Daily Current Affairs – 14 June 2025

Welcome to your one-stop destination for crisp, reliable, and exam-relevant daily current affairs. The PRESS Pad for daily updates and smart summaries that go beyond the headlines and match the evolving pattern of UPSC and other state-level examinations.

Today's edition features key updates including the World Bank’s Carbon Pricing 2025 report, Finance Ministry’s new CSS fund guidelines, and Rs. 6,000 crore boosts to Agri Stack. We also highlight the Reasi forest fire, Virtual Digital Asset taxation, the UN Women Political Leaders 2025 factsheet, and global tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Plus, insights on youth-elder relationships, a breakthrough in sepsis treatment, AviList bird checklist, and updates on the Air India Boeing 787 black box recovery.

Click Here to read the Current Affairs Pointers (CAP) for January 2025- April 2025. 

State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2025 : World Bank Group Report

1. Global Adoption Growing Rapidly: The number of operational Carbon Pricing (CP) instruments has increased from 5 in 2005 to 80 in 2025, with India, Brazil, and Türkiye actively developing new mechanisms.

2. Wider Economic Influence: Carbon pricing instruments now cover nearly two-thirds of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and account for 28% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

3. Instrument Types in Use: The report identifies three major types of CP instruments:

   • Carbon Taxes: A fixed price per ton of CO₂ or GHGs.

   • Emissions Trading Systems (ETSs): Also known as cap-and-trade; sets a limit (cap) on emissions, allowing companies to buy/sell allowances.

   • Carbon Credit Trading Mechanisms: Projects that reduce/remove emissions generate tradable credits (1 credit = 1 tonne CO₂ equivalent).

4. Current Operational Systems:There are 43 carbon taxes and 37 ETSs operating globally, collectively generating over USD 100 billion in 2024 for public budgets.

5. India’s ETS Development (2024): India finalized rules for a rate-based ETS focused on its industrial sector.

   • Unlike cap-based ETS, rate-based ETS sets performance benchmarks instead of absolute caps, allowing more flexibility.

6. India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (2023): Offers two pathways:

   • Compliance Mechanism: For entities with mandatory GHG reduction targets.

   • Offset Mechanism: For voluntary projects aiming to reduce, remove, or avoid emissions, earning Carbon Credit Certificates.

7. Sector-wise Coverage Insights:

   • Highest coverage: Power, followed by industry, mining & extractives, buildings, land transport, and aviation.

   • Least covered: Agriculture and waste sectors remain largely outside CP mechanisms.

8. Revenue and Policy Benefits: Governments increasingly view carbon pricing not only as a climate tool but as a revenue source, especially for fiscally constrained economies.

Policy Frameworks & International Mechanisms

1. Paris Agreement – Article 6 Explained:

   1. Article 6.2: Enables cooperative approaches between countries via credit transfers.

   2. Article 6.4: Introduces the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, similar to previous CDM, for creating and trading verified credits.

   3. At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the UNFCCC adopted final implementation rules for both provisions.

2. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs):

   1. These impose a carbon price on imported goods based on their emission content.

   2. Example: The EU’s CBAM, designed to prevent carbon leakage (companies moving to countries with lax regulations).

Carbon Credit Market Dynamics

1. Supply vs Demand Imbalance:Global supply of carbon credits exceeded demand, with nearly 1 billion tons of unretired credits remaining in 2024.

2. Funding for Climate Projects:Carbon credit markets mobilized around USD 14 billion in the first three quarters (Q1–Q3) of 2024.

   1. Nature-based carbon removal projects (e.g., reforestation) received the largest share of investments.

3. Retirements & Market Segmentation:

   1. Retirements of credits (i.e., permanently removing them from circulation after use) increased, mainly in the compliance market, which made up almost 25% of global demand in 2023.

   2. The voluntary carbon market saw a slight drop in demand.

4. Compliance Market Channels:

   1. Domestic: Under national ETSs or carbon tax schemes.

   2. International: For instance, CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), requiring airlines to offset emission increases beyond 2019.

   3. NDC-linked: Countries use international credits to meet Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.

5. Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM): Operated by independent bodies such as Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Gold Standard.

   • Used by private companies to offset their emissions voluntarily.

