BENGALURU: India’s first space mission for 2026 will launch a defence satellite built by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), a satellite for ministry of external affairs (MEA) to be used by Nepal, test on-orbit refuelling technology of a Bengaluru-based startup, aside from 13 other satellites, including foreign ones from UK, France and Brazil.The launch of PSLV-C62 mission, Isro said, is scheduled for January 12 at 10.17 am from the first launch pad (FLP) of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. The main satellite the mission will launch is DRDO’s Anvesha, also called EOS-N1.EOS-N1 is designed to provide the Indian military with advanced, unprecedented surveillance advantages over adversaries. The hyperspectral imaging payload can analyse light in hundreds of wavelengths to identify the materials an object is made of, a capability beyond the human eye.While this satellite is expected to bridge the gap in strategic surveillance to some degree, the mission will also launch AyulSAT, built by Bengaluru’s OrbitAID Aerospace, which if successful will be the first step towards India demonstrating the crucial on-orbit refuelling technology which will have far-reaching benefits.OrbitAID founder and CEO Sakthikumar Ramachandran terms AayulSAT more than a mission. “…It’s the foundation of the on-orbit economy,” he says, while the company says: “Years from now, this won’t be remembered as a launch but as the moment India made space serviceable. From India to the world!”A third important satellite will be Munal, built by Nepal’s Antharkshya Pratishtan with help from India’s ministry of external affairs (MEA). It is intended to carry an Earth observation payload to support environmental monitoring and capacity building, marking another step in Nepal’s entry into space-based applications.

13 More Satellites

Aside from these three, the mission will put into orbit 13 more satellites, including five — CGUSAT, DSUSAT, MOI-1, LACHIT and DR-1 — by Indian startup Dhruva Space. They will demonstrate or validate multiple technologies, including indigenous satellite bus capabilities and subsystems, communication and payload subsystems in low Earth orbit, multi-payload integration and operational performance of larger CubeSat platforms, basic satellite operations and communication links, etc.Foreign satellites on the mission include five satellites by Brazil’s AlltoSpace, Theos-2 from SSTL, UK, and KID Capsule by RIDE, France. The five satellites from Brazil are EduSat, Uaisat, Galaxy Explorer, Orbital Temple, and Aldebaran-1. The last is a CubeSat called Sanskarsat by Laxman Gyanpith, India. All satellites have been contracted through Space PSU NewSpace India Limited (Nsil), the commercial arm of the department of space.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Wednesday announced that he will be meeting officials in Denmark next week.“I’ll be meeting with them next week,” Rubio told news agency APThe demand for Greenland is not a hidden fact. Earlier, the Danish PM said that if the United States decided to attack another Nato country, which is Greenland, then everything would stop, including Nato.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday said that the Greenland takeover means the end of the Nato military alliance, DW reported.Frederiksen said that “everything would stop” when it comes to cooperation with Washington in the event of a US attack on another Nato member.“If the United States decides to attack another Nato country, then everything would stop — that includes Nato and therefore post-World War II security,” Frederiksen said.Trump’s “love-hate” for NatoTrump, from the very beginning, has made its clear about his intentions. Trump’s long-standing scepticism of Nato — from scolding “delinquent” allies to questioning whether America should defend Europe at all — has already rattled capitals across the continent. A recent summit papered over the cracks with higher defence pledges and flattery, but the fissures never really closed.During the 2024 election campaign, Donald Trump said he would not protect “delinquent” Nato members that did not meet the then target of spending 2% of GDP on defence. His defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, emphasised in February that the US was no longer “primarily focused” on defending Europe, as per the Guardian.The comments provoked alarm in Europe, but diplomacy ahead of June’s Nato summit appeared to have eased the problem. Nato allies, except Spain, agreed to lift defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, following comments by secretary general Mark Rutte, who called the US president “daddy”.While it seems that Trump has no interest in Nato, voila! new thing happened. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said that the US will always be there for Nato, even if they won’t be there for the country.“Remember, for all of those big Nato fans, they were at 2% GDP, and most weren’t paying their bills, UNTIL I CAME ALONG. The USA was, foolishly, paying for them! I, respectfully, got them to 5% GDP, AND THEY PAY, immediately. Everyone said that couldn’t be done, but it could, because, beyond all else, they are all my friends. Without my involvement, Russia would have ALL OF UKRAINE right now. Remember, also, I single-handedly ENDED 8 WARS, and Norway, a Nato Member, foolishly chose not to give me the Noble Peace Prize. But that doesn’t matter! What does matter is that I saved Millions of Lives,” he said in a post.Greenland crisis puts Nato’s red lines to the testEurope’s postwar security order faces a potential breaking point if the United States moves to annex Greenland in 2026. European leaders increasingly believe the Trump White House is seriously considering such a step, framing it as a matter of Arctic security while quietly exploring diplomatic, legal and economic pathways to assert control. For Europe, the stakes go far beyond Greenland’s 57,000 residents: a US annexation of Nato territory would shatter the assumption that Washington remains a reliable ally rather than a predatory power. Yet Europe’s response options are painfully limited. The continent is still deeply dependent on US military capabilities, intelligence and nuclear deterrence, and its rearmament drive will take years to mature. That dependence has already been exploited, most notably when Europe accepted punitive trade tariffs to avoid provoking a US withdrawal from Ukraine and Nato. Greenland now looks like a replay of the same coercive playbook, Times magazine reported.US officials argue Denmark cannot adequately secure the Arctic against Russia and China, but European leaders counter that existing Nato frameworks already give Washington extensive military access. This fuels suspicion that the real objective is territorial expansion rather than security.What will happen to Nato if US took Greenland?Nato’s membership might not change even if the US took Greenland, as the treaty had no clear provision for expelling a country. Its preamble committed the US and other allies “to live in peace with all peoples and all governments” and “to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples”, wording once intended for use against a member that became communist during the Cold War.One alliance member turning on another, even over an Arctic territory with a population of less than 60,000, would undermine the credibility of the 76-year-old military alliance intended to ensure peace and mutual protection across Europe and the North Atlantic.Marion Messmer, a director at the Chatham House thinktank, said the latest threats had already caused damage at a time when the Russian menace felt more real, even as Moscow remained heavily embroiled in Ukraine. “If any European states harbour any illusions they can rely on US security guarantees, then this is the wake-up call we are not returning to that world,” Messmer said.

