NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Cabinet Approves Three New Corridors Under Delhi Metro
Phase-V (A): The Union
Cabinet approved three new corridors under Delhi Metro Phase-V (A)
worth about ₹12,015 crore—R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha, Aerocity–Airport
Terminal-1, and Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj, taking the metro network beyond
400 km.The project includes 13 new metro stations, with the R.K. Ashram
Marg–Indraprastha stretch extending the Botanical Garden–R.K. Ashram Marg
corridor and providing crucial connectivity to the redeveloping Central Vista
area.The Central Vista corridor will connect all Kartavya Bhawans, benefiting
nearly 60,000 office-goers and 2 lakh visitors daily, while improving last-mile
access and easing traffic congestion.Extensions on the Aerocity–Tughlakabad
corridor will strengthen airport connectivity with South Delhi areas like Saket
and Kalindi Kunj, boosting the economy, reducing road congestion, and improving
air quality.
2. National Test House and Department of Posts Sign MoU
for Nationwide Sample Collection and Testing: National Test House (NTH) and the Department
of Posts have signed an MoU to enable nationwide collection and safe,
timely delivery of samples to NTH laboratories for testing.Under the
agreement, the Department of Posts will provide doorstep sample pickup and
transport samples to NTH labs in Kolkata, Ghaziabad, Mumbai, Jaipur, Guwahati,
Varanasi and Chennai, using its extensive postal network.The collaboration will
improve accessibility, affordability, and efficiency of NTH’s testing services
by reducing logistical hurdles and turnaround time across the country.
3. NGT
Dismisses Appeal on Jhansi Sand Mining Clearance: The Principal Bench of
the National Green
Tribunal in New Delhi has
dismissed an appeal challenging the cancellation of environmental clearance for
sand mining in the Dhasan river in Jhansi district. The tribunal held that the
appeal was time-barred and arose from gross non-compliance with environmental clearance
conditions, reaffirming the strict statutory limits governing environmental
litigation. The environmental clearance for sand mining in the Dhasan river,
located in “Jhansi district”, had been granted to the appellant on November 18,
2022. It was subsequently revoked on December 22, 2024, by the “State Level
Environment Impact Assessment Authority”. The revocation followed findings of
gross non-compliance with clearance conditions, as established by a joint
committee report submitted in earlier proceedings.
4. Rajasthan
Launches e-Swasthya Samvad Platform: The Rajasthan government has launched a new digital communication platform,
“e-Swasthya Samvad”, aimed at strengthening governance, transparency and
coordination in the state’s medical education system. The initiative reflects
the state’s push towards technology-driven reforms to improve health services
and administrative efficiency. The platform has been introduced under the
direction of Chief Minister “Bhajanlal Sharma” and Medical Education Minister
“Gajendra Singh Khimsar”. Officials stated that the initiative seeks to
streamline communication between policymakers and institutions involved in
medical education and healthcare delivery across Rajasthan. Principal Secretary, Medical Education, “Gayatri Rathore”, said
e-Swasthya Samvad will function as a dedicated digital interface connecting all
stakeholders. The platform is designed to enable quicker decision-making,
better monitoring of health programmes and more effective implementation of
policy directives through real-time interaction.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Brigitte
Bardot, French Cinema Icon, Dies at 91: Legendary French actress and singer “Brigitte Bardot”,
a defining cultural figure of the 1950s and 1960s, has died at the age of 91.
Her death was announced by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which did not
disclose details regarding the time or place of her passing. The foundation
described her as a world-renowned artist who gave up fame to devote her life to
animal welfare. Born in Paris in 1934, Bardot rose to international fame with
the 1956 film “And God Created Woman”, directed by “Roger Vadim”, her first
husband. The film transformed her into a global sex symbol and redefined
post-war femininity in cinema. She went on to star in major French films such
as “The Truth”, “Very Private Affair”, and “Jean-Luc Godard”’s “Contempt”,
cementing her place in film history.
