1. India Unveils SIMS 2.0 to Enhance Steel Import Monitoring and Boost Domestic Industry
Tags: National News
Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, introduced the upgraded Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS 2.0).
An Overview of the News
The launch event was attended by Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma (Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries), Nagendra Nath Sinha (Secretary, Ministry of Steel), and other senior officials.
Purpose and Significance of SIMS 2.0:
SIMS was originally introduced in 2019 to provide detailed steel import data.
SIMS 2.0 is an upgraded version aimed at improving monitoring of steel imports and fostering domestic steel industry growth.
Enhanced data availability supports policy-making and identifies production growth areas for the domestic industry.
Key Features of SIMS 2.0:
API Integration: Connects with multiple government portals for better quality control and efficiency.
Robust Data System: Ensures accurate and consistent data entry, promoting transparency.
Risk Management: Helps in identifying risks and managing imports, e.g., non-BIS licensed sources.
Development and Collaboration:
Developed with contributions from DGFT, BIS, and MSTC Ltd. (a CPSE under the Ministry of Steel).
Additional Release:
H.D. Kumaraswamy also released the second volume of “Safety Guidelines for Iron and Steel Sector.”
The new volume includes guidelines for 16 different processes, building on the 25 guidelines published in 2020.
2. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing Assumes Role of Acting President of Myanmar
Tags: Person in news International News
On July 22, 2024, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the Prime Minister of Myanmar and Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), assumed the role of Acting President.
An Overview of the News
He succeeded Acting President Myint Swe, who was suffering from psychomotor retardation and malnutrition.
As Acting President, Min Aung Hlaing will also lead the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), an 11-member body responsible for security and defense matters in Myanmar.
He will oversee important national decisions, particularly those related to security and military affairs.
About Min Aung Hlaing
Chairman of SAC since February 2021 coup.
Appointed himself Prime Minister in August 2021.
Joined the military in 1974, became a senior general by 2013.
First DSA graduate to lead a coup and become Commander-in-Chief.
About Myanmar
Capital - Naypyidaw
Official Language - Burmese
President - Min Aung Hlaing (acting)
SAC President and Prime Minister - Min Aung Hlaing
SAC Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister – Soe Win
3. Kristen Michal Sworn in as Estonia's New Prime Minister
Tags: Person in news International News
On 23rd July 2024, President of Estonia Alar Karis swore in Kristen Michal, Chairman of the centrist Reform Party, as the new Prime Minister (PM) of Estonia.
An Overview of the News
Kristen Michal succeeded Kaja Kallas, who resigned as PM of Estonia on July 15, 2024 to become the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU).
Kristen Michal previously served as the Minister of Climate since April 2023.
On 22nd July 2024, Riigikogu, the parliament of Estonia, authorized Kristen Michal to form a new government with 64 Members of Parliament (MP) at the 101-seat parliament voting in favor, with 27 opposed.
The new coalition agreement was triggered by the resignation of Kaja Kallas.
The new coalition, made up of the Reform Party, the Social Democratic Party (SDE), and Estonia 200, is a continuation of its predecessor, which had been in office since May 2023.
About Kristen Michal:
Kristen Michal is a first-time PM from the ruling Center-Right Reform Party.
He served as an advisor to then PM Siim Kallas in 2002 and as Secretary General of the Estonian Reform Party from 2003 to 2011.
He has been a member of the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Riigikogu (2004-2007, 2012-2015, and 2016-2021).
Previously, he also served as the Minister of Justice (2011-2012) and the Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure (2015-2016).
About Estonia
Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country located by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe.
Bordered by:
North: Gulf of Finland across from Finland
West: Sea across from Sweden
South: Latvia
East: Lake Peipus and Russia
Capital: Tallinn
Currency: Euro
Official language: Estonian
President: Alar Karis
4. China Launches Gaofen-11 05 Satellite
Tags: International News
On July 19, China launched the 'Gaofen-11 05', a high-resolution optical Earth Observation Satellite (EOS), into space.
An Overview of the News
The satellite was deployed aboard a Long March-4B carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) in Shanxi Province, China.
This launch represents the 528th mission of the Long March rocket series and China's 33rd orbital mission of 2024.
