Netanyahu approves $35 billion gas export deal to Egypt
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced approval of a $35 billion natural gas export deal to Egypt, described as the largest gas transaction in Israeli history. Gas will be delivered over 15 years with Chevron as a key supplier. About half of the proceeds are expected to go to Israel’s state coffers. The agreement could help ease regional tensions and strengthen energy and diplomatic ties between Israel and Egypt amid shifting dynamics in the Middle East. Details on pricing and long-term arrangements remain forthcoming as the deal progresses toward formal agreements.
Israel approves $35 billion natural gas export deal to Egypt.
Delivery over 15 years; Chevron involved in gas supply.
Delhi implements No PUC, No Fuel under GRAP-4 from Dec 18
From 18 December 2025, Delhi enforces the No PUC, No Fuel regulation under GRAP Stage IV to curb hazardous air pollution. Vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificates cannot refuel at stations. The government has deployed 580 police personnel and 37 Prakhar enforcement vans at 126 checkpoints, with ANPR cameras and the VAHAN database monitoring compliance. BS-III and BS-IV vehicles registered outside Delhi are banned from entering the capital; only BS-VI, CNG, and electric vehicles are permitted. The measure forms part of a broader, enforceable set of anti-pollution actions in the NCR region.
GRAP-4 No PUC, No Fuel enforced from 18 Dec 2025.
580 police personnel and 37 enforcement vans deployed.
126 checkpoints; ANPR and VAHAN used for verification.
Green School Award 2025 goes to Gandhinagar govt primary school
A government primary school in Jivraj Na Muvada village, Gandhinagar, has won the Green School Award 2025 under the Green Your School programme. The school ranked first among 720 schools nationwide and receives Rs 3 lakh. It was recognised for implementing 11 green ideas, including home-made compost, paper recycling, mood painting, earthen pot air conditioning, portable biogas, plastic-free initiatives, smart energy auditing, grey-water systems, a solar pump, a kindness wall, and digital data management. The campus features about 1,200 trees and seeks to promote sustainable practices and environmental education across schools.
Gandhinagar government primary school wins Green School Award 2025.
Rs 3 lakh prize; 11 green ideas implemented.
Campus hosts about 1,200 trees.
Initiatives include composting, recycling, grey-water systems.
Google launches RuPay-based credit card in India with Axis Bank
Google has launched its first-ever credit card globally, debuting in India as a co-branded RuPay card issued in partnership with Axis Bank. The card can be linked to users’ UPI accounts for merchant payments, extending Google’s payments ecosystem beyond wallets into a line of credit. The issuer promises instant cashbacks or rewards at the point of use, a departure from the common practice of posting rewards at cycle end. The RuPay-UPI arrangement relies on the National Payments Corporation of India network; Mastercard and Visa cards cannot be linked to UPI. This move highlights India’s push toward interoperable digital payments within a growing credit market.
Google launches RuPay-based credit card in India with Axis Bank.
Card linked to UPI for merchant payments; instant rewards at use.
RuPay-UPI network is run by NPCI; Mastercard/Visa cannot link to UPI.
Signifies expansion of India’s interoperable digital payments ecosystem.
JP Morgan to build Asia's largest GCC in Mumbai
American banking giant JP Morgan will establish Asia’s largest Global Capability Centre at Powai, Mumbai, occupying about 2 million square feet and becoming the largest such facility in Asia when completed in 2029. The centre is expected to house up to 30,000 employees and will reinforce JP Morgan’s BFSI footprint in India. Over the past two years, the firm has taken nearly 1 million square feet in India, underscoring India’s role as a strategic technology and operations hub for global finance. The Powai GCC will operate as a central hub for technology, risk, operations, and client services. This investment signals growing Indian confidence in JP Morgan’s long-term India strategy.
JP Morgan to establish Asia’s largest GCC at Powai, Mumbai.
Size: about 2 million square feet; up to 30,000 employees.
Completion targeted for 2029; strengthens India as a BFSI hub.
Firm has expanded India footprint by nearly 1 million sq ft recently.
India-Argentina Work Plan 2025–27 on agricultural research
India and Argentina signed a Work Plan for 2025–27 to deepen bilateral cooperation in agricultural research and technology exchange between ICAR and INTA. The agreement covers natural resource management, sustainable agronomy, crop and animal biotechnology, livestock improvement, digital agriculture, and value chain development. It also includes germplasm exchange for crops such as soybean, sunflower, maize, blueberry, citrus, and vegetables, plus joint research projects, germplasm sharing, and study visits. The collaboration will be implemented through joint projects and training initiatives, with high-level officials overseeing the agreement’s rollout to advance agricultural innovation in both countries.
Work Plan 2025–27 between ICAR (India) and INTA (Argentina).
Focus on natural resource management, digital agriculture, biotech.
