Current Affairs - International

According to a recent study, Australia and New Zealand have the highest breast cancer incidence rates in the world. The study examined data from 185 countries and found that the incidence rate in these countries is significantly higher compared to other regions, with an age-standardized incidence rate of 100.3 cases per 100,000 people. The study also highlighted global disparities in risk, with developed nations experiencing higher incidence rates, while lower HDI countries face disproportionate mortality rates.

Dan Bongino, a conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent, was appointed by Donald Trump as the FBI Deputy Director under Kash Patel. Despite having no prior FBI experience, Bongino is a staunch Trump ally and was chosen to help restore "fairness, justice, law, and order" within the FBI. He also hosts The Dan Bongino Show and has publicly praised Kash Patel’s leadership efforts to reform the FBI, signalling his support for changes within the agency.

China successfully launched the ChinaSat-10R communications satellite on February 22, 2025, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The satellite, carried by a Long March 3B rocket, replaces the ageing ChinaSat-10 and is part of China’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its satellite communication infrastructure. The ChinaSat-10R will support various sectors including transportation, emergency response, and energy, and is crucial for China's Belt and Road Initiative. This launch underscores China's growing space capabilities and its geopolitical influence through satellite diplomacy.

India and the United Kingdom agreed to resume free trade negotiations following discussions between Prime Minister Modi of India and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom. These talks took place during the G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024. The two leaders instructed their negotiators to collaborate and resolve the remaining issues in the agreement, marking a significant step forward in their trade relationship.

The northern region of Iraq is experiencing a slow sinking effect caused by the movement of tectonic plates. This process results from the interaction between the Arabian and Eurasian plates, which has been occurring for millions of years. The shifting of the Neotethys oceanic slab is responsible for pulling the region downward. The research associated with this phenomenon contributes to improving geological models, which can help predict future earthquakes.