Alia Bhatt receives Golden Globes Horizon Award at Red Sea International Film Festival
[Golden Globes, Red Sea International Film Festival]
Key Updates:
- Alia Bhatt was honoured with the Golden Globes Horizon Award at the fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Tunisian actor Hend Sabry received the Omar Sharif Award at the same ceremony.
- Helen Hoehne, president of the Golden Globes, stated that the Horizon Award celebrates Bhatt's exceptional contributions to international cinema and the rise of the Middle East as a global film and television hub.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Srikant Bolla was awarded the Ramoji Award of Excellence in the Youth Icon category at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad.
- Bolla is the founder of Bollant Industries, which employs over 500 people including a quarter who are specially-abled.
- He was the first international blind student admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
- Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio is set to be honored with the Desert Palm Achievement Award.
- The award will be presented at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
- The ceremony is scheduled for January 3, 2026.
- The prestigious award recognizes his 'riveting and emotionally-charged performance' in Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming film, 'One Battle After Another'.
- The Film Awards event will take place at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
- Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi revealed DiCaprio will be bestowed with the gong.
- The 10th London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) was held on November 2 in London.
- 'Project Y,' a female-driven crime noir from director Lee Hwan, won Best Film at the 10th London East Asia Film Festival.
- The film 'Project Y' stars Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo.
- LEAFF also honored Kang Yoon-sung's 'Run to The' with the Future of Asia Cinema Award.
- The sold-out closing film 'Kokuho' by Korean-Japanese director Lee Sang-il was screened at the festival.
- Executive Director Jeon Hye-jung reflected on LEAFF's growth into a major Asian film festival in the UK.
- The International Emmy Awards 2025 winners were announced at a star-studded event in New York.
- India’s Diljit Dosanjh lost to Spanish actor Oriol Pla in the Best Actor category on Monday night at the 53rd International Emmy Awards.
- Oriol Pla (Spain) won the Best Performance by an Actor award for his role in Yo, adicto [“I, Addict”].
- Anna Maxwell Martin (United Kingdom) won the Best Performance by an Actress award for Until I Kill You.
- Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days (Japan) was awarded in the Arts Programming category.
- The Comedy award went to Ludwig (United Kingdom).
- Dispatches: Kill Zone: Inside Gaza won the Current Affairs category.
- Hell Jumper (United Kingdom) was awarded in the Documentary category.
- Rivals (United KIngdom) won the Drama Series award.
- Bluey (Australia) won the Kids: Animation category.
- Auf Fritzis Spuren – Wie war das so in der DDR? [“On Fritzi’s Traces – What Was It Like in the GDR?”] (Germany) won the Kids: Factual & Entertainment award.
- Fallen (United Kingdom) won the Kids: Live-Action category.
- Gaza, Search for Life (Qatar) (Al Jazeera Arabic Programs Directorate) won the News award.
- Shaolin Heroes (Denmark) won the Non-Scripted Entertainment award.
- La médiatrice [“The Mediator”] (Canada) won the Short-Form Series award.
- It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed the Spanish Football (Spain) won the Sports Documentary award.
- Deha [“The Good & The Bad”] (Türkiye) won the Telenovela award.
- Lost Boys & Fairies (United Kingdom) won the TV Movie/Mini-Series award.
Supriya Sahu wins United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Champions of the Earth 2025 award
[United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)]
Key Updates:
- Supriya Sahu received the Champions of the Earth 2025 award in the Inspiration and Action category for her subnational climate leadership in Tamil Nadu.
- She spearheaded the Cool Roof initiative that lowers classroom temperatures by five to eight degrees using solar-reflective paint.
- She led the Green Tamil Nadu mission, resulting in the planting of more than 100 million trees across the state.
- She guided the Tamil Nadu mangrove mission, achieving new plantings across 4,300 hectares and restoration across 2,200 hectares with local community participation.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Earthshot Prize 2025 winners were named at an awards ceremony in Brazil.
- The ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro's Museum of Tomorrow.
- The Prince of Wales, Prince William, founded the global environmental award in 2020 and is the president of the prize.
- Five winners were chosen from 15 finalists, each receiving £1m to scale up their projects to repair the climate.
- The five Earthshots, or goals, for which an award is given are: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean Our Air; Revive Our Oceans; Build a Waste-Free World; and Fix Our Climate.
- Winners included re.green (Brazil), the city of Bogotá (Colombia), The High Seas Treaty, Lagos Fashion Week (Nigeria), and Friendship (Bangladesh).
