A Nation Shaken by Its Deadliest Terror Attack in Decades Australia was plunged into shock on December 14, 2025, when a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach claimed 16 lives during a Hanukkah gathering attended by nearly 1,000 people. The attack—Australia’s deadliest terror incident in decades—targeted families celebrating “Hanukkah by the Sea,” killing men, women, and a…
Mexico Approves Steep Tariffs, India Scrambles to Respond Mexico’s Senate has approved sweeping tariff increases of up to 50 percent on 1,463 product categories, a move set to take effect from January 1, 2026. The decision targets imports from countries that do not have a free trade agreement with Mexico, placing India squarely in the firing…
Thailand Vows Continued Fighting On December 13, 2025, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reiterated that Thailand would persist in military operations against Cambodia despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion of a newly brokered ceasefire. Hours after Trump’s calls with Anutin and Cambodian Premier Hun Manet, Thai fighter jets targeted Cambodian positions along the disputed border. Anutin took to…
LUMS Reintroduces Sanskrit Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has launched a four-credit elective in Sanskrit, marking the first time the classical language is formally taught at a Pakistani university since Partition in 1947. The initiative, spearheaded by Professor Shahid Rasheed, seeks to revive interest in South Asia’s shared linguistic and cultural heritage, bridging historical divides…
Hopes Fade for a 2025 Agreement Optimism surrounding a landmark EU-India free trade agreement (FTA) has dimmed, with negotiators now signaling that finalization by December 2025 is unlikely. Bloomberg reported on December 12 that talks have hit roadblocks over steel tariffs, automobile quotas, and carbon taxes. Earlier in 2025, high-level meetings—including Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s engagement with…
Lionel Messi’s much-hyped GOAT India Tour 2025 was meant to be a celebratory moment for Indian football fans. Instead, the opening event in Kolkata on December 13 descended into disorder, leaving behind damaged property, angry crowds, and uncomfortable questions about India’s preparedness to host global sporting icons. What should have been a landmark spectacle quickly…
A Long-Delayed Reset of India’s Demographic Baseline India has formally set 2027 as the year for its next national Census, approving an expenditure of roughly ₹11,718 crore for what will be the country’s first fully digital enumeration. The decision closes a prolonged gap caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the postponement of an exercise originally…
A Public Snub on a Diplomatic Stage Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif found himself in an uncomfortable spotlight on Friday after being kept waiting for nearly 40 minutes to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at an international forum in Turkmenistan. The episode, captured on video and rapidly circulated online, left Sharif visibly exposed to questions of…
India Allows 100% FDI in Insurance India has taken a decisive step in reshaping its insurance landscape by allowing 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance companies. Cleared by the Union Cabinet on December 12, this move marks the most significant liberalisation since private participation was first permitted in 2000. Yet, the reform is…
A Major Boost for Pakistan’s Airpower The United States has approved a $686‑million package to modernize Pakistan’s existing F‑16 fleet, marking the most significant upgrade to the aircraft in years. Unlike a fresh procurement, this initiative focuses on enhancing networked capabilities, situational awareness, and survivability of the jets, extending their operational life into the 2040s. The…
