CURRENT AFFAIRS

Relations between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have grown significantly in recent years. The 22nd India-ASEAN Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, further strengthened this partnership. In his virtual address on this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the 21st century is the century of India and ASEAN.

The European Union has announced the award of its highest human rights honour, the Sakharov Prize, for the year 2025 to two imprisoned journalists, Andrzej Poczobut of Belarus and Mzia Amaghlobeli of Georgia.

On October 17, 2025, Bangladesh's interim government head and Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus signed the July Charter, calling it "the birth of a new Bangladesh." The charter was drafted by the National Consensus Commission, signed by 25 political parties. However, the student-led National Citizens Party (NCP) boycotted it, calling it "signed without legal basis."

India and Brazil have agreed to expand the scope of the existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with the Mercosur bloc. The aim is to further strengthen economic ties between the two countries and increase India's access to the South American market.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's eight-day visit to New Delhi took place in 2025.

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is an ambitious project designed to enhance economic and trade connectivity between India, the Middle East, and Europe. In recent years, especially following trade tensions with the United States, India has focused on diversifying its economic partnerships globally.

On October 13, 2025, a historic peace agreement was reached in Gaza, ending the two-year-long Israel-Hamas war. Under the mediation of US President Donald Trump, Hamas released hostages, and Israel released prisoners. This was followed by a summit in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, where the Gaza Declaration was signed.

The APEC Summit 2025 will be hosted by Gyeongju, South Korea, with the theme “Building a Sustainable Future.”

The South China Sea is one of the most crucial maritime regions in Southeast Asia, known for its strategic, economic, and geopolitical importance.

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to María Corina Machado of Venezuela.