China Launches Long March 8A Rocket to Counter SpaceX’s Dominance China launches Long March 8A carrier rocket, aiming to boost its satellite deployment capabilities in low-Earth orbit. The rocket’s maiden flight is a key part of Beijing’s strategy to compete with US billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its growing presence in Earth’s lower orbits. Long March 8A: A Step Forward for China’s Space Ambitions The Long March 8A blasted off at 5:30 p.m. local time (0930 GMT) from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island, carrying multiple low-Earth orbit satellites. This new rocket is an upgraded version of the…
Author: Aditya Lenka
Aditya Lenka
A multi-faceted professional with a diverse range of skills and experiences. He currently works as a Producer, Digital Marketer, and Journalist for several well-known media outlets, namely StratNewsGlobal, BharatShakti, and Interstellar. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Aditya has covered a wide range of topics and events across India, bringing a unique perspective to his work.When he's not busy producing content, Aditya enjoys exploring new places and cuisines, having traveled extensively throughout India. He's also an avid writer and poet, often penning his thoughts and musings in his free time. And when he wants to unwind and relax, Aditya spends time with his two loyal companions, Zorro and Pablo, his beloved dogs.Aditya's dynamic personality and varied interests make him a unique individual, always eager to learn and experience new things.
Read More
Chile’s Dark Skies Under Threat as Industry Expands Chile’s dark skies have long been a haven for astronomers, offering some of the best conditions in the world for stargazing and scientific research. However, experts warn that increasing urbanisation and industrial expansion could threaten this pristine environment. https://youtube.com/shorts/5XbC1uZ3I9o?si=XRc4gT0gf0zZ595d Growing Concerns Over Light Pollution Astronomers are particularly worried about light pollution near key observatories, such as the Paranal Observatory. Angel Otarola, an astronomer and member of the Chilean Astronomical Society’s (SOCHIAS) light pollution committee, says artificial light levels around Paranal currently stand at about 1%. He fears that expanding infrastructure and lighting…
China and Hong Kong Stocks Rise as AI Sector Booms China and Hong Kong stocks rise, driven by a surge in the tech sector. Investor enthusiasm for domestic artificial intelligence (AI) firms remained strong, following a major breakthrough by Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek. AI Stocks Lead Market Gains At midday, China’s blue-chip CSI300 index climbed 0.69%, while the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.76% to 3,254.12 points. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also gained 0.29%, reaching 20,655.94 points. AI-related sectors saw significant growth, with the CSI Semiconductor Industry Index jumping 4.3% to a five-week high. The Hang Seng Tech Index climbed…
OpenAI Partners with Kakao, Expanding AI Collaborations in Asia OpenAI partners with Kakao, a South Korean chat app operator (035720.KS) to develop artificial intelligence products. This marks OpenAI’s second major alliance with an Asian company this week. The announcement follows CEO Sam Altman’s partnership revelation with Japan’s SoftBank Group (9984.T) on Monday. Altman is currently on a rapid tour across Asia, with sources indicating that he will visit India next. Reports suggest he aims to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss AI opportunities in the country. Kakao’s AI Ambitions and Market Position Kakao, which operates South Korea’s dominant…
Bitcoin Dips to Three-Week Low Amid Global Trade War Concerns Bitcoin dips to a three-week low as global trade tensions rattled investor confidence. The world’s largest cryptocurrency fell to $94,476.18 in Asian trading hours, briefly dipping to around $91,441.89. Trade Tariffs Add to Market Uncertainty The decline came after US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs over the weekend. He imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and most Canadian goods, alongside a 10% tariff on Chinese products, effective Tuesday (February 4). In response, Canada and Mexico, the top US trading partners, pledged countermeasures, while China signalled plans to…
OpenAI Faces Indian Court Jurisdiction OpenAI is facing a tough legal fight in India as it argues that local courts cannot hear lawsuits related to its US-based business. This defence has failed for other tech firms like Telegram, which faced similar challenges in the country. The case stems from allegations by Indian news agency ANI, which accuses OpenAI of using its copyrighted content without permission. India is OpenAI’s second-largest market, with millions of users. The case has gained significant attention as major media groups, including those backed by billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, have joined ANI in opposing OpenAI.…
U.S. Probes DeepSeek Over Possible Use of Banned AI Chips The U.S. investigates DeepSeek, the U.S. Commerce Department is investigating whether China’s DeepSeek has accessed restricted American AI chips, according to a source familiar with the matter. DeepSeek recently launched a free AI assistant that has outperformed expectations, raising concerns about U.S. dominance in AI technology. The AI model’s rapid success led to a selloff in U.S. tech stocks, wiping out approximately $1 trillion in market value. This has intensified scrutiny over how DeepSeek powers its AI systems and whether it has obtained restricted Nvidia chips. Concerns Over AI Chip…
Shubhanshu Shukla: India’s First Astronaut to Fly to ISS on SpaceX Dragon Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. NASA announced on Thursday that the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), carrying Shukla and three other astronauts, will launch no earlier than spring 2025. https://youtu.be/xTEutsUZ9xA Who is Shubhanshu Shukla? Shubhanshu Shukla is a distinguished Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot. At 39, he is the youngest astronaut-designate selected for space travel, as reported by The Indian Express. He was among the four astronauts chosen for the Indian…
India’s IT Minister Applauds DeepSeek for Disrupting AI Sector India’s IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has praised Chinese AI startup DeepSeek for challenging industry norms with its low-cost AI model. He compared its frugal approach to India’s ongoing efforts to develop a localized AI ecosystem. Speaking at an event in Odisha, Vaishnaw referenced DeepSeek’s achievement, stating, “Some people question the amount of investments the government has committed in (IndiaAI mission). You have seen what DeepSeek has done? $5.5 million and a very, very powerful model. Because, the use of brain.” DeepSeek’s AI model, built in just two months with under $6…
Vodafone Makes World’s First Video Call via Satellite Using a Standard Smartphone Vodafone (VOD.L) has achieved a major milestone by completing the world’s first video call via satellite using a standard smartphone. The European mobile operator aims to introduce this groundbreaking technology to its customers across Europe later in 2025 and 2026. Video Call from a Remote Location The historic call took place on Monday when Vodafone engineer Rowan Chesmer, located in the remote Welsh mountains without network coverage, connected with CEO Margherita Della Valle. “We were using the only satellite service that offers a full mobile experience with a…