Germplasm exchange includes soybean, blueberry, citrus, and more.
Joint research projects and training to be conducted.
IIT-Bombay, Vertiv to enhance AI data-centre cooling
IIT Bombay has partnered with digital infrastructure provider Vertiv to develop advanced cooling solutions for AI-powered data centres. With 54 percent of Indian businesses using AI and GPU power consumption rising from 700 W in 2022 to an expected 1,200 W in 2025, efficient cooling is critical. The collaboration aims to address evolving thermal demands, while creating a pipeline of industry-ready engineering talent through joint training and research initiatives. The effort seeks scalable, energy-efficient cooling strategies to support expanding AI workloads across India’s digital economy.
IIT Bombay collaborates with Vertiv on AI data-centre cooling.
GPU loads rising; cooling critical for efficiency.
Joint training and research to build talent pipeline.
Aims for scalable, energy-efficient cooling solutions.
Matvei Safonov leads PSG to FIFA Intercontinental Cup title
Paris Saint-Germain captured the FIFA Intercontinental Cup title after a 1–1 draw with Flamengo, followed by a penalty shootout win at Ahm bin Ali Stadium, Qatar. PSG opened the scoring in the 38th minute through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, while Flamengo equalised via Jorginho in the 62nd minute. PSG won the trophy on penalties, adding to a year that already saw domestic and European successes. The Intercontinental Cup crowns the club’s sixth major title in 2025, underscoring PSG’s strong performance across competitions and its continued status as a global powerhouse in football.
PSG wins FIFA Intercontinental Cup over Flamengo on penalties.
Kvaratskhelia scored; Flamengo equalised through Jorginho.
Match held in Qatar; PSG secures sixth major title in 2025.
Centre reappoints SBI MD Ashwini Kumar Tewari till 2027
The Centre has reappointed Ashwini Kumar Tewari as Managing Director of State Bank of India for a two-year term, extending beyond his current tenure. A December 16, 2025 notification from the Department of Financial Services states that Tewari’s tenure will continue until his superannuation on 31 December 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Tewari became SBI MD in January 2021 after serving as MD and CEO of SBI Card. His appointment, alongside Swaminathan J, followed the Banks Board Bureau recommendations after interviews with candidates from SBI and other public sector banks.
Tewari reappointed SBI MD till 31 December 2027.
Notification dated 16 December 2025; term extends beyond Jan 2026.
Previously MD & CEO of SBI Card; appointment after BBB recommendations.
Aims to ensure leadership continuity at SBI.
Minorities Rights Day observed on 18 December
Minorities Rights Day is observed in India on 18 December each year to safeguard the rights and safety of minority communities and promote equality of opportunity. The day underlines the importance of inclusion and non-discrimination, urging continued dialogue among policymakers, communities, and civil society. It also emphasizes access to education and employment for minority groups, while reinforcing the principle that equal rights are essential for a healthy democracy. Government initiatives and public discourse on minority welfare typically accompany the observance.
Minorities Rights Day observed on 18 December.
Focus on safeguarding rights and promoting inclusion.
Emphasises education and employment opportunities.
Highlights the importance of equal rights in democracy.
ICG ship Sarthak calls at Chabahar; marks first port visit
Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarthak, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, made its first port call at Chabahar, Iran, and will remain until December 19. The visit includes engagements with the Iranian Navy and maritime agencies, plus joint training in Maritime Search and Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement, and Marine Pollution Response. The port call strengthens institutional linkages and supports India’s SAGAR and MAHASAGAR maritime vision. It follows a prior port visit to Kuwait and signals India’s growing maritime footprint in the region, with potential benefits for regional security and supply chains.
ICG Ship Sarthak makes first port call at Chabahar.
Stay until 19 December; engages with Iranian Navy.
Joint training in SAR, MLE, and MPR planned.
Supports SAGAR/MAHASAGAR regional objectives.
IAF hosts AviaIndra-2025 with RFASF
The Indian Air Force is hosting Exercise AviaIndra-2025, a bilateral drill with the Russian Federation Aerospace Force from 15 to 22 December 2025. Personnel will conduct joint flying operations on Su-30 MKI, Tejas, IL-78, and Mi-17 platforms. The IAF describes the exercise as a platform to enhance bilateral cooperation, mutual understanding, and aerospace capability through sharing best practices and lessons learned. AviaIndra continues a series that began in 2014, reinforcing longstanding defence cooperation between India and Russia and showcasing interoperability across combat and support aircraft.
IAF conducts AviaIndra-2025 with RFASF (15–22 Dec 2025).
Operations include Su-30 MKI, Tejas, IL-78, Mi-17.
Aims to enhance interoperability and knowledge exchange.
Part of the ongoing AviaIndra series since 2014.
