India is aiming to develop its own sovereign AI.

About Sovereign AI

• Sovereign AI embodies a nation's ability to independently develop, deploy, and
  govern AI technologies.
• It aims at bolstering a nation's ability to protect and advance its interests through the
  strategic use of AI.
• It is based on a digital sovereignty framework.
  • Digital sovereignty refers to the ability to have control over own digital technologies.
• Six strategic pillars guiding the development of sovereign AI include digital infrastructure, workforce development, research, development and innovation, regulatory and ethical framework, stimulating the AI industry, and international cooperation.

At a recently held Arab League Summit, the UN chief appealed for the Gaza ceasefire and regional unity.

About Arab League (League of Arab States)

• It is an intergovernmental organization encompassing all Arab states in Middle East and North Africa.
• Genesis: Established in Cairo, Egypt, in 1945 following adoption of Alexandria Protocol in 1944.
• HQ: Cairo, Egypt.
• Mandate: Strengthening relations between member states, coordination of policies, and cooperation on political, security, economic and legal issues.
• Members:  22 member states (India has observer status).

An event was held in New Delhi under Project Udbhav.

About Project Udbhav

• Launched in 2023, it is collaboration between the Indian Army and the United Service Institution of India (USI).
• It aims to effectively integrate ancient wisdom with contemporary military practices, forging a unique and holistic approach to address modern security challenges.
• It aims to facilitate in-depth understanding of Indian knowledge systems and philosophies and comprehend their enduring connect, relevance and applicability in modern day.
  • For instance, Literature like Chanakya's Arthashastra underscores the importance of strategic partnerships, alliances and diplomacy, aligning with modern military practices.

A girl from Malappuram in Kerala has recently died of infection from Naegleria Fowleri. 

About Naegleria Fowleri

• It is an amoeba (a type of unicellular organism) that thrives in soil, warm freshwater lakes, rivers, and hot springs.
• If ameba reaches the nose and brain, it can result in an infection called Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM).
• It is often called the "brain-eating amoeba" because it can infect the brain and destroy brain tissue.
  • Brain infections caused by Naegleria Fowleri are rare but nearly always fatal.

Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), 2024 was released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

About TTDI, 2024

• TTDI measures the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of Travel and Tourism.
• It is the second edition of an index that evolved from the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) series.
  • TTCI is flagship index of WEF that has been in production since 2007.
• India's rank improved to 39 in 2024 from 54 in 2021.

A new study by researchers at Columbia found that Ferroptosis is major cell death mechanism that underlies COVID-19 lung disease.

About Ferroptosis

• It is an intracellular iron-dependent form of cell death which is usually accompanied by a large amount of iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation during the cell death process.
• Studies have shown that ferroptosis is closely related to pathophysiological processes of many diseases, such as tumors, nervous system diseases, kidney injury, etc.
• Other forms of cell death include apoptosis (process of programmed cell death), necrosis (death of tissue due disease or injury), and autophagy (eukaryotic cellular recycling process).

European Union (EU) activated its Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) to locate the helicopter carrying Iranian President.

About Copernicus EMS

• It is being implemented by the European Commission since 2012 as part of the Copernicus Programme. 
  • Copernicus is EU’s Earth observation programme.
• It supports all actors involved in management of natural or man-made disasters by providing geospatial information. 
• It has two components: 
  • On-demand Mapping – Rapid Mapping (provides geospatial information within hours or days of service request), and Risk and Recovery Mapping.
  • Early Warning and Monitoring – Floods, Forest Fires and Droughts. 

Serum Institute of India (SII) has started exporting R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to Africa.

• Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by a single-cell parasite of genus Plasmodium spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes.

About R21/Matrix-M

• Developed by the University of Oxford and the SII, leveraging Novavax’s adjuvant technology (used with vaccines to augment the immune response.)
• It is the second malaria vaccine recommended by WHO in 2023, after RTS,S/AS01 vaccine.
• It acts against P. falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite and the most prevalent on the African continent.