Indian space agency ISRO’s Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) brought two satellites,  travelling at over 28,000 kilometeres per hour, within three metres of each other on Sunday (Jan 12). This marks an important step towards India becoming the fifth nation to achieve autonomous space docking, joining the US, Russia, Europe, and China.

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India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will attend the swearing-in ceremony of US President-Elect Donald Trump on January 20. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Jaishankar will represent India at the event, following an invitation from the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee.

California Governor Gavin Newsom faced criticism for his administration’s response to the Los Angeles wildfires. He claimed that unclear communication and "finger-pointing" among local leaders and his own team left him without accurate information about the situation.

In other news, outgoing US President Joe Biden surprised reporters during a briefing on the California wildfires on Saturday (Jan 11) by whistling loudly to stop their questions about unrelated topics like Ukraine and the Middle East. "Let’s focus on this issue now," Biden said, promising to address other matters later.

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ISRO SPADEX satellites were 3meters away from making history; docking later

ISRO SPADEX satellites were 3meters away from making history; Docking later Photograph: (X)

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By 7 am on Sunday, 12th January, ISRO's Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) twin satellites travelling at speeds of more than 28,000kmph, came within three meters of each other in a precisely controlled and coordinated manner, just moments short of making history. India is working towards becoming the fifth nation after the US, Russia, Europe, and China to perform space docking—a process that involves mechanically attaching two spacecrafts fully autonomously.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to attend Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to attend Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony

India's Ministry of External Affairs released a statement on Sunday (Jan 12) stating that External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will represent the Government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of US President-Elect Donald Trump. "On the invitation of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar will represent the Government of India at the Swearing-In Ceremony of President-Elect Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States of America," the statement said.

California Governor Newsom deflects blame as wildfires claims 16 lives

The Democratic leader suggested he could not get “straight answers” about what went wrong as “finger-pointing” amid the ongoing disaster hampered his response. Photograph: (AFP)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom deflected the blame when asked about the public’s anger over his administration’s response to the devastating Los Angeles wildfire, saying that local leaders and his own team failed to provide him with a clear picture of the situation. The Democratic leader suggested he could not get “straight answers” about what went wrong as “finger-pointing” amid the ongoing disaster hampered his response.

Biden silences media during California wildfires briefing, grabs attention by whistling loudly

United States President Joe Biden Photograph: (AFP)

Outgoing United States President Joe Biden, while addressing the press briefing on California wildfires on Saturday (Jan 11), stunned onlookers by whistling in the Oval Office loudly to silence the questions asked by the reporters. He put his fingers in his mouth and whistled as the media asked questions about Ukraine and the Middle East, as per Daily Mail reports.“Whoa, hey, I’ll talk later this afternoon about a number of things you’re asking about. But let’s focus on this issue now,” Biden said.

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