Thitu Island
Syllabus: GS1/ Geography, GS2/ International Relations
Context
- A Chinese coast guard ship and a Philippine government vessel collided near Thitu Island, part of the Spratly Islands.
About the Spratly Islands
- The Spratly Islands are a group of over 100 small islands, reefs, and atolls located in the South China Sea.
- Thitu Island, also known as Pag-asa Island, is the second-largest naturally occurring island in the Spratly Islands archipelago within the South China Sea.
- The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that China’s “Nine-Dash Line” has no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and it had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its EEZ.
- However, China has refused to recognize the decision.
| South China Sea – It is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. – It is located between southern China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. – It is a crucial maritime gateway and junction for shipping between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Dispute in South China Sea – Southeast Asian countries like China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan have had disputes over the contentious South China Sea region for centuries. – The two primary points of contention are: The Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands in the sea. – Nine-dash line: China stakes claim to most of the region and at the heart of this claim is the U-shaped ‘nine-dash line’ that includes as much as 90 percent of these waters. 1. This dotted line was adopted from Chinese maps in the 1940s, and represents Beijing’s claim over the sea and all the land features that are contained within the line. |
Source: AIR
Durand Line
Syllabus: GS1/Geography; GS2/IR
In News
- Border clashes erupted between Afghanistan and Pakistan along the Durand Line.
About the Durand Line
- The Durand Line is a 2,640 km land border established in 1893 following an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand, then Foreign Secretary of British India, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, the ruler of Afghanistan.
- The line was intended to define the spheres of influence between British India and Afghanistan, effectively splitting ethnic Pashtun and Baloch communities between the two sides.
Source: BT
Thalassemia
Syllabus: GS2/Health
In News
- Thalassemia patients in Kerala are facing serious health risks due to a shortage of leukocyte filter sets and iron chelation drugs.
| Do you know? – The leukocyte filter, essential for preventing adverse reactions during blood transfusions, are unavailable in many government hospitals, causing patients to limit transfusions and resulting in dangerously low haemoglobin levels. – Iron chelation drugs, needed to prevent organ damage from iron overload due to transfusions, have reportedly been unavailable for about a year. |
Thalassemia
- Thalassemia is a group of inherited blood disorders characterised by the body’s inability to produce adequate amounts of haemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells that is responsible for carrying oxygen.
- It leads to anemia and symptoms like fatigue and weakness.
- It is classified into alpha and beta thalassemia, with severity ranging from mild to life-threatening.
- It is managed through regular blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy.
Governments Steps
- The Union Health Ministry, in partnership with Coal India Limited, runs the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY), providing up to Rs. 10 lakh financial aid to eligible patients for bone marrow transplants (BMT) at 17 empanelled hospitals nationwide, funded through CIL’s CSR.
- Under the National Health Mission, States and UTs receive support to enhance healthcare services, including Thalassemia prevention and management, blood banks, day care centers, medicines, lab services, awareness programs, and staff training, based on their submitted plans.
Source :TH
Maitri II: India’s New Frontier in Antarctica
Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technology
Context
- The Ministry of Finance has approved the establishment of Maitri II, India’s upcoming research station in eastern Antarctica, to be completed by January 2029.
India’s Antarctic Presence
- In 1983, India established the first permanent base in Antarctica named Dakshin Gangotri. However it is no longer in operation.
- India presently has two research stations at Antarctica namely ‘Maitri’ and ‘Bharati’.
- Maitri: It has been in operation since 1989 and is located in a rocky mountainous region known as Schirmacher Oasis in Queen Maud Land.
- Bharati: The new station was commissioned in 2012. It is located between Thala Fjord & Quilty bay, east of Stornes Peninsula in Antarctica.
About Maitri II
- Nodal Agency: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.
- Estimated Cost: ₹2,000 crore over seven years.
- Location: Eastern Antarctica, near the Schirmacher Oasis, replacing the aging Maitri station.
