News in Short – 14 October, 2025

UNESCO’s new Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

In News

• UNESCO officially launched the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects at MONDIACULT 2025.

UNESCO’s new Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects

• It was developed in response to Member States’ call for coordinated action against illicit trafficking and  it is the first global initiative of its kind.
• It offers a globally accessible, immersive digital platform to raise awareness about stolen heritage. 
• It currently showcases around 240 missing objects from 46 countries, with the goal of gradually “emptying itself” as items are recovered and returned to their countries of origin.
• It was introduced by architect Francis Kéré and uses 3D modelling and virtual reality to digitally reconstruct stolen cultural items submitted by Member States.
• It features interactive tools, educational content, community testimonies, and a dedicated space for showcasing successful restitution cases.
• It is financially supported by Saudi Arabia and implemented with INTERPOL.

Objectives 

• It aims to foster international cooperation, promote best practices, and engage global audiences in safeguarding cultural heritage.

Source: IE

Pasni Port

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relation

In News

• Pakistan has recently offered the United States the opportunity to develop and operate Port Pasni as a commercial terminal, enabling US access to Pakistan’s critical minerals.

About Port Pasni

• Location: Pasni Port is situated in the Gwadar district of Balochistan, alongside the Arabian Sea. It is approximately 113 km east of the China-operated Gwadar Port and roughly about 286 km from Iran’s Chabahar Port.​
• Facilities: The port currently hosts a fish harbour, cargo jetty, and base for the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA).​
• Natural Depth: Its deep-water harbour makes it suitable for major shipping and mineral export operations.

Strategic Significance

• Regional Hub: Its location near Gwadar (China-backed) and Chabahar (India-backed, Iran) positions Pasni as a central node in a possible “maritime triangle”—linking South, West, and Central Asia.
• Strategic Rivalry: With China at Gwadar and India at Chabahar, US presence at Pasni would bring all three major powers into close proximity, potentially escalating the competition over trade routes and mineral access.​
• Trade and Security: The port could facilitate global supply chains for critical minerals, energy, and security cooperation while forming a powerful axis for regional trade with South, West, and Central Asia.

Source: TH

Vishwas Scheme

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• The Vishwas Scheme was launched in the 238th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees’ Provident Fund.
  • CBT is a tripartite board with members from the Central and State Governments, Employers, and Employees, assisted by EPFO.

About

• Objective: To reduce litigation through rationalised penal damages. Litigation has been high due to steep penalties imposed for delayed PF contributions.
• Penal Damage Rates: Earlier, penal damages ranged from 5% to 25% per annum (and, for pre-2008 delays, even higher rates), leading to over 6,000 pending cases and Rs 2,406 crore in outstanding penal damages.​
  • Now, under Vishwas, the penal rate is streamlined:
    • Flat 1% per month for most defaults.
• Graded rates: 0.25% per month for defaults up to two months, and 0.50% per month for defaults up to four months.
• Duration: The scheme will be operational for six months and may be extended for another six months.

Source: TH

Delhi Declaration on 6G 

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

In News

• Recently, the leading global 6G research alliance including Bharat 6G, 6G-IA, ATIS’ Next G Alliance issued a Joint Declaration to develop 6G as a global public good at the International Bharat6G Symposium 2025 in New Delhi. 

Delhi Declaration on 6G Alliance

• The declaration endorsed key principles to ensure that 6G networks are trusted, secure, resilient, open, inclusive, affordable, and sustainable. 
• It emphasized trustworthy-by-design systems, AI-native safeguards, privacy-preserving architectures, and multi-vendor interoperability. 
• Sustainability was central, calling for energy-efficient, repairable, and recyclable infrastructure.

About 6G (sixth-generation wireless)

• 6G (sixth-generation wireless) is the next-generation cellular technology following 5G, expected to offer numerous advantages including significantly higher data speeds, drastically reduced latency, and the integration of communication and sensing capabilities within the network.

