Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced her decision to abdicate after 52 years on the throne during her New Year’s speech. She expressed her intention to pass on the responsibilities to her son, Crown Prince Frederik, marking a significant transition in the Danish monarchy.
Starting January 1, 2024, the daily payment limit for UPI transactions is set at Rs 1 lakh. However, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the transaction limit specifically for payments to hospitals and educational institutions to Rs 5 lakh on December 8, 2023. This adjustment aims to enhance the use of UPI for larger transactions in these critical sectors.
Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) experience a daylight period of about 45 minutes. This is due to the ISS's rapid orbit around Earth, completing a full orbit approximately every 90 minutes. Consequently, astronauts see multiple sunrises and sunsets daily, differing from Earth's typical day-night cycle.
On January 1, 2024, the WESAT (Women Engineered SATellite) was launched by students of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Technology for Women (LBSITW) in Thiruvananthapuram. The satellite, launched as a secondary payload aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mission, specifically the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C58/XPoSat mission, is notable for being the first Indian satellite fully designed and developed by women.
WESAT, weighing 1.4 kg, has the purpose of studying ultraviolet radiation and its effects, contributing valuable data for scientific research. This achievement is a significant milestone in empowering women in space technology and innovation.
Australian opener David Warner has announced his retirement from one-day international (ODI) and Test cricket to spend more time with his family. He plans to play his 112th and final Test against Pakistan but will no longer participate in ODIs. Warner has had a remarkable ODI career, scoring 22 centuries and accumulating 6,932 runs at an average of 45.30 in 161 matches. He was also a key player in the Australian team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in India last year, contributing significantly to Australia's cricket success.