U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics records women’s Labor Force Participation Rate at 57.3 percent.
[United States, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]
Key Updates:
- The Labor Force Participation Rate for Women stood at 57.3 percent in December 2025.
- The data is released monthly and seasonally adjusted.
- The next release date for this indicator is February 6, 2026.
Similar Coverage
- Unemployment Rate for persons aged 15 years and above declined to 4.7% in November 2025, the lowest since April 2025.
- Rural unemployment rate fell to 3.9% in November 2025, while urban unemployment rate decreased to 6.5%.
- Female unemployment rate dropped to 4.8% in November 2025 from 5.4% in October 2025.
- Male unemployment rate decreased to 4.6% in November 2025 compared to 5.1% in October 2025.
- Worker Population Ratio for persons aged 15 years and above rose to 53.2% in November 2025 from 52.8% in April 2025.
- Labour Force Participation Rate among persons aged 15 years and above increased to 55.8% in November 2025, the highest since April 2025.
- Rural female Labour Force Participation Rate increased from 35.2% in June 2025 to 39.7% in November 2025.
- Wholesale price inflation recorded at 0.83% in December 2025, returning to positive territory after negative readings of (-)0.32% in November and (-)1.21% in October.
- Retail inflation rose to 1.33% in December from 0.71% in November, driven by rising food prices.
- Deflation in vegetables narrowed to 3.50% in December from 20.23% in November.
- Inflation in manufactured products increased to 1.82% in December from 1.33% in November.
- Deflation in fuel and power sectors continued at 2.31% in December compared to 2.27% in November.
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cut policy interest rates by 1.25 percentage points during the current fiscal year.
- RBI lowered inflation projection for the current fiscal to 2% from the earlier 2.6%.
- RBI reduced key policy interest rates by 25 basis points to 5.25% last month.
- RBI raised FY26 GDP growth projection to 7.3% from the previous 6.8%.
- India registered GDP growth of 8.2% in the September quarter and 7.8% in the June quarter.
- The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says there is a 55 per cent probability of a weak La Niña over the next three months.
- The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) confirms La Niña has emerged and is now firmly established in the tropical Pacific.
- The latest Niño3.4 SST index for the week ending 23 November is −0.93 °C, with sustained values below −0.8 °C signalling La Niña.
- The 30-day SOI was at +16.1 and the 90-day value was at +8.5, with sustained readings above +7.0 confirming the La Niña pattern.
- The negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remains active but has weakened to −0.60 °C and is predicted to return to neutral in December.
- Sea surface temperatures in the Australian region were the second warmest on record for October and are likely to persist into early 2026.
- From December 2025 to February 2026, temperatures are expected to remain above normal across much of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
- For India, this could mean a cooler winter in the north, more frequent western disturbances and a higher chance of stronger systems forming in the Bay of Bengal.
- India’s industrial output rose 6.7 per cent year-on-year in November, posting the highest rate of growth in 25 months.
- Manufacturing production grew 8 per cent, the most in 25 months.
- Mining sector growth rebounded to 5.4 per cent in November after contracting in six of the previous seven months.
- Electricity generation declined 1.5 per cent in November compared to the same month last year.
- Industrial production rose 3.3 per cent in April-November versus 4.1 per cent in the first eight months of 2024-25.
- Manufacturing output increased 4.4 per cent in April-November, while mining output fell 0.9 per cent and electricity generation dipped 0.2 per cent.
- Consumer non-durables production rose 7.3 per cent in November after falling 5.2 per cent in October.
- Capital goods output grew 10.4 per cent, infrastructure goods 12.1 per cent, and consumer durables 10.3 per cent in November.
Indian Banks' Association (IBA) honours Karnataka Bank with multiple Banking Technology Awards.
[Karnataka, Indian Banks' Association (IBA)]
Key Updates:
- Karnataka Bank won the Winner title in the 'Best Fintech & DPI Adoption' category.
- Karnataka Bank was adjudged Runner-up in the 'Best Tech Talent' category.
- Karnataka Bank received Special Mention in the 'Best Technology Bank' category.