- Prince William is scheduled to give a speech at COP30, the UN's annual climate change meeting, in Belem.
- Vice President C P Radhakrishnan presented the Gundadhur Samman to international weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav and the Maharaja Pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo Samman to archer Chandani Sahu.
- Gyaneshwari Yadav secured fifth place in the World Weightlifting Championship held in Manama, Bahrain.
- Chandani Sahu won a silver medal for Chhattisgarh in the team event at the 38th National Games and was part of the four-member Chhattisgarh team that won a bronze medal in the team archery event.
- Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan, an associate professor of materials engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been announced for the third edition of the Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award 2025.
- He leads a research group in computational materials science at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
- The award carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, which is the highest in science and technology in the country.
- Gopalakrishnan was selected after an intense scrutiny by an expert committee headed by Anil Kakodkar.
- The award will be presented at Manohar Parrikar Vigyan Mahotsav in Dec.
- Sanjeev Kapoor — celebrated chef, author and Padma Shri awardee — recognised for transformative contribution to the global food ecosystem.
- Award presented during the Borlaug Dialogue Week in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Kapoor’s programmes have served millions of nutritious meals and engaged thousands of children, educators and farmers across India.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) to establish Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC) as Section 8 non-profit for fraud detection.
[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB), Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC)]
Key Updates:
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants approval to State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) to set up Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC).
- IDPIC will be formed as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act, 2013.
- The platform aims to detect and prevent fraudulent digital transactions in public sector banks.
- Approval is conditional on exemption from Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, allowing banks to hold over 30% of paid-up share capital in IDPIC until October 16, 2026.
Similar / Past Coverage
- NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) introduced Banking Connect, an interoperable platform aimed at simplifying internet and mobile banking.
- The new system is designed to reduce the complexity of current net banking processes, which often require multiple integrations, varied customer credentials, and non-standard settlement flows.
- Banking Connect offers interoperable workflows, a uniform interface, mobile-first design, and support for biometric authentication.
- The platform removes transaction caps and introduces standardised APIs to reduce delays, redirections and timeout errors.
- It supports low-code or no-code integration for merchants, enabling quicker adoption and improved success rates.
- Banking Connect is live with HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, YES Bank, AU Small Finance Bank and Federal Bank.
- Payment aggregators such as Infibeam, PayU, Pinelabs, Cashfree, Razorpay, HDFC Bank Smart Gateway, Zoho, Easebuzz, Juspay, OPEN and SBI ePay have integrated with the platform.
- NBBL, a wholly owned subsidiary of NPCI, operates digital payment and collection systems, including the Bharat BillPay ecosystem and B2B solutions for collections and reconciliation.
- NBBL also serves as the designated settlement agency for the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
- Non-bank Payment Aggregators must obtain RBI authorisation under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
- Non-bank PAs must maintain a minimum net-worth of Rs 15 crore at the time of application, increasing to Rs 25 crore by the end of the third financial year.
- PAs must conduct background checks of merchants and ensure compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS).
- Funds collected by PAs must be kept in an escrow account with a scheduled commercial bank and all settlements must be routed through the escrow mechanism.
- PAs must report cyber incidents immediately to RBI and CERT-In and undergo mandatory annual security audits by CERT-In empanelled auditors.
- The Reserve Bank of India has recognised the Self-Regulated PSO Association (SRPA) as the first Self-Regulatory Organisation for Payment System Operators.
- In October 2025, the RBI recognised the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) as the SRO for NBFCs.
- The RBI granted SRO status to the FinTech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) in August 2024.
- The recognition follows the RBI’s Framework for Recognition of a Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for Payment System Operators, issued in October 2020.
- The recognition also follows the Omnibus Framework for Recognition of SROs for Regulated Entities of the Reserve Bank released in March 2024.
- According to the 2020 framework, an SRO must be a not-for-profit entity comprising only regulated payment system participants, both banks and non-banks.
- Once recognised, an SRO like SRPA is tasked with setting behavioural and professional standards for its members, resolving inter-PSO disputes, and acting as the collective voice of the payments industry in consultations with the RBI and other authorities.
- An SRO will also monitor member compliance and report violations of RBI guidelines or the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
- Fintech firm Easebuzz has secured authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a full-service Payment Aggregator.
- The authorisation covers online, offline, and cross-border transactions.
- Easebuzz is now among only three Indian payment fintechs to hold all three key licenses.
