Archives March 2026

Indian Flagged LPG Tankers Safely Transit Strait of Hormuz Amid Middle East Tensions

Indian Flagged LPG Tankers Safely Transit Strait of Hormuz Amid Middle East Tensions

Pic Credit: Pexel

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the US-Israel conflict, Indian-flagged LPG tankers have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz with the support of the Indian Navy. The LPG tanker Shivalik has crossed the strait safely, while the second vessel, Nanda Devi, has also exited the strategically important shipping route without incident.

Government sources confirmed that Shivalik is currently being escorted by Indian naval ships and is expected to reach an Indian port, likely Mumbai or Kandla, within the next two days. The tanker has reached open waters and is sailing securely under naval guidance.

The Nanda Devi, carrying over 46,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is a critical component of India’s energy supply chain. Both vessels are being closely monitored by Indian naval assets to ensure safe passage through the sensitive waters of the Strait of Hormuz.

This development follows high-level discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian regarding the uninterrupted flow of goods and energy in the region.

Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, confirmed that Indian ships could expect safe passage through the strait, emphasizing the longstanding regional ties between India and Iran. “India is our friend. We believe that Iran and India share common interests in the region,” Fathali said, highlighting Iran’s willingness to facilitate transit for Indian vessels amid the crisis.

The statements come after Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi noted that Tehran had allowed ships from certain countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait remains one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, handling around 20 percent of global oil and gas exports.

India’s Ministry of Ports and Shipping confirmed that the number of Indian-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf remains at 28, with all ships and crew being actively monitored for safety and security.

The safe transit of Shivalik and Nanda Devi underscores India’s commitment to maintaining energy supply lines and safeguarding its maritime assets amid regional instability.

Air India Group to Operate 80 Flights Between India and West Asia on 14 March

 

Air India Group to Operate 80 Flights Between India and West Asia on 14 March

Air India and Air India Express will operate a combined 80 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region on 14 March, the airline group announced.

The airlines will continue their regular services to Jeddah and Muscat. On this day, a total of 10 flights are scheduled to Jeddah, while Air India Express will operate 8 flights to Muscat.

As part of the schedule, Air India will fly one round-trip from Delhi and two round-trips from Mumbai to Jeddah. Air India Express will operate one round-trip each from Kozhikode and Mangaluru to Jeddah.

These operations aim to maintain seamless connectivity between India and key West Asian destinations, serving both regular travelers and those on additional non-scheduled flights.

Growing Implants Bring New Hope to Children with Bone Cancer

Growing Implants Bring New Hope to Children with Bone Cancer

Pic Credit: Pexel

A new medical innovation called the “growing implant” is transforming the treatment of bone cancer in children. The technique allows surgeons to remove cancer-affected bone while preserving the limb and enabling it to grow normally, improving long-term mobility and quality of life.

Bone cancers such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma often affect children and adolescents. Traditional treatments sometimes required amputating the limb or resulted in permanent differences in leg length, creating long-term physical and emotional challenges. Growing implants now offer a more effective solution.

How the Growing Implant Works

The growing implant, also called an expandable prosthesis, is placed after the tumor is removed. Unlike standard implants, it can lengthen gradually as the child grows. Many modern implants use magnetic technology, allowing doctors to extend the device during routine hospital visits without additional surgery.

The gradual lengthening helps muscles, joints, and tissues adjust naturally, reducing pain and complications compared with older surgical methods.

Benefits for Patients

The implant offers several advantages:

  • Preserves the limb and improves mobility

  • Reduces the need for repeated surgeries

  • Maintains balanced limb growth

  • Supports long-term function and quality of life

Lengthening procedures usually take only 15–20 minutes, allowing children to return to normal activities quickly.

Future Developments

While implants can be costly and occasionally require revision surgeries, advances in 3D printing, imaging, and customized surgical planning are improving their precision and durability.

Growing implants are helping doctors focus on both curing cancer and ensuring children can lead active, independent lives after treatment. This innovation provides families facing bone cancer with renewed hope for survival and a better quality of life.

Gift Nifty Turnover Hits Record in 2025 as Pre-Market Analysis Goes Data-Driven

Gift Nifty Turnover Hits Record in 2025 as Pre-Market Analysis Goes Data-Driven

Pic Credit: Pexel

In 2025, Gift Nifty—India’s key index for exchange-traded derivatives—achieved a record monthly turnover, reflecting its growing significance as a tool for market participants seeking early signals and better-informed trading strategies. The surge in activity underscores a broader shift in how investors, both domestic and foreign, approach pre-market analysis in India’s fast-moving equity markets.

