China and Hong Kong Stocks Fall as AI, Chip Rally Fades China and Hong Kong stocks slipped on Tuesday, ending a three-day winning streak. Investor excitement for artificial intelligence (AI) and chip stocks cooled, while traders monitored new tariff threats from US President Donald Trump. Key Indexes Retreat China’s blue-chip CSI300 Index fell 0.4% by midday, while the Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.2%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index dropped 0.6%, with tech stocks leading the decline. Shares in Hong Kong-listed technology majors fell 1.6%, snapping a three-day rally. Meanwhile, Chinese AI stocks rose just 0.4%, slowing after…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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Indian Tribunal Pauses WhatsApp Data Sharing Ban, Offering Relief to Meta An Indian tribunal has temporarily suspended a five-year ban on data sharing between WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta Platforms. This comes as a significant win for the US tech giant, which had warned that the restriction would severely affect its advertising business. Tribunal Grants Temporary Relief to Meta The Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed the data sharing ban in November, citing concerns over WhatsApp’s privacy policies. Meta, however, challenged the ruling, arguing that it lacked technical grounding. On Thursday, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) suspended…
ISRO Dispatches Crew Module for Gaganyaan’s First Uncrewed Mission On 21 January 2025, the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of ISRO dispatched the Crew Module for the Gaganyaan (G1) mission. This marks a significant milestone in India’s first human spaceflight programme. The module, intended for the mission’s first uncrewed test flight, successfully integrated its liquid propulsion system at LPSC. ISRO Advanced Propulsion for Precision Control The Crew Module Propulsion System (CMPS) is a state-of-the-art bi-propellant Reaction Control System (RCS). It ensures precise three-axis control (Pitch, Yaw, and Roll) during the descent and re-entry phases. This control mechanism activates after the…
ISRO’s Core Liquid Stage (L110) for LVM3 Mission Flagged Off The Secretary of the Department of Space (DOS) and Chairman of ISRO officially flagged off the core liquid stage (L110) of ISRO’s LVM3 launch vehicle on 17 January 2025. The event took place in the presence of directors from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR), and ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC). The L110 stage was transported to the launch complex at Sriharikota for the upcoming mission. Tenth L110 Liquid Stage Integration This marks the 10th L110 liquid stage to be integrated at the ISRO Propulsion Complex…
SpaceX Starship Flight 7: Successes and Challenges SpaceX launched its Starship megarocket for the seventh time on January 16, 2025, marking another step forward in its mission to revolutionise space exploration. The 403.5-foot (123-metre) reusable rocket lifted off from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas at 5:37 p.m. EST (2237 GMT). While the test flight showcased remarkable achievements, it also faced significant setbacks, leaving a mix of excitement and questions for SpaceX to address. Successful Booster Catch with “Chopstick” Arms One of the primary objectives of the flight was to demonstrate the recovery of the Super Heavy booster. Using…
SpaDeX Docks Successfully in Historic Achievement Courtesy of ISRO, SpaDeX docks successfully, a groundbreaking achievement. The agency performed the complex manoeuvre days after bringing the spacecraft as close as 3 metres apart. Sharing the news on social media platform X, ISRO stated: “Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment. The SpaDeX docking process involved moving from a 15-metre hold point to 3 metres, initiating docking with precision, completing spacecraft capture, smooth retraction, and rigidisation for stability.” This marks a milestone for ISRO, which had earlier missed two scheduled docking attempts on January 7 and 9 due to technical issues. The…
Dr V Narayanan: A Visionary Leader in Indian Space Exploration Dr V Narayanan, a distinguished scientist and expert in rocket and spacecraft propulsion, assumed the prestigious roles of Secretary, Department of Space; Chairman, Space Commission; and Chairman, ISRO on 13 January 2025. His remarkable contributions span over four decades at ISRO, with prior leadership as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). Under his guidance, LPSC advanced critical technologies in liquid, semi-cryogenic, and cryogenic propulsion, cementing India’s position as a space power. Key Contributions to Propulsion and Launch Vehicles Dr Narayanan played a pivotal role in India’s space…
TikTok Faces Supreme Court Challenge Over Forced Sale or Ban TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, defended their platform in a pivotal Supreme Court case on Friday, arguing against a law that could force its sale or ban its operation in the United States. The companies contend the law violates constitutional free speech protections and sets a dangerous precedent for targeting other businesses. TikTok’s Legal Defence Highlights Broad Implications TikTok’s lawyer, Noel Francisco, warned of far-reaching consequences if the law is upheld. He argued that it could open the door for Congress to impose similar mandates on other companies.…
Indian PM Modi to Attend France’s AI Action Summit in February French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that Indian PM Narendra Modi will visit France for a state visit and participate in the ‘Artificial Intelligence Action Summit’ in February. This announcement was reported by News18. Speaking at the French Ambassador Conference, Macron revealed that the AI Summit will take place on February 11-12. It will bring together global players, including the United States, China, India, and Gulf states, for in-depth discussions on Artificial Intelligence. Macron stated, “This summit will enable us to have an international discussion on Artificial Intelligence.” He…
Spain’s Most Advanced Satellite SpainSat NG-I Prepares for Launch from the US The SpainSat NG-I, one of Europe’s most advanced military telecommunication satellites, has arrived at Cape Canaveral, US. Transported aboard an Antonov cargo aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space’s facilities in Toulouse, France, the satellite is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the night of 28th January (early 29th January in Europe). This launch marks a significant step forward in secure communication capabilities for Spain. Cutting-Edge Technology Delivered by Airbus Defence and Space Airbus Defence and Space, acting as the prime contractor, has delivered the…
