AUTOR: K Shiva
Syria Attack: Two American soldiers and an interpreter were killed in central Syria after an ISIS gunman opened fire on a joint patrol.
Ukraine Energy Crisis: Massive Russian drone and missile attacks on Odesa and other regions left over a million households without power.
West Bank Expansion: A UN report stated that Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank reached its highest level since 2017.
National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025: Introduced in Parliament to establish a dedicated National Blood Transfusion Authority, setting uniform standards for blood collection, testing, and storage nationwide.
Aland Voter Fraud Case: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) identified six loopholes in the Election Commission’s National Voters Service Portal (NVSP) used to delete genuine voters' names without their knowledge.
Elimination of Maoism: Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that India is on the verge of eliminating Maoism by March 2026, with plans to make Chhattisgarh’s Bastar the most developed tribal region by 2030.
MGNREGS Renaming Controversy: The Union Cabinet approved a Bill to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as the "Pujya Bapu Employment Guarantee Scheme" and increase work days to 125.
Pax Silica Initiative: India was excluded from a new U.S.-led strategic initiative (Pax Silica) involving nine nations aimed at securing high-tech supply chains and reducing Chinese dominance.
Amaravati Farmers’ Issues: Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar assured that a three-member committee is resolving land acquisition and pooling issues on a priority basis.
Sagarmala Project: The Centre identified 110 projects worth over ₹1 lakh crore in AP to enhance port-led industrialization and coastal infrastructure.
Priority Road Corridors: Administrative sanction was given for pilot projects in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, costing ₹2,479 crore, to develop 110 km of urban corridors.
YSRCP Allegations: General Secretary M.V.S. Nagi Reddy alleged that over 300 farmers ended their lives since the NDA government took power, citing a crisis in the agriculture sector.
Vijayawada: The 36th Vijayawada Book Festival is set to begin on January 2, 2025, at the IGMC Stadium.
Guntur: The district set a national record by settling 23,287 cases, including 1,407 civil cases, during a single National Lok Adalat session.
Anakapalli: Police arrested four persons for murdering a 54-year-old man to claim an insurance payout of over ₹1 crore, initially staged as a hit-and-run.
Kerala Local Body Polls: The Congress-led UDF made a strong comeback, while the BJP-led NDA emerged as the largest front in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
Lionel Messi’s India Tour: * Kolkata: Chaos erupted at Salt Lake Stadium as VIPs blocked fans' views, leading to stadium vandalism and the arrest of the main organizer.
Hyderabad: A successful spectacle at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium where Messi, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo De Paul interacted with fans and children.
Squash World Cup: India entered the final for the first time after defeating defending champion Egypt 3-0 in Chennai.
National Wrestling: Paris Olympics bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat won the 61kg freestyle gold despite an eyebrow injury.
Netflix-Warner Merger: Netflix announced an $82.7 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros., including HBO and film/TV studios, marking a major shift in the entertainment industry.
Preah Vihear Temple: An ancient Hindu temple at the center of border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia.
APAAR ID Scheme: A unique student identity linked to Aadhaar; the Orissa High Court directed the government to include a clear "opt-out" option for parents.
Bison Horn Maria: A traditional tribal dance of the Dandami Madia community in Chhattisgarh, characterized by horn-shaped headgear.
Australian Social Media Ban: Australia became the first country to implement a social media ban for users under 16, with fines up to $33 million for non-compliant platforms.
Asia’s Longest Ski Drag Lift: A 726-metre ski drag lift was inaugurated in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, at an altitude of 4,390 metres.
APPSC Verification: Verification of original certificates for Polytechnic Lecturer posts is scheduled from December 29 to 31, 2025.
IISER Thiruvananthapuram: Applications invited for various non-teaching posts; last date for online submission is January 5, 2026.
Diploma in Packaging: Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) opened admissions for its 31st batch (2026-2027) through correspondence.
Significance: Observed annually on December 14 to raise awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation.
Energy Awards: President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Energy Conservation Awards at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
Andhra Pradesh Achievement: The state won the first prize in the Group-II category for the fourth consecutive year, scoring 89.25 points in the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2025.
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