Current Affairs - International

India and the Philippines have recently agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership. This development was marked by the adoption of a 2025–2029 Action Plan during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The move signifies deepening cooperation across various sectors, including legal assistance, defence, trade, and coast guard operations. Additionally, the visit of President Marcos Jr. coincides with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, highlighting the long-standing and growing partnership.

India partnered with the United Nations to launch the Global Capacity Building Initiative aimed at supporting countries in the Global South to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first tranche included four projects and was a collaborative effort between India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and various UN agencies. This initiative builds on India's long-standing ITEC programme, which already provides over 12,000 training slots to around 160 countries. By combining India’s developmental outreach with the UN’s global framework, the initiative aims to enhance technical and professional skills in developing countries, strengthening international cooperation and capacity-building efforts.

Hong Kong will implement the Stablecoins Ordinance starting August 1, 2025, in an effort to regulate the use and issuance of stablecoins within its jurisdiction. Stablecoins are a category of cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to stable assets, such as foreign currencies. Unlike Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which are issued and controlled by governments, stablecoins can be privately issued. With this ordinance, Hong Kong seeks to establish a legal framework to oversee the operations of stablecoins, ensuring financial stability, investor protection, and alignment with international standards in the evolving digital asset space.

India achieved the position of the world’s 5th largest aviation market in 2024 by carrying 241 million passengers, showing a significant growth of 11.1% compared to 2023. This leap placed India ahead of Japan and just behind the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and Spain. The ranking is based on data from the World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). India’s Mumbai-Delhi route also ranked 7th among the busiest air routes globally, highlighting the country’s expanding role in international and domestic air travel.

India is taking a significant step to address micronutrient deficiencies by introducing bio-fortified potatoes enriched with iron. Developed with support from the International Potato Centre (CIP), these iron-rich potatoes aim to combat hidden hunger, particularly iron deficiency, which affects large segments of the Indian population, especially women and children. The initiative includes collaboration with ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute and the establishment of the CIP South Asia Regional Centre in Agra. These bio-fortified potatoes, along with similar efforts in sweet potatoes and other crops, reflect India’s broader strategy to improve nutritional security through sustainable and targeted agricultural innovations.