Why Gift Nifty is Gaining Momentum

Gift Nifty provides a window into expected market movements before the regular trading session begins. By tracking overnight global trends, macroeconomic developments, and derivatives activity, traders can anticipate market direction, adjust positions, and manage risks more effectively.

Over the past few years, the index has increasingly attracted attention from foreign institutional investors (FII) and domestic institutional investors (DII). Investors now combine real-time FII and DII inflow and outflow data with Gift Nifty trends to make data-driven pre-market decisions, creating a feedback loop that strengthens market efficiency.

Record Turnover Signals Rising Engagement

The record monthly turnover in 2025 indicates that more participants are using Gift Nifty not just for speculative purposes but also for strategic hedging, arbitrage, and risk management. Analysts suggest that this trend reflects both the growing sophistication of Indian equity markets and the increased reliance on derivatives as a risk management tool.

Integrating FII and DII Data for Pre-Market Insights

Institutional flows play a crucial role in shaping market sentiment. By monitoring FII purchases or sales alongside DII activity, traders can identify likely market trends and potential reversals. For instance:

  • FII buying trends often indicate bullish sentiment among global investors.

  • DII flows can signal domestic confidence and provide a counterbalance to global pressures.

  • Combined analysis enables pre-market positioning that aligns with anticipated market moves.

Market participants are increasingly integrating this data with Gift Nifty’s early signals, allowing for more precise risk-adjusted strategies ahead of the market open.

Implications for Traders and Investors

The rising importance of Gift Nifty suggests a few key takeaways for investors:

  1. Enhanced Pre-Market Preparation – Traders can monitor overnight global cues and institutional flows to make informed decisions before the trading session begins.

  2. Improved Risk Management – Combining derivative signals with institutional investor activity helps manage exposure and hedge portfolios more effectively.

  3. Market Transparency and Efficiency – Higher turnover and data integration support better price discovery and reduce informational asymmetry.

Looking Ahead

As Indian markets continue to grow in depth and sophistication, Gift Nifty’s role as a pre-market barometer is likely to expand. The index not only provides a snapshot of market expectations but also reflects broader trends in investor behaviour, including reliance on data analytics, institutional flow tracking, and algorithmic trading tools.

For both retail and institutional participants, the combination of Gift Nifty signals and FII/DII flow data is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of pre-market strategy, highlighting how technology and real-time data are shaping the future of trading in India.

Daikin India Targets 4 Million Annual Room AC Production by 2030

Daikin India Targets 4 Million Annual Room AC Production by 2030

Pic Credit: Pexel

Daikin India is preparing to significantly expand its manufacturing footprint in the country, with plans to increase its annual room air conditioner production capacity to 4 million units by 2030.

Currently, the company produces around 3 million room AC units each year in India. The proposed expansion comes as demand for cooling solutions continues to rise across residential and commercial segments, driven by urbanisation, rising incomes, and increasing temperatures.

New Manufacturing Facility Planned

As part of its long-term growth strategy, the Indian subsidiary of Japan-based air-conditioning major Daikin Industries is planning to establish a new manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh. The facility will be the company’s fourth production unit in India and will play a crucial role in boosting overall manufacturing capacity.

The new plant is expected to support the company’s efforts to strengthen domestic production capabilities while ensuring a stable supply of air conditioners to meet growing market demand.

Tapping India’s Growing Cooling Market

India is emerging as one of the fastest-growing markets for air conditioning globally. Rapid urban expansion, rising middle-class consumption, and climate-related factors are contributing to a steady increase in demand for cooling appliances.

By expanding its manufacturing base locally, Daikin aims to enhance its competitiveness in the Indian market while supporting the country’s broader push toward domestic manufacturing.

Long-Term Manufacturing Strategy

The company has been steadily increasing its investments in India, recognising the country’s importance as both a major consumer market and a potential export hub. Expanding production capacity and setting up a new facility will also help strengthen the local supply chain and create employment opportunities.

With the planned expansion and the new plant in Andhra Pradesh, Daikin India is positioning itself to capture future growth in the cooling appliances market while reinforcing its long-term commitment to manufacturing in India.

