ISRO’s Mangalyaan captures image of Phobos

The Mars Colour Camera (MCC) — onboard ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission — has captured the image of Phobos, the closest and biggest moon of Mars. The image was taken on July 1 when MOM was about 7,200 km from Mars and 4,200 km from Phobos. Phobos is largely believed to be made up of carbonaceous chondrites. According to ISRO, “the violent phase that Phobos has encountered is seen in the large section gouged out from a past collision (Stickney crater) and bouncing ejecta.”  Stickney, the largest crater on Phobos along with the other craters (Shklovsky, Roche & Grildrig) are also seen in this image. The country had on September 24, 2014 successfully placed the Mars Orbiter Mission spacecraft in orbit around the red planet, in its very first attempt, thus breaking into an elite club. The mission also known as Mangalyaan was initially meant to last six months, but subsequently ISRO had said it had enough fuel for it to last “many years”.

Global coronavirus cases top 11 million

Global coronavirus cases exceeded 11 million, marking another milestone in the spread of the disease that has killed more than half a million people in seven months. The number of cases is more than double the figure for severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to the World Health Organisation. Many hard-hit countries are easing lockdowns put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus while making extensive alterations to work and social life that could last for a year or more until a vaccine is available. India’s COVID-19 cases soared by over 20,000 in a day for the first time taking the country’s total figure to 6,25,544, while the death toll climbed to 18,213 with 379 new fatalities, according to Union health ministry data. Tamil Nadu crossed the grim milestone of one lakh COVID-19 cases with the state reporting 4,329 fresh infections and 64 fatalities, pushing the death toll to 1,385. Amid mounting cases, the ministry said that early detection and a timely clinical management of COVID-19 cases have resulted in increasing daily recoveries, with the recovery rate of coronavirus patients crossing 60 per cent in the country.

France’s Macron picks Jean Castex as PM

French President Emmanuel Macron named Jean Castex, a senior civil servant, as his new prime minister as he acted to recast his presidency and take back control of policy ahead of elections in 2022. Macron wants to start afresh after the coronavirus crisis reversed some of the hard-fought gains earned from moves to liberalise the economy, and is aware he needs to win back disillusioned voters. Castex replaces Edouard Philippe, who resigned earlier in the day. Macron is reshaping his government as France grapples with the deepest economic slide since World War Two, a sharp downturn that will shrink the economy by about 11 per cent in 2020 and bring about big job losses. Castex, 55, hails from the centre-right, a career technocrat with experience in local politics who most recently has been known as ‘Monsieur Deconfinement’ for his role bringing the country out of lockdown measures.

President Kovind inaugurates Dharma Chakra Day celebrations

Noting that the teachings of Lord Buddha were as relevant in the current times as they were earlier, both President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi said that as the world fought extraordinary challenges, his message served like a beacon. Addressing the Dharma Chakra Day celebrations, organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in partnership with the ministry of culture, Kovind said Lord Buddha’s cure for human suffering remains as relevant today as it was over two and half millennia ago. The president inaugurated the Dharma Chakra Day, while the president of Mongolia read out a special address. Dharma Chakra Day is celebrated all over the world to commemorate the first sermon that Gautama Buddha gave to his five disciples. Minister of Culture Prahlad Patel gave the copies of Mongolian Kanjur to Kovind and ambassador of Mongolia to India Gonching Ganboid. Mongolian Kanjur, a Buddhist canonical text in 108 volumes, is the most important religious text in Mongolia. PM Modi said India wants to focus on connectivity to Buddhist sites to improve tourism.

After Mizoram, Nagaland bans sale of dog meat

The Nagaland government banned the sale and consumption of dog meat, in a significant decision amid concerns over cruelty to animals. The decision to ban commercial import and trading of dogs, and sale of dog meat, both cooked and raw, was taken during a state cabinet meeting, said state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Neiba Kronu. Considering the dangers of importing dogs from other states for consumption and also in line with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the state cabinet took the decision, Kronu, who is the spokesperson of the government, said. The government also decided to ban commercial import and trading of pigs with immediate effect, he said. The state already banned the import of pigs following the outbreak of swine fever in the region and the cabinet gave approval to it in the meeting, he said. In March, the Mizoram assembly had  unanimously passed the Animal Slaughter (Amendment) Bill, 2020. 

Centre moves SC for closure of Enrica Lexie case 

The Centre has moved the Supreme Court seeking closure of judicial proceedings here against two Italian marines’ accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast, saying that it has accepted the recent ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at the Hague. The PCA  ruling said  that India is entitled to get compensation in the case but can’t prosecute the marines due to official immunity enjoyed by them. In February 2012, India had accused two Italian marines, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, on board the MV Enrica Lexie — an Italian flagged oil tanker — of killing two Indian fishermen who were on a fishing vessel off Kerala coast. Meanwhile, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said it was unfortunate that the trial of the Italian marines was not taking place in India and said the state was not in favour of withdrawing the case from the Supreme Court.

Govt postpones NEET, JEE exams to September

The HRD ministry postponed medical and engineering entrance exams — NEET and JEE — to September in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases. The decision was taken following recommendations of a four-member committee set up to review the feasibility of conducting the exams in July. “Keeping in mind the safety of students and to ensure quality education we have decided to postpone JEE and NEET examinations. JEE-Main examination will be held between September 1-6, while JEE-advanced exam will be held on September 27. NEET examination will be held on September 13,” said Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. Around nine lakh aspirants have registered for the JEE (main) exam, while 16 lakhs have registered for the NEET-Undergraduate exams. Raising concern over the worsening of the pandemic, candidates across the country have been demanding the postponement of the exams.

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