- Karnataka Bank received Special Mention in the 'Best Digital Financial Inclusion' category.
- Karnataka Bank received Special Mention in the 'Best Digital Sales' category.
Similar Coverage
- Karnataka Bank won the 'Best Fintech & DPI Adoption' category at the IBA Banking Technology Awards.
- Karnataka Bank was adjudged runner-up in the 'Best Tech Talent' category.
- Karnataka Bank received special mention in 'Best Technology Bank', 'Best Digital Financial Inclusion', and 'Best Digital Sales' categories.
- Karnataka Bank has integrated Khajane-2 e-receipt payments into its Internet Banking platform.
- The integration follows authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and approval from the Department of Treasuries, Government of Karnataka.
- Customers can now pay State government taxes and fees through the Khajane-2 Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) using the bank’s net banking service.
- DBS has been named Global Bank of the Year 2025 by The Banker.
- This marks DBS's third win in the Global Bank of the Year category.
- DBS also secured Asia Bank of the Year, Singapore Bank of the Year, Investment Bank of the Year – Asia, and Investment Bank of the Year for Financial Institutions Group.
- The awards were decided from submissions by 294 banks globally.
- The Banker highlighted DBS's investment in AI to protect customers from financial scams and its commitment to training staff on new technology.
- DBS's work on smart contracts designed to deliver faster, smoother payments across jurisdictions impressed the judging committee.
- DBS's approach to applying AI, machine learning, and digital infrastructure across operations and customer services was a key factor in the assessment.
- DBS recently crossed $100 billion in market capitalisation in 2024, becoming the first Singapore-listed company to do so.
- For FY24, DBS recorded 11% growth in net profit and 11% growth in Tier-1 capital.
- DBS's return on equity was 18%, cost-to-income ratio was 39.9%, and non-performing loan ratio was 1.1% for FY24.
- Scheme Name: Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) 2024 national Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) ratings released by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Union Government of India
- Kerala’s Achievement: State secured “Top Achiever” position in the “Fast Movers” category with 99.1 per cent reform implementation score, up from 91 per cent last year
- Evaluation Weightage: 70 per cent weightage to investor feedback and 30 per cent to reform completion
- Implementing Coordination: 22 government departments and agencies led by Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC)
Madhya Pradesh and Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) Partner for Multilingual AI-Driven Governance
[Madhya Pradesh, Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD)]
Key Updates:
- The Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable multilingual digital governance.
- Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav announced that Madhya Pradesh will soon introduce a State AI Policy in mission mode, aimed at accelerating responsible and inclusive AI adoption across departments.
- The MoU formalises the integration of BHASHINI’s language technologies, translation APIs and AI-powered language tools across state government digital platforms to ensure wider and more equitable access to public services in multiple Indian languages.
- The partnership aims to support the deployment of voice-first and multilingual AI solutions across the digital governance ecosystem of Madhya Pradesh to strengthen accessibility and last-mile service delivery.
- The collaboration was announced during the Madhya Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 held in Bhopal on 15-01-2026.
Similar Coverage
- Madhya Pradesh to set up India’s first PPP-model medical colleges in Dhar and Betul tribal districts.
- State government provides up to 25 acres of land on lease; private partners build academic and clinical infrastructure.
- Associated district hospitals upgraded as per National Medical Commission norms while remaining under State administrative control.
- Two more PPP colleges planned at Katni and Panna; foundation ceremonies for these to follow.
- Chief Minister announces similar PPP medical colleges will also come up in Bhind, Morena, Khargone, Ashoknagar, Guna, Balaghat, Tikamgarh, Sidhi, and Shajapur districts.
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will organise the BHASHINI Samudaye workshop, Strengthening India’s Language AI Ecosystem, in New Delhi.
- BHASHINI Samudaye is a BHASHINI-led collaborative initiative that brings together language experts, academic institutions, civil society organisations, and data practitioners to co-create, govern, and scale language AI solutions for India.
- The workshop will feature focused sessions on scaling BHASHINI, including discussions on platform capabilities, strategic priorities, and pathways for collaboration with stakeholders and implementation partners.
