Iran successfully launched its telecommunications and research satellite Nahid-2 into space aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket yesterday. It was part of a multi-payload mission that also included Russia’s Unisphere-M3 and M4 satellites, along with 18 other satellites from various countries. The Soyuz has previously launched other Iranian satellites, including Khayyam, Pars-1, Kosar, and Hodhod. Nahid-2 is designed to remain in orbit for five years and is equipped with an indigenous propulsion system capable of adjusting its altitude by up to 50 kilometers, crucial for maintaining its orbital position and operational stability.

Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) have signed a 50-year commitment to the AUKUS defence treaty despite the United States’ ongoing review of the pact. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and UK Defence Secretary John Healey signed the bilateral Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty (the Geelong Treaty) at their meeting in Geelong, Victoria yesterday.

Marles and Healey said in a joint statement that the Geelong Treaty is a historic agreement, the commitment for the next 50 years of UK-Australian bilateral defence cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I. The Geelong Treaty will enable comprehensive cooperation on the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of their SSN-AUKUS submarines, according to the statement.

The signing of the treaty came as the United States wavered on its role in the AUKUS alliance. The US Department of Defence has announced a review of the trilateral security partnership to determine whether the agreement aligns with the America First agenda.

Formula One champion Max Verstappen won a “cat and mouse” Belgian Grand Prix sprint on Saturday in Red Bull’s first race under the leadership of Laurent Mekies following Christian Horner’s dismissal.

McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri finished second, after taking a dominant pole position for the 100km race, with the Australian increasing his advantage over teammate Lando Norris to nine points.

Norris ended up where he started, in third place on a bright afternoon at the longest and second fastest track on the calendar.

Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari with Haas’s Esteban Ocon fifth and Carlos Sainz sixth for Williams. Haas’s Oliver Bearman and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar completed the scoring positions.

Viral hepatitis — an infection that causes liver inflammation, damage and may lead to liver cancer — is a critical public health challenge of this decade globally.

It is one of the leading causes of death globally—with an estimated 1.3 million people dying in 2022 from the disease, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report.

Notably, the top ten countries in the world account for nearly two-thirds of the global burden of viral hepatitis B and C combined, according to the report

For hepatitis B, the top three countries—China, India, and Indonesia—represent 50% of the global burden in 2022; and for hepatitis C, six countries—China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America—represent 50% of the global burden, the report highlighted.

Every year, July 28 is observed as World Nature Conservation Day, a global reminder of the need to protect and preserve the environment. In 2025, the message is clear: even one lifestyle change like reducing single-use plastic or switching to public transport can have a huge impact on the health of our planet.

HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE

World Nature Conservation Day is not linked to any international body like the UN, but is widely celebrated across the world, especially in countries like India. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy environment and the urgent need to preserve natural resources for future generations.

India won three medals on the final day of the World University Games on Sunday as the contingent closed their campaign with a total of 12 medals at 20th place in Rhine Ruhr. India won two gold medals, five silver and five bronze medals.

This is a poor performance compared to the previous edition in Chengdu, China when India finished seventh in the medal tally with 26 medals in total including 11 gold, 5 silver, and 10 bronze medals.

Steeplechaser Ankita Dhyani won the silver medal in the 3000m while the men’s 4x100m relay quartet bagged a bronze medal. Along with them, the trio of Munita Prajapati, Mansi Negi, and Sejal Singh finished third to win the bronze medal in the women’s 20km team racewalk.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced the formation of the State Sanitation Workers Commission, fulfilling a long-standing demand of sanitation workers’ unions. The commission will be known as Bihar Rajya Safai Karmachari Ayog.

Making the announcement, the Chief Minister in social media post today said, the constitution of this new commission will ensure the protection of the rights and interests of sanitation workers in the state, who play an important role in maintenance of cleanliness in the state. He added that the commission will focus on the welfare, rehabilitation, social upliftment, grievance redressal, and monitoring of various welfare schemes for sanitation workers.

The Chief Minister mentioned that the Department of Social Welfare has been directed to initiate the process for setting up the Bihar State Sanitation Workers Commission. This commission will provide recommendations to the government concerning the protection of the rights and interests of sanitation workers. It will also review and ensure the implementation of welfare schemes related to those engaged in sanitation work.

Seventeen parliamentarians have been awarded Sansad Ratna Awards 2025 in New Delhi today for their exemplary performances. These parliamentarians include Ravi Kishan, and Dinesh Sharma from BJP, Varsha Gaikwad from Congress, Supriya Sule from NCP-SP and Arvind Sawant from Shivsena-UBT. The awards have been given by a non-government organisation. Talking to the media on the occasion, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, this award is the recognition of MPs outstanding performances. He also congratulated all the MPs who got this award today.

Over 800 million people across the world have vision problems and do not have access to eye care, said Dr Yutaro Setoya, Team Lead Non-communicable Diseases and Comorbidities, World Health Organisation (WHO) India.

Dr Setoya was addressing a conference on adolescent eye health in India — with a special focus on the alarming increase in myopia — at Amity University, Noida. The conference was organised by WHO and Drishti, an NGO working to create awareness on eye care, founded by Amity student Sanjana Chauhan.

“Vision problems affect millions of people worldwide. It not only affects your eyesight, but also affects your education, economic productivity, and overall well-being. Children and adolescents between five and 15 years of age suffer from vision impairment and refractive errors,” Dr Setoya said.

Net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows stood at $35 million in May 2025, 98% lower than the $2.2 billion seen in May 2024 and 99% lower than the $3.9 billion in April 2025, according to new data released by the Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday (July 23, 2025).

Net FDI is the gross amount coming into India minus the money sent abroad by foreign companies operating in India (through repatriation or disinvestment) and the investments abroad made by Indian companies (outward FDI).

The reason behind this reduction in net FDI flows was not only that gross FDI flows were lower in May 2025 than in both May 2024 and April 2025, but also because the quantum of repatriation was higher.