Author: News Desk

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,…

Tamil Nadu IAS officer Supriya Sahu has been honoured with the 2025 UN Champions of the Earth award, the United Nations’ highest environmental recognition, for her inspiration and action. The award was presented by the UN Environment Programme in Nairobi on Wednesday. Sahu was recognised for her long-standing leadership in tackling critical environmental challenges in India, including plastics management and wildlife conservation. Reflecting on her work, she said, “My inspiration comes from people who stood by me from local villages, working to clean mangroves as their own, and from children who look up to you with hope in their eyes.”…

The government’s newly approved ₹7,280-crore scheme to produce rare-earth permanent magnets (REPM) marks a strategic shift for India’s EV and clean-tech ambitions. Under this plan, India aims to establish integrated magnet-manufacturing capacity of 6,000 tonnes per year, covering the full supply chain from rare-earth oxides to finished magnets. Rare-earth magnets, commonly made from alloys of neodymium, praseodymium and other rare earths — are key components in the electric motors used in electric vehicles, as well as in renewable energy, electronics and defence systems. India currently imports nearly all its rare-earth magnets, mainly from China, which dominates global production and processing.The new scheme is meant to reduce this heavy dependence, especially after China’s recent export curbs disrupted…

Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham remain two of the most influential figures the football world has ever produced, but their impact extends far beyond the pitch. A new analysis comparing their net worth, legacy, and global influence highlights how both stars shaped different eras of sports branding, athlete entrepreneurship, and international fan culture. Cristiano Ronaldo, still an active player, stands as one of the highest-earning athletes in history. His massive Al Nassr contract, unmatched sponsorship deals, global fitness ventures, CR7 fashion line, and the world’s largest Instagram following make him a modern-day commercial powerhouse. Ronaldo’s influence is driven by digital…