- Odisha is hosting a two-day Regional AI Impact Summit 2025 in Bhubaneswar organised by the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Government of Odisha.
- The summit focuses on scalable public AI solutions centred on the 3Ps - People, Planet, and Progress.
- Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling stated that the outcomes of this summit will inform how AI can be used to monitor governance modules.
- Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Secretary Saurabh Garg said the objective is to ensure AI is available for the benefit of all without requiring users to know the technology.
- Principal Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev noted that Odisha is the first state in the country to bring out an AI policy.
- The Odisha government launched the Odisha AI mission aligned with the India AI mission to democratise AI through access, affordability, equity, and inclusivity.
- India’s national compute capacity crossed 34,000 GPUs under the IndiaAI Mission.
- BharatGen AI, the first multimodal large language model built to work across 22 Indian languages, was launched on June 2, 2025.
- Over Rs. 10,300 crore was allocated to the IndiaAI Mission over five years for infrastructure, talent, safety, and data access.
- Bhashini, India’s multilingual AI platform, signed an MoU with the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) to provide services in 22 languages at railway stations.
RBI Internal Ombudsman Scheme strengthens complaint review norms
[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]
Key Updates:
- The Reserve Bank of India has strengthened the review mechanism within regulated entities before they reject or partially resolve a customer complaint.
- All complaints that are partially resolved or wholly rejected by the internal grievance redress mechanism shall be auto escalated to the office of the internal ombudsman for a review.
- An internal ombudsman shall either be a retired or serving officer, in the rank equivalent to a general manager in the regulated entity, appointed for a three-year period and must be below 70 before completion of tenure.
- The internal ombudsman shall report to the competent authority of the entity administratively, and to the customer service committee of the board, and shall be designated as a permanent invitee to the meetings of the customer service committee of the board.
- The directions apply to commercial banks, small finance banks, payments banks, non-banking finance companies, non-bank prepaid payment instrument issuers and credit information companies.
Similar Coverage
- All complaints wholly rejected or partially resolved by regulated entities must be auto-escalated to the Internal Ombudsman for review.
- Regulated entities must ensure that no complaint is closed by the same branch or touch point that handled it.
- Compensation may be offered for material loss, loss of time, expenses, and mental agony suffered by complainants.
- Internal Ombudsman shall be a retired or serving officer of rank equivalent to General Manager, appointed for three years and below 70 years of age at tenure end.
- Internal Ombudsman reports administratively to the competent authority and functionally to the Customer Service Committee of the Board.
- Internal Ombudsman shall be a permanent invitee to Customer Service Committee meetings to ensure board oversight.
- Internal Ombudsman shall not handle complaints received directly from the public, only those escalated after internal review.
- Decisions by Internal Ombudsman or Deputy Internal Ombudsman must be submitted to the RBI Ombudsman.
- The directions apply to commercial banks, small finance banks, payments banks, NBFCs, prepaid payment instrument issuers, and credit information companies.
- Housing finance companies, core investment companies, infrastructure debt fund-NBFCs, NBFC-infrastructure finance companies, non-operative financial holding companies, primary dealers, and mortgage guarantee companies are excluded.
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received 13,34,244 complaints under RB-IOS in FY25, up 13.55% from 11,75,075 previous year.
- Loans and Advances accounted for 29.25% of total complaints.
- Credit Cards contributed 17.15% of complaints, up 20.04% year-on-year.
- Mobile and electronic banking complaints stood at 16.86%, down 12.74%.
- Deposit Accounts made up 16.84% of complaints.
- ATM/debit cards accounted for 6.10% of complaints.
- Top five categories constituted 86.20% of all complaints.
- 91.22% of complaints lodged through online modes such as CMS and email.
- RBI Contact Centre handled 9.27 lakh calls, up 28.89%.
- Metropolitan regions contributed 45.86% of complaints.
- Rural areas accounted for 10.04% of complaints.
- RB-IOS launched on November 12, 2021.
