Current Affairs Highlights (December 17, 2024)
International News:
- Germany’s Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote in early February elections : German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in the Bundestag on December 16, 2024, paving the way for early elections in late February. With only 207 supporters in the 733-seat house, Scholz fell short of the 367-majority required, signaling a critical moment for Germany’s political future.
- Judge rejects Trump’s attempt to dismiss hush-money case : A Manhattan judge rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s argument to dismiss his hush-money conviction based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling. The case remains ongoing as Trump’s legal team raises additional challenges ahead of his return to office.
- Trump pledges to talk with Putin and Zelensky on the Ukraine war : President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to initiate discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate an end to the ongoing war. Speaking at Mar-a-Lago, he emphasized the urgent need to halt the conflict but avoided taking a stance on territorial concessions.
- Syrian rebel leader meets U.N. envoy in Damascus : Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), met with U.N. Special Envoy Geir Pedersen in Damascus to discuss updating the 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution. The dialogue marks a significant shift in Syria’s political landscape, with HTS previously linked to Al-Qaeda.
National News:
- Simultaneous elections bill set for Lok Sabha introduction : The Union government is poised to introduce a constitutional amendment bill in the Lok Sabha on December 17, 2024, aiming to establish simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. A Joint Parliamentary Committee review is expected after the introduction, and BJP members have been issued a three-line whip to ensure attendance.
TamilNadu News:
- ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill draws criticism from Tamil Nadu: CM Stalin : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin called for unity among democratic forces to oppose the BJP’s proposed “One Nation, One Election” Bill. In a social media post, Stalin referred to the Bill as an “abomination” and shared an article from The Hindu discussing its impracticality.
