Indonesia Officially Joins BRICS as Full Member
Brazil, the current presiding nation of BRICS, officially announced Indonesia's membership as a full member of the influential bloc of emerging economies.
The decision to admit Indonesia, the world's fourth-most populous nation, was confirmed by Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking a significant milestone in BRICS' expansion.
Over the past year, the group has significantly expanded, incorporating new members such as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Despite an invitation, Saudi Arabia has yet to join the bloc.
Indonesia's induction further exemplifies the bloc's expanding reach and appeal. Other countries, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia, have formally applied to join, with additional nations expressing interest in becoming part of BRICS.
Hanoi, Vietnam's capital was identified as the world's most polluted city, with PM2.5 levels reaching 266 micrograms per cubic meter. This alarming air quality has raised significant health concerns among residents and prompted government action.
Primary Sources of Pollution:
Heavy Traffic: The city's dense traffic contributes significantly to air pollution.
Trash Burning: Open burning of waste releases harmful pollutants into the air.
Industrial Activities: Emissions from factories and industrial sites add to the deteriorating air quality.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has called for an accelerated transition to EVs to reduce pollution.
Hanoi aims for at least 50% of buses and 100% of taxis to be electric by 2030.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: 'Faral Sakhi' Initiative
The Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) introduced its flagship initiative, 'Faral Sakhi,' to support women entrepreneurs in Mira Bhayandar, Maharashtra. This programme aims to empower women engaged in traditional snack production by providing comprehensive training and resources to scale their ventures sustainably. Launched in collaboration with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of NITI Aayog, 'Faral Sakhi' is part of WEP's Award to Reward initiative.
WEP, established by NITI Aayog in 2018 as an aggregator platform, transitioned into a public-private partnership in 2022. It supports women entrepreneurs by addressing information gaps and offering assistance in areas such as finance, market linkages, training, mentoring, compliance, and business development.
The 'Faral Sakhi initiative represents a significant step toward the holistic development of women entrepreneurs.
India Becomes Second Largest Buyer of Gold after Poland in 2024
Global central banks remained active in the gold market in November 2024, collectively adding 53 tonnes of the precious metal to their reserves, according to the World Gold Council.
India's year-to-date purchased 73 tonnes of gold with total gold reserves of 876 tonnes as on November end, making it the second-largest buyer of 2024 after Poland, the WGC said.
The Central Bank of Uzbekistan also made significant additions, increasing its reserves by 9 tonnes after a hiatus since July.
The People's Bank of China (PBoC) resumed gold buying after a six-month pause, adding 5 tonnes and bringing its total holdings to 2,264 tonnes, representing 5 per cent of its reserves.
FIU-IND and IRDAI Sign MoU for Enhanced Coordination and Information Exchange
The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of continued coordinated efforts in effective implementation of requirements of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Rules framed thereunder, in New Delhi.
The MoU was signed by Vivek Aggarwal, Director, FIU-IND and Satyajit Tripathy, Member (Distribution), IRDAI.
According to the MoU, FIU-IND and IRDAI will cooperate with each other in the areas of mutual interest.
Space42, a UAE-based SpaceTech firm, launched its Thuraya 4 telecommunications satellite. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This launch marked a significant step for Space42's global ambitions.
The satellite will orbit 36,000 kilometres above Earth at 44 degrees East. Space42 expects this transition to take several months.
The satellite is equipped with a 12-metre L-Band antenna. Its advanced payload enables dynamic power allocation across beams. Thuraya 4 can route up to 3,200 communication channels. These features will enhance connectivity and data transmission speeds.
Bollywood Actor Abhishek Bachchan Joins as Co-Owner of European T20 Premier League
Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan joined the ICC-sanctioned European T20 Premier League (ETPL) as a co-owner. The tournament, a privately-owned franchise competition, is in partnership with three cricketing nations: Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.
The development of the ETPL has been led by an interim working group comprising representatives from the participating cricket boards and strategic partner, Rules Sport Tech, who are working alongside funding partners. This group is tasked with overseeing key decision-making processes and establishing an administrative entity to manage the tournament.
