Current Affairs 16 May 2025

World’s First Commercial-scale e-methanol Plant Opens in Denmark.

• Denmark has launched the world’s first commercial-scale e-methanol plant in Kasso.
• Developed by European Energy (Denmark) and Mitsui (Japan), the plant will produce 42,000 metric tonnes of e-methanol annually.
• Methanol (CH₃OH) is a light, volatile, and flammable liquid alcohol. Conventionally produced from natural gas and coal, it is used in chemicals, fuels, and plastics.

India’s Rising E-Waste and the Need to Recast Its Management.

• E-waste refers to the discarded electronic and electrical devices that have reached the end of their lifespan or become obsolete due to rapid technological changes.
• India ranks as the third-largest producer of electronic waste globally.
• India’s e-waste increased by 151.03% over six years, from 7.08 lakh metric tonnes in 2017-18 to 17.78 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24.

SC seeks expert opinion on blood donation bar on trans persons.

• The Supreme Court asked the Centre to seek expert opinion on the bar on transgender people and gay persons from donating blood, pointing out that it could lead to stigma.
• The National Blood Transfusion Council’s guidelines say that trans people, gay persons and sex workers, among others, are at risk for HIV and Hepatitis B or C infections.

DRDO made high-pressure polymeric membrane for sea water desalination.

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an indigenous nanoporous multilayered polymeric membrane for high-pressure seawater desalination, which will be used in Indian Coast Guard () ships.
• The technology, developed by DRDO’s Kanpur-based laboratory DMSRDE, has completed initial technical trials on an Offshore Patrolling Vessel with satisfactory results.

Indian forces launch Operation Nader against terrorists in Tral.

• Security forces launched a joint anti-terror operation in the Nader area of Tral, Awantipora, based on special intelligence input.
• The Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF were involved in the operation.
• India’s ongoing operations build on the success of Operation Sindoor.