Daily Current Affairs and GK | 19 December 2025

Topic: International News

1. Far-right leader José Antonio Kast has been elected as next president of Chile.

• Kast's victory was decisive with over 58 percent of the vote.
• Kast won over left-wing coalition candidate Jeannette Jara.
• Kast will assume office in March 2026. His inauguration is scheduled for 11 March, 2026.
• Kast's victory shows Chile’s sharpest political shift to the right since end of military rule in 1990.
• Election campaign centred on crime, security and immigration.
• Kast has expressed admiration for former dictator Augusto Pinochet.
• Pinochet is a highly controversial figure in Chilean history.
• During the campaign, Kast portrayed Chile as facing growing disorder.
• Kast pledged tough action on crime and irregular migration.
• He also committed to reductions in public spending as part of economic agenda.
• Kast is a known admirer of Donald Trump. Kast is expected to pursue policies aligned with Trump-style politics.
• His brother served as a minister under Pinochet and his father was a member of the Nazi party.
• Pinochet came to power through a US-backed coup in 1973.
• He ruled for 17 years and his period marked by human rights violations and forced disappearances.
• Outgoing President Gabriel Boric, from the left, did not seek re-election.
• This election was Chile’s first presidential vote with compulsory participation and registration was automatic for those eligible.
• Chile:

• Chile is a country in South America. It is the southernmost country in the world.
• Its capital is Santiago. Its national language is Spanish. It currency is Chilean peso.

Topic: Sports

2. Cameron Green bought by KKR as the most expensive foreign player in IPL history.

• Cameron Green was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹25.20 crore during the IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi.
• With this sale, Green became the most expensive overseas player in the history of the Indian Premier League.
• The previous overseas record was held by Mitchell Starc, who was sold for ₹24.75 crore at the IPL 2024 auction.
• Overall, Green emerged as the third costliest player in IPL auction history.
• Only Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer have fetched higher prices at IPL auctions than Cameron Green.
• Green entered the auction with a base price of ₹2 crore, triggering intense bidding.
• As per IPL rules, Green will receive ₹18 crore, while the remaining ₹7.20 crore will be allocated to player welfare.
• Green last played in IPL 2024 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, scoring 255 runs and taking 10 wickets.