EU Reaches Provisional Deal on Screening Foreign Investment
The European Union reached a provisional agreement on new rules to require all its members to screen foreign investment into the bloc in sensitive sectors such as defence, AI or critical minerals and determine if they threaten economic security.
Representatives of the European Parliament and the Council, the grouping of EU governments, reached an agreement on a text to revise its existing FDI screening regulations. Both bodies will still have to approve the text.
The revision will require all EU countries to screen and possibly block investments if they pose a security risk. Screening will also extend to investments within the EU if the investor is controlled by a foreign company.
Bank of Baroda Recognised as 'Best Bank in India' by the Banker
Bank of Baroda (BoB) was honoured as the 'Best Bank in India' at the Bank of the Year Awards 2025 – Asia-Pacific, organised by The Banker magazine, a respected publication of the Financial Times. This recognition highlights the bank's rapid transformation, innovative banking services, and its expanding role in strengthening India's financial ecosystem.
One of the major reasons for BoB's recognition is its successful rollout of phygital branches—a blend of physical and digital banking.
Hockey: Hyderabad Named as Host of World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Featuring Indian women's Team
After Indian women's hockey team missed out on automatic qualification at the Asia Cup this year for the 2026 World Cup, they will get to play at come in that last-chance event to make the cut for the marquee tournament in Belgium and Netherlands next year (2026). On December 11 the international hockey governing body FIH announced that Hyderabad, Telangana will host the women's World Cup qualifier event from March 8 to 14 next year (2026).
The event will feature England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales and Austria apart from India.
Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur Honoured with Stadium Stands at Mullanpur Stadium
Cricket legends Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur received a prestigious honour in December 2025, when stadium stands were named after them at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
The stands were inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, ahead of the second T20I between India and South Africa, marking a proud moment for Indian cricket and Punjab's sporting fraternity.
Lok Sabha Extends Tenure of Committee Examining 'One Nation, One Election' Bills
The tenure of the Joint Committee of Parliament examining the Bills that seek to introduce simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies was extended in December 2025.
Committee Chairman P. P. Chaudhary moved in the Lok Sabha a motion seeking extension of the tenure of the Joint Committee on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up to the first day of the last week of the 2026 Budget session.
The motion was adopted by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha.
National Energy Conservation Day is observed in India every year on December 14 to promote awareness about the need for efficient energy use and conservation. This observance encourages everyone, especially students and youth, to understand the importance of preserving energy resources for a sustainable future.
The Academy Awards will break new ground in 2026 with the introduction of a dedicated prize for casting, marking the first recognition of this craft in Oscar history. The decision acknowledges the essential role casting directors play in shaping performances and determining the success of films long before production begins.
The new category honours the expertise involved in identifying talent, interpreting creative vision and assembling ensembles that define a film's identity. Casting directors, often operating behind the scenes, have long argued that their work is central to storytelling. The 98th Academy Awards, scheduled for 15 March 2026, will be the first ceremony to present this honour.
University of Western Australia Partners with IIM Mumbai & IIT Dhanbad
The University of Western Australia (UWA) inked an agreement with the IIM Mumbai and IIT/ISM Dhanbad to work on creating new opportunities in mining, with a focus on logistics and sustainability.
"We are signing an MoU with IIM Mumbai and Indian Institute of Technology/Indian School of Mines (ISM) Dhanbad to work on unlocking new opportunities in mining with a focus on logistics and sustainability," UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma said.
He said that initially, about 10 micro-credential online courses will be introduced, followed by joint development of additional courses to meet the needs of the sector.
These programmes are designed to support India's clean energy transition, strengthen supply chain resilience and elevate the country's minerals workforce with global best practices.
Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 Celebrated in New Delhi
Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 was organised in New Delhi to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati. Celebrating the nation's rich linguistic diversity, the Ministry of Education organised the event under the theme 'Many Languages, One Emotion'. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs also participated in the celebration, highlighting the depth, vibrancy, and cultural significance of various tribal languages. A stall featuring tribal language publications from the Tribal Research Institutes of Jharkhand, Odisha, and Gujarat was set up by the ministry as part of the celebration. The stall also featured a live demonstration of the Adi Vaani app, designed to enable real-time text and speech translation between Hindi or English and tribal languages. The event also witnessed vibrant cultural performances from schools representing diverse regions of the country.
Supreme Court Justice P. S. Narasimha to Chair Reconstituted AI Intelligence Committee
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has reconstituted the Artificial Intelligence Committee of the Supreme Court, signalling a continued focus on integrating technology into the justice system.
The reconstituted committee will be chaired by Supreme Court Justice P. S. Narasimha.
The other judges part of the reconstituted committee are:
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Chief Justice of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh
Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V, Judge of the High Court of Kerala
Justice Anoop Chitkara, Judge of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana
Justice Suraj Govindaraj, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka
The reconstituted committee aims to continue to provide strategic guidance and oversight on initiatives involving the adoption, development, and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies across the Supreme Court and the subordinate judiciary.
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