- Portal Name: e-Jagriti digital consumer grievance redressal platform, Consumer Affairs Ministry, Government of India
- Objective: Provide seamless global access and improve resolution efficiency for consumer complaints across India
- Key Features: OTP-based registration, digital document exchange, virtual hearings, provisions for visually impaired users, paperless processing
- Senior forest officials, including the PCCF Wildlife, appeared before the Odisha Human Rights Commission regarding alleged inadequate compensation for families relocated from Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
- Complainants alleged that 'hundreds of families from five villages were relocated from the tiger reserve to other places without holding gram sabhas and conducting a proper survey.'
- The commission heard the case and asked officials to follow the rules; the order is yet to be uploaded on the OHRC website.
- The next hearing is scheduled for October 30.
United States Pentagon Pizza Index surges 1,250% on January 5, 2026, following Venezuela operation
[United States, Venezuela]
Key Updates:
- The Pentagon Pizza Index also called the Pizza Meter is an open-source intelligence theory suggesting that late-night pizza orders near U.S. government buildings spike before major geopolitical events.
- On August 1, 1990, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) ordered a record 21 pizzas in a single night. The next day, Iraq invaded Kuwait.
- The index has preceded multiple major events: October 1983 Unusual late-night orders U.S. invasion of Grenada, December 1989 Pentagon surge U.S. invasion of Panama, and January 1991 Spike before Desert Storm Coalition strikes Iraq.
- Recent events include: June 12, 2025 'Huge surge' at District Pizza Palace Operation Lion strikes Iran and January 2-3, 2026 700% surge operation captures Maduro in Venezuela.
- The Geopolitical Risk (GPR) Index currently sits around 158 and trending upward.
Similar Coverage
- The Trump administration unveiled a new National Security Strategy Thursday evening, calling for a greater emphasis in the Western Hemisphere.
- The 33-page strategy document says, 'After years of neglect, the United States will reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere.'
- The NSS dubs the changes the 'Trump Corollary' with the goal of enlisting 'established friends' in the region to help control migration, curtail the flow of drugs and strengthen stability.
- The first bullet in the 'priorities' section states, 'The era of mass migration is over,' stating that 'border security is the primary element of national security.'
- The NSS states, 'We will oppose elite-driven, anti-democratic restrictions on core liberties in Europe, the Anglosphere, and the rest of the world, especially among our allies.'
- The document expressly states that the largest issue facing Europe is the 'Stark prospect of civilizational erasure.'
- The NSS calls for ending the 'perception' and 'preventing the reality' of NATO’s continued expansion.
- It calls on Washington to increase diplomatic relations with Moscow to reestablish conditions for regional 'strategic stability.'
- The NSS says the US wants to build up a military capable of 'denying aggression' within the First Island Chain.
- Deterring a conflict over Taiwan remains a 'priority' and the US does not support unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
- Italian cooking has been awarded special cultural heritage status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been pushing for Italy's cuisine to be recognised since her election.
- Koshary, the spicy dish of lentils, rice, and pasta from Egypt, was also added to Unesco's list of intangible cultural heritage.
- Previous food-related inclusions on the list include Washoku of Japan, Breakfast culture in Malaysia, and the Gastronomic meal of the French.
- India's trade with Iran stood at USD 1.6 billion, approximately 0.15% of India's total trade.
- Iran does not figure in India's top 50 global trading partners.
- India's share in Iran's total imports is USD 1.2 billion, accounting for 2.3%.
- US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran.
- FIEO CEO stated Indian industry and banks deal with Iran only in goods outside US OFAC sanctions.
- KRBL exported approximately 250,000 tonnes of basmati rice to Iran when trade was fully open.
- J&K refers to Jammu and Kashmir, as seen in 'J&K's Kishtwar'.
- TOI refers to Times of India, indicated by 'TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM'.
- IST refers to Indian Standard Time, as shown in 'Updated: Nov 05, 2025, 09:21 IST'.
- JNU refers to Jawaharlal Nehru University, mentioned in 'JNU Elections 2025'.
- ICAI refers to Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, as seen in 'ICAI September Result'.
- U.S. refers to United States, as in 'U.S. Eyes India As A Major Market For Its Energy Exports'.
