Todays top 15 news across the world for 18 December 2025 brings you the 8 biggest India-related headlines
🇮🇳 Air India Wins Best Domestic Airline Award Again
As part of todays top 15 news across the world, India’s flag carrier Air India has once again been named the
Best Domestic Airline at the Travel + Leisure India & South Asia Awards 2025, reinforcing its
turnaround narrative after years of turbulence. The recognition comes on the back of a large fleet modernisation plan,
refurbished cabins and improved on‑time performance, which have helped the airline compete more aggressively in a crowded
Indian aviation market. For travellers, the award signals that the Tata‑owned carrier’s investments in service, network
expansion and reliability are beginning to pay off, even as rivals push low‑fare and regional connectivity strategies to
capture new flyers.
Source:
Leverage Edu – School Assembly News Headlines, 18 Dec 2025
🇮🇳 Govt Panel Wants EV Incentives Focused on Fully Electric Vehicles
A key parliamentary committee on energy has recommended that India’s government reorient its electric mobility subsidies
towards fully electric, zero‑emission vehicles, instead of spreading incentives across mild hybrids and
other transition technologies. Lawmakers argue that limited fiscal resources should be channelled into technologies that
directly cut tailpipe pollution and oil imports, especially in congested urban centres battling toxic air. If accepted,
the proposal could reshape the market for two‑wheelers, cars and buses, nudging manufacturers to accelerate pure‑EV
product lines and invest more in domestic battery, charging and recycling ecosystems.
Source:
Leverage Edu – School Assembly News Headlines, 18 Dec 2025
🇮🇳 Aadhaar Data Secure, No Breach in UIDAI Systems, Says Government
The Union government has assured Parliament that there has been no breach of the Aadhaar database and that
core systems of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) remain secure. The clarification comes amid periodic
reports and social‑media rumours about leaked Aadhaar details, which have raised public concerns over privacy and identity
theft. Officials say robust encryption, multi‑layered security architecture and regular audits are in place, and that any
misuse incidents typically stem from local-level violations or third‑party databases rather than a compromise of the
central Aadhaar system itself.
Source:
Leverage Edu – School Assembly News Headlines, 18 Dec 2025
🇮🇳 Indian OTT Platforms Boost Cultural Soft Power Worldwide
India’s booming OTT sector is not only transforming how people at home consume entertainment but also significantly
enhancing the country’s cultural soft power abroad. Original series and films in Hindi and regional
languages are finding audiences from the Middle East to North America, powered by global streaming platforms and diaspora
word‑of‑mouth. Policymakers and industry leaders say this wave of Indian content – spanning crime thrillers, family drama
and mythology‑inspired fantasy – is reshaping global perceptions of modern India while creating new export revenues,
cross‑border collaborations and tourism interest in filming locations.
Source:
Leverage Edu – School Assembly News Headlines, 18 Dec 2025
🇮🇳 India Can Become Global Education & Research Hub, Says CEA
Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran has said India can emerge as a global hub for education and
research if states fully implement and deepen reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According
to him, demographic pressures, fiscal stress and policy limits are weakening traditional study destinations, giving India
a window to attract international students and research collaborations. Realising that potential, he argued, will require
sustained investment in universities, high‑quality faculty, world‑class PhD programmes and streamlined visa and regulatory
regimes, turning education into both a strategic asset and a major services export.
Source:
Leverage Edu – School Assembly News Headlines, 18 Dec 2025
🇮🇳 Indian Railways Nears 100% Electrification Milestone
In a major infrastructure update, the Government of India has announced that Indian Railways is close to achieving
100% electrification of its broad‑gauge network, a step expected to cut fuel costs and reduce the rail sector’s
carbon footprint. Electrification allows trains to run faster and more efficiently while shrinking dependence on imported
diesel, aligning with the country’s net‑zero and energy‑security goals. Officials say the remaining non‑electrified
stretches are being fast‑tracked, and that future focus will shift towards modern signalling, higher average speeds and
greater freight share to ease pressure on road transport.
🇮🇳 India Gear Up for Crucial T20I Clash Against South Africa
On the sports front, India’s men’s cricket team is preparing for a key T20I against South Africa at
Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, with the series finely balanced and both sides eyeing momentum ahead of next year’s global
tournaments. Team management is expected to juggle combinations between experienced stars and emerging youngsters, testing
bench strength under high‑pressure conditions. Fans are keeping a close watch on the pitch, weather and dew factors, all
of which could influence India’s bowling plans and the role of spinners versus power‑hitters in the middle overs.
Sources:
The Economic Times – School Assembly News, 18 Dec 2025
;
The Indian Express – Today News Headlines, 18 Dec 2025
🇮🇳 India Pile Up 408 vs Malaysia in U‑19 Asia Cup
India’s under‑19 cricket team has produced a stunning batting display, scoring 408/7 against Malaysia in
the U‑19 Asia Cup, showcasing the next generation of big‑hitting talent. Several youngsters converted brisk starts into
substantial scores, hammering the opposition attack to all parts of the ground and giving the bowlers a huge cushion to
defend. The massive total has boosted India’s net run rate and reinforced their status as tournament favourites, while
also feeding optimism that the senior side will enjoy a strong pipeline of aggressive batters for years to come.