The Ashes 2025-26 series has reached a gripping climax at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), providing a masterclass in Test match theatre. England, despite already conceding the urn, arrived in Sydney with a point to prove after their dramatic Boxing Day victory in Melbourne. The match has been an oscillating battle of wills: England’s first innings of 384 was overtaken by Australia’s massive 567, but the visitors found a second wind on Day 4. Powered by Jacob Bethell’s resilient 142, England fought back to 302/8 at stumps, carving out a slim but psychologically significant lead of 119 runs. With only two wickets remaining and the pitch beginning to show the characteristic wear of a fifth-day SCG deck, the stage is set for a final-day shootout where momentum could shift with a single wicket.

Ashes 2025-26: Alastair Cook sets England’s defensive target to defeat Australia on Day 5 of Sydney Test

Following the conclusion of Day 4, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook sat down with TNT Sports to analyze the narrow path to victory for Ben Stokes’ men. Cook dismissed the possibility of a draw, noting that the rapid nature of the game and the deteriorating state of the surface have made a result almost certain. He argued that on a fifth-day pitch, a rarity in modern Test cricket where games often end earlier, even a modest target could prove insurmountable if England strikes early.

“I don’t think a draw is possible as there is too much cricket to go. However, one thing you can say about the 4th innings on a 5th day, which we don’t get very often—normally the pitch in a Test match with 3 or 4 days of cricket is pretty good. We might see this pitch deteriorate a lot more so suddenly 160 or 220, they obviously got 2 wickets left, if they got 6 wickets left they might get 220. So 160 is possible to defend. It is possible if you get early Australian wickets.” Cook said.

Cook’s analysis highlighted that the pressure of a fifth-day chase in Australia is uniquely difficult. He suggested that if England’s tail can wag just enough to push the lead past 150, the outside chance” becomes a very real threat to the Australian batting lineup.

Also WATCH: Ashes 2025-26: Jamie Smith’s brain fade ends in a farcical run-out by Jake Weatherald on Day 4 at the SCG

Ashes 2025-26: Cook identifies the specific wickets England must claim to trigger an Australian collapse

In the final segment of his analysis, Cook identified the specific wickets England must claim to trigger an Australian collapse. He pinpointed Travis Head as the ultimate prize, noting that his aggressive style is the engine of Australia’s “flying starts.” Without Head to take the game away, Cook believes the English bowlers can induce a sense of panic that has been missing for much of the series.

“England in particular have to get Travis Head out. They get Travis Head out, Australia won’t get the flying start, they can suddenly be 30/3. One or two suddenly explode, you get Steve Smith caught in the gully that he can’t play, then suddenly you can believe. We have seen so many matches in the past actually here in Australia where it is hard to chase the score. England haven’t got the specialist spinner which they would love, but it is an outside chance. They have given themselves an outside chance, so you never know.” Cook concluded.

Cook concluded by acknowledging that while England is disadvantaged by the lack of a frontline spinner to exploit the SCG cracks, the psychological weight of the Ashes means that belief is often more potent than technical advantage. If England can find a way to dismiss Smith and Head cheaply, the SCG might just witness one of the great final-day escapes in Ashes history.

