Affairs
A new outbreak of mpox (monkeypox) is occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and it's different from the global outbreak we saw in 2022.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) have teamed up to develop a special type of steel (MDN100 steel) in India. This collaboration will support the country's goal of being self-reliant in defense manufacturing, especially for advanced aircraft.
China has introduced new rules for Tibetan Buddhist temples, further tightening government control over religious practices in Tibet. These rules, which took effect in January 2025, are seen as a way to integrate Tibetan Buddhism into Han Chinese culture and ensure political loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The Kerala government has boosted its healthcare program, Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASAP), with extra funding. This program provides health insurance to the state's poorest residents. Kerala's government is investing more money in a health insurance program for its poorest residents. This program helps cover hospital costs and other medical expenses, even for pre-existing conditions. It combines several older programs into one and is supplemented by a special fund for very serious illnesses.
Indian Railways has selected 61 railway stations in Karnataka for redevelopment as part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS). This scheme aims to modernize railway stations across India. Indian Railways is upgrading a bunch of stations in Karnataka (and across India) to make them more modern, comfortable, and convenient for passengers. They're focusing on things like better restrooms, easier connections to other transportation, and making the stations more environmentally friendly. Some stations will get a complete makeover to become like mini-cities with shops and restaurants.
Bharat Tex 2025, a large global textile event held in New Delhi, saw Prime Minister Modi announce a big goal for India's textile exports: to triple them by 2030. India held a big textile show to promote its industry and attract international buyers. PM Modi announced a goal to triple textile exports. The event emphasized sustainability, and the EU and India launched joint projects to help the sector. While the textile industry is important for employment, it also faces challenges related to environmental impact.
Scientists studying coral reefs in the Gulf of Eilat have discovered a 3,000-year period where coral growth stopped. This pause, from about 4,400 to 1,000 years ago, seems to be linked to a drop in sea level, possibly caused by global cooling. Interestingly, similar pauses have been found in coral reefs in other parts of the world.
India's plants are helping to fight climate change by absorbing CO2. But when there are droughts, they can't do this as well. Scientists are using new technology to study this, and their findings show we need better policies to protect our ecosystems and deal with climate change.
The Chhattisgarh High Court case brought up the very problematic issue of marital rape in India. The existing law exempts husbands from rape charges for forcing sex on their wives. The removal of Section 377 from the new legal code is also a major concern, as it could mean less protection for victims of sexual assault, especially men and transgender individuals. There's a lot of debate about how to best protect everyone from sexual violence.
The US and Europe are having some disagreements, especially about defense spending and how to handle the war in Ukraine. The US seems to be signaling that Europe needs to take more responsibility for its own security. The Munich Security Conference showed these tensions, and the future of the relationship is unclear.
India is updating its immigration laws to make them clearer and more modern. The new bill will make it easier to understand the rules for entering and staying in India, and it includes stricter penalties for those who break the law. State governments will also have a bigger role in enforcing these rules.
The 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) took place in Muscat in February 2025. The theme was "Voyage to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership," and the conference focused on building more inclusive partnerships in the maritime sector. Countries from around the Indian Ocean, and others, met to discuss important issues like security, trade, and the environment. The Indian Ocean is vital for global trade and has many valuable resources, but it also faces challenges like piracy and the effects of climate change. The conference aimed to find ways for countries to work together to address these issues.
UNESCO recently celebrated 10 years of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science by launching the "Imagine a World with More Women in Science" campaign. This campaign, supported by Canada, aims to close the gender gap in science and celebrate women's contributions.