1. WHO declares monkeypox a global emergency
Tags: International News
The World Health Organisation has declared the global monkeypox outbreak a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern' (PHEIC), one step below the 'pandemic'.
Important facts
According to WHO, PHEIC constitutes an exceptional event, which constitutes a public health risk to other countries through international spread, and which potentially requires a coordinated international response.
On January 30, 2020, WHO had categorised COVID-19 as a PHEIC, when about 7,500 cases of novel coronavirus were reported.
On 11 March that year, the WHO declared it a 'pandemic'.
At present, more than 16 thousand cases of monkeypox have been registered in 75 countries and five deaths have been confirmed.
The WHO estimates that the risk of monkeypox is moderate in the world and in all regions, but the risk is highest in Europe.
According to the WHO, 99 percent of monkeypox cases found outside Africa are related to men, in which 98 percent of the patients are men who are gay.
Criteria on the basis of which WHO declares PHEIC
It is declared in the event of certain "serious public health events" that could endanger international public health.
The responsibility of declaring an event as an emergency rests with the Director-General of the WHO and requires the convening of a committee of members.
Declaring a PHEIC may result in restrictions on travel and trade.
What Is Monkeypox?
It is a viral zoonotic disease that is transmitted from animals to humans.
Monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus similar to smallpox.
It has been identified as a smallpox-like disease in monkeys, hence it is called monkeypox.
It was first observed in 1958, in monkeys in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and in humans in 1970.
The disease outbreak in Nigeria in 2017 was the largest ever.
The monkeypox virus mutates at a high rate but is treatable once symptoms appear.
Symptom of disease
Fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash or lesions.
Infected people develop a rash resembling smallpox.
In the early stages of the disease, monkeypox and smallpox can be differentiated because the monkeypox lymph gland enlarges.
Transmission of disease
It spreads through close face to face, skin to skin and direct contact.
The disease can be spread through contact with bodily fluids, sores on the skin or internal mucous surfaces, such as the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.
Treatment and Vaccine
There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for monkeypox infection.
The anti-smallpox vaccine has been shown to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.
A newer vaccine MVA-BN, developed for Smallpox was approved in 2019 for use in preventing Monkeypox but is not yet widely available.
2. Wasifa Nazreen becomes first Bangladeshi to scale world’s second highest peak K2
Tags: International News
Wasfia Nazreen has become the first Bangladeshi to scale Pakistan's K2, which is the second highest mountain in the world.
Important facts
She climbed the 8611 metres or 28,251 feet high K2 mountain peak and returned to the base camp on 22 July.
A summit is technically complete when the climber returns from the summit to the base camp.
After completing this historic task, 39-year-old mountaineer Wasifa paid tribute to all known and unknown martyrs of Bangladesh from language movement to liberation struggle.
On 26 May 2012, she became the second woman from Bangladesh to scale Mount Everest.
She has previously conquered Aconcagua in South America and Kilimanjaro in Africa.
About K2 mountain
K2 or Mount Godwin Austen with an elevation of 8,611 metres is the second highest mountain in the world after Mount Everest above sea level.
It is located on the Sino-Pakistan border between Baltistan and Dafdar Township of Xinjiang, China, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan.
It is the highest point of the Karakoram mountain range and the highest point in both Pakistan and Xinjiang.
Major Mountain peaks in Indian subcontinent
Kangchenjunga
Length - 8586 metres
The third highest summit in the World
It is also known as the ‘five treasures of snow
it lies in Himalayan Mountain Range
Nanda Devi
Length - 7816 metres
Ranked the 23rd highest peak in the world
It is a part of Himalayan mountain ranges (Garhwal)
Nanda Devi National Park situated around the peak has the best high altitude flora and fauna.
Kamet Mountain
Length - 7756 metres
Location - near the Tibetan Plateau
It is located in the Garhwal region
SaltoroKangri
Length - 7742 metres
Location - near the Siachen Region
It is ranked the 31st highest independent peak in the world
It lies in Saltoro range (which is a part of Karakoram Mountain range)
3. China launches 2nd space station module
Tags: Science and Technology International News
China launched the second of three modules needed to complete its new space station on July 24 as part of the latest step in the ambitious space program.
Important facts
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the giant Long March-5B Y3 carrier rocket, Wentian, was successfully launched from the Wenchang spacecraft launch site off the coast of the southern island province of Hainan.
The new module will serve as a backup to the core module, Tianhe, and as a powerful scientific experiment platform in the space station currently being built by China.
In the coming weeks, the Wentian will be transformed by a robotic device from a forward docking port to a lateral port, where it will remain and be ready for long-term operation.
The construction of China's Tiangong space station is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
This will complete the construction of Tiangong, the space station taking shape in China's space.