6. Credit Supply Trends:

   1. Credits from nature-based removals rose by nearly 25%, driven by strong supply and buyer interest.

   2. High-impact sectors gaining attention include clean cooking and afforestation projects.

7. Rise in Engineered Carbon Removals:Demand is growing for engineered solutions like:

   1. Direct Air Capture (DAC): Extracts CO₂ directly from the atmosphere.

   2. Enhanced Rock Weathering: Applies crushed rock to land to accelerate CO₂ removal through natural processes.

8. Future Commitments vs Delivery Gap:

   1. In 2024, buyers committed to purchase 8 million tons of engineered removals, but only 318,000 tons were delivered.

   2. Most credits are forward purchases to support long-term projects, with delivery expected in future years.

FRA Cells & Forest Rights Act Implementation

1. The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, officially called the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling communities over land and forest resources.

2. For the first time since FRA's enactment in 2006, the Union Government has begun directly funding structural support mechanisms to aid its implementation — previously the domain of State and UT governments.

Dharti Aba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan (DAJGUA)

1. DAJGUA, launched in October 2024, is a Central scheme bringing together 25 interventions from 17 Ministries to support over 68,000 tribal-dominated villages.

2. One core component of DAJGUA is the creation of FRA Cells to support the implementation of the FRA.

Establishment of FRA Cells (as of March 2025)

1. The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sanctioned:

   1. 324 District-level FRA Cells across 18 States/UTs.

   2. State-level FRA Cells for 17 of those States/UTs.

2. Budgetary Support:

   1. ₹8.67 lakh allocated per district FRA cell.

   2. ₹25.85 lakh allocated per state-level FRA cell.

   3. These are funded by the Centre under Grants-in-Aid (General), despite being operated through State machinery.

3. States with highest sanctioned FRA Cells: Madhya Pradesh (55), Chhattisgarh (30), Telangana (29), Maharashtra (26), Assam (25) and Jharkhand (24).

Purpose and Functioning of FRA Cells

1. Objective: To assist claimants and Gram Sabhas with paperwork preparation, evidence collection, and data management for FRA claims.

2. Tasks include:

   1. Helping prepare claim files, gathering certificates, resolutions, and land-use evidence.

   2. Assisting in demarcation of forest lands already vested.

   3. Supporting conversion of forest/un-surveyed villages into revenue villages.

   4. Digitizing claim records and uploading to relevant digital portals.

3. These FRA cells function under DAJGUA guidelines, not under the FRA’s principal legislation.

Existing FRA Implementation Structure (Under FRA, 2006)

1. As per the FRA Act, statutory committees must be set up by State governments:

   1. Gram Sabha Forest Rights Committees (FRCs)

   2. Sub-Divisional Level Committees (SDLCs)

   3. District Level Committees (DLCs)

   4. State Monitoring Committees

2. These statutory bodies are empowered to assess, approve, and reject claims related to forest rights.

Types of Rights Under FRA

1. The FRA provides a range of individual and community rights, including:

   1. Right to forest land (up to 4 hectares).

   2. Grazing rights for livestock.

   3. Right to self-cultivation, habitation, and minor forest produce collection.

   4. Community rights to manage, conserve, and protect forests.

2. These rights are:

   1. Heritable but not transferable or sellable.

   2. Jointly registered in names of both spouses (if married).

   3. Exempt from prior forest clearances under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

Concerns and Criticism from Activists and Experts

1. Experts like Tushar Dash raise concerns that the FRA cells may form a “parallel mechanism” outside of FRA’s statutory framework.

2. Some tasks now assigned to FRA cells overlap with responsibilities of FRCs, SDLCs, and DLCs, creating potential confusion at ground level.

3. Structural bottlenecks remain the core issue:

   1. Infrequent meetings of SDLCs and DLCs.

   2. Reluctance of Forest Departments to act on even approved claims.

FRA Claim Status (as of March 2025)

1. Of 51.11 lakh claims filed across 21 States/UTs:

   1. 14.45% remain pending.