- This approval enables Easebuzz to provide merchants with end-to-end payment capabilities, including online payment acceptance, in-person payments through POS devices and UPI soundboxes, and cross-border inward and outward transactions.
- Rohit Prasad, MD & CEO of Easebuzz, stated that the move stresses the RBI’s “progressive approach” in enabling innovation across integrated payment ecosystems.
- Easebuzz currently serves more than 2.5 lakh merchants.
- It processes around 3 million transactions per day.
- Its annualised Gross Transaction Value stands at over $50 billion.
- For FY2024-25, the company reported revenue of ₹656 crore and a net profit of ₹19 crore.
- Easebuzz continues to focus on sector-specific SaaS integrations as part of its long-term strategy.
- Its verticalised solutions cater to sectors such as education, insurance, NBFCs, travel, e-commerce, retail, government and real estate, embedding payment capabilities via SaaS APIs to digitise and streamline financial workflows.
The Banker awards Bank of Baroda (BoB) Best Bank in India
[Bank of Baroda, The Banker]
Key Updates:
- Bank of Baroda (BoB) received the 'Best Bank in India' title from The Banker, a Financial Times publication, at the 2025 Asia-Pacific awards.
- BoB operates phygital branches that allow customers to obtain statements, generate income tax payment certificates, update nominees and receive financial advice over video calls.
- BoB has opened 184 new branches across India to expand reach.
- BoB's Smart OD product provides small businesses quick working capital within 24 hours based on transaction history.
- BoB offers liquid fixed deposits with higher interest rates and anytime withdrawal without loss of earnings.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Rani Channamma Mahila Sahakari Bank (RCMS Bank) was honoured as the Best Profit-Making Bank in Belagavi District for 2025.
- The award was presented during the 72nd All India Cooperative Week celebrations held in Haveri.
- The Karnataka State Urban Cooperative Banks Federation, Bengaluru, presented the award.
- RCMS Bank is headquartered in Belgaum.
- The felicitation was received by the bank’s Chairperson, Preeti Kore Daddwad.
- Coop Kumbh 2025 was held in New Delhi.
- Coop Kumbh 2025 was inaugurated by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
- RCMS Bank’s Professional Director, Ms. Beena Achar, highlighted the bank’s journey during Coop Kumbh 2025.
- NAFCUB Chairman Emeritus H. K. Patel was present at the award event.
- State Bank of India-led public sector banks posted a record cumulative profit of Rs 49,456 crore in the second quarter of the current fiscal, reflecting a 9 per cent year-on-year growth.
- SBI alone contributed 40 per cent to the total earnings of Rs 49,456 crore, logging a net profit of Rs 20,160 crore in Q2 FY26, 10 per cent higher than the same period of the previous fiscal.
- Indian Overseas Bank reported the highest net profit growth of 58 per cent to Rs 1,226 crore, followed by Central Bank of India with a 33 per cent rise to Rs 1,213 crore.
- Bank of Baroda reported an 8 per cent fall in net profit at Rs 4,809 crore as against Rs 5,238 crore in the year-ago period; Union Bank of India witnessed a 10 per cent decline in bottomline at Rs 4,249 crore during the quarter.
- For the first half ended September 2025, the aggregate profit of PSBs crossed Rs 90,000 crore for the first time, together earning Rs 93,674 crore as compared to Rs 85,520 crore in the April-September period of FY25, registering nearly 10 per cent growth.
- State Bank of India received the 'World's Best Consumer Bank 2025' and 'Best Bank in India 2025' awards from Global Finance, New York.
- SBI serves 520 million customers and adds 65,000 new customers daily.
- The bank's home loan portfolio has crossed Rs 8.5 lakh crore.
- As of June 2025, SBI's deposit base is over Rs 54.73 lakh crore with a CASA ratio of 39.36 per cent and advances of more than Rs 42.54 lakh crore.
- SBI commands a market share of 27.7 per cent in home loans and 19.03 per cent in auto loans.
- The bank has 22,980 branches and 62,200 ATMs/ADWMs, along with over 76,800 BC outlets.
- YONO, SBI's digital platform, has more than 9.04 crore registered users and witnessed 27.4 lakh new registrations in Q1FY26.
- During Q1 FY26, SBI disbursed pre-approved personal loans worth Rs 1,791 crores through YONO.
- Bank of India and State Bank of India (SBI) collaborate on co-financing, capacity building, and co-branded initiatives.
