The South Korean government plans to invest 2.7 trillion won ($1.9 billion) in developing technologies to combat climate change next year, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced on Sunday.

This represents a 3.9 percent increase from the 2.6 trillion won allocated for the initiative in 2024, according to the ministry.

The investment forms part of the government’s 10-year plan to advance scientific technologies by 2032 in response to global warming, Yonhap News Agency reported. South Korea has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from 2018 levels by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The 2025 budget will focus on developing core renewable energy technologies, such as next-generation solar batteries and large-scale floating wind power systems. It will also prioritize advancements in carbon-neutral technologies, including next-generation nuclear power systems and hydrogen power.

The Italian government has granted Argentine President Javier Milei citizenship in recognition of his Italian heritage, a move that has sparked outrage across Argentina, according to a report by The New York Times.

Javier Milei, whose grandparents migrated from Italy to Argentina, was granted Italian citizenship based on his ancestral ties, according to Italy's foreign ministry.

The decision has provoked criticism, particularly from opponents of Italy's citizenship policy, who argue that the law, which allows descendants of Italians to obtain citizenship, is unfair.

Critics point out the inconsistency of granting citizenship to individuals with distant Italian ancestry while denying it to children of immigrants born in Italy.

India on Saturday dispatched approximately 60 tons of emergency medical equipment, generators, and other essential utilities to Jamaica to bolster the country’s healthcare infrastructure and disaster preparedness.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, shared details of the humanitarian aid on Saturday.

“India sends humanitarian assistance to Jamaica. A consignment of approximately 60 tons of emergency medical equipment, generators, and other utilities has departed for Jamaica. This assistance will address healthcare needs, support the rehabilitation of medical infrastructure, and strengthen disaster preparedness against hurricanes,” Jaiswal said in a post on X.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Saturday (December 14, 2024) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wipro GE Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., to establish an AI Health Innovations Hub at the Centre. The new hub will focus on the development of products and solutions that enhance healthcare delivery and outcomes through more precise diagnosis, innovative treatment protocols, and real-time patient data tracking.

As the technology partner, Wipro GE Healthcare will invest around $1 million over the next five years to co-develop, test, and deploy intelligent systems and workflow solutions in cardiology, oncology, and neurology. As clinical partner for the hub, AIIMS will provide multi-modal clinical inputs, and function as a real-world clinical environment for evaluation, feedback, and deployment of GE HealthCare’s AI-enabled solutions. A joint working committee from both organisations will oversee the collaboration, which will include clinical research and academic engagement.

Private sector lender YES Bank on Thursday (December 12) said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Manish Jain as executive director (whole-time director) of the bank for a period of three years, effective from December 11, 2024, to December 10, 2027.

" we would like to update you that RBI vide its letter dated December 11, 2024, has approved, the appointment of Manish Jain as Executive Director (i.e., Whole Time Director) of the Bank under Section 35B of The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 for a period of 3 (three) years from the date of taking charge as Executive Director i.e. December 11, 2024, till December 10, 2027," YES Bank said in a regulatory filing.

India, France, and the UAE began a major air combat exercise, “Desert Knight,” on Wednesday over the Arabian Sea. The operation aims to enhance trilateral defence cooperation and foster better interoperability among their air forces during complex combat scenarios, as reported by TOI.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated with aircraft such as Sukhoi-30MKIs and Jaguars, along with IL-78 mid-air refuellers and AEW&C (airborne early-warning and control) systems, operating from Jamnagar on India’s west coast. French Rafale jets and UAE's F-16 fighters were deployed from the Al Dhafra airbase in the UAE.

India on Thursday became the first country in the world to define “green steel” - emissions lower than a 2.2 per tonne of carbon dioxide per tonne of finished steel produced - while announcing a “star-rated grading system for such green steel”. A nearly 37 per cent public procurement of these “costlier offerings” has been suggested to push manufacturing and aid adoption of the technology switch-over.

As per the steel ministry, Green Steel has been defined in “percentage of greenness of the steel”, which is produced from the plant with carbon dioxide equivalent emission intensity of less than 2.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission (CO2 e) per tonne of finished steel (tfs).

The greenness of steel shall be expressed as a percentage based on how much the steel plant’s emission is lower than the 2.2t-CO2e/ tfs threshold.

India's Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kumar capped off an impressive week by claiming his maiden BWF Super 100 title after defeating compatriot Tharun Mannepalli in the men's singles final at the Odisha Masters here on Sunday.

The 21-year-old, who won the Telangana International Challenge last month and finished as runner-up at the Sri Lanka International Challenge in February, triumphed 21-18, 21-16 over Tharun, a runner-up at the Senior National Championship.

In the women's singles final, 15-year-old Tanvi Sharma, who claimed the Bonn International title earlier this year, was defeated 14-21, 16-21 by Chinese qualifier Cai Yan Yan in just 35 minutes.

The 43-minute summit clash between Rithvik and Tharun lived up to expectations as the duo fought tooth and nail for supremacy.

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed centrist leader François Bayrou as the new Prime Minister of France following a no-confidence vote that ousted the previous government. Francois Bayrou is the fourth Prime Minister this year. The 73-year-old MoDem leader, is tasked with forming a government and bringing stability amid the political turmoil. The previous Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, served only three months, becoming the shortest serving in French history. The priority for Bayrou, a close Macron ally, will be passing a special law to roll over the 2024 budget, with a battle over the 2025 legislation looming early next year. Parliamentary pushback over the 2025 bill led to the downfall of former Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government.

Five-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians, have announced the appointment of Carl Hopkinson as their new fielding coach ahead of the 2025 season. Hopkinson, a seasoned professional in fielding dynamics, brings a wealth of experience from his successful stint with the England men's cricket team, where he served as lead fielding coach for seven years.

During his tenure with England, Hopkinson, affectionately known as "Hoppo," played a pivotal role in the team's triumphs in the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup and the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup. His expertise in sharp fielding strategies and execution also contributed to England's runner-up finish at the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022, their first final appearance since 1998.