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- The Department of Consumer Affairs celebrated World Metrology Day 2025, marking the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention.
- About the Metre Convention:
- The Metre Convention was signed on May 20, 1875, and amended in 1921. Its purpose is to ensure the global standardization and improvement of the metric system. The convention led to the creation of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), which maintains a universal measurement system. This collaboration fosters international uniformity in measurements, crucial for research, trade, and various scientific applications. The convention has 64 member states, including India, and 37 associate states.
- At the recent Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Parliamentary Union meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Egypt, and Bahrain blocked Pakistan's strong reference against India on the Kashmir issue.
- About the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC):
- Founded in 1969 following the Rabat Summit in Morocco, the OIC consists of 57 member states, with India not being a member. Its headquarters are located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The highest decision-making body of the OIC is the Islamic Summit, which is composed of the heads of member states. The OIC aims to represent the collective interests of the Muslim world, protecting and advocating for their rights and concerns.
- The United States is developing a new missile defense system known as the Golden Dome, modeled in part after Israel’s Iron Dome. However, unlike its Israeli counterpart, the Golden Dome will integrate both surveillance and interceptor satellites, forming a comprehensive space-based defense shield. The initiative, to be led by a Space Force general, aims to deploy hundreds of satellites to detect, track, and neutralize threats such as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, drones, and even nuclear payloads.
- Key features include autonomous components—advanced detection sensors, real-time tracking systems, interceptor satellites, and command-and-control networks—all linked through constant data sharing. The system is designed to neutralize threats shortly after launch, giving the U.S. an edge in rapid-response defense.
- However, the project has drawn international criticism. Russia and China argue it could militarize space, violating the Outer Space Treaty of 1966, which prohibits placing weapons of mass destruction in orbit or weaponizing celestial bodies.