December 20, 2024:
International Relations
Sri Lanka Announces Visa-Free Access to Indians: Starting January 2025, Sri Lanka will offer free visa travel to citizens from 39 countries, including India. This initiative aims to boost tourism and strengthen international relations.
Economy
Direct Tax Collection Surges in 2024-25: The Income Tax Department reports that direct tax collections have exceeded ₹19.21 lakh crore, marking a 20.32% increase compared to the previous year. This growth reflects a strong economic recovery.
Entertainment
Tom Cruise Receives US Navy’s Top Civilian Honour: Actor Tom Cruise has been awarded the US Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award for his contributions to the military through his cinematic work.
Technology
Amazon Prime Membership Rules Changing: Effective January 2025, Amazon India will revise its Prime Video usage terms. A single Prime membership will allow streaming on up to five devices, but only two of those can be TVs. Households using more than two televisions will need separate subscriptions for additional TVs.
Legal Affairs
US Attorney Breon Peace Resigns: Breon Peace, the US Attorney who brought charges against industrialist Gautam Adani, has announced his resignation effective January 10, 2025. His tenure included high-profile cases such as the R. Kelly trial.
