H-1B Visa Interview Crisis: India has raised grave concerns with the U.S. over the mass cancellation of scheduled H-1B visa interviews. Thousands of applicants have seen their appointments abruptly postponed until as late as May to allow for enhanced vetting of social media and online profiles.
Syria Military Strikes: The U.S. military reported striking over 70 Islamic State targets inside central Syria, deploying more than 100 munitions to dismantle extremist infrastructure.
Bangladesh Minority Rights: India flagged the "unremitting hostility" against minority communities in Bangladesh, citing over 2,900 violent incidents including the brutal lynching of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh.
South Korea Political Turmoil: A special prosecutor has sought a 10-year prison term for former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of obstructing his own arrest following a failed bid to impose martial law.
Counter-Terror Capability Drive: Union Home Minister Amit Shah called for a thorough analysis of all terrorist incidents from the past year to enhance national capabilities, highlighting the investigation into the Pahalgam attack as a model of "watertight" policing.
Aravalli Definition Failure: Despite a year of expert deliberation, the Centre failed to establish a uniform definition for the Aravalli hills, eventually submitting a height-based definition (hills above 100m) to the Supreme Court to avoid contempt proceedings.
Aadhaar Access Expansion: The UIDAI announced the opening of 473 new Aadhaar centres starting September 2026 to ensure wider public access to enrollment and update services.
Assam Ethnic Clashes: The Indian Army was deployed in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district following violent ethnic clashes over tribal grazing lands.
Crime Rate Trends: Andhra Pradesh recorded an overall 5.5% dip in crime during 2025, though fatal road accidents (over 8,200) remain a major cause for concern.
Cybercrime Bust: The A.P. CID busted an international cybercrime racket, arresting 14 individuals including a Vietnamese national, in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Science and Tradition Balance: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasized that modern science and traditional Indian knowledge systems should run concurrently to drive national progress.
Governance Rank: NTR District bagged the first rank in Andhra Pradesh for 'Speed of Doing' in governance and service delivery.
Vijayawada (Trafficking Probe): The police continue to uncover the "corporate-style" operations of the recently busted child trafficking network, focusing on the role of private clinic brokers.
Tirupati (Vaikunta Dwara Darshan): TTD released comprehensive guidelines for the upcoming ten-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshan starting December 30, confirming that most special darshans and recommendation letters are cancelled.
Hyderabad (GHMC Expansion): The Commissioner announced the birth of a "humongous" Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, now featuring 12 zones, 60 circles, and 300 wards.
Adilabad (Infrastructure): Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy announced that a survey for the Adilabad-Armoor railway line is underway and plans for a joint-user airport in the district are being fast-tracked.
Women’s Cricket: The "Women in Blue" look to seal the T20I series against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram after a dominant start in Visakhapatnam.
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Virat Kohli scored a stroke-filled 77 to lead Delhi to victory over Gujarat, while Andhra secured a six-wicket win over Railways.
FIDE World Rapid: 15-year-old Krishna Goutham from Kerala emerged as an unlikely joint leader after three consecutive wins in Doha.
Badminton Nationals: Rising star Tanvi Sharma advanced to the pre-quarters of the 87th senior nationals in Vijayawada.
Malayalam Cinema Satirist: Tributes continue for the legendary actor-director Sreenivasan, remembered for his indelible impact on political satire in Mollywood.
Kite Festival 2026: CM Revanth Reddy directed the organization of a massive Kite Festival at popular lakes in Hyderabad starting January 11, involving IT professionals and film celebrities.
Kavach System: An indigenous SIL-4 certified anti-collision system for Indian Railways.
SEEI Rank: Andhra Pradesh topped the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2025 with 89.25 points.
Atal Smruthi Vanam: A new memorial established in Venkatapalem, Amaravati, featuring a statue of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Word of the Day: Trounce — To beat severely with a whip or rod; to defeat decisively in a competition.
Do you know why spicy food causes a runny nose? It's due to Capsaicin, which triggers neurogenic inflammation and stimulates mucus glands to release fluid to "wash away" the irritant.
Do you know that nearly 23% of Indian students now have an APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry), which centralizes their academic records from primary school to university?
Do you know that 2025 marks the 150th anniversary of India's National Song, Vande Mataram?
ISRO Recruitment: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) invited online applications for Research Scientist positions (contract basis) starting December 29.
Medical Sector: The alumni of Kurnool Medical College donated ₹150 crore to establish a modern Knowledge Centre to enhance medical infrastructure in the district.
Education: The Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) AP is now a recognized awarding body for national vocational certifications in skills like Sericulture.
🌍 International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
Theme 2025: "Stronger Together: Global Resilience through Local Preparedness"
Objective: To highlight the critical need for robust health systems and international partnership to prevent and mitigate future epidemics.
Key Health Updates:
WHO Global Pandemic Treaty: A landmark agreement adopted to ensure equitable access to vaccines and treatments during future health crises.
Centre of Excellence: The Serum Institute is establishing a premier facility for infectious diseases in Hyderabad.
AP Health Push: Andhra Pradesh is integrating digital health records for all citizens under the Ayushman health centres framework.