2. Jayshree
Ullal Tops Hurun India Rich List 2025: Indian-origin technology leader “Jayshree Ullal” has
emerged as the richest Indian-origin professional manager in the world after
securing the top position on the Hurun India Rich List 2025. Her rise reflects
the growing global influence of Indian-origin executives in shaping the
technology sector. According to the Hurun report, Ullal’s net worth is
estimated at ₹50,170 crore, placing her ahead of several high-profile global
technology leaders. The ranking positions her above peers such as “Satya
Nadella” and “Sundar Pichai”, highlighting a shift in how professional managers
with equity stakes are represented on global rich lists. Ullal has served as
President and CEO of “Arista Networks” since 2008. Under her leadership, the
company has grown into a major player in cloud networking, providing
high-performance solutions for hyperscale data centres, cloud service providers
and large enterprises. In 2024, Arista reported revenues of about $7 billion,
marking nearly 20 per cent year-on-year growth.
3. Why
Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland Has Triggered Global Backlash: Israel’s decision to formally recognise
Somaliland as an independent state has sent shockwaves across Africa and the Middle East,
triggering swift diplomatic condemnation and raising fears of renewed
instability in the already fragile Horn of Africa. While the move may appear
symbolic, its geopolitical consequences are anything but — touching questions
of sovereignty, regional rivalries, and the future of international norms
around secession. Somaliland is a self-declared republic located in northwestern Somalia, with its
capital in Hargeisa. It broke away from Somalia in
1991 after the collapse of the Siad Barre regime and a brutal civil war. Since
then, it has functioned with its own government, currency, security forces and
electoral processes.
Yet, no
country had formally recognised Somaliland as a sovereign state until now. The
international community has largely upheld Somalia’s territorial integrity, fearing
that recognition of breakaway regions could encourage fragmentation across
Africa, where colonial-era borders remain deeply sensitive.Mogadishu has
consistently rejected Somaliland’s claim to independence, but lacks the
political cohesion and military capacity to reintegrate the region by force.
4. Europe’s
Russian Assets Dilemma: Why the EU Blinked — and What It Means for the Ukraine
War: Last week’s European Union summit in Brussels marked a turning point in Europe’s
handling of the Ukraine war. Instead of seizing Russia’s frozen sovereign
assets — estimated at around €210 billion — the EU chose a far more cautious
path: raising a €90-billion Eurobond to financially sustain Ukraine. The
decision has exposed deep fractures within the bloc, sharpened anxieties about
global finance, and underlined Europe’s growing fatigue with a war whose
endgame remains elusive. At the heart of the summit’s drama was the question
of Russia’s frozen wealth, much of it parked at Euroclear in Belgium. While
the technical mechanisms for confiscation existed, the real barriers were
political and legal.Belgium, Italy and Austria argued
that outright seizure would violate international law and invite retaliation
from Moscow — retaliation whose costs would fall unevenly on individual states.
They insisted that any such move must involve collective burden-sharing.
France’s last-minute shift in support of Italy effectively
isolated Germany, which had been pushing hardest for a bolder
approach.The outcome was a compromise that satisfied no one fully: Russian
assets remain frozen indefinitely, but untouched.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. China
launches military encirclement drill near Taiwan: China has launched a
large-scale military exercise encircling Taiwan, prompting the island to deploy
its armed forces in response. The drill, announced on December 29, reflects
heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait and reinforces Beijing’s increasingly
assertive posture toward the self-ruled island, which China claims as its own
territory. China’s military said it had mobilised its army, navy, air force,
and rocket units to conduct joint operations around Taiwan. The exercise, named
“Just Mission 2025,” is being led by the Eastern Theatre Command and spans five
maritime zones, including the Taiwan Strait and waters to the north, east,
southeast, and southwest of the island. Beijing stated that the drills are
intended to test combat readiness, improve joint operational capability, and
issue a “serious warning” against any moves toward Taiwanese independence.
Chinese authorities announced temporary sea and airspace restrictions in the
designated exercise zones for a duration of 10 hours, beginning at 8:30 am
local time. According to Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre Command,
the drills focus on sea-and-air combat readiness patrols, seizing comprehensive
control, and simulating blockades of key ports and critical areas. Such
scenarios closely align with potential contingency plans aimed at isolating
Taiwan.
