Current Affairs - International

The 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026 was organised in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The event witnessed participation from 381 students representing 87 countries, making it one of the world's leading physics competitions for school students. India achieved an outstanding milestone by winning five gold medals, with every member of its team earning a gold medal. This performance helped India secure a joint first position alongside China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan, reflecting the country's consistent excellence in international science Olympiads.

A total of 12 nations, together with the United States and the United Kingdom, joined in issuing a joint statement reaffirming the 2016 Hague Arbitration ruling on the South China Sea. Altogether, the declaration was supported by 14 countries, which emphasised that China's expansive maritime claims have no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The statement marked the tenth anniversary of the landmark arbitral award, reaffirmed the importance of international law, freedom of navigation, and peaceful dispute resolution, and expressed concern over actions that could undermine regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.

India and New Zealand elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership and signed several agreements covering maritime security, defence cooperation, trade, agriculture, disaster management, tourism, and cultural collaboration. The two countries adopted a Roadmap to 2030 with the goal of doubling bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion by 2030. Key agreements included mutual logistics support between their naval forces, hydrography and nautical cartography cooperation, and disaster resilience initiatives. New Zealand also joined the Maritime Security pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the Global Biofuels Alliance, strengthening cooperation across strategic, economic, and environmental sectors.

New Delhi secured the 120th position in the Global Liveability Index 2026 published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which assessed 173 cities worldwide. The rankings were based on five key parameters: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Copenhagen was ranked as the world's most liveable city, followed by Vienna and Melbourne. Among Indian cities, Mumbai ranked 121st, Chennai 123rd, and Bengaluru 127th. The index provides a comprehensive assessment of urban living conditions and helps compare the quality of life across cities around the world.

India and Kyrgyzstan jointly inaugurated the International Centre for Civilizational Studies “Manas and Mahabharata” in Bishkek to strengthen cultural and academic cooperation. The centre aims to promote comparative research on the Mahabharata and the Kyrgyz epic Manas while encouraging collaboration in history, literature, philosophy, and international relations. The initiative also supports faculty exchanges, joint research, and cultural dialogue between the two countries. Another significant achievement announced during the event was the release of the first Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic Manas, further enhancing mutual understanding and preserving the rich literary heritage of both nations.