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- Reports suggest that Pakistan has uncovered a vast deposit of antimony in the conflict-ridden province of Balochistan.
- About Antimony:
- Antimony is a chemical element represented by the symbol Sb and atomic number 51.
- A metalloid, antimony is solid at room temperature.
- It has low electrical and thermal conductivity.
- Commercial forms of antimony typically come in the shape of ingots, fragments, granules, or cast cakes.
- Antimony ores are found both in deposits linked to volcanic rocks and in deeper veins created under moderate to high heat and pressure.
- The primary ore of antimony is stibnite, often extracted as a byproduct in lead, zinc, and silver mining operations.
- Key Producers:
- China dominates global production, contributing 88% of the world’s supply.
- Other significant producers include Bolivia, Russia, and Tajikistan.
- Uses:
- Antimony is utilized in the electronics industry to produce semiconductor devices, such as infrared detectors and diodes.
- It is alloyed with lead or other metals to enhance their strength and hardness.
- A lead-antimony alloy is commonly used in battery production.
- Other applications for antimony alloys include type metal for printing presses, ammunition, and cable sheathing.
- Antimony compounds are integral in manufacturing flame-retardant materials, paints, enamels, glass, and ceramics.
- Large numbers of devotees continue to take a sacred dip in the Saryu River as they arrive at the Ram temple in Ayodhya to celebrate the occasion of Ram Navami.
- About Saryu River:
- The Saryu River flows through the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
- It is also referred to as the Sarayu or Sarju River.
- This river holds ancient significance, being mentioned in the Vedas and the Ramayana.
- Course:
- The river originates from Sarmul (or Sarmool), located in the northernmost part of Bageshwar district in Uttarakhand, on the southern slope of a ridge of Nanda Kot.
- It flows through the Kumaon Himalayas, passing through towns such as Kapkot, Bageshwar, and Seraghat, before merging with the Sharada River at Pancheshwar, near the India-Nepal border.
- The Sharada River (also known as the Kali River) then joins the Ghaghara River in Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh.
- The lower stretch of the Ghaghara River is popularly known as the Saryu in India, especially as it flows through the city of Ayodhya.
- Length: The river is approximately 350–400 kilometers long.
- Ayodhya, regarded as the birthplace of Lord Rama, is situated along the banks of the sacred Saryu River.
- India has been ranked 10th globally for private investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2023, according to the 2025 Technology and Innovation Report.
- About the Technology and Innovation Report:
- The report was published by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
- Its purpose is to tackle issues related to science, technology, and innovation that are significant for developing countries, offering comprehensive analysis with a focus on policy-relevant conclusions.
- The 2025 edition, titled Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for Development, aims to guide policymakers through the complexities of the AI landscape and assist them in creating science, technology, and innovation policies that promote inclusive and equitable technological growth.
- Highlights from the Report:
- The report reveals that just 100 companies, primarily from the United States and China, are responsible for 40% of global private investment in research and development, demonstrating a significant concentration of power.
- It also notes that 118 countries, largely from the Global South, are not involved in global AI governance discussions.
- The report estimates that up to 40% of global jobs could be impacted by AI.
- To avoid falling behind, developing nations must strengthen three critical areas: infrastructure, data, and skills, as emphasized by UNCTAD.
- India and China were the only developing nations with substantial private investments in AI in 2023.
- The United States led the world in private AI investment, with $67 billion in 2023, accounting for 70% of global private AI investments. China ranked second, with $7.8 billion, while India was in 10th place with $1.4 billion.
- India saw an improvement in its position on the Readiness for Frontier Technologies Index, rising to 36th in 2024 out of 170 countries, up from 48th in 2022.