India’s Bharatiya Antariksh Station to Launch First Module by 2028 India is preparing to launch its first space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), a modular orbital facility set to operate around 400 to 450 kilometres above Earth. Managed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the station will support human spaceflight missions for up to six months at a time. Initially planned for completion by 2030, the project now aims to be fully operational by 2035 due to delays linked to the Gaganyaan mission and the COVID-19 pandemic. Weighing 52 tonnes in total, the station will consist of five…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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Sanseito’s Rise in Japan Signals Growing Support for Far-Right Politics Just one day after Japan’s upper house election, supporters of the far-right Sanseito Party gathered in Tokyo to celebrate an unexpected success. Sanseito’s rise, which champions a “Japanese First” approach, saw its seats in the 248-member chamber rise from one to 14. Growing Popularity Among Young Men Sanseito’s rise reflects a broader trend of increased backing for right-wing groups in global democracies. In Japan, the party’s message has struck a chord with younger voters, especially men. Yuta Kato, a Tokyo-based hairdresser, is one such supporter. He feels increasingly frustrated by…
India and the United Kingdom have signed a long-anticipated free trade agreement (FTA), marking a new chapter in economic cooperation between the two major economies. The deal, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to the UK, will significantly reduce tariffs on goods including Scotch whisky, Indian textiles, and passenger vehicles. The accord comes after years of on-and-off negotiations and is the UK’s most substantial trade deal since its departure from the European Union in 2020. For India, it marks its most comprehensive agreement with a developed economy and may serve as a blueprint for future deals with the…
India’s ambitious deep-sea exploration project, Samudrayaan, has reached a major engineering milestone. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), is developing MATSYA-6000—a manned submersible capable of reaching ocean depths of up to 6,000 metres. At the core of this Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV) lies a specially designed spherical capsule, developed in collaboration with ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). Made in India: A Titanium Sphere for the Deepest Dives The capsule, called the personnel sphere, is 2.26 metres in diameter and has a wall thickness of 80mm. It is made from a high-grade…
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it was a turning point for Gundbert Scherf, co-founder of Helsing—a defence technology start-up based in Munich. At the time, raising investment was a challenge. Few were willing to back a company building battlefield AI and strike drones. But things have changed dramatically. Now, Helsing is Europe’s most valuable defence start-up. The company’s valuation soared to $12 billion in a recent funding round—more than double its previous worth. “Europe, for the first time in decades, is outspending the United States on acquiring defence technology,” Scherf said. A former consultant at McKinsey &…
Indonesia is set to finalise its first national artificial intelligence strategy by August 2025, as the nation looks to secure foreign investment and stake its claim in the global AI and semiconductor industries. This move marks a significant step for Southeast Asia’s largest economy as it attempts to catch up with regional competitors like Malaysia, which has already attracted billions from international tech firms aiming to develop AI infrastructure. From Ethics Guidelines to Comprehensive AI Roadmap This forthcoming AI roadmap will be Indonesia’s first detailed strategy dedicated to AI development, following a modest ethics guideline published in 2023. According to…
India’s space agency ISRO has announced that the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite will be launched on 30 July 2025 at 17:40 IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota. The announcement, shared by ISRO on 22 July 2025 through its official channels, marks a significant moment in international space collaboration as this satellite represents the first joint Earth observation mission between ISRO and NASA. The satellite will be launched aboard ISRO’s GSLV-F16 rocket, which will inject it into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 743 kilometres, with an inclination of 98.40 degrees. NISAR is…
Chinese EV Brands Neta and Zeekr Accused of Inflating Sales Figures Chinese electric vehicle makers Neta and Zeekr have reportedly inflated their sales figures in recent years to meet ambitious targets. According to documents reviewed by Reuters and interviews with dealers and buyers, both companies registered cars as sold before actual purchases took place, by insuring vehicles ahead of sale. This practice, common in China’s cutthroat auto market, is now drawing government scrutiny. How Sales Were Inflated Neta reportedly booked early sales of at least 64,719 vehicles between January 2023 and March 2024. This represented more than half of its…
Microsoft to Create Digital Replica of Notre-Dame Cathedral with France Microsoft is joining forces with the French government to create a digital replica of Paris’ iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral. The announcement was made by Brad Smith, president of the US tech company, on Monday. Notre-Dame, France’s most visited monument, reopened last December after a five-year restoration following the devastating 2019 fire. Now, a digital model will help preserve its architectural details and offer virtual access to people worldwide. Digital Twin to Aid Preservation and Accessibility According to Microsoft, the digital replica will not only act as a precise architectural record but…
Democrats Criticise NASA for Pre-Emptive Cuts Based on Trump Budget Top Democrats on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee have strongly criticised NASA leaders for starting to implement cuts proposed in President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget, even before Congress finalises the agency’s funding. According to a letter seen by Reuters, lawmakers Zoe Lofgren and Valerie P. Foushee called these actions “illegal” and “offensive” to the US constitutional process. NASA Moves Ahead Without Approved Budget The controversy stems from comments made by NASA officials during recent employee town halls. According to the letter, acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy was told…