Current Affair Category: International Relations

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭: Japan’s 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐞𝐗𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐌𝐌𝐗) mission aims to study the two moons of Mars, 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐬, and return a sample from 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡. The mission will help scientists understand the origin of these moons and the early evolution of the 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦: Martian Moons eXploration (𝐌𝐌𝐗). 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: […]

Why in News? The conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region has resurfaced after the November 2022 peace agreement. Renewed fighting involving the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian government forces has raised concerns about renewed civil conflict and a possible direct military confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The crisis reflects unresolved ethnic and political tensions […]

Why in News? Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for deeper defence and technological cooperation between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the maiden ASEAN–India Defence Think Tank Forum held in New Delhi. The initiative highlights India’s efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships and promote a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific. The […]

Why in News? India’s ability to benefit from the China+1 Strategy depends significantly on the industrial capabilities of individual states. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have emerged as important electronics manufacturing hubs, attracting investments from companies such as Foxconn and Tata Electronics. What is the China+1 Strategy? Meaning: A business strategy in which companies diversify their […]

Why in News? The IPCC is facing a deadlock among its 195 member countries over the timeline for publishing its next assessment reports. The disagreement could delay scientific inputs for the 2028 UN climate negotiations and decisions under the Paris Agreement. What is the IPCC? Established: 1988. Established by: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and […]

Why in News? Reports of the US suspending major Indian IT companies from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme have raised concerns about Indian skilled workers, employment-based immigration and India–US economic relations. What is PERM? Full Form: Program Electronic Review Management. Administering Authority: US Department of Labor (DOL). Purpose: To protect US workers by requiring […]

Why in News? Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that India–U.S. trade talks have reached a “plateau”, with limited scope for further concessions from either side. What is India’s Trade Dilemma? India runs a trade surplus with the U.S. but a structural trade deficit with China. Chinese imports include several goods that are difficult to substitute […]

Why in News? External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the emerging “4F crisis”—encompassing Food, Fuel, Fertiliser, and Finance—affecting the Global South amidst geopolitical conflicts, supply-chain disruptions, and economic instability. What are the Four Fs? Food: Disruptions in grain production, trade, and supply chains heighten food insecurity and drive up prices, especially in import-dependent nations. Fuel: […]

Why in News? The 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, in November 2026. Host: Türkiye COP31 President: Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s Minister of Environment Vice-President: Chris Bowen, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy Negotiation process: Australia will oversee negotiations, while Türkiye will host the summit. Unique Arrangement: Türkiye: Physical host and COP Presidency Australia: Responsible for overseeing the […]

Why in News? The BRICS New Delhi Declaration emphasised increasing trade in national currencies. This has renewed discussion on alternatives to SWIFT, particularly amid concerns over the use of financial sanctions and the dominance of the U.S. dollar in international payments. What is SWIFT? SWIFT — Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication — is a global messaging network that enables […]