   2. Of the 43 lakh claims disposed, over 42% were rejected.

2. High pendency examples:

   1. Assam: Over 60% claims pending.

   2. Telangana: Around 50.27% claims pending.

Why This Move Is Significant

1. This marks a departure from earlier Central approach, which only involved:

   1. Issuing advisories.

   2. Providing training and capacity-building funds.

   3. Collecting monthly reports from States.

2. Now, the Centre is actively funding facilitation units, aiming to expedite pending claims and support Gram Sabhas, albeit outside the formal FRA legal framework.

Union Agriculture Ministry announces Rs. 6,000 crore to strengthen Agri Stack under Digital Agriculture Mission

1. The Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM) was launched in 2024 to build a farmer-centric digital ecosystem aimed at delivering reliable, real-time crop-related services.

2. It focuses on developing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture, such as:

   1. Agri Stack (central database of farmers and crops)

   2. Krishi Decision Support System (KDSS)

   3. Comprehensive Soil Fertility and Profile Maps

₹6,000 Crore Allocation Announced at National Conference on Agri Stack

The Union Agriculture Ministry announced ₹6,000 crore for expanding digital agriculture infrastructure:

• ₹4,000 crore for building Farmer Registries, including legal heir systems.

• ₹2,000 crore for implementing Digital Crop Surveys (DCS).

What is Agri Stack? (Digital Backbone for Agriculture)

Agri Stack is a Digital Public Good, akin to Aadhaar, designed with a federated architecture—ensuring collaborative data management between the Centre and States/UTs.

• Federated architecture means each state maintains its own registry/data, but integrates with the national platform in a standardized format.

Registries and Databases under Agri Stack

1. Farmers’ Registry:

   1. Managed by States/UTs.

   2. Contains comprehensive, authenticated data on farmers, including ownership and legal heir information.

2. Geo-referenced Village Maps:

   1. Used in Digital Crop Surveys for land parcel-level data mapping.

   2. Helps establish accurate, trustworthy ground-truth data.

3. Crop Sown Registry via Digital Crop Survey (DCS):

   1. Data collected directly from fields using mobile applications.

   2. Replaces manual methods like Girdawari (traditional crop inspection and reporting).

Other Key Digital Agriculture Initiatives

1. Krishi Decision Support System (2024):

   1. Integrates geospatial (location-based) and non-geospatial data (like weather, soil, satellite images).

   2. Provides predictive analytics to support farm-level decisions.

2. Nationwide Soil Resource Mapping Project:

   1. Launched by Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI).

   2. Inventories and profiles soil characteristics at village level.

3. DGCES (Digital General Crop Estimation Survey):

   1. Aims to fully digitize and automate the current General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES) process.

   2. Improves accuracy of production estimates, critical for food security planning.

Key Announcements from the Agri Stack Conference

1. MoUs Signed with Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar, Odisha, and the PSB Alliance (Public Sector Banks) in collaboration with the National Farmers’ Welfare Program Implementation Society (NFWPIS).

2. The MoUs aim to digitally link farmers to credit and welfare schemes via verified land and crop records.

Introduction of Digitally Verifiable Credentials (DVC)

A new Kisan Pehchan Patra (Digital Identity Card) will be introduced:

• Integrated with DigiLocker.

• Provides digitally verifiable credentials for specific land parcels and crops.

  • Digitally Verifiable Credentials (DVCs) allow secure, tamper-proof authentication of farmer data, ensuring only eligible farmers receive benefits.

Massive Forest Fire in Reasi District, Jammu & Kashmir

1. A major forest fire has broken out near NH-144A in Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir, affecting hundreds of hectares of forest land.

2. The fire has triggered an emergency response from forest authorities and disaster management teams, given its proximity to key transport routes and ecologically sensitive zones.

What are Forest Fires?

1. Forest fires refer to uncontrolled fires that spread through vegetation in forested areas, leading to ecological degradation, economic losses, and community displacement.

2. These fires can be surface fires (burning undergrowth), crown fires (burning tree canopies), or ground fires (burning deep organic matter).

Causes of Forest Fires

1. Natural causes:

   1. Lightning strikes or prolonged droughts can ignite dry forest matter.

   2. Naturally flammable vegetation, especially during dry spells, increases risk.

2. Anthropogenic (human-induced) causes:

   1. Slash-and-burn agriculture (e.g. Jhum cultivation): Traditional practice where forests are intentionally set on fire for crop cultivation.