Also READ: Fans celebrate in jubilation as Jacob Bethell brings up his maiden century in the SCG Test

Mumbai: Back on the election campaign trail for the fifth time, former mayor Vishakha Raut is keenly aware of the high stakes involved. In ward 191, which covers Dadar’s Shivaji Park, Sena’s home turf, it has boiled down to a battle for prestige between just two contenders: Raut from Sena (UBT) and Sena’s Priya Sarvankar, daughter of former MLA Sada Sarvankar.Asked how she feels fighting Sena itself for the seat, Raut quips, “All’s fair in love and war,” adding that this is a battle she believes she must win. Recalling her first poll campaign in 1992, Raut says she was pregnant at that time. “My son was born after I was elected,” she says, smiling. “So, I became an elected representative before I became a mother.” TOI accompanied Raut on Tuesday as she began her campaign for the day with a visit to the statue of Meenatai Thackeray, wife of the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Tuesday marked her birth anniversary and Raut joined party chief Uddhav Thackeray and his wife Rashmi Thackeray in paying respects. From there, Raut began door-to-door campaigning, starting with the seven-decade-old residential buildings Matruchhaya and Pitruchhaya. While Raut found it difficult to climb up the four-storey buildings, once up, she was welcomed with curd and sugar, a traditional offering before any auspicious beginning. At one home, a resident told her she was relieved that Sena (UBT) and MNS had reunited. At another, a woman, Bina Churry, introduced herself as Raut’s cousin. “My mother was a Churry. So, I have a number of relatives and well-wishers in this colony,” she said. Laxman Bhosale, local shakha pramukh, who accompanied Raut, said this was perhaps the only ward where there was no competition within Sena (UBT)’s cadre on who was to be given the candidature. “Everyone wanted Vishakhatai to contest.” There was visible support from the party’s ally for the BMC polls, MNS, too—its workers joined her on the campaign trail. When the morning session of the campaign wrapped up around 2pm, Raut ensured her supporters were taken care of and arranged for snacks. The workers returned in the evening to resume the campaign. Raut, a former MLA, carries a lesser known legacy. In 1982, she was a teacher at Sharadashram Vidyamandir, where two of her students were former cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli.

Greater Noida: India’s Nikhat Zareen (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan)

Greater Noida: Star boxers, including Nikhat Zareen and Minakshi Hooda, lived up to their top billing with easy wins but the spotlight once again fell on questionable refereeing as the National Boxing Championships were marred by fresh controversy and a disrupted bout here on Wednesday. Controversy dominated the men’s competition as one bout was abandoned after disruption while another one saw a boxer bite his opponent. Railways Sports Control Board boxer Ishmeet accused All India Police’s (AIP) Mohit of “biting” him during their middleweight (75kg) bout. After receiving a standing count in the opening round, Mohit allegedly bit Ishmeet on the shoulder multiple times in the second round, prompting the Railways boxer to complain to the referee and show visible bite marks. Despite the protest, the referee allowed the bout to continue. “We have opposed the decision. The referee should have stopped the bout immediately instead he let the bout go on,” a Railways coach told PTI. Biting in boxing is a severe foul that results in penalties up to immediate disqualification. After the bout, the medical officer took pictures of the alleged bite marks for inclusion in the Technical Delegate’s report. The Bantamweight (55kg) contest between Service’s Pawan Bartwal and Lalit was ruled in favour of the former after the second round following a mid-bout protest by AIP’s contingent. Pawan was leading 3-2 after the first two rounds when several AIP coaches and staff entered the field of play and the ring to question the decision, halting proceedings. The officials eventually rules that the Lalit had abandoned the bout as he failed to report to the centre even after the time warning. “Both rounds were 3-2 in favour of Pawan but the second round should have been 5-0 in our favour. The TD then created a ruckus and claimed that our boxer wasn’t ready to box in the third round and ruled the bout as abandoned,” an AIP coach said. The AIP said it would lodge an official protest. The Services camp countered the claims, stating that Lalit was tired and that the Police coaches staying inside the ring even after the time warning was a strategy to buy extra time for recovery. “In the Bantamweight (50-55 kg) bout between Pawan (SSCB) and Lalit (AIP), the boxer from the Police contingent was officially declared Abandoned in accordance with the competition rules after he did not turn up for the third round of the bout,” the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) said in a statement. BFI Technical Director Rajan Sharma said a detailed report on both incidents would be submitted to the federation. The latest controversies come just days after Olympian Ashish Chaudhary was disqualified in contentious circumstances from his opening-round bout, further raising concerns over officiating standards at the championships. In the other bouts of the day, Nikhat (51kg) needed less than two minutes to force a referee-stopped contest win against Ladakh’s Kulsooma Bano in the pre-quarterfinals, while Minakshi (48kg) secured a unanimous decision victory over Jharkhand’s Annu to advance to the last eight. World champion Jaismine Lamboria conceded a walkover in the 57kg category due to a shoulder injury. Amit Panghal (55kg) continued his campaign with a hard-fought 4-1 win over Krrishpal of Chandigarh, while Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg) and Hitesh Gulia (70kg) also progressed to the quarterfinals with dominant performances. PTI