Lagos (AFP) April 15, 2024
Amnesty International and other rights groups on Monday called on Nigeria's government to halt a deal for Shell to sell some of its assets as a way to guarantee rights of local communities.
Farming and fishing communities in the Niger Delta, the heartland of Nigeria's crude production, have fought years of legal battles over damage from oil spills in the area.
Shell has agreed to sell it
Beijing (AFP) April 16, 2024
China's economy grew far more than expected in the first quarter of 2024, data showed Tuesday, even as it continues to be buffeted by a property-sector crisis and flagging consumer activity.
For January-March, gross domestic product (GDP) reached 29.6 trillion yuan ($4 trillion) - an increase of 5.3 percent, compared with 5.2 in the previous quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics said.
Paris (AFP) April 11, 2024
Bicycles have passed cars as a means of transport in Paris according to a recent study, a city official said Thursday.
"Ten years ago who could have predicted that bicycles would overtake cars. Yet, it's happened," deputy mayor in charge of transport David Belliard posted on X.
The study by the Institut Paris Region, an urban planning agency, found that Parisians opted for bicycles for 1
Ottawa (AFP) April 15, 2024
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly is sending her deputy to China in a bid to help thaw chilled relations with Beijing, a government source with knowledge of the trip said Monday.
Ottawa wants to "normalize bilateral ties with China" and Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison's trip to the Asian giant "is part of that," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Dates for
London (AFP) April 15, 2024
The total value of home-insurance claims in the UK linked to damage caused notably by storms surged to a record level last year, an industry body said Monday.
Weather-related damage claims reached GBP 573 million ($716 million), up 36 percent on 2022, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
"This massive rise was largely fuelled by the succession of storms, including Babet,
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 15, 2024
The integration of space technology into everyday life is transforming how we communicate, navigate, and interact with our environment. Satellite technology, once the domain of specialized applications, is now a foundational component of everyday devices and services, enhancing connectivity and providing critical data across various sectors.
Satellite Technology's Broad Applications
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 15, 2024
The space industry has witnessed a transformational decline in satellite launch costs over the past few decades. This trend represents a pivotal shift in the accessibility and frequency of space missions, fundamentally altering the economic landscape of the global space economy.
Historical Context and Current Trends
In the early days of space exploration, the cost of launching a sate
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Apr 12, 2024
KP Labs has achieved a critical milestone with the successful acquisition and AI processing of hyperspectral images on its Intuition-1 satellite. This new capability offers unprecedented detail in Earth observation, particularly across the equatorial regions, significantly enhancing the potential for scientific and commercial data analysis.
The Intuition-1 satellite, launched via a SpaceX
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 12, 2024
Penn State researchers have discovered a significant link between low-magnitude microearthquakes and the permeability of subsurface rocks, utilizing machine learning techniques. This breakthrough could enhance the efficiency of geothermal energy production.
Geothermal energy generation relies on a permeable subsurface that allows for the effective release of heat when cold fluids are intro
London, UK (SPX) Apr 16, 2024
Framatome, a leader in nuclear technology, has recently concluded several high-value contracts with Sizewell C Ltd., marking a critical phase in the Sizewell C nuclear development project in the UK.
This significant financial commitment is pivotal for the upcoming construction of two European Pressurized Reactors (EPRs) located on the scenic Suffolk coast, an initiative backed by the Briti
Pasadena, United States (AFP) April 12, 2024
US space scientists on Thursday unveiled the interplanetary probe NASA plans to send to one of Jupiter's icy moons as part of humanity's hunt for extra-terrestrial life.
The Clipper spacecraft is due to blast off in October bound for Europa, one of dozens of moons orbiting the Solar System's biggest planet, and the nearest spot in our celestial neighborhood that could offer a perch for life.
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 15, 2024
Our solar system's giant planets-Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune-are surrounded by nearly 300 moons. Researchers utilize crater analysis to deduce the ages and origins of these celestial bodies.
