NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
IIT Ropar develops unique detector ‘FakeBuster’: Researchers at the
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar and Monash University, Australia
have developed a detector named ‘FakeBuster’ to identify imposters attending a
virtual conference without anybody’s knowledge. It can also find out faces manipulated
on social media to defame or make a joke of someone.
About the ‘FakeBuster’:
(1) The ‘FakeBuster’ is a deep
learning-based solution that helps detect if a video is manipulated or spoofed
during a video-conference meeting.
(2) It has been tested for its
effectiveness on popular web conferencing applications – Skype and Zoom and
also detecting deepfakes where faces are manipulated on social media to spread
misinformation or defame persons.
(3) ‘FakeBuster’ can function online and
offline. It uses a 3D convolutional neural network for predicting video
segment-wise fakeness scores.
(4) ‘Deepfake’ has been extensively trained
on datasets such as Deeperforensics, DFDC, VoxCeleb, and deepfake videos
created using locally captured (for video conferencing scenarios) images.
(5) Deepfake a form of artificial
intelligence which seamlessly stitches anyone in the world into a video or
photo they never actually participated in.
2.
Cheetah to be re-introduced in India from Africa in November: Cheetah, the
world’s fastest land animal which was declared extinct in India in 1952, is
expected to be re-introduced into the country in November this year at the Kuno
National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Kuno, positioned within the Chambal area,
unfolds over a space of over 750 sq km and has a conducive atmosphere for the
cheetah. The country’s last spotted cheetah died in Chhattisgarh in 1947 and it
was declared extinct in the country in 1952. The Wildlife Institute of India
(WII) some years again ready a cheetah re-introduction undertaking.
The Supreme Court docket had earlier given
its approval to introduce African cheetahs to an acceptable habitat in India on
an experimental foundation. Officers from India might be despatched to South
Africa for sensitisation and coaching in June and July these 12 months and in
accordance with the plan, the transportation of the cheetahs will happen in
October and November.
Note: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh:
Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor: Anandiben Patel.
3. MP
CM transfers Rs. 112. 81 crore under COVID-19 assistance scheme into account of
Rs. 11. 28 lakh construction workers: In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj
Singh Chouhan transferred the amount of Rs. 112. 81 crore under the COVID-19
assistance scheme into the account of Rs. 11. 28 lakh construction workers of
the state. Chief Minister MrChouhan said that all the poor, including
construction workers, are being given free ration of five kg per member for
five months, the state government has provided three months ration and the Central
government is giving two months ration. Meanwhile, the state Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh Choauhan decided to implement ‘MukhyaMantri Covid-19
AnukampaNiyukti Yojana’ to provide compassionate appointment to eligible dependents
of those who died while serving in government service during COVID-19 pandemic
including daily wage earners, ad hoc ,
contractual.
INTERNATIONALUPDATES:
1.
CollinetMakosso appointed Republic of Congo’s new Prime Minister: The President of
the Republic of Congo, Denis SassouNguesso has appointed Anatole
CollinetMakosso as the country’s Prime Minister. He replaced Clement Mouamba,
in-office since 2016. Before this appointment, Makosso was the education
minister of the Central African country. He was also minister of youth and
civic instruction from 2011 to 2016. Since 2016, he has held the position of
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education in charge of literacy.
MrCollinetMakosso was the deputy campaign manager of candidate SassouNguesso
during the last presidential election.
Note: Congo Capital: Brazzaville; Congo
Currency: Congolese franc.
2.
David Barnea Appointed as Israel’s Next Mossad Chief: Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed David Barnea as the new head of the
country’s spy agency, the Mossad. Barnea, a former longtime Mossad operative,
will succeed Yossi Cohen as head of Israel’s intelligence agency on June 1.
Cohen has served as Israel’s spymaster since taking office in 2016. Barnea, who
is in his 50s, lives in the Sharon region north of Tel Aviv. He did his
military service in the elite SayeretMatkal special operations force. About 30
years ago, he enlisted in the Mossad, where he became a case officer.
Note: Prime Minister of Israel: Benjamin
Netanyahu; Israel Capital: Jerusalem; Israel Currency: Israeli Shekel.
3.
Mount Nyiragongo erupts in the Republic of Congo: Mount Nyiragongo
erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mount Nyiragongo is one of several
volcanoes near the DRC’s border with Rwanda and Uganda. Its last major
eruption, in 2002, killed 250 people and displaced thousands. Nyiragongo and
nearby Nyamuragira are together responsible for 40 per cent of Africa’s
historical volcanic eruptions. Mount Nyiragongo is located inside Virunga
National Park.