- The MoU provides a framework for the two banks to collaborate on multiple fronts.
- The partnership addresses structured project financing in infrastructure, energy, and industrial development sectors.
- State Bank of India (SBI) offers retail banking, corporate banking, treasury operations, and international banking.
- Bank of India focuses on corporate banking, project financing, and trade services.
World Inequality Report 2026 (WIR) Reveals India's Extreme Income and Wealth Concentration
[World Inequality Report]
Key Updates:
- The World Inequality Report 2026 (WIR) situates India as one of the world’s most unequal large economies.
- In India, the top 10% earners capture 58% of national income.
- In India, the bottom 50% receives only 15% of national income.
- The top 10% in India holds about 65% of national wealth.
- The top 1% in India holds about 40% of national wealth.
- India's average annual income per capita (PPP) is 6,200 Euros.
- India's average wealth per capita (PPP) is 28,000 Euros.
- India's female labour participation rate is 15.7%, showing no improvement over the past decade.
- In 1980, a larger share of India’s population was in the “middle-40%” globally, but now almost all are in the bottom 50% globally.
- Globally, the top 10% of the population earn 53% of global income, while the bottom 50% receive only 8%.
- Globally, the top 10% own 75% of all global wealth, while the bottom 50% own only 2%.
- The global top 0.001% (fewer than 60,000 people) hold three times more wealth than the poorest 50% of humanity combined.
- Since the 1990s, the wealth of billionaires has grown at approximately 8% annually, nearly twice the rate of growth experienced by the bottom half of the population.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Household consumption is the "single largest driver (60 per cent) of India’s GDP".
- The gap between Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) and Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) has "widened from around 5 per cent in 1972–73 to nearly 45 per cent in 2022–23".
- The "AK Adhikari committee report on PFCE, MoSPI, 2015" noted the magnitude and persistence of the gap between PFCE and HCES.
- The latest HCES round in "2022-23 estimates monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) at ₹3,773 in rural areas and ₹6,459 in urban areas, increasing to ₹4,122 and ₹6,996 in 2023-24".
- In "HCES 2023-24, food accounts for 46 per cent of rural and 39 per cent of urban MPCE, down from 53 per cent and 42 per cent in 2011-12".
- The difference between the two estimates increased "from 5 per cent in 1972-73 to around 45 per cent by 2011-12, 46 per cent in 2022-23 and (an estimate of) 47.5 per cent in 2023-24".
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is all set to conduct two key economic surveys — to measure household finances and to gauge the economic situation of India’s farmers.
- These surveys are the All-India Debt and Investment Survey (AIDIS) and the Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households.
- Both of these nationally representative surveys are scheduled to be conducted from July 2026 to June 2027.
- The AIDIS provides “critical” data on household indebtedness and asset ownership across both rural and urban areas.
- Its findings are instrumental in shaping national accounts, assessing inequality in asset distribution, understanding credit markets, and informing policies of the Reserve Bank of India, MoSPI, and other government institutions.
- The SAS of Agricultural Households is designed to assess the economic conditions of farming communities.
- The SAS includes data on agricultural household income and expenditure, indebtedness and access to credit, land and livestock ownership, crop and livestock production, farming practices and the use of technology, and access to government schemes and crop insurance.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, NITI Aayog, researchers, and financial institutions utilise the survey findings to shape policies and programmes aimed at agriculture and rural development.
- MoSPI has uploaded the draft concept notes and schedules of both surveys on its website and has invited policymakers, researchers, farmer groups, financial institutions, and the general public to share their feedback.
- India’s richest 1 per cent expanded their wealth by 62 per cent between 2000 and 2023, according to a report commissioned by the South African Presidency of the G20.
- The study, led by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, described inequality as having reached “emergency” levels that now threaten democracy, economic stability and climate progress.
- The top 1 per cent globally captured 41 per cent of all new wealth created between 2000 and 2024, while the bottom half of humanity received only 1 per cent.
- In China, the top 1% have grown their share of wealth by 54% over the period of 2000–2023.
- The G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality proposed establishing an International Panel on Inequality (IPI), modelled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to monitor inequality trends and guide global policymaking.
- Global poverty reduction has stalled since 2020, with 2.3 billion people now facing food insecurity and 1.3 billion impoverished by health costs.
- India’s real GDP expanded 8.2% in Q2 FY26, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
- MoSPI estimates India’s first-half (H1) FY26 real GDP growth at 8.0%.
