Uttarakhand Affairs
Uttarakhand to build 17,000 polyhouses in a year
In a major push to the sector, theUttarakhand cabineton Tuesday approved 17,648polyhousesin the Himalayan state.
Eying the Delhi market, these polyhouses would be used to grow vegetables, flowers and fruits. While a farmer would contribute 20% of the fund required, the remaining 80% would be provided by the State Government.
In a major decision to prevent traffic snarls and unplanned constructions at key locations in the hills, the government has decided that anyone constructing a structure within a distance of 50 metre of state highways, national highways and key tourist locations in hill areas will have to take permission from the development authorities. Similarly, in the plains, the distance would be 100 metre from such locations.
National and International Affairs
Ancient Maya City
Archaeologists in Mexicohave made a significant discovery in the dense jungle of theYucatan Peninsula, uncovering the remains of anancientMayacity.
TheNational Institute for Anthropology and HISTORY (INAH) inMexicoled the expedition to Ocomtn.
The research team usedairborne laser scanningto identifypre-Hispanic structures throughout the region.
Named Ocomtun,meaning “stone column” in the Yucatec Maya language,this newly discovered city isbelieved to have been a prominent centre in the central lowland region of the Yucatan Peninsula between 250 and 1000 AD.
It also provides invaluable insights into theadvanced societal and religious practices of the Maya civilization, known for itssophisticated mathematical calendars.
The Maya are an indigenous people of Mexico and Central America. Originating in the Yucatn, they rose to prominence around A.D. 250 inpresent-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern Belize and western Honduras.
Therise of the Maya began about 250 CE, and what is known to archaeologists as the Classic Period of Mayan culture lasted until about 900 CE.
ChatGPT maker OpenAI influenced EU for less strict AI rules: Report
Days after the lawmakers in theEuropean Union(EU) passed a draft of the AI Act aimed at placing greater restrictions on how the technology can be used, a report has claimed thatOpenAIlobbied to water down the tougher regulations.
Citing documents obtained from the European Commission, a report by Time magazine said that the company that developed ChatGPT AI chatbot lobbied for “significant Elements” of the AI legislation to be less stringent in ways that would reduce the regulatory burden on the company.
It also claims that “in several cases,” amendments that were proposed by OpenAI made it to the final text of the draft law, approved by lawmakers and “will now proceed to a final round of negotiations before being finalised as soon as January.”
ChinaandPakistanhave signed a significant agreement worthUSD 4.8 billionto establish a 1,200-megawatt nuclear power plant. This deal reflects the deepening strategic cooperation between the two nations and comes as a welcome development for Pakistan. Pakistan is determined to enhance its energy sector and overcome its economic difficulties by assuring the prompt initiation of the nuclear power plant project.
Pakistans existing Chashma power Plants play a crucial role in generating affordable nuclear power. With the addition of the 1,200-megawatt Chashma-V nuclear plant, Pakistan will further enhance its capacity for clean and sustainable energy production. The expansion of nuclear power facilities is vital for meeting the growing Energy demands of the country and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.