1. Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh visits Science Museum
Tags: International News
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh inspected the operations of the 175 year old London Science Museum.
An Overview of the News
The objective of setting up such museums in India is to enable the citizens, especially the youth, to discover their hidden potential and abilities and develop their scientific temper, creativity and innovation.
The Science Museum, established in 1857, is located in South Kensington, London and is a major museum on Exhibition Road.
The museum management was impressed by India's success in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Science Museum became one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, with 3.3 million visitors in 2019.
As a publicly funded national museum in the UK, the Science Museum does not charge admission, but visitors are encouraged to make a donation if possible.
The Science Museum is part of a group of five museums known as the Science Museum Group.
About the United Kingdom (UK)
It is a country in Europe made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It has a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy with the monarch as the head of state and the prime minister leading the government.
The UK has a mixed economy and is known for its strengths in the service sector, manufacturing and technology.
Prime Minister- Rishi Sunak
Capital- London
Currency- Pound Sterling (GBP)
Emperor- Charles III
Government- Parliamentary System, Unitary State, Constitutional Monarchy
2. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Maldives
Tags: International Relations International News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to embark on athree-day official visit to Maldives on 30th April.
An overview of the news
During the visit, Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talkswith Maldivian Defense Minister Ms. Maria Ahmed Didi and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.
All aspects of defense relations between the two countries will be reviewed during the consultations.
Rajnath Singh will also meet Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
In line with India's commitment to capacity building of friendly countries and partners in the region, Rajnath Singh will gift a Fast Patrol Vessel ship and a landing craft to the Maldivian National Defense Forces.
India and Maldives are working together to effectively address common challenges including maritime security, terrorism, radicalism, piracy, smuggling, organized crime and natural disasters.
India's vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) along with its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy as well as Maldives’ ‘India First’ policy seek to work together to jointly develop the capabilities within the Indian Ocean Region.
About Maldives
It is also called Maldives Islands, an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.
It extends more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west.
Basis of economy -fisheries, tourism
Industries - handicraft or cottage including the making of coir (coconut-husk fibre) and coir products, fish canning, and boatbuilding.
Capital -Male
President -Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Official Language - Dhivehi (Maldivian)
Official Religion - Islam
Currency -Rufiyaa
3. G7 should adopt ‘risk-based’ AI regulation
Tags: International News
Digital ministers from the Group of Seven advanced nations (G7) agreed on 30 April that they should adopt "risk-based" regulation on artificial intelligence.
An overview of the news
European lawmakers hurry to introduce an AI Act to enforce rules on emerging tools such as ChatGPT.
G7 ministers said in a joint statement issued at a two-day meeting in Japan that such regulation should "preserve an open and enabling environment" for the development of AI technologies and be based on democratic values.
The ministers recognized that the policy tools to achieve the common vision and goal of trustworthy AI among G7 members may differ.
The agreement sets a milestone for how major countries regulate AI amid privacy concerns and security risks.
Governments in particular have taken note of the popularity of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
A chatbot (ChatGPT) developed by Microsoft Corp-backed OpenAI has become the fastest-growing app in history since its launch in November.
What is ChatGPT?
It is a natural language processing tool powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that allows chatbots to do much more than just have human-like conversations.
This language model can answer questions and assist with tasks such as writing emails, essays and code.
ChatGPT was created by OpenAI, an AI and research company.
A chatbot (ChatGPT) developed by Microsoft Corp-backed OpenAI has become the fastest-growing app in history since its launch in November.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
It is a broad branch of computer science that deals with building smart machines capable of performing tasks that would normally require human intelligence.
About G7
The G7 is a group of seven major industrialized countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The G7 holds annual meetings to discuss various global issues, but these meetings are usually held in different locations each year.
The 48th G7 summit was hosted by Germany in 2022.
4. Dubai's airline Emirates unveils world's first robotic check-in assistant
Tags: International News
Dubai-based airline Emirates has unveiled the world's first robotic check-in assistant named 'Sara'.
An overview of the news
The system is part of a new City Check-in and Travel Store that is set to launch in Dubai's Financial District.
In addition to the new check-in facility, Emirates passengers with a valid boarding pass will also have access to select lifestyle amenities at ICD Brookfield Place, as well as exclusive discounts and special offers at a range of restaurants, gyms and luxury stores.
Passengers can connect directly to the airport via taxi or Emirates Chauffeur Service.
This latest innovation from Emirates aims to enhance the customer experience and make the check-in process more seamless and efficient.
What is the world's first robotic check-in assistant 'Sara'?
'SARA' will match customers' faces with scanned passports, check in passengers and guide them to the baggage drop area.
This facility allows customers to drop off their luggage at the airport up to 24 hours in advance and up to 4 hours before their flight.
Passengers cancheck-in via self-check-in kiosks, with Emirates agents at dedicated desks or with the help of Sara.
The robot is equipped with facial recognition technology and can print boarding passes to make the check-in process more efficient. Sara is also portable and can move around to help those in need.
Sources reveal that future iterations of the Sarah will also have weapons that can carry goods.
5. Germany and Britain intercepted three Russian military reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea
Tags: International News
The German Air Force on 26th April announced that it intercepted three Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea.
An overview of the news
Germany and UK Eurofighter have been alerted to identify 3 military machines.
The two SU-27 flankers and one IL-20 from Russia flew again without a transponder signal in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
German and British forces were deployed to identify the two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft and one Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft.
Germany handed over responsibility for NATO’s Baltic air policing mission to Britain earlier this month.
About the Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean located in northern Europe.
