1. 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
2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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)
5. 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
6. 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.
7. 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
8. India and Marshall Islands Strengthen Ties with MoU on Community Projects
Tags: International News
On July 15, 2024, India and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) signed an MoU at the Embassy of India in Tokyo, Japan.
An Overview of the News
The agreement is part of India's strategic Pacific outreach efforts.
It aims to strengthen bilateral ties under the Forum of India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC).
Key Signatories and Attendees:
Signatories included Kalani R. Kaneko, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of RMI, and Sibi George, India's Ambassador to Japan and RMI.
RMI President Dr. Hilda C. Heine was present during the signing.
The RMI delegation included officials like Alexander Carter Bing and Isabela Silk, while Indian officials included Union Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
Focus Areas and Projects:
The MoU covers four Community Development Projects (CDPs) in RMI.
Projects include a community sports center in Ailuk Atoll, an airport terminal on Mejit Island, and community centers at Arno and Wotje Atolls.
Focus areas of cooperation include healthcare, affordable medicines, education, capacity building, renewable energy, and clean water facilities.
About Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands are a vast archipelago of volcanic islands and coral atolls located in the central Pacific Ocean, situated between Hawaii and the Philippines.
Bikini Atoll, in the northwest, once used as a ship graveyard post-World War II, is now renowned as a popular site for wreck diving.
Majuro Atoll, the capital and largest settlement of the islands, is located nearby.
Kalalin Pass, near Majuro Atoll, features a vibrant coral reef teeming with diverse marine life.
Capital - Majuro
Currency - United States Dollar
Continent - Oceania
Official languages - Marshallese, English
9. Bangladesh Joins Colombo Security Conclave as 5th Full Member
Tags: International News
Bangladesh officially became the 5th full member of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), joining India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Maldives.
An Overview of the News
The announcement was made during the 8th Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) meeting of the CSC, hosted virtually by Mauritius on July 10, 2024.
Seychelles participated as an Observer state.
Historical Context:
Mauritius became the 4th member of the CSC during the 5th meeting held in Male, Maldives, in March 2022.
The 6th NSA-level meeting was held in Mauritius in December 2023.
Key Dignitaries:
India: Represented by Pankaj Kumar, Deputy National Security Adviser (Internal Affairs).
Bangladesh: Represented by Lt. General Mizanur Rahman Shameem, Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division, Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Maldives: Represented by Major General (Retired) Hamid Shafeeg, DNSA.
Mauritius: Represented by Yoidhisteer Thecka, Principal Coordinator Security Matter in PMO.
Sri Lanka: Represented by General LHSC Silva, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
Secretariat of the CSC: Represented by Acting Secretary Commodore AD Weerasinghe.
Seychelles: Delegation led by Lt. Colonel Michael Hollanda, Commander of Land Force, Seychelles Defence Forces.
Future Meetings:
The 7th National Security Adviser (NSA)-level meeting of the CSC will be hosted by India in 2025.
Review of Previous Decisions:
Member nations reviewed decisions from the 7th DNSA level meeting hosted virtually by the Maldives on July 12, 2023, and the 6th NSA-level meeting.
Progress of activities under the Roadmap of Activities for 2023-24 of the CSC was also reviewed.
About CSC:-
Established: 2011 as a trilateral maritime security group (India, Sri Lanka, Maldives).
Renamed: 2020 as Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) to expand maritime cooperation.
Aim: Promote regional cooperation and shared security for littoral nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Secretariat: Established in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2021.
About Bangladesh:-
Capital: Dhaka
Official Language: Bengali
Currency: Bangladeshi Taka
Borders: India, Myanmar
National Day: 26th March
National Symbols: Shapla (water lily), Royal Bengal tiger
National Anthem: Amar Sonar Bangla (‘My Golden Bengal’)
Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
President: Mohammad Shahabuddin
10. KP Sharma Oli sworn in as Nepal PM
Tags: Person in news International News
KP Sharma Oli took oath as Nepal PM on 14 July.
An Overview of the News
The swearing-in ceremony took place at Shital Niwas, the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan in Kathmandu at 10:45 am IST.
A group of ministers were also inducted into the Cabinet along with Oli.
Oli was appointed PM for the third time to lead the new coalition government.
He will replace Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, who lost the trust vote in the House of Representatives on 12 July.
Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed Oli from the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML)-Nepali Congress (NC) alliance as the new PM.
Oli presented the signatures of 165 members of the House of Representatives - 77 of which were from his party and 88 from the NC.
About Nepal
The kingdom of Nepal was established by the Shah dynasty.
It is a landlocked country in South Asia.
President - Ram Chandra Paudel
Capital - Kathmandu
Currency - Nepalese Rupee
