During a recent trilateral consultation between India-Iran-Armenia, the Armenian side briefed on its connectivity initiative, "Crossroads of Peace."

About “Crossroad of Peace” Initiative

• It is an ambitious regional transport proposal aimed at connecting Armenia with its neighboring countries—Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Georgia.
• Objectives: Seeks to revitalize and develop crucial infrastructure—roads, railways, pipelines, cables, and electricity lines—to facilitate the flow of goods, energy, and people across these nations.
• It aims to connect the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea through easier and more efficient transportation links.

Recently, Russian tanker splits in storm spilling oil in Kerch Strait waterway.

• A strait is a narrow waterway between two pieces of land that connects two large bodies of water.

About Kerch Strait

• Location: It is located in the eastern part of the Crimean Peninsula connecting Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
• Significance: Key route for exports of Russian grain and for exports of crude oil, fuel oil, LNG, etc.

India, France, and UAE have begun "Desert Knight” exercise over Arabian Sea.

About Desert Knight Ecercise

• It is a trilateral air combat exercise aims to foster better interoperability among air-forces of three nations during complex combat scenarios.
  • Indian Air Force (IAF) participated with aircraft iike Sukhoi-30MKIs and Jaguars.
  • French Rafale jets and UAE's F-16 fighters were deployed from Al Dhafra airbase in UAE.

• It strengthens defence ties in strategically crucial regions, including Indo-Pacific and Persian Gulf.

Cyclone Chido has made landfall in Pemba, capital of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province and in French overseas territory of Mayotte.

About Cyclone Chido

• Cyclones are caused by atmospheric disturbances around a low-pressure area distinguished by swift and often destructive air circulation. 
• Tropical depression Chido developed in south-eastern Indian Ocean Basin.
• It is the strongest storm in more than 90 years to hit islands of Mayotte. 
• It is classified as a Category 4 storm, with wind speeds exceeding 220 km/h (136 mph).

Other categories of Cyclones

• Category 1 (wind speed 120-150km/h); Category 2 (150-180km/h); Category 3 (180-210km/h); and Category 5 (250 km/h and above).

Recently, India along with 7 other countries launched a new initiative with respect to the fashion and construction industries.

About the Initiative

• It will be funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Integrated Programme on Eliminating Hazardous Chemicals from Supply Chains launched for a period of 6 years.
• Members: Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago.
• Objectives: To transform fashion (textile) and construction industries to reduce their environmental impact by reshaping supply chains.
  • This effort will promote regenerative design, the replacement of non-renewable materials, resource-efficient production, etc.

Jharkhand's Birhor tribe have joined movement against child marriage for first time.

About Birhor Tribe

• They are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), forest-dependent and belong to a semi-nomadic tribal community.
• They speak Birhor language, which belongs to Munda group of languages of Austroasiatic language family.

• Their language has similarities with Santali, Mundari and Ho languages.

• Found in Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.

Under guidance of Ministry of Coal, Singrauli based Coal India arm Northern Coalfields Limited has launched ‘CHARAK’ - CSR initiative.

About CHARAK Initiative

• It is aimed at providing free treatment for patients suffering from identified Life-Threatening diseases belonging to Economically Weaker Sections of Singrauli region.
• Under this, Malignancy, TB and related complications, HIV and related complications, Organ Transplant, Neurological Disorders, Connective Tissue disorders, etc. are covered.

Singrauli Coalfield

• Situated at northern most part of Son Mahanadi Master Basin in Central India. 
• Located mainly in Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh with a small portion falling in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.

As per a recent study by Scientists, Manganese (Mn) contamination of water is causing cancer in the Gangetic plains of Bihar.

About Manganese (Mn) 

• It is the fifth-most abundant metal on earth that exists in the form of oxides, carbonates, and silicates. 
  • Manganese is an essential component of the steel-making process.
• It is present in food, water, soil, and rock as a naturally occurring component.
• It is an ‘essential trace element’ which plays a vital role in maintaining body homeostasis.
• It has been reported to be toxic in higher doses for human beings. 
• Source of Mn contamination of Groundwater: Industrial pollution (anthropogenic), or sedimentary or igneous rocks (geogenic) deposits of Mn.

Recently, an eminent cloud provider firm has signed a contract for Diamond Cooling system for AI.

About Diamond Cooling Technology

• Developed by Akash Systems, it integrates synthetic diamond, the most thermally conductive material at 2200 W/mK, into semiconductor chips.
• Purpose: Reduces heat from Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) chips, minimizing thermal throttling and boosting overclocking capabilities by 25%.
• Impact: Improves energy efficiency, reduces GPU hotspot temperatures by 10°–20°C, cuts fan energy consumption by 90%, and enhances sustainability in data centers.

Recent unclassified outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has raised concerns over Disease X. 

About Disease X

• Refers to a hypothetical disease, unknown pathogen with potential to cause global epidemic or pandemic.
  • Coined by World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2018 and included it in Blueprint for Priority Diseases to focus on risks of emerging diseases.
  • COVID-19 is regarded as first instance of real Disease X.
• Challenges of predicting Disease X: 
  • Unpredictable emergence factors like growing risks of antimicrobial resistance, bioterrorism, accidental lab leaks etc.
  • Climate change reshaping disease transmission dynamics and expanding range of vector-borne illnesses like malaria fever.