- IDF refers to Israeli Defense Forces, mentioned in 'Israeli Whistleblower Shames IDF'.
- NYC refers to New York City, as seen in 'NYC Mayor Election Result'.
- AQI refers to Air Quality Index, mentioned in 'Delhi AQI Level'.
- GCCs refers to Global Capability Centers, as in 'Learning & innovation are key to building resilient GCCs'.
- AI refers to Artificial Intelligence, mentioned in 'GCCs build practical AI systems for their parent companies'.
- CFO refers to Chief Financial Officer, as seen in 'company's CFO has a message'.
World Economic Forum releases 2026 Global Risks Report highlighting geoeconomic confrontation as top business worry
[World Economic Forum (WEF)]
Key Updates:
- Geoeconomic confrontation leaps to the top spot on the list of business worries over the next two years.
- The potential for adverse outcomes of artificial intelligence moved from 30th place among short-term risks as of last year to fifth place among long-term risks.
- Global power rivalries and strategic standoffs top the list of most severe near-term risks heading into 2026.
- Misinformation and disinformation rank second on the WEF's list of short-term risks, followed by societal polarization.
- Extreme weather remains the top concern among surveyed leaders for the next decade.
Similar Coverage
- Heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and storms cost the world more than USD 120 billion in 2025.
- The single costliest event, California wildfires, caused USD 60 billion in damage and over 400 deaths.
- November cyclones and floods across Southeast Asia inflicted USD 25 billion in damage and killed more than 1,750 people.
- China’s floods led to USD 11.7 billion in damage, displaced thousands and killed at least 30.
- Asia accounted for four of the top six costliest disasters, including flooding in India and Pakistan that killed over 1,860 people and cost up to USD 6 billion.
- Typhoons in the Philippines caused more than USD 5 billion in damage and displaced over 1.4 million people.
- Flooding in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo affected thousands, with potentially up to 700 deaths in Nigeria alone.
- Drought in Brazil, summer wildfires in Spain and Portugal, and February cyclones in Australia and Réunion island all inflicted major losses.
- Record-breaking sea temperatures and coral bleaching in Western Australia were recorded alongside worrying extremes in Antarctica.
- Christian Aid stresses that continued fossil-fuel expansion and political delay are driving these predictable disasters.
- Aviation Safety Awareness Week 2025 was observed from 24th to 28th November 2025.
- The event is organised annually by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- Its purpose is to promote aviation safety awareness across all airports and Air Navigation Services locations managed by AAI.
- Publication Name: Guidelines on the protection of the natural environment in armed conflict: rules and recommendations relating to the protection of the natural environment under international humanitarian law, with commentary
- Publisher: ICRC
- Year of Publication: 2020
- Content: Sets out rules and recommendations relating to the protection of the natural environment under international humanitarian law (IHL), accompanied by a concise commentary.
- Purpose: Serves as a reference tool for States, parties to armed conflicts, and other actors to interpret and apply IHL, and to facilitate the adoption of concrete measures to reduce the environmental impact of armed conflict.
- Availability: Also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
- India's resolution on strengthening global wildfire management was adopted at the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, with wide support from member states.
- The resolution responds to the rising number, scale and intensity of wildfires worldwide and calls for stronger international cooperation, early warning systems and better access to finance for prevention and management.
- Wildfires, once seasonal, have become frequent and prolonged due to climate change and human activities.
- UNEP's global report 'Spreading Like Wildfire' warns that wildfires may increase by 14 per cent by 2030, 30 per cent by 2050 and 50 per cent by 2100 if current trends continue.
- Global efforts are moving towards integrated fire management based on early warning systems, risk mapping and satellite-based monitoring, supported by local communities and frontline personnel.
- The Global Fire Management Hub, set up in 2023 by FAO and UNEP, is an important mechanism for international cooperation.
- India's resolution calls for stronger cooperation to develop early warning systems, risk assessment tools and satellite- and ground-based monitoring, along with community-based alert mechanisms.
India DGFT, MEA and FIEO organise National Conference on Strategic Trade Controls 2026
[Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)]
Key Updates:
- DGFT, in collaboration with MEA and FIEO, organised the National Conference on Strategic Trade Controls (NCSTC) 2026 in New Delhi.