   2. Negligence: Careless disposal of cigarette butts, unattended campfires, or burning waste.

   3. Climate Change:

      1. Rising temperatures and heatwaves extend dry periods.

      2. Global warming increases frequency, intensity, and duration of fire-prone conditions.

Forest fire Vulnerability map of india

Measures for Forest Fire Prevention and Management

1. Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPMFS):

   1. A Centrally funded scheme to help States/UTs with fire preparedness, early response, and rehabilitation.

   2. Supports fire-line creation, fire watchers, and equipment procurement.

2. National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF):

   1. Focuses on community participation and technology-based solutions.

   2. Encourages local involvement for prevention and knowledge dissemination.

3. FSI’s Forest Fire Alert System – FIRE 3.0:

   1. Run by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).

   2. Uses MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and SNPP-VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) satellite systems.

   3. Provides early warning alerts and real-time fire tracking using satellite-based detection.

      1. MODIS and VIIRS are Earth observation instruments on NASA and NOAA satellites used to monitor fire, temperature, vegetation, and atmospheric changes globally.

Youth Respect Elders but Struggle to Connect

1. A demographic shift and changing family structures are reshaping the intergenerational dynamic between youth and elders.

2. While youth continue to respect elders, the connection is weakening due to differing expectations, lifestyle changes, and lack of structured communication.

Perception Differences Between Youth and Elders

1. Wisdom vs. Neglect:

   1. Youth associate elders with wisdom and experience.

   2. Elders, however, often feel emotionally neglected and experience a loss of autonomy in family decisions.

2. Digital Divide:

Digital Divide refers to the gap between individuals who have access to modern information and communication technology (ICT) and those who don’t — often caused by age, income, or education.

1. Youth perceive elders as disinterested in learning digital tools.

2. Elders, on the other hand, struggle with fast-paced explanations and feel left behind by technology.

3. Family vs. Formal Care:

   1. Youth show increasing preference for paid caregivers.

   2. Elders still consider family as their primary support system during aging.

4. Aspirations for Aging:

   1. Youth favour independent living near family or in retirement communities.

   2. Elders prefer traditional family-based living, reflecting cultural expectations.

Generational Gap and Communication Challenges

1. The Generational Gap Perception Index highlights that emotional distance, educational differences, and economic dependence drive the disconnection more than just age.

2. Communication Barriers are significant: 76% of elders and 74% of youth cite busy youth schedules as the top reason for limited interactions.

3. Comfort levels vary by topic:

   1. Discussions on life advice are moderately comfortable for both.

   2. Conversations around career or education plans are often uncomfortable, revealing a disconnect in life priorities.

Recommendations to Strengthen Intergenerational Bonds

1. Aging Sensitization Programs: Introducing modules in school and college curricula to foster empathy towards aging, reduce stereotypes, and improve understanding.

2. Digital Buddy Initiatives: Launching youth-led “Digital Buddy” programs where tech-savvy youth guide elders with patient, one-on-one digital learning.

3. Community-Based Elder Support Centres: Establishing centres offering counselling, digital literacy, and emotional support, bridging the communication gap in a safe, neutral space.

4. Intergenerational Exchange Programs: Programs like “Wisdom Exchange” allow elders to share traditional knowledge and life experiences, while youth contribute modern skills like digital tools or career insights.

Bridging the intergenerational communication gap requires systematic, empathetic, and participatory efforts by families, schools, communities, and governments. Recognizing elders as active contributors and youth as catalysts for inclusion can foster mutual understanding, respect, and a shared future built on dialogue.

Finance Ministry’s Guidelines for Direct Release of Central Sector Scheme (CSS) Funds

1. Central Sector (CS) Schemes are fully funded and directly implemented by the Central Government, and relate exclusively to subjects under the Union List of the Constitution (e.g., defense, atomic energy, etc.).

2. To streamline implementation, each Ministry/Department must appoint a Central Nodal Agency (CNA)—which can be an autonomous body, Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), or a State agency—to act as the central executor for each scheme.

3. Realistic Budgeting is emphasized: Ministries should prepare practical budget estimates and report potential savings as early as possible, ideally by the third quarter of the financial year.

4. Unutilized or unspent funds will automatically lapse at the end of the financial year—no carry-forward is allowed—ensuring fiscal discipline and timely utilization.

