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• Foreign Ministers of Germany, Poland, and France have met recently to revive the Weimar Triangle.
• Weimar Triangle is a regional group created in 1991, to develop a shared vision for Europe and forge closer ties between these three countries’ societies. 
  • The Triangle was initially the key forum for supporting German-Polish reconciliation after World War II.
  • The group takes its name from the city of Weimar, Germany, where the initial meeting took place.

• About 25 crore APAAR IDs have been created by Ministry of Education.
• About APAAR
  • Introduced in alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCrF).
  • This is part of ‘One nation, One Student ID’ initiative.
  • It aims to provide unified academic experience for students by assigning a unique and permanent 12-digit ID to every student, consolidating their academic achievements in one place.
  • It reduces fraud and duplicate educational certificates by providing a single, trusted reference for educational institutions.

• Centre launched PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a rooftop solar scheme for free electricity. 
• About Scheme 
  • Aim: To light up 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
  • Removes cost burden: Provides subsidies directly to people’s bank accounts as well as heavily concessional bank loans. 
  • Enhanced convenience: All stakeholders will be integrated into a National Online Portal. 
  • Awareness Generation: Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats shall be incentivised to promote rooftop solar systems in their jurisdictions. 
  • Other benefits: More income, reduced power bills and employment generation.

• In a significant breakthrough, China's maglev train surpassed its previous record of 623 km/h.  
• Maglev is a system in which the vehicle runs levitated from the guideway (corresponding to the rail tracks of conventional railways). 
  • In Maglev, superconducting magnets suspend the train above a U-shaped concrete guideway. 
  • Like ordinary magnets, these magnets repel one another when matching poles face each other.
• Advantages 
  • Produce no emissions as they lack engine. 
  • No friction between wheels and rail enables higher speeds
  • Any two trains travelling the same route cannot catch up and crash into one another.

• Chinese scientists unveiled a novel HPM weapon, powered by Stirling engines.
  • Stirling engine is an external combustion engine working on the principle of compression and expansion to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy.
• HPM weapons are a type of Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system.
  • DEWs are electromagnetic systems capable of converting chemical or electrical energy to radiated energy and focusing it on a target, resulting in physical damage. 
• HPM weapons generate beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad spectrum of radio and microwave frequencies.
  • These beams interact with and potentially damage or disrupt electronics in targeted systems.

• A strong Nor’easter storm hit Northeast of USA.
• Nor'easter is a storm along East Coast of North America. It is called so because winds over coastal area are typically from northeast.
  • During winter, polar jet stream transports cold Arctic air southward across plains of North America and then eastward toward Atlantic Ocean.
  • Simultaneously, warm air from Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic tries to move northward.
  • Difference in temperature between air over land and ocean fuels Nor’easters.
• Impact of Nor’easters: Precipitation (heavy rain or snow), high speed winds of gale force, rough seas, and coastal flooding.

• Assam government has declared Kaji Nemu as 'State Fruit'.
• About Kaji Nemu
  • Known for its unique aroma and health benefits.
  • High rich nutrient content/vitamin C content. Its flavor is different from other lemons.
  • Carries Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• GI is an indication used to identify goods having special characteristics originating from a definite geographical territory.
  • It is provided under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

• Casualties reported during Hori Habba raise concerns about animal and human safety. 
• Hori Habba also known as Hatti Habba, is a bull-taming rural sport held in Karnataka.
• Other Animal Sports in India 
  • Jallikattu: Bull-taming sport held during Pongal in Tamilnadu. 
  • Kambala:  A traditional buffalo race from coastal Karnataka. 
  • Rooster fight (Cockfight): It is associated with gambling in many states including Andhra Pradesh.
  • Bulbul fights: Held in Assam during Magh Bihu. 
• Bullock Cart Race: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu etc.

Rwanda (Capital: Kigali)

• As per UN document, Rwandan Army is using sophisticated weapons like surface-to-air missiles in eastern DR Congo. 
• Political Boundaries
  • Landlocked country lying south of Equator in east-central Africa.
  • Bounded by Uganda (north), Tanzania (east), Burundi (south), and Democratic Republic of Congo (west).
• Geographical features
  • Highest point: Mount Karisimbi in Virunga Range
  • Major Lakes: Lake Kivu, Muhazi Lake etc.
  • Mjaor Rivers: Akagera, Akanyaru, Mukungwa (in Nile Basin) and Rubyiro, Ruhwa, Rusizi (in Congo Basin).