Rising Palm Oil Prices May Persist as Biodiesel Demand Grows Palm oil, long known for its affordability, is becoming more expensive as Indonesia, the world’s largest producer, diverts more of its supply to biodiesel production. Industry expert Dorab Mistry warns that the era of rising palm oil prices has begun. He attributes this to Indonesia’s focus on biofuel, which limits exports and pushes prices higher. Indonesia increased the required palm oil blend in biodiesel to 40% this year and is considering raising it to 50% by 2026. Additionally, the government is exploring a 3% palm oil-based jet fuel blend. These…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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Next-Generation Launch Vehicle to Feature Reusable Booster and Improved Stages The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is actively developing LOX-Methane engines and stages for its Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV). This advanced launch system will incorporate a reusable booster stage alongside two expendable upper stages. To enhance mission flexibility, multiple restarts will be crucial for both booster recovery and upper-stage operations. To support this requirement, the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of ISRO is working on a spark torch igniter for future LOX-Methane stages. This igniter offers key advantages, including multi-restart capability, improved ignition reliability, and cleaner combustion products. Successful…
SpaceX Clarifies Starlink’s Role in FAA System Upgrades SpaceX has rejected claims that its Starlink satellite unit is attempting to take over a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) telecommunications contract. In a statement on X, the company clarified that Starlink is being considered as a partial solution for modernising the FAA’s aging air traffic control systems, not as a full replacement for existing contracts. “Starlink is a possible partial fix to an aging system. There is no effort or intent for Starlink to ‘take over’ any existing contract,” SpaceX stated. The company confirmed that it is working with L3Harris and the…
Expanding Beyond Texas for Starship Development SpaceX is set to invest at least $1.8 billion to develop new launchpads and processing facilities on Florida’s Space Coast. This expansion marks a significant move beyond Texas as the company awaits regulatory approvals. According to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the project will bring an estimated 600 full-time jobs to the region by 2030. The company has been working on early-stage Starship development and testing in Texas, aiming to build a next-generation rocket capable of carrying larger satellite payloads and supporting human missions to the moon. Now, it is looking to establish launch sites…
Launch Postponed Due to Technical Concerns SpaceX postponed its eighth Starship test flight on Monday due to an unspecified issue in the rocket system’s core. The delay pushes the company’s attempt to deploy mock Starlink satellites in space by at least 24 hours. The test mission would have marked the first Starship launch since the January flight, which ended abruptly when the rocket exploded over the Caribbean eight minutes after liftoff. That incident scattered fiery debris over the Turks and Caicos Islands and led to a federal investigation. https://youtube.com/shorts/mBSDLt88GRM?feature=share SpaceX Countdown Halted Just Before Liftoff The postponement, known as a…
AI-Powered Deepfake Detection in Honor Magic 7 Pro Chinese smartphone brand Honor showcased its latest deepfake detection technology on the Magic 7 Pro ahead of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. The new feature can analyse pixel-level details and detect deepfakes within just six seconds, according to Thomas Bai, Honor’s AI product expert. “Our deepfake detector can effectively inspect tiny details of pixels on your screen, detect deepfakes, and notify customers within six seconds,” Bai told Reuters. AI Enhancements in the Magic 7 Pro The Magic 7 Pro is designed as an AI-powered smartphone, featuring advanced capabilities beyond deepfake…
Singapore Charges Three Men in Alleged Nvidia Chip Smuggling Case Singapore has charged three men with fraud in a case linked to the movement of Nvidia’s advanced AI chips to Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek, according to domestic media reports. The case is part of a broader investigation into possible AI chip smuggling to China, amid US restrictions on such exports. Alleged Fraud in AI Chip Shipments The United States is investigating whether DeepSeek, whose AI model made headlines in January, has used US-made chips that are restricted from being shipped to China. Singapore authorities are looking into 22 individuals…
Russian Progress MS-30 Spacecraft Heads to ISS with Cargo Supplies A Russian booster rocket successfully placed the Progress MS-30 spacecraft into Earth orbit early on Friday, carrying essential equipment and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). Russian news agencies reported the launch, citing a live broadcast by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. Progress MS-30 Enters Orbit Successfully The spacecraft separated from the third stage of the Soyuz 2.1a rocket at 12:33 a.m. Moscow time (2133 GMT on Thursday). It will orbit Earth 34 times before reaching the ISS, where it is scheduled to dock on Sunday. The Progress MS-30…
Tate Brothers Depart Romania Following Lifted Travel Ban Internet personality Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan left Romania for the United States early Thursday on a private flight, according to Romanian news website G4media.ro. The departure comes after Romanian authorities lifted their travel restrictions, despite an ongoing criminal investigation. The Tates are under judicial control in Romania while facing allegations of forming an organised criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, and money laundering. Both have denied any wrongdoing. While they are no longer barred from leaving the country, they must still report to Romanian…
Musicians Release Silent Album to Protest UK’s AI Copyright Law Changes More than 1,000 musicians, including Kate Bush and Cat Stevens, have released a silent album in protest against proposed changes to Britain’s copyright laws. The government’s plan could allow artificial intelligence (AI) firms to train their models on copyrighted music, literature, and art without directly compensating creators. A Silent Protest Against AI Copyright Changes The album, titled Is This What We Want?, features recordings of empty studios and performance spaces. Organisers say this represents the potential future of music if AI is allowed to train freely on artists’ work…