Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi made history by becoming his country first bowler to take 100 wickets in each format of the international cricket.
The left-arm pacer achieved the milestone during the first T20I against South Africa in Durban. The hosts defeated Pakistan by 11 runs in the match.
In the match, Shaheen took three wickets to complete 100 T20I wickets in 74 T20s and became the first Pakistan bowler to have 100 wickets in each format of the game.
Shaheen became the youngest player in the world to achieve the feat and the first to reach 100 wickets in all three formats of the game in international cricket before turning 30.
Notably, he become the youngest bowler to take 100 wickets in all three formats. He joined the club of New Zealand's Tim Southee, Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, and Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga.
Afridi became the second fastest Pakistani bowler to achieve this feat. Now, he only behind Haris Rauf, who achieved this milestone in 71 matches.
JP-Morgan-backed fintech company In-Solutions Global (ISG) has secured full authorisation as a payment aggregator under the Reserve Bank of India's regulatory framework. The approval further empowers ISG to streamline digital payments for merchants across various sectors, ensuring fast, secure, and reliable transactions while advancing financial inclusion, the fintech said.
The company currently processes over 28 billion transactions annually, serving more than 70 percent of banks in India.
The company further said the licence complements ISG's growing portfolio, including its prepaid payment instrument (PPI) licence, enabling it to offer an integrated suite of payment solutions spanning online platforms, retail transactions, transit payments.
ISG offers cutting-edge solutions across payment aggregation, prepaid instruments, NCMC, transit systems, and more.
State Bank of India, the country's largest lender, is seeking a ¥30 billion ($197 million) facility, according to people familiar with the matter, adding to a record volume of yen loans raised by borrowers in Asia excluding Japan this year.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. is the lead bank of the deal, which will be raised in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City,
India's newest financial hub, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing a private matter. The facility carries a five-year tenor, the people added.
It will pay an interest margin of 60 basis points over the Tokyo overnight average rate, or TONA, a global benchmark gage for yen-denominated deals, according to one of the people.
The loan would add to a tide of Samurai loans, where foreign companies raise yen debt, in Asia recently as they seek to lower funding costs and diversify away from the relatively-expensive dollar space.
Ride-hailing firm Uber rolled out Uber Moto Women in Bengaluru, a first-of-its-kind service that offers women-only bike rides.
The company plans to scale it up in other top cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. The on-demand two-wheeler ride service connects women riders with women drivers and is designed,
to address women’s safety and mobility needs.
Developed after receiving feedback from women riders and drivers, Uber Moto Women offers a safe, affordable and convenient commute option for women who would prefer to ride with women drivers or riders for their trips.
Bike taxis have rapidly emerged as one of the fastest-growing transport options in urban India.
India’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments almost halved to $2.28 billion in November 2024, from $4.17 billion in November 2023. Sequentially, it also declined from $3.43 billion in October 2024, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Outbound FDI, expressed as a financial commitment, comprises three components:
equity, loans, and guarantees.
Equity commitments fell to $743.29 million in November 2024, compared with $1.2 billion a year ago and $783.5 million recorded in October 2024. Debt commitments rose sharply to $967.7 million in November 2024, up from $179.2 million in November 2023. However, outward debt FDI was lower than the $1.3 billion in October 2024.
Guarantees for overseas units nosedived to $568.9 million in November 2024, compared with $2.78 billion a year ago and $1.35 billion in October 2024, RBI data showed.
India ran out of superlatives in hailing history-maker D Gukesh after he became the first teenager world champion in chess.
He won after prevailing in a tense 14th and last game of the title showdown against holder Ding Liren of China in Singapore.
Gukesh beat Garry Kasparov's record of 22 years, six months and 27 days when he had won the title in 1985.
Gukesh won 7.5-6.5, taking $1.35 million, after a game where Ding seemed to have a risk-free chance to press for a win but instead liquidated into a pawn-down endgame.
The second Indian world chess champion after GM Viswanathan Anand, and the youngest universally recognized champion in the history of chess.
YES Bank, one of the leading private sector lender, announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Manish Jain as Executive Director (Whole-Time Director) for a period of three years. Jain’s tenure will commence on December 11, 2024, and continue until December 10, 2027.
This approval follows a resolution by the board of directors at YES Bank, which had earlier appointed Jain as an additional director and executive director, subject to RBI clearance. The appointment will become fully effective upon shareholder approval.
Jain, who joined YES Bank in September 2023, currently oversees its corporate and wholesale banking business.
Before his new designation, he served as the Country Head of Wholesale Banking, where he played a critical role in driving the bank’s strategic initiatives in large corporate, government, and financial institution sectors.
With a career spanning over three decades, Jain brings extensive experience in banking and finance, including 23 years at Standard Chartered Bank.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $788.8 million (Rs. 6,600 crore) results-based loan to Andhra Pradesh for developing Amaravati as a green and smart capital city with world-class infrastructure.
The loan, denominated in Japanese yen (121.97 billion yen), is part of the Amaravati Inclusive and Sustainable Capital City Development Programme.