Anahat Wins British Junior Open Squash Title
India's rising squash star Anahat Singh won the U-17 title in the British Junior Open with a fighting win over Egypt's Malika El Karaksy. The Indian, seeded first, came from behind to beat her second-seeded opponent 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11,5, 11-3. Anahat has won the tournament previously in the U-11 and U-15 categories.
'Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0': Empowering Women Leaders
The National Commission for Women (NCW), in collaboration with the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, inaugurated 'Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0' at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. This initiative commemorates the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a revered tribal leader and freedom fighter.
The event brought together 502 elected women representatives from Scheduled Tribes across 22 states and Union Territories.
The primary aim is to empower these women by enhancing their understanding of constitutional provisions, parliamentary procedures, and governance, thereby fostering effective leadership.
The program included workshops, sessions, and guided tours of significant government sites such as the new Parliament House, Samvidhan Sadan, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, and Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla inaugurated the event and led the delegates in reading the Preamble to the Constitution of India.
Shah Launches CBI's 'Bharatpol' to Make it Easy for Police, Agencies to Seek Interpol Help
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched 'Bharatpol' portal developed by the CBI that allows state police and other central law enforcement agencies real-time information sharing for faster access to international police assistance through Interpol.
The need to develop rapid and real-time international assistance in criminal investigations was felt due to the growing footprint of transnational crimes including cyber-crime, financial crimes, online radicalisation, organised crimes, drug trafficking, human trafficking etc.
The 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, celebrated the achievements of the film and television industries over the past year. From performances to direction, scriptwriting, and musical achievements, the event highlighted exceptional talent and groundbreaking works in both the motion picture and television sectors. The ceremony was historic, with Nikki Glaser becoming the first woman to host the Golden Globes solo.
Here is a short list of winners.
Best performance by an actor in a motion picture — Drama: Adrien Brody, "The Brutalist", Best performance by an actress in a motion picture — Drama: Fernanda Torres, "I'm Still Here", Best motion picture — Drama: "The Brutalist" "A Complete Unknown", Best director — motion picture: Brady Corbet, "The Brutalist" and Best motion picture — Animated: "Flow".
Ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, the Congress made a big announcement for women with the launch of Pyari Didi Yojana, promising monthly financial assistance of Rs. 2,500 to women if voted to power in Delhi.
The scheme will be implemented following the model adopted by the Congress government in Karnataka.
This scheme is aimed at financially empowering women and will be implemented during the first Cabinet meeting of the new government.
IIT Madras Launches Asia's Largest Shallow Wave Basin for Coastal Research
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) launched Asia's largest Shallow Wave Basin Research Facility, a groundbreaking infrastructure designed to meet both research and industrial needs. This advanced facility, located at the 'Discovery' Satellite Campus in Thaiyur highlights India's growing technical and research prowess in coastal and marine engineering.
Developed under the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways, and Coasts (NTCPWC), the facility is a significant step in addressing challenges related to Indian ports, waterways, and coastal engineering. It features a multi-directional shallow wave basin capable of analysing complex wave-current interactions.
Tamil Nadu CM Announces $1 Million Prize for Deciphering Indus Valley Script
In an announcement marking the centenary of the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilisation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin pledged a $1 million prize for experts or organisations that succeed in deciphering the mysterious Indus Valley script. Speaking at a three-day International Conference in Chennai, the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of unravelling this ancient script and reaffirmed Tamil Nadu's commitment to supporting research and archaeological endeavours.
The Indus Valley Civilisation, discovered by Sir John Marshall, is a turning point in historical studies, challenging previous notions about the origins of Indian civilisation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Jammu Railway Division, marking it as the 69th division under the Northern Railway Zone. This strategic move aims to enhance connectivity and foster socio-economic development in the northernmost regions of India.
The newly established division, headquartered in Jammu, encompasses a network of 742.1 route km. It includes key sections such as Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (423 km), Bhogpur-Sirwal-Pathankot (87.21 km), Batala-Pathankot (68.17 km), and the narrow-gauge Pathankot-Joginder Nagar line (163.72 km).
This reorganisation, carved out from the Firozpur Division, is poised to streamline train operations and improve management efficiency in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and the Leh-Ladakh regions.