U.S. Solar Panel Makers Urge Retroactive Duties on Vietnam and Thailand A group of US solar panel makers has requested that the Commerce Department consider imposing retroactive duties on imports from Vietnam and Thailand. This comes in response to a significant increase in imports from these countries, which are currently under investigation for alleged unfair trade practices in the multi-billion-dollar solar panel industry. Investigations into Unfair Trade Practices In May, the Commerce Department launched investigations into silicon solar cells and panels manufactured in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia. The investigation was initiated following allegations by US solar manufacturers that these…
Author: Team Interstellar
ISRO’s Successful Launch of EOS-08 Earth Observation Satellite On Friday, 16th August, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the EOS-08 Earth Observation Satellite using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3. The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant achievement in India’s space exploration efforts. https://youtu.be/5euz2UIV9oA Successful Deployment of EOS-08 Satellite The SSLV-D3, on its third and final development flight, lifted off at 9:17 am from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The mission was a complete success, with the EOS-08 satellite being precisely placed into…
UK Regulator Selects Six Drone Projects for Advanced Trials, Including Amazon’s Prime Air The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has selected six innovative projects to trial the use of drones in a variety of sectors, including deliveries, infrastructure inspection, and emergency services. Among the UK Aviation Regulator selected projects is Amazon’s Prime Air, the e-commerce giant’s drone delivery service, which will be tested for its ability to transport packages efficiently and safely. Expanding Drone Capabilities Beyond Visual Line of Sight The CAA’s initiative represents a significant move towards broader drone usage in the UK, beyond the current restrictions that limit…
Saudi Firm Plans $1 Billion Clean Hydrogen-Powered Skyscraper in Egypt’s New Capital A Saudi-controlled real estate company, Magnom Properties, plans to begin construction early next year on a $1 billion, 50-storey office tower in Egypt’s new capital. This Hydrogen-Powered Skyscraper is set to be the first in the region powered by clean hydrogen, reflecting a major investment in renewable energy and innovative architecture. Ambitious Design in Egypt’s New Capital Magnom Properties, a subsidiary of the Saudi industrial giant Rawabi Holding, is banking on attracting international clients to Egypt’s new administrative capital. This city, designed for over 6 million residents, is…
Archaeologists Uncover More Victims of Pompeii’s Catastrophic Eruption Archaeologists working in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii have unearthed the remains of two more victims from the devastating volcanic eruption that occurred almost 2,000 years ago. This discovery was announced on Monday by the Pompeii archaeological site. Remains Found in a Makeshift Bedroom The skeletal remains of a man and a woman were located in a small, improvised bedroom within a villa. This villa was under reconstruction when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. According to the site’s statement, the woman was found lying on a bed, surrounded by gold,…
India and Nepal Sign MoU for Launch of Munal Satellite A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). The MoU aims to provide grant assistance for the launch of the Munal satellite. Shri Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North) from the MEA, and Shri Arunachalam A, Director from NSIL, were the signatories of the agreement. The signing ceremony also witnessed the presence of several key dignitaries, including Dr. Rabindra Prasad Dhakal, Secretary of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Dr. Surendra Thapa, Chargé d’affaires of…
John Schulman, one of the co-founders of OpenAI, has departed from the ChatGPT creator to join rival AI company Anthropic. Schulman announced his move on social media platform X late Monday, stating his desire to focus on AI alignment and return to hands-on technical work. OpenAI Leadership Shifts Schulman’s departure is part of a series of significant changes at OpenAI. Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s President and co-founder, also announced on X that he is taking a sabbatical until the end of the year. Additionally, Peter Deng, a product manager who joined OpenAI last year, has left the company. Internal Reassignments and…
Alaska Airlines Flight Incident and Boeing 737 MAX 9 Door Plugs Explained On January 5, an Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 experienced a critical incident shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, heading to Ontario, California. As the jet climbed to just over 16,000 feet, a panel on the side of the aircraft tore off, creating a refrigerator-sized hole. The pilots immediately decided to return and land the plane safely. Fortunately, all 171 passengers and six crew members survived, though several passengers sustained injuries. Notably, the aircraft had only been in service for eight weeks. The Role of Door Plugs in…
Air New Zealand Abandons 2030 Emissions Target Air New Zealand (AIR.NZ) has abandoned its 2030 emissions reduction target, citing delays in the delivery of fuel-efficient aircraft and high prices for green fuel. This decision highlights the challenges the aviation industry faces in meeting decarbonisation goals. Commitment to Net Zero by 2050 Although Air New Zealand is the first major airline to step back from its climate aspirations, the carrier remains committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The airline is working on setting a new near-term goal to continue its efforts towards reducing its carbon footprint. Challenges in Decarbonising…
Climate Change Fuels More Intense Rainfall and Typhoons Climate change is altering rainfall patterns globally, with scientists reporting increased variability in precipitation and more intense tropical storms. This shift could be contributing to the severity of recent typhoons and other tropical storms. Impact of Typhoon Gaemi This week, Typhoon Gaemi, the year’s most powerful storm, hit Taiwan, the Philippines, and China. The typhoon brought wind speeds up to 227 kph (141 mph), causing widespread closures of schools, businesses, and financial markets. In China, hundreds of thousands were evacuated from the eastern coast before the storm made landfall on Thursday. Research…