- Real Gross Value Added (GVA) increased 8.1% in Q2 FY26.
- The secondary sector grew 8.1% and the tertiary sector grew 9.2% in Q2 FY26.
- Manufacturing output rose 9.1% in Q2 FY26.
- Financial, real estate, and professional services grew 10.2% in Q2 FY26.
- Real Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) grew 7.9% in Q2 FY26.
- Government consumption (GFCE) contracted 2.7% in Q2 FY26.
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) rose 7.3% in Q2 FY26.
- Exports grew 5.6% and imports increased 12.8% in Q2 FY26.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launches Trump Gold Card visa with $1 million post-approval fee
[Department of Homeland Security (DHS)]
Key Updates:
- Applicants pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee to DHS before vetting begins.
- The $1 million residency fee is payable only after DHS approval.
- Corporate sponsors pay $2 million per employee plus a 1% annual maintenance fee of $20,000.
- A 5% transfer fee of $100,000 applies when a company reassigns the visa to another employee.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Trump administration is adding $100,000 to the existing fee for H-1B visa applications.
- H-1B visas are already expensive, with the cost ranging from about $1,700 to $4,500.
- The $100,000 is a one-time fee that only applies to new visas and is not an annual payment.
- The H-1B program is capped at 65,000 new visas each year, although an additional 20,000 can be issued for employees with a master's degree or higher, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- Amazon received the most H1-B visas of any business in 2024, Department of Labor data shows.
- This year, Amazon remains the leading recipient of the visas, with more than 10,000 awarded, followed by Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple and Google.
- About 20% of applications result in approved workers, according to a March study from the nonpartisan National Foundation for American Policy.
- US President Donald Trump’s administration committed $1.25 billion in financing from the US Export-Import Bank (Exim) for the Reko Diq mining project in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
- The financing is set to support the import of up to $2 billion in US mining equipment and services.
- Acting US Ambassador Natalie Baker announced the approval, describing it as a “win-win” for both nations.
- The US Embassy in Islamabad hailed the deal as a “game-changer” for economic growth in Balochistan.
- This initiative is projected to create 6,000 jobs in the US and 7,500 jobs in Balochistan.
- The project aims to unlock one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits.
- Reko Diq is owned 50% by Canadian firm Barrick Gold, 25% by Pakistan’s federal government, and 25% by the Balochistan government.
- The Reko Diq project carries a total development cost of around $7 billion and aims for production by 2028.
- Once operational, the project could generate $2.8 billion in export revenue in its first year.
- Saudi Arabia’s Manara Minerals has signaled interest in a 15% stake in the project.
- Donald Trump was presented with the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea's highest decoration, and a replica of an ancient Silla dynasty gold crown during his meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
- The award ceremony took place at the National Museum in Gyeongju on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit.
- The Silla crown was described as representing 'the divine connection between the authority of the heavens and sovereignty on earth, as well as strong leadership.'
- USCIS has discontinued payments by cheque and money order for all immigration filings.
- Applicants must now authorise payments through electronic debit using Form G-1650, which allows USCIS to withdraw funds directly from a US bank account.
- Over 90 percent of past payments were made using cheques or money orders, which often delayed processing and increased the risk of fraud or missed payments.
- For H-1B and other employer-sponsored work visas, Form G-1450 remains available for credit card transactions.
- The rule change could be particularly inconvenient for international students on F-1 visas and newly hired H-1B employees who lack access to a US checking account.
- USCIS cautions that any incorrect account or routing number on Form G-1650 could lead to rejection of the case.
- Prepaid or reloadable credit cards may serve as a short-term alternative for those without US bank access, provided they meet USCIS payment authorisation standards.
Sujalam Bharat App Launched to Build Digital Backbone for Viksit Bharat 2047
[Union Jal Shakti Minister]
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Sujalam Bharat App.
- The Sujalam Bharat App was launched on December 10, 2025.
- The app integrates every rural water scheme into a Unified System.
- It aims to provide villages with real-time access to rural drinking water supply assets.
- The app is designed to transform rural drinking water governance.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) launched the Jal Shakti Hackathon–2025 and the Bharat-WIN Portal under the National Water Mission.
- Winning participants will receive a ₹1 lakh grant for developing a Proof-of-Concept (PoC).
- The portal is open to startups, MSMEs, research institutions, young innovators, rural youth, women-led enterprises, academia, and global collaborators.
- The National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, is the designated Project Implementation Agency (PIA).
