Mexico approved tariffs up to 50% on hundreds of goods from countries without trade agreements, including India and China, effective next year. President Claudia Sheinbaum's government justified the move to protect local employment and manufacturing. Indian automakers face the heaviest impact, as Mexico is India's third-largest car export market after South Africa and Saudi Arabia. The tariffs threaten $1.8 billion worth of shipments from Volkswagen and Hyundai. India exported $5.63 billion to Mexico in 2025, with vehicles comprising $1.86 billion, followed by electrical equipment ($612 million), machinery ($561 million), organic chemicals ($388 million), and aluminum ($386 million). Indian industry groups are lobbying to prevent implementation. (PC: AFP) 

Bangladesh announced its 13th National Parliamentary Election for February 12, 2026, marking the first general polls since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster. Chief Election Commissioner Naseeruddin declared the country ready to conduct "free and democratic voting," urging citizens against fake news and rumors. The election will coincide with the July Charter referendum, with 300 parliamentary seats contested. Non-resident Bangladeshis can apply online from December 12-25. The nomination filing deadline is December 29, 2025, with scrutiny from December 30-January 4, 2026. Appeals against returning officers' decisions must be filed by January 11, with the Election Commission disposing them by January 18. Candidates can withdraw nominations until January 20, 2026. (PC: India Today & HT)

Sanskrit teaching has returned to Pakistan for the first time since the 1947 Partition, with the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) introducing a Sanskrit course after strong interest from students and researchers. What began as a three-month weekend workshop evolved into a full university credit course. Pakistan’s Punjab University houses a rich but long-undervalued Sanskrit manuscript collection that local scholars now aim to engage with. LUMS plans to offer courses on the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita to cultivate homegrown expertise. Professors hope this initiative fosters cultural bridges and may grow into year-long language programmes by 2027. (PC: The Tribune)

The U.S. seized a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, President Donald Trump confirmed, marking the first such action since heightened military deployments in the region. The vessel, believed to be the VLCC Skipper carrying about 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude, was intercepted under U.S. sanctions for illicit oil trading involving Venezuela and Iran. Trump said the oil would be kept by the U.S. Caracas condemned the move as “blatant theft” and “international piracy”, threatening to appeal to global bodies. The action intensified tensions with Venezuela and briefly lifted global crude prices. 

The Election Commission of India extended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) deadline for electoral rolls by one week in six states and one Union Territory, while West Bengal, Goa, Rajasthan, and Lakshadweep's enumeration period ends today as scheduled. Tamil Nadu and Gujarat received extensions until December 14, while Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Andaman and Nicobar got until December 18. Uttar Pradesh's revised enumeration deadline is December 26. Draft electoral rolls will be published between December 16-31 depending on the state. Kerala, previously granted extension until December 18, will publish its draft on December 23. The ECI encourages eligible electors to submit Form 6 online or through Booth Level Officers for inclusion in final rolls publishing February 2026. (PC: India Today & The Hindu)

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk expressed enthusiasm about serving India through Starlink following high-level meetings between company officials and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi. Starlink is rapidly advancing regulatory approvals, commercial arrangements, and state-level collaborations, including a new Letter of Intent with Maharashtra. The satellite internet service is preparing for a potential 2025–26 launch in India, prioritizing rural and remote area connectivity. The company addressed confusion regarding pricing that briefly appeared on its Indian website, clarifying it was an error. Official service plans and pricing will only be announced after receiving complete government approval, as Starlink works toward establishing comprehensive internet coverage across underserved regions of India. (PC: Facebook)

Immigration attorneys urgently warn H-1B visa holders against traveling to India following mass postponement of visa interviews from December to March-April 2026. The US Embassy's last-minute rescheduling has stranded hundreds who traveled for December appointments. Experts caution that traveling risks job loss, as employers cannot maintain vacant positions for months, and many companies prohibit extended remote work from outside the US due to export-control, payroll, and tax restrictions. Those already in India awaiting visa stamping must wait indefinitely. The postponements follow the State Department's new social media screening requirements for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants. Attorneys advise staying in the US unless holding valid visa stamps, warning delayed returns could mean unemployment and family separation. (PC: News18 & Business Standard)

A Delhi court on Thursday granted activist and former JNU student leader Umar Khalid interim bail in the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case from December 16 to December 29 so he can attend his sister’s wedding. The order by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai requires Khalid to furnish a personal bond and sureties, and restricts him from using social media or contacting any witnesses during this period. He is allowed to meet only family and must stay at home or wedding venues, surrendering on the evening of December 29. Khalid has been incarcerated for over five years under UAPA and related charges. (PC: PTI)

A 70-foot iron statue of football legend Lionel Messi has been unveiled at Lake Town in South Dum Dum, Kolkata, by the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club, with work finishing touches underway. The towering sculpture depicts Messi holding the FIFA World Cup trophy and was completed in just 40 days, club president and West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose said, claiming it’s the biggest Messi statue in the world. Organisers say Messi will virtually inaugurate the statue on December 13 during his India visit, due to security concerns, while fans eagerly await the tribute ahead of the 2026 World Cup. (PC: X)

IndiGo Airlines has announced travel vouchers worth ₹10,000 for passengers who were severely stranded between December 5 and 7 due to widespread flight disruptions and cancellations, the airline said in a statement. The vouchers, valid for 12 months, can be used on any future IndiGo flights and are in addition to refunds and government-mandated compensation. This comes as IndiGo works to stabilize operations after mass cancellations that left many travellers stuck at airports. Most refunds have reportedly been processed, and the carrier aims to address passenger inconvenience amid ongoing operational recovery. (PC: HT)