Current Affairs - International

Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm, caused severe destruction in Mayotte with winds exceeding 220 km/h before making landfall in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province on December 15, 2024. The cyclone flattened entire neighbourhoods in Mayotte, marking it as the strongest cyclone to hit the region in over 90 years. After crossing the Mozambique Channel, Chido intensified and brought winds over 200 km/h along with heavy rainfall, severely affecting northern Mozambique. Around 1.7 million people were impacted, with significant risks of flash floods, heavy rains, and further destruction in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa.

India has become the first country to define standards for ‘green steel,’ setting an emissions cap of 2.2 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of steel produced. Along with this, a star-rating system was introduced to classify steel producers based on their emissions performance. The ₹15,000 crore Green Steel Mission aims to promote sustainable steel production, with 37% of public procurement reserved for top-rated steel. To achieve this, the industry plans a significant ₹260,000 crore transition toward adopting green technologies, underscoring India’s commitment to reducing industrial carbon emissions.

South Korea has announced an investment of $1.9 billion (2.7 trillion won) to develop technologies aimed at combating climate change. This marks a 3.9 percent increase from the previous allocation of 2.6 trillion won. The investment is part of South Korea’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from 2018 levels by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This initiative highlights South Korea’s proactive approach toward sustainable development and its focus on meeting global climate goals through technological innovation and green investments.

The United Kingdom has officially become the 12th member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), making it the first European nation to join the trade bloc. The CPTPP includes key countries like Canada, Japan, Australia, and Mexico, among others. This milestone follows Britain’s exit from the European Union (Brexit) as it seeks to build new global trade partnerships and expand its economic influence beyond Europe. By joining the CPTPP, Britain aims to strengthen its trade relationships with the Asia-Pacific region, signalling a strategic shift in its economic priorities.

The United States military successfully tested its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), known as "Dark Eagle," at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This test demonstrated the missile’s ability to travel faster than 3,800 miles per hour (Mach 5), which is over five times the speed of sound. The "Dark Eagle" is designed to strike distant and well-defended targets with precision, marking a major milestone in hypersonic weapons development. The successful trial included the complete LRHW system, including the ground-based launcher and operations centre, moving the U.S. closer to operational deployment by 2025.