NASA, ISRO launch joint radar satellite for Earth observation
The satellite, about the size of a pickup truck, lifted off at around 5:40 pm (1210 GMT) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in southeastern India on an ISRO Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket.
NISAR can detect vertical surface movements as small as one centimetre.
Vivek Mishra works as an Assistant Editor with Eastern Eye and has over 13 years of experience in journalism. His areas of interest include politics, international affairs, current events, and sports. With a background in newsroom operations and editorial planning, he has reported and edited stories on major national and global developments.
THE US and India on Wednesday launched a new radar satellite, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), to monitor changes in Earth’s land and ice surfaces and improve prediction of natural and human-caused hazards.
The satellite, about the size of a pickup truck, lifted off at around 5:40 pm (1210 GMT) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in southeastern India on an ISRO Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket. Livestream footage showed schoolchildren and mission teams cheering as the launch took place.
US president Donald Trump and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi described the mission as a milestone in cooperation between the two countries. “Congratulations India!” India’s science and technology minister Dr Jitendra Singh posted on X, calling the mission a “game changer.”
GSLV-F16/NISAR
From a majestic liftoff to the flawless separation, witness the full journey.
Watch spectacular moments of NISAR launching aboard GSLV-F16 and its precise separation, captured on-board.
Karen St Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science division, said ahead of the launch, “Our planet surface undergoes constant and meaningful change. Some change happens slowly. Some happens abruptly. Some changes are large, while some are subtle.”
NISAR can detect vertical surface movements as small as one centimetre. Scientists expect this data to help in identifying early signs of earthquakes, landslides, volcano activity, and structural issues in dams and bridges. “We’ll see land substance and swelling, movement, deformation and melting of mountain glaciers and ice sheets covering both Greenland and Antarctica, and of course, we’ll see wildfires,” St Germain said, describing NISAR as “the most sophisticated radar we’ve ever built.”
India aims to use the satellite to study coastal and ocean areas, track changes near river deltas, and monitor shoreline shifts. The data will also support agricultural planning by mapping crops, assessing plant health, and measuring soil moisture.
The spacecraft will undergo a 90-day commissioning phase, during which it will deploy its 39-foot (12-metre) radar antenna reflector. Once operational, it will scan nearly all of Earth’s land and ice twice every 12 days from an altitude of 464 miles (747 kilometres), orbiting close to the poles.
The satellite transmits microwaves and collects surface echoes, with computer processing reconstructing high-resolution images. It uses two radar frequencies, L-band for tall vegetation and S-band for shorter plants.
NASA and ISRO collaborated on the project, with components built separately and integrated in Bengaluru. NASA contributed nearly $1.2 billion, while ISRO’s costs were around $90 million.
India’s space programme has achieved several milestones, including sending a probe to Mars orbit in 2014 and landing a robot and rover on the Moon in 2023. Recently, Indian Air Force test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian to travel to space and the first to reach the International Space Station, advancing India’s plans for its Gaganyaan crewed mission in 2027.
FILE PHOTO: A pump jack operates near a crude oil reserve in the Permian Basin oil field near Midland, Texas, US, February 18, 2025. REUTERS/Eli Hartman
PAKISTAN's largest refiner Cnergyico will import one million barrels of oil from Vitol in October, Cnergyico's vice chairman Usama Qureshi said on Friday (1), the country's first-ever purchase of US crude following a landmark trade deal.
The West Texas Intermediate light crude cargo will be loaded from Houston this month and is expected to arrive in Karachi in the second half of October, he said.
"This is a test spot cargo under our umbrella term agreement with Vitol. If it is commercially viable and available, we could import at least one cargo per month," Qureshi told Reuters, adding that Vitol was its long-term trading partner.
Qureshi said Pakistan's finance and petroleum ministries encouraged local refineries to explore US crude imports after the April tariff announcement.
Vitol did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside of office hours.
On Thursday (31), Pakistan hailed a trade deal struck with the US, its top export market, and said the agreement would increase investments. The White House said on Thursday the US would charge a 19 per cent tariff on imports from Pakistan.
A key China ally, Pakistan has been wooing Trump after he threatened tariffs. It credited US diplomatic intervention for ending recent hostilities with neighbouring India and nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Oil is Pakistan's biggest import item and its shipments were valued at $11.3 billion (£9bn) in the year ended June 30, 2025, accounting for nearly a fifth of the country's total import bill.
The import deal will help Pakistan diversify its crude sourcing and reduce reliance on Middle Eastern suppliers, which account for nearly all of its oil imports.
"Gross refining margin is on par with Gulf grades, and no blending or refinery tweaks are required," Qureshi said.
Cnergyico could consider buying at least 1 million barrels of US oil a month after it evaluates the first shipment, given its current monthly demand stands at 4.6 million barrels, he said.
"It aligns well with domestic market requirements. Demand typically strengthens in the October–November period," Qureshi said.
Cnergyico can process 156,000 barrels of crude per day and operates the country's only single-point mooring terminal near Karachi, enabling it to handle large tankers unlike other refiners in Pakistan.