- The Conference provided a platform for discussions on India’s Strategic Trade Control framework, including policies and procedures governing the export of dual-use and sensitive goods under the SCOMET framework.
- The third edition of the Handbook on India’s Strategic Trade Control System was released during the inaugural session.
- The Conference included seven thematic sessions covering licensing framework, enforcement mechanisms, compliance, supply chain security, AEO programme, ITT, and sector-specific controls.
- Discussions covered emerging technologies such as quantum-related items, advanced computing, semiconductors, additive manufacturing, aerospace technologies and cyber security in context of SCOMET List updates.
- Over 500 stakeholders participated, including Government officials, industry representatives, exporters, compliance professionals, academia, research institutions, and international participants.
Similar Coverage
- Low Ash Metallurgical Coke accounts for 35-40% of steel production costs.
- India imposed country-wise quantitative restrictions limiting imports to 1.4 million tonnes per half-year.
- Provisional anti-dumping duties of $60-$120 per tonne were levied on LAM Coke from Australia, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, and Russia.
- Investigation used container freight benchmarks 8-10 times higher than actual dry-bulk freight of USD 20-25 per tonne, inflating dumping margins.
- Steelmakers secured only about 1.5 million tonnes of met coke against demand of over 3 million tonnes in first half of 2025.
- A 20-25% rise in coke prices translates into a 3-5% increase in finished steel prices.
- The integration enables real-time, two-way data exchange between customs systems and land port operations, creating a unified digital ecosystem for cross-border trade.
- Critical customs data elements—including Bill of Entry, Shipping Bill, Out of Charge (OOC), and Let Export Order (LEO)—are seamlessly synchronised between the two platforms.
- The initiative strengthens risk-based targeting by allowing early risk assessment, anomaly detection, and selective intervention while minimising disruption to legitimate trade.
- Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) International launched the global initiative “Trade Not Just Aid: Winners and Losers in the WTO” (TRaNJA).
- The TRaNJA steering committee is co-chaired by Shashi Tharoor, MP and former foreign minister of India, and Pascal Lamy, former Director-General of the WTO.
- The 21-member steering committee includes experts from all corners of the world.
- The launch event was organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and held in Tokyo, Japan, on 2-4 December, 2025, with nearly 30 experts from 16 countries participating.
- CUTS Secretary General Pradeep S. Mehta stated that around 70% of world trade still occurs on non-discriminatory MFN terms agreed at the WTO.
- Mehta highlighted that the predictability and stability provided by the WTO system has raised world trade volumes by over 45 times the level of trade in the 1950s.
- India extended safeguard duties on select steel products until April 2028, starting at 12 per cent and tapering to 11 per cent.
- The Director General Trade Remedies (DGTR) investigation found imports of specific steel products had increased in a recent, sudden, sharp and significant manner, causing and threatening serious injury to domestic producers.
- Benchmark hot rolled coil prices corrected by more than 10 per cent to Rs 46,000 per ton in early December 2025 from a high of Rs 52,500 per ton in May 2025.
- S&P assumes average prices of Rs 48,000 per ton over the next 12 to 18 months.
- S&P projects domestic steel consumption will expand at 8 per cent annually over the next three to four years, significantly higher than the 2-3 per cent global average.
- With the levy in place, import parity increases by about Rs 6,500 per ton.
- If current prices are maintained at Rs 50,000 per ton, this could increase the aggregate earnings of select steel companies representing 50 per cent of India's total steel output by about 10 per cent.
Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington-led team finds largest black coral off Fiordland, New Zealand
[New Zealand, Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington]
Key Updates:
- Marine scientists have discovered the largest black coral ever found in the sea off New Zealand.
- The coral measures more than 13 feet high and about 15 feet wide and is estimated to be around 300 to 400 years old.
- Large and old corals are important breeding sources for this slow-growing species.
- Black corals are protected under the Wildlife Act, making it illegal to deliberately collect or damage them.
- These corals are mostly found in deep waters and are used for medicine and jewelry in many cultures.
