• Russia has emerged as India’s largest supplier of sunflower oil, overtaking Ukraine for the first time. The shift, driven by stable supply routes and competitive pricing, marks a major change in India’s edible oil trade pattern. As per data from the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), Russian shipments to India have increased twelvefold in the last four years, now accounting for 56% of total sunflower oil imports.

• India has added another jewel to its list of protected wetlands with the inclusion of Gogabeel Lake in Bihar as the country’s 94th Ramsar Site. The announcement strengthens India’s global standing in wetland conservation under the Ramsar Convention, marking an important step in biodiversity protection and community-based environmental management.

• The Indian Army successfully carried out a major drone and counter-drone warfare exercise titled ‘Vayu Samanvay-II’ in the Desert Sector under the Southern Command from October 28 to 29, 2025. The large-scale drill focused on strengthening operational readiness for next-generation warfare, highlighting the Army’s increasing emphasis on technological integration and battlefield innovation.

• Lucknow has earned international recognition after being designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, celebrating its world-renowned Awadhi cuisine and centuries-old culinary traditions. The announcement was made during UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking a proud moment for India as Lucknow becomes the second Indian city after Hyderabad to receive this distinction.

Egypt has inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilisation. Located near the iconic Giza Pyramids, this $1 billion landmark project took nearly two decades to complete and marks a new chapter in preserving and showcasing Egypt’s ancient legacy.