1.Science and Technology
WHO initiates Human Challenge Trial to develop COVID-19 vaccine
The Human Challenge Trial involved people volunteering to get tested with the vaccines under development
This trial will expedite the process of vaccine development.
Quick Fact: Tedros Adhanom is the director-general of World Health Organisation
2.Environment
Emission norms of L7 category of BS VI notified
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified emission norms for L7 category for Bharat Stage VI
L7 category vehicles are those with four wheels and with a mass more than 400 kg
These norms will boost production of quadricycles in India.
This notification has completed the process of BS-VI for all category vehicles in India
Quick Fact: The emission norms are on the lines of the European Union’s World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC)
3.Sports
Mizoram gives Sports an industrial status
This move will attract more investment in the Sports industry.
The state is famous for its players in football, weightlifting and hockey.
A lot of players in the Indian Super League, a top football league in India, are from Mizoram.
4.International Affairs
US withdraws from Open Skies treaty
US President has announced that the United States will withdraw from Open Skies treaty
US government feels that Russia has not adhered to the treaty, making it unfair
The Open Skies Treaty permits each member to conduct short-notice, unarmed, reconnaissance flights over the others’ territory to collect data on military forces and activities
Quick Fact: The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in 2002
5.Environment
Australian researchers develop ‘heat resistant’ corals to fight bleaching
Researchers have developed a potential agent that could help coral reefs increase their heat tolerance and prevent coral bleaching
This was done by increasing the heat tolerance of the tiny cells of algae that live inside the coral tissue.
The microalgae was made heat resistant by isolating it and culturing using a technique called “directed evolution”
Quick Fact: Coral reefs are formed of coral polyp colonies held together by calcium carbonate
