A System launched to prevent Illicit Foreign Calls

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and mobile providers on May 27, 2024, launched a new technique to identify and prevent phony international calls that display Indian phone numbers.
• This action was conducted in response to many complaints from people who claimed to be FedEx employees, police officers, Department of Telecom (DoT) personnel, or even representatives of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).
•   The DoT has instructed telecom companies to stop these phony calls in order to resolve this issue.
• These fraudulent calls with altered caller line identities (CLIs) are not able to reach Indian users since systems have been designed to block them.
• Before, this technology was limited to blocking international calls made using fictitious landline numbers in India.

Food and Nutrition Board Dissolved

• The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) was formally dissolved on May 27, 2024, as part of the government's effort to streamline several organizations.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD)'s Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) is a technical division tasked with supporting community nutrition programs logistically. 
•  The FNB, which ran a vast network of offices comprising 4 regional offices and numerous quality control laboratories around key cities like Faridabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, was dissolved, according to a statement released by the WCD Ministry.

‘Water For Shared Prosperity’ a World Bank Report

• The World Bank's report, 'Water For Shared Prosperity,' was published at the 10th World Water Forum on May 27, 2024.
• It highlights the important role of water in supporting equitable societies in the face of global water access inequities exacerbated by population increase, urbanization, and climate change.
• It emphasizes how urgent it is to develop all-encompassing plans to guarantee universal water security.
• The World Bank defines shared prosperity as promoting economic well-being, especially for underprivileged groups, through 4 interrelated building blocks: jobs and income, health and education, peace and social cohesion, and environment.

Zimbabwe New Currency Rolled Out

• Zimbabwe on May 27, 2024, attempted to restart its economy which is why they created a new currency in April dubbed the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG).
• This is the sixth attempt in 15 years to establish a national currency due to significant economic issues and the failure of previous currencies.
•  A 100-trillion Zimbabwe dollar bill was created after the currency collapsed in 2009, at the height of what was estimated to be a 5 billion percent hyperinflation.
•  Such drastic measures demonstrated the dire state of Zimbabwe's economy and resulted in the adoption of a multicurrency system with the US dollar serving as the primary currency.

India’s 4th Largest Export item with 42 % growth are Smartphones

• Due to a 42% increase to $15.6 billion in FY24, smartphones have risen to become India's 4th-largest export goods as of May 27, 2024.
• A key role was played by the government's Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) program. This represents a one-ranking-point improvement over the previous year.
• In April 2022, data gathering for smartphones as a distinct category was launched, demonstrating the industry's explosive expansion.
• The noteworthy increase in smartphone exports can be ascribed to a 158% surge in shipments to the United States, totaling $5.6 billion.
•  The United Arab Emirates ($2.6 billion), the Netherlands ($1.2 billion), and the United Kingdom ($1.1 billion) are 3further significant markets.
•  In FY24, the total value of mobile devices made in India for both domestic and international markets increased to ₹4.1 trillion ($49.16 billion), representing a 17% year-on-year increase.

SEBI took Action against Gaming App Involved in Virtual Trading

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will be closely monitoring virtual trading platforms and fantasy games that replicate stock trading by using actual share values as of May 27, 2024.
•  This move follows the rise in popularity of several such apps as more and more common people show an interest in stock trading.
• Stock exchanges and depositories have been instructed by Sebi to stop providing real-time pricing data to third-party apps that facilitate virtual trading.
• This rule aims to prevent users from exploiting information on unregulated websites for profit.
• Sebi states that while it is permissible to utilize this data for recreational and instructional purposes, it is against the law to tie financial incentives to the results of virtual portfolios, which is similar to "dabba trading."

Microsoft AI Enhanced ‘Copilot +’

• Microsoft released 'Copilot+' PCs on May 27, 2024. These PCs are intended to carry out AI tasks locally, independent of the cloud, and have an exclusive 'Recall' feature that logs and records user actions.
• These machines, which were created in partnership with ASUSTeK Computer and Acer, are meant to carry out AI tasks locally, independent of cloud data centers.
• The debut ceremony was held on May 20 at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Sales of the product, which have a $1000 base price, will begin on June 18.
•  The 'Recall' feature, which records all computer activity and compiles them into a searchable history for users, was emphasized by CEO Satya Nadella.
• This feature improves user productivity and convenience and can be used for audio chats, web surfing, and other purposes.
• The voice assistant Copilot+ was demonstrated as a virtual coach for players of Minecraft in real time.

Satellite PREFIRE of NASA

• The pressing worldwide issue of climate change still necessitates new scientific findings and technology advancements as of May 27, 2024.
•  NASA launched the PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far Infrared Experiment) mission. This was a significant advancement in climate prediction and understanding.
•  Rocket Lab's Electron rocket carried 2 miniature CubeSats into orbit, which were launched from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand.
•  These satellites are tasked with measuring the amount of heat emitted by the polar regions of the Earth.
• Though they are rarely seen due to their extreme cold, the North and South Poles are crucial components of the global climate system.
• The PREFIRE satellites' infrared capability will measure the amount of heat escaping into space directly.

Shahid Afridi

• Former Pakistani Cricketer Shahid Afridi, has been named the brand ambassador for the upcoming 9th ICC Men's T20 by The International Cricket Council (ICC), the world governing body of cricket. This announcement was made on May 27, 2024.
• The United States of America and the West Indies will co-host this eagerly awaited competition From June 1–29, 2024.
•  Shahid Afridi, also known by his nickname "Lala," was an explosive batsman and an outstanding leg-spinner.
• His aggressive batting approach was ideal for the T20 format in particular, as limited-overs cricket is played in these formats.

Majestic Great Indian Bustard at Desert Park Sanctuary Jaisalmer

• The Great Indian Bustard, which is severely endangered, is significantly present in the National Desert Park in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, according to the results of the annual waterhole census conducted on May 27, 2024.
•  Using the waterhole method in the sweltering summer, the survey counted an astounding 64 Great Indian Bustards inside the park's boundaries.
• Compared to the census conducted the year before in 2022, when 42 birds were counted using the identical waterhole approach, this is a significant increase.
•  The Great Indian Bustard, also referred to as the "Godawan," is the state bird of Rajasthan and a severely endangered species that mostly lives in arid grasslands.
• These magnificent birds are immediately identified by their striking black crown, which contrasts with their pale neck and head.
•  Their brownish body and black-marked wings also add to their unusual appearance.

A novel Voltage Device Patent secured by CET and IIT Madras

•  The College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram (CET) and IIT Madras received a patent for a novel gadget that detects voltage without coming into contact with it on May 27, 2024.
• Electrical engineering has advanced significantly with the development of this new technology.
• The project "An instrumentation system with a fully non-intrusive probe for AC voltage measurement" received the patent from the Indian Patent Office.
• PS Shenil, an associate professor in the department of electrical and electronics engineering at Government Engineering College, Barton Hill, and Boby George, head of the department of medical sciences and technology at IIT Madras, collaborated on this research.