AUTOR: K Shiva
Syria Retaliation (Operation Hawkeye Strike): In a massive military response to the killing of two American soldiers, the U.S. military struck over 70 Islamic State targets inside central Syria. Supported by Jordanian forces, the operation involved fighter jets and attack helicopters firing over 100 munitions.
Trump Signs NDAA 2026: U.S. President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which specifically urges the alignment of India’s domestic nuclear liability rules with international norms. This is the first time in a decade such a specific mention has appeared in the Act.
Chile’s Presidential Election: Hardliner José Antonio Kast won the presidential runoff with 58% of the vote. A Pinochet admirer, his platform focused on "order, security, and trust," promising border walls and military deployment to high-crime areas.
Bangladesh Unrest: Dhaka remains on edge following the funeral of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth leader shot on December 12. Protesters have demanded the resignation of the Home Affairs Adviser and warn that the violence could derail the February 2026 polls.
Imran Khan Sentenced: A Pakistani accountability court sentenced former PM Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years imprisonment each in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case regarding state gifts.
Jeffrey Epstein Probe: The U.S. Justice Department released thousands of files from the Epstein sex trafficking probe. While including candid snapshots of Bill Clinton, the dump contained almost no new material related to President Trump.
Nuclear Reform Debate: Opposition leaders criticized the SHANTI Bill, labeling it "vendor-driven" and alleging it was "bulldozed" through Parliament to appease international suppliers by removing supplier liability clauses.
Supreme Court Pendency Drive: Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi scheduled a special vacation sitting for Monday to hear urgent matters, breaking the traditional Christmas/New Year recess to tackle the court's 90,000-case pendency.
Elephant Tragedy in Assam: The Mizoram-New Delhi Rajdhani Express collided with a herd in central Assam’s Hojai district, killing seven wild elephants and critically injuring a calf.
Republic Day Guest: EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa are confirmed as chief guests for Republic Day 2026, which will feature a "Vande Mataram" theme marking the song's 150th anniversary.
Agniveer Quota: The Union Home Ministry clarified that the new 50% reservation for ex-Agniveers in CAPF Group C posts will not disrupt the existing SC/ST/OBC reservation matrix.
Plastic & Garbage Free Targets: CM N. Chandrababu Naidu set a deadline to make the state garbage-free by January 26, 2026, and plastic-free by June 2026.
Building Rules Amendment: The government notified a comprehensive overhaul of A.P. Building Rules, 2017. Key changes include a 72-hour clearance cell for high-rise projects (24m and above) and mandatory energy-efficient standards.
Energy Role Model: Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand declared AP a national role model in energy efficiency, having adopted a structured approach since 2015.
East Godavari (Water Project): Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan performed the bhumi puja for the ₹13,050-crore 'Amarajeevi Jaladhaara' water grid project, designed to provide safe drinking water to 67 lakh people.
Visakhapatnam (Air Quality): A task force was formed to address the city’s air quality, which has recently slipped to "poor".
Chittoor (Elephant Conflict): Reports indicate human-elephant conflict is abating following the deployment of trained kumki elephants from Karnataka at a new camp in Musallamadugu.
Narasaraopet (Auction): Canara Bank issued an e-auction notice for a residential building in Issappalem Gram Panchayath.
T20 World Cup Squad: Ishan Kishan returns to the Indian squad for the 2026 T20 WC following consistent domestic performance; Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma were notably dropped.
World Tennis League: Dhakshineswar Suresh steered the Aussie Mavericks Kites to the title by defeating Sumit Nagal's AGS Eagles in a tense final.
BWF World Tour Finals: The Indian pair Satwik-Chirag bowed out in the semifinals after a loss to China in Hangzhou.
Global Chess League: Triveni Continental Kings remain at the top of the table after prodigy Marc’Andria Maurizzi won a crucial battle against Volodar Murzin.
Malayalam Satirist Passes Away: Evergreen actor-director Sreenivasan (69), renowned for his piercing political satire and films like Sandesham, passed away in Kerala.
Sundance Selection: The Telugu short film Osey Balamma, directed by Raman Nimmala, has been officially selected for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, marking a historic first for the Telugu industry.
Academy Shortlist: Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s film Homebound made it to the 98th Academy Awards shortlist in the Best International Feature Film category.
Capsaicin & Runny Noses: Spicy food causes the nose to run because capsaicin triggers neurogenic inflammation, causing blood vessels to relax and mucus glands to release watery fluids to wash away the irritant.
Thorium-229 Clock: Scientists are developing a nuclear clock using the nucleus of Thorium-229, which is expected to be precise within one second every 15.8 billion years.
Word of the Day: Trounce – To beat severely with a whip or rod; to defeat decisively in a competition.
PES University Admissions: Registration is open for 2026 for various streams including Engineering, Medicine, and Law.
BIE AP Milestone: The Board of Intermediate Education, AP, is now a nationally recognized awarding body for vocational skills like Sericulture Technician.
Job Mela/Recruitment: The Indian Institute of Plantation Management released admission notifications for PG programs in Agribusiness.
🌗 Winter Solstice Day
Astronomical Event: Marks the moment when one of Earth's poles is at its maximum tilt away from the Sun (23.4°).
Shortest Day: In the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun travels its shortest path, resulting in the longest night and least daylight.
Science: During the winter solstice in the North, vertical noon rays are directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn (23°27′ S).
Kepler's Laws: This seasonal change is a practical manifestation of Kepler's laws of planetary motion, which dictate how planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun.
Get Knowledge Gainers updates on our WhatsApp and Telegram Channels