An important milestone on the path to digital trade cooperation is the 2025 Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the United Kingdom and India. The Chapter 12 of the agreement focuses on digital commerce balancing between monitoring and accessibility of the government. This agreement brings digital sovereignty issues into question as well as creating new business prospects.

Two daffnew species of damselflies have been identified in the Western Ghats. In earlier times these species were mistaken with some older and familiar one. Their discovery underlines the exemplary biodiversity of the region and the necessity of preserving the natural environments.

Seven military members received the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals (SYSM) in 2025 in recognition of their outstanding performance during Operation Sindoor. An act of terrorism in Pahalgam prompted this operation. The honors honor outstanding wartime leadership and operational accomplishment. This year, the Indian Air Force came home with the most awards, followed by the Army and Navy.

Genetically modified bacteria have been used to create self-powered chemical sensors as a result of recent developments in synthetic biology and bioelectrochemistry. Living biosensors that transform chemical inputs into electrical outputs have been developed by researchers from Zhejiang University and Imperial College London. These gadgets offer programmable, portable, and affordable bioelectronic uses.

Tragedy in Kishtwar: A wake-up call

The quaint little hamlet of Chasoti located near Machail Mata temple in Kishtwar district became the next victim of Jammu & Kashmir’s increasing weather vagaries, as flash floods, caused by heavy rainfall, washed away scores of its residents, killing at least 65 and leaving more than 50 missing. This was no isolated tragedy – it signaled a disturbing trend of climate-related disasters in the Himalayas.