1. World's first 'Miss AI' beauty pageant launched by WAICAs
Tags: International News
World AI Creator Awards (WAICA) launches the inaugural Miss AI beauty pageant.
An Overview of the News
- The program evaluates contestants' aesthetic appeal, technical proficiency and online influence.
Competition Details:
Open to AI creators around the world to showcase their models.
Evaluated based on appearance, etiquette and social media engagement.
Social clout is measured by fan engagement and audience growth rates.
Partnership with Fanview:
Fanview, a platform hosting virtual models, is a partner.
Co-founder Will Monanez aspires to make the WAICAs like the Oscars.
Award:
The winner receives a $5,000 cash prize, Fanview promotion and PR support.
Runners-up and third-place winners also receive prizes.
The winners will be announced on May 10 with an online awards ceremony at the end of the month.
Judge Panel:
It features AI-generated models Aitana Lopez and Emily Pellegrini.
It also includes human experts such as entrepreneur Andrew Bloch and beauty pageant historian Sally-Ann Fawcett.
2. Government forms panel to promote scientific mining of critical minerals
Tags: Science and Technology National News
A seven-member panelhas been set up by the government under the leadership of NITI Aayog member Vijay Kumar Saraswat to promote scientific mining of critical minerals.
An Overview of the News
The panel's primary goal is to propose legislative measures for the cost-effective and scientific extraction of critical minerals such as copper, gold, and diamond.
These minerals are often found in deeply embedded deposits, requiring underground mining for extraction.
Strategies will be devised by the panel to raise awareness among states about the implications of mining reforms.
In 2023, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) discovered approximately 5.9 million tonnes of lithium deposits in the Salal-Haimana area of Jammu & Kashmir, crucial for electric vehicle manufacturing.
About Critical Minerals
Critical minerals are vital for both economic development and national security.
India's government has identified a list of 30 critical minerals.
These minerals include Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, platinum group elements (PGE), Phosphorous, Potash, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium, and Cadmium.
3. Appointment of Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as Prime Minister of Kuwait
Tags: International News
His Highness Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, issued an Emirati decree to appoint Kuwaiti economist Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as Prime Minister (PM) of Kuwait.
An Overview of the News
Sheikh Ahmed replaces former Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al Salem Al-Sabah, who resigned following new parliamentary elections in April 2024.
According to Article 57 of the Kuwaiti Constitution, the current government must submit its resignation before the inauguration of the legislature.
Details about Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah:
Sheikh Ahmed is a member of the House of Sabah, Kuwait's ruling family.
He started his career as a financial analyst at the Kuwait Financial Center in 1977.
In 1978, he joined the Central Bank of Kuwait as a financial researcher.
Sheikh Ahmed served as Acting Manager of the Department of Banking Supervision at the Central Bank of Kuwait from 1984 to 1985, and Manager from 1985 to 1987.
From 1987 to 1997, he held the position of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) at Bergen Bank and later served as Deputy CMD of Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait from 1997 to 1999.
Sheikh Ahmed's previous ministerial roles:
Minister of Communications (2005 to 2006)
Health Minister (2005 to 2007)
Oil minister
Minister of Information (2009 to 2011).
Head of the Diwan of His Majesty the Crown Prince:
Sheikh Ahmed served as H.H. from September 2021 until his appointment as Prime Minister. Served as head of the Crown Prince's Diwan.
About Kuwait
Capital - Kuwait City
Currency - Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)
4. Israel's C-Dome Defense System Successfully Deployed in Eilat for First Time
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Israel has introduced its maritime defense system, known as the C-Dome, for the first time in Eilat, Israel's southernmost city.
An Overview of the News
The C-Dome is essentially a naval adaptation of the Iron Dome, a renowned air defense system designed to safeguard against rocket and missile threats.
Notably, on April 8, 2024, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) effectively intercepted a suspicious airborne target breaching Israeli airspace using the C-Dome defense mechanism.
The C-Dome Defense System is a product of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a state-owned Israeli defense corporation.
About IDF:
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), also known as Tzahal in Hebrew, serves as the national military of the State of Israel.
Comprising three main service branches, namely the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy, it covers various aspects of defense.
As the singular military arm of Israel's security infrastructure, the IDF holds exclusive responsibility for national defense.
5. Roscosmos Launches 1st Angara-A5 Rocket from Vostochny Cosmodrome
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Angara-A5 successfully launched on April 11, 2024, from Vostochny Cosmodrome, replacing Proton M as Russia's heavy-lift rocket.
An Overview of the News
The rocket attained speeds exceeding 25,000 km/hr and placed a test payload into low orbit.
The launch coincided with Russia's Cosmonaut Day on April 12, commemorating Yuri Gagarin's historic spaceflight in 1961.
It will replace Russia's heavy-lift rocket Proton-M, which has served in this role since the mid-1960s.
Angara-A5:
The Angara-A5 stands 54.5 meters tall and comprises three stages, with a hefty weight of approximately 773 tonnes.
It boasts a payload capacity of up to 24.5 tonnes to lower orbit.
Notably, the rocket employs a more environmentally friendly fuel combination of oxygen and kerosene, departing from the toxic heptyl used in previous models.
The Angara series, developed by the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre, derives its name from the Angara River, originating from Lake Baikal in Siberia.
Project Angara Origins:
Conceptualized in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Project Angara aimed to diminish Russia's reliance on the Baikonur Cosmodrome, leased from Kazakhstan until 2050.
About Roscosmos:
Headed by Director-General Yuri Ivanovich Borisov, Roscosmos operates from its headquarters in Moscow, Russia.
Established in 1992, the agency has been instrumental in advancing Russia's space exploration endeavors.
