1 Galaxy-Eye successfully launches Mission Drishti, the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
The satellite mission, Drishti, developed by Galaxy Eye, a Bengaluru -based private space startup, was successfully launched on Sunday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket . It will effectively provide images related to the impact of extreme weather disasters, agriculture, and border surveillance. Weighing 190 kilograms, Mission Drishti launched from California on Sunday. It is the largest satellite ever built by an Indian private company. This unique satellite features a multi-spectral camera and a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imager on a single platform . The Drishti mission is based on a novel hybrid system called OptoSAR , a technology that combines optical imaging and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on a single platform . Traditionally, satellites rely on either optical sensors or radar. Optical systems capture detailed and colorful images similar to photographs, but cloud cover and darkness can impair ground images. Radar systems, on the other hand, use radio waves to see through clouds and operate at night, although they typically produce less clear images. OptoSar bridges this gap by integrating both technologies into a single satellite. It captures optical and radar data simultaneously, then combines the outputs into a unified image. The result will be extremely detailed images of the Earth in all weather conditions, even under cloudy conditions. It is one of India’s highest-resolution satellites.
Space-tech firm Pixxel and AI startup Sarvam have partnered to develop an AI orbital data center satellite in India, the companies announced on Monday. Under the partnership, Pixxel will design, build, launch, and operate the Pathfinder satellite, while Sarvam will provide the artificial intelligence (AI) foundation, enabling both training and inference directly in orbit through full-stack language models running onboard. The 200-kilogram-class satellite, Pathfinder, expected to reach orbit by the fourth quarter of 2026, reflects the companies’ efforts to rapidly advance space-based computing capabilities. Unlike traditional satellite systems that rely on low-power processors, Pathfinder will feature data center-grade GPUs used in terrestrial AI infrastructure, enabling high-performance computing directly in space. The satellite will also feature Pixxel’s flagship hyperspectral imaging camera, making it one of the first satellites in the world capable of capturing high-resolution hyperspectral data and analyzing it in orbit using advanced AI models. This will eliminate the need to send large amounts of raw data to Earth, enabling real-time insights, faster decision-making, and applications in areas such as environmental monitoring, resource management, and infrastructure monitoring.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, is on a three-nation visit from May 2nd to 10th . During his visit to Jamaica, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar met with Prime Minister Andrew Holness and presented an electronic scoreboard on behalf of India . He also interacted with the Indian community in Jamaica. The electronic scoreboard, gifted by India, was officially dedicated by Prime Minister Andrew Holness at Sabina Park. “May this scoreboard count down many glorious innings to come. One of them is that of the India-Jamaica friendship.” Foreign Minister Jaishankar is on an official visit to Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago from May 2nd-10th, 2026. These countries have a special connection with India due to the presence of indentured labour communities.
4 US to launch Project Freedom for ships stranded in Strait of Hormuz
The US will launch Project Freedom to help ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz . US President Donald Trump has stated that this project will provide assistance to hundreds of ships and approximately 20,000 sailors. In a social media post, he stated that neutral and non-aligned countries have been affected by the Iran war, and the US will assist ships from these countries in safely escaping the restricted waters. According to the US Central Command, missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and 15,000 personnel will be utilized for this purpose.
5 ADB launches a new financing facility
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a new financing facility aimed at helping develop supply chains for essential critical minerals . This initiative will benefit countries in Asia and the Pacific in clean energy, batteries, electric vehicles, and digital technology . Called the Critical Minerals-to-Manufacturing Financing Partnership Facility, the facility aims to transform the region from a supplier of raw materials to a hub for high-value industries such as processing, manufacturing, and recycling. According to the bank, the initiative will promote project preparation, policy reform, and public investment and private financing in critical minerals value chains. This program was launched to help developing member countries advance into advanced manufacturing sectors. Asian Development Bank President Masato Kanda said in a statement that critical minerals will shape the next industrial era. The financing structure has two main components : grants and catalytic finance . Japan has agreed to provide US$20 million and the United Kingdom has agreed to provide US$16 million for this scheme.
An Indian Army contingent has left for Cambodia for the second military exercise, Sinbex, between India and Cambodia . The Army’s Additional Director General of Public Information said in a social media post that the exercise, which will be held from May 4 to 17, aims to improve coordination between the armies of the two countries for operations in semi-urban environments. The exercise will simulate counter-terrorism operations of peacekeeping forces during UN peacekeeping missions.
7 US-based Spirit Airlines announces closure of its business after 34 years
America’s low-cost airline Spirit Airlines has announced the closure of its business after 34 years . This airline operates hundreds of flights daily and employs approximately 17,000 people. The airline said that the process of shutting down operations has been started with immediate effect. Spirit Airlines had already gone bankrupt twice before. The company said that due to rising oil prices caused by the war with Iran, it had become impossible to continue operations. The airline has said that all the company’s flights have been cancelled and customer service is no longer available.
8 BCCI announces women’s T20 squad
On May 2 , the BCCI announced the Indian women’s team for the Women’s T20 World Cup . Harmanpreet Kaur will be the captain of the team, and Smriti Mandhana will be the vice-captain. The T20 World Cup will begin in England on June 12. India will begin its campaign against Pakistan on June 14 in Birmingham . This team includes 11 players from last year’s ODI World Cup victory. Punjab’s Nandani Sharma has been selected for the World Cup for the first time. The squad includes Harmanpreet Kaur (captain) , Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Bharti Fulmali, Shri Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Nandani Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Shreyanka Patil, and Radha Yadav. The women’s team will play its first match against Pakistan on June 14, 2026. The T20 World Cup began on August 5, 2004, with the first match between the England and New Zealand women’s teams. The Indian women’s cricket team played its first T20I on August 5, 2006, against England in Derby.
In tennis , Italy ‘s Yannick Sinner has won the men’s singles title at the Mutua Madrid Open . Yannick made history by winning his fifth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title by defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final . This is Sinner’s ninth Masters 1000 title. Since October last year, Sinner has won the Paris Masters, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and now the Madrid Open titles. He is now one step away from completing the cycle of Career Golden Masters, a feat achieved only by Novak Djokovic.
10 World Press Freedom Day
World Press Freedom Day is celebrated worldwide every year on 3 May . It is an occasion to encourage and develop press freedom initiatives and to assess the state of press freedom globally. This year’s theme is Building a Peaceful Future . World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, following a recommendation adopted at UNESCO’s 26th General Assembly in 1991. It is an occasion to recognize the fundamental principles of press freedom and to assess the state of press freedom globally.
11 International Firefighters Day
Fire has played a crucial role as a fundamental force in the development of human civilization . It has been a source of energy, progress, and light. However, when this same fire gets out of control, it can lead to destruction and tragedy. Amidst this conflict of creation and destruction, the force that stands firm in humanity’s defense is firefighters, who become the guardians of life and hope in every moment of crisis. International Firefighters’ Day, celebrated every year on May 4th , is an occasion for global respect, gratitude, and remembrance of these courageous warriors. The origin of International Firefighters’ Day is linked to a poignant incident that shook the entire world. In 1998, the devastating Linton bushfire broke out in the Australian state of Victoria. Five firefighters displayed indomitable courage and sacrificed their lives while trying to control the blaze.