Author: News Desk

New Delhi marked the conclusion of Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025 with a large-scale event at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner capped the three-city visit with a smoother, well-managed programme, a clear contrast to the disorder that affected the Kolkata leg. Arrival delayed, interest remains strong Messi’s chartered flight from Mumbai was delayed due to poor weather, pushing his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport to the afternoon. He travelled straight to his hotel for a private interaction before heading to the stadium. The delay did little to dampen enthusiasm, with fans arriving…

The metro rail network in India is rapidly expanding, with 1,083 km currently operational across 25 cities, including Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu stated in a Lok Sabha reply that metro projects are capital-intensive and undergo detailed appraisal under the Metro Rail Policy, 2017. Approvals depend on feasibility and resource availability, so no fixed timeline can be assigned for new projects. In South India, 251.36 km of metro lines are under construction across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana. Currently, 247.68 km of…

ISRO has scheduled seven launches by March next year, including missions to test indigenous electric propulsion systems for satellites, demonstrate quantum key distribution technologies, and conduct the first uncrewed flight of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight project. The first of these launches is expected next week. Union Minister Jitendra Singh told Parliament that India’s heaviest rocket, LVM3, will deploy the Bluebird-6 communication satellite for US-based AST Spacemobile under a commercial arrangement with ISRO’s New Space India Limited (NSIL). Early next year, the human-rated LVM3 will carry Gaganyaan’s first uncrewed mission, featuring the robot “Vyommitra” onboard the crew module. Another uncrewed mission…

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is reportedly considering a €10 billion bid to acquire Barcelona, according to El Chiringuito’s Francois Gallardo. The potential investment would align with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy of expanding its footprint in global sports, either directly or through its Public Investment Fund (PIF). Barcelona currently carries over €2.5 billion in debt, which partly explains the scale of the proposed offer. A full acquisition, however, faces significant hurdles. Clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid are owned by socios, or members, who traditionally do not permit foreign takeovers. Gallardo notes that while the PIF could technically invest…

Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) has secured a significant order from Denmark-based global towage leader Svitzer to build four advanced, fully electric ‘TRAnsverse’ tugs, with an option for four more. The deal, valued between Rs 250 crore and Rs 500 crore, formalizes an earlier letter of intent. Dr. Harikrishnan S, CSL’s operations director, said the TRAnsverse 2600E tugs will leverage the shipyard’s skilled workforce and expertise in high-spec vessels, marking a step forward in battery-electric and future-fuel-ready technologies in India. Construction of the first four 26-metre, 70-ton bollard pull tugs will begin in the coming months at CSL’s Kochi facility, with…

India’s Akasa Air plans to go public within the next two to five years and expects to resume hiring pilots in the second half of next year, CEO Vinay Dube said on Wednesday. The airline, currently loss-making and India’s third largest, has faced pilot underutilization due to delayed aircraft deliveries from Boeing, which has dealt with regulatory scrutiny and a seven-week workers’ strike. Speaking at the Aviation India event, Dube said that within the next 60 days all pilots will begin accruing flight hours. He added that Akasa does not need to raise additional funds before an IPO, having secured…

India’s first homegrown hydrogen-powered vessel has begun commercial operations in Varanasi as of December 2025. The 50-passenger, air-conditioned catamaran ferry was built by Cochin Shipyard Limited under the Harit Nauka initiative and was initially launched in February 2024. The 24-meter vessel runs on a hydrogen fuel cell system combining LT-PEM fuel cells with lithium-ion batteries, producing only water as a byproduct. It offers quiet, zero-emission transport aimed at easing road congestion and promoting tourism along the Ganga River. Flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ferry represents a significant milestone in India’s Green Hydrogen Mission, highlighting the country’s growing…

India sees huge potential to expand exports to Russia across 300 products, including engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and agricultural items, as both countries aim to reach $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, a government official said. Currently, India’s exports to Russia stand at $1.7 billion, compared with Russia’s $37.4 billion in imports, highlighting a significant gap and opportunity for growth. Increasing exports could also help reduce India’s $59 billion trade deficit with Russia. The Commerce Ministry has identified these high-potential products by analyzing the complementary trade basket—matching India’s supply capabilities with Russia’s demand. Key sectors with the greatest promise…

At Huddle Global 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram, Dubai AI and Future Foundation Executive Director Saeed Al Falasi urged startups to actively challenge governments to rethink how technology is used, not just to build private businesses but to create real public value. Addressing founders and entrepreneurs at the Kerala Startup Mission–organised event, Falasi said meaningful innovation happens when startups push authorities to adopt new technologies for community benefit. He shared Dubai’s experience of tackling traffic congestion, where collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority led to an on-demand public bus system inspired by Uber’s mobility model. Within three months, private operators were…

IIT Kharagpur holds a unique place in India’s educational history as the country’s first Indian Institute of Technology and the seed of a system that would shape India’s scientific and industrial progress. Founded in 1951, the institute began its journey at the Hijli Detention Camp, a site steeped in national memory. Once used to detain freedom fighters, this location became the foundation for India’s technological future, giving IIT Kharagpur an identity unmatched by any other IIT. The creation of IITs emerged from India’s post-independence need to rebuild. The government sought institutions that could meet the country’s growing demands in engineering,…