Current Affairs - International

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea after detecting virus samples in healthy children during routine screenings in Lae, a coastal city in the country’s northeast. Polio is a highly infectious disease that mainly affects children under five years of age and spreads through contact with infected faeces or respiratory droplets. The declaration aims to prompt urgent vaccination efforts to contain the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable populations. This situation underscores the importance of sustained immunisation campaigns in preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases globally.

Mariangela Hungria, a renowned microbiologist from Brazil, has been honoured with the 2025 World Food Prize for her groundbreaking work in agricultural microbiology. Her research focuses on using beneficial bacteria such as rhizobia and Azospirillum brasilense to enhance soil fertility and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. By improving nitrogen fixation in soybeans and promoting root development in crops like corn, her work significantly boosts nutrient and water uptake. These innovations contribute to sustainable farming practices and food security, particularly in regions heavily reliant on agriculture. Her recognition marks a major achievement for Brazilian science and global food sustainability efforts.

Jamia Millia Islamia has suspended all its Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with academic institutions affiliated with the government of Turkey due to concerns related to national security. This step follows a similar decision by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which suspended its MoU with Inonu University, also located in Turkey. The move reflects heightened scrutiny and caution in India’s academic collaborations where national interest and security are perceived to be at stake. Such measures underline the growing sensitivity in international academic relations and the importance of aligning institutional partnerships with national strategic priorities.

India and the European Union (EU) have jointly initiated two significant projects focused on addressing the growing issue of marine plastic pollution and promoting sustainable energy through waste-to-hydrogen technologies. These initiatives involve a combined investment of ₹391 crore and aim to foster research and innovation in environmental conservation. Marine plastic litter poses a major threat to marine biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health, making collaborative efforts like this vital. The partnership reflects the EU and India’s shared commitment to environmental sustainability and technological advancement for global ecological challenges.

Denmark became the first country to commission a commercial-scale e-methanol production plant, located in Kasso, on May 13, 2025. Developed by European Energy in collaboration with Japan’s Mitsui, the facility produces 42,000 metric tons (or 53 million litres) of carbon-neutral e-methanol annually. This renewable fuel is generated using captured CO₂ and green electricity, significantly reducing carbon emissions, especially in the maritime sector. With global shipping giant Maersk as a major customer, the project marks a critical step toward meeting the International Maritime Organisation’s carbon neutrality goal by 2050 and advancing the global transition away from fossil fuels in industrial sectors.