FirstUp: Launch of Nasa-Isro joint satellite Nisar, Fed chief Jerome Powell's presser... The headlines today

It is set to be a busy Wednesday with several events lined up for the day.

Firstly, Nasa-Isro’s Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) is set to be launched today in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference today following the conclusion of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

Protests are expected to continue in Kyiv as Ukrainian civil society demands that the government fully restore the independence of the nation’s key anti-corruption agencies.

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem is set to address the anniversary of the killing of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day.

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Nisar to be launched

The Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) satellite is set to be launched today aboard India’s GSLV-F16 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota. Jointly developed by Isro and Nasa, the satellite is engineered for high-resolution imaging of Earth, regardless of weather or time of day.

Nisar marks the first major Earth observation satellite to be jointly developed by the United States and India. The satellite combines Nasa’s L-band radar, capable of penetrating vegetation and forest canopies, with Isro’s S-band radar, better suited for monitoring soil and surface changes. This dual-frequency capability gives Nisar a unique edge in detecting a wide range of Earth phenomena with unparalleled accuracy.

Powell to hold a press conference

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will hold a highly anticipated press conference today following the conclusion of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. This post-meeting press conference is a crucial event for financial markets and economists worldwide.

During the press conference, Powell will elaborate on the FOMC’s latest monetary policy decision, which will be released simultaneously with the FOMC statement. While the specific decision regarding the federal funds rate will be the headline, Powell’s commentary and responses to journalists’ questions will provide invaluable insights into the Fed’s economic outlook, its assessment of inflation and the labour market, and its potential future policy trajectory.

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Kyiv protests to restore independence of anti-corruption agencies

Protests are expected to continue in Kyiv today as Ukrainian civil society demands that the government fully restore the independence of the nation’s key anti-corruption agencies.

These demonstrations erupted following the Parliament’s passage of a controversial Bill No. 12414 on July 22, which critics argue effectively strips the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sapo) of their autonomy by giving new powers to the Prosecutor General.

Thousands have taken to the streets in Kyiv and other major cities since the bill’s passage, marking the first significant anti-government protests in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022. Protesters, including war veterans and young activists, chanted slogans like “Hands off Nabu” and “Shame,” expressing widespread outrage over what they see as a severe setback to Ukraine’s democratic reforms and its efforts to combat entrenched corruption.

Hezbollah chief to deliver address on Fuad Shukr death anniversary

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem is expected to deliver a significant address commemorating the anniversary of the killing of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr .

Fuad Shukr, a highly decorated and influential figure within Hezbollah’s military apparatus, was killed on July 30, 2024, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, shortly after a drone strike killed Hamas political leader Saleh al-Arouri. Shukr was widely regarded as a key figure in Hezbollah’s military operations and its relations with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly in the development and deployment of the group’s missile capabilities.

In his address, Sheikh Naim Qassem is expected to honour Shukr as a martyr while also reinforcing Hezbollah’s commitment to its anti-Israel ideology and its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause.

With inputs from agencies