Current Affair Category: International Relations

Why in News: The Cook Islands has entered into a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with China, a move that has raised concerns in New Zealand, given its constitutional ties with the Pacific nation. Here’s a breakdown of the agreement and the reactions: High-Level Agreement: Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Chinese Premier Li Qiang […]

Introduction and Acknowledgments: Prime Minister Modi addressed the SAMVAD programme via video message from Thailand. He expressed honor in joining the event and greeted participants. Acknowledged the efforts of distinguished institutions and individuals from India, Japan, and Thailand. Tribute to Shinzo Abe: The idea of SAMVAD originated from conversations with Shinzo Abe in 2015. SAMVAD […]

1. Launch of the TRUST Initiative: India and the United States recently introduced the TRUST initiative to strengthen cooperation in sourcing and processing critical minerals. Announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, this partnership aims to establish more resilient supply chains for key minerals like lithium and rare earth elements (REEs). Its purpose […]

Why in News? India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have launched the India-EFTA Desk, marking a significant milestone in economic cooperation. This development follows the recently finalized India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), making EFTA the first European bloc to formalize a trade pact with India. Key Highlights: Investment and Trade Benefits: […]

Why in News?In his second term as President of the United States, Donald Trump has moved to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies initiated by his predecessor Joe Biden. This policy reversal is being discussed globally, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighting the Trump administration’s stance against issues like climate change and […]

 Why in News ? The three Baltic states have disconnected their electricity systems from Russia’s power grid as part of a plan designed to integrate the countries more closely with the EU and boost security. About the Baltic nations: The Baltic nations—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—are three countries located in the northeastern part of Europe, along […]

military exercise ‘Cyclone 2025’ : The joint military exercise ‘Cyclone 2025’ between India and Egypt commenced on February 10, 2025, at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. This marks the third iteration of the ‘Cyclone’ series, aiming to bolster defense cooperation and enhance interoperability between the two nations’ special forces. Key Details of ‘Cyclone […]

Recent Temperature Anomaly: Event: February 2, 2025, temperatures at the North Pole soared 20°C above average, surpassing the melting threshold for ice. Extreme Observation: On February 1, temperatures in Svalbard, Norway, were 18°C above the 1991–2020 average, rising further by the next day. Expert Commentary: Mika Rantanen, Finnish Meteorological Institute, termed it an extreme winter […]

Beggar-thy-Neighbour Policies: An Overview Beggar-thy-neighbour policies refer to protectionist measures that benefit one country at the expense of others. A common form of this is the imposition of tariffs and quotas on foreign goods. Governments and central banks may also engage in these policies through currency devaluation to boost exports and limit imports. Origins of […]

Why in News ? It was recently in news . About the Darien Gap: It  is a remote, dense, and dangerous region that serves as a natural barrier between Central and South America. Spanning approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles), it is located between Panama in Central America and Colombia in South America. The region is […]