Synopsis

National

J&K: 166 locals among 203 militants killed in 2020

Jammu and Kashmir recorded the elimination of 203 terrorists including 166 local militants by security forces in 2020, while 43 civilians were killed and 92 others injured in the union territory, official sources said.

Ker CM welcomes PM Modi's efforts to resolve church dispute

: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi''s efforts in initiating discussions to resolve the dispute between two warring factions of the Malankara church over possession of around 1000 odd churches and their properties.

I don't hanker for CM's post, says Palaniswami

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Tuesday said he does not hanker for the high post of CM but considered himself as "in-charge" having overall responsibility to "execute the task" people assign to him.

Six UK returnees test positive for new strain of coronavirus

Six persons who returned to India from the United Kingdom have tested positive for the new UK variant genome of SARS-CoV2, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

International

US House overrides Trump's veto of USD 740 billion defence bill

Washington: Delivering a powerful blow to President Donald Trump, the US House of Representatives has voted by an overwhelming majority to override his veto of a USD 741 billion defence bill.

More COVID-19 vaccines in pipeline as US rams up effort

A huge US study of another COVID-19 vaccine candidate got underway as states continue to roll out scarce supplies of the first shots to a nation anxiously awaiting relief from the catastrophic outbreak.

Russia's prison service tells Navalny to appear or face jail

Russia''s federal penitentiary service has given top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny one day to report to its office or face imprisonment, if he comes back to Russia after the deadline.

Mexico might allow private firms to buy, distribute vaccines

Mexican President Andr s Manuel L pez Obrador has said that he is not opposed to private companies buying coronavirus vaccines to distribute to patients who want to pay for the shots.

Biden warns of Trump officials' 'roadblocks' to transition

President-elect Joe Biden is warning of massive damage done to the national security apparatus by the Trump administration and "roadblocks" in communication between agency officials and his transition team that could undermine Americans'' security.

Sports

Tendulkar, Kohli lead cricket fraternity in hailing Indian team for Melbourne Test win

New Delhi: The Indian cricket fraternity, led by Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, hailed the national team for the resilience and character it showed to redeem itself after the Adelaide debacle and win the 2nd Test in Melbourne.

One of the greatest comebacks in world cricket: Shastri

India''s head coach Ravi Shastri termed his team''s eight-wicket win against Australia on Tuesday as "one of the greatest comebacks" in the history of the game after the visitors were "blown away" in the series-opener in Adelaide.

India beat Australia by 8-wickets in second Test, level series 1-1

Melbourne: India thumped Australia by eight wickets in the second Test on the fourth day to level the four-match series 1-1, here.

Gill and Siraj showed character: Ajinkya Rahane

India skipper Ajinkya Rahane on Tuesday singled out the debutant duo of Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj while commending the tremendous character shown by his side to turn it around in the second Test here for a series-levelling triumph.

Frustration for Lampard as Chelsea held, Leicester draws 1-1

Not even another goal from talisman Olivier Giroud could give Chelsea coach Frank Lampard the change in fortune he needs, as his team drew 1-1 with Aston Villa in the Premier League.

GK Snapshots 

1. PM Modi launches Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT – Health Insurance Scheme to cover all residents of J&K

2. India, Vietnam hold PASSEX Naval Exercise in South China Sea;INS Kiltan reaches NhaRong Port, Vietnam under Mission Sagar-III

3. PM Modi Inaugurates India’s 1st ever Driverless Train operations on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line

4. India becomes 6th Largest Economy in the world in 2020, slumps from 5th in 2019:CEBR’s WELT 2021 report

5. Virat Kohli Wins Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade; MS Dhoni wins ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade

6. DRDO confers ‘Scientist of the Year Award-2018’ on Dr Hemant Kumar Pandey

7. China Launches a New Remote Sensing Satellite ‘Yaogan 33R’ into Space

8. ISRO releases Initial Data from Chandrayaan-2 Mission;ISRO Developing Green Propulsion for ‘Gaganyaan’

9. Union Minister Shripad Naik Releases Konkani Book ‘Sutranivednachi sutra- ek anbav’ Authored by Dr Roopa Chari

10. PM Modi Released a Book Titled “Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Parliament – A Commemorative Volume”

11. 1st International Day of Epidemic Preparedness – 27th December 2020