ISRO is preparing for the first uncrewed mission of its ambitious Gaganyaan programme, scheduled for 2027, Chairman V. Narayanan stated. The Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human spaceflight initiative, aims to send a three-member crew on a three-day space journey and return them safely to Earth. “The Gaganyaan programme is planned for 2027. Prior to that, three uncrewed missions are planned, and we are working towards the first of these,” he told reporters on Friday.

He added that scientists are currently conducting extensive tests to ensure the mission’s success. “Many tests are underway. The safety of the Gaganyatri is extremely important, so we must be thorough and qualify every system. In the rocket system, we aim for a perfect score,” he said. “Our goal is the successful completion of Gaganyaan. We are striving to execute everything flawlessly,” he added.

Regarding the PSLV-C62 mission, which faced an anomaly in the rocket’s third stage after its January 12 launch, he said scientists are analyzing the mission in detail to address the issue. The PSLV-C62/EOS N1 mission encountered a setback due to the third-stage anomaly, prompting a comprehensive review by the ISRO team.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.

Pakistan has ordered stricter health screening for people entering the country to detect possible infections of the deadly Nipah virus, following India’s confirmation of two cases. The move places Pakistan among several Asian nations that have heightened preventive measures in response to the virus. Countries including Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam have also increased airport screening protocols. The Nipah virus can cause fever and inflammation of the brain, carries a high fatality rate, and has no approved vaccine. However, health experts note that human-to-human transmission is relatively rare and usually requires close, prolonged contact.

Pakistan’s Border Health Services department said it was essential to strengthen surveillance and preventive measures at all entry points. Under the new directives, all incoming travellers will undergo thermal screening and medical evaluation at airports, seaports, and land crossings. Authorities will also require passengers to provide a 21-day travel history to determine whether they have visited Nipah-affected or high-risk areas.

Travel between Pakistan and India remains highly restricted, with no direct flights operating, especially after intense hostilities between the two countries last year. In Vietnam, health officials in Hanoi have instructed airport authorities to screen arriving passengers at Noi Bai International Airport, particularly those travelling from India and the eastern state of West Bengal, where the two recent cases were reported in late December. Travellers will be checked using temperature scanners to allow for early detection, isolation, and epidemiological investigation. Similar measures have already been implemented in Ho Chi Minh City at international border points.

India’s health ministry said it has traced 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases, with all individuals testing negative and showing no symptoms. Nipah is a rare zoonotic virus that primarily spreads from infected animals, especially fruit bats, to humans. While some infections may be asymptomatic, the disease is often severe, with fatality rates ranging from 40 to 75 percent, depending on healthcare capacity, according to the World Health Organisation.

The virus was first identified more than 25 years ago during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore, though scientists believe it has existed in fruit bat populations for thousands of years. The WHO has designated Nipah as a priority pathogen. India continues to report occasional cases, particularly in Kerala, one of the world’s highest-risk regions. As of December 2025, global records show 750 confirmed Nipah infections and 415 deaths. Efforts to develop a vaccine are underway, supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

A South Korean court on Wednesday, Jan 28, sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon-hee to one year and eight months in prison after finding her guilty of accepting bribes from officials associated with the Unification Church in exchange for political favors. Kim, who is married to former president Yoon Suk-yeol, was cleared of other allegations, including stock price manipulation and violations of political funding laws. The court ruled that prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence proving she influenced polling decisions or candidates in return for receiving opinion survey data from a political broker.

The ruling is part of a broader series of legal cases arising from investigations into scandals surrounding Yoon’s administration, including his brief declaration of martial law in 2024. Both Kim and prosecutors retain the right to appeal the verdict. Prosecutors had sought a much harsher punishment, requesting a 15-year prison sentence along with fines totaling 2.9 billion won, citing accusations that Kim received luxury gifts such as Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace in return for political favors.

Kim denied all charges throughout the trial. Her legal team said it would review the court’s decision before determining whether to challenge the bribery conviction. During the hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Kim appeared in a dark suit and face mask and remained silent as a three-judge panel delivered the verdict.

The Unification Church stated that the gifts were provided without any expectation of political benefits. Its leader, Han Hak-ja, who is also facing trial, denied directing anyone to bribe Kim. The Yoon, who was removed from office last April, is facing eight separate trials, including charges of insurrection related to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. He has appealed a five-year prison sentence imposed earlier this month for obstructing efforts to arrest him.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

During a joint press meet in the national capital on Tuesday, European Council President Antonio Costa highlighted his connection to India, saying, “I’m the President of the European Council, but I’m also an overseas Indian citizen. This has a special meaning for me. I’m very proud of my roots in Goa, where my father’s family is from, and the link between Europe and India is personal to me.”

He noted the conclusion of trade negotiations between the EU and India, recalling their relaunch during a summit he hosted in May 2021. Costa emphasized that the agreement sends a strong message globally: amid a shifting global order, the European Union and India are strategic and reliable partners. “Today, we are taking our partnership to the next level. As the world’s two largest democracies, we are working together to deliver tangible benefits for our citizens and to promote a resilient global order that supports peace, stability, economic growth, and sustainable development,” he said.

Costa underlined that EU-India cooperation is vital for shared prosperity and security, adding that trade acts as a geopolitical stabilizer and a driver of economic growth. He called the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) historically significant, reinforcing a rules-based economic order and promoting mutual prosperity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the conclusion of the India-EU FTA, describing it as “not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity.” He highlighted the exponential growth in India-EU relations, rooted in democratic values, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, noting that bilateral trade now stands at €180 billion. Modi emphasized expanding cooperation in areas such as strategic technology, clean energy, digital governance, and development, which will benefit all sections of society.

The FTA, India’s largest to date, is expected to create opportunities for farmers, small businesses, and service providers. In the presence of PM Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa, India and the EU signed several agreements and MoUs. These include the ‘Towards 2030 – A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda,’ the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership, and agreements on mobility, disaster risk management, green hydrogen, and financial regulatory cooperation between the Reserve Bank of India and the European Securities and Markets Authority, among others.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Youtube@MEAIndia.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit Japan on January 13–14 for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The leaders are scheduled to meet in Nara City on January 13, followed by a dinner, where discussions are expected to cover regional and global matters, as well as economic and social issues. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman speak with Michiyo Ishida, CNA’s senior correspondent, for more details.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Singapore’s “dead birds” hotline recorded its highest number of reports last year, reflecting a growing toll of birds killed after colliding with glass surfaces on buildings. The museum notes that the problem is expanding beyond sheer numbers, now affecting newer and sometimes rarer species as urban development intensifies. The report explores the causes behind these collisions, the reasons bird-friendly architecture has yet to become common practice, and the practical solutions—such as specially treated glass and façade modifications—that could significantly reduce bird deaths. Andrea Heng and Rani Samtani discuss these issues with Dr Tan Yen Yi, Research Fellow at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party has selected 46-year-old academic Yodchanan Wongsawat, a nephew of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as its leading candidate for the premiership in the February election. The move brings the influential Shinawatra family back into focus as Thailand grapples with deadly border clashes with Cambodia and internal challenges within the party. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the implications of his candidacy for party cohesion, border security, and the country’s political trajectory with Kevin Hewison, Emeritus Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Starting 6 pm tomorrow (13 Dec 2025), train commuters can check a single webpage for updates on trip delays. Daniel Martin talks with Professor Raymond Ong, Transport Analyst and Deputy Head (Research) at NUS’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.