Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Pilot Axiom Mission 4 in 2025

Sam Altman, the CEO of Microsoft-backed OpenAI, is reportedly planning a visit to New Delhi on February 5, according to Reuters, citing three sources. This marks his first visit since 2023, when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the prospects of artificial intelligence in India's technology sector. The specifics of Altman's itinerary remain unconfirmed and may vary. The anticipated visit comes as OpenAI faces intensified competition from Chinese AI firm DeepSeek, whose AI Assistant recently surpassed ChatGPT to become the leading free app in the U.S. Apple App Store. Additionally, OpenAI is navigating legal challenges in India, where a lawsuit was filed last year accusing the company of copyright infringements related to news articles. While OpenAI has stated that it utilizes publicly available data under fair use principles, it has yet to issue comments on the ongoing legal matters or Altman's upcoming trip. India has emerged as OpenAI's second-largest market after the U.S., underlining the significance of this visit.

India has successfully launched a regional navigation satellite, NVS-02, aboard its GSLV-F15 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The launch, which occurred at 6:23 a.m. IST on Wednesday, marks India's 100th space mission, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The NVS-02 satellite is part of India's Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, designed to offer positioning services across India and nearby regions. This development positions NavIC as a competitor to established systems like the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), China's BeiDou, and the European Galileo, and is seen as crucial as global competition in satellite technology escalates. Jitendra Singh, India’s Minister of Science and Technology, emphasized the significance of this launch in advancing the country's capabilities in space-based technologies. Amid increased international rivalry in the space sector, ISRO aims to conduct 30 missions by March 2025, reflecting India's growing role in the global space arena.

An alarming incident occurred in Chennai on January 25, where a group of women was harassed and chased by men in two vehicles, one displaying a flag associated with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party. The event unfolded in the Kanathur area as the women were returning home to Muttukadu. Video footage shows the women screaming for help as the attackers blocked their path and hurled abuses while making obscene remarks. Fearing for their safety, the women managed to escape, driving almost four kilometers back to their homes, pursued by the men who continued to issue threats. Following the incident, the Chennai police have registered a case against the suspects for mischief, criminal intimidation, and wrongful restraint. An investigation is underway to identify the individuals involved. The incident has triggered significant political fallout, with BJP leader SG Suryah criticizing the state government’s handling of law and order. “Is this the beauty of your regime's law and order maintenance?” he questioned on social media, highlighting growing concerns over women's safety in the region.