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The 'Hem Bahadur Malla Award 2080' was conferred on former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha, Nepal's 25th Chief Justice, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to judicial leadership, institutional development, transitional justice, inclusive democracy, and environmental justice. The award commemorates Hem Bahadur Malla, founder of the Salt Trading Corporation. Justice Shrestha's work has significantly impacted Nepal's legal and democratic framework, making him a deserving recipient of this prestigious honour that celebrates excellence in public service and nation-building.

The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a Centre of Excellence for MSMEs at its State Bank Academy in Gurugram. This initiative is aimed at strengthening the MSME ecosystem by focusing on skill development, innovation, and knowledge sharing. It will provide significant support to MSME promoters, startups, and other stakeholders in the sector. Moreover, the Centre of Excellence is expected to foster collaboration between academia, industry, government institutions, and banking professionals. By doing so, SBI is contributing to the growth and sustainability of the MSME sector, which is a vital component of India’s economic development and employment generation.

Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana took over as the 18th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN) on June 1, 2025. This position is significant as it leads India's only tri-services command, overseeing strategic operations in the Indian Ocean Region. With a career spanning several key military and academic appointments, Lt Gen Rana brings vast operational experience, having commanded an infantry brigade, division, and the Gajraj Corps. Prior to this, he served as the Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency. His education and international exposure further strengthen India’s joint defence leadership in a geopolitically critical area.

INS Sharda participated in a joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) at Maafilaafushi Atoll in the Maldives. This exercise aligns with India’s "MAHASAGAR" vision to promote security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. The engagement is part of India's broader strategic and humanitarian outreach, building on past efforts like Operation Castor following the 2004 tsunami. Strengthening interoperability with the MNDF through such joint initiatives ensures both nations are better prepared to handle regional humanitarian emergencies, further reinforcing India's role as a net security provider in the region.

The Bharat Forecasting System (BFS), launched on May 26, 2025, represents a groundbreaking advancement in India’s meteorological infrastructure. Developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, the system delivers ultra-local weather forecasts at a resolution of 6 km x 6 km—currently the highest in the world. This level of detail is a substantial upgrade from the earlier 12 km models. BFS operates on the supercomputer Arka, capable of 11.77 petaflops and equipped with 33 petabytes of storage. It significantly reduces data processing time from 10 hours to just 4, enabling rapid and accurate forecasting for critical sectors like agriculture, disaster response, and public safety.

Hong Kong will implement the Stablecoins Ordinance starting August 1, 2025, in an effort to regulate the use and issuance of stablecoins within its jurisdiction. Stablecoins are a category of cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to stable assets, such as foreign currencies. Unlike Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which are issued and controlled by governments, stablecoins can be privately issued. With this ordinance, Hong Kong seeks to establish a legal framework to oversee the operations of stablecoins, ensuring financial stability, investor protection, and alignment with international standards in the evolving digital asset space.

India and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the media and entertainment sector as part of their ongoing strategic partnership. The two nations share a longstanding diplomatic relationship that reached its 50th anniversary in 2022. In 2016, the bilateral ties were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reflecting mutual trust and growing collaboration across various domains. This recent initiative in media and entertainment is a reflection of the deepening engagement and shared cultural interests between the two countries, promoting people-to-people connections and economic opportunities in the creative industries.

India has secured the second position globally in fish production, as announced by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh. This achievement is the result of a significant 103% increase in fish output between 2013–14 and 2024–25. The growth is largely driven by government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and support schemes like the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), which have empowered rural communities to actively participate in aquaculture. The collaborative efforts of states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh have also played a key role in enhancing productivity and ensuring India’s strong global standing in the fisheries sector.

A total of 26 nations pledged postwar security guarantees for Ukraine at the Paris summit on September 4, 2025, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron. This collective commitment includes land, sea, and air support options to protect Ukraine after the ongoing war with Russia ends. The coalition, informally called the “coalition of the willing,” seeks to deter renewed Russian aggression, reinforce Ukraine’s sovereignty, and prepare a long-term security framework. While some countries may directly deploy troops, others plan to contribute through training, equipping, or financing. This united stance underscores Europe’s determination to secure stability and prevent future conflicts.

