- SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
OVEN NO BAR – EXTREMOPHILE BACTERIA HAVE LEARNT TO SURVIVE MICROWAVES
- Extremophiles: Microorganisms adapted to extreme conditions; crucial for understanding life’s resilience and potential applications in biomedicine and biotechnology.
- Habitats of Extremophiles: Natural Habitats: Found in environments such as:
- Volcanic vents
- Permafrost
- Acid mines
- Deep-sea hydrothermal vents
- Dark lakes under polar ice caps
- Artificial Habitats: Discovered in human-made environments like:
- Microwave ovens
- Elevator switches
- Personal grooming devices
- Home appliances
- Genomic Projects: Efforts like the Earth Microbiome and Earth Biogenome Projects aim to map global biodiversity, with implications for environmental science and human health.
- Human Impact: The discovery of extremophiles in domestic environments underscores the need to study how modern technology influences microbial life and its effects on human health.
- Biotechnological Applications: Extremophiles provide novel tools for industrial processes, drug development, and understanding evolutionary biology
2. ENVIRONMENT
WHO DECLARES MONKEY POX A GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
- The WHO Director-General convenes an Emergency Committee of experts from around the world.
- Based on the Emergency Committee’s advice, the WHO Director-General decides whether to declare the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
- Assessment Criteria: The decision to declare a PHEIC is based on several factors, including:
- The seriousness of the public health impact of the event.
- The unusual or unexpected nature of the event. ○ The potential for the event to spread internationally.
- The need for an internationally coordinated response.
- Following the declaration, countries and international bodies typically ramp up public health measures, including surveillance, vaccination, travel advisories, and resource mobilization to manage the emergency
3. NATIONAL
INDIA TO HOST THIRD VOICE OF GLOBAL SOUTH VIRTUAL MEET
- Third Voice of Global South Summit
- Host and Format: India will host the third Voice of Global South Summit on August 17 in a virtual format.
- Purpose: The summit aims to promote a sustainable future for developing countries.
- Focus Areas: Discussions will cover a range of challenges affecting the Global South, including:
- Conflicts
- Food and energy security crises
- Climate change
- Theme: “An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future.”
- Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Statement: The summit will focus on deliberating challenges, priorities, and solutions, particularly in the developmental domain
4. INTERNATIONAL
AL – SHABAAB GROWING FROM SOMALIA’S RUINS
- Somalia’s Political Instability:
- Somalia has been a failed state for decades, plagued by civil war, clanbased conflicts, famine, and corruption.
- The absence of a strong central government has created a power vacuum, which extremist groups like Al-Shabaab have exploited.
- Al-Shabaab’s Emergence: Al-Shabaab, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, emerged in the mid-2000s from the remnants of the Islamic Courts Union, which had briefly controlled large parts of southern Somalia.
- The group gained prominence as a radical Islamist force opposing the Somali government and foreign interventions.
- Al-Shabaab’s Operations: Tactics: Guerrilla warfare, suicide bombings, piracy.
- Control: Economic control via extortion, local support in rural areas.
- Regional Impact: Cross-border attacks, affecting Kenya and Ethiopia.
- International Response: Interventions: U.S., UN, AMISOM military actions.
- Challenges: Clan dynamics, resilient Al-Shabaab presence.
- Humanitarian Crisis: Civilians: Displacement, famine, disrupted aid.
- Global Concern: Humanitarian aid efforts undermined by conflict.
- Geopolitical Implications:
- Strategic Location: Impact on global trade, security (piracy, terrorism).
- Regional Powers: Kenya, Ethiopia’s active roles; U.S. counterterrorism.
- Future Prospects (Security Challenges): Ongoing Threat: Al-Shabaab’s adaptability, deep social integration.
- Somali Government: Challenges of corruption, weak institutions.
- Counterterrorism: Need for military, political, socio-economic strategies
5. NATIONAL
THE TRAIL THAT PROGRESSES RAPIDLY TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE
- The Red Fort Trial – The trial began in November 1945 at the Red Fort, where key INA leaders, including Shah Nawaz Khan, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and P.K. Sahgal, were charged with waging war against the KingEmperor.
- The trial was a critical event that united Indians across religious and regional lines, creating widespread nationalist fervor.
- Public Response: The trial evoked strong emotions and widespread protests across India, with citizens rallying behind the INA officers as symbols of resistance against British colonial rule.
- The slogan “Lal Qila se aayi awaaz, Sahgal, Dhillon, Shahnawaz” became a rallying cry for national unity and resistance.
- Religious Harmony: One of the most significant outcomes of the trial was the rekindling of a sense of religious unity among Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, who jointly participated in the struggle for independence.
- British Reaction: Facing immense pressure, the British government attempted to suppress the growing unrest but eventually recognized the inevitability of granting independence to India. The trial, therefore, marked the beginning of the endgame for British rule in India.
- Partition and Independence: While the trial united Indians in their struggle, the growing communal tensions eventually led to the partition of India, a tragic outcome of the broader independence movement.
- The Role of Key Figures: Jawaharlal Nehru: Nehru played a crucial role during this period, particularly in his defense of the INA officers. His leadership helped galvanize public opinion against the British.
- British Politicians and Policies: The article touches upon the role of British leaders like Clement Attlee, whose policies were shaped by the economic and political realities of post-war Britain, ultimately leading to the decision to leave India.
ONE LINER
- IIT MADRAS stood first in the overall ranking in Higher Education and ANNA UNIVERSITY stood 1st among state funded university as per the 9th edition NIRF ranking
- Australia, US, UK sign Nuclear deal as part of AUKUS tripartite agreement
