Author: News Desk

India and other Asia-Pacific economies may face rising credit stress if the ongoing Gulf conflict continues, as surging energy prices and supply chain disruptions ripple through global markets, according to a Moody’s Ratings report released on Friday. The report highlighted that import-dependent countries could experience tighter access to fuel, food, and industrial inputs. Disruptions in fertilizer supply chains could reduce crop yields, drive up food prices, and raise affordability risks. In 2024, India sourced 43% of its petroleum and petroleum products from GCC countries, Iraq, and Iran, compared with 84% for Japan, 67% for Korea, and 42% for China. “Producers…

India’s Ministry of Defence has signed contracts totaling Rs 858 crore for two significant defense procurements. The first contract, valued at Rs 445 crore, is for the procurement of Tunguska Air Defence Missile Systems for the Indian Army. This deal was signed with JSC Rosoboronexport and is intended to strengthen India’s ground-based air defense capabilities. The second contract, worth Rs 413 crore, involves the depot-level inspection of P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft for the Indian Navy. This agreement was signed with Boeing India Defense Private Ltd under the Buy Indian category, ensuring 100% indigenous content. The inspection program will support…

Billionaire Elon Musk joined a phone call earlier this week between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, the New York Times reported. The call, held on Tuesday, was the first direct conversation between Modi and Trump since the US and Israel carried out military strikes on Iran on February 28. The discussion focused on the ongoing conflict in West Asia. According to the New York Times, Musk’s participation—confirmed by two unnamed US officials—was unusual, as private citizens rarely join conversations between two heads of state during a wartime crisis. His presence also suggests that Musk and Trump…

India’s first hydrogen-powered train has successfully completed its oscillation trial run, conducted by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) as part of its evaluation. Once it enters commercial service, India will join a select group of countries—including Germany, Sweden, Japan, and China—that operate hydrogen trains. The train will run on the Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana. Developed by the Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), it represents a major step toward cleaner and greener rail transport in India. In a written statement to the Rajya Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the project involved everything from initial design to prototype manufacturing,…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday pushed states to accelerate the shift toward alternative energy, citing rising uncertainty due to the West Asia conflict. Speaking at a meeting with chief ministers and lieutenant governors, he stressed the need to expand sources like biofuels, solar power, compressed biogas under the GOBARdhan initiative, and electric mobility, while also scaling up piped natural gas access. He also underlined the importance of stepping up domestic exploration of oil and natural gas, calling for active cooperation from states. The urgency comes as the conflict in West Asia disrupts global energy flows, particularly with the blockade…

India’s shipbuilding sector is shifting from reliance on foreign vessels to domestic ambition, with nearly 90% of trade historically carried on foreign ships. A ₹70,000 crore allocation under Make in India marks a decisive push to boost local capability, secure trade routes, and reduce strategic risk. Domestic yards are poised to benefit from defence orders, commercial demand, and global supply chain shifts, scaling up capacity and expertise. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders leads with a ₹23,758 crore order book, building destroyers, submarines, and commercial vessels, while also handling oil-sector engineering and offshore projects. Garden Reach Shipbuilders (GRSE) has an ₹18,482 crore backlog,…

Aditya Dhar’s latest film, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, has brought him back into the spotlight, not only for its box office success but also for the journey that led him here. Despite a limited release, the sequel has generated impressive revenue and reignited interest in Dhar’s career and earnings. Reports from The Financial Express estimate that Dhar and his wife, actor Yami Gautam, have a combined net worth exceeding USD 12 million (over ₹100 crore), with Dhar reportedly charging between ₹8–10 crore per film. Dhar’s early years were spent in Delhi, where he studied at Guru Harkrishnan Public School and later Hindu College. His interest…

Sixteen-year-old Indian-origin entrepreneur Rudrojas Kunvar, based in Germantown, Maryland, recently turned down a $300,000 (around ₹2.8 crore) offer from a venture capitalist to drop out of high school and focus full-time on his AI startup, Evion. Instead, he chose to continue his studies while growing the company, which provides a free AI-powered crop analysis tool that uses images captured by standard camera drones to help farmers assess crop health and identify areas needing water or fertiliser. Kunvar developed Evion after noticing that many farmers rely on guesswork to monitor crop disease and health. Inspired by camera-based systems used in companies…

JSW Motors Limited has partnered with French technology company Dassault Systèmes to implement a digital platform aimed at accelerating the design, engineering, and production of its upcoming new energy vehicles, supporting the group’s broader multi-billion-dollar automotive expansion. The collaboration will see JSW Motors adopt Dassault’s 3DExperience platform as its central digital framework, linking product design, engineering, and manufacturing to enable real-time data sharing and faster development cycles. The platform will support a modular vehicle architecture, allowing multiple models to share components, reducing costs and shortening time to market. Key tools such as Catia for 3D design and Enovia for product…

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has introduced India’s first Port of Refuge, marking a key step in strengthening the country’s maritime safety system. As India’s largest port operator, handling nearly 27% of the nation’s cargo, APSEZ is addressing a long-standing gap by creating a formal system to support ships in distress and manage emergencies more effectively. A Port of Refuge is a designated safe zone where vessels facing trouble can stabilise, protect crew, and minimise environmental damage. While common in major maritime nations, India lacked such a structured framework until now, despite its extensive coastline and strategic…