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China successfully lands its Martian rover on the red planet.

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China’s first Mars rover has successfully touched down on the red planet  following 296 days of flight. This marks the first time China has landed a spacecraft on Mars and the third country to do so after the US and Russia.

The probe named Tianwen-1  consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. It was launched back in July 2020 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the southern coast of China’s Hainan province. Tianwen translating to “Questions to Heaven” is a nod to the scientific endeavor of the probe with its mission to unlock the secrets of the red planet. The rover on the other hand is named Zhurong after a Chinese mythological god of fire which resembles the Chinese name for the red planet.

According to China’s National Space Administration, the probe entered into the Martian orbit back in February 2021 but spent nearly two months surveying the Martian geographical topology before descending on to the landing site on the early hours of 15th May 2021. Geng Yan from the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of CNSA stated that  the crafts descent into the Martian atmosphere lasting about nine minutes was extremely complicated as there was no ground control and the whole process had to be done autonomously.

 The Zhurong rover has already started sending signals back to Earth indicating a successful descent and landing on the rough Martian  soil. The rover is currently at 109.7E, 25.1N, roughly 40 KM form the targeted landing area of Utopia Planitia. The rover is expected to spend at least 90 days on Mars (93 Earth days) conducting scientific experiments and searching for ice water on the barren planet. The utopia Planitia is believed to contain vast amounts of ice water. The 240.40Kg Zhurong rover contains six scientific instruments including a cameras, ground penetrating radars, magnetic field detectors and a laser capable of zapping Martian rocks.

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Fourth meeting of High-Level Core Group on withdrawal of Indian troops held in Delhi

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04/05/2024

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The fourth meeting of the High-level Core Group between the Maldives and India took place in Indian capital New Delhi on Friday.

Maldivian Foreign Ministry said both sides reviewed the existing bilateral cooperation between nations during Friday’s meeting while discussions were also held on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including development and defense cooperation.

Additionally, the Foreign Ministry said it was reiterated that the Indian government will replace military personnel at the last of the three aviation platforms by May 10th, adding both sides expressed satisfaction with the fact that all the logistical arrangements are going ahead as per schedule.

Both sides also agreed that the fifth meeting of the High-Level core Group will be held in Male’ on a mutually agreeable date in June or July.

The High-Level Core Group was formed following a meeting between Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of COP28.

Source(s): sun.mv

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Minister of Islamic Affairs to attend the OIC Summit as the President’s Special Envoy

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03/05/2024

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The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, will attend the 15th session of the Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which begins tomorrow, as President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s Special Envoy.

The Minister of Islamic Affairs is scheduled to address the 15th session of the Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as the President’s Special Envoy, which begins tomorrow, at Banjul, The Gambia. His address will be broadcast on television.

The Islamic Summit of the OIC, held once every three years, brings the leaders of the Islamic nations together to deliberate, take policy decisions, and provide guidance on issues pertaining to the Ummah as outlined in the OIC Charter.

The 15th Session of the Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will take place in Banjul, The Gambia, from May 4–5, 2024, under the theme “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development.”

Source(s): Presidents Office

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Vice President pledges govt’ support for journalists welfare

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22 hours ago

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03/05/2024

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Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has emphasised President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration’s steadfast commitment to supporting journalists, addressing their needs and aspirations.

In an interview with PSM news on its 7th anniversary and in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, Vice President Hussain Mohamed highlighted the administration’s awareness of the challenges faced by journalists, noting President Muizzu’s proactive engagement with them upon assuming office.

Furthermore, Vice President stressed the importance of public trust in the current administration’s ability to effectively address journalists’ concerns, particularly on World Press Freedom Day. He further reiterated that while journalism may not be explicitly delineated in the constitution, it serves as the country’s “fourth power” and urged responsible reporting avoiding misleading information, anticipating positive societal changes with these efforts.

In support of journalist’s financial independence, Vice President confirmed the formulation of a policy allocating a specific percentage of the state budget to them and the resolution of land plots for establishing a special media village.

Additionally, Vice President met with PSM news employees.

Source(s): PsmNews

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