2. Iran
launches three satellites with Russian Soyuz rockets: Iran has successfully placed three
domestically developed satellites into low-Earth orbit
using Russian Soyuz launch vehicles, further
underscoring deepening strategic and technological cooperation between the two
U.S.-sanctioned countries. The launch took place on December 28 and was
confirmed by Iranian state media, marking another milestone in Tehran’s
expanding space programme amid continued Western pressure over its nuclear
activities. According to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, the
satellites—Paya, Zafar-2, and a second unit of Kowsar—were carried aboard
Russian Soyuz rockets. All three satellites are
designed for low-Earth orbit operations. They are
intended to support civilian applications such as monitoring agricultural
productivity, managing natural resources, and assessing environmental
conditions across Iran and neighbouring regions. Iran has increasingly depended
on Russia to place satellites into orbit,
particularly after facing restrictions on access to international launch
services. The collaboration has expanded significantly since 2022, following
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Western governments have accused Iran
of supplying drones and missiles to Russia, allegations both countries have
denied. Space cooperation has emerged as a visible and symbolic area of this
growing partnership.
3. Poland
Plans $2.2 Billion Anti-Drone Defence Shield: Poland has
announced plans to construct a $2.2 billion multi-layered anti-drone defence
system along its eastern border, citing rising security concerns linked
to Russia’s military actions. The project
reflects Warsaw’s growing focus on countering aerial threats and strengthening
airspace security amid the prolonged Russia–Ukraine
conflict. The decision follows several incidents involving suspected Russian
drones entering Polish airspace. In one case earlier this year, multiple drones
were detected crossing into Poland, prompting NATO fighter
jets to scramble and causing debris damage on the ground. Polish authorities
view these incidents as part of broader hybrid tactics aimed at testing
regional defences rather than conventional military escalation. Deputy defence
minister “Cezary Tomczyk” said the fortification will not resemble a single
physical barrier. Instead, it will combine modern electronic warfare tools and conventional weapons. The system will include
drone-jamming technologies, alongside machine guns, cannons and missile units.
Initial operational capabilities are expected within six months, while full
deployment is targeted within 24 months.
SPORTS
1. Virat Kohli Becomes Fastest to 16,000 List A Runs,
Surpassing Sachin Tendulkar: Virat
Kohli became the fastest player to reach 16,000 List A runs,
surpassing Sachin Tendulkar, achieving the milestone in his 330th innings
during Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Andhra.Kohli now holds the
record for the fastest to each block of 1000 List A runs from 10,000 runs
onwards, breaking multiple long-standing records.In the Vijay Hazare Trophy,
after a 15-year gap, Kohli has scored 819 runs from 13 matches at an average of
68.25 and a strike rate of 106, including four centuries and three fifties.
2. Tamiri
Wins Women’s Singles at National Badminton Championships: Surya Charishma Tamiri
claimed the Women’s Singles crown at the 87th Senior National Badminton
Championships in Vijayawada, producing a resilient comeback in the final. The
championships witnessed strong performances across all categories, underlining
the depth of domestic badminton talent in India. “Surya Charishma Tamiri”
defeated “Tanvi Patri” in a closely contested final. After dropping the opening
game, Tamiri recovered with controlled aggression and improved court coverage
to win 17–21, 21–12, 21–14. The victory marked a significant milestone in her
senior national career. The Men’s Doubles title was won by “A. Hariharan” and
“Ruban Kumar”, who defeated Mithilesh Krishnan and Prejan 24–22, 21–17 in the
final. In Women’s Doubles, former champions “Shikha Gautam” and “Ashwini Bhat
K” reclaimed the title with a 21–14, 21–18 victory over Priya Devi Konjengban
and Shruti Mishra.
3. PV
Sindhu Elected BWF Athletes’ Commission Chair: Two-time Olympic medallist “P. V.