- The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced a new Aadhaar mobile application for iOS and Android devices.
- The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, offering users a digital option to carry their Aadhaar and use it for instant verification.
- The authority has announced an early access that will allow residents to test the service and share feedback before its final rollout.
- Users can share their Aadhaar digitally, removing the need for physical copies, with details shareable using a QR code or as verifiable credentials.
- Shared Aadhaar data is masked, so users do not reveal the full 12-digit number.
- Up to five Aadhaar profiles can be added on one device if they are linked to the same registered mobile number.
- The app includes biometric locking and unlocking, ensuring biometric data remains secure until intentionally unlocked or disabled.
- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the revamped digital platform e-Swathu 2.0.
- e-Swathu 2.0 is expected to generate up to Rs 2,000 crore revenue by regularising 95 lakh properties in gram panchayats across the state.
- Revenue is estimated to increase by Rs 1,778 crore, potentially up to Rs 2,000 crore with effective implementation.
- The portal enables residents to obtain digital e-khata documents (Forms 11A and 11B) quickly and transparently.
- All Panchayat property records will receive 11B accounts within 15 days of application, provided online and through Bapuji Centres.
- The Sarpanch Samvaad National Quality Conclave was hosted by "The Quality Council of India (QCI) , in collaboration with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj".
- The event was "centered around the theme “Viksit Gram se Viksit Bharat”".
- The conclave marked "the successful onboarding of over 60,000 Sarpanchs from across India onto the Sarpanch Samvaad mobile application , creating the nation’s first digital community of grassroots leaders".
- The Sarpanch Samvaad mobile application "enables sarpanchs to share solutions, exchange ideas, and collaborate digitally to accelerate rural development."
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed "between QCI and DDWS , symbolizing a shared national commitment to water and sanitation-led rural development".
- The conclave announced "the 100-Day Good Governance Challenge on the Sarpanch Samvaad mobile application".
- The 100-Day Good Governance Challenge is "to run from September 17, 2025 (Prime Minister’s birthday) until December 25, 2025 (Good Governance Day)".
- The challenge "will mobilize Sarpanch-led campaigns across the country, reinforcing Panchayats as catalysts of rural progress and good governance".
Venezuela’s National Guard Linked to Killings, Torture and Repression, UN Probe Finds on 11 December 2025
[Venezuela, United Nations (UN)]
Key Updates:
- Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) has been implicated in a decade-long pattern of killings, arbitrary detentions, torture and sexual violence targeting protesters and opponents of President Nicolás Maduro.
- The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission says the GNB has played a central role in systematic repression since 2014.
- The GNB used excessive force, including the improper use of lethal weapons, during peak periods of protest in 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2024.
- Investigators documented mass and targeted arbitrary detentions, physical violence during arrests, planting of evidence, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence inside GNB facilities.
- The report found the GNB was a central actor in the commission of persecution on political grounds, which is a crime against humanity.
- The military force also played a key role in the 2024 post-election “Operation Tun Tun” raids.
- The report identifies a pattern of structural impunity sustained by systemic failures within the Venezuelan judicial system.
- The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was established by the UN Human Rights Council in September 2019.
- The Mission has also focused on investigating the human rights situation surrounding the disputed 2024 presidential elections and on violence by pro-government militias known as “colectivos”.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Camite was deployed by France against Germany during World War One.
- Camite is bromobenzyl cyanide, listed as 'Chemical powder UN3439' mixed with 'Chemical liquid UN1710' trichloroethylene in Georgia's Special Tasks Department inventory.
- Special Tasks Department is the official name of Georgia's riot police.
- Camite believed taken out of circulation in the 1930s due to long-lasting effects and replaced by CS gas.
- Under international law, police forces allowed to use chemicals for crowd control if proportionate with short-term effects.
- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Edwards stated effects must be temporary and called for investigation under torture or ill-treatment.
- The United States will hold five-day military drills in Trinidad and Tobago.
- The drills will involve the US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.
- The exercises are being held amid tensions with Venezuela and criticism from Nicolás Maduro.
- The US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is stationed in the Caribbean as part of what Washington describes as a mission to “disrupt illicit drug trafficking.”
- Trinidad and Tobago’s government said the exercises will help both forces better understand each other’s tactics and operations, while also allowing American troops to train local security personnel to respond to domestic threats such as drug crimes and gang activity.
- Washington sent a warship, the USS Gravely, to the country’s capital last month.
- The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is moving closer to Venezuelan waters.
