The United States has announced a complete travel ban on seven additional countries, including Syria, marking a significant expansion of existing restrictions. The move has sparked debate over national security, immigration policy, and humanitarian concerns, with critics warning of its impact on refugees and global mobility.


Travel Ban: Complete Travel Ban to Seven More Countries, Including Syria

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute at the Adwa Victory Memorial in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, honouring the country’s enduring spirit of resistance and freedom. The visit highlighted the deep civilisational ties between India and Ethiopia and was part of Modi’s broader engagement to strengthen bilateral relations. The Adwa Victory Memorial commemorates Ethiopia’s historic victory in the 1896 Battle of Adwa, a symbol of African pride and resilience.

PM in Ethiopia: PM Modi Honours Ethiopia’s Legacy at Adwa Victory Memorial

Finland is leading conservation efforts to preserve the polar bear population, with initiatives such as relocating polar bears to wildlife sanctuaries in Finnish Lapland and participating in Europe-wide breeding and research programs. These efforts are part of broader international actions to safeguard a genetically healthy polar bear population amid threats from climate change. 

Finland Leads Conservation Efforts to Preserve Polar Bear Population 

French farmers are angry and protesting against the government's mass culling of cows to contain an outbreak of lumpy skin disease. So far, 113 cases have been detected, leading to the slaughter of 3,300 cattle. Farmers are demanding widespread vaccination instead of culling, arguing that the policy is excessive and harmful to their livelihoods.

French Farmers Protest Mass Cow Culling Over Lumpy Skin Disease

 Ministry of external affairs on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh high commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah. 
This comes after Indian High Commission in Dhaka received a threat. 

Bangladesh Envoy Summoned Amid Threats to Indian High Commissione

Global stocks extended losses as weak US jobs data sparked fresh market uncertainty. The latest payroll report revealed a rise in unemployment to 4.6% and only modest job growth, raising concerns about the economic outlook. 

Wall Street Ends Mixed After Weak Jobs Report Raises Concerns 

The United States has suspended the implementation of a $40 billion tech deal with the United Kingdom, pausing the agreement that was announced in September during President Trump’s visit to the UK. The move has raised questions about the future of the partnership, with officials citing ongoing reviews and strategic considerations.

U.S.-UK: U.S. Halts $40 Billion Tech Agreement Announced During Trump’s UK Visit

Trump Hosts Hanukkah Reception, Vows Support for Jewish Americans

IAF Hosts AviaIndra-2025 Joint Air Exercise With Russia

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has disputed portions of a Vanity Fair article in which she paints an unflattering picture of the Trump administration and many of its top officials.


Trump & Cabinet Rally Around Susie Wiles | Row Over 'Alcoholic's Personality' Remark

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank since the Gaza war began, according to reports, even as calls for a ceasefire in Gaza grow louder. The surge in violence has raised international concern over escalating raids, clashes, and civilian casualties across the West Bank.


Gaza Ceasefire: West Bank Death Toll Tops 1,000 Amid Gaza War Ceasefire Efforts

Honduran President Xiomara Castro accuses Trump of election interference amid ongoing vote count and allegations of electoral corruption.


Hondurans Allege US Interference in Polls

Prashant Veer, a 20-year old left-arm spin allrounder from Uttar Pradesh, and Kartik Sharma, a 19-year old wicketkeeper from Rajasthan, have smashed the record for the most expensive uncapped Indian player ever bought at an IPL auction, with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bidding a whopping INR 14.2 crore for each of them at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.


Uncapped Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma Smash IPL Auction Records

Scientists have discovered a massive, 20-kilometre-thick rock layer beneath the Bermuda Triangle, unlike anything previously found on Earth. This structure, located between the oceanic crust and tectonic plate, may explain why the seafloor in the region remains elevated despite the absence of recent volcanic activity.

Bermuda Triangle: Mysterious Giant Structure Stuns Scientists

With the bank of Japan set to hike interest rates again on December 19th, Bitcoin's recent selloff is expected to crash further. In this news in numbers report, we look at how Bitcoin has crashed every time the BOJ hiked rates in recent times. 


Bitcoin Crashes as Bank of Japan Set to Hike Rates Again 

In the battle for Hollywood studios, Netflix seems to be turning into a winner. Reports show that Warner Bros. Is set to reject paramount's hostile takeover offer.


Warner Bros: Netflix Offers Greater Value and Certainty |

While President Donald Trump often touts a ‘strong’ economy, the latest jobs data tells a more complicated story. Beneath the claims of resilience, the Labour market is showing signs of fatigue. Rising joblessness and uneven hiring point to a slowdown that is becoming hard to ignore.

Higher-Income Households Drive Spending Growth

The Indian Rupee began the week by extending its recent slide. On Tuesday, the rupee slipped to a fresh lifetime low Breachin 91 per dollar, marking the fourth consecutive session of record lows. We decode that and more in this next report. Take a look.

Rout in Rupee Dims Hopes of a Strong Recovery in Stocks

President Trump has ordered a blockade targeting “sanctioned oil tankers” in Venezuela, intensifying economic pressure on the Maduro regime.

U.S.-Venezuela: Trump Orders Blockade of ‘Sanctioned Oil Tankers’ in Venezuela 

U.S.-Venezuela: President Trump has threatened a “total and complete blockade” of Venezuelan oil tankers, escalating pressure on the Maduro regime amid ongoing tensions. The move signals a dramatic step to restrict Venezuela’s oil exports, its main source of foreign revenue, and could deepen the country’s economic crisis. 


U.S.-Venezuela: Trump Threatens ‘Total and Complete Blockade’ of Venezuelan Oil Tankers

The Indian rupee has plunged to record lows for three consecutive sessions, breaching the 91-mark against the US dollar on December 16, 2025. This decline is driven by sustained foreign institutional outflows, persistent dollar demand, and uncertainty over a potential India-US trade deal. 

Indian Rupee Slumps to Record Lows for Three Straight Sessions

Over 58 lakh pre-existing voters have been deleted from the draft list for 2026, due to death, relocation, duplication, missing, and other reasons.


India: 58 Lakh Voters Deleted from West Bengal's Draft Electoral Roll 

3.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Balochistan’s Panjgur, No Damage Reported

Myanmar’s junta said on Tuesday that detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi is “in good health,” a day after her son told Reuters he has received little information about the 80-year-old’s condition and fears she could die without him knowing.

Myanmar's Former Leader Aung San Suu Kyi Remains Detained

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