Current Affairs - International

Nepal and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the HydroNepal Project, focusing on digitizing Nepal’s river basins and optimizing hydropower resources. The agreement was signed by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kul Man Ghising and Blue Water Intelligence (BWI) CEO Jeremy Fain, with the French Ambassador to Nepal, Virginie Corteval, also present. The project aims to enhance Nepal’s hydrological risk preparedness and improve sustainable water management. This collaboration highlights France’s support in advancing Nepal’s renewable energy sector and ensuring efficient hydropower utilization.

Lebanon has successfully formed its first government since 2022, marking the end of a prolonged political stalemate. Nawaf Salam was appointed as the Prime Minister, and President Joseph Aoun accepted the caretaker government's resignation. The newly established 24-member cabinet is expected to focus on key issues such as judicial reforms, economic stability, and ceasefire implementation with Israel. Salam has also committed to overseeing Israeli troop withdrawal and facilitating war reconstruction efforts. This move is seen as a crucial step toward restoring governance and stability in Lebanon after years of political gridlock.

The M23 armed group, backed by Rwanda, has seized control of Goma, a key city in eastern DR Congo, and is advancing towards South Kivu province. This has intensified the long-standing instability in the mineral-rich region. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and large-scale displacement, with humanitarian conditions worsening. The situation poses a significant threat to regional stability, as tensions between Rwanda and DR Congo continue to escalate. The UN and international actors have expressed serious concerns over the potential for cross-border conflicts and the broader impact on the Great Lakes region.

The U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft landed in Amritsar, carrying around 100 Indian nationals deported from the United States for illegal immigration. This was notable because the deportation was conducted using a military transport aircraft instead of commercial repatriation flights. The Punjab Police took charge of the deportees upon arrival, and many of them were from districts like Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, and Kapurthala. This event highlights the U.S.’s strict immigration policies and the ongoing collaboration between India and the U.S. in handling illegal migration cases.

The 3rd India-Japan Steel Dialogue took place in New Delhi as part of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on the steel sector signed in 2020. The discussions focused on economic developments, steel trade, and technological collaboration. India assured ease of doing business for Japanese companies, while Japan reaffirmed its support for investments in advanced steel technologies. Both nations also discussed the impact of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM) on the steel industry. This dialogue strengthens bilateral cooperation in the steel sector, promoting sustainable growth and innovation.