Current Affair Category: International Relations

Defining Thucydides’s Trap The term refers to the structural stress that occurs when a rising power threatens to displace a ruling power. Origin: Named after the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, who observed that the Peloponnesian War was made inevitable by the rise of Athens and the fear this instilled in Sparta. The Mechanism: It is […]

In January 2026, India is weighing an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join the Board of Peace (BoP), a new international body designed to oversee post-war governance, reconstruction, and security in Gaza. The proposal has sparked intense debate regarding India’s role in global governance and its long-standing principles. Pros: Reasons to Join: Global […]

China today shows many clear signs of Xi Jinping’s strong control over power. One important example came on January 17, when the Communist Party’s anti-corruption agency announced that it had punished about 9.83 lakh (983,000) people in just one year. This was the highest number ever recorded. It shows how Xi uses a strict and fear-based approach to discipline officials and keep tight […]

As US President Donald Trump has consistently threatened to acquire Greenland, the European Union is planning countermeasures against the United States. Primarily functioning as a trading bloc, the EU’s main tools are mostly financial instruments, including steep tariffs on US goods and the so-called trade bazooka promoted by French President Emmanuel Macron. However, most of […]

The term “Donroe Doctrine” has surged into global headlines following a dramatic U.S. military operation in early January 2026. It represents a 21st-century evolution of American foreign policy that prioritizes unilateral force, economic control, and the “protection” of the Western Hemisphere from non-American influence. The term became a focal point due to Operation Absolute Resolve, […]

Global and National Definitions Palermo Protocol (UN, 2000): Defines child trafficking as the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation.” Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 – Section 143: Provides a stringent domestic definition. It includes the act of recruiting or transporting persons using threats, force, fraud, or abuse […]

Project Suncatcher is Google’s “moonshot” research project aimed at moving AI data centers off the planet and into Earth’s orbit. It was officially unveiled in late 2025 as a radical solution to the massive energy and environmental costs of AI on Earth. Why is it in the news now (2026)? The AI Energy Crisis: Terrestrial […]

BRICS Presidency 2026. On January 13, 2026, India officially signaled the start of its leadership year by launching the logo, website, and theme for the BRICS Presidency 2026. This year holds special significance as it marks the 20th anniversary of the grouping’s inception. ## The Theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” Unveiled by […]

Why in the News? Final Deadline: There is significant momentum to finalize the deal before the India-EU Summit on January 27, 2026. High-Level Visits: EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, are visiting New Delhi as Chief Guests for Republic Day 2026. Breakthrough Talks: Minister Piyush […]

Cold War 2 (also called Cold War 2.0, Second Cold War, or New Cold War) refers to the heightened geopolitical rivalry in the 21st century, primarily between the United States (and its allies) on one side and China (often backed by Russia) on the other. Unlike the original Cold War (1947–1991), which was largely ideological […]