Elon Musk Becomes First Person in History with $400 Billion Net Worth
SpaceX and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, became the first person in history to reach $400 billion in net worth, after a recent insider share sale as well as the recent US elections results.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, an inside share sale of his company SpaceX boosted the business mogul's net worth by approximately $50 billion, bringing his total net worth to $439.2 billion.
Dec 12, 2024
IPBES UN Biodiversity Conference
The 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is being held in Namibia from December 10 to 16, 2024. Over 850 scientists and representatives from more than 150 countries are in attendance, aiming to address the global biodiversity crisis.
Delegates will discuss the next Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. This assessment follows a 2019 report that indicated a million species face extinction risk. Pohamba Shifeta, Namibia's Minister of Environment, calls for increased international cooperation. He emphasises the importance of involving local communities in conservation. Recent discussions suggested five new topics for future IPBES assessments.
Mohammed al-Bashir Interim Prime Minister of Syria
The Syrian conflict marked a new phase with the appointment of Mohammed al-Bashir as the caretaker Prime Minister of Syria. Al-Bashir, previously the head of the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) in Idlib province, has been tasked with leading the transitional government following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. His role is crucial as Syria navigates the aftermath of the 12-day lightning offensive that toppled the Assad regime, ending more than five decades of Assad family rule.
Dec 10, 2024
Dubai Breaks Record with World's Largest Gold Bar, Weighing Over 300 KG
Dubai has unveiled the world's largest gold bar, setting a new Guinness World Record on December 7-8, 2024. Weighing 300.12 kg, the bar is valued at approximately $25 million (Rs. 211 crore). Displayed at the Dubai Gold Souk Extension, this monumental gold bar is a symbol of Dubai's commitment to excellence in the precious metals industry.
The Emirates Minting Factory, which crafted the bar, spent 8 to 10 hours creating it, ensuring it met Guinness standards. Visitors were able to capture the historic moment with a photo beside the gold bar, further enhancing Dubai's status as a global leader in gold and luxury trade.
President-elect Donald Trump Nominates Indian-origin Harmeet Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General
US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday announced that he nominated Indian American lawyer Harmeet K. Dhillon as assistant attorney general for civil rights at the department of justice. She is the fourth Indian-origin to be nominated in the Trump 2.0 cabinet.
She is a graudaute of Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia Law School, and clerked in the US Fourth Cricuit Court of Appeals. Harmeet is a respected member of the Sikh religious community.
Earlier she was in the news when Dhillon delivered an 'Ardas' prayer at the Republican National Convention, with Trump in attendance.
Dec 09, 2024
India Tops Global List for Mobile Malware Attacks
India has emerged as the global leader in mobile malware attacks, surpassing the United States and Canada. A recent Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 report revealed that India now accounts for 28% of global mobile malware attacks, up from third place last year.
This surge highlights the increasing vulnerability of Indian businesses and individuals, especially as cyber threats grow with the country's rapid digital transformation. Trojans and phishing attacks targeting the financial sector have seen a significant rise, making cybersecurity a critical need for Indian enterprises.
Opposition Wins Ghana Presidential Election
Ghana's Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia accepted defeat in election and congratulated the opposition candidate, former President John Mahama, on his victory.
The elections came amid the country's worst economic crisis in a generation, which saw the cost of basic goods shoot up, while young people struggled to get jobs and the country was unable to repay its debts.
India to Chair 68th Session of UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
India has achieved a significant milestone by being named to chair the 68th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), marking the first time the country has been chosen for this prestigious role. Ambassador Shambhu S Kumaran, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, officially assumed the chairmanship of this crucial forum.
The CND, a key policy-making body of the UN, focuses on addressing global drug-related issues and promoting international collaboration on drug control measures.
Dec 06, 2024
UN General Assembly Approves Three Resolutions on Global Security Proposed by Kazakhstan
The United Nations General Assembly approved three resolutions initiated by Kazakhstan, aimed at strengthening global security, disarmament, and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Kazakhstan, recognising the UN as an irreplaceable and universal international organisation, and adhering to a principled position on the topic of banning all types of weapons of mass destruction, reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism and close cooperation with UN institutions. For the first time, three resolutions submitted by Kazakhstan to the UN First Committee were simultaneously brought to the General Assembly for consideration and were supported by the UN member states.
The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution on Strengthening and Institutionalizing the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction. The resolution calls for a substantive consideration of the possibility of establishing the International Agency for Biological Security, in continuation of the initiative proposed by the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. Fifteen countries, including all Central Asian states, supported the document as co-sponsors.