Taiwan Highlights High-Tech Partnership with US Amid Geopolitical Tensions Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te emphasised the strategic importance of the US-Taiwan partnership, particularly in the high-tech and semiconductor industries, during remarks at the East-West Center in Hawaii. His comments reinforced Taiwan’s role as a trusted partner in the global supply chain amid challenges posed by geopolitical tensions with China and potential shifts in US policy. A Key Player in Global Technology Taiwan is a global leader in semiconductor production, housing industry giants like TSMC, a critical supplier for tech giants such as Apple and Nvidia. President Lai stressed Taiwan’s contribution to…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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Putin Visits Kazakhstan: Energy Cooperation and Strategic Talks Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Kazakhstan on to strengthen ties in energy and industry. Discussions focused on easing trade disputes, particularly over agricultural goods, and enhancing cooperation in key sectors. Kazakhstan exports most of its oil through Russia but is actively seeking alternative routes. Kazakhstan’s Balancing Act with Russia While Kazakhstan distances itself from Russia’s war in Ukraine, it remains reliant on Russia for oil exports, food, electricity, and other goods. Over 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil reaches international markets via Russian routes. In an article titled “Russia – Kazakhstan: A Union Demanded…
Union Cabinet Approves Atal Innovation Mission 2.0 with Enhanced Scope Strengthening India’s Innovation Ecosystem The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog. AIM 2.0, allocated a budget of ₹2,750 crore, will run until March 31, 2028. This flagship initiative aims to deepen India’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, supporting the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). With India ranked 39th on the Global Innovation Index and holding the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, AIM 2.0 seeks to elevate the nation’s global competitiveness. It will promote job creation,…
Close-up Image of a Dying Star Captures Rare Supernova Precursor Scientists have captured the first-ever close-up image of a star nearing the end of its life, surrounded by gas and dust before its expected explosion into a supernova. This unprecedented image offers insight into the final moments of a massive star, marking a major breakthrough in stellar astronomy. A Dying Star Beyond the Milky Way The star, named WOH G64, is located approximately 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighbouring galaxy to the Milky Way. Unlike previous close-up images of newborn stars, this is the first time…
Huawei to Begin Mass Production of Advanced AI Chips in 2025 Amid U.S. Curbs Huawei plans to start large-scale production of its most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chip, the Ascend 910C, in early 2025, despite facing challenges from US trade restrictions. Two sources familiar with the matter revealed that the Chinese telecoms giant has distributed chip samples to technology firms and started accepting orders. The Ascend 910C is designed to compete with AI chips from US-based Nvidia. However, Huawei’s efforts are hindered by restrictions that affect the yield of its advanced chips, limiting their commercial viability. U.S. Restrictions Impact Huawei’s…
Intel India Celebrates Young Innovators at AI Impact Festival 2024 The AI Impact Festival 2024, organised by Intel India in collaboration with key government and education bodies, celebrated the power of AI-driven innovation. Partners included INSPIRE-MANAK, the Department of Science and Technology, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog, and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) under the Ministry of Education. A Platform for Young Innovators The festival attracted over 2,000 entries from 28 states and union territories, representing over 62 districts. From this impressive pool, 44 young innovators were honoured during the ‘India’s Demographic Dividend: Skilling for the…
Trump May Attend SpaceX Rocket Launch in Texas, Highlighting Ties to Elon Musk President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering attending a SpaceX rocket launch in Brownsville, Texas, on Tuesday. This move further underscores his close relationship with the company’s CEO and founder, Elon Musk, who also leads Tesla. Temporary Flight Restrictions Signal High-Profile Visit The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued temporary flight restrictions over Brownsville on Monday. These restrictions, often implemented before VIP visits, suggest Trump may be present for the event. Meanwhile, restrictions over Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Florida, will be temporarily lifted during the same period.…
Northvolt Faces Production Challenges Amid Strategic Restructuring Northvolt, Europe’s prominent green tech battery maker, is grappling with significant production challenges at its Skellefteå plant in northern Sweden. Internal company documents and sources reveal missed production targets and operational cutbacks, underscoring the hurdles in ramping up output in a competitive and complex industry. Missed Targets and Production Slowdowns Internal production plans marked “Production plan 2024” show that Northvolt consistently failed to meet weekly goals for producing deliverable cells—batteries of sufficient quality for client use—since September. By mid-November, weekly production hovered around 20,000 to 26,000 shippable cells, far short of the company’s…
NASA Warns of Risks from Prolonged Air Leak on ISS The International Space Station (ISS) faces an escalating problem as NASA warns of potential “catastrophic failure” caused by a persistent air and pressure leak. The issue, which has persisted for five years, has worsened in recent months, raising concerns about crew safety and the station’s long-term functionality. The Source of the Leak The leak originates from a tunnel connecting the Russian Zvezda module to a docking port used for supply spacecraft. Zvezda, launched in 2000, is a critical part of the ISS infrastructure. According to NASA, the cracks causing the…
Rising Land Conflicts in India and Bangladesh Threaten Solar Energy Expansion India and Bangladesh are accelerating efforts to expand solar power as part of their climate and clean energy goals. However, this ambitious shift is meeting resistance, with land conflicts increasing as rural communities push back against renewable energy projects encroaching on agricultural land. In both countries, smallholder farmers, herders, and local communities are demanding fair land use and compensation, complicating plans for solar growth. India’s Solar Growth and Land Disputes In 2022, Modhera, a village in Gujarat, became India’s first fully solar-powered village with a 6-megawatt (MW) solar plant…