Source: PIB

LEAPS 2025

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure

Context

• Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, launched the Logistics Excellence, Advancement, and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025.

About

• LEAPS is a flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Purpose: To benchmark and recognize excellence in the logistics sector, promoting efficiency, sustainability, innovation, and technology adoption.
• Alignment: Supports National Logistics Policy (2022), PM GatiShakti, and initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Objectives:
  • Promote best practices in logistics operations.
  • Encourage ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) compliance and green logistics.
  • Foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia.
• It covers a wide spectrum of logistics players — including air, road, sea, and rail freight operators; warehousing; multimodal transporters; MSMEs; Startups; and Academia.

Source: PIB

Rhodamine B

Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technoly

In Context

• Scientists at the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in India have developed an effective and sensitive method to detect toxic molecules like Rhodamine B using the coffee-ring effect combined with nanotechnology.

Coffee-Stain Effect Mechanism

• The coffee-ring effect is a natural phenomenon where, as a droplet of liquid evaporates, capillary flow moves suspended particles from the center to the edge of the droplet, resulting in a characteristic ring-shaped pattern of particle deposition.

About Rhodamine B

• Rhodamine B is a water-soluble synthetic dye known for its bright pink fluorescent color. 
• It is widely used in scientific research including fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and biochemical assays such as ELISA.
• Rhodamine B is toxic and has carcinogenic potential; it can cause damage to skin, eyes, and the respiratory system.

Source: TH

Seals and Birds Under Threat in IUCN’s New Red List

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• Arctic seals and global bird populations are facing severe threats from climate change and human activities, as highlighted in the latest IUCN Red List of Threatened Species released at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.

Key Findings of the Report

• Status of Arctic Seals: The IUCN Red List now includes 172,620 species, of which 48,646 are threatened with extinction.
• The hooded seal has been moved from Vulnerable to Endangered status.
  • Bearded and harp seals are now classified as Near Threatened.
• Status of global bird populations: 61% of bird species are experiencing population decline, up from 44% in 2016.
  • Out of 11,185 bird species, 1,256 (11.5%) are globally threatened.
• The green sea turtle has been downlisted from endangered to least concern after its population rose by 28% since the 1970s.

Causes of Decline

• Climate Change: The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average, rapidly melting sea ice essential for ice-dependent seals.
• Human Activities: Maritime traffic, industrial fishing, oil extraction, and mining have increased risks to marine species.
• Logging and agricultural expansion are leading to large-scale tropical forest destruction, threatening bird populations, especially in regions like Madagascar, West Africa, and Central America.

Source: TH

Snow Leopards

Syllabus: GS3/Species in News

In News

• The snow leopard, known as the elusive “ghost of the mountains”, has the lowest genetic diversity among big cats, even lower than the critically endangered cheetah.

More about the news

• A Stanford University study, using whole-genome sequencing of 37 snow leopards, concluded that this low diversity is likely due to a persistently small population over evolutionary history rather than recent inbreeding.

About Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia)

• Physical traits: Long tail acts as a rudder for balance.
• Habitat: Rugged mountain ranges across 12 Asian countries, including India.
• Populations: 4,500–7,500 globally, with India accounting for 10–15%.
• Conservation Status: Vulnerable (IUCN); listed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Threats: Climate change, habitat loss, reduced prey, retaliatory killings, and poaching.
• Cultural significance: State animal of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.

Source: TH

Indian wolf

Syllabus: GS3/Species  in News

In News

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has for the first time evaluated the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) separately, potentially recognizing it as a distinct species within the Canis genus. 

Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)

• The Indian Wolf is primarily found in India and Pakistan, with its historic range confined south of the Himalayas .
  • It is mainly found across central, western, and northern India, spanning sixteen states with major populations in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.
• Threats :  Habitat loss, persecution, and human-wildlife conflict.
• Protection status:  It is one of the most ancient wolf lineages, and is now listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Source: PIB