- The US State Department announced that Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles will be designated a terrorist organisation.
- The US intends to consider the group a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) from 24 November.
- The US alleges that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro leads the Cartel de los Soles.
- This designation is described as the Trump administration's latest effort to reduce drug trafficking and put pressure on Maduro.
- The US has sent the largest military deployment to the Caribbean in decades.
- The US has carried out at least 21 strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels.
- The US government increased a reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50m (£37.2m).
- The International Day of Commemoration & Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide & the Prevention of this Crime is observed on 9 December.
- The Secretary-General, António Guterres, stated that 'Genocide is an abomination. It is a horrendous crime. And it is the solemn duty of all States to prevent and punish it.'
- The 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted as a pledge against eradication due to nationality, ethnicity, race or religion.
- Human Rights Day is observed on 10 December.
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is described as the bedrock of the global community, defining what every person needs to survive and thrive.
- International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development is observed on 5 December.
- Jan Marian presented his credentials as the new Permanent Representative of Czechia to the United Nations (Vienna).
- John Brandolino is the Acting Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) and Amazon sign MoU to launch Amazon Chair Professorship for logistics research
[Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), Amazon]
Key Updates:
- The Chair will serve as a strategic anchor for collaborative research projects, case studies, real-time industry problem-solving, and innovation pilots relevant to India’s logistics infrastructure.
- The MoU includes provisions for co-developing specialized courses, student training modules, internships, and faculty–industry immersion programmes.
- GSV, established as a Central University through an Act of Parliament in 2022, functions under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Google has struck its biggest carbon removal deal, agreeing to finance restoration of the Amazon rainforest with Brazilian startup Mombak.
- The deal aims to offset 200,000 metric tons of carbon emissions.
- Mombak is Google's sole provider of forestry carbon credits.
- Mombak's approach involves turning degraded pastureland back into jungle.
- Google is part of the Symbiosis Coalition, which includes Meta, Salesforce, McKinsey, Microsoft, Bain & Company, and REI Co-op.
- Mombak's project is the first to meet the Symbiosis Coalition's rigorous scientific standards, out of 185 projects reviewed.
- Randy Spock is Google's head of carbon credits and removal.
- Amazon pledges a $35 billion investment in India by 2030.
- The investment builds on Amazon's existing $40 billion-plus capital in India since 2010.
- The new funds will focus on AI-driven digitization, export growth, and job creation.
- Amazon aims to support a total of 3.8 million jobs in India by 2030.
- Amazon targets enabling $80 billion in cumulative e-commerce exports from India by 2030.
- The company plans to deliver AI benefits to 15 million small businesses.
- Amazon aims to tap into four million government school students with AI education and career exploration opportunities.
- Microsoft committed a $17.5 billion investment plan for India.
- In 2024, Amazon supported approximately 2.8 million jobs in India.
- Amazon-enabled exports from India have surpassed $20 billion.
- Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence, Skill Development, and Innovation inaugurated by Union Minister Jitendra Singh at Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun
- Facility houses Uttarakhand's first NVIDIA AI and High-Performance Computing unit with NVIDIA DGX B200 system, 8 GPUs and 1.74 TB GPU memory
- Includes Apple iOS Development Centre established in collaboration with Apple and Infosys
- Built at cost of over Rs 10 crore across 1.5 lakh sq. ft. to support research in healthcare, agriculture, environment, smart cities and advanced industries
- Graphic Era University is India's first Generative AI Ready Campus powered by AWS and ranked 48th in NIRF 2025
- LG Electronics said it signed a patent licensing deal with Amazon for the use of its Wi-Fi standard-essential patents.
- The agreement gives Amazon permission to use LG's Wi-Fi technologies in several of its connected products, including Alexa speakers, Fire TV Stick devices and Fire tablets.
- The report says the deal shows LG's continued influence in the field of Wi-Fi standards.
- LG is also holding talks with other global companies that use Wi-Fi technologies.
- The company plans to expand its patent strength in future areas such as 6G communication, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and vehicle-to-everything connectivity.
- Cho Hwi-jae, executive vice president and head of LG Electronics' intellectual property center, said: "This agreement proves the global recognition of LG's Wi-Fi standard-essential patent capabilities."
International Mountain Day 2025 Highlights Glaciers' Crucial Role in Global Ecosystems
[International Mountain Day]
Key Updates:
- International Mountain Day 2025 spotlights the crucial role of glaciers in sustaining water, food, and livelihoods, urging global action to protect fragile mountain ecosystems.