This initiative aims to establish Amaravati as a regional growth hub, driving economic opportunities, job creation, and improved living standards for its residents.
The programme focuses on attracting anchor investors, fostering private investment, and generating employment, particularly benefiting women and youth.
This significant funding is part of a broader $1.6 billion commitment by ADB and the World Bank to develop Amaravati as a benchmark for sustainable and inclusive urban development.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a $500 million loan to bolster India’s economic growth through the development of environmentally sustainable infrastructure. This strategic initiative aligns with India’s climate commitments and aims to address the increasing need for resilient infrastructure in the face of climate change.
India, recognized as one of the most climate-vulnerable nations globally, frequently faces natural calamities such as floods, droughts, and cyclones. These challenges necessitate infrastructure capable of mitigating climate risks. However, ADB noted a significant $1 trillion climate financing gap in India, which cannot be bridged by the public sector alone.
The loan, backed by a sovereign guarantee, will be channeled to India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL). This funding will empower IIFCL to provide long-term capital for projects in critical sectors such as connectivity, energy transition, urban development, education, and healthcare.
Established in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members, with 49 originating from the Asia-Pacific region. This latest funding underscores ADB’s commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth in its member nations.
National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), New Delhi has received the approval from World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as an Athlete Passport Management Unit to manage Athlete Biological Passport. Youth and Sports Affairs Ministry in a statement said that it is a proud moment for India and NDTL as it will open new pathways and strengthen NDTL’s capability as a ,
key player in the world.
The Athlete Biological Passport is an advanced anti-doping tool that monitors an athlete’s biological markers over time. It analyzes variations in parameters such as blood and steroid profiles to ensure fair play in sports and to protect clean athletes.
Prasar Bharati has signed an MoU with Hockey India in New Delhi, to provide a live broadcast of the upcoming Hockey India League. With this MoU, Doordarshan become the official broadcast partner for Hockey India League 2024-25.
On the occasion, Hockey India League (HIL) governing committee members Bhola Nath Singh and Prasar Bharti Chairman Navneet Sehgal exchanged the MOU.
CEO Prasar Bharti Gaurav Dwivedi, Director General of Akashvani Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Director General of Doordarshan Kanchan Prashad, Director General of Doordarshan (News) Priya Kumar and others also attended the event.
International Football Federation (FIFA) has announced that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 Men’s Football World Cup, while Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will jointly host the 2030 tournament.
The host nations for both World Cups were confirmed at FIFA’s Extraordinary Congress meeting, following a vote.
The meeting, conducted via video link, was attended by representatives from all 211 FIFA member nations.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the World Cup, three matches in the 2030 tournament will also be held in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The decisions for both tournaments, as well as the 2030 centenary celebrations, were made through two separate votes.
The first vote selected Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina as the centenary hosts, while the second vote confirmed Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as hosts for 2030 and awarded Saudi Arabia the 2034 tournament.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom noted that all 211 members had effectively cast their votes prior to the congress.
This will be the first time Saudi Arabia hosts the World Cup, and the second time the tournament will be held in the Middle East.
Khelo India Winter Games 2025 will be held in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir in two separate phases. Ladakh will host the ice events, including ice hockey and ice skiing, from 23rd to 27th of January, while Jammu & Kashmir will host the snow events, such as alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ski mountaineering, and snowboarding, from 22nd to 25th of February.
This will be the second consecutive year that Ladakh will host a portion of the Khelo India Winter Games, KIWG. Before the 2024 edition, Jammu & Kashmir hosted all the events. In February 2024, Leh successfully hosted ice events like skating and hockey, while Gulmarg hosted the snow events such as skiing and snowboarding.
Elon Musk has become the first person to surpass $400 billion in net worth, solidifying his position as the world’s richest individual. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Musk’s fortune has reached $447 billion, marking significant growth since the US presidential election.
Musk’s increasing wealth highlights the rising value of his ventures, particularly in the electric vehicle and space sectors, as Tesla and SpaceX continue to lead their respective markets. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is a distant second on the list with a total worth of $249 billion and Mark Zuckerberg is a close third at $224 billion.
Larry Ellison is in the fourth position with a net worth of $198 billion and Bernard Arnault is at $181 billion.
Elon Musk’s wealth isn’t just tied to his well-known companies, SpaceX and Tesla. His artificial intelligence startup, xAI, has seen its valuation double to $50 billion since May.
TIME Magazine has named Donald Trump its “Person of the Year”, saying “perhaps no single individual has played a larger role in changing the course of politics and history” than the United States president-elect.
Trump surged to victory in the November 5 election after a campaign marked by incendiary and often hateful rhetoric against migrants, Democrats,
and other perceived opponents.
Trump was named the magazine’s “Person of the Year” in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House.
The other finalists for this year’s designation were Harris, Netanyahu, X owner Elon Musk, and Kate, the Princess of Wales.
The magazine emphasises that its choice of “Person of the Year” is based on the figure being “newsworthy – not necessarily praiseworthy”, and acknowledges that the choices are “often controversial”.
Previous picks include Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin, as well as more popular figures such as the US civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr
