China Warns of ‘Trade War’ Over EU Tariffs on Electric Vehicles China’s commerce ministry warned on Friday that the European Union could trigger a ‘trade war’ if it continues to escalate tensions. The warning follows the EU’s decision to impose tariffs of up to 38.1% on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports, a move that has significantly strained trade relations. EU Tariffs and China’s Response Last week, the European Commission proposed these tariffs despite Beijing’s protests, heightening the risk of retaliatory action from China. A statement from the commerce ministry, published shortly before German Economy Minister Robert Habeck’s visit to Beijing,…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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Lockheed Martin to Build GeoXO Satellites for NOAA NASA has selected Lockheed Martin Corp. of Littleton, Colorado, to build the spacecraft for NOAA’s Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite program. This significant contract, valued at approximately $2.27 billion, will see the development of three primary spacecraft, with options for four additional ones. Contract Details and Responsibilities This cost-plus-award-fee contract includes support for 10 years of on-orbit operations and five years of on-orbit storage, totalling 15 years for each spacecraft. The work will be conducted at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Littleton and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The contract covers tasks…
Scientists Witness Supermassive Black Hole Awakening in Distant Galaxy Milky Way’s Quiet Giant At the core of our Milky Way galaxy lies Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), a supermassive black hole with a mass four million times that of our sun. Often described as a “gentle giant” due to its current quiescent state, Sgr A* might one day become highly active. First Real-Time Observation of Black Hole Awakening Researchers have recently observed, in real time, a dramatic brightening at the centre of another galaxy. This event is likely caused by a supermassive black hole awakening from dormancy and beginning to consume…
NATO Innovation Fund Awards First Round of Funding A consortium of NATO allies has confirmed the first group of companies to receive funding from the alliance’s one billion euro ($1.1 billion) innovation fund. Launch and Purpose of the Fund NATO launched this fund in the summer of 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The fund aims to invest in technologies that will strengthen NATO’s defence capabilities. The fund is supported by 24 out of NATO’s 32 member states, including recent members Finland and Sweden. Initial Investments On Tuesday, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) announced its first investments in…
NASA Launches New System to Aid Global Disaster Response Widespread Flooding in Brazil In early May, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul experienced severe flooding and landslides, leaving thousands without food, water, or electricity. In response, NASA provided crucial data and imagery to assist on-the-ground responders in assessing the disaster’s impacts and deploying aid effectively. New Disaster Response System Building on past successes, NASA announced a new Disaster Response Coordination System on June 13. This system is designed to support disaster response organisations in the U.S. and globally, providing up-to-date information on various extreme events, including fires, earthquakes,…
SpaceX and Elon Musk Sued by Engineers Over Alleged Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit Filed by Eight Engineers On Wednesday, eight engineers filed a lawsuit against SpaceX and its CEO, Elon Musk, alleging illegal termination after raising concerns about sexual harassment and discrimination against women at the company. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles state court, includes four women and four men among the plaintiffs. Allegations of a Toxic Workplace Culture The engineers claim they were fired in 2022 after circulating a letter that criticised Musk’s behaviour, calling him a “distraction and embarrassment” and urging SpaceX executives to denounce his sexually…
NASA’s Simulation Broadcast Confusion On Wednesday, NASA mistakenly broadcasted a simulation of astronauts receiving treatment for decompression sickness on the International Space Station (ISS). This led to widespread speculation about a real emergency on social media. Broadcast Incident At about 5:28 p.m. U.S. Central Time (2228 GMT), NASA’s live YouTube channel aired audio suggesting that a crew member was experiencing decompression sickness (DCS). A female voice in the recording was heard instructing crew members to “get commander back in his suit,” check his pulse, and provide oxygen, describing the situation as “tenuous.” However, NASA has not confirmed the authenticity of…
Elon Musk Withdraws Lawsuit Against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has moved to dismiss his lawsuit against ChatGPT maker OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. The lawsuit accused them of abandoning OpenAI’s original mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity and not for profit. Lawsuit Withdrawal Attorneys for Musk requested the California state court to dismiss the lawsuit, initially filed in February, without providing a reason for the move. The filing was made in San Francisco Superior Court, where a judge was scheduled to hear OpenAI’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit the following…
NASA and Boeing Delay Starliner’s Return to Earth for Further Analysis NASA and Boeing have announced that the return of the Starliner spacecraft and its first astronaut crew from the International Space Station (ISS) is now expected on June 18. This delay allows mission analysts to address issues that could impact the return. Adjusted Return Schedule Originally, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner was scheduled to undock on Friday and return to Earth after launching from Florida with two NASA astronauts on June 5. This mission is crucial for certifying Starliner for regular flights by the U.S. space agency. Factors Affecting the Return…
Boeing’s Starliner Capsule to Dock with ISS in Key Test Boeing’s Starliner capsule faces a pivotal test on Thursday as it aims to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time with astronauts aboard. This mission is crucial for Boeing as it competes with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the space race. Mission Overview The CST-100 Starliner, carrying astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday. The launch utilised an Atlas V rocket provided by the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.…
