Blackstone Eyes Minority Stake in TikTok’s US Business Amid Divestment Push Private equity giant Blackstone is exploring a potential minority investment in TikTok’s US operations, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move comes as pressure mounts for Chinese parent ByteDance to divest its stake due to a US law targeting national security concerns. Blackstone is in talks to join a consortium of ByteDance’s non-Chinese investors, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, who are already leading efforts to fund the spin-off of TikTok’s US business. The group is currently seen as the leading contender in negotiations. A Plan…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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Tomb of Unknown Pharaoh Unearthed Near Abydos Archaeologists have uncovered the tomb of unknown pharaoh, an Egyptian king, believed to date back around 3,600 years. The limestone burial chamber, found near the city of Abydos, marks a significant discovery from a time of political chaos in ancient Egypt’s history. Discovery Made in the Anubis Mountain Necropolis The burial chamber lies seven metres underground at Anubis Mountain, an ancient necropolis in Upper Egypt. It was discovered by a joint team from the University of Pennsylvania Museum and Egyptian archaeologists. This is the second royal tomb announced this year, further enriching understanding…
Webb Telescope Discovers Ancient Galaxy That Sheds Light on Early Universe Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified a galaxy that suggests the early universe lit up sooner than previously believed. This finding could shift our understanding of when the cosmos began emerging from its so-called “dark ages.” A Glimpse into the Young Universe The galaxy, named JADES-GS-z13-1, was seen as it existed around 330 million years after the Big Bang. The universe itself is estimated to be 13.8 billion years old, while Earth is only about 4.5 billion years old. Observing such distant galaxies lets scientists look…
Anduril Eyes Expansion Amid US Defence Shakeup and AI Integration Anduril, the AI-powered defence start-up, is optimistic about the Trump administration’s approach to defence strategy, according to company president Christian Brose. Speaking at the Australian International Air Show on Wednesday, Brose highlighted how Anduril’s focus on low-cost autonomous defence systems aligns with the administration’s vision for military modernisation. Anduril’s Role in AI-Driven Defence In December, Anduril announced a partnership with OpenAI to deploy advanced AI solutions for national security missions. The company is also developing a mass manufacturing facility in Ohio for autonomous defence systems, with potential plans to expand…
Genetic Testing Giant Faces Financial Collapse Biotech company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy in the US after struggling with declining demand for its ancestry testing kits and the impact of a major data breach. The company, once valued at $3.5 billion when it went public in 2021, has seen a sharp drop in market value. On Monday (March 24), shares of 23andMe plunged 46% to just 96 cents following the resignation of co-founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki. She will be replaced on an interim basis by Chief Financial Officer Joe Selsavage. 23andMe Data Breach and Financial Troubles A five-month-long data…
Melting glaciers show alarming global trend Glaciers are shrinking faster than ever, according to a new UN report. The past three years have seen the most rapid loss of glacier mass on record. In the Alps, this trend is clearly visible. Swiss scientists have warned that although much of the ice will disappear, part of the Alps’ largest glacier could still be saved if global warming is kept under two degrees Celsius. Aletsch Glacier faces uncertain future The Great Aletsch Glacier, located in the Bernese Alps, stretches 20 kilometres and weighs 10 billion tons. It draws over a million visitors…
Simulating Extraterrestrial Conditions for Astronaut Training India has begun its first human analogue space mission, the Ladakh Human Analogue Mission (LHAM). The mission officially started on 1 November 2024 and is led by ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre in partnership with AAKA Space Studio, the University of Ladakh, and IIT Bombay. It is supported by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh. The goal is to simulate interplanetary conditions to prepare astronauts for future missions beyond Earth. By creating realistic environments similar to those on the Moon and Mars, the mission aims to understand the physical and psychological challenges astronauts…
Indian Village Celebrates Sunita Williams’ Return from Space The village of Jhulasan in Gujarat, western India, became a vibrant centre of celebration on Wednesday. Residents gathered to mark the safe return of astronaut Sunita Williams after more than nine months in space. Though born in the US, Williams has deep ties to Jhulasan, the birthplace of her father, Deepak Pandya. Jhulasan Proudly Welcomes Sunita Williams As news of her return spread, the village erupted in joy. Firecrackers lit up the skies, and locals expressed immense pride in Williams, whose achievements reflect not only personal success but also the promise of…
A New Approach to Fighting Malaria An international team of scientists has developed genetically modified mosquitoes designed to halt the spread of malaria, one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. The Transmission Zero team used gene drive technology to create malaria-resistant mosquitoes that pass on their resistance to future generations. Professor George Christophides, who led the research at Imperial College London, explained the initiative’s goal. “The program was set up to genetically engineer mosquitoes to make them unable to transmit malaria,” he told Reuters. “That’s why we’re called Transmission Zero—zero transmission—and then to engineer them also to spread that modification in…
Swedish Battery Maker Northvolt Files for Bankruptcy Swedish electric vehicle (EV) battery maker Northvolt has filed for bankruptcy in Sweden, marking one of the country’s largest corporate failures. The company, once seen as Europe’s best chance to compete with Asian battery giants, failed to secure the financial backing needed to continue operations. Northvolt’s Financial Struggles Northvolt had already sought U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024 as it struggled to ramp up production at its flagship factory in northern Sweden. However, financial difficulties persisted, leading to its Swedish bankruptcy filing. At the time of its January 2025 financial disclosure,…
