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- The Vadhavan Greenfield Port, currently under development near Dahanu in Maharashtra, is expected to significantly boost India's container trade, doubling its current capacity once operational.
- About Vadhavan Port:
- The Vadhavan Port will be constructed as a state-of-the-art all-weather Greenfield deep draft major port in Vadhavan, located in Palghar District, Maharashtra.
- This ambitious project is being spearheaded by Vadhavan Port Project Limited (VPPL), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed through a partnership between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), holding 74% and 26% stakes, respectively.
- With a total investment of Rs. 76,220 Crore, which includes land acquisition costs, the port is slated to be completed by 2034 and is expected to rank among the world’s top 10 ports.
- The port will feature nine container terminals, each 1,000 meters in length, along with four multipurpose berths (including a coastal berth), four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, and a Coast Guard berth. By 2029, four terminals are scheduled to be operational, with the remaining five terminals to be completed by 2034.
- The overall project will have an annual handling capacity of 298 million metric tons (MMT), including 23.2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of container capacity. The port’s development will also enhance EXIM trade, particularly through the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
- A female elephant recently passed away due to suspected anthrax at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
- About Anthrax:
- Anthrax is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. This bacterium is naturally present in soil worldwide and primarily affects livestock and wildlife. The spores it produces can remain dormant in the soil for many years.
- Transmission:
- Animals, both domestic and wild, typically become infected by inhaling, ingesting, or drinking contaminated soil, plants, or water containing anthrax spores. Humans can contract anthrax through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. People may also inhale anthrax spores, consume contaminated food or water, or get infected through cuts or abrasions on their skin.
- Unlike diseases like the flu or chickenpox, anthrax is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from person to person.
- The disease can take three forms, depending on how the infection occurs: cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational. In humans, the infection most commonly affects the skin, digestive system, or respiratory tract.
- Symptoms:
- The symptoms vary depending on the type of infection but can include:
- Chest pain and difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Fever and heavy sweating
- Headaches or muscle aches
- Itchy blisters or bumps
- Skin ulcers with a black center
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea
- Swollen lymph nodes
- The symptoms vary depending on the type of infection but can include:
- Treatment:
- If caught early, antibiotic treatment can effectively treat anthrax. Vaccination against anthrax is generally only recommended for individuals who are at high risk, such as those working in regions where the disease is more common.
- Russia is preparing to deploy the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, also known as 'Satan 2', to replace its older missile systems.
- About RS-28 Sarmat:
- The RS-28 Sarmat is a liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile developed by Russia.
- It is named after the Sarmatian people who lived during the fourth and fifth centuries BC and is commonly referred to as "Satan II" in the West.
- Features:
- The RS-28 Sarmat is a three-stage, liquid-fueled missile with a range of up to 18,000 kilometers.
- It has a launch weight of 208.1 metric tons.
- The missile is 35.3 meters long and 3 meters in diameter.
- Classified as a "heavy" ICBM, it is capable of carrying a payload of up to 10 tons and offers flexibility with various warhead configurations.
- It can carry up to 10 heavy nuclear warheads, 16 smaller warheads, a mix of warheads and countermeasures, or hypersonic boost-glide vehicles.
- The missile is designed to bypass anti-missile defense systems by utilizing a short initial boost phase, giving adversary surveillance systems a brief window to track it.
- Russia is preparing to deploy the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, also known as 'Satan 2', to replace its older missile systems.
- About RS-28 Sarmat:
- The RS-28 Sarmat is a liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile developed by Russia.
- It is named after the Sarmatian people who lived during the fourth and fifth centuries BC and is commonly referred to as "Satan II" in the West.
- Features:
- The RS-28 Sarmat is a three-stage, liquid-fueled missile with a range of up to 18,000 kilometers.
- It has a launch weight of 208.1 metric tons.
- The missile is 35.3 meters long and 3 meters in diameter.
- Classified as a "heavy" ICBM, it is capable of carrying a payload of up to 10 tons and offers flexibility with various warhead configurations.
- It can carry up to 10 heavy nuclear warheads, 16 smaller warheads, a mix of warheads and countermeasures, or hypersonic boost-glide vehicles.
- The missile is designed to bypass anti-missile defense systems by utilizing a short initial boost phase, giving adversary surveillance systems a brief window to track it.