• According to  World Health Organization (WHO), a mutated COVID variant named BA.2.86 has been identified in Switzerland, South Africa, Israel, Denmark, the US, and the UK

About BA.2.86

• It is an offshoot of the Omicron virus.
• It carries over 35 mutations in crucial parts of the virus when compared to XBB.1.5 (predominant variant in most of 2023).
• BA.2.86 was first detected in Denmark on July 24.
• BA.2.86 is unlikely to trigger a devastating wave of severe disease and fatalities, considering the global immunity built up through vaccinations and previous infections.

• Recently, first Joint Technical Team meeting on the Delimitation of the China-Bhutan Boundary was held in Beijing.

Highlight

• Bhutan shares an over 400-km-long border with China.

• China asserts claims over roughly 764 square kilometre in the northwestern and central regions of Bhutan.
• Boundary talks between Bhutan and China began in 1984, and the 24th round was held in 2016. However, these have been stalled since 2016, especially after the 2017 Doklam stand-off.
  • In October 2021, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on the “three-step roadmap” to expedite negotiations to resolve their boundary dispute.
• Doklam is a junction point between India, China and Bhutan. 
  • Doklam plateau is considered an important area for India’s strategic interest.

• Shiv Shakti Point: It is a place where lander ‘Vikram’ touched down on the lunar surface on 23rd August, 2023.
• Tiranga Point: It is a place where the Chandrayaan-2 lander crash-landed on the Moon’s surface in 2019.
• National Space Day: August 23 would be celebrated as National Space Day, the day the Chandrayaan-3 lander touched down on the lunar surface.

• Recently the National Medical Commission (NMC) put on hold its new regulation that made it mandatory for doctors to only prescribe generic drugs.
• National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2023  was released on August 2.

For more about the News, kindly refer to the 25 August Article.