• The United States recently deported 104 Indian migrants who had undertaken a perilous illegal journey, including a dangerous crossing through the Darien Gap.
• Many Indians attempting to enter the US illegally follow what is known as the ‘donkey route’ or illegal migration route through darien gap.
• The Darien Gap is a dense, swampy rainforest spanning approximately 97 km between northern Colombia in South America and southern Panama in North America. 
• The terrain is characterized by muddy trails, wetlands, and steep mountains,making it one of the most inhospitable and dangerous regions in the world.
• The area is controlled by criminal gangs and armed groups, further increasing the dangers for those attempting to cross it.

• At the Bengal Global Business Summit 2025, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the start of mining operations at the Deucha-Pachami coal block in Birbhum
• The West Bengal government is set to commence basalt mining on 326 acres at the Deocha-Pachami coal mine.
• Mining basalt is crucial as it covers the coal reserves beneath.
• This block is one of the largest coal deposits in the world, with over 1,200 million tonnes of coal.
• The Deocha-Pachami coal mine is Asia’s second largest coal mine,while Gevra mine of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) in Chhattisgarh is the largest coalmine in Asia.

Celebrated annually on the second Monday of February. In 2025, it falls on February 10.

• Established to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and advocate for the rights of people with epilepsy.
• Organized by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
• Epilepsy affects around 50 million people globally, making it one of the most common neurological disorders.

Observed annually on February 10.

• Established by the United Nations in 2019 after the success of the 2016 International Year of Pulses.
• Pulses include dry beans, lentils, chickpeas, and peas, which are rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
• 2025 Theme: “Pulses: Bringing diversity to agrifood systems.

Observed annually on February 09.

• Baba Amte, born Murlidhar Devidas Amte on December 26, 1914, was a renowned social activist and humanitarian, best known for his work with leprosy patients.
• He was born in Hinganghat, a city in the Wardha district of Maharashtra.
• In 1951, he founded Anandwan, a rehabilitation center in Maharashtra for leprosy patients.
• Baba Amte passed away on February 9, 2008, at the age of 93 in Anandwan, Maharashtra.

Recently, Panama has officially announced its withdrawal from China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

• President Jose Raul Mulino declared that the canal’s control is not negotiable. This move signals Panama’s intent to reaffirm its sovereignty over the Panama Canal which is an 82-kilometer artificial waterway connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
• Also Italy, which became the first major Western nation to join the initiative back in 2019, officially withdrew in late
• BRI is China’s strategic initiative, launched in 2013 and aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.
• The aim is improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth.

The initiative includes two principal components: the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road.

China’s Chang’e-7 lunar probe, scheduled for launch in 2026, will target the moon’s south pole to search for water ice and test cutting-edge technologies critical for sustainable human activities on the moon.

• The probe is planned to be launched by a Long March 5 rocket in 2026, from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island.
• The mission, set for 2026, includes a robotic “flyer detector” designed to search for water.
• The Chang’e-7 mission will consist of four key components. These include an orbiter, a lander, a lunar rover and a flying robotic detector.
• It is part of China’s long-term roadmap is to establish a permanent lunar research station by the 2030s.

The Cheetah family in Madhya Pradesh has grown, as two cubs were born to the cheetah Veera at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district on 4 February, with the addition of the cubs, the total number of cheetahs at Kuno has risen to 26.

• Kuno National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district and spans 748 sq km.
• It was initially a wildlife sanctuary established in 1981 and was upgraded to a national park in 2018.
• The park is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests and provides an ideal habitat for cheetahs.
• Cheetahs in India were declared extinct in 1952, and Project Cheetah was launched to reintroduce them.
• Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are the fastest land animals, reaching speeds up to 110 km/h in short bursts.
• Cheetahs mainly inhabit southern African countries, including Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
• Iran is the only country with the Asiatic cheetah, which is critically endangered and smaller than African cheetahs.

 Bart De Wever leader of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), has officially taken office as Belgium’s new Prime Minister.

• It is the first time a Flemish nationalist has ascended to the highest office in Belgium.
• Belgium is a country in Northwestern Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea.
• Its capital, Brussels, is also the seat of the European Union (EU).
• Belgium is called the ‘Cockpit of Europe ‘because it is where the largest number of European battles have taken place in history.

The Indian Army changed the name of the Eastern Command headquarters, located in West Bengal, from Fort William to Vijay Durg mid-December last year in a bid to shed off the “colonial legacy”.

• Additionally, Kitchener House inside Fort William has been renamed to Manekshaw House, and South gate, formerly known as George’s Gate, is now Shivaji Gate.
• Fort William is Fort Williamsituated in Kolkata, West Bengal, on the eastern banks of the Hooghly River, a major distributary of the Ganga.
• Fort William was constructed by the British in 1781 and was named after King William III of England.
• The original fort was built by the British East India Company under Sir John Goldsborough.
• The current fort was reconstructed under the supervision of Robert Clive after the British regained control of Kolkata following the Battle of Plassey (1757).