India has allocated ₹1,500 crore for its first mission to study Venus, marking a major step in the country’s expanding space exploration programme. The mission, known as Shukrayaan, will examine the atmosphere and geological features of the planet to understand how it may have influenced Earth over thousands of years. Speaking to a delegation of journalists, Nilesh Desai, Director at the Indian Space Research Organisation in Ahmedabad, said the project has received financial approval from the Ministry of Atomic Energy and the Department of Space. Scientists have already begun preparato
President Lee Jae Myung on Monday said South Korea will push to establish a global investment fund in Singapore by 2030 to attract $300 million for startups and the artificial intelligence sector. Lee made the announcement at the AI Connect Summit in Singapore, attended by government officials, industry leaders, and experts from both countries to explore joint research and investment opportunities. He said the world is undergoing a “massive civilisational transformation” driven by AI and stressed that South Korea and Singapore must collaborate to stay competitive. The South Korean l
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Semiconductor Assembly, Test and Packaging (ATMP) facility of Micron Semiconductor Technology India Private Limited in Sanand, marking a major milestone in India’s semiconductor manufacturing journey. According to an official release from the Prime Minister’s Office, the inauguration marks the commencement of commercial production and shipment of the first domestically manufactured semiconductor memory modules from the facility. The project, whose groundbreaking ceremony was held in September 2023, was the first proposal approved
Investment proposals worth over ₹1,600 crore were announced to strengthen Gujarat’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, spanning manufacturing, specialty chemicals, equipment, R&D, and advanced technology startups. The announcements, made during the Gujarat Semiconnect Conference in Gandhinagar, underline rising interest from Japanese and South Korean companies in the state’s electronics sector. Japan’s Horiba Group, through Horiba India Pvt Ltd, signed an MoU to set up a semiconductor-focused R&D centre in Ahmedabad for mass-flow controllers and advanced instrumentation
India’s next agricultural revolution will be powered by artificial intelligence, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said at the AI4Agri 2026 Summit in Mumbai, positioning AI at the heart of farm policy, research, and investment. Addressing the Global Conference on AI in Agriculture and Investor Summit 2026, he said AI offers scalable solutions to chronic challenges such as erratic weather, fragmented markets, and information gaps. Even a 10% productivity gain for 600 million farmers across the Global South, he noted, could become the century’s largest poverty-reduction opportunity. Linking
Riyadh is set to take centre stage in the global artificial intelligence landscape as the Global AI Show (GAIS) opens on June 29, convening world leaders, innovators, and technology pioneers for two days of high-level dialogue and collaboration. Organised by VAP Group and powered by Times of AI, the summit will spotlight breakthroughs in AI, machine learning, and automation while fostering partnerships across sectors. Building on past editions that featured prominent voices from government, healthcare, and digital innovation, GAIS 2026 will deliver keynote addresses, expert panels, and han
Narendra Modi has virtually laid the foundation stone of the HCL-Foxconn joint venture project, India Chip Pvt. Ltd., at the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority in Jewar, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The upcoming semiconductor facility marks a major step in India’s pursuit of technological self-reliance and reinforces the Prime Minister’s vision of positioning the country as a trusted global hub for high-end electronics and chip manufacturing. Addressing the gathering via video conferencing, Modi said the project would strengthen India’s footprint in the global semico
Saudi Arabia has unveiled a new solar-powered desert robot capable of planting trees in extreme arid conditions with minimal human intervention. The innovation forms part of the Saudi Green Initiative, a national drive aimed at combating desertification and restoring ecosystems across the Kingdom and the wider Middle East. Powered entirely by solar energy, the robot operates without fuel or external charging, enabling it to function throughout the day using abundant desert sunlight. Equipped with artificial intelligence and guided navigation systems, it can traverse rocky and dry terrain w
Narendra Modi chaired a high-level roundtable with CEOs of leading AI and deeptech startups at Seva Teerth in New Delhi, spotlighting India’s accelerating push to become a global AI powerhouse. The Prime Minister explored how artificial intelligence can transform key sectors such as agriculture, environmental protection, healthcare, space, and higher education in mother tongues, ensuring inclusive and population-scale impact. Emphasising responsible innovation, he called for strong data governance frameworks and cautioned against misinformation, while encouraging the development of AI so
Dubai is accelerating the use of robotics in emergency response, deploying advanced firefighting robots to tackle blazes in hazardous environments. Operated by Dubai Civil Defence, the remotely controlled system is designed for high-risk situations involving toxic gases, chemical fires, and extreme heat. Since the beginning of the year, the robot has been used in real-life fire incidents. The robotic unit can spray water up to 60 metres (196 feet) and pump approximately 2,400 litres (634 gallons) per minute, about 40 litres per second. Equipped with sensors to detect gas leaks and hazardou