Gaofen-11 05 Details:
Purpose: Conduct land surveys, urban planning, road network design, crop yield estimation, land ownership verification, disaster prevention, and mitigation.
It will also support the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and national defense modernization.
Gaofen-11 & CHEOS Overview:
The Gaofen-11 series is part of the China High-definition Earth Observation System (CHEOS), with the first satellite, Gaofen-11 01, launched in 2018.
Gaofen-11 satellites feature large apertures (over 1.5 meters) for optical remote sensing.
CHEOS is a state-sponsored program designed to create a near-real-time, all-weather global surveillance network that includes satellites, stratospheric airships, and aerial observation platforms.
About China
Capital -Beijing
Official language - Standard Chinese
Currency - Renminbi
Official language - Mandarin
President -Xi Jinping
5. China Unveils World's First Carbon Fiber-Only High-Speed Train
Tags: International News
China has unveiled the world's first carbon fiber-only passenger train, marking a significant advancement in high-speed rail technology.
An Overview of the News
This innovation positions China as a global leader in sustainable rail transportation.
The carbon fiber train is significantly lighter than traditional trains, contributing to reduced pollution.
It is designed to be more energy-efficient, consuming 7% less energy compared to conventional steel trains.
The train can reach speeds of up to 87 mph.
Environmental Impact
The new train aligns with broader environmental goals by decreasing energy consumption and lowering overall emissions.
High-speed rail is already recognized for being environmentally friendly, producing less noise, using less land, and emitting fewer pollutants compared to other forms of long-distance transportation.
Future Plans and Developments
Qingdao Sifang, the company behind the train, will conduct factory testing before the train's operational launch later this year in a coastal city.
China's extensive high-speed rail network, covering approximately 28,000 miles, is now fully managed by artificial intelligence, enhancing its efficiency and reliability.
6. EAM Jaishankar Inaugurates India’s First Overseas Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Mauritius
Tags: International News
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar inaugurated India’s first overseas Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Mauritius.
An Overview of the News
The event marked a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between India and Mauritius.
Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth was also present at the inauguration.
Purpose and Goals
The Jan Aushadhi Kendra is a health partnership project aimed at supplying cost-effective, Made-in-India medicines.
It aims to enhance public healthcare and well-being in Mauritius.
This initiative fulfills a promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year.
Inauguration of the Mediclinic Project
Jaishankar also inaugurated the Mediclinic project at Grand Bois village in Mauritius.
The project is funded by Indian assistance and will provide secondary healthcare.
The Mediclinic project is expected to serve approximately 16,000 people living in the area.
About Mauritius
Capital - Port Louis
Currency - Mauritian Rupee
Official Language - English
Prime Minister - Pravind Jugnauth
7. Houston Zoo Administers First-Ever mRNA Vaccine to Combat Deadly EEHV in Elephants
Tags: Environment International News
Tess, a 40-year-old Asian elephant at Houston Zoo, received the first-ever dose of an mRNA vaccine to prevent elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) 1A.
An Overview of the News
The vaccine was created by virologists at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM).
Tess was vaccinated on Tuesday, June 18.
Effectiveness will be measured by antibody levels in her blood and monitoring for side effects.
The dosage for Tess was based on studies with mRNA vaccines in horses.
Collaboration and Contributions
The vaccine is the result of a long-term collaboration between the Houston Zoo and Dr. Paul Ling at BCM’s Department of Virology and Microbiology.
Contributors include Jessica Watts, a graduate student in Dr. Ling’s laboratory, and Dr. Jeroen Pollet at Texas Children’s Hospital and the National School of Tropical Medicine at BCM.
Research funded by the Houston Zoo, a private foundation, International Elephant Foundation (IEF), and Colossal Biosciences.
Global Impact
The protocol developed at the Houston Zoo and BCM is utilized globally for monitoring, diagnosing, and treating EEHV.
The collaboration has saved elephant lives worldwide and is essential for the long-term survival of elephant populations.
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHV)
It is also known as Elephantid betaherpesvirus 1 (ElHV-1), is a type of herpesvirus.
EEHV can cause a highly fatal hemorrhagic disease when transmitted to young Asian elephants.
