Two satellites came as close as three metres during a trial attempt for space docking and are now moving back to a safe distance, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Sunday.

Providing an update on the SpaDeX Docking Mission, ISRO took to X, saying, “A trial attempt to reach up to 15 m and further to 3 m is done. Moving back spacecraft to safe distance. The docking process will be done after analysing data further.”

Earlier, the space agency said that the SpaDeX satellites were holding position at 15 metres and “capturing stunning photos and videos of each other!” The agency also shared images taken by the satellites at various distances.

This trial precedes the main docking experiment. During the attempt, the SpaDeX satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) — approached each other up to a distance of three metres before being moved apart for safety. ISRO emphasized that the docking process would only proceed after detailed analysis of the collected data.

The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC), the apex body for policy deliberation on inland waterways network in the country, on Friday, announced investments of more than Rs 50,000 crore over the next five years.

The announcements to boost infrastructure along national waterways (NWs) were made at the second meeting of IWDC, organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), at Kaziranga, a statement said. They include a series of new initiatives across 21 Inland Waterways, worth more than Rs 1,400 crore.

Presided over by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, the meeting mooted a major policy initiative in the form of the Riverine Community Development Scheme to improve the socio-economic well-being of coastal communities by developing infrastructure, promotion of trade and tourism, providing skill enrichment training and upgrading traditional knowledge of river of the communities.

Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) has been chosen by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to establish South India’s first Infectious Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (IRDL).

The laboratory will allow infectious disease research to be conducted within Bengaluru, eliminating the need to send samples to other states. The facility will focus on diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, and parasites, enabling quicker diagnostics and improved management of such conditions.

Karnataka Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, while announcing the development, highlighted that this initiative aims at strengthening research infrastructure in medical institutions and build capacity for advanced diagnostics and treatment. “IRDL project is part of a larger initiative by the Union Government to establish specialised laboratories in medical colleges nationwide. Under this project, focus will be given to capacity building in areas like – bacteriology, mycology, and parasitology,” he said.

Former Assam cricketer Devajit Saikia has replaced Jay Shah as the secretary of the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI). Saikia took over the position, which was left vacant for a little over one month after Jay Shah took over the chairman's position in the International Cricket Council.

Saikia's first task as the secretary was to attend the meeting alongside BCCI president Roger Binny as the board discussed India's performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Sources told India Today that captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir attended the meeting.

A source close to the development said that the meeting had a lengthy and detailed discussion on India's current slump in Test cricket.

To enhance citizen feedback on police services, a QR code-based feedback system has been launched to collect feedback from public on their interactions with Telangana police.

General public can now scan QR codes displayed prominently at police stations, offices, and other key locations. Additionally, feedback is collected through outbound calls via the Citizen Feedback Call Centre, managed by the Centre of Excellence (CoE)-CID.

Telangana DGP, Dr. Jitender who launched the initiative on Thursday said that the key feedback touch points include petition submissions, FIR registrations, traffic violation e-challans, passport verification services, and other police-related services. “This initiative represents a significant step towards accountability, transparency, and enhanced public satisfaction with Police services in Telangana State,” said the DGP.

AI Touch LLP has been awarded funding under the Department of Telecommunications' TTDF scheme of USOF (now “Digital Bharat Nidhi”). AI Touch will develop components for disaggregated 5G RAN (Radio Access Network) including RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), Service Management and Orchestration (SMO), and Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) modules.

The project aims to develop a platform integrating SMO, RIC, and NWDAF modules for 5G RAN with an AI/ML-powered intent engine. It facilitates intelligent and automated control of RAN and Core nodes through AI/ML-based applications and closed-loop automation. The platform will demonstrate a sample application for managing user experience during congestion scenarios and provide interfaces for onboarding third-party applications. The platform will integrate Non-Real-Time RIC, Near-Real-Time RIC, SMO, and NWDAF to enhance network automation and performance. The RIC modules will support AI/ML-driven network optimization, SMO will enable cross-domain orchestration, and NWDAF will provide analytics and insights for better decision-making. These solutions will bring operational efficiency to the 5G network. The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, will oversee the implementation of the project.

Veteran soldier Havaldar (retd) Baldev Singh, who fought four wars against Pakistan, passed away at his residence in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, a defence spokesman said on Tuesday. He was 93.

The revered war hero passed away due to natural causes in his hometown Naushera on Monday, the spokesman said, adding that his last rites will be performed with full military honours at his village later on Tuesday.

Born on September 27, 1931, at Naunihal village, Singh was just 16 when he volunteered to join the Bal Sena Force under the leadership of Brigadier Usman, Commander of the 50 Para Brigade, during the battle of Naushera and Jhangar in 1947-48.

Veteran journalist, poet, film producer and former Rajya Sabha MP Pritish Nandy died in Mumbai on Wednesday, just days shy of his 74th birthday on January 15.
Nandy, a Padma Shri awardee, died after a cardiac arrest at his home in south Mumbai and his last rites were performed in the evening, sources said.

Born in Bihar’s Bhagalpur in 1951, Nandy pioneered The Illustrated Weekly of India, revitalising its form and content, and hosted the hugely popular The Pritish Nandy Show on Doordarshan, with his 1985 interview of singer Kishore Kumar known for being one of the rare few that opened up the artist.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed a bill to designate October as "Hindu Heritage Month" in the US state.

The bill was signed on Wednesday by DeWine in the presence of former state Senator Niraj Antani, who was the main sponsor and mover of the legislation last year, and several other community leaders from the State.

"I am so grateful to Governor DeWine for signing this bill to designate October as Hindu Heritage Month in Ohio. Governor DeWine has long had a close relationship with the Hindu community across Ohio and I am grateful for his leadership," Antani said.

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) has achieved ‘Excellent’ rating for the performance MoU signed with the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the financial year 2023-24, with a score of 98.24 (rounded off 98). This marks the fourth consecutive year that IREDA has received ‘Excellent’ rating, showcasing its unwavering commitment to operational excellence and highest standards of corporate governance.

In the previous three years, IREDA consistently delivered exceptional results, achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating with scores of 93.50 in FY 2022-23, 96.54 in FY 2021-22 and 96.93 in FY 2020-21. These consistent achievements underline the organization’s dedication to driving India’s renewable energy goals.

Speaking on the achievement, Shri Pradip Kumar Das, CMD, IREDA, said, “Securing the ‘Excellent’ rating for the fourth consecutive year is a significant milestone for IREDA. It reflects the tireless efforts of our employees, the unwavering trust of our stakeholders, and the guidance of the Govt. of India. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who have contributed to this success. Together, we are committed to accelerating India’s green energy transition and achieving our nation’s renewable energy goals.”