- Green Research Base: Designed to operate on renewable energy sources, solar during summer and wind energy year-round, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Source: IE
International Blue Flag Certification
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
In News
- Five beaches in Maharashtra have received the international Blue Flag certification.
- The list includes Shrivardhan and Nagaon beaches, Parnaka, and Guhagar and Ladghar beaches.
What is Blue Flag Certification?
- Blue Flag is a globally recognized eco-label for beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating operators that meet strict environmental, safety, educational, and accessibility standards, often termed the gold standard of beach cleanliness.
- It is administered by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a Denmark-based non-profit recognized by UNEP and UNESCO.
- India implements Blue Flag under BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services) within the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme.
- The nodal agency In India is the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Blue Flag beaches in India (2025)
- India has 12 certified beaches: Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod (Karnataka), Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden Beach/Puri (Odisha), Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Kovalam (Tamil Nadu), Eden Beach (Puducherry), Minicoy Thundi (Lakshadweep), and Kadmat (Lakshadweep).
Source: AIR
IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2025
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
In News
- The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 revealed a worrying global environmental trend that climate change has emerged as the greatest threat to natural World Heritage sites.
Key Points
- The report finds that 43% of sites face severe climate threats, while invasive alien species affect 30%, and wildlife and plant diseases are rising sharply, now impacting 9% of sites, up from just 2% in 2020.
- Overall positive conservation outlook dropped from 62% (2020) to 57% (2025).
- Khangchendzonga National Park is the only site rated “Good” in conservation outlook.
- Sundarbans National Park has deteriorated from “Good with Some Concerns” (2020) to “Significant Concern” (2025) due to sea-level rise, salinity, and cyclones.
- Manas National Park is in significant Concern category persists due to poaching and encroachment.
Source: TH
Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2025
Syllabus: GS3/Defence
In News
- The 4th edition of Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2025 began in Australia.
About the Exercise
- AUSTRAHIND, launched in 2022 in Rajasthan, has evolved into an annual bilateral military exercise, held alternately in India and Australia.
- The 2025 edition focuses on joint company-level operations in open and semi-desert terrain, including joint planning, tactical drills, and special arms skills.
Source: PIB
Kenton R. Miller Award
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
Context
- Dr Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park became the first Indian to receive the prestigious WCPA-Kenton Miller Award at the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
About Kenton R. Miller Award
- Established in 2006, the Kenton R. Miller Award for Innovation in National Parks and Protected Area Sustainability is presented every two years by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).
- WCPA is one of the six technical commissions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- The award honors individuals who demonstrate innovation and leadership in conserving national parks and protected areas, particularly in ensuring their long-term sustainability.
- The award is named after Dr. Kenton R. Miller, a former IUCN Director General and a prominent global leader in protected area management.
Source: TH
Abel Prize 2025
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
Context
- Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara was awarded the Abel Prize 2025 for contributions to algebraic analysis and representation theory.
Contributions of Masaki Kashiwara
- He pioneered the theory of D-modules, an algebraic framework to study systems of linear partial differential equations (PDEs).
- He developed tools like microsupport and characteristic varieties, which reveal how singularities in equations propagate.
- His work on sheaf theory, deepened understanding of how local analytical data connects to global geometric structure.
About Abel Prize
- The Abel Prize is an international award recognizing outstanding scientific work in mathematics, often considered the equivalent of a Nobel Prize for mathematicians.
- It is named in honor of the 19th-century Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel.
- Awarded by: The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters on behalf of the Government of Norway.
- Selection process: An expert committee of five internationally recognized mathematicians recommends the laureate(s) to the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
- The prize was established by the Norwegian Parliament in 2002 and first awarded in 2003.
- It can be awarded to mathematicians of any age and nationality.
Some Notable Laureates
- Jean-Pierre Serre: First laureate (2003) for contributions in algebraic geometry and topology.
- Srinivasa S. R. Varadhan: Indian-origin mathematician, won in 2007.
- Michel Talagrand (France) For contributions to probability theory and functional analysis won in 2024.
Source: TH
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