Current Affairs - International

The 7th Regional Committee Meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for the Asia-Pacific region is scheduled to be held in Colombo. This meeting will focus on accelerating solar energy adoption, fostering cross-border solar interconnections, and promoting emerging clean technologies across the region. The ISA, co-founded by India and France in 2015, is headquartered in Gurugram, India, and plays a key role in uniting countries to harness solar power for sustainable development. Hosting the meeting in Colombo underscores Sri Lanka’s growing role in regional renewable energy initiatives and its commitment to sustainable energy solutions.

Saudi Arabia signed a significant 5-year agreement with India in July 2025 to supply 3.1 million metric tons of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer annually. The deal, finalised during Union Minister JP Nadda’s visit, was made with Saudi firm Maaden and includes major Indian partners like IPL, KRIBHCO, and CIL. This agreement marks a considerable increase from the 1.9 million metric tons supplied the previous year and aims to enhance India's fertilizer security. In addition to DAP, both nations discussed expanding into other fertilizers like Urea, along with joint investment opportunities and cooperation in health and pharmaceuticals.

India made history on July 12, 2025, by launching the world’s first Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), a groundbreaking initiative that digitally preserves and protects the country’s ancient medicinal systems like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and more. The platform uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to analyse, organise, and apply traditional knowledge in modern healthcare. It also aims to prevent biopiracy and promote scientific innovation. The World Health Organisation recognised this achievement as a model for blending traditional wisdom with modern technology. India’s leadership in combining AI with traditional medicine has set a new global standard for health innovation and cultural preservation.

In July 2025, France and New Caledonia finalised a landmark agreement aimed at resolving long-standing tensions over independence. The deal grants New Caledonia more autonomy by establishing it as a state within the French Republic, offering a compromise between full independence and continued integration. The move comes in response to deadly protests in 2024 and seeks to preserve peace while protecting the rights of the Indigenous Kanak population. The agreement includes provisions for dual nationality, voting rights based on residency, and future referendums. Strategically located and rich in nickel, New Caledonia remains crucial to France’s Indo-Pacific presence.

On July 11, 2025, UNESCO recognised three historical sites in Cambodia—Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, M-13 prison, and Choeung Ek Killing Fields—as World Heritage Sites. These places were used by the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 and 1979 for torture, imprisonment, and executions, during which nearly 1.7 million people died. This is Cambodia's first inscription of modern historical sites linked to recent conflict and genocide, marking a significant step in acknowledging painful modern history. The move aims to honour victims, educate future generations, and ensure that such tragedies are never repeated. The recognition also promotes peace, remembrance, and healing.