Financial support schemes aim to expand shipyard capacity and boost maritime competitiveness

456 vessels across multiple categories receive approval under shipbuilding assistance policy

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The Indian government has taken a significant step toward strengthening the country’s shipbuilding ecosystem by granting in-principle approval to 288 shipbuilding contracts worth ₹19,748 crore, covering the construction of 456 vessels across multiple categories.

According to Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, the approvals were granted under the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP), a key initiative designed to encourage domestic shipbuilding and enhance the competitiveness of Indian shipyards.

Financial Support to Shipyards

The government has already disbursed ₹620.57 crore in financial assistance to 23 shipyards that have completed the construction and delivery of 204 vessels under the scheme. The policy provides financial incentives to domestic shipbuilders to offset cost disadvantages and promote large-scale vessel construction within the country.

The vessels covered under the approved contracts span a wide range of maritime applications. These include tugs, general cargo vessels, bulk carriers, oil tankers, crane pontoons, heavy deck cargo vessels, Ro-Ro passenger vessels, crew boats, passenger ferries, landing crafts, and self-elevating platforms. Such diversity reflects the growing demand for both commercial and specialised maritime vessels in India’s coastal and inland shipping sectors.

New Push Through Shipbuilding Development Scheme

To further strengthen the industry, the government approved the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SBDS) in September 2025. The scheme aims to improve financing access for shipyards and expand their production capacity.

Under the initiative, the government will offer credit risk coverage to Indian shipyards and provide viability gap funding to support the expansion of existing or brownfield shipbuilding facilities. Operational guidelines for the scheme have recently been issued, enabling shipyards to begin applying for support.

Shipbuilding Sector Holds Strong Job Potential

An independent assessment of India’s shipbuilding industry conducted in 2024 highlighted the sector’s strong employment potential. According to the report, shipbuilding has an employment multiplier of 6.4, meaning that every job created in the sector can generate more than six additional jobs across related industries such as steel, engineering, logistics, and maritime services.

This indicates that expanding shipbuilding capacity could significantly contribute to both direct and indirect job creation, particularly in coastal regions where shipyards are located.

Challenges Hindering Growth

Despite its potential, the study also pointed out several structural challenges affecting the growth of the industry. These include limited domestic demand for ships, high financing costs, technological gaps, and capacity constraints within shipyards.

To address these issues and strengthen India’s position in the global shipbuilding market, the government has introduced several policy initiatives. These include the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy, the Maritime Development Fund (MDF), and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme.

₹44,700 Crore Push for Maritime Infrastructure

In a major boost to the maritime sector, the government has also notified operational guidelines for two key shipbuilding initiatives with a combined outlay of ₹44,700 crore. These programmes aim to expand India’s domestic shipbuilding capacity, modernise shipyards, and improve the industry’s global competitiveness.

Under the financial assistance framework, which has a total allocation of ₹24,736 crore, shipbuilders will receive government support ranging from 15% to 25% of the vessel cost, depending on the type and category of ship being constructed.

Long-Term Vision for Indian Shipbuilding

The government expects these initiatives to transform India’s shipbuilding ecosystem over the coming decade by attracting investment, modernising infrastructure, and increasing domestic production capacity.

Strengthening shipbuilding capabilities is also seen as essential for India’s broader maritime ambitions, including expanding coastal shipping, improving port connectivity, and supporting the country’s growing role in global trade.

By encouraging domestic ship construction and supporting shipyards financially, policymakers hope to position India as a more competitive player in the international shipbuilding industry while generating employment and boosting economic activity across the maritime sector.

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Research Staff Spotlight: Garima Chauhan

Research Specialist Garima Chauhan started out studying plants before moving into her current career in medical research. “I had a plant science background, but wanted to explore new fields. In early 2023, I received an opportunity to work in the DeClerck Laboratory at CHLA as a volunteer,” Chauhan says.

Working in the lab led by Cancer and Blood Disease Institute physician and investigator Yves DeClerck, MD, allowed Chauhan to learn about extracellular vesicles, membrane-bound particles released by cells and found in all types of body fluids. She also learned that these small particles are actively released by tumor cells and play a critical role in the formation of the pre-metastatic niche (PMN), ultimately contributing to metastatic progression. Owing to their ability to target recipient cells and induce phenotypic changes, EVs serve as key mediators of intercellular communication and hold significant potential as therapeutic tools. “It was very interesting to me because it’s a field in which research is evolving nonstop and every day you find something new,” Chauhan explains.

