Jared Isaacman Named as Trump’s Pick for NASA Administrator US President-elect Donald Trump names Jared Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut and CEO of Shift4 Payments, as the new head of NASA. Isaacman, a business associate of Elon Musk and key customer of SpaceX, would lead the agency during a pivotal time for its Artemis Moon programme if confirmed by the Senate. A Billionaire Astronaut with Close SpaceX Ties Isaacman, 41, has already flown to space twice through SpaceX’s private astronaut missions under the Polaris programme, which he also funds. His selection signals a deeper alignment between NASA and SpaceX, Musk’s…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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Airbus Cuts over 2,000 Jobs Airbus has announced plans to reduce 2,043 jobs in its Defence and Space division, equivalent to about 5% of the unit’s workforce. The job cuts aim to address challenges in the satellite market, largely due to stiff competition from US-based providers like Elon Musk’s Starlink. However, the number of job losses is lower than the initial 2,500 cuts the company warned about last October. Breakdown of Job Reductions at Airbus More than half of the job cuts—1,128 positions—will affect the Space Systems business. This follows significant losses in satellite operations, including €1.5 billion in writedowns…
Asteroid Lights Up Yakutia Sky with Fiery Display An asteroid lit up the sky over Russia’s remote Yakutia region early Wednesday morning, creating a fiery spectacle before likely disintegrating in the atmosphere. Officials confirmed that no damage occurred during the event. Authorities React Swiftly to Asteroid’s Descent Yakutia’s emergencies ministry reported that all relevant agencies were on alert as the asteroid approached. However, its descent caused no harm to the region. Residents in Olekminsk and Lensk districts witnessed a comet-like tail and a bright flash during the celestial display. Asteroid Details and Advance Prediction The European Space Agency (ESA) provided…
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…
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.…
