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.

Elon Musk has become the first person to reach a $400 billion net worth, driven by a surge in his wealth following Donald Trump’s election victory. A significant $50 billion boost came from a SpaceX share sale, bringing Musk's fortune to $447 billion. Tesla’s stock hit a record high, pushing Musk's wealth up by $62.8 billion in one day. The combined wealth of the world’s 500 richest people surpassed $10 trillion, the largest increase of any billionaire in 2024. Musk's AI startup, xAI, grew to $50 billion, and his influence expanded with his new role in government efficiency.

About six months ago, Donald Trump was sitting in a courtroom in lower Manhattan listening to a jury make him the first former U.S. President convicted of a crime.

On Thursday (December 12, 2024), he will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange just blocks from that courthouse and as he was recognized by TIME magazine as its ‘Person of the Year’.

The honors for the businessman-turned-politician represent the latest chapter in his love-hate relationship with New York. They’re also a measure of Mr. Trump’s remarkable comeback from an ostracized former President who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a President-elect who won the White House decisively in November.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a USD 788.8 million (over ?6,600 crore) results-based loan to Andhra Pradesh for the development of Amaravati as a green and smart capital city that offers world-class infrastructure.

According to an official statement from ADB, the loan will be provided in Japanese yen, amounting to 121.97 billion yen.

The Amaravati Inclusive and Sustainable Capital City Development Programme is designed to transform Amaravati into a growth hub for the region, enhancing economic prospects, providing job opportunities, and improving living conditions of the residents.

ADB and other multilateral development banks (MDBs) will bring global expertise and technical support to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, establishing a strong foundation for a dynamic, sustainable, and vibrant capital city, said Mio Oka, ADB Country Director for India.

Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, HD Kumaraswamy, launched India's Green Steel Taxonomy at Vigyan Bhavan on Thursday.

This landmark framework aims to revolutionize the steel industry by decarbonizing production processes and promoting environmentally responsible practices.

The initiative signifies a major step toward aligning one of India's most vital industries with global sustainability goals. The event witnessed the presence of prominent dignitaries, including Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik, and SAIL Chairman Amarendu Prakash.

“The European Union (EU) states on Thursday (December 12, 2024) cleared Bulgaria and Romania to become full members of the borderless Schengen zone from the start of next year,” officials said, following a 13-year wait for the two eastern European nations.

“It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania,” said Interior Minister Sandor Pinter of Hungary, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency.

The two countries, both members of the European Union since 2007, were partially integrated into the free movement zone in March, opening up travel by air and sea without border checks.

There is a now-viral video of Dommaraju Gukesh as an 11-year-old. In it, the boy who is yet to become a Grand Master is asked by IM Sagar Shah of ChessBase India what his ambition is. “I want to become the youngest chess champion in the world,” declares the boy in his thin boyish voice with the hint of a grin on a face that is yet to have even the shadow of a moustache.

About seven years after that proclamation, Gukesh has become the youngest chess champion in the world at 18, defeating Chinese Ding Liren in a battle of wills that lasted three weeks and tested both players psychologically and physically. He surpassed Garry Kasparov as the youngest.

FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 Men's World Cup, while the 2030 edition will be held in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with additional matches in three South American countries. The decision was announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino following a virtual extraordinary Congress. The 2030 and 2034 World Cups each had only a single bid and both were confirmed by acclamation.

"We are bringing football to more countries and the number of teams has not diluted the quality. It actually enhanced the opportunity," Infantino said about the 2030 World Cup. The combined proposal from Morocco, Spain and Portugal will see the 2030 World Cup take place across three continents and six nations, with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay hosting celebratory games to mark the tournament's centenary.

Topping the roster of eight winning heritage conservation projects in Asia-Pacific, the Inari-yu Bathhouse Restoration Project in Tokyo, Japan, has received UNESCO’s highest recognition, the Award of Excellence, in the 2024 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

This year’s jury singled out the project from a pool of 52 entries from 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The Inari-yu Bathhouse Restoration offered a compelling example of how well-conserved heritage can foster social cohesion and community resilience, the jury found.

The year 2025 will mark a quarter of a century since UNESCO established the Asia-Pacific heritage awards. Since 2000, they have drawn submissions from 906 projects spanning 27 countries. 'Winning projects don’t just preserve the past; they spark transformation, becoming catalysts for renewal in neighborhoods and cities, and even across countries,' said UNESCO Regional Director Soohyun Kim.