Goooglenews

20 Global Highlights (Security, Law, Politics, Economy)

• The United States launched large-scale air strikes in Venezuela and announced the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, triggering worldwide concern over sovereignty and use of force.​
• President Donald Trump said the US will “run” Venezuela until a “safe transition” is completed, raising questions about regime change and international law.​​
• Russia, Belarus and other allies of Caracas condemned the US operation as “armed aggression” and called for dialogue instead of military intervention.​
• India faces a diplomatic dilemma over the US action in Venezuela, balancing a rules‑based order stance with past energy and political links to Caracas.​
• Global markets and analysts are assessing risks to oil supply and regional stability following strikes on Caracas and other Venezuelan cities.​
• A New Year bar fire at the Crans‑Montana ski resort in Switzerland killed at least 40 people and injured many others, prompting safety probes into crowding and fire codes.​
• European coverage highlighted that the Swiss resort fire likely started from indoor sparklers during New Year celebrations, focusing attention on event‑safety norms.​
• Protests and counter‑protests continued in Iran over economic hardship, with authorities warning demonstrators as diaspora groups rallied in cities like Toronto and Montreal.​
• Iran’s Supreme Leader signalled a tougher line against “rioters”, fuelling fears of harsher crackdowns and human‑rights violations.​​
• In the Democratic Republic of Congo, ADF militants allied to Islamic State killed at least 15 villagers in North Kivu on New Year’s Day, underlining persistent terror threats in the Great Lakes region.​
• The attackers in DRC struck a village close to a Ugandan army detachment, raising questions about protection of civilians despite ongoing regional counter‑ADF operations.​
• The FBI revealed it had foiled a New Year’s Eve knife‑and‑hammer terror plot in North Carolina by an 18‑year‑old who had pledged allegiance to IS, keeping him in custody until a January 7 hearing.​
• US security officials detailed how undercover agents posed as IS members to intercept the suspect, underscoring the role of online surveillance in pre‑empting lone‑wolf attacks.​
• China’s potential deployment of troops in Pakistan’s Balochistan, flagged by a Baloch leader, sparked regional security worries and Indian diplomatic concern.​
• India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar warned that any such Chinese move in Balochistan could deepen security challenges along critical sea lanes and regional corridors.​
• Global tech sector watchers noted Amazon’s decision to let some H‑1B holders temporarily work from India to navigate US visa backlogs, signalling a flexible response to immigration bottlenecks.​
• Commentators in North America and Europe raised legal questions over Trump’s unilateral decision to remove Maduro by force, including debates on UN Charter violations.​
• NGOs tracking persecution trends linked the DRC ADF massacre to the broader expansion of Islamic State‑aligned cells in central Africa, urging stronger civilian protection mandates.​
• European news bulletins emphasised that Venezuela’s power vacuum, Swiss resort casualties and DRC killings collectively made global safety and crisis management the dominant theme of the day.​
• US and Latin American analysts warned that the precedent of externally imposed regime change in Venezuela may embolden hard‑line actors and spark retaliatory asymmetric threats.​

