It’s been months since India took a short and quick walk on the Moon as Chandrayaan-3 strolled around; polarimetric radar data used from the Chandrayaan-2 Dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar has hinted at a major discovery that could be the much-needed evidence for the possibility of water in polar craters of the lunar surface.

The study was a collaboration between the scientists of Space Application Centre (SAC)/ ISRO, with researchers at IIT Kanpur, University of Southern California, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and IIT Dhandbad. 

The study indicates that the amount of subsurface ice in the first couple of meters is about 5 to 8 times larger than the one at the surface in both poles. That’s not all; the study also suggests that the amount of water ice in the northern polar region is double what is found in the southern polar region. It also indicates that the water on the lunar poles is outgassing during volcanism in the lmbrian period.

ISRO stated, “The results also conclude that the distribution of water ice is likely governed by Mare volcanism and preferential impact cratering,”

The team made use of several instruments to make this major discovery. It made use of radar, optical, laser, neutron spectrometerer, thermal radiometerer, and ultra-violet spectro meter. ISRO also said “the presented comprehensive understanding of the occurrence of water ice in the lunar poles, in this study, is crucial for supporting ISRO’s future in-situ volatile exploration plans on the Moon”.

Meanwhile, China has also released a 53-day-long lunar probe mission to bring samples from the far side of the Moon for the first time and bring them for scientific studies. The far side of the Moon is not visible to us on Earth.

The Chang’e 6 mission is tasked with collecting and then returning the samples from the Moon’s far side to Earth. It’s the first endeavor of its kind in the history of human lunar exploration, according to the China National Space Administration. 

The Kerala High Court has recently ruled in favor of a teenage rape survivor who was denied permission to terminate her 28-week-old pregnancy, which was caused by sexual abuse. 

According to the legal news website LiveLaw, Justice Kauser Edappagath observed that denial of permission to terminate pregnancy in such a case is equivalent to imposing forced motherhood and deprivation of the right to life with dignity, which is guaranteed by the Indian Constitution with Article 21. 

The sixteen-year-old rape victim was not allowed to medically terminate her pregnancy because its duration was more than 24 weeks, which is the maximum permissible duration of abortion in India, according to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP).

Despite the victim’s 28-week pregnancy, Justice Kauser Edappgath noted that according to MTP Act provisions, a rape survivor can’t be forced to give birth to a child of a man who raped her, according to Bar and Bench.

“Section 3(2) of the MTP Act provides that if the continuance of the pregnancy would cause grave injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman, the pregnancy can be terminated. Explanation 2 of section 3 (2) says that where the pregnancy was caused by rape, the anguish caused by the pregnancy shall be presumed to constitute a grave injury to the mental health of the pregnant woman. Hence, a rape victim cannot be forced to give birth to a child of a man who sexually assaulted her. Declining permission to a rape victim to medically terminate her unwanted pregnancy would amount to forcing her with the responsibility of motherhood and denying her human right to live with dignity, which forms a significant part of the right of life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution,” Bar and Bench quoted the Court as saying in the case on Saturday.

In her specific case, the Kerala HC also observed the essence of every woman and girl’s fundamental right to equality and privacy lies in their right to make autonomous decisions when it comes to their reproductive functions.

The judgment by the court underlines the trauma caused to women if they’re forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy. According to reports, the victim was abused by her 19-year-old lover and became pregnant. The petition was filed by the victim’s mother on behalf of her to seek permission for abortion. The Counsel of the petitioner had contended that abortion is required for the mental well-being of the minor victim. 

Canadian police have decided to arrest members of an alleged hit squad investigators that were believed to be tasked by the government of India with ending Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s life in Surrey, according to media reports on Friday. 

The ties between Canada and India have been strained ever since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of the “potential” involvement of Indian authorities in the killing of Najjar. However, New Delhi rejected Trudeau’s charges and called them “absurd”.

Quoting sources who’ve been close to the investigation, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the police are actively investigating possible links to three additional murders in Canada, including the shooting of an 11-year-old boy in Edmonton.

Members of the hit squad are alleged to have played different roles as shooters, drivers, and spotters on the day Nijjar was killed at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, according to sources.  

The men were arrested Friday during police operations in at least two provinces. Sources state that investigations have identified the alleged hit squad members in Canada a few months ago and have been keeping them under tight surveillance. Police are expected to announce the arrest and share some details of their investigations later on Friday. 

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Canadian citizen, was shot dead on 18th June 2024, shortly after evening prayer at his Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey. India on Thursday rejected the fresh comments made by PM Trudeau’s killing of Najjar and said the remarks once again showcased the political space given in Canada to extremism, separatism, and violence.  Trudeau even addressed a Khalsa Day event in Toronto on Sunday that was attended by some pro-Khalistan supporters. 

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has decided to reject a key proposal from the opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, at their first talks since Yoon took over the office, showcasing the rift between both sides after the ruling party’s complete defeat in elections. 

At a meeting on Monday which lasted for more than two hours, yoon ended up rejecting Lee’s proposal to provide a one-time cash handout to all people in the country for a total of 13 trillion won as a way to push forward the economy.

Lee Do-woon said at a briefing, “The president’s position is that considering the impact of inflation, interest rates, and government finances, it is favorable to provide targeted support to those in need under current circumstances”

The meeting was seen as part of Yoon’s effort to switch his leadership style, and reverse the impression of a top-down administration. His conservative People Power Party had a massive defeat in April 10 parliamentary election, which was widerly seen as the only referendum on the president who has three years left in the suppose. Support for yoon is at an all0time low.

“I had high hopes for the meeting, but I could not find any changes,” Sungjoon Park, a spokesperson and lawmaker for the Democratic Party, said in a statement. Park said Lee was “frustrated and disappointed” after the meeting.

While Lee, and Yoon haven’t reached an agreement on the cash handouts, both sides know about the increasing medical school quota, an issue that led to a prolonged walkout by thousands of trainee doctors in protest of the plan. 

According to a Gallup Korea weekly survey issued on Friday, Yoon’s support rating was most recently at 24%, only marginally higher than an all-time low of 23% the previous week. Those who held a negative opinion of Yoon criticized him for his communication abilities and economic management.

A court in Romania’s capital on Friday has ruled out a trial that can start in the case of influencer Andrew Tate, who has been charged with human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang of sexually exploiting multiple women.

The Bucharest Tribunal ruled that the prosecutor’s case against Tate met the legal requirements but did not set a date for the trial to begin. Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, said they’ve appealed the ruling.

Tate, who is 37, was arrested in December 2022 near Bucharest along with his brother Tristian Tate and two women. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four in Junge last year. However, they’ve denied all allegations.

“The ruling issued by the preliminary chamber judge lacks legal basis and reasoning,” Eugen Vidineac, one of the brothers’ lawyers, said after the decision. “We have filed a strong appeal as we believe the ruling to be unlawful.”

Ahead of the court’s decision on Friday, the legal case had been discussed for months in the preliminary chamber stages, a process in which the defendant can challenge prosecutors’ evidence and case file.

“We reassert our belief in the fairness of the arguments we presented during the preliminary hearing and in the memoranda concerning the legality of the criminal investigation,” said Ioan Gliga, another lawyer for the Tates. “Although they did not receive the necessary attention in the preliminary hearing, we are confident that the appeal court judge panel will support us.”

Andrew Tate, who has managed to amass 9.1 million followers on social media platform X, has repeatedly claimed that the prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that it’s all just a political conspiracy to completely silence him.

Tate was also previously banned from various social media handles for his misogynistic views and hate speech. Both Tates are dual British-US citizens.