AUTOR: K Shiva
Sydney Shooting Tragedy: Police identified a father-son duo, Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, as the gunmen behind the massacre at a Jewish celebration in Bondi Beach. The attack claimed 15 lives, including a 10-year-old girl and an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor.
Thai-Cambodian Border Conflict: Cambodia accused Thailand of bombing deep into its territory, including areas near the UNESCO heritage site of Angkor Wat. The renewed fighting has killed at least 28 people and displaced 8 lakh civilians.
Ukraine Peace Talks: Discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. envoys continued in Berlin. Ukraine is reportedly resisting U.S. pressure to cede control of the Donbas region as a condition for peace.
Chile Election: Ultra-conservative José Antonio Kast secured a victory with 58.2% of the vote, marking a significant right-wing shift in the country's leadership.
Oman Diplomatic Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Oman marks 70 years of diplomatic relations. Key discussions involve maritime security, trade (CEPA agreement), and energy cooperation.
Higher Education Overhaul: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025, which seeks to replace the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE with a single regulatory commission. The Bill has been sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further deliberation.
New Rural Employment Bill: The government proposed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee For Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill to replace MGNREGA. It increases guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 but shifts from a demand-driven to a supply-driven scheme with a fixed budget cap.
Nuclear Power Expansion: The SHANTI Bill, 2025 was introduced to incentivize private sector participation in nuclear power production and scale up installed capacity to 100 GW by 2047.
BJP Leadership Change: Nitin Nabin (45) was appointed as the National Working President of the BJP, signaling a generational shift in the party.
Voter Roll Revision: The Centre defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the Rajya Sabha, stating it is based on the principle of "one person, one vote".
Aviation Hub in Bhogapuram: HRD Minister Nara Lokesh is set to launch the GMR MANSAS Educity, India's first Aviation, Aerospace, and Defence (AAD) educational city.
Support for Skill Census: Minister Lokesh met Union Ministers in New Delhi to seek support for an AI-powered Skill Census and the establishment of a National Skill Training Institute in Visakhapatnam.
Maritime Shipyard in Nellore: The government allotted 30 acres in Juvvaladinne for an autonomous maritime shipyard by Sagar Defence Engineering, expected to generate 750 jobs.
Potti Sriramulu Memorial: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that the house in Chennai where Potti Sriramulu died will be developed into a memorial.
Vijayawada (Bhavani Deeksha): The annual Bhavani Deeksha Viramana concluded with 'Poornahuti' at the Kanaka Durga temple, with over 5.15 lakh devotees visiting during the five-day ritual.
Tirupati (Helmet Rule): The district police made helmets compulsory for motorcyclists and launched a 'No Helmet - No Petrol' rule at fuel stations.
Palnadu (Hospital Penalty): A private hospital in Narasaraopet was fined three times the excess money it illegally collected from a beneficiary under the Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva scheme.
Bapatla (Resort Incentive): The government approved incentives for a ₹261 crore Radisson resort at Pandurangapuram.
IPL Auction: The 2026 IPL mini-auction is scheduled in Abu Dhabi; Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana are expected to be among the costliest buys.
Cricket (India vs. SA): Shahbaz Ahmed has replaced Axar Patel (out due to illness) for the remaining T20Is.
Chess (Global Chess League): upGrad Mumba Masters secured a 9-7 win over Fyers American Gambits; Alireza Firouzja defeated World Champion D. Gukesh.
Women's Cricket: Tickets for the India-Sri Lanka women's T20I matches in Visakhapatnam went on sale.
Music Academy Conference: Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman inaugurated the 99th annual conference in Chennai, stressing the need to reinvent performing arts to attract younger audiences.
Statue Unveiling: A statue of legendary singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam (SPB) was unveiled at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad.
IFFK Controversy: Kerala police opposed the anticipatory bail plea of filmmaker P.T. Kunhi Mohammed in a case related to outraging a woman’s modesty.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): India's unemployment rate fell to a low of 4.7% in November.
Trade Deficit: India's trade deficit narrowed by over 61% in November to $6.6 billion due to strong export growth.
Word of the Day: Waggish – witty or joking.
Stooge: A person who is completely under someone else's control.
Vande Bharat Extension: The Narsapur-MGR Chennai Central Vande Bharat Express was flagged off, stopping at major stations like Vijayawada, Nellore, and Renigunta.
Australian Gun Laws: Australia introduced tough gun control laws after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, but the recent Bondi shooting has renewed calls for tighter regulations.
Police Recruitment: 196 candidates from Chittoor district were selected as police constables and received their appointment orders.
Aviation Training: The GMR MANSAS Educity project aims to address the shortage of pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers in India.
Tenders: TTD invited notifications for the supply of pre-medical staff manpower through outsourcing.
Vijay Diwas (Victory Day)
Historical Significance: Celebrated to commemorate the victory of the Indian Armed Forces over Pakistan in the 1971 war, leading to the liberation of Bangladesh.
Event at Army House: President Droupadi Murmu attended the 'At Home' event at the Army House, which showcased indigenous technologies and niche military capabilities.
Duration: The war lasted 13 days (December 3 to December 16, 1971) and ended with the surrender of the Pakistani army led by General A.A.K. Niazi.
Bijoy Dibos: This day is also celebrated in Bangladesh as its Independence Day (Bijoy Dibos).
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