Current Affairs - International

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.

Bangladesh has officially declared February 25 as Military Martyrdom Day to commemorate the tragic events of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny in 2009. This mutiny also referred to as the Pilkhana tragedy or Pilkhana massacre, occurred on February 25-26, 2009, in Dhaka, where many lives were lost. The day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made during the mutiny, and it has been designated as a Category C day, meaning it will be observed with official ceremonies and remembrance. The declaration reflects the country's commitment to honouring the memory of those who were martyred.

Tropical storm SARA caused significant damage, prompting India to dispatch 26 tons of humanitarian assistance to Honduras. This aid is part of India's efforts to provide support to countries in need, particularly in the Global South. India has a history of providing timely assistance to countries affected by natural disasters, demonstrating its commitment to international cooperation and solidarity.

The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) is a nuclear fusion research facility located at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) in Hefei, China. EAST aims to replicate the nuclear fusion process that powers the Sun, and its successful milestone of sustaining plasma at 100 million°C for over 1,000 seconds significantly advances the pursuit of clean and sustainable energy. This achievement is part of global efforts, including the ITER project, to develop large-scale, carbon-free fusion energy.