The company plans to install a second offshore terminal to allow larger or more frequent shipments, and to upgrade its refinery over the next five to six years, Qureshi said.
The refiner, which has been operating at an average refinery run rate of 30 per cent to 35 per cent due to tepid local demand, is betting on growth in demand for oil products.
Trump said on Wednesday (30) the US would also cooperate with Pakistan to develop the south Asian country's "massive oil reserves", without providing further details.
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Shocking discovery at Dharmasthala: Human remains unearthed in mass grave probe
Skeletal remains found on 31 July at Dharmasthala’s sixth excavation site, possibly male, marking first forensic breakthrough
The complaint was filed by a Dalit former sanitation worker alleging forced burials of murdered and assaulted women and minors from 1995–2014
SIT led by DGP Pronab Mohanty is probing 13 sites; five prior sites showed no human remains
Forensic tests and DNA analysis are underway, while families of missing persons are filing fresh complaints
The temple town of Dharmasthala in Karnataka has been thrust into the national spotlight after skeletal remains were discovered on 31 July 2025, during a Special Investigation Team (SIT) excavation near the Netravathi River. This is the first confirmed physical evidence in an ongoing investigation into allegations of secret burials of sexual violence and murder victims spanning decades. The discovery, made at the sixth of 13 suspected sites, is being seen as a turning point in the probe initiated after a former sanitation worker came forward with explosive claims.
Human remains unearthed in mass grave probe at Dharmasthala
What are the Dharmasthala mass burial allegations?
A former temple sanitation worker, now 48, filed a formal complaint on 3 July 2025, stating he was coerced, under death threats, into burying bodies of murdered women, minors and destitute men during his service between 1995 and 2014. The complainant claimed that many victims had visible signs of violence such as strangulation, acid burns and partial nudity. According to his statement, he personally buried hundreds of victims across the temple town's forested regions and riverbanks. He specifically recalled burying a young schoolgirl in uniform and a woman scarred by acid, claiming these acts were covered up under threats. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on 4 July under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The allegations triggered widespread public anger, with the Karnataka State Women’s Commission demanding a high-level inquiry. Activists have also linked these claims to long-standing unresolved cases, including the 2012 rape and murder of 17-year-old Sowjanya, which remains unsolved.
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What did the SIT find during excavations?
Following mounting pressure, the state government set up an SIT on 19 July, led by senior IPS officer Pronab Mohanty. The team began exhumation work at multiple sites from 29 July. The whistleblower identified up to 15 potential burial sites. The team, including forensic specialists, is systematically excavating each location, using machinery like mini excavators and tools to aid their search. Every step is videographed for transparency. Initial excavations at five locations did not yield any human remains.
What exactly was found at the sixth site?
Digging deep into forested land near the Netravathi River, SIT members and forensic experts recovered approximately 15 bones on the third day of excavations. Initial observations suggest the remains likely belong to a male individual. Alongside the bones, fragments of cloth were also collected. This discovery followed extensive digging at five other locations identified by the protected whistleblower. The findings have been sent to the state Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for detailed analysis, including DNA testing and determining the cause and approximate time of death. Heavy rain and difficult terrain had complicated earlier efforts.
While Site 6 produced remains, the first five sites dug between 29 and 30 July found no human evidence. At Site 1, unrelated items like a debit card and a male PAN card were found; the PAN card led investigators to a family who confirmed the man died naturally in March 2025, suggesting the card was lost or discarded earlier.
Why has a media gag order been issued?
Even as the SIT continues its investigation, a Bengaluru civil court passed a controversial ex parte gag order blocking over 8,800 online links that referred to the whistleblower’s claims. The plea, filed by a relative of the temple’s leadership, argued that the allegations were unverified and defamatory, while many argue that this order curtails free speech and hinders accountability.
The court will review the gag order on 5 August. Activists and media watchdogs argue that gagging information on such serious allegations may weaken public trust in the legal process.
Who is leading the Dharmasthala probe and what’s next?
While SIT chief Pronab Mohanty currently leads the investigation, reports suggest he has been listed for central deputation. Karnataka’s Home Minister clarified there is no formal transfer request yet, but concern remains that any leadership change could affect the pace and integrity of the probe.
The team has been tasked with examining 13 potential burial sites. Following the skeletal discovery at Site 6, the SIT may now prioritise excavation at Site 7 and other high-yield locations flagged by the whistleblower. Experts also suggest deploying ground-penetrating radar and trained sniffer dogs to assist further.
What are families of missing persons saying?
For decades, families in the Dharmasthala region have grappled with unexplained disappearances, often feeling their pleas were ignored. The whistleblower's claims and the subsequent discovery of remains have reignited painful hopes for answers.
As developments unfold, families who lost loved ones in the Dharmasthala region have come forward to file fresh complaints. One woman, whose MBBS student daughter vanished during a 2003 college trip, has requested that authorities investigate whether her daughter is among the buried victims. Activists claim over 360 missing persons cases from the Dharmasthala area remain unsolved. The discovery, even if preliminary, validates their persistent demands for a serious investigation.
What is the significance of Dharmasthala and who leads the temple?