In African elephants, related forms of these viruses are generally benign, sometimes causing small growths or lesions.
Some types of EEHV can cause a highly fatal disease in Asian elephants, with up to 80% mortality in severely affected individuals.
The disease can be treated with the rapid application of antiviral drugs.
Treatment with antiviral drugs has been effective in about a third of cases.
About Houston Zoo
Location: Houston, Texas, United States
Date Opened: September 1922
Size: 55 acres (22 hectares)
Situated Within: Hermann Park
Number of Animals: Over 6,000
Number of Species: More than 900
Annual Visitors: Around 2 million
Ranking: Second most visited zoo in the United States (surpassed only by the San Diego Zoo)
Accreditation: Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
8. Yaël Braun-Pivet Re-Elected as Speaker of French National Assembly
Tags: Person in news International News
Yaël Braun-Pivet from Emmanuel Macron's centrist party has been re-elected as the speaker of the National Assembly in France with 220 votes.
An Overview of the News
The election was closely contested, with veteran communist lawmaker André Chassaigne receiving 207 votes after three rounds of voting.
The re-election follows recent elections that left no single group with a majority in the lower house of parliament.
The National Assembly, France's influential lower house of parliament, convened to elect a speaker after chaotic snap elections called by President Emmanuel Macron resulted in a hung legislature.
National Assembly (France)
The National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) is the lower house of the French Parliament.
It operates under the Fifth Republic.
The upper house is the Senate (Sénat).
Legislators in the National Assembly are known as députés.
"Député" means "delegate" or "envoy." The term is similar to "deputy" in other parliamentary systems.
Founded - 4 October 1958
About France
President: Emmanuel Macron
Prime minister: Gabriel Attal
Capital: Paris
Currency : Euro
9. European Parliament approves Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission
Tags: Person in news International News
The European Parliament has approved Ursula von der Leyen's bid for a second five-year term as President of the European Commission.
An Overview of the News
Von der Leyen received 401 votes in the 720-seat chamber, surpassing the majority required to maintain her position.
In the secret ballot, 284 members voted against her.
Von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament, outlining her priorities for the next five years.
She committed to continuing the European Green Deal, aiming to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
She pledged to reduce emissions by 90 percent by 2040.
Substantial investments in infrastructure and industry, particularly in energy-intensive sectors, were announced.
Von der Leyen also pledged to continue supporting Ukraine.
About Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen
Leyen, born 8 October 1958, is a German politician.
She has been the 13th president of the European Commission since 2019.
Served in Angela Merkel's cabinet from 2005 to 2019, most recently as federal minister of defence.
Member of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the European People's Party (EPP).
Elected as EPP's Spitzenkandidat for the 2024 European Parliament elections on 7 March 2024.
Re-elected to head the Commission in July 2024.
10. Metsola Becomes First Female President to Secure Second Term in European Parliament
Tags: Person in news International News
Roberta Metsola was re-elected as President of the European Parliament on July 16, 2024, for another two and a half years, extending her term until 2027.
An Overview of the News
Metsola became the first woman to win a second term as President of the European Parliament.
Election Details: She secured 562 out of 699 votes, achieving an absolute majority in the first round and defeated Irene Montero, who received 61 votes.
Metsola's Background and Career:
First Election: Elected as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 2013, becoming one of Malta's first female MEPs.
Re-elections: Re-elected as MEP in 2014 and 2019.
Vice-Presidency: Became the first Maltese First Vice-President of the European Parliament in November 2020.
Acting President: Served as acting President following the death of David Sassoli on January 11, 2022.
Full Presidency: Elected as President on January 18, 2022, for the second half of the 9th legislative term.
Past Presidents: Third woman to hold the position, following Simone Veil (1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999-2002).
Metsola's Roles and Contributions:
Committee Work: Served as the EPP Group's Coordinator in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (2017-2020).
Legislative Contributions: Was the Parliament's rapporteur on the European Border and Coastguard Regulation in 2019.
Journalist Protection: Co-authored a report on protecting journalists in the EU from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.
About European Union (EU)
EU Presidency (July-December 2024): Hungary
European Council President: Charles Michel (until December 2024)
European Commission President: Ursula von der Leyen
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
