&w=3840&q=100)
FirstUp: Launch of Nasa-Isro joint satellite Nisar, Fed chief Jerome Powell's presser... The headlines today
Nisar marks the first major Earth observation satellite to be jointly developed by the United States and India. File image/ANI
It is set to be a busy Wednesday with several events lined up for the day.
Firstly, Nasa-Isro's Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) is set to be launched today in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference today following the conclusion of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.
Protests are expected to continue in Kyiv as Ukrainian civil society demands that the government fully restore the independence of the nation's key anti-corruption agencies.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem is set to address the anniversary of the killing of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day.
Nisar to be launched
The Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) satellite is set to be launched today aboard India's GSLV-F16 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota. Jointly developed by Isro and Nasa, the satellite is engineered for high-resolution imaging of Earth, regardless of weather or time of day.
Nisar marks the first major Earth observation satellite to be jointly developed by the United States and India. The satellite combines Nasa's L-band radar, capable of penetrating vegetation and forest canopies, with Isro's S-band radar, better suited for monitoring soil and surface changes. This dual-frequency capability gives Nisar a unique edge in detecting a wide range of Earth phenomena with unparalleled accuracy.
Powell to hold a press conference
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will hold a highly anticipated press conference today following the conclusion of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. This post-meeting press conference is a crucial event for financial markets and economists worldwide.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. File image/AP
During the press conference, Powell will elaborate on the FOMC's latest monetary policy decision, which will be released simultaneously with the FOMC statement. While the specific decision regarding the federal funds rate will be the headline, Powell's commentary and responses to journalists' questions will provide invaluable insights into the Fed's economic outlook, its assessment of inflation and the labour market, and its potential future policy trajectory.
Kyiv protests to restore independence of anti-corruption agencies
Protests are expected to continue in Kyiv today as Ukrainian civil society demands that the government fully restore the independence of the nation's key anti-corruption agencies.
These demonstrations erupted following the Parliament's passage of a controversial Bill No. 12414 on July 22, which critics argue effectively strips the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo) of their autonomy by giving new powers to the Prosecutor General.
Thousands have taken to the streets in Kyiv and other major cities since the bill's passage, marking the first significant anti-government protests in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022. Protesters, including war veterans and young activists, chanted slogans like 'Hands off Nabu' and 'Shame,' expressing widespread outrage over what they see as a severe setback to Ukraine's democratic reforms and its efforts to combat entrenched corruption.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hezbollah chief to deliver address on Fuad Shukr death anniversary
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem is expected to deliver a significant address commemorating the anniversary of the killing of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
Hezbollah's chief Sheikh Naim Kassem listens to a speech by then-leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. File image/AP
Fuad Shukr, a highly decorated and influential figure within Hezbollah's military apparatus, was killed on July 30, 2024, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, shortly after a drone strike killed Hamas political leader Saleh al-Arouri. Shukr was widely regarded as a key figure in Hezbollah's military operations and its relations with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly in the development and deployment of the group's missile capabilities.
In his address, Sheikh Naim Qassem is expected to honour Shukr as a martyr while also reinforcing Hezbollah's commitment to its anti-Israel ideology and its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause.
