1️⃣ India and Brazil Sign Joint Declaration to Strengthen MERCOSUR–India Trade Agreement

• Parties Involved: Government of India and Federative Republic of Brazil
• Objective: To enhance and expand the existing MERCOSUR–India Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed in 2004.
• Key Focus Areas:
• Reduction of tariffs on pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, and agricultural products.
• Promotion of bilateral investments, digital trade, and sustainable manufacturing.
• About MERCOSUR:
• A regional trade bloc in South America comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
• Headquarters: Montevideo, Uruguay.
• Significance:
• Strengthens India’s engagement with Latin American economies.
• Aims to diversify trade beyond traditional markets and deepen South–South cooperation.

2️⃣ Uruguay Becomes the First Latin American Country to Legalize Euthanasia

• Country: Uruguay
• Legislation Passed By: Uruguayan Parliament
• Provision: Allows assisted dying for terminally ill patients under strict medical and ethical guidelines.
• Significance:
• Uruguay becomes Latin America’s first nation to legalize euthanasia.
• Reflects progressive healthcare reforms emphasizing individual dignity and autonomy.
• Global Context:
• Euthanasia is legal in countries like Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, and New Zealand.
• Uruguay’s move may inspire similar debates across Latin America.

3️⃣ India’s GIFT City Ranked 43rd in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) 2025

• Published By: Z/Yen Group (London) and China Development Institute (CDI), Shenzhen
• India’s Rank: 43rd (up from 51st in 2024)
• About GIFT City:
• Full Form: Gujarat International Finance Tec-City
• Located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
• Significance:
• Recognized for its rapid growth in fintech, banking, insurance, and capital markets.
• The rise in ranking highlights India’s push toward making GIFT City a global finance hub comparable to Dubai and Singapore.
• Static Link: GIFT City operates under the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).

4️⃣ Wim van den Heever Wins Best Wildlife Photographer Award 2025 for ‘Ghost Town Visitor’

• Winner: Wim van den Heever (South Africa)
• Awarded For: His photograph titled ‘Ghost Town Visitor’, depicting an oryx wandering through Namibia’s abandoned mining settlement.
• Awarded By: Natural History Museum, London under the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards 2025.
• Significance:
• Highlights the intersection of wildlife, decay, and nature’s reclamation.
• Van den Heever is internationally acclaimed for his dramatic wildlife and landscape photography.
• Static Link: The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award was first launched in 1965 and is considered the world’s most prestigious wildlife photography competition.