The Prime Minister visited Ethiopia to strengthen India’s engagement with Africa and elevate bilateral relations.

Key takeaways from the Visit

• Highest Honour: PM conferred with highest honour of ethiopia ‘Great Honor Nishan of Ethiopia’.
• Partnership: India and Ethiopia elevated their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership.
• Agreements: Signed eight MoUs, agreements, including that for establishing a Data Centre at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework.
• Economic: India–Ethiopia total trade stood at US$ 550.19 million in FY 2024–25. Indian exports are US$ 476.81 million and imports US$ 73.38 million, making the relationship strongly export-driven.

The IEA’s Coal 2025 report and recent market analysis highlight that India’s coal demand is projected to grow significantly over the coming decade.

Key Findings:

• Demand Projection: India’s coal demand is expected to grow by 3% annually over the next four years.
• Global Engine: India remains the primary driver of global coal consumption, offsetting structural declines in other regions.
• Power Sector Focus: Rising electricity demand necessitates coal as a base-load source, despite record renewable energy expansion.
  • Coal’s share in India’s electricity mix is projected to fall from over 70% in 2025 to about 60% by 2030.
• Industrial Usage: Significant consumption continues in heavy industries, particularly steel and cements production.

The Andaman and Nicobar administration recently notified the "Great Nicobar Island Development Area".

Key Highlights

• Planning: It is part of the Great Nicobar Holistic Development project which has four major components: an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICCT); an international airport; a power plant; and a township.
• Strategic Value: Great Nicobar’s location near major sea lanes enhances India’s maritime and Indo-Pacific presence.
• Social Concerns: Issues related to tribal rights, land use and ecological sensitivity remain relevant.

Indian Navy has commissioned second MH-60R copter squadron at INS Hansa in Goa.

About MH-60R

• MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-mission maritime helicopter designed for naval operations from ships or shore bases.
• Developed by: Lockheed Martin (US)
• Capabilities: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW),Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Search & Rescue (SAR),medical evacuation, logistical support, command & control and vertical replenishment

INS Hansa

• It is the Indian Navy’s premier Air Station located in Dabolim,Goa.
• The air station operates as a joint military–civil facility, sharing infrastructure with Goa International Airport.

New research claims to solve the mystery of dark matter through Weakly Interacting Massive Particles(WIMP)

About WIMP

• Nature: WIMPs are hypothetical, electrically neutral particles proposed as leading candidates for dark matter
  • They neither absorb nor emit light and interact only weakly with other particles, but when they collide, they can annihilate and produce gamma rays.
• Interaction: They interact predominantly through gravity and possibly the weak nuclear force.

Dark Matter

• Invisible form of matter: That does not emit light but is known through its gravitational effects that hold galaxies together.
  • It makes up about 27% of the universe.

India-UAE Joint Military Exercise Desert Cyclone-II started at Abu Dhabi (UAE).

About Exercise Desert Cyclone II

• Aim: To enhance interoperability and foster defence cooperation between the Indian Army and UAE Land Forces. 
• Focus on sub-conventional operations under a United Nations mandate, enabling both forces to operate together in peacekeeping, counter-terrorism and stability operations.

CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR–CFTRI), Mysuru had undertaken projects related to the study and development of annatto. 

About Annatto

• Annatto is a natural carotenoid (pigmented compounds synthesized by plants) obtained from Bixa orellana shrub.
• Uses: Food colour, Chemical Ink, Coating medicines, Drugs, Dyeing, Food colouring, Hair oils, Polishes etc.
  • It is used to impart a yellow to red colour to foods, especially dairy products. 
• Annatto is native to tropical America, including Central and South America, and is moderately drought tolerant and requires less water. 

CRASH (Collision Realization and Significant Harm) Clock metric warns Earth’s satellite fleet faces rising risk of rapid collision cascades characterized by Kessler Syndrome.

About Kessler Syndrome

• Don Kessler predicted in 1978 that a single collision in orbit triggers a chain reaction of debris strikes. 
  • In such a situation, fragments from one destroyed satellite can collide with other satellites, generating additional debris and rendering entire orbital regions hazardous or unusable.

Nationwide rollout of MLFF tolling system along with AI-based highway management is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

About MLFF tolling system

• MLFF system will allow vehicles to cross toll plazas at speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour without any obstruction.
• The system will operate using a combination of artificial intelligence-based number plate recognition, satellite tracking and FASTag integration to automatically identify vehicles and collect toll charges.
• Benefits: Curb toll revenue leakage, curbing pollution, fuel savings, smoothen traffic movement ,reduce overall travel time and logistics cost etc.