IIT Madras to Host AI Workshop on Climate and Energy Systems Applications The AI4NetZero Team at the EnERG Lab, IIT Madras, will host a three-day hands-on workshop titled “AI in Action: Climate and Energy Systems Applications” from August 7 to August 9, 2026. The programme will focus on the practical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Data Science in climate research, energy systems and renewable power technologies. The workshop is designed for students, researchers and industry professionals who want to understand how AI can help address challenges related to climate change, energy transition and sustainable development. Through…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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SpaceX Launches Satellite Servicing Mission with 10-Foot Robotic Arms SpaceX has launched a pioneering satellite servicing mission designed to extend the operational lives of ageing spacecraft in geostationary orbit. A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on July 21 at 5:15 pm EDT (July 22, 2:45 am IST), carrying Northrop Grumman’s Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) and three Mission Extension Pods (MEPs). Operated by SpaceLogistics, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, the MRV-MEP mission marks the first deployment of the company’s satellite life-extension pods. The mission aims to demonstrate a new approach to in-orbit servicing…
Shield AI And Thunder Tiger Partnership Advances Taiwan Maritime Autonomy Shield AI announced on 13 May 2026 in Taipei that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Thunder Tiger Corp. to integrate its Hivemind autonomy software across the Taiwanese company’s unmanned systems portfolio, beginning with unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The first milestone will see Hivemind serve as the AI pilot aboard a Thunder Tiger USV, with a live demonstration planned for the summer. The agreement highlights Taiwan’s growing focus on autonomous, distributed maritime defence capabilities. According to Shield AI, the partnership aims to support AI-enabled unmanned systems, cross-domain teaming,…
Malaysia Faces Growing Scrutiny as Data Centre Boom Raises Resource Concerns Malaysia’s rapid rise as Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing data centre hub is attracting increasing scrutiny as concerns over electricity, water and environmental sustainability reshape the industry’s expansion across emerging Asia. After overtaking Singapore in data centre growth, Malaysia is witnessing growing public debate over the impact of large-scale facilities on local communities. Protests in Johor, the centre of the country’s data centre boom, marked the first demonstrations of their kind, while discussions in Selangor have become increasingly politicised. “Two years ago, it was just about building capacity,” said Cheam Tat…
Robotic Cotton Toppers Transform Farming in Xinjiang July is a crucial period for cotton topping in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Across the region’s cotton fields, farmers are working against the seasonal timetable by deploying fleets of robotic cotton toppers. These machines are replacing traditional manual labour with digital, precision-based farming methods. In a cotton field in Aral city, a robotic cotton topper moved steadily along rows of crops. The machine features 108 mechanical arms that rise and fall quickly to remove the terminal buds of cotton plants with high accuracy. Meanwhile, operators can monitor its real-time performance and…
SpaceX Tests Starship With Upgraded Starlink V3 Satellites SpaceX launched its Starship rocket from Texas on Friday, successfully carrying 20 upgraded Starlink V3 internet satellites into suborbital space during the company’s 13th Starship test mission. The flight marks another step towards making the rocket operational by the end of the year while advancing plans to expand Starlink’s satellite network. The approximately 400-foot (122-metre) Starship lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility at around 6:50 p.m. ET. The mission tested a new version of the rocket that will support the company’s future ambitions, including expanding satellite internet services, supporting NASA’s planned Moon…
Geely Auto and Ford Partner to Build Electric SUVs at Spain Plant Geely Auto and Ford have announced a new partnership to manufacture electric vehicles in Spain, marking a significant step in the Chinese automaker’s European expansion. Under the agreement, Geely will build two electric SUVs at Ford’s Valencia factory, while the two companies will jointly develop a new crossover model. The move comes as Chinese carmakers accelerate efforts to establish local production ahead of expected European Union rules favouring vehicles with higher local content. The collaboration also provides Ford with an opportunity to make better use of its underutilised…
Meta Withdraws AI Image Feature After Privacy Backlash
Australia’s world-first ban on social media accounts for under-16s is facing fresh scrutiny after researchers found major platforms failed to verify the age of test users, raising questions over whether the landmark law is being effectively enforced.
YouTube Settles Teen Mental Health Lawsuit Ahead Of Major Social Media Trial YouTube has reached a confidential settlement in a lawsuit brought by a teenager who claimed the platform harmed his mental health through addictive design features, marking a significant development ahead of another closely watched trial over social media’s impact on young users. The settlement was announced on Tuesday by lawyers representing the plaintiff, identified in court documents as R.K.C. The case had been filed against YouTube as well as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, with the remaining companies still scheduled to face trial in California next month. Confidential Settlement…