5. The new model follows a ‘Just-In-Time’ Fund Release approach, under which a maximum of 25% of the total allocation is disbursed at any time, rather than full upfront disbursement.

6. Subsequent tranches of funds will be released only after 75% of the previously allocated amount is utilized and all required conditions are met—promoting efficient fund utilization and avoidance of idle funds.

7. This staggered fund release process boosts financial accountability, as it links new disbursements to the performance and compliance of implementing agencies.

8. To ensure robust fund tracking and transparency, use of the Public Finance Management System (PFMS) is mandatory; this system provides real-time monitoring, tracks fund flows, and controls unspent balances.

9. Reinforcing strategic planning, in 2017, the Ministry of Finance introduced ‘Sunset Clauses’ and Outcome Reviews for all schemes—meaning each scheme must have a defined closure date and a performance evaluation mechanism.

• Sunset Clause: A legal provision that gives a scheme a fixed operational timeline, aligning it with the Finance Commission cycles (5-year fiscal planning periods of the Union and State Governments).

10. Complementing these reforms, a Private Member Bill titled “The Government Legislative Proposals and Schemes (Impact Analysis and Post Implementation Assessment) Bill, 2022” was introduced in Parliament.

    • The bill proposes mechanisms for accountability, Parliamentary oversight, and post-implementation evaluation to improve the quality and impact of Central Government schemes and legislative proposals.

Women Political Leaders 2025 – UN Women Factsheet

A new factsheet by UN Women warns of a worrying global trend—women are increasingly disappearing from political leadership roles, signaling a setback for gender equality in governance.

1. As of 2025, only 25 countries have a woman serving in either of the top political leadership roles—i.e., as Head of State or Head of Government—demonstrating how rare female executive power remains.

2. At the ministerial level, women globally account for just 22.9% of Cabinet-level ministers, reflecting the underrepresentation of women in key national decision-making positions.

3. India's global standing is alarmingly low—ranking 174 out of 181 countries in terms of women in cabinet positions, with women comprising just 5.6% of national political leaders.

4. This places India among the bottom-ranked countries worldwide, highlighting a stark gender gap in political representation and a need for focused reforms.

5. Moreover, even when women do attain ministerial positions, there is a clear gender bias in the allocation of portfolios—they are overwhelmingly assigned to social sectors like Family, Children, and Women’s Welfare.

6. In contrast, men continue to dominate strategic and economic portfolios, such as Finance, Defence, External Affairs, and Home Affairs—areas that significantly shape national policy and power dynamics.

7. This pattern reflects not just underrepresentation but also structural inequality in leadership influence, reinforcing gender stereotypes in governance roles.

Taxation on Virtual Digital Assets

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is investigating tax evasion and laundering of unaccounted income via Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) like cryptocurrency.

• VDAs refer to digital assets that use blockchain or cryptographic technology for transactions.

Taxation Provisions for VDAs

1. CBDT’s NUDGE (Non-intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable) approach: “Trust first” philosophy to encourage voluntary tax disclosure and update if any income on account of VDA transactions have not been properly declared.

2. Applicable tax rates (as per Finance Act 2022)

   • Flat 30% tax on VDA gains. 

   • 1% TDS on transfer of VDAs to residents.

Black Box Recovered from Air India Boeing 787 Crash

1. In a crucial development, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has recovered the Black Box from the wreckage of Air India’s Boeing 787, a vital step in determining the cause of the crash.

2. A Black Box is not a single device but refers to two essential flight recording systems that are critical to post-accident investigations and flight safety analysis.

3. The first component is the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which captures key flight parameters such as altitude, speed, engine performance, heading, and control inputs—helping reconstruct the aircraft's movements.

4. The second is the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which records audio from the cockpit, including pilot conversations, radio communications, alarms, and even ambient sounds, offering insights into the human and technical environment before the crash.

5. These devices are collectively referred to as the “Black Box”, though they are in fact painted bright orange to ensure high visibility in post-crash recovery operations.

6. Designed for survivability, they are built from extremely strong materials like titanium or stainless steel, and are insulated to withstand extreme temperatures, deep-sea pressures, and high-impact forces.