With the establishment of this space station, China will be the third country in the world to have its own space station.
Tianhe module
It was launched in April 2021, and the Mengtian module is set to be launched in October this year.
About 18 meters (60 ft) long and weighing 22 tons (48,500 lb), the new module has three sleeping areas and space for scientific experiments.
It will combine with Tiangong's already dispatched modules to shape the space station.
Tiangong Space Station
This is a Chinese space station being built in low Earth orbit between 340 and 450 kilometres above the earth.
It is part of China's manned space program and is the country's first long-term space station.
4. Henley Passport Index 2022
Tags: International News
India has been ranked 87 out of the world's 199 most powerful passports in 2022 in the Henley Passport Index 2022 published by immigration consultancy Henley & Partners.
Important facts
The ranking was based on the number of destinations that passport holders can reach without prior visas.
Countries' performance in the index
Japan ranks first among 199 countries. It is followed by Singapore and South Korea.
Japan's passport allows entry to 193 countries without a prior visa. Singapore and South Korea, on the other hand, allow seamless entry into 192 countries.
in Asian countries; India, Mauritius and Tajikistan are ranked 87th with hassle-free entry to 67 countries without prior visas.
China and Bolivia are ranked 69th with their passports allowing access to 80 destinations.
Bangladesh is ranked 104th.
With access to 32 destinations, Pakistan has the fourth worst passport in the world.
Afghan passport holders have access to only 27 countries. Iraqi passport, on the other hand, provides hassle-free entry to 29 countries. These two countries have been placed at the bottom.
The top 10 countries on the list of the most powerful passports in the world include Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Spain, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria and Denmark (in order).
5. Russia, Ukraine sign historic grain deal with Turkey
Tags: International News
For the first time since the war, Russia and Ukraine signed a historic deal with the United Nations and Turkey on July 22 to restart grain shipments, which could ease the global food crisis.
What is the deal about?
The agreement has been reached through the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey.
The aim is to reopen the Black Sea delivery routes that are important for grain exports.
The deal, agreed through UN and Turkish mediation, establishes secure corridors along which Ukrainian ships can move in and out of three designated Black Sea ports in and around Odessa.
Both sides also promised not to attack ships en route or outside.
What is the grain export deal?
The deal provides for the safe passage of ships.
Ships must undergo inspection to ensure that they are not carrying weapons.
Ukraine has said that no Russian ships will guard the ships and that there will be no Russian representatives at Ukrainian ports.
Significance of the deal
It will provide relief to developing countries on the verge of bankruptcy and the most vulnerable on the brink of famine.
The five-month Russia-Ukraine war has already displaced millions and claimed thousands of lives.
Huge quantities of wheat and other grain have been blocked by Russian warships and landmines in Ukraine's ports.
Ukraine is one of the world's biggest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but a naval blockade of Russia's ports has halted shipments.
Ukraine is expected to export 22 million tonnes of grain and other agricultural products that are stuck in Black Sea ports because of the war.
6. Indian embassy to organise second edition of North-East India Festival in Bangkok
Tags: International News National News
The second edition of the Festival of Northeast India is being organised by the Embassy of India in Bangkok Central World in association with Trend MMS of India from July 29 to July 31, 2022.
Important facts
The first edition of this festival was held in February 2019.
This has opened up business opportunities for the Indian business community of the North East.
Trade has got a boost especially in the fields of tourism, agriculture and food processing.
This year's Northeast India Festival will focus more on promoting trade, investment and tourism.
In addition, there will be more opportunities for culture, education and people-to-people exchanges.
The three-day festival will be inaugurated on July 29, 2022.
Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs will be the Chief Guest for the festival.
7. Dinesh Gunawardena sworn in as 15th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
Tags: Person in news International News
Dinesh Gunawardena was sworn in as the 15th prime minister of Sri Lanka by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on 22 July along with 17 other cabinet ministers.
Important facts
Gunawardena is parliamentarian of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party.
Gunawardene was appointed Home Minister by the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in April.
Gunawardena, 73, earlier served as the foreign minister and education minister for the nation.
The Sri Lankan economic and political crisis, resulted in economic mismanagement and conflict in Ukraine, sparked months of mass protests and eventually forced then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country.
Wickremesinghe was elected as the new president of Srilanka on 20 July and was sworn in as Sri Lankan president on 21 July.
Wickremesinghe declared a state of emergency, demanding a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
About Sri Lanka
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a tropical island nation off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent. It is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Munnar and the Palk Strait.
Capitals: Colombo (Executive and Judicial) and Sri Jayawardenepura (Legislative).
