News related to
data

Kocha village in the Khunti district of Jharkhand has been wired into a 40 kW solar micro-grid with IoT-enabled smart management, marking the third Climate Smart Village established under Schneider Electric India Foundation in partnership with PRADAN. The grid now supports irrigation pumps, agro-processing units, households, street lighting, a primary health centre and an e-vehicle.

The pilot builds on earlier deployments in the Gumla district’s Sehal and Chatti villages, where solar arrays of 40 kW and 45 kW were integrated with load-balancing systems to power productive use in agriculture and local enterprises. That model delivered doubling of household incomes and emission reductions of around 60,000 kg of CO₂ annually for those communities.

Officials at the inauguration in Kocha included Jharkhand’s Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Dipika Pandey Singh, Khunti MP Kali Charan Munda, Torpa MLA Sudeep Gudhiya, and Damini Chaudhari, Vice President for Strategy, M&A & CSR at Schneider Electric. Deepak Sharma, MD & CEO of Schneider Electric India, emphasised the initiative’s aim to fuse renewable energy with local entrepreneurship and digital systems to empower self-sufficient rural economies.

Before the grid installation, farmers in Kocha were restricted to a single rain-fed cropping cycle each year, lacking the electricity required to operate processing machinery or irrigation pumps. Many households lacked reliable power, and migration was common owing to the scarcity of local jobs. Under the new scheme, farmers are experimenting with multi-crop production and in-village processing. A women-led Farmer Producer Organisation, Torpa Mahila Krishi Bhagwani Saykari Swalambhi Samiti, is central to aggregating, processing and marketing produce locally.

The mini-grid design employs smart energy management software that monitors demand and allocates energy dynamically, aiming for close to full utilisation of the solar capacity throughout the day. The system aggregates essential loads—agricultural, domestic and community—so that surplus power is diverted to where demand is highest at any given time.

In the Gumla villages, the success of this load-diversion strategy allowed continuous operation of irrigation pumps, oil expellers, rice hullers and small mills, effectively removing dependence on diesel backups. The result was a consistent power supply, reduced fuel costs and increased productivity. That template is now being scaled to Kocha.

SEIF intends to use the Kocha rollout as a replicable blueprint for scaling further in Jharkhand and across other states with energy-poor rural communities. The target is to reach 100,000 farmer families by 2025 through distributed, decentralised energy systems that combine renewable generation, digital control and demand flexibility.

CleanCore Solutions announced it has accrued over 710 million Dogecoin tokens in its treasury, yielding more than US$20 million in unrealised gains as it edges toward a one-billion token target.

The Omaha-based company launched its Dogecoin treasury programme on 5 September, using proceeds from a US$175 million private placement to make phased acquisitions. The holding is backed by the Dogecoin Foundation and coordinated through its corporate arm, House of Doge.

At a trading price near US$0.245 per DOGE, CleanCore values its holdings at roughly US$173.9 million, leaving a buffer over its capital outlay after marking the gains.

Chief Executive Officer Clayton Adams described the strategy as aligned with “long-term vision of insiders and the House of Doge,” emphasising that the company is not just stacking DOGE but is seeking to expand its utility and maintain disciplined treasury management.

CleanCore says it maintains sufficient cash reserves to continue its accumulation efforts. It has forged a strategic alliance with Bitstamp by Robinhood to serve as the primary trading venue for its Dogecoin operations.

On the markets, shares of CleanCore fell 8.44 per cent to close at US$2.06, before a modest rebound of 1.46 per cent in after-hours trade.

Some analysts question the relevance of mNAV metrics for companies pursuing large crypto treasuries. Greg Cipolaro of NYDIG has argued that mNAV may neglect operational businesses beyond token holdings and may not properly account for convertible instruments.

Standard Chartered has cautioned that smaller firms with aggressive crypto treasury strategies could face overexposure pressures if market volatility intensifies, predicting that consolidation may occur among weaker players.

CleanCore continues to monitor short interest in its stock while working with the SEC to register shares issued under its private placement. The company also underscores that restricted and locked shares are held by insiders, the House of Doge, and affiliates.

