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By admin: April 4, 2024

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Sworn in for Third Term

Tags: International News

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was sworn in for his third term as Egypt's president in the country's new capital.

An Overview of the News

• Sisi won the December election by a wide margin, winning 89.6% of the vote without any significant competition.

Economic Reforms and Financial Assistance:

• Egypt allowed its currency to devalue after securing a $35 billion lifeline from the Emirati Wealth Fund, eliminating chronic currency shortages.

• A commitment to reforms, including reducing state interference in trade, facilitated an expanded $8 billion deal with the IMF.

Military-led infrastructure projects:

• Since 2014, Egypt has undertaken extensive infrastructure development, primarily led by the military.

• These projects aim to promote economic growth and accommodate population growth, with the $58 billion New Administrative Capital Project being the largest.

Criticism of mega-projects:

• Critics argue that these projects increase economic challenges by diverting resources and increasing the national debt.

• Projects such as the Suez Canal expansion and new cities have faced scrutiny for their impact on Egypt's financial stability.

Global role amid regional crisis:

• Egypt's involvement in the Gaza crisis has enhanced its global reputation, serving as the primary aid vehicle and mediator for ceasefire talks.

• Sisi came to power in 2013 after ousting Mohammed Morsi, underscoring his background as a former intelligence general.

Human rights concerns and government response:

• Rights groups estimate that thousands of people, including activists and Islamists, have been detained since Morsi's ouster.

• Sisi's administration defends these actions, emphasizing stability and security while promising efforts toward providing social rights such as housing and employment.

Kathia Gehu of Bundelkhand received the first GI tag for agricultural produce

Tags: State News

Kathiya Gehu, an indigenous wheat variety from the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, the first such recognition for an agricultural produce in the region.

An Overview of the News

Certification Process:

• Application for GI certification filed by Kathiya Gehu Bangra Producer Company Limited in January 2022 with the support of NABARD and technical guidance of Padma Shri Rajnikant Rai.

• After a two-year process, the GI tag was issued with certificate number 585 on 30 March 2024.

Importance of GI Tag:

• An important achievement for the Bundelkhand region is to have the first GI tag for any agricultural produce in the region.

• The GI tag will promote Kathiya Gehu as an indigenous brand of wheat, known for its protein richness and ability to thrive with minimal irrigation.

Features of Kathiya Gehu:

• Kathiya Gehu, also known as durum wheat, is prevalent in this region.

• Nutrition-rich and gluten-free, making it a healthy option.

• Adaptable to harsh climatic conditions and requires minimum water for cultivation.

Impact on farmers:

• Confirmation of GI tag will increase the brand value of Kathia wheat, which will benefit the farmers of the area.

• The collaboration between RLBCAU and ICARDA aims to research and develop improved seed varieties for improving Kathiya wheat production.

Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi took Oath as Rajya Sabha MP

Tags: National News

Prominent Congress leader Sonia Gandhi took oath as Rajya Sabha member on April 4, 2024.

An Overview of the News

• After the completion of the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 3, Sonia Gandhi secured her seat from Rajasthan.

• This is Sonia Gandhi's first term in the upper house of Parliament.

• Along with Sonia Gandhi, 13 other members took oath as ministers.

• Notable individuals who took the oath included former Congress and current BJP member RPN Singh, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Syed Nasir Hussain from Karnataka and BJP member Samik Bhattacharya from West Bengal.

• Besides, YSRCP representatives Gola Babu Rao, Medha Raghunath Reddy and Yerum Venkata Subba Reddy also took oath.

• The oath ceremony was presided over by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and was held at the new Parliament House.

About Sonia Gandhi

• Background:

  • Sonia Gandhi, born on 9 December 1946, is an Indian politician and the longest-serving president of the Indian National Congress.

  • He is from a small village near Vicenza, Italy and was raised in a Roman Catholic family.

• Political Career:

  • Gandhi assumed the leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1998 after the assassination of her husband Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India.

  • He held the position of party leader for 22 years until 2017, overseeing the Congress during a crucial period in Indian politics.

  • After a short hiatus, Gandhi returned to the post of Congress president in 2019 and remained in the position for an additional three years.

President dedicates CAR-T cell therapy at IIT Bombay to the nation

Tags: Science and Technology National News

President Draupadi Murmu dedicated CAR-T cell therapy at IIT Bombay to the nation.

An Overview of the News

• CAR-T cell therapy, used in treating cancer patients, has been developed by IIT Bombay-incubated company ImmunoAdoptive Cell Therapy (ImmunoACT) in India.

• This therapy is the result of a collaborative effort between IIT Bombay and Tata Memorial Center (TMC).

• It has been designed and developed at IIT Bombay, with integrated process development and manufacturing conducted at ImmunoACT.

• Clinical investigations and translational studies were conducted by teams at TMH.

• It is expected that the CAR-T cell therapy product has the potential to save many lives at a much lower cost than similar products available outside India.

CAR T-cell therapy:

• It is a treatment method where a patient's T cells, a type of immune system cell, are modified in a laboratory setting to target cancer cells.

• T cells are extracted from the patient's blood, and in the lab, a gene for a specific receptor called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is introduced into these T cells.