Dharmasthala is one of Karnataka’s most prominent pilgrimage sites, home to the 800-year-old Manjunatha Temple. The temple is administered by Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade, a Rajya Sabha MP nominated by the BJP. The temple trust also runs schools, museums and social welfare initiatives. However, many feel the influence may have contributed to the silencing of serious allegations in the past.
The current probe has reopened public scrutiny of the temple’s operations and whether certain past crimes were systematically buried, literally and figuratively.
Human bones found in Dharmasthala probe as whistleblower\u2019s mass grave claims gain credibility shri kshetra dharmasthala
What happens next in the Dharmasthala mass grave investigation?
The SIT will continue excavating remaining burial sites
Forensic results from Site 6 will determine the sex, identity and likely cause of death of the skeletal remains
Families of missing persons may submit DNA for cross-matching
The court will revisit the gag order on 5 August
SIT leadership and political involvement remain closely watched
The search for truth continues
The discovery of skeletal remains at Site 6 has transformed the Dharmasthala mass burial case from a mere allegation into an evidence-backed probe. With real bones now in forensic custody, the investigation is no longer hypothetical. The coming weeks will decide if the truth about decades of alleged abuse, death and cover-ups in one of India’s most sacred towns can finally see the light of day, and whether justice will be delivered to those long forgotten.
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India's minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat prays after he received repatriated sacred Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha, at the airport in New Delhi, India, July 30, 2025. India's Press Information Bureau/Handout via REUTERS
A COLLECTION of hundreds of jewels linked to Buddha's remains has returned to India after 127 years following an auction planned for earlier this year that drew threats of legal action from the government in Delhi.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi hailed the return of the collection, known as the Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha.
"A joyous day for our cultural heritage!" Modi wrote in a post on X on Wednesday (30). "It would make every Indian proud."
The collection of more than 300 gems including amethyst, topaz and pearls dates from the Mauryan Empire, Ashokan Era, around 240-200 BCE.
The collection, first unearthed by a Briton in northern India, was originally scheduled to be auctioned by Sotheby's in Hong Kong in May but the sale was postponed after India's government threatened legal action and demanded the jewels be returned.
Sotheby's subsequently identified Indian conglomerate Godrej Industries Group as the buyer and secured a sale that saw the permanent return of the gems to India, where they would be placed on public display.
"Sotheby’s is delighted to have facilitated the return of the Piprahwa Gems to India," the auction house said in a statement.
India's ministry of culture said it was an exemplary public-private partnership and the initiative aligned with Modi’s broader mission to reclaim and celebrate India's ancient cultural and spiritual heritage from across the world.
The gems were unearthed in 1898 from an ancient stupa in Piprahwa, northern India, by English estate manager William Claxton Peppe, along with fragments of bone thought to belong to Buddha.
Peppe was later allowed to keep more than 300 duplicate gems, which remained in his family.
(Reuters)
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The findings included 23 at IndiGo, the largest carrier, and 51 at Air India, the second largest.. (Photo: Reuters)
INDIA's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), said on Wednesday it found 263 safety-related lapses across Indian airlines during its annual audit.
The findings included 23 at IndiGo, the largest carrier, and 51 at Air India, the second largest.
The DGCA said the audits were part of International Civil Aviation Organization requirements and global best practices. It noted that airlines with larger fleets generally have more findings.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that the DGCA’s July audit of Air India found 51 lapses, including inadequate pilot training, use of unapproved simulators, and a poor rostering system. The DGCA said the audit was not related to the Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad last month that killed 260 people.
The regulator also reported 14 deficiencies at SpiceJet, 17 at Vistara, and 25 at Air India Express, the low-cost arm of Air India. Akasa Air has not yet been audited.
The DGCA divided the breaches into two categories: "Level I", which are significant breaches, and "Level II", which are other non-compliances. It said 19 "Level I" breaches were identified across Indian airlines.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Thakur, 55, spent nine years in jail before being granted bail in 2017. She later won the Bhopal parliamentary seat as a BJP candidate.
AN INDIAN court on Thursday acquitted former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and six others accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case.
The blast near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra, killed six people and injured more than 100 when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded.
Seven people were on trial for terrorism and criminal conspiracy. The prosecution alleged that Thakur’s motorbike was used to carry the explosives and that she attended a key meeting before the attack.
Judge AK Lahoti ruled that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence against the accused. “Judgements cannot be based on morals and public perception,” Lahoti said, according to Live Law.
Defence lawyer Ranjit Nair said the court found that no proof was presented against the accused.
Reacting to the verdict, parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi called it “disappointing” and said those killed were “targeted for their religion”. He wrote on X that a “deliberately shoddy investigation/prosecution is responsible for the acquittal.”
India’s counter-terrorism unit had said during the trial that the attack was aimed at inciting communal tensions.
Thakur, 55, spent nine years in jail before being granted bail in 2017. She later won the Bhopal parliamentary seat as a BJP candidate.
Under Indian election law, individuals can contest elections unless convicted of a crime.
Thakur has previously drawn criticism for comments including calling Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin a “patriot” and claiming cow urine cured her cancer.