Official Languages: Sinhala and Tamil
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
8. Russia resumes Nord Stream natural-gas supply to Europe
Tags: International News
Russia has started sending natural gas to Europe via the Nord Stream pipeline system after a pause, bringing relief to Europe, whose economy is wobbly under pressure from short supplies.
Important facts
Germany, which is heavily dependent on Russia’s gas, had feared that Moscow would not reopen the pipeline after the scheduled work.
Germany believes Russia is reducing supplies in retaliation for Western sanctions on the Ukraine war.
Nord Stream Pipeline
Nord Stream has two pipelines, each containing two lines.
Nord Stream 1
It was completed in 2011 and runs from Vyborg in Leningrad (Russia) to Lubmin near Greifswald, Germany.
Nord Stream 2
In 2015, Russian energy major Gazprom and five other European firms decided to form Nord Stream 2.
It runs from Ust-Luga in Russia to Greifswald in Germany through the Baltic Sea and was completed in September 2021.
It will carry 55 billion cubic metres of gas every year.
Nord Stream 1 and 2 together will supply an aggregate of 110 billion cubic metres of gas to Germany per year.
The pipeline falls in the territory of EU members Germany and Denmark.
In December 2019, work on the project was suspended due to the threat of US sanctions.
In January 2021, the US sanctioned a Russian ship carrying out pipe laying work for the project.
An agreement was reached between the US and Germany on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Top 5 Natural Gas producing Countries
United States - 914.6 billion Cubic Meters
Russia - 638.5 billion Cubic Meters
Iran - 250.8 billion Cubic Meters
China - 194 billion Cubic Meters
Qatar 171.3 billion Cubic Meters
Top 5 Countries that Consume the Most Natural Gas
United States
Russia
China
Iran
Canada
Top 5 Countries with the Largest Natural Gas Reserves
Russia
Iran
Qatar
Turkmenistan
United States
9. US House approves CAATSA waiver for India
Tags: International News
The US House of Representatives passed an amendment, which approves an exemption to India against CAATSA sanctions.
Important facts
This amendment was passed by voice vote.
This gives India an exemption to purchase S-400 missile defence systems from Russia under CAATSA sanctions.
America's relaxation is in the direction of countering China.
The amendment was passed during the floor consideration of the National Defence Authorization Act.
CAATSA Amendment
The CAATSA amendment was drafted and introduced by Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna.
The amendment seeks the Joe Biden administration to grant India exemptions under CAATSA to help deter aggressive countries like China.
What is CAATSA?
CAATSA stands for Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.
The law authorises the US administration to impose sanctions on countries that buy major defence equipment from Russia.
The US government is free to take punitive action under CAATSA against countries involved in transactions with the Russian defence and intelligence sectors.
10. 9th ASEAN-India meet on transnational crimes
Tags: International News
The 9th ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crimes was held in a virtual mode on 20 July.
Important facts
Both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms, stressing the need to promote international cooperation to combat terrorism and transnational crimes.
The consultation was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs Government of India, Mahaveer Singhvi, from the Indian side.
Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore Government, Puah Kok Keong co-chaired the Consultation from the ASEAN side.
Both sides stressed the need to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorism and transnational crimes in a comprehensive and sustained manner.
They discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the areas of terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, transnational economic crimes and cybercrime within the framework of the ASEAN-India Action Plan to combat transnational crimes.
Institutional linkages and capacity building programs between the two sides were also discussed.
The 10th ASEAN-India SOMTC Consultation on International Crimes will be held in Indonesia in 2023.
ASEAN-India dialogue
It was initiated in 1992 with the establishment of the Regional Partnership, which evolved into a Full Dialogue in December 1995, a Summit-level Partnership in 2002, and a Strategic Partnership in 2012.
At present, the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership stands on a strong foundation.
ASEAN is central to India's Act East Policy and the Comprehensive Indo-Pacific Strategy.
This multi-faceted partnership includes several regional dialogue mechanisms and working groups that meet regularly at various levels and include annual summits, ministerial and senior officials' meetings.
Ongoing India-ASEAN cooperation is guided by the 2021-2025 Action Plan that was adopted in 2020.
About ASEAN
Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN is an international organisation formed in Bangkok,Thailand in 1967.
It promotes economic development, peace, security, social progress and cultural development in the Southeast Asian region.
ASEAN Secretariat – Indonesia, Jakarta.
General Secretary of ASEAN - Lim Jock Hoi, Brunei
Official Languages - Burmese, Filipino, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, Thai and Vietnamese
Working Language - English
ASEAN Summit is the supreme policy making body of ASEAN.
ASEAN is third largest market in the world
It is the sixth largest economy in the world, third in Asia.
ASEAN has Free-trade agreements (FTAs) with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
ASEAN Member Countries
Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Brunei
Vietnam
Laos
Myanmar
Cambodia
