General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - December 2018

Dec 2018

Feb 15, 2024

Dubai to Launch World's First Air Taxi Service

The Dubai Air Taxi Service is a planned aerial transportation network set to revolutionise urban mobility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Scheduled to commence operations in 2026, it will be the world's first city-wide air taxi service when launched.
In February 2024, Dubai entered agreements at the World Government Summit greenlighting the development of a city-wide eVTOL air taxi system. The accords marked a global first-of-its-kind commitment to launch such an extensive service and cemented Dubai's leading role spearheading transportation innovation worldwide.
The service is in line with Dubai's vision to pioneer sustainable and efficient transportation. By integrating aerial taxis into the urban landscape through vertiports situated across the city, the initiative promises to redefine mobility in modern metropolises.

Apple's iMessage, Microsoft's Bing Exempted from EU Tech Rules

Apple's iMessage and Microsoft's Bing search engine are exempted from new EU tech rules, EU antitrust regulators said on Tuesday, after accepting the companies' argument the services were not gateways to reach end-users.
The new Digital Markets Act takes effect in three weeks' time. Its requirements include obliging Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet's Google, Amazon, Meta Platforms and ByteDance to allow third-party apps or app stores on their platforms and making it easier for users to switch from default apps to rivals.
The companies are also prohibited from favouring their services. Following a five-month investigation, the European Commission found that iMessage, Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising "did not qualify as gatekeeper services," the EU executive said in a statement.
The Commission said Apple's App Store, iOS operating system and Safari browser will continue to be classified as gatekeepers as well as Microsoft's Linkedin social network and Windows operating system.
Apple to settle trade secrets lawsuit against chip startup Rivos. It said it had made "a thorough assessment of all arguments, taking into account input by relevant stakeholders".
Microsoft said Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising operate as challengers in the market. "We will continue to engage with the Commission and industry at large to ensure Microsoft's other designated platforms comply fully with the DMA," a spokesperson said.

Feb 13, 2024

NASA Launches New Mission to Study Earth's Climate, Ocean, and Atmosphere

NASA successfully launched a satellite into space to study the health of the ocean, air quality and the impact of climate change.
The Plankton, Aerosol, Climate, ocean Ecosystem satellite, which is also known as PACE, was launched from the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The PACE mission will study microscopic life in water and microscopic particles in the air from hundreds of miles above the Earth to give scientists insights into the how the ocean and atmosphere work together and how climate change affects that.
The satellite has a special instrument to study ocean colour which will allow researchers to track the distribution of phytoplankton, which are tiny plant-like organisms found in oceans, lakes, rivers and other large bodies of water, for the first time from space.

Sundaram AMC Appoints Anand Radhakrishnan Appointed as CEO

Sundaram Asset Management appointed Anand Radhakrishnan as CEO. Anand was earlier a part of the company for eight years from 1996 to 2004. He previously served as Managing Director & CIO (Equity) at Franklin Templeton India.
Incumbent Managing Director Sunil Subramaniam will retire in June after leading the organisation for 19 years. Radhakrishnan will take over as Managing Director in July 2024.

Feb 11, 2024

Kota Teenager Builds AI Robot to Help Farmers Assess Soil Health

A teenager in Rajasthan's Kota has built an all-purpose robot to help farmers assess soil and crop health, their water needs, and detect pests. Aryan Singh built the AgRobot at his school's Atal Tinkering Lab, a central government initiative to help school children hone their building skills.
The son of a farmer, Aryan spent four years building the robot which won him the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar under the science and technology category.
The AgRobot can perform multiple tasks like cutting, irrigation, loading, soil-tracking etc. Aryan received over 15 national and international awards and appreciation for his innovation.

Feb 10, 2024

Google Partners with Maharashtra Govt. to Provide AI-led Services

Tech giant Google signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra to provide artificial intelligence (AI)-led solutions across key sectors in the state.
As a part of the collaboration, Google will leverage its AI capabilities to provide solutions in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, sustainability, education, and start-ups.
The company also announced launching a state-of-the-art AI Centre of Excellence at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Nagpur.

Feb 09, 2024

China Launches Qinling Station for Antarctic Scientific Study

China inaugurated its newest Antarctic research station, the Qinling facility, situated on Inexpressible Island in the Ross Sea. This marked China's fifth research station in Antarctica and signifies its commitment to advancing scientific exploration in the region.
The Qinling station is poised to operate year-round, accommodating a team of up to 80 researchers and support staff.
Its primary focus is on conducting diverse research activities encompassing biological oceanography, glaciology, marine ecology, and other scientific disciplines.
China's investment in the Qinling station underscores its dedication to expanding our understanding of the Antarctic ecosystem and its broader implications for global environmental dynamics.

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