Nepal officially verified as having eliminated rubella

In a significant public health achievement, Nepal has been officially verified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated rubella as a public health problem. This makes Nepal the sixth country in the WHO’s South-East Asia region to achieve this milestone. Understanding Rubella and its Dangers Also known as German measles, rubella is a highly contagious viral infection. While it is generally mild in children and adults, it poses Read More …

Coconut oil price rise

Prices of coconut oil are soaring in Asia, with India leading the charge as its top consumer. The price has nearly tripled in two years, turning a kitchen staple into a premium commodity. This surge is a result of a combination of supply disruptions and booming demand. Key Drivers of the Price Surge The price increase, which began in late 2024, was accelerated by multiple factors impacting production in major Read More …

Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25)

The 12th edition of the Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25) took place in Colombo from August 14 to 18, 2025, with the participation of Indian Naval Ships (INS) Rana, a guided missile destroyer, and Jyoti, a fleet tanker. The exercise, which began in 2005, aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and enhance interoperability between the two nations’ navies. Exercise Phases and Participants The SLINEX-25 was conducted in two phases: Strategic Significance Read More …

US-Russia Alaska Summit

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on August 15, 2025, at a US military base in Alaska for talks aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. Despite the high-stakes meeting, which was held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, no concrete agreement was reached on a ceasefire or a peace deal. Key Details of the Summit About Alaska

Mercator Map

The African Union (AU) has officially endorsed the “Correct the Map” campaign, which advocates for replacing the widely used Mercator map with a more accurate representation of the world. This campaign, led by advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, aims to correct a long-standing cartographic distortion that has minimized Africa’s perceived global significance. The Distortion of the Mercator Map Created in the 16th century for nautical navigation, Read More …

E3 Countries and Snapback Mechanism

The E3, comprising France, Germany, and the UK, have threatened to trigger the “snapback” mechanism of the United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iran. This ultimatum, delivered in a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council, demands that Iran either resume negotiations on its nuclear program or accept a deadline extension by the end of August 2025. The threat stems from Iran’s continued non-compliance with the 2015 Joint Read More …

Kirkuk-Banias pipeline

Iraq and Syria have agreed to form a joint committee to study the potential reactivation of the Kirkuk-Banias pipeline, which has been out of service since 2003. This move is a strategic effort by both nations to revive their energy sectors and diversify oil export routes. Key Details of the Proposed Reactivation (Source: AIR)

UNDP Equator Prize 2025

The Bibifathima Swa Sahaya Sangha SHG from Karnataka has been named one of the ten global winners of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Equator Prize 2025, a leading community award for tackling climate change and protecting nature. The award was announced on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August), recognizing the group’s use of nature-based solutions to enhance livelihoods and build climate resilience. Work of the Read More …