CURRENT AFFAIRS

India and New Zealand have concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aiming to double bilateral trade to USD 5 billion within five years and attract USD 20 billion in New Zealand investment over 15 years.

The Prime Minister of India paid his first full-fledged bilateral visit to Jordan in 2025, holding wide-ranging talks with King Abdullah II. The visit coincided with the 75th anniversary of India–Jordan diplomatic relations, signalling an intent to upgrade traditionally warm ties into a future-oriented strategic partnership.

Narendra Modi wrapped up a whirlwind three-nation tour — visiting Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman — culminating with his landing in Oman’s Muscat on December 17, 2025. His visit to Oman marks the final leg of the tour, and underscores New Delhi’s renewed push to deepen strategic, economic and cultural ties with West Asia and Africa. 

The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS), Indian Navy, is on an official visit to the Maldives to attend the closing ceremony of Exercise Ekatha 2025, the latest edition of the annual bilateral maritime exercise between India and the Maldives.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in December 2025 and the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit added a new dimension to the long-standing partnership between the two countries, based on trust, mutual respect, and strategic alignment.

India is set to host Russian President Vladimir Putin for a two-day visit to attend the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, even as New Delhi faces punitive U.S. tariffs linked to imports of Russian oil.

The United Nations has officially initiated the global selection process for appointing the next Secretary-General (SG), who will assume office in January 2027, following the conclusion of Antonio Guterres’s second term on 31st December 2026.

Nepal has issued a new NPR 100 banknote featuring its amended national map, which includes the disputed territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura. The redesigned note has already entered circulation.

The 20th G20 Summit 2025 was convened in Johannesburg, South Africa—the first G20 summit ever held on African soil. Under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” the meeting highlighted Global South concerns and culminated in the adoption of the G20 Johannesburg Leaders’ Declaration.

The United States has secretly submitted a 28-point peace proposal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to end the Russia-Ukraine war.