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,…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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New Bill Targets AI Transparency and Deepfake Regulation The Government of Spain has taken a strong stance against AI-generated misinformation by approving a bill that imposes hefty fines on companies that fail to label AI-generated content. The move aims to curb the spread of deepfakes—AI-generated videos, photos, or audio presented as real—while ensuring transparency in AI use. The bill aligns with the European Union’s AI Act, which enforces strict regulations on high-risk AI systems. “AI is a very powerful tool that can improve our lives or spread misinformation and attack democracy,” said Digital Transformation Minister Oscar Lopez. Spain is one…
Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema Shows 15.7% Weight Loss in Type 2 Diabetes Trial Novo Nordisk announced on Monday that its experimental obesity drug, CagriSema, helped overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes lose an average of 15.7% of their body weight over 68 weeks. This latest phase III trial data is crucial for understanding the potential of Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema, especially after an earlier trial in people without diabetes showed lower-than-expected weight loss results. Promising Results from REDEFINE 2 Trial The new data comes from the REDEFINE 2 trial, which involved around 1,200 participants with type 2 diabetes and a…
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…
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…