Similar Coverage
- Three-quarters of Goniopora corals at One Tree Reef have died after bleaching and black band disease.
- The losses occurred during the fourth global mass bleaching event, affecting 84% of reefs worldwide.
- Extreme heat weakened corals, enabling rapid, unprecedented spread of the disease.
- Goniopora are usually thermally tolerant, making the event a major warning for global reef resilience.
- Severe bleaching triggered by extreme ocean temperatures was followed by an unprecedented outbreak of black band disease (BBD).
- Black band disease (BBD) is a rare but aggressive bacterial infection that kills coral tissue as it spreads across a colony.
- Black band disease, common in the Caribbean but historically rare in the southern Great Barrier Reef, appeared in a few colonies in February 2024.
- By April, 61 per cent of bleached colonies were infected, and the disease spread in an epizootic-like manner.
- The disease occurred only on corals that had bleached.
- During the bleaching event, water temperatures exceeded 28°C for 74 consecutive days.
- Temperatures peaked at 34-35°C during the year.
- One Tree Reef’s (OTR) offshore location means it is largely sheltered from coastal stressors like pollution and nutrient loading, which are often associated with BBD.
- The current trajectory of climate change is progressing too quickly for corals to adjust.
- Recurrent anomalous heatwaves and mass bleaching are the greatest threat to coral reef survival.
- The loss of these large, structure-forming corals would have long-term repercussions on reef biodiversity, coastal protection and food security.
- Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back 210 million years have been found in a national park in northern Italy.
- The footprints - some of which are up to 40cm (15in) in diameter - are aligned in parallel rows, and many show clear traces of toes and claws.
- It is thought the dinosaurs were prosauropods - herbivores with long necks, small heads and sharp claws.
- In the Triassic period - between about 250 and 201 million years ago - the wall was a tidal flat, which later became part of the Alpine chain.
- The prosauropods, which could be up to 10m (33ft) long, walked on two legs but in some cases handprints were found in front of footprints.
- The area is remote and not accessible by paths, so drones and remote sensing technology will be employed instead.
- The Stelvio National Park (SNP) is located in the Fraele valley by Italy's border with Switzerland, near where the Winter Olympics will take place next year.
- A new species of coelacanth, *Whiteia anniae* sp. nov., has been discovered.
- The discovery is based on two specimens (Holotype CHU 2016 and Paratype CHU 2017) from the late Smithian (~249 Ma) marine deposits in Maoshankou, He County, Anhui Province, China.
- The new coelacanth is the oldest species of the genus *Whiteia* documented in Asia, predating the previously oldest record of whiteiids on this continent by nine million years.
- With an estimated total length of at least 420 mm, *Whiteia anniae* represents the largest whiteiid named so far from the Early Triassic.
- The new coelacanth is the best-preserved from the Early Triassic of China, featuring a discernible calcified lung.
- Diagnostic features of *Whiteia anniae* include the presence of coronoid fangs and scale ornamentation consisting of about 20 elongate ridges converging midline posteriorly.
- Phylogenetic analysis recovers *Whiteia anniae* as sister to *Whiteia woodwardi* within the Whiteiidae among the Coelacanthiformes.
- Researchers have discovered a new species of giant stick insect, Acrophylla alta.
- The discovery was made in North Queensland's rainforests, specifically in the Tablelands region, at heights between 1,600 and 3,900 feet (500 to 1,200 metres) above sea level.
- This large insect measures up to 16 inches (40 centimetres) long.
- It might be the heaviest insect yet in Australia, with one studied insect weighing about 1.6 ounces (44 grams).
- The discovery was shared in a study published in the journal Zootaxa.
- Its size is thought to be an adaptation to the cool, high-altitude environment, following Bergmann’s rule.
- Study co-author Angus Emmott from James Cook University in Australia was involved in the research.
Mitchell Starc bags ICC Men's Player of the Month award for December
[International Cricket Council (ICC)]
Key Updates:
- Australia's Mitchell Starc has been named as the winner of the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for December.
- Starc took 16 wickets and scored 139 runs across three Tests in December during the Ashes 2025-26 against England.