Sindhu” has been elected Chair of the Badminton World Federation Athletes’
Commission for the 2026–2029 term, marking a significant step in athlete
representation within global badminton governance. The appointment was confirmed
by Olympics.com and positions Sindhu as a key voice for players worldwide. As
Chair of the Athletes’ Commission, Sindhu will also serve as a member of the
“Badminton World Federation” Council. This dual role ensures direct athlete
participation in policy-making and strategic decisions affecting international
badminton. The commission is designed to bridge the gap between players and
administrators, strengthening transparency and inclusivity. Sindhu expressed
gratitude to fellow athletes for entrusting her with the responsibility and
acknowledged the contribution of former chair “Greysia Polii”, who served two
terms on the commission between 2021 and 2025. Polii, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist and Asian Games champion in women’s doubles, retired from competitive badminton in
2022.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. JWST
Reveals Hidden Chemistry Around Young Star T Chamaeleontis: Astronomers have uncovered a rare
glimpse into the chemical evolution of a young, planet-forming star system
after a dramatic structural change exposed previously hidden molecular
signatures. Observations of the star “T Chamaeleontis”, located about 350 light-years
from Earth, show that a partial collapse of its circumstellar disk’s inner wall
briefly illuminated complex organic chemistry, offering new insights into how
planetary systems evolve. T Chamaeleontis, often referred to as T Cha, is a
young, Sun-like star surrounded by a circumstellar disk containing a wide gap,
likely carved by a forming protoplanet. Normally, the dense inner regions of
such disks block ultraviolet radiation from reaching the outer disk. In 2022,
however, a sudden burst of accretion caused part of this inner wall to thin or
collapse, allowing ultraviolet light to stream outward and alter the disk’s
chemical visibility. This unexpected illumination revealed strong signatures of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), flat, carbon-rich molecules considered
important precursors to complex organic chemistry. Detecting PAHs around
low-mass, Sun-like stars has been difficult due to their relatively weak
ultraviolet output. The event at T Cha temporarily removed this limitation,
making the molecules glow brightly in the mid-infrared range.
2. Lantana
Camara Invasion Threatens Global Ecosystems: A silent ecological invasion is unfolding across vast regions
of the world, driven by “Lantana camara”, an aggressive invasive weed now
entrenched across tropical, subtropical and warm temperate zones. Easily
recognised by its brightly coloured, bouquet-like flowers and strong scent, the
plant has spread across millions of hectares, posing serious threats to biodiversity, agriculture and forest ecosystems. Lantana
camara spreads rapidly due to a combination of biological advantages. It
releases chemicals into the soil that suppress the growth of neighbouring
plants, a process known as allelopathy. Its leaves, flowers and berries are
toxic to livestock, yet attractive to birds, insects and monkeys that disperse
its seeds over long distances. Deep, spreading roots extract scarce water and
nutrients, while a resin-coated leaf surface reduces moisture loss, allowing
the plant to thrive in drought-prone and degraded soils.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Canara Bank Launches ‘Canara ai1Pe’, Unified Next-Gen
UPI App for Seamless Digital Payments: Canara Bank launched its unified UPI app Canara
ai1Pe, enabling users of any bank to link accounts for fund transfers, QR
payments, bill payments and auto-debit of recurring payments.Canara ai1Pe is
part of the Canara ai1 Mobile Banking Super App, which offers 300+ features,
including deposits, insurance and everyday banking services, providing a
seamless digital payment experience.The app supports all UPI services such as
UPI Lite, Autopay, UPI Circle, IPO/Mandate services, along with enhanced
security features like device binding and UPI PIN authentication.Developed in
collaboration with NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), the app aims to deliver a
next-generation UPI payment experience while also complementing Canara Bank’s
separate Canara ai1 Corporate app for business customers.
2. IDRBT and IIIT Hyderabad Sign
MoU to Collaborate on Research and Skill Development in BFSI Technologies: The Institute for Development and Research in
Banking Technology (IDRBT) and IIIT Hyderabad signed an MoU
to collaborate in academics, research, training, student exchange and
skill development in the BFSI sector.The partnership aims to support
integration and adoption of emerging technologies in banking and financial
services, with the MoU signed by IIIT-H Director Sandeep Shukla and IDRBT
Director Deepak Kumar.As part of the collaboration, the institutes will offer
joint PhD programmes focusing on areas such as digital payments, cybersecurity,
AI, blockchain, cryptography, programmable money, tokens, and API management. The
MoU also seeks to enhance industry readiness and employability of research
scholars, along with collaboration in BFSI technology standardisation,
India-specific cybersecurity solutions, and user experience development.
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