Politics and International Relations
The United States is set to discuss long-term security guarantees for Ukraine following the signing of a peace agreement, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed European allies. Ukrainian officials have emphasized that any settlement must include binding security guarantees to prevent a renewed Russian offensive. Meanwhile, Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavel Utyupin participated in a joint meeting with Russian parliamentarians to discuss non-interference in the internal affairs of Belarus and Russia.
In Guinea-Bissau, senior military officer Horta Inta-A was sworn in as the transitional president for a one-year term, a day after the armed forces asserted full control of state power. China's top diplomat urged France to foster closer China-EU relations, advocating for the EU to pursue a "positive and rational policy" towards China. Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that Canada has no current plans to re-establish diplomatic ties with Iran, with the focus remaining on limiting Tehran's potential to obtain nuclear weapons.
Egypt and the European Union demonstrated outstanding progress in strengthening their relations, with discussions covering the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the crisis in Sudan, particularly the atrocities in Fasher. Egypt highlighted its comprehensive approach to irregular migration, noting that no boats carrying illegal migrants have departed from its ports since September 2016. Domestically, Malaysia announced a ban on social media use for children under 16, effective 2026. India strongly refuted Pakistan's comments regarding the Ram Mandir flag-hoisting ceremony, labeling them as "baseless and interference in internal affairs."
Economy and Development
Global markets have reportedly experienced unprecedented growth post-recession, with a significant rebound in global tech stocks. Bitcoin also saw a surge above $90,000, independent of the stock market's performance. British Columbia's economy is showing resilience despite global trade volatility, although a deficit of $11.2 billion is projected for 2025-26. The province expects economic growth of 1.4% in 2025 and 1.3% in 2026.
India and the UAE convened their third Joint Committee Meeting under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aiming to boost cross-border startup expansion. India's Union Cabinet approved a landmark scheme to establish domestic manufacturing facilities for Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs), with a financial outlay of โน7,280 crore to achieve 6,000 Metric Tons per Annum (MTPA) capacity. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $77 million loan to India's Meghalaya state to promote ecotourism and natural farming. The EU and Tรผrkiye deepened their cooperation in industrial decarbonisation and innovation policy, with Tรผrkiye presenting its Industrial Decarbonisation Investment Platform.
Science & Technology
Oman marked a national milestone by launching OmanSat-1, its first communications satellite, which aims to strengthen digital independence and high-speed secure connectivity. The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station, bringing a new crew of NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev for an eight-month mission. Dr. Chad Mirkin, Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology, was awarded the 2023-2024 Harvey Prize in Science and Technology for his pioneering work on spherical nucleic acids. Vilnius University physicist Dr. Maลพena Mackoit-Sinkeviฤienฤ received the 2025 Baltic Women in Science fellowship for her contributions to quantum research. India's Prime Minister inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India facility in Hyderabad, marking a significant addition to India's aviation manufacturing ecosystem.
Awards and Appointments
Rabih Alameddine won the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction at the 76th Annual Ceremony. Professor Sahika Inal, an internationally renowned organic bioelectronics scientist, was confirmed as one of four 2026 Humboldt Professors in Germany. Law firm TLT secured the Strategic Legal Operations Team of the Year award at the 2025 British Legal Awards, while Arthur Cox was named Ireland Law Firm of the Year at the Lexology Index Awards 2025. Saint Louis University researchers also received the Best Presentation Award at the 3rd International PhD Symposium in Nursing. In India, the Ilakkiya Maamani Award 2025 was presented to three distinguished Tamil scholars.
Justice Vikram Nath was appointed as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), and Sunil Paliwal became the new Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
Sports (Non-Cricket)
Ahmedabad, India, was officially announced as the host city for the Commonwealth Games 2030, a move expected to boost sports infrastructure and global visibility for the country. The Indian Men's team edged past New Zealand 3-2 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. India also secured two medals at the ITTF World Youth Championships. The Indian women's kabaddi team clinched the 2025 World Cup title with a 35-28 victory over Chinese Taipei in Dhaka. Reports indicate that India's sporting calendar is expanding beyond cricket, with events like Pro Kabaddi, Women's Premier League, hockey, and football gaining significant viewership.