Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore: Pioneers Aboard Starliner NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, originally set for a brief stay on the International Space Station (ISS), are marking six months in space on December 5. The duo were the first to fly aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June 2024, but technical issues drastically altered their mission. Starliner was meant to return the astronauts to Earth within a short timeframe. However, propulsion system failures, including five malfunctioning thrusters and helium leaks, forced an unmanned return to Earth in September. The spacecraft successfully landed in New Mexico, leaving the astronauts…
Author: Aishwarya Parikh
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Adani Green’s Renewable Energy Plans Face Major Setback A Vision for the World’s Largest Renewable Energy Project Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has long championed the push for clean energy, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious renewable energy goals. His company, Adani Green Energy, embarked on an unparalleled venture to build the world’s largest renewable energy park in Gujarat. Set to cover an area five times the size of Paris, the project aims to generate 50 gigawatts (GW) of power by 2030, representing 10% of India’s clean energy targets. Adani Green received significant support from global investors, including France’s TotalEnergies…
DOJ Pushes for Google to Sell Chrome Browser Over Monopoly Concerns The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed that Google divest its Chrome browser after a federal court ruled in August that the tech giant holds a monopoly in the search market. The move is part of an effort to promote fair competition in the digital advertising and search sectors. Google launched Chrome in 2008, leveraging its popularity to collect user data for targeted advertising. On Wednesday, the DOJ filed a statement asserting that separating Chrome from Google would level the playing field for competing search engines. In the…
ISRO Partners with SpaceX for GSAT-N2 Satellite Launch India’s space agency, ISRO, has signed a landmark deal with SpaceX, marking a new chapter in India-US space collaboration. The Falcon 9 rocket, operated by SpaceX, will soon launch the Indian GSAT-N2 satellite into orbit, strengthening ties between the two nations as they embark on significant space ventures. GSAT-N2: A Technological Milestone GSAT-N2, weighing 4,700 kg, is a powerful communications satellite designed to enhance Internet connectivity across India, including in-flight services. With its advanced capabilities, GSAT-N2 will deploy 32 spot beams to ensure robust coverage for the next 14 years. India’s current…
Tesla’s Path to Self-Driving Robotaxis: Challenges and Regulatory Roadblocks As Tesla’s electric vehicle sales level out, CEO Elon Musk is shifting focus towards self-driving robotaxis. However, this plan faces substantial technological and regulatory challenges, especially in the United States, where state-by-state laws complicate development. Musk’s alignment with President-elect Donald Trump may help ease some regulatory barriers, offering a possible advantage for Tesla in advancing its autonomous driving goals. Navigating Complex Autonomous Vehicle Regulations Currently, Tesla operates under a complex web of state-level laws governing autonomous vehicles. In an earnings call on October 23, Musk criticised this landscape, describing the approach…
A Unique Space Story Reflecting Lockdown Isolation British author Samantha Harvey claimed the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital, set over a single day aboard the International Space Station. Written during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Harvey’s fifth novel explores themes of isolation and connection, capturing Earth’s beauty as viewed from space. The story resonated with readers and topped the Booker shortlist, selling more copies than the past three Booker Prize winners combined. Judges Praise Samantha Harvey, Her Writing and Unique Perspective This year’s Booker Prize judges applauded Harvey’s “intense attention to our precious and precarious world.” The panel, chaired by…
Reliance Pushes for Satellite Spectrum Auction in India Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance is once again urging India’s telecom regulator to consider an auction-based approach for allocating satellite spectrum. The call comes only weeks after the government decided to allocate this spectrum on an administrative basis, sparking debate among industry players. Reliance’s Concerns Over Administrative Allocation Ravi Gandhi, a senior policy executive at Reliance, voiced strong concerns over the current first-come, first-served approach, calling it “flawed” and “discriminatory.” He expressed these views during an open house discussion organised by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Representatives from other major…
Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon Drops 30% in Major Environmental Shift Deforestation in Brazil Amazon rainforest declined by 30.6% in the 12 months through July compared to the previous year, government data released Wednesday shows. This reduction marks the smallest deforested area in nearly a decade for the world’s largest rainforest. Dramatic Decline in Amazon Deforestation According to data from Brazil’s space research agency Inpe, about 6,288 square kilometres (2,428 square miles) of Amazon rainforest were destroyed in this period—an area larger than the US state of Delaware. The protection of the Amazon is essential for mitigating climate change due to…
Shift Towards Oil and Gas Under Trump’s Energy Plan Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House would steer U.S. energy policy back toward boosting oil and gas production. Trump’s plans focus on increasing fossil fuel extraction, aligning with his promises to reduce climate-focused regulations. However, analysts suggest that Trump’s impact on the renewable energy sector would likely be limited. A major factor is the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which secures substantial subsidies for solar, wind, and other clean energy projects through the next decade. Despite Trump’s criticism of the IRA, repealing the law would require Congressional approval.…
Meta Criticises Malaysia’s Plan for Social Media Licensing, Citing Innovation Risks A Meta Platforms official voiced concerns on Wednesday over Malaysia’s upcoming requirement for social media platforms to obtain a regulatory licence by January 2025. Meta’s Southeast Asia public policy director, Rafael Frankel, warned that the rushed timeline and lack of clear guidelines could hinder digital innovation and growth in Malaysia. Malaysia’s New Licensing Requirement for Social Media The proposed regulation, announced in July, mandates that social media platforms and messaging services with over eight million users must secure a licence to operate legally. Malaysia’s goal is to combat financial…