6. Israeli Mathematician Avi Wigderson Wins 2023 ACM Turing Award
Tags: Awards International News
Avi Wigderson, an Israeli mathematician and computer scientist, was awarded the 2023 ACM A.M. Turing Award.
An Overview of the News
This award is widely regarded as the "Nobel Prize of Computing".
He holds the position of Herbert H. Maass Professor in the School of Mathematics at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.
Reason for Award:
Wigderson was honored for his foundational contributions to the theory of computation.
His work significantly influenced the understanding of randomness in computation and mathematics.
He was recognized for his intellectual leadership in theoretical computer science.
The ACM A.M. Turing Award carries a prestigious cash prize of USD 1 million.
Contributions and Career Highlights:
In 1986, Wigderson began his academic career as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel.
He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1987 and later became a full Professor at the Computer Science Institute of the Hebrew University.
In 1993, he assumed the role of Chairman of the Computer Science Institute at Hebrew University.
In 1999, he joined the faculty as a Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey.
7. Appointment of Vo Thi Anh Xuan as Interim President of Vietnam
Tags: Person in news International News
Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Vietnam's Vice-President, aged 54, was appointed as Interim President on March 21, 2024.
An Overview of the News
Vo Thi Anh Xuan succeeded Vo Van Thuong, who resigned from the presidency on March 20, 2024, having served since March 2023.
Vo Thi Anh Xuan will serve as the acting president until the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) elects a new president.
Previous Interim Presidency:
In the 2021-2026 term, Vo Thi Anh Xuan previously held the role of Interim President in January 2023, following the resignation of Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Vo Van Thuong was subsequently elected as President.
Background of Vo Thi Anh Xuan:
Vo Thi Anh Xuan originates from Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province, Vietnam.
She is an alternate member of the 11th Party Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and a member of the 12th and 13th Party Central Committee. Additionally, she is a delegate to the 14th and 15th National Assembly.
Vo Thi Anh Xuan was elected as Vice President of Vietnam in April 2021, becoming the youngest Vice President at the age of 51.
About Vietnam:
Prime Minister - Pham Minh Chinh
Capital - Hanoi
Currency - Vietnamese dong
8. Bjarni Benediktsson Becomes Iceland's Prime Minister, Replacing Katrín Jakobsdótti
Tags: Person in news International News
Benediktsson took office as Prime Minister of Iceland on April 9, 2024, succeeding Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
An Overview of the News
Before his appointment as PM, Benediktsson served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from October 2023.
He previously held the position of Prime Minister from January to November 2017.
Benediktsson's career began as a District Court attorney in 1998, followed by his election to the Icelandic parliament, Althingi, representing Southwest Iceland in 2003.
Since 2009, he has led the Independence Party.
Benediktsson also served as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs from 2013 to 2017 and resumed the position from November 30, 2017, until October 14, 2023.
Katrín Jakobsdóttir's Contributions:
Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the second woman to hold the position of PM in Iceland after Jóhanna Sigurðardótti, served as PM since 2017.
She resigned to pursue the presidency and also stepped down as Chairperson of the Left-Green Movement.
Jakobsdóttir has been a Member of Althingi for the Reykjavík North Constituency since 2007.
Her previous ministerial roles include Minister of Education, Science, and Culture, as well as Minister of Nordic Cooperation, from 2009 to 2013.
Iceland's Current Landscape:
Iceland's current President is Guðni Th. Jóhannesson.
Reykjavík serves as the capital.
The currency used is the Icelandic Króna (ISK).
9. NTPC Launches Latest Edition of GEM Initiative: Empowering Girls Across India
Tags: National News
NTPC Limited, formerly National Thermal Power Corporation, unveiled the latest edition of its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM), on April 9, 2024.
An Overview of the News
The new phase of GEM will encompass approximately 3000 underprivileged children across 42 locations of NTPC, marking an expansion to benefit a total of 10,000 girls.
This expansion aligns with the Government of India's "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" campaign, aiming to foster girl empowerment and combat gender inequality.
Program Progress:
Since its inception, GEM has facilitated the empowerment of 7,424 girls, with a consistent increase in participation each year.
In 2023, the initiative saw 2,707 girls engaging in workshops across 40 NTPC locations spanning 16 states in India.
Origins and Evolution:
GEM originated as a pilot project in 2018, initially spanning three locations. Over the years, it has evolved into a nationwide endeavor.
GEM aims to empower girls as agents of change, capable of influencing not only their own lives but also those of their families, communities, and the nation at large.
About NTPC Limited:
NTPC Limited is a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) operating under the Ministry of Power.
Recognized as a Maharatna company since 2010, NTPC is helmed by Gurdeep Singh, serving as Chairman & Managing Director.
The company's headquarters are situated in New Delhi, Delhi, with its establishment dating back to 1975.
10. Simon Harris becomes the youngest new Prime Minister of Ireland
Tags: Person in news International News
Simon Harris, aged 37 and leader of the Fine Gael party, elected as the new Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland by members of the Dáil (Irish parliament).
An Overview of the News
Officially installed as Taoiseach on 9th April 2024 after receiving the seal of office from President Michael D. Higgins.
Succeeds Leo Varadkar, who resigned as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach in March 2024.
Key Points:
Harris becomes the youngest Prime Minister in the history of the Republic of Ireland.
His tenure will extend until the general election scheduled for March 2025.
Members of the Dáil voted 88 to 69 in favor of Harris as Taoiseach.
The 3-party coalition government (Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party) has been in power since 2020.
This marks the third change in Taoiseach within less than four years for the coalition government.
About Simon Harris:
Elected as the youngest Teachta Dála (TD), a member of Dáil Éireann, in 2011 at the age of 24.
Held ministerial positions in the Irish government since 2016.
