New CIA Campaign Aims to Reach Discontented Chinese Insiders The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has released two new Chinese-language videos designed to persuade Chinese officials to share classified information with the United States. This marks the latest public step by the agency to strengthen its human intelligence operations targeting Beijing. The CIA’s focus on China is part of a wider strategy to gather insights from strategic rivals. This follows an earlier campaign launched in October, where the CIA invited potential informants from China, Iran, and North Korea to get in touch through secure online channels. The agency previously reported success…
Author: Arushi Pandey
Read More
Indigenous Fashion and Finance: Women in Brazil Lead Change with Amazon Fund In a workshop near Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, a group of women cuts, sews and paints fabrics decorated with traditional Indigenous patterns. They work with industrial machines purchased through the first Amazon community fund entirely managed by Indigenous people. Founded in 2020, the Atelie Derequine Indigenous fashion collective began by making face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, it provides jobs and showcases Indigenous fashion and rights on runways in Manaus, a major industrial city in Brazil. Empowered by Indigenous-Led Funding The collective’s progress was made possible by a…
Technical Fault Causes Upper Stage Failure in Sixth Alpha Mission Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket experienced a technical malfunction during its sixth launch on Tuesday, causing the loss of a Lockheed Martin satellite. The mission ended with both the rocket’s upper stage and its payload crashing into the Pacific Ocean. Launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the Alpha rocket initially performed as expected. However, about two minutes into flight, the nozzle on the upper engine detached while separating from the booster. This significantly reduced thrust, according to Firefly. Unlike typical rocket failures that involve explosions or emergency shutdowns, Alpha’s…
Emotional Homecoming After Successful Mission Chinese astronaut Song Lingdong has safely returned to Earth following the successful completion of the Shenzhou-19 mission. He was the second of the three crew members to exit the return capsule after landing at the Dongfeng Landing Site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The capsule touched down at 13:08 on Wednesday, Beijing Time. Expressing his gratitude and pride, Song reflected on the mission’s achievements. “I feel proud, happy, and full of anticipation. Our efforts have turned into real scientific progress,” he said. “Completing three extravehicular missions has been a major milestone. Serving my…
Rising Solar Costs Push Middle Class to the Brink In the sweltering heat of Karachi, Fahim Ali wipes dust from the solar panels on his rooftop. The 31-year-old industrial engineer chose to go off-grid in August last year, driven by steep electricity prices and frequent blackouts. His decision came as Pakistan increased power and gas tariffs under an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support a struggling energy sector. Ali spent around 1 million rupees ($3,559) on his off-grid system, which includes batteries and a water motor. Though costly, he believes it is better than paying monthly electricity…
5,000-Year-Old Tomb of Female Authority Uncovered Archaeologists in Peru have unearthed the 5,000-year-old tomb of a woman believed to have held a high social status in the ancient Caral civilisation. The discovery highlights the potential significance of women in one of the oldest urban centres in the Americas. The remains were found in Áspero, a coastal section of the Caral site, which lies approximately 180 km north of Lima. Caral is recognised as the oldest city in the Americas and developed independently around the same time as early civilisations in Egypt, China and Sumer. However, unlike those, Caral evolved in…
CORLEO: A Futuristic Leap in Personal Mobility Kawasaki Robotics has revealed a bold vision for the future — a ride-on robotic lion named CORLEO. This concept robot, powered by hydrogen, blends animal-like agility with high-tech mobility. Kawasaki believes this innovation could become reality by 2050. CORLEO is not just a robot; it is an all-terrain personal transport machine. It uses a hydrogen-powered electric generator to drive motors placed in each of its legs. The unique design enables it to walk, run and jump across various terrains. Combining Technology and Animal Motion The rider steers CORLEO by shifting their weight, using…
Tesla Faces Investor Scrutiny Amid Delays and Political Controversies Tesla is set to release its first-quarter 2025 earnings report today, with investors eagerly awaiting updates on the company’s plans for a more affordable electric vehicle and the rollout of its robotaxi service. Concerns are mounting over CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration and its impact on Tesla’s brand and operations. Production Delays and Market Challenges Tesla has postponed the U.S. launch of a lower-cost Model Y, initially expected in early 2025. Production is now anticipated between the third quarter of 2025 and early 2026. This delay comes as…
New Penguin Documentary Unveils Hidden Secrets of Survival A stunning new documentary series, Secrets of the Penguins, reveals the intense challenges faced by penguins in the wild. Years of filming, often in extreme weather, have brought fresh insights into the lives of these resilient birds. The series will premiere on Disney+ this Monday, the eve of Earth Day, and on Nat Geo Wild from Tuesday. A Global Journey Captured Over Two Years The three-part series, narrated by US actor Blake Lively, is hosted by National Geographic explorer Bertie Gregory. Filming took more than two years and included 274 days on…
Sudden Shutdown Leaves Thousands of Drivers Jobless Indian electric cab company BluSmart, a rising competitor to Uber, suspended its services on Thursday. The move came just two days after India’s market regulator accused co-founder Anmol Jaggi of diverting company funds, including money meant for electric vehicle procurement, to buy a luxury apartment. The sudden halt in operations has affected the livelihoods of thousands of BluSmart drivers. With a fleet of over 8,000 electric taxis, the company had built a strong presence in cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. BluSmart also invested in charging hubs to support its all-electric fleet,…