- He beat West Indies' Justin Greaves and New Zealand's Jacob Duffy for the award.
Similar Coverage
- South Africa’s Simon Harmer claimed 17 wickets in the two-Test series against India.
- Harmer returned figures of four for 30 and four for 21 in Kolkata, and three for 64 and six for 37 in Guwahati.
- India’s Shafali Verma scored 87 from 78 deliveries and took two wickets in the Women’s World Cup final against South Africa.
- India won the Women’s World Cup for the first time, with Verma earning Player of the Match in the final.
- India U19 defeated South Africa U19 by 233 runs in the third Youth ODI at Benoni.
- India U19 posted 393/7 in 50 overs, with twin centuries from openers Aaron George and skipper Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
- South Africa U19 were bowled out for 160 in 35 overs, with Kishan Singh taking 3/15.
- Shafali Verma scored 87 off 78 balls in the Women's World Cup final against South Africa.
- India posted 298 for 7 and won the final by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai.
- Shafali shared a 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana.
- Simon Harmer claimed the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for his 17-wicket haul in South Africa's 2-0 Test series win over India.
- Jay Shah was honored with the 'Transformational Leader Of The Year' award at the NDTV Indian Of The Year 2025 event.
- He served as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2024.
- He took over as the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in December 2024.
- Under his leadership, the BCCI launched the Women's Premier League (WPL), which raised more than Rs 6,000 crore through sponsorship, media rights, and teams.
- He implemented pay parity for women cricketers, increasing Test match fees from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh and One Day International (ODI) fees from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.
- He began his career at the Central Board of Cricket Ahmedabad in 2009.
- During his tenure at the BCCI, he oversaw the signing of record-breaking media rights deals for the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Laura Wolvaardt wins ICC Women's Player of the Month
[International Cricket Council (ICC)]
Key Updates:
- South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt has been awarded the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for December.
- Wolvaardt scored three centuries across formats in the month, including an unbeaten 115 in the opening T20I.
- She accumulated 255 runs in the ODI series at an average of 127.50 and 137 runs in the T20I series.
Similar Coverage
- South Africa’s Simon Harmer claimed 17 wickets in the two-Test series against India.
- Harmer returned figures of four for 30 and four for 21 in Kolkata, and three for 64 and six for 37 in Guwahati.
- India’s Shafali Verma scored 87 from 78 deliveries and took two wickets in the Women’s World Cup final against South Africa.
- India won the Women’s World Cup for the first time, with Verma earning Player of the Match in the final.
- Shafali Verma scored 87 off 78 balls in the Women's World Cup final against South Africa.
- India posted 298 for 7 and won the final by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai.
- Shafali shared a 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana.
- Simon Harmer claimed the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for his 17-wicket haul in South Africa's 2-0 Test series win over India.
- Jay Shah was honored with the 'Transformational Leader Of The Year' award at the NDTV Indian Of The Year 2025 event.
- He served as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2024.
- He took over as the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in December 2024.
- Under his leadership, the BCCI launched the Women's Premier League (WPL), which raised more than Rs 6,000 crore through sponsorship, media rights, and teams.
- He implemented pay parity for women cricketers, increasing Test match fees from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh and One Day International (ODI) fees from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.
- He began his career at the Central Board of Cricket Ahmedabad in 2009.
- During his tenure at the BCCI, he oversaw the signing of record-breaking media rights deals for the Indian Premier League (IPL).
- Sarayu Velpula became India's 26th Woman Grandmaster on 18/11/2025.
- She scored her final norm at First League of Central Serbia.
- Her first WIM, WGM, and IM-norms were scored at Pontevedra Masters 2023 in July.
- She earned her second WGM-norm at Paris IdF Masters in July 2025.
- She crossed 2300 in the September 2023 FIDE Rating list, achieving a published rating of 2386.
- Her peak rating is 2443.
- She joins the Indian team at the FIDE World Women's Team Championship 2025 in Linares, Spain.
- Her trainer is IM N Krishna Teja.
- Pravaha foundation has been supporting Sarayu’s journey from March 2025.