Source:
The Economic Times – School Assembly News, 18 Dec 2025
🇪🇺 EU Leaders Meet on Using Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine
In Brussels, European Union leaders are holding a high‑stakes summit to decide whether profits from
roughly €210–250 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets can be used to fund a new loan package for
Ukraine. The proposal would channel windfall earnings from these immobilised reserves into Kyiv’s budget and defence needs,
with the expectation that Moscow will ultimately repay the loan as part of war reparations. While many member states back
the idea as a signal of long‑term support, others worry about legal challenges, financial‑market reactions and the precedent
it sets for the treatment of sovereign reserves in future conflicts.
Sources:
Al Jazeera – EU summit on knife-edge over plan to fund Ukraine
;
Reuters – Crunch EU summit on frozen Russian assets
🇺🇦 Russia–Ukraine War: EU Summit Aims to Strengthen Kyiv’s Hand
The same Brussels summit is being framed as a crucial moment in the Russia–Ukraine war, with leaders
looking to send Moscow a message that Europe is prepared to finance Kyiv “for as long as it takes”. Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pressed EU capitals to unlock the frozen‑asset mechanism and approve multi‑year financial support,
arguing that anything less will be read by the Kremlin as a sign of fatigue. Live updates from the summit highlight intense
negotiations over burden‑sharing, legal guarantees and how to shield institutions like Belgium‑based Euroclear from
potential Russian lawsuits while still keeping the money flowing to Ukraine’s war and reconstruction budget.
Source:
Al Jazeera – Russia–Ukraine War Live: EU holds key summit
🇵🇰 Pakistan Uses AI to Stop Potential Beggars Travelling Abroad
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has revealed that authorities have stopped at least 51,000 citizens from
travelling abroad in 2025 by using artificial intelligence and enhanced screening to flag potential overseas
beggars. Officials told lawmakers that many passengers, especially those headed to Saudi Arabia and parts of Europe, were
unable to provide convincing travel documents or funds, suggesting they might end up begging or overstaying visas. The AI‑
assisted system monitors patterns at immigration counters and is part of a broader effort to improve Pakistan’s global
image, raise passport rankings and curb human‑trafficking and illegal migration linked to organised begging networks.
Source:
The Economic Times – Pakistan using AI to prevent potential beggars from going abroad
🇵🇰 Thousands of Pakistanis Deported for Begging Overseas
Alongside those stopped at airports, data presented to Pakistan’s National Assembly show that around 31,000
Pakistanis were deported in 2025 from countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Azerbaijan for involvement in
begging. Saudi Arabia alone sent back roughly 24,000 people, while several thousand others were expelled from Gulf and
European destinations after being caught soliciting alms or violating immigration rules. The figures highlight the scale of
organised rackets that send vulnerable people abroad on short‑term visas, and have prompted calls for tougher action against
traffickers at home as well as better livelihood options so that desperate citizens are not drawn into such routes.
Sources:
The Economic Times – Pakistan using AI to prevent potential beggars from going abroad
;
8171IP – Thousands of Pakistanis Deported Abroad Over Begging
🇪🇺 Sabotage Attacks Linked to Russia Surge Across Europe
European security agencies are warning of a surge in sabotage operations allegedly linked to Russian intelligence
networks, targeting infrastructure and factories across multiple EU states. Recent cases include arson attempts,
rail disruptions and cyber‑enabled attacks that investigators say are designed to sow fear, strain security resources and
undermine support for Ukraine. Analysts told German broadcaster DW that some governments had been “in denial” about the
scale of the threat, but that the pattern now points to a coordinated grey‑zone campaign intended to pressure Europe as the
war drags on and key funding decisions – like the frozen‑assets plan – come up for approval.
Sources:
DW – Acts of sabotage linked to Russia surge in Europe
;
CNN – Ukraine’s former minister on Russian threat
🇺🇸 Analysts Debate Strength of New Ukraine Security Plan
As Washington and European capitals float new security guarantees for Ukraine, experts remain divided over
whether the emerging plan is robust enough to deter future Russian aggression. Supporters say multi‑year funding,
joint‑training commitments and closer integration with Nato structures will effectively give Kyiv an “Article 5‑like”
umbrella without formal membership. Critics counter that ambiguous enforcement mechanisms and political shifts in Western
capitals could weaken the guarantees over time, leaving Ukraine vulnerable once again if Russia chooses to regroup and test
the West’s resolve after a ceasefire.
Sources:
Bloomberg – Ukraine Security Plan Offers Robust Protections
;
The Independent – Ukraine–Russia War Latest
🌍 India Raises Security Concerns With Neighbours Amid Regional Tensions
Rounding off todays top 15 news across the world, India has been raising security and border‑management concerns
with neighbouring countries as part of a wider diplomatic outreach in South Asia. Recent briefings and news
summaries note that New Delhi has flagged issues such as cross‑border movement, militancy and illegal migration with
partners including Bangladesh and Pakistan, even as it pushes connectivity and trade initiatives in the region. Analysts
point out that India is trying to balance a tough stance on security with the need for economic integration, at a time when
great‑power competition and domestic political pressures are reshaping regional equations.
Sources:
News18 – School Assembly News Headlines, 18 Dec 2025
;
The Indian Express – Today News Headlines, 18 Dec 2025