AI News

**Historic Milestone: India Celebrates as Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Blasts Off to ISS**

India rejoices as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the second Indian in space, 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight. The Axiom-4 mission, a collaboration between NASA, ISRO, ESA, and SpaceX, marks a giant leap for India’s space ambitions. Shukla’s journey to the ISS paves the way for India’s 2027 human spaceflight mission.

**From Fighter Pilot to Space Explorer: Shubhanshu Shukla’s Stellar Journey**

Indian Air Force veteran Shubhanshu Shukla, with over 2,000 flying hours, is now scripting history as the first Indian to visit the ISS. The 39-year-old astronaut carries the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians on this landmark commercial spaceflight. His mission strengthens India’s roadmap for a space station by 2035 and a Moon landing by 2040.

**Axiom-4 Launch Ignites National Pride as India Returns to Space**

The successful SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of Axiom-4, carrying India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, has sparked nationwide celebrations. PM Modi hailed the mission, calling it a proud moment for India’s space aspirations. Shukla’s 26-hour journey to the ISS brings invaluable experience for ISRO’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission.

**Global Collaboration Powers India’s Space Dreams Forward**

The Axiom-4 mission unites NASA, ISRO, ESA, and SpaceX in a historic orbital partnership. Alongside astronauts from Poland and Hungary, Shukla’s flight revives India’s space legacy after four decades. ISRO’s $59M investment in this mission accelerates preparations for India’s independent human spaceflight program.

**Holocaust survivor reunites with American soldier who liberated him 80 years later**

An emotional reunion brought together Holocaust survivor Andrew Roth and U.S. Army veteran Jack Moran, eight decades after Moran helped liberate Buchenwald concentration camp. The meeting, captured by the USC Shoah Foundation, highlights fading survivor testimonies and the urgent need to preserve Holocaust history. As antisemitism rises globally, their powerful story serves as a reminder of resilience and humanity’s darkest chapter.

**UN Report: Global Fertility Crisis Driven by Lack of Choice, Not Desire**

Millions worldwide can’t have the children they want due to financial struggles, healthcare gaps, and gender inequality, says a UN report. The UNFPA warns that rising costs, conflicts, and partner shortages—not rejection of parenthood—are limiting family planning. Nearly 40% of respondents cited economic barriers as the main reason for having fewer kids than desired.

**Falling Birth Rates Linked to Financial and Social Barriers, Not Parenthood Rejection**

Right-wing governments blame declining fertility on people avoiding parenthood, but the UN report reveals most still want children. The crisis stems from restricted reproductive choices, not a lack of desire. Countries like South Korea and Sweden show stark contrasts, with financial pressures impacting fertility differently.

**UN Urges Governments to Expand Reproductive Choices Amid Global Fertility Drop**

The UNFPA calls for policies that make parenthood more affordable, including paid leave and better healthcare, rather than coercive measures. With fertility rates below replacement levels in half of surveyed nations, experts warn economic and social support is key to reversing the trend. Immigration alone won’t solve labor shortages caused by ageing populations.

**The Hidden Truth About LLM API Pricing – Why It’s Unsustainable**

The LLM API market is in a strategic land-grab phase, with providers like OpenAI and Google subsidizing costs by up to 90%—but this pricing illusion won’t last. As Jevons’ Paradox predicts, cheaper tokens lead to higher consumption, setting the stage for inevitable price hikes. Businesses must prepare now by optimizing token usage and exploring hybrid deployment models before the market corrects.

**LLM API Prices Are Too Good to Be True – Here’s Why**

Current LLM API pricing is artificially low, with providers absorbing 90% of the actual inference costs to dominate the market—just like Uber’s early subsidy strategy. As competition consolidates and investor pressure mounts, prices will rise dramatically. Companies relying on these APIs must build cost flexibility into their AI strategies today.

**How to Future-Proof Your AI Budget as LLM API Prices Rise**

With LLM API providers heavily subsidizing costs, businesses face a rude awakening when prices inevitably spike. Historical trends like Amazon S3 and Uber prove that deep discounts precede steep hikes. The solution? Optimize token usage, adopt multi-provider routing, and evaluate on-premise options before the market shifts.

**The Coming Price Shock in LLM APIs – Are You Ready?**

Today’s LLM API prices are a temporary illusion, masking a 90% subsidy from providers racing for market dominance. When prices rise—driven by consolidation, investor demands, and GPU shortages—businesses locked into inefficient AI workflows will pay the price. Smart companies are already optimizing costs and preparing for the new pricing reality.

**BYD Partners with voestalpine to Supply Steel for New Hungary Factory**

Chinese automaker BYD has teamed up with Austrian steel giant voestalpine to supply sheet steel for its new passenger-car plant in Hungary. The deal, confirmed by BYD’s Stella Li and voestalpine CEO Herbert Eibensteiner, strengthens BYD’s European localization strategy. BYD cited voestalpine’s high-quality steel and proximity to its Hungary facility as key factors in the partnership. The move aligns with BYD’s goal to be seen as a European manufacturer within five years.

