Current Affairs - International

India is the leading source of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, with over 80,000 Indian tourists visiting in the first two months of 2025. During this period, Sri Lanka welcomed a total of 492,000 tourists, marking a strong start to the year, just behind 2019. The country is aiming for a target of 3 million visitors in 2025, having already achieved 16% of this goal in the initial months. This highlights India's significant role in Sri Lanka's tourism industry.

The declaration of English as the national language was made by the United States. This decision was implemented through an executive order, aiming to streamline communication and enhance national unity. The order allows federal agencies to decide on providing multilingual services, reflecting the country's recognition of its linguistic diversity. While millions of residents speak other languages, such as Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic, the order focuses on promoting English as the primary language for official use.

The United Kingdom, through British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announced a £1.6 billion ($2 billion) deal to supply Ukraine with 5,000 air-defense missiles. These missiles will be manufactured by Thales using export finance. The announcement was made during a European leaders' summit held in London on March 2, 2025, highlighting the U.K.'s continued support for Ukraine amidst ongoing conflict and security concerns in the region.

India ranks 28th globally in terms of user digital spending, despite being the third-largest economy. This indicates a significant gap between the country's overall digitalization and individual user spending. While internet connectivity density in India is comparable to other nations, the actual spending per user is still lower, revealing potential areas for growth. Efforts to enhance affordability, accessibility, and digital infrastructure could help improve user adoption and spending in the coming years.

In 2024, there were 296 global Internet shutdowns, marking the highest number ever recorded. This highlights the growing trend of Internet shutdowns globally, especially during times of unrest or sensitive events. India was a major contributor, accounting for 28% of the total shutdowns, second only to Myanmar. The increasing frequency of these shutdowns has raised concerns about digital rights and freedom of speech.