- The theme for International Mountain Day 2025 is “Glaciers matter for water, food and livelihoods in mountains and beyond.”
- Mountains are home to diverse ecosystems and communities, providing essential resources like water, food, and livelihoods.
- The United Nations (UN) announced that International Mountain Day will focus on glaciers, which are massive ice reserves vital for freshwater and ecosystems.
- According to the UN, glaciers store around 70% of the world’s freshwater.
- Glaciers support rivers, agriculture, and clean energy.
- Accelerated global warming conditions pose a threat towards glaciers, causing them to melt at a fast pace and increasing the risk of floods and landslides.
- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) coordinates the annual celebration of International Mountain Day to foster greater awareness of mountain issues.
- Globally, over two billion people rely on melt from glaciers and snow for their freshwater, including for their food security and livelihood.
- Protecting mountains and glaciers from the impacts of climate change involves supporting measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, regulating use of mountain resources for commercial purposes, and investing in integrated water management systems.
Similar / Past Coverage
- International Red Panda Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of September.
- The tradition began in 2010, initiated by the Red Panda Network, to ensure the world remembers these rare and remarkable animals.
- Red pandas live in the Himalayan forests and the misty mountains of China, spending most of their lives among trees.
- Fewer than 10,000 red pandas are left in the wild today, indicating a dramatic decline in their numbers.
- The primary threats to red pandas include deforestation, shrinking habitats, and poaching.
- Conservation groups are working with local communities to protect red pandas through programs like eco-tourism and education campaigns.
- The Red Panda Network states that saving red pandas also contributes to saving entire forests and countless other species.
- The International Day for Biosphere Reserves is celebrated annually on November 3.
- It was established by the UNESCO General Conference at the request of Spain and Uruguay at its 41st session in September 2021.
- The day highlights the role of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in sustainable territorial development and conservation efforts.
Telangana inks pact with Deakin University to set up India’s first AI Centre of Excellence
[Telangana, Deakin University]
Key Updates:
- The Telangana government signed an MoU with Australia’s Deakin University to establish a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence.
- The Centre will be housed within the upcoming AI University at the Future City and jointly run by Deakin’s Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute.
- Focus sectors for research and skill development include governance, healthcare, education, IT, life sciences, agriculture, critical minerals and rare earth metals.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Deakin University’s Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute (A²I²) and the Telangana AI Innovation Hub combine to form the Joint Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence.
- The Centre targets three priority domains: AI for Public Service and Governance, Health and Smart Education AI Solutions, and Climate Resilience and MSME Innovation.
- The collaboration aligns with India’s National AI Mission and the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to deliver citizen-centric AI solutions.
- AIIMS Delhi now has two surgical robots purely for training: a newly installed da Vinci Surgical Robot and an existing Hugo training robot provided by Medtronic.
- The da Vinci robot was provided by Intuitive Surgical under a memorandum of understanding and is housed in the Skills, E-learning and Telemedicine (SET) facility.
- The training facility supports learning across specialities including urology, gynaecology, general surgery, surgical oncology, and head and neck surgery.
- The centre allows students, nurses, residents, healthcare professionals, and faculty to practise on manikins and simulators in stress-free sessions.
- AIIMS Delhi Director Dr M Srinivas stated that the centre eliminates the need for surgeons to travel abroad and pay large sums for robotic surgery training.
- The centre is developed in collaboration with VVDN Technologies and Google Cloud
- Technologies available include Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and Gemini Enterprise platforms
- Students will gain hands-on experience with humanoid and companion robotics (AIBO, Unitree G1), AR/VR glasses, IoT kits, and Raspberry Pi systems
- The facility will serve as a shared innovation resource for neighbouring and government schools
- The initiative aligns with the Union government’s four-level AI curriculum for students from Class 6 onwards, covering foundational AI to generative AI applications
- Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IIT-GN) signed an MoU to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for telecom and cybersecurity research
- The CoE will focus on Mobile Communications, Cyber Security, Quantum Communication, Advanced AI, and Advanced Telecom Applications
- The centre will enable collaboration between IIT Gandhinagar students, faculty, researchers and C-DOT researchers in Telecom and ICT domain
- It will support incubation, mentoring, and collaboration with startups, industries, and academia to foster innovation and entrepreneurship
- The initiative aligns with national missions for telecom, semiconductor, and digital transformation to create an industry-ready workforce