**BYD Expands European Footprint with Hungary Factory and R&D Center**

BYD is accelerating its European growth with a new factory in Hungary and plans for a dedicated R&D center in Budapest. The company aims to sell vehicles in 29 European countries by 2025, supported by over 1,000 retail outlets. BYD’s Stella Li emphasized the brand’s long-term commitment to Europe, beyond just sales. The voestalpine steel supply deal marks another step in BYD’s strategy to localize production and strengthen its European supply chain.

**Austria Chosen as EU Pilot for BYD’s V2H Technology**

BYD has selected Austria as the EU pilot market for its Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) technology, leveraging the country’s high solar energy adoption. With half of Austrian households using solar panels, demand for energy-efficient solutions is strong. BYD dealerships report significant customer interest in V2H, which maximizes solar efficiency and cuts energy costs. The pilot, managed with a local partner, reinforces BYD’s innovation push in Europe.

**Trump rallies Senate GOP behind massive spending bill at White House meeting**

President Trump met with Senate Republicans to secure support for the controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” aiming to push his legislative agenda forward. GOP leaders emerged confident, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune vowing unity to pass the bill despite internal divisions. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s fierce opposition on social media has added pressure, as some senators dismiss his criticism while others echo his fiscal concerns.

**Trump pushes megabill as Senate GOP weighs key changes ahead of deadline**

President Trump hosted Senate Finance Committee Republicans at the White House to shore up support for a sweeping $2.4 trillion spending package ahead of a July 4 deadline. While GOP leaders insist they’ll pass the bill, deep divisions remain over spending cuts and tax policy. Elon Musk’s public attacks on the legislation have further complicated negotiations, with some senators dismissing his stance while others share his deficit fears.

**Senate GOP huddles with Trump as megabill faces Musk backlash and internal dissent**

Senate Republicans met with President Trump to strategize on passing a massive spending bill, despite pushback from fiscal hawks and Elon Musk’s scathing criticism. While GOP leaders project confidence, key senators warn the legislation needs major changes before securing enough votes. With a tight deadline looming, Trump is working to rally reluctant Republicans behind the controversial package.

**Trump pressures Senate GOP to back megabill amid Musk’s fiery opposition**

President Trump urged Senate Republicans to unite behind a sweeping legislative package, even as Elon Musk blasted the bill as a “disgusting abomination” on social media. While GOP leaders insist they’ll pass the bill, deep divisions over spending and tax cuts threaten to derail the effort. The White House meeting aimed to ease concerns, but some senators remain unconvinced ahead of a critical deadline.

**Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission to ISS delayed again—now targeting June 22 launch**

NASA and Axiom Space have postponed the Ax-4 astronaut launch to June 22, allowing more time to assess repairs on the ISS’s leaky Zvezda module. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, now fully repaired after its own liquid oxygen leak, stands ready at Kennedy Space Center. This mission will make history by sending the first astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary to the ISS. Stay tuned for updates as teams finalize preparations for this groundbreaking crewed flight.

**Former CFA Institute CMO charged with embezzling $6M to fund luxury lifestyle**
Manhattan prosecutors allege Michael Collins, 61, stole millions from employers to splurge on club memberships, travel, and a $150K engagement ring.

**Ex-finance exec accused of embezzling $6M via fake companies, luxury spending spree**
Collins allegedly funneled stolen funds through shell companies while working for the CFA Institute and Pearson, prosecutors say.

**Finance exec’s lavish spending exposed: $150K ring, fine dining, and travel on stolen $6M**
The former CFA Institute CMO pleaded not guilty after allegedly using embezzled money for high-end purchases over eight years.

**CFA Institute ex-marketing chief faces charges in $6M embezzlement scheme**
Prosecutors say Collins spent stolen funds on luxury goods and a boutique engagement ring before landing a new CMO role.

**Giant Michael Jackson Statues: Where Are They Now?**

Three decades ago, 32-foot Michael Jackson statues appeared worldwide to promote his *HIStory* album—but where are they today? Some still stand in bizarre locations, from a Dutch McDonald’s to an abandoned South African theme park. Others have vanished, possibly destroyed or hidden away. Despite controversy, these eerie pop relics endure, scattered across the globe like forgotten monuments to the King of Pop.

**SEO Keywords:** Michael Jackson statues, HIStory album, pop culture relics, abandoned MJ statues, King of Pop memorabilia.

**Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav wants to ditch cable TV networks—here’s why**

Warner Bros. Discovery is splitting into two companies—one for streaming and studios, the other for struggling cable networks like CNN and TNT.

**Cable TV is dying—and even media giants don’t want to own it anymore**

With cord-cutting on the rise, Warner Bros. Discovery and Comcast are offloading cable networks, betting on streaming instead.

**Is CNN’s future in jeopardy? Warner Bros. Discovery’s split raises big questions**

As Warner spins off its cable networks, CNN’s uncertain fate highlights the challenges of legacy TV in a streaming-first world.

**Private equity’s next target? Shrinking—but still profitable—cable TV networks**

Media giants like Warner Bros. Discovery are unloading cable assets—could private equity swoop in for the cash flow?