7. For increased protection, Black Boxes are typically located in the tail section of the aircraft, which statistically suffers the least damage during most crashes.

8. Their primary purpose is to capture real-time flight data and audio, making them an indispensable tool for investigators to reconstruct accident scenarios and improve aviation safety protocols.

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)

1. Following the Air India aircraft crash at Ahmedabad airport, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been tasked with conducting a detailed and formal investigation into the incident.

2. The AAIB was established in 2012 as an attached office under the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, to independently handle civil aviation accident investigations in India.

3. Its creation fulfills India’s international obligation under Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944, which mandates each member state to ensure independent, unbiased investigations of aircraft accidents.

4. Under its core mandate, the AAIB oversees the technical investigation and administrative work related to aircraft accidents, including assisting the Court or Assessors appointed by the Central Government under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017.

5. The bureau is specifically responsible for investigating all accidents and serious incidents involving aircraft with an All-Up Weight (AUW) of more than 2,250 kilograms or those powered by turbojet engines.

• All-Up Weight (AUW) refers to the total weight of the aircraft at takeoff, including fuel, cargo, passengers, and crew.

6. The AAIB plays a crucial role in enhancing aviation safety by identifying causes, issuing safety recommendations, and ensuring compliance with international standards in post-accident investigations.

AviList: First-Ever Unified Global Bird Checklist Goes Live

AviList, the first-ever unified global checklist of bird species to aid effective bird conservation becomes live. 

• It will replace the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) and Clements lists and will be updated annually. 

About AviList

• It provides the most current and authoritative taxonomy of the world's birds.

• Collaborative global effort that included representatives from BirdLife International, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the American Ornithologists Society, the International Ornithologists’ Union, and Avibase. 

• Includes 11,131 species, 19,879 subspecies, 2,376 genera, 252 families, and 46 orders.

Read detailed article Here : AviList: First-Ever Unified Global Bird Checklist Goes Live

Statins Show Promise in Reducing Death Rates Among Sepsis Patients

1. A recent study has highlighted a potential new benefit of statins—they may help in reducing mortality among patients suffering from sepsis, a critical and often fatal medical condition.

2. Sepsis, earlier referred to as "blood poisoning", is a life-threatening condition where the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection, triggering an exaggerated inflammatory response that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.

3. The new findings suggest that statins, commonly used for cardiovascular diseases, may play a significant role in modulating this harmful immune overreaction seen in sepsis.

4. Statins are a class of medications primarily used to lower LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein)—commonly known as “bad cholesterol”—thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

5. Beyond their cholesterol-lowering effect, statins possess multiple pleiotropic properties (i.e., additional therapeutic effects), including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory (immune system regulating), antioxidative, and antithrombotic (preventing blood clots) actions.

6. These properties enable statins to help mitigate excessive inflammation, restore endothelial function (critical for maintaining blood vessel health), and even demonstrate potential antimicrobial activity—all of which are crucial in managing sepsis.

7. Therefore, the study opens up promising new clinical pathways for repurposing statins as adjunct therapy in sepsis management, in addition to their established role in cardiovascular care.

Strait of Hormuz – A Vital Maritime Choke-Point Under Threat Amid Geopolitical Tension

1. The Strait of Hormuz, a globally strategic maritime passage, is once again under spotlight as recent Israeli strikes on Iran have escalated tensions in the region, posing serious risks to international maritime trade.

2. Located between Iran and Oman, the Strait of Hormuz serves as a narrow sea passage that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it a vital route for global energy transport.

3. It is widely regarded as the world’s most important oil chokepoint—a term used to describe narrow channels along widely used global sea routes that are critical to energy transportation.

4. Nearly 21% of global petroleum liquids consumption—including crude oil and natural gas—passes through this strait, making any disruption here a matter of global energy security.

5. Geographically, the northern boundary of the strait is flanked by Iran, while the southern boundary touches the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, which holds strategic maritime surveillance importance.

6. The current rise in conflict t hreatens to destabilize the safe passage of oil tankers and commercial vessels, potentially leading to supply chain disruptions, spikes in global oil prices, and naval confrontations.

7. Given its critical geopolitical and economic significance, the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint in West Asian geopolitics, requiring diplomatic vigilance and international cooperation to maintain maritime security.

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