International Relations & Politics

• Chilean Presidential Election: In a significant political shift, ultra-conservative Jose Antonio Kast won Chile's presidential runoff, defeating leftist Jeannette Jara.
• US Visa Policy Changes: The United States government initiated enhanced screening for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, effective December 15, 2025. This new measure includes social media profile checks and has resulted in numerous appointment cancellations and rescheduling, particularly impacting applicants in India.
• Singapore-China Bilateral Talks: Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong is in Chongqing, China, on December 15, 2025, to co-chair the 21st Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation and other key joint steering councils, aiming to strengthen cooperation.
• US Foreign Policy Scrutiny: The Trump administration's National Security Strategy, which emphasizes an "America First" approach and suggests a retreat from US global leadership, has drawn criticism.
• Global Governance Discussions: China's "Global Governance Initiative," unveiled by President Xi Jinping, has prompted discussions on its potential implications for the international order.
• Australia-US Ministerial Consultations: The 2025 Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) saw US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth meet with their Australian counterparts to advance safety, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. A notable outcome is the availability of Global Entry to all Australian citizens starting December 15, 2025.
• International Day Against Colonialism: The United Nations officially recognized December 14, 2025, as the International Day Against Colonialism, reaffirming commitments to decolonization.

Economy & Finance

• Central Bank Decisions: Multiple central banks, including the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, and the Bank of Japan, are scheduled to make policy decisions this week, following the US Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut.
• US Jobs Data Anticipation: Global financial markets are closely monitoring the release of delayed US non-farm payrolls data for October and November, which is expected to influence the Federal Reserve's future interest rate decisions.
• China's Consumption Boost: Chinese authorities have intensified financial support to stimulate domestic consumption, recognizing its crucial role in economic growth.
• China's Growth Forecast: The International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have all revised upwards their growth forecasts for China in 2025, highlighting optimism for its economic resilience.

Science & Technology

• ISRO Satellite Launch Rescheduled: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has rescheduled the launch of its heavy BlueBird-6 satellite to December 21, 2025. This Indo-US mission aims to enhance global broadband connectivity.
• Dark Matter Breakthroughs: The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment, the world's most sensitive dark matter detector, has further refined constraints on proposed dark matter particles and, for the first time, detected elusive neutrinos originating from the Sun.
• JAXA Technology Mission: Rocket Lab successfully completed its 19th launch of the year, deploying a technology demonstration mission for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The RAISE-4 satellite carries eight different technologies for in-orbit testing by Japanese entities.
• IBM Acquires Confluent: IBM announced the acquisition of data-streaming company Confluent for $11 billion, a move aimed at strengthening its AI and cloud technology ecosystem.
• Quantum Computing and Emerging Tech: Significant advancements have been noted in quantum error correction and chip-scale devices for laser frequencies. Other key technological breakthroughs in 2025 include the expansion of Edge AI and 5G, the development of structural battery composites, and engineered living therapeutics.

Social Welfare & Awards

• Sydney Mass Shooting: A mass shooting incident occurred at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, resulting in multiple casualties. Authorities are investigating the attack as potentially terror-linked, leading to increased security measures around Hanukkah events worldwide.
• Reimagine Australia Awards: Farah Junaid was honored with the Inclusion Award at the 2025 Reimagine Australia Awards for her exceptional leadership in promoting inclusive early childhood education.
• New Zealand Bravery Awards: Ten individuals, both New Zealand citizens and visitors, were recognized in the 2025 New Zealand Bravery Awards for their courageous and selfless acts.
• Seattle Film Critics Society Awards: The winners of the 10th Seattle Film Critics Society Awards were scheduled to be announced on December 15, 2025, with Ryan Coogler's horror film "Sinners" leading the nominations.

Sports

• Squash World Cup: India emerged victorious in the Squash World Cup held in Chennai, defeating Hong Kong in the final.
• ISSF World Cup Final: India's shooting contingent secured a total of six medals, including two gold, three silver, and one bronze, in rifle and pistol events at the ISSF World Cup Final 2025 in Doha.
• World Darts Championship: The 2025/26 World Darts Championship commenced in London, featuring a record prize fund.
• Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship: India is set to host the inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship in March 2026.
• U-21 Hockey Tournament: Ludhiana will be the venue for the Jagtar Singh Memorial U-21 Hockey Tournament.
• World Para Athletics Championships: New Delhi has been designated as the host city for the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.