Current Affairs - International

The “Golden Dragon-2025” joint military exercise between China and Cambodia took place in Cambodia, marking the seventh edition of this bilateral defence cooperation initiative. This exercise expanded in scale and sophistication, featuring advanced unmanned combat systems and encompassing land, sea, and air operations. Held at Cambodia’s Ream Port Joint Support and Training Centre, the drill focuses on enhancing counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and peace cooperation between the two countries. It reflects the deepening military ties and mutual trust in strategic areas between China and Cambodia.

On May 16, 2025, Russia and Ukraine conducted their first direct negotiations in three years in Istanbul, marking a pivotal diplomatic moment amid the ongoing conflict. Hosted at Dolmabahce Palace under the mediation of Turkey, the talks led to a significant agreement on a mutual prisoner swap involving 1,000 individuals from each side. While no ceasefire was achieved, both delegations agreed to continue discussions and explore future steps toward de-escalation. Istanbul’s selection as the venue underscores Turkey’s strategic role in facilitating dialogue between the two nations, and the meeting was closely watched by the international community due to its geopolitical implications.

On May 16, 2025, Honduras officially inaugurated its new embassy in New Delhi, marking a significant step in deepening ties with India. This move aims to bolster cooperation in trade, development, technology, and climate resilience, while also enabling Honduras to utilize India as a strategic gateway to Asia. In turn, India can leverage Honduras’ position as a bridge to Central America. The inauguration followed a series of bilateral engagements and reflects India’s growing outreach to Latin America. Notably, Indian companies like Bajaj, Hero, and TVS have a strong presence in Honduras, further reinforcing the value of this diplomatic expansion.

Nigeria experienced a severe outbreak of Lassa fever in 2025, resulting in 138 deaths and 717 confirmed cases, as reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The outbreak affected 18 out of the country’s 36 states, with a high case fatality rate of 19.2%. Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is commonly transmitted to humans through food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats. The scale and spread of the outbreak highlight the urgent need for improved public health surveillance and preventive measures in affected regions.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea after detecting virus samples in healthy children during routine screenings in Lae, a coastal city in the country’s northeast. Polio is a highly infectious disease that mainly affects children under five years of age and spreads through contact with infected faeces or respiratory droplets. The declaration aims to prompt urgent vaccination efforts to contain the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable populations. This situation underscores the importance of sustained immunisation campaigns in preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases globally.