The Quad Nations, encompassing India, Australia, the US, and Japan, have recently launched an initiative known as the Quad Cyber Challenge. This public campaign is designed to upgrade cybersecurity measures across these four nations by encouraging Internet users both within and beyond the Indo-Pacific region to adopt safer online habits.
The Quad Cyber Challenge
The Quad Cyber Challenge aims to fortify cyber defenses within the Quad Nations – India, Australia, the US, and Japan – against the growing threat of cybercrime and other malicious cyber threats. These threats have the potential to cost trillions of dollars every year and can jeopardize sensitive personal data.
The National Cyber Security Coordinator with the National Security Council Secretariat in India is playing a coordianting role in this challenge. Many cyber-attacks can be held at bay through simple preventative steps, such as commonly updating security systems, applying stronger, regularly altered passwords, and nurturing awareness of typical online scams, such as phishing.
RBI Hikes Repo Rate
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a 25 basis point increase in the repo rate to 6.5%, marking the sixth consecutive rate hike. This decision is intended to further boost lending and deposit rates. In its final meeting for the current fiscal year (2022-23), the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) estimated a real GDP growth rate of 6.4% for FY 23-24. The repo rate defines the interest rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks.
Israel’s Sniffing Robot with Locust Antennae
In a groundbreaking development, Israeli scientists have created a new sniffing robot that boasts a biological sensor. This sensor leverages the antennae of locusts, which are renowned for their acute sense of smell. The result is a robot that outperforms existing electronic sniffers in terms of sensitivity, making it a valuable tool for early disease detection and improved security checks.
The insect’s antenna is positioned between two electrodes on the robot. These electrodes generate electrical signals in response to ambient odors, enabling the robot to differentiate between various scents using machine learning.
Operation Dost
Under ‘Operation Dost’, India has dispatched its sixth plane loaded with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, essential supplies, and medical equipment to earthquake-stricken Turkey. This latest flight brought additional rescue teams, dog squads, and vital medications into the region.
A field hospital, set up by the Indian Army under Operation Dost, presently operates in Turkey’s Hatay province. Additionally, India has also airlifted a transport aircraft filled with medical supplies to Syria following the devastating 7.7 Richter scale earthquake and subsequent aftershocks on February 6, 2023.
The humanitarian assistance provided by India through Operation Dost illustrates the nation’s commitment to maintaining friendly relations with Turkey. The NDRF had previously been deployed for two similar international operations: the 2011 triple disaster in Japan involving an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown, and the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