During this time, she met Paolo Neviani, PhD, director of the Extracellular Vesicle and Nanoparticle Analytics (EV-NP) Core at CHLA. Chauhan soon joined this core as a research specialist. “My responsibilities involve isolating extracellular vesicles from different biological fluid samples, such as blood, plasma, and urine, and then characterizing and analyzing those vesicles for specific research projects,” Chauhan says. Currently, via the core, she is working on a project for regenerative medicine investigator Ching-Ling (Ellen) Lien, PhD, exploring the role of extracellular vesicles within zebrafish hearts.

Chauhan says she is grateful for the supportive environment she’s found at CHLA. “With everything I do, I feel encouraged and that helps me grow,” she explains. “It’s a very good thing to be in an environment where you see yourself thriving.”

Swaranjali Delhi and Dhwani Foundation Present Swar Dhwani Festival 2026 – A Grand Celebration of Indian Classical Music in New Delhi

Swaranjali

 

New Delhi, India | Mar 14:  Swaranjali Delhi, in collaboration with Dhwani Foundation, will present Swar Dhwani Festival 2026 on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Muktadhara Auditorium, Banga Sanskriti Bhawan, 18–19, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, Sector 2, Gole Market, New Delhi.

The festival will feature a series of vocal and instrumental performances by noted artists. The program includes a vocal presentation by The Shriram Millennium School, followed by a vocal performance by Pt. Ashish Narayan Tripathi and a sitar recital by Pt. Smarajit Sen.

The event will also present a vocal duet by Dr. Prabhakar Kashyap and Dr. Diwakar Kashyap, along with a flute performance by Shri Aanjaneya Joshi and a santoor recital by Pt. Raj Kumar Majumdar. The festival will further feature a tabla solo by Pt. Biplab Bhattacharya.

The performances will be supported by co-artists Pt. Shubh Maharaj, Pt. Vinay Mishra, Ustad Babar Latif, Shri Lalit Sisodia, Shri Shubhendu Das, and Shri Rudraksha Shrivastava.

Event Name: Swar Dhwani Festival 2026
Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Venue: Muktadhara Auditorium, Banga Sanskriti Bhawan, 18-19, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, Sector 2, Gole Market, New Delhi

RSVP & Contact:
Swaranjali Delhi | Dhwani Foundation
Phone: 9910300319 | 9873003625
Website: www.swaranjali.org

Media Partner: Shreyas Webmedia Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Venture Global Announces Final Investment Decision and Financial Close for Phase 2 of CP2 LNG

Business Wire India

  • $8.6 billion project financing for CP2 Phase 2 brings project’s total financing to $20.7 billion
  • Project expected to make Venture Global the largest exporter of US LNG
  • Unprecedented milestone of five FIDs in less than 7 years, with over $95 billion in capital markets transactions

 

Today, Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE: VG) is announcing a final investment decision (FID) and successful closing of an $8.6 billion project financing for the second phase of the company’s third project, Venture Global CP2 LNG (CP2). When combined with the Phase One financing for CP2 announced July 2025, this milestone represents the largest standalone project financing in the U.S. bank market.The transaction garnered enormous interest from the world’s leading banks, resulting in over $19 billion of commitments for Phase Two in addition to the previous $34 billion of commitments for Phase One, and required no outside equity investment.

 

“We are extremely proud to have taken FID on the second phase of CP2, our third greenfield project, bringing Venture Global’s executed capital markets transactions to more than $95 billion,” said Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel. “The tireless dedication of our team has enabled us to reach five final investment decisions in less than seven years, positioning us to become the largest U.S. exporter of LNG once CP2 is fully online. With the Phase Two financing secured, we will build on the strong construction progress already underway and deliver reliable American LNG to customers around the world.”

 

CP2 will have a peak production capacity of 29 MTPA and has contracted to sell nearly all of its nameplate capacity on a long-term basis with customers predominantly located in Europe and Asia. Accordingly, CP2 is a strategically important project to global energy supply and security. Venture Global now has a total contracted capacity of over 49 MTPA, or nearly all of its nameplate capacity, across all three of its projects in Louisiana.

