Current Affairs - International

India will host the IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025 and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) in New Delhi from June 1 to 3, marking its return as the host after a 42-year gap—the last being in 1983. This prestigious event will gather over 1,700 global aviation leaders, CEOs, regulators, and media representatives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, emphasizing India's growing importance in the global aviation sector. With IndiGo as the host airline and recent growth in infrastructure and air travel, the event highlights India's transformation into a major aviation hub on the world stage.

Sri Lanka has achieved a significant milestone by recording over one million international tourist arrivals between January 1 and May 25, 2025. This accomplishment came nearly a month earlier than the same milestone in the previous year, highlighting a robust recovery in the tourism sector following the challenges posed by the global pandemic. According to provisional figures from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, a total of 1,006,097 visitors were welcomed during this period. This growth not only reflects renewed global interest in Sri Lanka as a destination but also boosts the country's economy and hospitality industry.

India is actively developing the E-Hansa, an indigenous two-seater electric trainer aircraft as part of its effort to boost self-reliance in aerospace technology. The aircraft is being developed by the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru under the broader HANSA-3 (Next Generation) program. The E-Hansa offers a cost-effective alternative to imported trainer aircraft, being nearly half the price, while also promoting clean energy in aviation. This initiative aligns with India’s push for innovation in green technology and reinforces its commitment to enhancing domestic capabilities in aerospace engineering and pilot training infrastructure.

The Philippines has launched two new visa-free entry options for Indian tourists starting May 2025. Indian nationals can now visit the Philippines for either 14 or 30 days without a visa, depending on their passport and residency status. This initiative aims to boost tourism and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The 14-day visa-free entry is available for tourism purposes with specific requirements, while the 30-day visa-free option is granted to Indian citizens holding valid visas or permanent residency from countries like Australia, Japan, the USA, Canada, Schengen countries, Singapore, and the UK.

Six East African countries—Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan—have come together to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at eliminating kala-azar, also known as visceral leishmaniasis. This agreement, signed at a WHO and African Union event during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, represents a significant regional effort to combat a disease that accounts for over 70% of global kala-azar cases. The MoU focuses on enhancing investment, improving surveillance, fostering cross-border cooperation, and advancing treatment options to address this life-threatening parasitic disease prevalent in East Africa.