The Weekly Focus Edition 59
Pegasus Spyware
Project Pegasus is malicious spyware of Israeli origin that has targeted people around the globe. A global initiative has begun to prevent a dire outcome of this abysmal spyware. The spyware was created by NSO Group, a cyber arm firm. The spyware can affect iOS and android. In India, more than 300 people have been targeted by Pegasus including two members of the Modi cabinet, 3 opposition party leaders and several journalists. Major news outlets have leaked that around 50,000 phones with clients of the NSO group have been targeted. However, NSO group denies all allegations regarding the spyware attack. Additionally, NSO states that the spyware was made specifically for law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The Revenge of The Earth
The world is currently at an all-time low. The COVID-19 pandemic is one thing, but almost every country is suffering from some natural disaster or another. Floods have ravaged Germany and Scandinavian countries in Western Europe, the Henan province of China, many states in the USA, Indonesia and Mumbai as well. This is just a small fraction of the places currently affected by floods. Experts say this sudden increase in floods is due to a warmer atmosphere because more moisture is retained which returns to the surface as heavy rains. Meanwhile, while one part of the world is experiencing heavy rains, the other is facing extremely dry weather. Fires are currently burning through western states and a small part of Canada, as thousands have been evacuated and dozens of homes destroyed. Recently, Canada recorded its highest ever temperature, of a scorching 49.6 degrees Celsius in the town of Lytton, which was then burned by wildfires.
The only good part of this situation is that governments may finally start to acknowledge the effects of climate change and start taking action towards it. We do not know it, but if we don't take action in the next decade, then we are in for a tough century ahead.
28 fresh viruses discovered
As the arena grapples with the devastating effect of coronavirus, scientists analysing glaciers have observed 33 viruses that had been frozen for over 15,000 years, out of which 28 are novel viruses, formerly unknown to humans. The newly observed viruses had been located inside the Tibetan glacier, which is melting because of worldwide warming. The new genome sequences observed within the frozen time tablet may shed mild light on the evolution of those microbes over millennia and the way weather modified over time. The ice samples arrived here from the pinnacle of the Guliya ice cap in Tibet, almost 22,000 ft above sea level. The studies posted in Microbiome states that evaluation discovered microbial mobileular concentrations in maximum glacier-ice samples. These cells doubtlessly constitute the microbes in the environment at the time of their deposition.
Other News
Australian PM Scott Morrison apologized for a slow vaccine rollout, saying it will gain intensity in the coming days.
China unveils the fastest train ever, can travel at speeds of 600 kmph, is low maintenance and eco friendly.
Pakistan has banned Tik Tok for the fourth time, over ‘inappropriate content.’
UNESCO has removed Liverpool’s waterfront as a world heritage site citing overdevelopment.
A 51-year-old rural Peruvian teacher won the Presidential Elections by 44,000 votes. He led the largest teacher strike in the world in 2017.
England’s new cricket format, the Hundred, started this week.
Milwaukee Bucks win the NBA for the first time in over 50 years.
India won the ODI Series (margin), making it their 9th consecutive series win against Sri Lanka.
The Olympics Opening Ceremony took place yesterday, as sportsmen from all around the world prepared to take part in the most prestigious sporting event worldwide.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen crashes out of the British GP after a crash with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Tech News
The biggest micro-LED TV is out to buy now but the price hasn't been revealed yet.
Ziggy is now Alexa’s male counterpart on Amazon echo and speaker devices.
The photo taken on the iPhone of a 4-year-old has won the best photo on iPhones for 2021.
The new MacBook Air will be announced in mid-2022.
On 18th July 1925, Adolf Hitler’s book, Mein Kampf, was published.
On 19th July 1595, Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer, developed his theory on the geometrical basis of the universe.
On 20th July 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the surface of the moon; Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped on the moon 7 hours later.
On 21st July 1983, the Soviet Vostok Station in Antarctica experienced the lowest ever temperature at -89.2 degrees celsius.
On 22nd July 1963, Sarawak became independent from British rule.
On 23rd July 2015, NASA announced the discovery of Kepler-452b, the most Earth-like planet.
On 24th July 1911, Machu Picchu was discovered by American Explorer Hiram Bingham.
Movie trailers were once shown after the movie, not before.
Written by Vivaan Dharamshi Edited by Nirvaan Zaveri
Article 1 by Arhaan Zaveri
Article 3 and Tech News by Krishnav Bubna
This Week in History by Nirvaan Zaveri