In 2024, Germany surpassed Japan to become the world’s largest creditor nation, ending Japan’s 34-year dominance in this category. The shift was primarily driven by Germany's rising current account surplus—reaching €240 billion—and favourable currency movements, particularly the appreciation of the euro against the Japanese yen. These factors increased the value of Germany’s foreign assets relative to Japan’s. Although Japan achieved a record net asset value, Germany’s higher growth and asset valuation led to a total of ¥569 trillion ($3.9 trillion), surpassing Japan’s ¥533 trillion ($3.7 trillion). This development reflects evolving global trade balances and investment flows.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will begin enforcing a sugar-based excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) from January 2026. This policy introduces a variable tax rate calculated per litre, depending on the sugar content per 100ml of the drink. The more sugar a beverage contains, the higher the tax levied on it. The primary goal of this move is to reduce excessive sugar consumption and encourage manufacturers to reformulate their products with lower sugar levels. By targeting sugar intake through taxation, the UAE is taking a preventive approach to combat rising health issues such as obesity and diabetes.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai earned a place among the world’s top 10 international airports in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2025. With a score of 84.23, it is the only Indian airport to achieve this distinction for three consecutive years. This recognition highlights India’s growing reputation in global aviation, reflecting excellence in customer experience, technological innovation, infrastructure, and operational efficiency. Spread over 1,900 acres, CSMIA handles over 55 million passengers annually and offers advanced features like DigiYatra, biometric check-ins, 68 e-gates, and extensive global connectivity, positioning it as a leading aviation hub.

The 7th Regional Committee Meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for the Asia-Pacific region is scheduled to be held in Colombo. This meeting will focus on accelerating solar energy adoption, fostering cross-border solar interconnections, and promoting emerging clean technologies across the region. The ISA, co-founded by India and France in 2015, is headquartered in Gurugram, India, and plays a key role in uniting countries to harness solar power for sustainable development. Hosting the meeting in Colombo underscores Sri Lanka’s growing role in regional renewable energy initiatives and its commitment to sustainable energy solutions.

India is partnering with Norway to build its first-ever indigenously manufactured Polar Research Vessel (PRV). The collaboration is between India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) and the Norwegian firm Kongsberg. This partnership formalized through an MoU signed in June 2025, marks a significant step towards enhancing India’s capabilities in polar scientific research and maritime technology. The PRV will support polar and oceanic exploration under the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), advancing India’s self-reliance in polar missions and contributing to international scientific cooperation.

On May 16, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the upgraded Multi Agency Centre (MAC) in New Delhi. This high-tech intelligence-sharing hub is part of India’s intensified efforts to enhance counter-terrorism operations. Developed under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) with an investment of ₹500 crore, the new MAC integrates Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Geographic Information Systems to enable real-time coordination between 28 key security and intelligence agencies across the country. By centralizing data and streamlining communication among agencies like RAW, Armed Forces, and State Police, the New Delhi-based MAC is poised to become a cornerstone of India's national security framework.

The 2025 U17 World Wrestling Championships, where Indian women wrestlers achieved remarkable success by winning a total of five medals, took place in Athens. The performance included two golds—won by Rachana in the 43 kg freestyle category and Ashvini Vishnoi in the 65 kg category—along with two silver and one bronze medal. Hosting the event in Athens, a city with a deep-rooted Olympic legacy, added further prestige to the competition. This venue served as the stage for one of India’s standout performances in junior wrestling, demonstrating the country’s growing strength in the sport on an international level.

BITS Pilani is set to establish India’s first AI Plus Campus in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. Announced on July 14, 2025, this groundbreaking project aims to offer high-quality education in Artificial Intelligence and allied fields. The campus will feature modern infrastructure, including smart buildings, renewable energy, and IoT-based services, and is designed to provide global exposure through university partnerships and industry internships. The initiative is aligned with Andhra Pradesh's broader vision of becoming a hub for advanced education and aims to tackle real-world challenges using AI in agriculture, healthcare, and climate resilience.

Bihar played a key role in advancing India’s agri-food export ambitions by hosting the International Buyer-Seller Meet (IBSM) 2025 in Patna. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI), and the Government of Bihar. The initiative focused on creating global market linkages and highlighting Bihar’s vast agricultural potential, from fruits and vegetables to processed food products. It marked a significant step in integrating Bihar’s farmers and food producers into international trade and value chains.

The breakthrough for India’s longest railway tunnel, measuring 14.57 km, was accomplished in Uttarakhand as part of the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail link project. This major achievement, carried out by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited using the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named "Shakti," marks a significant milestone not only for India but globally in the field of rail tunnelling. The project is expected to drastically reduce the travel time between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag from seven hours to just two, enhancing connectivity and boosting economic and tourism prospects in the region.

The GSLV-F16 rocket, developed by ISRO, is set to launch the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite on July 30, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This mission is a significant collaboration between ISRO and NASA, representing over a decade of joint development. NISAR will be the world’s first satellite to use dual-frequency SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology for civilian Earth observation. The GSLV-F16 will place the 2392 kg satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit, allowing it to provide all-weather, day-and-night coverage of the Earth’s surface every 12 days, with applications in climate science, disaster management, and agriculture.