The World Trade Organization (WTO) released a report titled Aid for Trade in Action: Supporting the transition to clean energy, which highlights the Aid-for-Trade Initiative.

About Aid-for-Trade Initiative

• Led by the WTO, grew out of the 2005 WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Conference.
• Aim: To help developing economies integrate into world trade by mobilizing additional development support to address supply-side capacity and trade‑related infrastructure constraints in these economies.
• Seeks to mobilize financial resources to address the trade‑related constraints identified by developing economies and least-developed countries.

Recently, Many companies are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Washing.

About AI washing

• AI washing is a term derived from greenwashing, where companies exaggerate their environmental friendliness.
• Tech companies and startups marketing themselves as using AI, but not doing so is known as  ‘AI washing’.
• It can misguided investments in superficial enhancements, slowing real progress in AI technologies

The Dutch Prime Minister will take over as new secretary general of NATO.

About NATO

• Founded: 1949 
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
• Treaty: North Atlantic Treaty(Washington Treaty)
  • Collective defence is at the heart of the Treaty.
• It derives its authority from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
  • It reaffirms the inherent right of independent states to individual or collective defense.
• Members: 32 (Sweden joined in 2024)

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched virtual NQAS Assessment and Spot food license initiative to promote “Healthcare for All”.

About Initiatives

• NQAS Assessment: It has been launched for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) and Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL).
  • It is launched in compliance with Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).  
    • IPHS is digital platform for real-time monitoring of public health facilities that provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment and compliance status of public health facilities
• Spot Food License Initiative: It is for the instant issuance of licenses and registrations through pan-India IT platform the Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS).
  • It aims to simplify the licensing and registration processes.

Kerala Forest dept. joins hands with Kerala Paper Products Limited (KPPL) to eradicate invasive plant Senna Spectabilis (calceolaria shower).

• Senna Spectabilis is threat to wildlife habitat in the Nilgiri biosphere, including the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) and other sanctuaries. 

About Senna Spectabilis

• Native Species (Fabaceae family) of Tropical America.
• Grown as ornamental plant.
• Key Characteristics :
  • Grows in deep, moist, sandy or loamy soils but flourishes even in poor soils.
  • Tree Type: Evergreen in climates with rain all year round, but can become deciduous in areas with dry seasons
  • Used in traditional medicine. 

India Shows concern on unilateral actions to change status quo in South China Sea.

About South China Sea

• A semi-enclosed sea in the western Pacific Ocean.
• The South China Sea and the East China Sea together form the China Sea.
• China claims by far the largest portion of territory in an area demarcated by its so-called "nine-dash line".

Disputed Islands

• Paracel Islands: China has occupied all the Paracel Islands but also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
• Spratly Islands: Consists of more than 100 small islands or reefs.
  • Claimed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, and Malaysia.
• Scarborough Shoal: Claimed by China, Taiwan, and Philippines.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) released the AIPI Dashboard.

• Singapore has been placed at 1^st position and India at 72^nd position. 

About AIPI Dashboard

• Tracks 174 economies for AI readiness.
• Assessment of readiness of countries is bases on four key areas : Digital infrastructure, Human capital and Labour market policies, Innovation and economic integration and Regulation and Ethics
• Categorization of Countries: Advanced Economy (AE), Emerging Market Economy (EM), and Low-Income Country (LIC). 

The opening ceremony for the 29th edition of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise was held in Hawaii (USA).

About RIMPAC Exercise 

• World's largest international multilateral maritime exercise (India also takes part in it) 
• Aim: To build relationships, enhance interoperability, contribute to the peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.