Daily Current Affairs- 29th December 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 29th December 2024

INTERNATIONAL 

Chinese astronauts make history with the world’s longest spacewalk, surpassing the US record

• Two Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have set a new world record for the longest single spacewalk, breaking a record of the United States that had stood for over 23 years. At 9.57 pm Beijing time, astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong completed a nine-hour extravehicular activity, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). 

18th India - Nepal Military exercise Surya Kiran to commence in Nepal

• The 18th edition of Exercise SuryaKiran, a joint military exercise between India and Nepal is scheduled to be held at Saljhandi, Nepal from 29 December 2024 to 13 January 2025. The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations in mountains and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief under the #UnitedNations Charter. 

NATIONAL

Gujarat CM launches 'SWAR' platform to overcome language barriers

• Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has launched a new citizen-centric initiative called the SWAR (Speech and Written Analysis Resource) platform.
• The SWAR (Speech and Written Analysis Resource) platform was launched on the occasion of Good Governance Day on December 25. 

Army unveils statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji at eastern Ladakh's Pangong Tso

• The Indian Army has installed a statue of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji on the bank of Pangong Lake at an altitude of 14,300 feet, a region that is close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in the eastern Ladakh sector.
• The Army's Leh-based 14 Corps said the inauguration of the statue celebrated the "unwavering spirit" of the Indian ruler as his legacy remains a source of inspiration.

 SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY    

NASA's spacecraft reached the closest to the sun will send data from January 1

• NASA's Parker Solar Probe has set a record for the closest approach to the sun on the evening of December 24. NASA's spacecraft passed about 61 million km from the sun. This is the first vehicle in the world to make such a record. 

SPORTS

Koneru Humpy clinches second women’s title at World Rapid and Blitz Championship

• In Chess, India’s Koneru Humpy wins her second women’s title beating Indonesia’s Irene Sukander in the World Rapid and Blitz Championship held in New York. Humpy fisnished the tournament with 8.5 points from 11 rounds to secure her victory. Aged 37, the top ranked Indian is only the second player after China’s Ju Wenjun to clinch the title more than once. Indian Chess Grandmaster Humpy previously won in 2019 at Georgia.

Jasprit Bumrah Creates History, becomes 1st Bowler in The World to Reach 200 Wickets

• Jasprit Bumrah created history on Sunday, December 29, by becoming the first bowler in the history of Test cricket to take more than 200 wickets with an average of less than 20. Bumrah, who is playing his 44th Test match for India these days against Australia in Melbourne, has 202 wickets to his name at an average of 19.38.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

International Cello Day

• International Cello Day is celebrated on December 29th to honor Pablo Casals, a renowned Catalan cellist, composer, and conductor. Casals is considered one of the greatest cellists of all time and is credited with popularizing the cello as a solo instrument.