• The CAR enables the modified T cells to bind to a particular protein found on the patient's cancer cells.

• Following this modification, large quantities of CAR T cells are cultured in the laboratory and subsequently administered to the patient through infusion.

• This therapy is primarily employed in treating certain types of blood cancers, and ongoing research is exploring its potential for treating other forms of cancer.

• CAR T-cell therapy is also referred to as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy.

Successful flight test of Agni-Prime missile

Tags: Science and Technology National News

Agni-Prime missile successfully flight tested in Odisha.

An Overview of the News

• The test was conducted jointly by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) and Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island.

• The Defense Ministry said that the Agni-Prime missile met all the test objectives, demonstrating its reliable performance.

Introduction of Agni-P (Agni-Prime):

• Agni-P, also known as Agni-Prime, is a medium-range ballistic missile under development by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

• It is the sixth missile in the Agni series and is designed to be a two-stage, surface-to-surface, canister-launched, and road-mobile system.

Purpose and Deployment:

• Agni-P is intended to be deployed within the Strategic Forces Command for operational use.

• Its development aims to enhance India's ballistic missile capabilities, particularly in the medium-range segment.

Key Features and Upgrades:

• The missile incorporates significant upgrades compared to its predecessors.

• These upgrades include advancements in the composite motor casing, navigation systems, and guidance systems.

Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV):

• Agni-P is equipped with a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV), enhancing its effectiveness in penetrating enemy defenses and accurately hitting targets.

Solid-Fueled Design:

• Agni-P utilizes solid fuel propulsion, ensuring reliability, mobility, and ease of deployment.

Canister Launch Capability:

• Its canister-launch system adds to its mobility and readiness, allowing for rapid deployment and launch from various platforms.

Strategic Significance:

• The development and deployment of Agni-P mark a significant advancement in India's strategic missile program.

• It strengthens India's deterrence capability and provides a credible response to evolving security challenges in the region.

Maharashtra Triumphs at the 56th National Kho Kho Championship 2023-24

Tags: Sports

Maharashtra emerged victorious in both the men's and women's categories at the 56th National Kho Kho Championship 2023-24.

An Overview of the News:

• The Kho Kho Federation of India was the organization behind the 56th National Kho Kho Championship 2023–24.

• The competition ran from March 28, 2024, until April 1, 2024.

Information about the Championship:

• The competition was held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium and the Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi.

• Thirty-seven teams, split into eight groups each, competed in the men's and women's divisions.

Prizes:

• In addition to a trophy, the winning Maharashtra team took home a monetary award of Rs 3 lakh.

• A trophy and a monetary prize of Rs 2 lakh were given to the runner-up team.

Men’s Category:

• Maharashtra defeated the Indian Railway team in the championship game held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

• Even though the score was equal at 32-32 at the end of regulation time, Maharashtra won thanks to a 52-50 point third inning.

• With a score of 30-28 points, Maharashtra defeated the Kolhapur squad in the semi-final as well.

Women's category:

• The Maharashtra women's team, led by Sampada Maurya, defeated the Airport Authority of India team in the championship match.

• Maharashtra won by a final score of 18–16 points.

• With a score of 24–20 points, Maharashtra defeated Odisha in the semi-final.

About Kho Kho:

• After Kabaddi, Kho Kho is a traditional Indian sport that is regarded as the second most popular traditional sport.

• It is suitable for outdoor and indoor play.

• The Kho Kho Federation of India staged the first-ever National Championship in 1959 after the sport's inception in 1914 with its maiden competition.

Recognition on a global scale:

• Both the Third South Asian Federation Games in Kolkata (Calcutta) in 1987 and the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics featured Kho Kho as a showcase sport.

• The Asian Kho Kho Federation Championship, the first Asian-level competition, was held in Kolkata in 1996.

Kho Kho Day, National/International:

• To raise awareness of the game, June 30 is designated as National/International Kho Kho Day.

India's Kho Kho Federation:

• The government-recognized Kho Kho Federation of India was founded in 1955 and has its main office in New Delhi.

• President Sudhanshu Mitta is in charge of it.

Judith Suminwa Tuluka becomes the first female Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Tags: International News

Judith Suminwa Tuluka has been appointed as Congo's first female Prime Minister under President Félix Tshisekedi on April 1, 2024, amid a political realignment following the resignation of Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde.

An Overview of the News:

• In January 2024, President Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second five-year term. After this Prime Minister Tuluka was appointed.

Constitutional Mobility:

• According to the Constitution of the DRC, the President cooperates with the Prime Minister, who is elected from the largest legislative party.

Challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC):

• The DRC, which is endowed with abundant natural resources such as copper, uranium, cobalt and diamonds, is struggling with ongoing violence and instability, particularly in its eastern provinces.

• The situation is worsened by tensions with neighboring Rwanda, which is accused of providing support to militia groups such as the March 23 Movement, which has led to mass displacement of civilians.

About the Democratic Republic of Congo:

• Central Africa is the second largest country in Africa after Algeria. Known as the Republic of Zaire until 1971, it gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

• Kinshasa, the capital, is located next to the Congo River, the second longest river in Africa after the Nile River.

• Congo is the only river in the world that crosses the equator twice.

• Its currency is the Congolese franc.