Gold futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) have surged to an all-time high, climbing 0.43% from Thursday's rates, reaching Rs 79,970 for contracts expiring on February 5, 2025. The precious metal has seen an upward trajectory this week, following a climb in spot prices which also touched record highs. As of 6:50 a.m. on Friday, gold's spot price in India stood at Rs 79,980 per 10 grams, according to the India Bullion Association. Despite the earlier rise, prices cooled o

ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) has successfully completed the integration of the liquid propulsion system for the Crew Module of Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight mission. On January 21, 2025, ISRO dispatched the Crew Module to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota for further processing and integration. This uncrewed mission, known as Gaganyaan (G1), is a crucial step in ISRO's efforts to acquire human spaceflight capabilities. The Crew

The American Civil War, which began in 1861, was a defining moment in the history of the United States. Following increasing tensions over slavery and political divisions, 11 southern states broke away from the Union to form the Confederate States of America (CSA). The secession marked a pivotal moment in American history, mirroring the disintegration of the Soviet Union 130 years later in 1991. The conflict stemmed largely from disagreements over the future of slavery, with souther

A Russian national, Anatoly Mironov, was arrested by Gujarat police in relation to a digital arrest scam where a businessman was duped of Rs 17 lakh. Mironov, a "gatekeeper" for a cybercrime gang, was involved in laundering proceeds from the crime, converting some of the funds into cryptocurrency. He had entered India on a tourist visa and was previously involved in a similar fraud case in Pune, Maharashtra. The scam began when a city-based businessman reported being extor

The recently concluded "Prashasan Gaon ki Ore" campaign, conducted from December 19-24, saw the disposal of nearly three crore service delivery applications, underscoring the government's commitment to ease of governance. Spearheaded by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, the campaign focused on simplifying administrative procedures and ensuring faster delivery of services to citizens. The campaign aimed to implement Prime Minister Narendra

India has made substantial progress in its infrastructure development in 2024, with multiple major projects completed and new ones lined up for the coming years. The government’s commitment of Rs 11 lakh crore in capital expenditure this fiscal year, alongside strategic initiatives like the National Infrastructure Pipeline and PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, has fueled this growth. Key Infrastructure Projects in 2024:

NASA has announced delays to its Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. The first crewed lunar mission, Artemis 2, will now take place in April 2026, pushed back from its original launch window in September 2025. The second mission, Artemis 3, which seeks to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, has been rescheduled from late 2026 to mid-2027. The delays, revealed on December 5, are attributed to technical issues discovered during the Ar

NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which orbited asteroid Vesta in 2012, captured images of enigmatic gullies on the asteroid's surface, prompting scientists to investigate their origins. A recent study published in the Planetary Science Journal explores the possibility that these gullies were formed by brief liquid flows involving briny water. Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) simulated conditions similar to Vesta's surface using the Dirty Under-vacuum Simul

The United States imposed sanctions on four Pakistani entities on Wednesday, including the National Development Complex (NDC), a key state-owned aerospace and defense agency responsible for Pakistan's ballistic missile program. The sanctions, announced by US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, target entities involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, specifically missiles. These sanctions freeze US property linked to the targeted co

In a dazzling celebration of beauty and talent, Caitlin Sandra Neil, a 19-year-old Chennai-born Indian American teenager, was crowned Miss India USA 2024 at the annual pageant held in New Jersey. Caitlin, who is a second-year student at the University of California, Davis, expressed her desire to leave a lasting, positive impact on her community, with a strong focus on women's empowerment and literacy. Having lived in the United States for the past 14 years, Caitlin's journe

Bitcoin reached an all-time high of over $106,000, marking a significant milestone just 10 days after surpassing the $100,000 mark. The cryptocurrency’s surge is fueled by expectations that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates during its upcoming policy meeting. Lower interest rates historically benefit Bitcoin, as they weaken the US dollar and increase the money supply, driving investor interest in digital assets. Bitcoin has risen over 77% in the last year, and its rec

On Friday, Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, firing 93 missiles and nearly 200 drones, marking one of the heaviest attacks on the country’s energy sector since the invasion began nearly three years ago. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the assault as part of Russia’s ongoing strategy to terrorize millions of people and demanded a strong global response. Ukraine's air defense systems intercepted 81 missiles, including 11 cruise miss

On Thursday, Syrian insurgents claimed to have entered parts of the central city of Hama after intense clashes with government forces that had lasted for three days on the city’s outskirts. While Syrian state media confirmed violent clashes in the eastern areas of Hama, they denied that insurgents had breached the city itself. The city of Hama has remained under full government control throughout the ongoing civil war, which began in March 2011. Its capture would be a significant blow t

Hansika Nasanally, a remarkable 13-year-old from Wanaparthy, India, has captured attention and admiration by winning the National All-American Miss Junior Teen title. Competing against 117 contestants from across the United States, Hansika’s dedication, talent, and grace set her apart. This title is not her first achievement; over the past two years, she has won several awards, including National Level Actress for two consecutive years and Academic Achievement Winner for her outstanding

Pawan Kalyan, the Janasena Party (JSP) chief, has earned significant praise from some of the most influential leaders in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Known for his strong political campaigns, especially in Andhra Pradesh, Pawan has quickly gained recognition in national politics. PM Modi has affectionately referred to him as "Aandhi (Toofan)" for the whirlwind campaign he led during the NDA's push in

Russia launched a massive assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight, using 90 missiles and 100 drones. The attack has left over one million people without electricity as temperatures drop, marking the 11th large-scale attack on Ukraine's power systems this year. Ukrainian authorities have accused Russia of "weaponizing winter," with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemning the use of cluster munitions against civilians and infrastructure. At

Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister, Pawan Kalyan, is currently in Delhi, where he is holding important discussions with union ministers. One of the highlights of his tour was a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his office in Parliament. This was the first official meeting between Pawan Kalyan and PM Modi since Pawan assumed office as Deputy CM. The primary topic of their discussion was the disbursement of central funds for the Jal Jeevan Mission program in Andhr

NASA is pioneering new frontiers in space exploration with the development of tiny underwater robots through the Sensing With Independent Micro-swimmers (SWIM) project. These innovative robots are designed to explore extraterrestrial oceans, beginning with the icy waters beneath Jupiter's moon, Europa. SWIM robots were recently tested in a Caltech swimming pool, demonstrating their ability to navigate autonomously. The SWIM project is an integral part of NASA's broader strat

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has emerged as a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, earning the nickname “First Buddy” for his prominent presence in Trump’s circle. Musk’s influence extends from offering advice on personnel choices to joining phone calls with world leaders, including Google’s Sundar Pichai. Their relationship was most evident during Trump’s victory, where Musk was seen by Trump’s side, both on election night at

A groundbreaking study using data from NASA and German satellites has revealed a concerning and persistent decline in Earth's freshwater reserves since May 2014. The findings, published in Surveys in Geophysics, highlight a significant reduction in the amount of freshwater stored on land, including in lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers. This shift, tracked by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, suggests a transition towards drier conditions across co