Current Affairs - International

The Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise is a long-standing joint drill between the United States and South Korea. Originally beginning in the 1960s as the Taeguk Exercise, it evolved over time to strengthen readiness against potential threats in the region. In 2008, the exercise was renamed Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, and later became Ulchi Freedom Shield. The drills not only demonstrate military preparedness but also symbolise the close defence partnership between the U.S. and South Korea. Their collaboration ensures stability on the Korean Peninsula while reinforcing cooperation across land, air, sea, and cyber domains.

In 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) certified Kenya free of human African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness, marking a major victory in public health. This achievement makes Kenya the 10th country to eliminate the disease as a public health challenge, following decades of dedicated efforts in tsetse fly control, improved diagnostics, effective treatment, and community awareness campaigns. The disease, caused by protozoa transmitted via tsetse flies, can be fatal if untreated. Kenya’s success builds on its earlier milestone of eliminating Guinea worm disease in 2018 and reinforces Africa’s broader drive to eradicate neglected tropical diseases through coordinated strategies.

Russia has officially exited the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, originally signed with the United States to eliminate ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500–5,500 km. The US had already withdrawn in 2019, alleging Russian violations, which undermined the treaty’s effectiveness. Russia cited changing security conditions, particularly US missile deployments in the Philippines and joint drills in Australia, as reasons for withdrawal. This move has heightened concerns over a potential new nuclear arms race and further weakened the global arms control framework, alongside other key treaties such as the NPT, CTBT, and New START.

In 2025, India and the Philippines upgraded their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership during the Philippine President’s state visit to India. This move reaffirmed the 1952 Treaty of Friendship and set the stage for deeper cooperation in defence, trade, maritime security, technology, and cultural exchanges. Key agreements included a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, a Treaty on Transfer of Sentenced Persons, and reciprocal visa facilitation. Both nations adopted a 2025–2029 Plan of Action to enhance collaboration, while India committed to supporting the Philippines’ infrastructure and digital projects. The partnership aligns with India’s Act East Policy and strengthens Indo-Pacific strategic cooperation.

Illinois made history by becoming the first U.S. state to prohibit artificial intelligence platforms, such as ChatGPT, from delivering therapy services without human oversight. The law, known as the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, was signed by Governor JB Pritzker. It prevents AI from performing core therapeutic tasks like creating treatment plans, assessing mental health, or offering advice without a licensed professional involved. Violations can lead to fines of up to $10,000. This legislation aims to safeguard mental health care quality and follows concerns raised by organisations such as the American Psychological Association regarding AI misuse in therapy.