Note: President of the Republic of Congo:
Denis SassouNguesso; Prime Minister of Republic of Congo: Anatole
CollinetMakosso; Congo Capital: Brazzaville; Congo Currency: Congolese franc.
4.
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers: 29th May: The “International
Day of United Nations Peacekeepers” is observed on May 29 annually. The day is
celebrated to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue
to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of
professionalism, dedication, and courage and to honour the memory of those who
have lost their lives in the cause of peace.
The day was designated by United Nations
General Assembly on December 11, 2002, and first celebrated in 2003. The 2021
Theme: “The road to a lasting peace: Leveraging the power of youth for peace
and security.”
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Ashok Kumar, the only Indian referee to officiate in wrestling in Tokyo
Olympics: Ashok
Kumar will be the only referee from the country to officiate in wrestling
matches of the Tokyo Olympic Games. He was named in the list of officials
released by the United World Wrestling (UWW). Ashok, who will officiate in his
second consecutive Olympics. He is a UWW referees’ educator as well.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
Equitas Small Finance Bank offers online process for NRI account opening: Equitas Small
Finance Bank has now become the first Small Finance Bank to offer its NRI
customer segment the ease of account opening online. The company will also be
the only one in the Small Finance Bank sector to have Virtual Relationship
Managers based on time zones. The online process of account opening for NRIs
can be done via smartphone or computer connected to the Internet.
How to open an account:
(1) The applicants will have a span of 90
days to courier documents after account opening. With this pioneering move,
Equitas Small Finance Bank is seamlessly increasing opportunities for its NRI
account holders to manage their investments, deposits and the income earned in
India.
(2) The Equitas Net Banking would also
facilitate investment in mutual funds and Portfolio Management Services for the
NRI account holders.
(3) Through Banking alliances, Equitas Bank
also offers online and offline remittance facilities to its NRI customers at
the best exchange rates thereby making it easier and beneficial to transfer
their overseas earnings to India seamlessly.
Note: Equitas Small Finance Bank MD &
CEO Vasudevan P N; Equitas Small Finance Bank Headquarters: Chennai; Equitas
Small Finance Bank Founded: 2016.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Foreign direct investment jumps 19% to $59.64 bn in 2020-21: Foreign direct
investments (FDI) into the country grew 19 per cent to USD 59.64 billion during
2020-21 on account of measures taken by the government on the fronts of policy
reforms, investment facilitation and ease of doing business. Total FDI,
including equity, re-invested earnings and capital, rose 10 per cent to the
“highest ever” of USD 81.72 billion during 2020-21 as against USD 74.39 billion
in 2019-20. In terms of top investor countries, Singapore is at the top with a
29 per cent share. It was followed by the US (23 per cent) and Mauritius (9 per
cent) during the last fiscal. FDI equity inflow grew by 19 per cent in 2020-21
(USD 59.64 billion), compared to 2019-20 (USD 49.98 billion).
2.
Barclays pegs India’s FY22 GDP growth at 7.7%: Barclays has pegged
India’s economic growth for fiscal 2021-22 (FY22), as measured by gross
domestic product (GDP) at 7.7 per cent in the bear-case scenario if the country
is hit by the third wave of the Covid pandemic going ahead. The economic cost,
it believes, could rise by at least a further $42.6 billion, assuming another
round of similar stringent lockdowns is imposed across the country for eight
weeks later this year.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
IAS VK Pandian to receive FIH President’s Award: V Karthikeyan
Pandian, an IAS officer, and private secretary to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen
Patnaik was conferred with President’s award by International Hockey Federation
through the 47th FIH Congress. He was awarded for his contribution in direction
of the event and promotion of hockey in Odisha. On the closing day of the 47th
FIH Congress held virtually, the International Hockey Federation (FIH)
announced Pandian will receive the award for his contribution and services to
Hockey in Odisha. Pandian also works as Secretary of the State government’s 5T
Initiative (Technology, Transparency, Teamwork and Time Leading to
Transformation).
Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen
Patnaik and Governor is Ganeshi Lal.
OBITUARIES
1. 1971 war hero Col Panjab Singh passes away: Colonel Panjab Singh, a hero of the Battle of Poonch during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, was cremated with full military honours under pandemic protocols after he passed away. The retired officer, who was awarded the Vir Chakra, the third highest war-time gallantry award, died of post-Covid complications. Panjab Singh was born on 15 February 1942, the colonel was commissioned into the 6th Battalion, The Sikh Regiment on16 December 1967. He went on to command the prestigious battalion from 12 October 1986 to 29 July 1990.
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