It is a shelf sea and marginal sea of the Atlantic, with limited water exchange between the two, making it an inland sea.
The Baltic Sea is one of the largest brackish inland seas by area.
It is bordered by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and the North and Central European Plain.
The maximum depth is 459 m (1,506 ft).
The Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Region covers the Baltic Sea.
6. India-UK NET Zero Innovation virtual centre
Tags: Environment International News
India and the United Kingdom have agreed to create an India-UK Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre.
An overview of the news
The center will provide a platform for stakeholders from both countries to work together in areas such as manufacturing processes, transportation systems and decarbonization of green hydrogen as a renewable source.
This was announced by Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh at a meeting of the India-UK Science and Innovation Council meeting in the presence of United Kingdom Minister George Freeman.
India is fast marching towards becoming an economic powerhouse driven by its extraordinary technology and innovation.
India is committed to achieve its climate change and environment goals within the stipulated time period.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy are the central pillars, where India has already taken the lead through various initiatives like Solar Alliance and Clean Energy Mission.
Dr Jitendra Singh is leading a high-level official Indian delegation from the Ministry of Science and Technology on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom.
United Kingdom
The inclusion of Northern Ireland in Great Britain is called the United Kingdom.
That is, the United Kingdom is a kingdom consisting ofEngland, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Queen of England is the head of both the United Kingdom/Britain.
The capital of the United Kingdom/Great Britain is London.
7. Pennsylvania Recognizes Diwali as an Official State Holiday
Tags: International News
The United States state of Pennsylvania officially recognized the Hindu festival of Diwali as a state holiday.
An Overview of the News
State Senators Greg Rothman and Nikil Saval introduced legislation to make Diwali a state holiday in February this year.
The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate. According to My Twin Tears, there are approximately 200,000 South Asian residents in Pennsylvania, many of whom celebrate Diwali as a time to gather and reflect.
Pennsylvania:
It is a state located in the northeastern region of the United States of America.
It is one of the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain and became a kingdom on December 12, 1787.
The state's capital is Harrisburg, and its largest city is Philadelphia, which is known as the birthplace of the United States of America.
Pennsylvania is bordered by six other states, including New York to the north, New Jersey to the east, Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, and Lake Erie to the northwest.
The state has a diverse geography, including the Appalachian Mountains in the central and eastern parts of the state, the Allegheny Plateau in the western part of the state, and a coastal plain in the southeastern part of the state.
8. WHO issues alert over India-made cough syrup Guaifenesin
Tags: International News
The WHO has issued a red alert due to "unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol" in the tested samples of Guaifenesin TG syrup manufactured by Punjab-based QP Pharmachem Ltd.
An overview of the news
The World Health Organization has said that a consignment of this contaminated cough syrup made in India has been found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia.
Guaifenesin is used to relieve the symptoms of cough and tightness in the chest.
Samples of Guaifenesin Syrup TG Syrup from the Marshall Islands were analyzed and it was found that the product contained unacceptable amounts of Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol as contaminants.
Ingestion of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol aretoxic to humans, and can prove fatal.
The latest alert comes months after the WHO linked another cough syrup made in India to child deaths in Gambia and Uzbekistan.
India is the world's largest exporter of generic drugs, which meet most of the medical needs of developing countries.
But in recent months, several Indian companies have come under scrutiny for the quality of their drugs, with experts raising concerns about the manufacturing practices used to make these drugs.
9. Australia to host third in-person Quad summit
Tags: Summits International News
Australia will host thethird in-person Quad summit in Sydney on 24 May.
An Overview of the News
The Quad Summit will be attended by the leaders of the four member countries –US President Joe Biden, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The Quad summit is a meeting between the leaders of four countries: the United States, Japan, India, and Australia.
The Quad was first established as a strategic dialogue in 2007, but remained dormant for several years until it was revived in 2017.
The Quad Summit, to be held in Washington DC in September 2021, was the first in-person meeting of the Quad leaders.
The agenda of the Quad summit focused on four key areas: COVID-19 vaccine delivery, climate change, critical and emerging technologies and regional security.
The Quad leaders announced a new initiative to boost COVID-19 vaccine production in India with a target of distributing one billion doses to the Asia-Pacific region by the end of 2022.
On the subject of climate change, the Quad leaders pledged to work together to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
About Australia
It is a sovereign country located in the Southern Hemisphere and is geographically isolated from the rest of the world.
Capital - Canberra
Government -federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Emperor - Charles III
Governor-General - David Hurley
Prime Minister - Anthony Albanese
10. 11th High Level Meeting between Indian Coast Guard and Korean Coast Guard
Tags: Defence International News
The 11th high level meeting between the Indian Coast Guard and the Korean Coast Guard was held in New Delhi on 25 April.
An overview of the news
A seven-member delegation of the Korean Coast Guard held a meeting with theIndian Coast Guard.
Both sides discussed ways to strengthen the existing relationship in accordance with the provisions of the MoU to share best practices, conduct joint exercises and enhance training cooperation.
The high-level meeting between the two Coast Guards was held under the provisions of the MoU signed in 2006.
The high level meeting focused on enhancing operational level interactions and capacity building in the areas of maritime search and rescue, marine pollution response and maritime law enforcement.
About South Korea
South Korea is a country located in East Asia that is known as the 'Land of Quiet Mornings'.
The Korean peninsula was divided into communist Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Republic of Korea (South Korea) after the Korean War in 1953.
The nation's capital, Seoul, is the world's second largest metropolitan area and a major global city.
Martial arts Taekwondo originated in Korea.
President- Yoon Suk-yol
Currency- South Korean won