 

The lender group for the construction financing is comprised of the world’s leading banks, signaling significant demand for U.S. LNG investment not only in the United States but also in Europe and Asia. The lender group includes: Banco Santander, Bank of America, Bank of China, Barclays, CaixaBank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Intesa Sanpaolo, J.P. Morgan Chase, Landesbank Baden-Wuttemberg, Mizuho, National Bank of Canada, National Westminster Bank, Natixis, PNC Bank, Regions Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo Mitsui, The Bank of Nova Scotia, The Huntington National Bank, Truist, U.S. Bank National Association, and Wells Fargo.

 

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and MUFG Bank, Ltd. (MUFG) served as Lead Arrangers for CP2 LNG Phase 2’s Construction Term Loan and Working Capital Facility. Latham & Watkins LLP served as counsel to Venture Global and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as counsel to lenders across all facilities.

 

About Venture Global

 

Venture Global is an American producer and exporter of low-cost U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) with over 100 MTPA of capacity in production, construction, or development. Venture Global began producing LNG from its first facility in 2022 and is now one of the largest LNG exporters in the United States. The company’s vertically integrated business includes assets across the LNG supply chain including LNG production, natural gas transport, shipping and regasification. The company’s first three projects, Calcasieu Pass, Plaquemines LNG, and CP2 LNG, are located in Louisiana along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Venture Global is developing Carbon Capture and Sequestration projects at each of its LNG facilities.

 

Forward-looking Statements

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein are “forward-looking statements.” In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “target,” “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology.

 

These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include statements about our future performance, our contracts, our anticipated growth strategies and anticipated trends impacting our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Those factors include our need for significant additional capital to construct and complete future projects and related assets, and our potential inability to secure such financing on acceptable terms, or at all; our potential inability to accurately estimate costs for our projects, and the risk that the construction and operations of natural gas pipelines and pipeline connections for our projects suffer cost overruns and delays related to obtaining regulatory approvals, development risks, labor costs, unavailability of skilled workers, operational hazards and other risks; the uncertainty regarding the future of global trade dynamics, international trade agreements and the United States’ position on international trade, including the effects of tariffs; our dependence on our EPC and other contractors for the successful completion of our projects, including the potential inability of our contractors to perform their obligations under their contracts; various economic and political factors, including opposition by environmental or other public interest groups, or the lack of local government and community support required for our projects, which could negatively affect the permitting status, timing or overall development, construction and operation of our projects; and risks related to other factors discussed under “Item 1A.—Risk Factors” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and any subsequent reports filed with the SEC.

 

Any forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of this date. We undertake no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

 

 

 

 

F1® Authentics Mystery Box offers 1-in-150 chance to secure an Official 2026 F1® Motion Simulator

A new limited-edition release from  F1® Authentics is giving motorsport collectors the opportunity to secure authentic pieces of racing history, with the added prospect of obtaining a high-end professional simulator, worth £89,000.

The newly announced F1® Mystery Box collection is a premium collectors item strictly limited to 150 boxes worldwide, each containing a curated selection of racing memorabilia valued at a minimum total value of £2,500. Every box has been assembled to offer a chance to expand collections with items from the heart of Formula 1®.

Excitingly for motorsport fans and gamers, one of these boxes will contain an Official 2026 F1® Motion Simulator, a professional-grade sim designed to deliver an immersive driving experience that closely mirrors the sensations of being behind the wheel of a real Formula 1® car.

F1® Authentics, operated by Memento Exclusives under license from Formula One®, is an Official licensed partner to F1® and teams across the grid. The recently revealed 2026 edition simulators will be made available in several Official 2026 Team liveries, and the lucky Mystery Box customer who finds one will be able to choose the livery applied from this selection, before it is built specifically for them to keep.

Manufactured by engineers with decades of experience in motorsport, using the front half of a Formula 1® Show Car, these premium simulators are designed to be synonymous with the vehicles seen on track and deliver an incredible sense of immersion as you step over the sidepod and into the cockpit. Motion technology authentically replicates the feeling of every turn from every iconic circuit. Owning one of these sims is the closest most will get to the feeling of winning a seat on the team.

With an extremely limited run of Mystery Boxes produced, buyers effectively have a 1-in-150 chance of receiving a sim that would typically be seen utilised at elite racing experiences, making this a unique and unmissable opportunity for collectors and gamers worldwide.

The F1® Mystery Box is expected to attract significant attention from fans who are eager to secure a valuable treasure trove of secret items, whilst also testing their luck to uncover a once-in-a-lifetime surprise.

Available to purchase now on the F1® Authentics website, but with limited quantities available and high demand expected, fans are encouraged to move quickly to secure their chance before its gone.