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…
Author: Kanika Sharma
Read More
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…
US House Moves Closer to Passing First Federal Crypto Law After Trump Intervention The Republican-led US House of Representatives has cleared important procedural hurdles on key crypto laws. This progress comes after President Donald Trump intervened to save the initiative, helping push the bills forward after earlier resistance within his own party. The move sets the stage for the first federal law governing digital assets. Stablecoin Bill Likely to Pass First The first piece of legislation expected to pass is a bill establishing a federal framework for stablecoins. These digital currencies are pegged to traditional assets like the US dollar…
Nasdaq and S&P Futures Rise on Chip Stock Rally Amid Market Volatility Futures tied to the Nasdaq and S&P 500 edged higher on Thursday after strong results from Taiwan’s TSMC lifted chipmakers boosting chip stocks. This comes after a volatile session marked by concerns over the Federal Reserve’s independence. At 5:45 a.m. ET, Dow futures slipped by 0.05%, while S&P 500 futures gained 0.1% and Nasdaq futures climbed 0.18%. TSMC Results Boost Chip Stocks The world’s leading producer of AI chips, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), reported record quarterly profits, citing surging demand for artificial intelligence technology. This led to…
Trump Hosts AI and Energy Summit as US Races China in Technology President Donald Trump met with leaders from major US tech and energy companies in Pittsburgh on Tuesday to discuss accelerating the country’s growth in artificial intelligence (AI). The summit, held at Carnegie Mellon University, comes as the US competes with China in a growing technological race. AI and Energy Investments Highlighted Trump, joined by US Senator Dave McCormick, announced around $90 billion in AI and energy investments within Pennsylvania. Companies like Meta, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Exxon Mobil participated in the discussions, focusing on positioning the US as a…