Four Indian crew members were killed in a Russian attack on a merchant vessel in the Black Sea off Ukraine's coast. 

About Black Sea

• It is the largest, low tide, brackish-water intercontinental sea that lies between Asia and Europe.
• Also, it is one of the marginal seas of the Atlantic Ocean. 
• World’s largest meromictic basin: deep waters do not mix with upper layers (over 90% of the deeper Black Sea is devoid of oxygen.  
• Bordering Countries: Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, and Georgia. 
• Crucial Straits and Connected Water Bodies
  • Kerch Strait: Connects the Black Sea to Sea of Azov
  • Bosphorus Strait: Connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.
• Major Rivers Emptying: Danube, Dnieper, Dniester

The USA has announced tariffs of up to 100% on generic drugs from August 1, 2028, followed by a 200% tariff from 2029.  

• US is India's largest overseas market for pharmaceutical products, accounting for 37.7% of its total pharma exports. 

About Generic Drugs 

• It is identical or bioequivalent to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use
  • They are much cheaper due to lack of R&D and marketing costs.  
• Legality: Indian Patents Act, 1970 allows Compulsory Licensing.  
  • Allows government to permit a manufacturer to produce a patented drug without the patent owner's consent based on availability, affordability etc. 
• India is largest global supplier of generic medicines, accounting for around 20 % of global supply

he 2026 Commonwealth Games are being held in Glasgow, Scotland with a scaled-down programme of 10 sports.

About Commonwealth Games

• A quadrennial multi-sport event contested among Commonwealth nations, first held in 1930.
• India hosted the XIX Commonwealth Games (2010) in New Delhi.
• Ahmedabad has been declared the host city for the Centenary Commonwealth Games 2030.

About Commonwealth

• Originated from the 1926 Imperial Conference, recognising Britain and the Dominions as equal members.
• The London Declaration (1949) established the modern Commonwealth, allowing republics to remain members.
• Membership: 56 countries

The SOFI, 2026 report, the UN system's flagship assessment of global hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, has been released.

• It is produced jointly by FAO, IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), UNICEF, WFP (World Food Programme) and WHO.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Global Hunger Trends
• An estimated 645 million people (7.8% of the global population) faced hunger in 2025.
• 2.1 billion people (one in four) are food insecure, lacking regular access to sufficient food for a healthy life.
• Africa has overtaken Asia as the global epicentre of hunger.
• Key Threats to Food Security: 2026 West Asia conflict, escalating extreme weather events, reductions in humanitarian funding, etc. 

Indian Related Findings

• The share of undernourished people fell from 21.1% in 2004-06 to 9.8% in 2023-25. 
  • Despite this progress, 100 million people still go hungry in the country.
• In 2025, 35.5% of Indians (520.1 million people) could not afford a healthy diet. 

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)–National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)-led Let's Fix Our Food Consortium released a policy document on healthier diets for children and adolescents. 

• Let's Fix Our Food Initiative jointly led by ICMR-NIN, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and UNICEF.

Key Recommendations

• Regulate High in Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS) Foods: Restrict advertisements, introduce Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL), and impose health taxes.
• Such as United Kingdom restricted HFSS food advertisements before 9 PM.
• Nutrition Promotion: Develop "My Plate for the Day" for adolescents and strengthen school-based nutrition education.
• Behavior Change: Implement national Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) strategy.

Scientists developed a borophene-based bio-lubricant that enhances energy efficiency by significantly reducing friction and wear. 

About Borophene

• Borophene is a two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial, single-atom-thick allotrope of boron, analogous to graphene.
• An allotrope is different structural form of the same chemical element in the same physical state exhibiting different physical and chemical properties.
• Key Properties: Ultra-light, high strength, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, high flexibility, and large surface area.
• Applications: Energy storage (batteries, super-capacitors), fuel cells, sensors, electronics, catalysis, and high-performance lubricant additives.

Iran backed Houthi rebels of Yemen announced a maritime blockade of the strait impacting fuel supplies 

About the Strait 

• It is narrow waterway that connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden
  • It connects to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea in the north and the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean to the east. 
• It separates Arabia in the northeast from the African continent in the southwest.
• Yemeni island: Dividies it in 2 channels i.e. eastern channel (called Alexander’s Strait) and western Dact-el-Mayun Channel.
• Importance: Key Asia–Europe shipping route; closure forces detours via the Cape of Good Hope (S. Africa), adding 10–20 days to voyages
  • Suez-Red Sea corridor carries roughly 12 to 15 % of global maritime trade.

Heavy rain swells Chenab River as all gates of Salal Dam opened in Reasi

Chenab River

• Ancient Name: Asikni (Rig Veda); also known as Chandrabhaga.
• Origin: Formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi, Lahaul–Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. 
  • Source Streams: Chandra and Bhaga originate near Baralacha Pass. 
• Course: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Pakistan before joining the Sutluj as Panjnad and eventually the Indus River.
• Significance: A Western River under the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) with major hydropower potential.
• Important Dams on Chenab River
  • Baglihar Dam: J&K
  • Salal Dam: J&K
  • Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Project: J&K
  • Ratle Hydroelectric Project: J&K