The United Arab Emirates has reached a landmark moment in its digital finance journey by conducting the first government transaction with the Digital Dirham. The UAE Central Bank launched this new digital money as part of its efforts to modernise the country's financial system. The transaction was completed using the government-backed mBridge platform. It was completed in less than two minutes, highlighting the speed and reliability of the country's expanding digital infrastructure. The Ministry of Finance and the Dubai Department of Finance collaborated to complete this first transaction.
South Korea has made another significant step towards growing its renewable energy portfolio, launching a 47 MW floating solar project at Imha Dam, east of Andong. The facility is currently fully operational and represents the country's largest floating photovoltaic installation on a multipurpose dam. It adds a layer of clean electricity generation to the site, which already has a 50 MW hydropower plant. Together, the two technologies ensure a consistent supply of power, with solar energy feeding the grid during the day and hydropower providing output after sunset. The project is the re
Indian travellers to Malaysia will soon find it easier to make payments, as Malaysia plans to enable transactions using India's Unified Payments Interface. Razorpay's Malaysian entity, Curlec, recently formed a new agreement with NPCI International Payments Limited, the global arm of the National Payments Corporation of India. The agreement was officially signed during the Global Fintech Fest 2025, which is a significant step towards growing India's digital payment footprint internationally. Once the system is operational, tourists from India will be able to pay directly in Malaysian Ringg
The United Arab Emirates has taken a significant step towards the future of communication technology by launching a nationwide 6G plan. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) unveiled the program at the 6G Committee's inaugural meeting, which included representatives from government bodies, telecom carriers, universities, research centres, and prominent global technology firms. The initiative reflects the UAE's desire to remain a global leader in innovation and digital transformation. TDRA described the 6G approach as forward-thinking, research-driven, an
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed another major milestone in its Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission by successfully testing the crew module's main parachutes at the Babina Field Firing Range in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. The trial was part of the ongoing Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Tests (IMAT), which aimed to validate the parachute system for the upcoming mission. The crew module's parachute system includes ten parachutes of four different varieties. The descent sequence starts with two apex cover separation parachutes, followed by two drogue parachutes to stabili
The United Arab Emirates is intensifying efforts to combat water scarcity through cloud seeding, a technique in which aircraft deposit salt particles into clouds to increase rainfall. When dark clouds gather over the desert mountains, pilots take off in specially equipped planes, aiming to transform vapour into vital rain. The effort, which costs millions every year, is part of the UAE's larger climate adaptation strategy. The technology, which uses potassium chloride to stimulate droplet formation, seeks to supplement freshwater supplies in a country that receives less than 100 millimetre
A delegation from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) visited Mauritius for three days, marking another milestone in the two countries' developing space technology and research collaboration. The visit was part of the ongoing India-Mauritius Joint Satellite Initiative, which aims to strengthen bilateral collaboration in satellite development and related applications. During the visit, ISRO personnel held thorough technical discussions with the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) and attended the 4th Joint Working Group meeting. A half-day collaborative workshop on th
Electric and hybrid vehicle sales in Australia are climbing to record highs, indicating a substantial shift in the country's automotive market. According to the Australian Automobile Association's most recent quarterly data, internal combustion engine vehicles have fallen below 70% of total market share for the first time. Electric vehicles accounted for 9.7% of all new car sales in the three months to September, the highest proportion ever recorded. A total of 29,298 battery-electric vehicles were sold, slightly up from the previous quarter's record. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles als
According to Vahan data, India's electric vehicle (EV) market continues to shatter records in October 2025, with total sales hitting 2,34,274 units, a 7% increase over the same month last year. This surpasses the previous peak of 2,19,722 units set in October 2024, indicating a new milestone in the country's expanding EV sector. Despite internal combustion vehicles becoming less expensive under GST 2.0, and EVs still incurring a 5% GST, the trend for electric mobility remained strong, with over 7,500 daily sales throughout the month. All segments contributed to the surge, with two- and
Millions of Australians will soon benefit from free electricity as the country's solar boom alters its energy environment. The government has announced that from July 2026, homes in New South Wales, South Australia, and parts of Queensland will receive up to three hours of free electricity each day through the new Solar Sharer plan. This initiative reflects years of rapid rooftop solar adoption. Solar installation costs in Australia have fallen to roughly one-third of those in the United States, prompting more than one in every three houses to adopt solar. Energy Minister Chris Bowen state