The Indian Army has started receiving the Russian AK-203 assault rifles after the deal with Russia saw back-to-back delays, partly due to the war in Ukraine and payment delays. As many as 27,000 rifles have been handed over to the Army so far by the Indo-Russian joint venture established at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh, according to official sources.

“Everything is on track after initial delays, and 27,000 rifles have been given to the Army. Another 8,000 will be handed over in the next two weeks. Indigenisation level achieved is around 25%,” an official in the know said.

A source said that more than 10,000 rifles have been handed over to Units and additional ones are being inspected.

America’s first Black astronaut candidate finally rocketed into space 60 years later, flying with Jeff Bezos’ rocket company on Sunday.

Ed Dwight was an Air Force pilot when President John F Kennedy championed him as a candidate for NASA’s early astronaut corps. But he wasn’t picked for the 1963 class.

Dwight, now 90, went through a few minutes of weightlessness with five other passengers aboard the Blue Origin capsule as it skimmed space on a roughly 10-minute flight. He called it “a life changing experience.”

Vietnam has nominated its Public Security Minister To Lam as its new president, state media said on May 18, after his predecessor resigned in the ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has shaken up the country’s political establishment.

The Communist Party's Central Committee had agreed to the nomination of To Lam, a Politburo member, as President, state-run Vietnam News Agency reported. The nomination will likely be approved by Vietnam’s National Assembly during its next session on May 21.

Former President Vo Van Thuong resigned in March after a little over a year in the position. His predecessor had also resigned in 2023 while taking “political responsibility” for corruption scandals during the pandemic.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Plastic Free River Campaign i.e. “Towards a Plastic Free Future” is being launched on 5th June. This campaign will be run from 16 to 20 May at 63 places located on the banks of Ganga and its 15 tributary rivers flowing in 7 states Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Organized under the joint aegis of Wildlife Institute of India, National Clean Ganga Mission, Ganga Biodiversity Conservation and Water Project and Social Development for Communities Foundation, the campaign aims to make local residents aware of the adverse effects of plastic pollution on rivers and their biodiversity. Along with this, we also have to warn about the effects on human health and ecosystem.

Let us tell you that this campaign will be jointly run by the Ganga Praharis in the area, which is a group of people selected and trained from the local community, along with the members of NMCG and Jalaj Project. Under the campaign, after conducting river bank cleanliness drive in their area, one kg of plastic waste from each site will be sent to the Plastic Waste Segregation and Learning Center of Social Development for Communities Foundation in Dehradun. From where it will be sorted and sent to various institutions to make products like biofuel and tiles.

In an attempt to promote the culture of sustainability and environment protect, the United Arab Emirates Cabinet led by Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, has announced a 10-year Blue Residence Visa for those who are making exceptional contributions to environmental protection.

The Prime Minister on X emphasised the UAE's unwavering devotion to environmental protection, writing, “The sustainability of our economy has become linked to the sustainability of our environment, and our national directions in this area are clear and consistent." He further emphasised UAE's commitment to protect the environment, how the nation is also ready to develop its international technologies, and develop its higher education systems.

With over 500 of its tanks and infantry combat vehicles deployed in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army has created a record of sorts by setting up two of world's highest tank repair facilities in that area to support its operations there.

The Indian Army has set up two armoured vehicle maintenance and repair facilities near the China border in Nyoma and the DBO Sector in that region to at altitudes of over 14,500 feet in the area, which is the world's highest battlefield for tanks and infantry combat vehicles along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh.

A large number of tanks and BMP combat vehicles, along with Indian-made armoured vehicles like the Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles, have been deployed in Eastern Ladakh after the stand-off between India and China started in April-May 2020, post-Chinese aggression there.

Museums are considered a heritage of humanity and hold plenty of information about history, science, and culture. They serve as an educational hub, fostering curiosity, critical thinking and creativity. From art and history to science and technology, museums are vital spaces where education and research meet to shape our understanding of the world.

International Museum Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the fact that museums are a crucial means of cultural exchange, development of mutual understanding, and peace and cooperation among individuals.

On May 18, International Museum Day is observed by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). The inception of this day dates back to 1977. As the name suggests, the day is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of museums in society’s development.

World AIDS Vaccine Day, also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, is marked on May 18. It’s a day to raise awareness about the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS and the importance of developing a vaccine. It recognises researchers, volunteers, and healthcare workers dedicated to developing a vaccine. The day marks the anniversary of a 1997 speech by US President Bill Clinton highlighting the importance of an HIV vaccine.

Nayara Energy, a private downstream company, in its effort to diversify its product portfolio, is planning to invest Rs 600 crore for setting up ethanol manufacturing plants in the country. The move is in line with the government’s target of 20% ethanol blending for FY26, the company said on Tuesday.The company plans to set up two ethanol manufacturing plants, each with a production capacity of 200 kiloliters per day (KLPD), in Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Land for the proposed plants has already been identified and purchased in both states.

“The establishment of ethanol facilities will significantly enhance Nayara Energy’s ethanol supply reliability, playing a crucial role in achieving the government’s 20% blending target by the end of the fiscal year 2025-26,” Alessandro des Dorides, chief executive officer, Nayara Energy said. The company also aims to increase the number of ethanol plants to with a combined production capacity of approximately 1,000 KLPD with a focus on value enhancement in retail operations and ensuring the reliability of the ethanol blending program in the future.

Indian Institute of Petroleum & Energy (IIPE), Visakhapatnam, in association with other research institutions, have found an effective eco-friendly solution ‘Surface Modification Technique of Membrane’ to resolve the problems associated with water treatment at various levels, particularly for muddy river water.

Researchers of Assam Science and Technology University in Guwahati, Gauhati University, Pragjyotish College, and Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology have joined the IIPE team in the research. The findings have been published in the “Nature Scientific Reports” journal titled “Role of Plasma Process Gas on Permeate Flux Augmentation of Cellulose Nitrate Membrane for Mud Water Treatment.” The IIPE has funded the research through an Institute Research Grant.

Water pollution has emerged as a major issue in rural and urban areas as its quality gets affected due to contamination with sludge, riverbed sediments, waste residues and other pollutants.