Various theories explain the creation of the solar system's moons. Predominantly, it is believed that they formed from disks of gas, dust, and pebbles that encircled nascent planets, similar t
Paris, France (SPX) Apr 12, 2024
In preparation for a critical mission maneuver in 2031, ESA's Juice spacecraft recently completed a simulated flyby of Jupiter's moon Callisto at the ESOC mission operations center in Germany. This early test involved tricking Juice's engineering model into believing it was navigating past Callisto, to evaluate the spacecraft's autonomous navigation software.
Due to the significant communi
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 11, 2024
Blue Canyon Technologies, a subsidiary of RTX and small satellite manufacturer, recently announced the successful deployment of the MethaneSAT satellite. This initiative marks the first instance a satellite funded by a nonprofit, the Environmental Defense Fund's MethaneSAT LLC, has been launched to enhance the monitoring and reduction of methane emissions, a significant contributor to global war
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 16, 2024
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has been chosen by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) and Australian Space Agency (ASA) to spearhead AquaWatch-AUK, a collaborative water-focused space initiative.
AquaWatch-AUK consists of a set of activities designed to enhance water quality monitoring and facilitate better management of vital water resources. This initiative, part of the International Bila
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 15, 2024
NASA's newest Earth-observing satellite, the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE), has begun distributing science-quality data essential for studying ocean health, air quality, and climate change effects. Launched on February 8, PACE underwent extensive in-orbit testing to ensure its instruments function correctly. The public can now access this data through the dedicated portal.
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 11, 2024
The Tibetan Plateau, noted for its unique thermodynamic environment, hosts frequent deep convection activities. Recent studies by Dr. Ying Na of Wuxi University and Dr. Chaofan Li of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have shifted focus from commonly observed mesoscale convective systems to isolated deep convection (IDC) phenomena in the region. Their research, co
Paris, France (SPX) Apr 12, 2024
Scheduled for a May launch, the EarthCARE satellite is equipped with four advanced instruments aimed at studying Earth's clouds and their impact on climate. This joint effort by Airbus, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) seeks to deepen our understanding of climate dynamics and temperature regulation via cloud behavior.
Maximilian Sauer, Eart
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 15, 2024
Satellogic Inc. (NASDAQ: SATL) has announced a significant capital injection of $30 million through a Note Purchase Agreement with Tether Investments Limited, marking a pivotal step in its expansion efforts. The agreement allows Nettar Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Satellogic, to issue Secured Convertible Notes to the investor with the potential for issuing additional notes up to a t
London, UK (SPX) Apr 16, 2024
Rolls-Royce today secured Phase 2 funding from the UK Space Agency's International Bilateral Fund (IBF), which promotes strategic research partnerships between the UK space sector and emerging space nations.
The company received a GBP 1.18 million award from the fund, supporting collaboration to enhance the technologies for a fission nuclear system, benefiting both UK and U.S. space nuclea
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 15, 2024
Rising mission demands necessitate high-performance, cost-effective, and technologically sophisticated solutions with a track record of reliability. L3Harris's comprehensive avionics suite includes communication systems, range safety receivers, power distribution, data acquisition, flight computers, and navigation capabilities.
The initial 8 minutes of a launch are pivotal, demanding sophi
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 15, 2024
Flight Works has entered into a $5.7 million contract with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to develop a green, refuelable propulsion unit known as the Propulsion Unit with Modular Applications (PUMA). This initiative marks the beginning of a series of systems aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the United States Space Force (USSF), NASA, and various commercial entities engaged in complex sp
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 16, 2024
From the early days of space exploration, objects in orbit have followed the predictable trajectories described by Johannes Kepler's laws. These paths, while historically reliable, no longer meet the strategic demands of today's complex and contested Space Area of Operations (AOR). The need for agility and unpredictability in satellite movements has become paramount as space becomes a more conte
Women's rugby in the U.S. is going professional with the new Women's Elite Rugby competition. The league will officially launch next year with between 6 and 8 teams.