Army inducts tanks, artillery into Kashmir via special train
The Indian Army conducted a major logistics move by inducting tanks, artillery guns, and engineering equipment into the Kashmir Valley via a Military Special Train on 16 December. Equipment was moved from the Jammu region to Anantnag in south Kashmir as part of a validation exercise. The operation showcased enhanced mobility and logistical capacity, coordinated with Railways under the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link project. The milestone underscores the Army’s ability to rapidly project heavy equipment to critical sectors along northern borders and strengthen operational readiness.
Tanks and artillery moved into Kashmir via Military Special Train (16 Dec).
Movement from Jammu to Anantnag; linked to USBRL project.
Demonstrates enhanced mobility and logistics capability.
Supports rapid deployment in northern border areas.
Peter Arnett, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for frontline reporting from Vietnam to Iraq, has died at age 91 in Newport Beach, California. He received the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for Vietnam War coverage with The Associated Press. Arnett’s career spanned decades and wars, earning recognition for conveying eyewitness accounts from the battlefield. His passing marks the end of an era in conflict journalism, noted by colleagues and readers worldwide. Family statements indicate he had been battling health issues related to old age, with his death mourned by the journalism community.
Peter Arnett dies at age 91 in Newport Beach.
Won 1966 Pulitzer for Vietnam War reporting with AP.
Param Vir Dirgha gallery inaugurated at Rashtrapati Bhavan
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha gallery at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Vijay Diwas, displaying portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees. The gallery aims to educate visitors about India’s highest military decoration and the acts of valour, courage, and self-sacrifice of its recipients. Officials describe the exhibit as a tribute to national heroes and a learning space for youth and visitors. The inauguration aligns with commemorations of India’s armed forces and broader efforts to preserve military heritage for future generations.
Param Vir Dirgha gallery inaugurated at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Displays portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
Aims to educate visitors about acts of valour and sacrifice.
Inauguration linked to Vijay Diwas commemorations.
The Lok Sabha passed a Bill on 16 December 2025 to raise foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector from 74% to 100%, along with other amendments to insurance laws. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman argued that higher FDI would bring capital, technology, and better insurance products, while reducing the need for domestic partners. Opponents criticized the move as reducing domestic control. Proponents say the reform could attract more global insurers and expand coverage. The Bill now advances to the Rajya Sabha for considerations and potential further amendments before becoming law.
Lok Sabha approves 100% FDI in insurance (16 Dec 2025).
FDI raised from 74% to 100%; additional law amendments included.
Finance Minister cites capital infusion and better products.
SRMIST signs MoU for oil-field lab with Pon Pure Chemicals
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pon Pure Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, to establish a joint laboratory for oil-field chemical product development and analytical testing. The facility, named SRMIST–Pon Pure Chemicals Lab, will be on the SRMIST campus and focus on drilling fluids and related formulations. The collaboration aims to bridge academic research and industrial application in the oil and gas sector. SRMIST plans to offer certificate, diploma, and degree programmes in areas including mud engineering, aligned with industry needs, according to a press release.
MoU with Pon Pure Chemicals to create joint lab at SRMIST.
Lab focuses on oil-field chemical development and testing.
Facility to be named SRMIST–Pon Pure Chemicals Lab on campus.
Programs planned include mud engineering and related fields.
A modern Sant Ravidas Museum is planned in his birthplace Seer Govardhanpur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The project, managed by UP Projects Corporation Ltd., spans about 1,645 square metres on a G+1 footprint and costs roughly Rs 2,320.73 lakh. The museum will present Ravidas’ life, literature, and Bhakti movement contributions through digital projections and audiovisual displays. Officials say completion is targeted for February 2027. The museum aims to preserve spiritual heritage and educate visitors about Ravidas’ philosophy while boosting cultural tourism in the region.
Sant Ravidas Museum to be built in Seer Govardhanpur, Varanasi.
Cost around Rs 2,320.73 lakh; 1,645 sqm area; G+1 building.
Completion targeted for February 2027.
Features digital projections and multimedia displays.
MoU to develop Vasudev Kutumbakam International Township in Tirupati
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed to develop the Vasudev Kutumbakam International Township in Tirupati, a cultural and tourism-led development project. The venture is a public-private effort with Della Townships in partnership with the State government, announced during the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam. The project envisions a global-scale township integrating housing, culture, commerce, and tourism, potentially boosting regional growth and attracting international attention. Officials emphasize infrastructure, green spaces, and heritage conservation as key pillars. The agreement reflects India’s strategy to leverage culture and tourism for economic development.
MoU signed for Vasudev Kutumbakam International Township in Tirupati.
Della Townships partners with State Government; announced at CII Summit.
Aims at cultural and tourism-led, global-scale development.
Plans include infrastructure and heritage conservation components.
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