15 India National Highlights (Security, SC, Politics, Economy)

• India’s Supreme Court portal showed fresh orders updated up to 3 January 2026, with several criminal and writ matters listed as the court prepared to resume full sittings from 5 January.​
• The Supreme Court calendar confirmed that the winter vacation ends on 2 January and regular benches resume on 5 January 2026, setting the stage for key constitutional hearings this month.​
• Legal trackers highlighted several critical 2026 cases pending before the Supreme Court, including challenges to the Online Gaming Act 2025 and petitions over electoral roll revisions.​
• A plea against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, citing mass voter deletions under Article 326, is among the politically sensitive matters to be heard.​
• The Department of Justice notified the appointment of Justice Muhamed Mustaque Ayumantakath as Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court, effective 3 January 2026.​
• Earlier orders had also appointed or transferred several High Court judges, signalling continued restructuring of higher judiciary leadership under CJI Surya Kant.​
• Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned of a worrying rise in “white‑collar terrorism”, referring to educated radicalised actors using finance, technology and institutions to support violence.​
• Singh’s remarks came in the backdrop of recent blasts and online radical propaganda, as he urged tighter cooperation among intelligence, financial regulators and academia.​
• The Union Home Ministry has recently pressed for an integrated database of terrorists and serious criminals as a “core asset” of India’s zero‑terror policy, demanding real‑time data sharing.​
• Delhi Police data showed over 130 arrests in 2025 related to visa and passport fraud, with investigators now focusing on financial trails, reflecting a shift to disrupting organised rackets.​
• Delhi‑NCR eased air‑pollution restrictions under GRAP‑3 after AQI improved to the “poor” category (~236), though authorities warned curbs could return if levels spike again.​
• Kashmir Valley remained under an intensified cold wave following fresh snowfall, with sub‑zero temperatures disrupting transport and day‑to‑day life.​
• National education updates noted NCERT is likely to receive “deemed university” status by January 2026, boosting its role in teacher training and curriculum research.​
• Amazon’s option for H‑1B workers to continue employment from India was welcomed by Indian tech professionals dealing with US consular delays and appointment backlogs.​
• National security commentators linked global and domestic trends, arguing that Venezuela strikes, ADF attacks, and “white‑collar terror” warnings all point to a need for robust counter‑terror coordination.​

15 Telugu States Highlights (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana Focus)

• Telangana RTC (TGSRTC) announced a 10% ticket fare discount for Sankranti passengers booking return‑journey tickets, a relief for festive travellers heading to native villages.​
• Indian Railways granted additional halts for three express trains at key Srikakulam‑area stations, improving connectivity for passengers in north coastal Andhra Pradesh.​
• Telugu media highlighted that extra halts near Baruva and other local stations will allow Srikakulam‑bound passengers to disembark closer to their destinations.​
• In Telangana, the state government prepared a detailed Assembly presentation on Krishna river water sharing, past “injustices” and future utilisation plans, reflecting high political stakes.​
• The Krishna water presentation is expected to outline usage patterns, tribunal issues and the state’s new strategy, with ruling parties treating it as core to regional identity politics.​
• With BRS members likely absent from the session, observers expect the House to function without major disruptions, though the issue remains politically sensitive across Telangana.​
• Telugu news bulletins for 3 January 2026 led with Sankranti transport arrangements, irrigation politics and law‑and‑order updates in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.​
• DD News Andhra and other channels reported on Andhra Pradesh’s push to project itself as a top investment destination, claiming a major share of new national projects.​
• Regional coverage noted Centre‑state coordination on law‑and‑order and terror‑related intelligence, particularly around ports and coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh.​​
• Hyderabad‑based dailies continued to track alleged irregularities and enforcement probes into previous irrigation project contracts, keeping legal accountability in focus.​
• Local editions also highlighted civic‑safety issues such as drunk‑driving checks and increased CCTV coverage in urban centres ahead of festival travel peaks.​​
• Reports from Telugu outlets covered enhanced security at key religious and tourist sites, in line with national zero‑terror directives and recent alerts.​​
• Education pages in the region discussed the implications of NCERT’s likely deemed‑university status for Telugu‑medium curriculum reforms and teacher training.​
• Andhra Pradesh and Telangana business segments tracked the Economic Survey 2024‑25 narrative of India’s sustained growth and what it means for state‑level investment pipelines.​​
• Opinion columns in Telugu press framed Krishna waters, festive travel concessions and law‑and‑order as early‑2026 tests for the new governments’ governance credibility.​

5 Editorial / Analytical Angles

• Editorials questioned whether the US strike on Venezuela and capture of Maduro undermine international law and could normalise cross‑border regime change, increasing long‑term global insecurity.​​
• Commentators in India debated how New Delhi should respond to the Venezuela operation, weighing non‑intervention principles against pragmatic ties with Washington and Latin America.​
• Legal analysts flagged that upcoming Supreme Court cases on online gaming and electoral rolls may shape the balance between state regulation, individual rights and electoral integrity through 2026.​
• Security editorials warned that ADF killings in DRC, the foiled ISIS‑inspired plot in the US, and Rajnath Singh’s “white‑collar terror” warning show terror evolving beyond traditional stereotypes.​
• Indian opinion pieces urged stronger data‑driven policing, integrated terror databases and careful balancing of civil liberties with surveillance to uphold both security and constitutionalism.​