Top-level Meeting Marks Rare Space Collaboration Dmitry Bakanov, Roscosmos Chief, has arrived in Houston for high-level talks with NASA’s interim chief, Sean Duffy. This meeting, set for July 31, is the first direct discussion between the two space agency heads since 2018, according to Russian news sources. Bakanov, who took over Roscosmos in February, will meet Duffy, the US Transportation Secretary and newly appointed interim NASA head by President Donald Trump. The planned discussions aim to strengthen ongoing joint efforts in space. Focus on Key International Space Projects According to Russia’s TASS news agency, both sides will discuss ongoing projects.…
Author: Aishwarya Parikh
Read More
China Begins Work on World’s Largest Hydropower Dam on Tibetan Plateau China has officially started constructing what will become the world’s largest hydropower dam, located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The project, announced by Premier Li Qiang, is estimated to cost at least $170 billion, according to the official Xinhua news agency. This massive hydropower project is China’s most ambitious since building the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. Huge Electricity Capacity Expected The dam will consist of five cascade hydropower stations capable of generating 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year. This is equal to…
UK Startup HoloMem Develops Holographic Data Storage to Tackle AI Energy Demands As artificial intelligence continues to fuel unprecedented data growth, traditional magnetic tapes used for five decades may no longer meet global storage needs. A UK startup, HoloMem, is now developing an innovative solution using holographic storage designed on polymer tapes to address these challenges while reducing energy consumption in data centres. Storing Data with Holograms London-based HoloMem is using holographic technology to improve data storage density and efficiency. By using a method called multiplexing, HoloMem records multiple layers of digital information within the same physical space of its…
Stellantis Ends Hydrogen Vehicle Plans, Impacting Symbio Joint Venture Carmaker Stellantis has announced it will halt its hydrogen fuel cell technology programme and cancel plans to launch hydrogen-powered vehicles this year. This decision raises concerns about the future of Symbio, Stellantis’ hydrogen subsidiary. Hydrogen Seen as Unsustainable in Current Market Stellantis attributed the move to the lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, high development costs, and weak consumer incentives. Jean-Philippe Imparato, Stellantis’ chief operating officer for enlarged Europe, stated, “The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability.” As a result, the company will focus on…
Germany Sets Ambitious AI Targets to Boost Economy by 2030 Germany plans to significantly increase its use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the end of this decade, aiming to support its economy and strengthen its global position in key technologies. According to a draft strategy document, seen by Reuters, Germany wants AI to contribute 10% of its total economic output by 2030. National AI Strategy Targets Global Competition The German government sees AI as a critical tool in advancing research and economic development. Its new strategy outlines a national “AI offensive” designed to catch up with global leaders such as…
Kyiv Launches Drone Interceptor Programme to Protect Capital Kyiv will allocate 260 million hryvnias ($6.2 million) to establish a drone interceptor programme aimed at defending the capital’s skies from Russian drone attacks. City authorities announced this move on Friday, emphasising the urgent need to strengthen air defence capabilities. Responding to Increased Russian Drone Attacks Russia has increased its combined drone and missile attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks. These hours-long night assaults have caused damage across many districts in the city, adding to the pressure on local defences. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s city military administration, shared the update on…
The competition between iOS and Android in India is expected to heat up with the entry of another player – Aurora Operating System. Aurora OS is an India-Russia collaboration under the rubric of BRICS with the goal of establishing a sovereign mobile ecosystem in India outside the American one. This partnership underscores the deepening technological partnership between Russia and India. It is being facilitated by the Indo-Russia Technology Hub in Delhi, which is a joint venture between Innopraktika Russia, an NGO in the field of international education, and BharRosa, an Indian special purpose vehicle set up for this purpose. Aurora OS is…
Trump Calls Elon Musk’s Plan for New Political Party ‘Ridiculous’ President Donald Trump has criticised Elon Musk’s plan to form a new political party, calling it “ridiculous” and saying it would only add confusion to the US system. Speaking to reporters in New Jersey before boarding Air Force One, Trump said the US has always worked under a two-party system. He argued that a third party would not succeed. “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” Trump said. “We have tremendous success with the Republican Party. Third parties have never worked, so he can have fun with it,…
TSMC Focus Shifts to US Amid Tariff Concerns Taiwan’s TSMC is reportedly considering delaying its chip plant project in Japan to focus on expanding operations in the United States. The move aims to avoid tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, according to the Wall Street Journal. The report suggests that prioritising US operations would help TSMC mitigate the impact of new tariffs while maintaining supply to key customers in the country. TSMC is a critical player in the global semiconductor industry, producing advanced chips for leading technology firms worldwide. However, the company has stated that its investment plans in…
Largest Data Breach in Australia in Years Qantas has suffered a major cyberattack, marking Australia’s biggest data breach in years. The airline confirmed on Wednesday that a hacker broke into a third-party customer service platform, gaining access to the personal information of around six million customers. The stolen data includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and frequent flyer numbers. The airline detected unusual activity on the platform and acted immediately to contain the breach. Qantas did not reveal the location of the targeted call centre or specify which customers were affected. “We are continuing to investigate the proportion…