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
24 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Collaboration for future: Isro and India will benefit from Nasa
Artemis signup allows Isro and the fast-growing Indian aerospace sector to bid for Nasa tenders and the famously frugal Indian engineering sector could find opportunities there and pick up new skills Business Standard Editorial Comment Mumbai Listen to This Article The successful launch of the Nisar (Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre marks the second big mission where the two space agencies have joined hands, coming soon after gaganaut Shubhanshu Shukla travelled to the International Space Station on the Axiom 4 mission. This may be the precursor to more cooperation between the agencies, given that India in 2023 signed up for the Artemis Accords. The Artemis Accords provide a common set of principles for civil exploration and use of outer space. While both agencies benefit from cooperation, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) may benefit
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
NASA Astronaut Back In Orbit 20 Years After Bihu Dance On International Space Station
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the newly launched SpaceX Crew-11 mission. This isn't his first time in orbit. His return to space brings back a special memory of the time he danced Bihu in zero gravity. Mr Fincke had famously performed the traditional Assamese dance during a previous expedition to the ISS in 2004. Wearing a red-and-white gamusa (an Assamese scarf) around his neck, Mr Fincke floated in microgravity, executing the traditional steps. What's #RongaliBihu without song and dance. Here's #NASA astronaut Mike Fincke performing Bihu aboard the International Space Station in 2004. Mike is Assam's son-in-law, married to Renita Saikia, who also works at NASA. — Anupam Bordoloi (@asomputra) April 13, 2019 Mr Fincke is married to Renita Saikia, a NASA official originally from Assam. They have three children - Chandra, Tarali, and Surya. Mr Fincke was the first astronaut to become a father while in space, as per The Telegraph. During a visit to Assam in 2009, Mr Fincke addressed school students and encouraged them to dream big, saying, "This should not be the last Bihu in space. There should be somebody from you to dance Bihu in space." Now, over two decades later, he is once again orbiting Earth, this time alongside fellow NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The crew lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on August 1 and will spend the next six months on board the ISS conducting research that supports future missions to the Moon and Mars. After the members of Crew-11 enter the @Space_Station, the full station crew takes part in a welcome ceremony, marking the beginning of Crew-11's mission aboard the orbital outpost. — NASA (@NASA) August 2, 2025 The Dragon capsule docked with the ISS early Saturday, August 2, and the crew was welcomed aboard shortly after. Their mission includes testing technologies for long-term space travel, studying human health in microgravity, and conducting biological and physical science experiments. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy called the launch "the first step toward our permanent presence on the Moon" and part of the Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface in 2026.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Radioactive horns: South Africa's bold approach to rhino conservation
In a world-first effort to combat the ruthless poaching of rhinos, scientists in South Africa have developed a groundbreaking method: injecting rhino horns with radioactive material. The initiative, known as the Rhisotope Project, is the brainchild of researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) and marks a bold, science-driven attempt to save one of Africa's most iconic animals. South Africa is home to the largest population of rhinos in the world—particularly white rhinos and the critically endangered black rhinos. Yet, this very distinction has turned the country into a poaching hotspot. According to conservation charity Save the Rhino , over 400 rhinos have been poached in South Africa every year since 2021, driven by illegal trade networks that stretch from African parks to Asian markets. Read more: After humans, this mammal rules the Earth, and 5 countries with its thriving population (no, not cows!) Rhino horns are highly sought after in parts of Asia, where they are believed to have medicinal properties and are also viewed as luxury status symbols. The lucrative black market has made it difficult for governments and conservationists to keep pace. A radioactive breakthrough Enter the Rhisotope Project, a six-year research effort that cost roughly £220,000 ($290,000) and involved collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The method involves injecting a tiny amount of radioactive isotope into a rhino's horn, a process that has been rigorously tested and deemed completely safe for the animals. Wits University professor James Larkin, one of the key figures behind the project, told the BBC that the innovation shifts the approach from reactive to proactive. 'At least one animal a day is still being poached,' he said. 'This is a significant tool to help reduce the numbers of poaching.' The idea is not to harm anyone who touches the horn but to make the horn detectable by radiation monitors at ports, airports, and border crossings. Customs officers, who already use radiation detectors for other security purposes, could easily identify smuggled rhino horns—even those hidden inside massive 40-foot shipping containers. Pilot study The initial pilot involved 20 rhinos, all of whom responded well to the treatment. Larkin confirmed the material was 'completely safe' and did not harm the animals. The team's success in proving that the radioactive horns can be tracked through international freight systems marks a pivotal moment in the fight against wildlife trafficking. Jessica Babich, head of the Rhisotope Project, emphasized the scale of their ambition: 'Our goal is to deploy the Rhisotope technology at scale to help protect one of Africa's most iconic and threatened species. By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage.' Read more: 5 snake parks in India that are absolutely fang-tastic and what makes them special Conservationist Jamie Joseph, director of Saving the Wild , called the project 'innovative and much needed.' She noted that while this solution isn't the 'endgame,' it can still disrupt smuggling networks and help experts better understand trafficking routes through hard data. 'It will certainly help disrupt the flow of horns leaving the country and help experts better map out the illegal channels by providing reliable data,' she added. Despite its promise, the Rhisotope Project is not a silver bullet. Activists and scientists alike stress the need for stronger laws, enforcement, and political will. Without these structural changes, even the most advanced technologies may only offer short-term deterrence. Still, the Rhisotope Project represents a rare intersection of nuclear science, conservation, and real-world impact—an example of how innovation can step into spaces where policy and enforcement have lagged. As poachers use more sophisticated tools, so tools used to fight them are also being enhanced. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