By Nitya Chakraborty Just forty eight hours within the external affairs minister Dr. S Jaishankar’s candid statement that Trump has to respect red lines drawn by India at trade talks, Indian officials joining China, Russia, Taliban government of Afghanistan and even Pakistan denouncing President Trump’s bid to take over Bagram air base in Afghanistan, is […]

The article India’s Opposition To Trump Bid To Take Over Bagram Airbase Has Special Significance appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Ukraine’s 63rd Mechanised Brigade has released footage claiming that a 22-year-old Indian national, Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein from Morbi, Gujarat, surrendered to Ukrainian forces after fighting for Russia. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated it is investigating the matter, having not yet received formal confirmation from Ukrainian authorities.

In the video, Hussein says he travelled to Russia for university studies but was later convicted on drug charges and handed a seven-year prison sentence. He states that to avoid incarceration, he accepted a Russian military contract to fight in Ukraine. After only 16 days of training, he was deployed to the front lines on 1 October, and after three days of combat, asserted that a dispute with his commander prompted him to approach a Ukrainian trench position and surrender. “I immediately put down my rifle … I didn’t want to fight. I needed help,” he is heard saying in Russian. He further claims he never received promised financial compensation and that he would rather remain in custody in Ukraine than return to Russia.

Indian officials have neither confirmed his capture nor denied it. A spokeswoman from the MEA said New Delhi is “ascertaining the veracity of the report.” The Indian mission in Kyiv is reported to be seeking clarity from Ukrainian counterparts. The MEA noted it has not yet received an official notification.

If confirmed, this would mark the first verified case of an Indian national being held by Ukrainian forces after participating directly in combat on Russia’s side—although Indian nationals have previously been reported among Russian-aligned forces. In January, Indian authorities disclosed that 12 citizens had died fighting for Russia, while 16 others were listed as missing. New Delhi has repeatedly raised the issue with Moscow, urging the repatriation or discharge of Indians serving in the Russian military.

The broader phenomenon of third-country nationals entering the Russia-Ukraine war as combatants has drawn increasing scrutiny. Independent investigations estimate that more than 1,500 foreign fighters from over 48 nations have joined Russia’s military ranks. Some are believed to have been recruited under misleading promises, including job opportunities, visa benefits, or leniency in legal cases. In India’s case, accusations of coercion or trafficking have been made—families of slain Indian fighters have claimed their relatives were enticed with assurances but ultimately compelled into frontline service.

Analysts note that this case, if corroborated, underscores the murky legal and ethical terrain of foreign national participation in armed conflict. Under international humanitarian law, combatants captured in war zones may face prosecution, detainee protections, or diplomatic processes, depending on their status. The Indian government, maintaining a non-aligned posture regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, must balance protecting its citizens abroad with adherence to international norms and pressure from both Moscow and Kyiv.

Within India, this development is likely to intensify scrutiny over how students or migrants abroad might be exposed to recruitment schemes, particularly in countries engaged in conflict. Some previous admissions of Indians fighting for Russia suggested recruitment via third-party agents or recruitment drives run under the guise of employment for non-combat roles—later displaced into military duty. Families have, in past instances, sought intervention from Indian diplomatic missions, urging more robust preventive mechanisms.

Meanwhile, in Russia, foreign conscripts—or contracted soldiers from abroad—have been increasingly leveraged to supplement manpower. Ukrainian authorities have touted captures of foreign fighters in multiple instances, often publicising their nationality to highlight alleged exploitation or coercion. These reports frequently appear in social media or Telegram channels operated by Ukrainian units, although independent verification is sometimes challenging, given the fog of war and conflicting narratives.

The World Bank has trimmed its projection for South Asia’s economic expansion in 2026, citing elevated U. S. tariffs on Indian exports as a key drag. The region’s growth is now forecast at 5.8 percent, down from 6.6 percent this year.

The updated “South Asia Development Update” flags the U. S. trade measures as a major headwind, especially given India’s size and its integration into regional supply chains. The report sets India’s growth for fiscal year 2025–26 at 6.5 percent, up from its earlier estimate of 6.3 percent, but warns of a drop to 6.3 percent in 2026–27 as tariff pressures intensify.

The U. S. has imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on a broad swath of Indian goods—impacting sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery and seafood—affecting nearly $50 billion in exports. These are among the highest duties levied on any U. S. trading partner. The World Bank notes that these tariffs will particularly bite in 2026 as initial buffers from public spending fade.

Franziska Ohnsorge, chief economist for South Asia at the World Bank, asserted that the toll from trade restrictions reflects “a reversal of the gains” India had made in integrating into global value chains. She urged structural adjustments: lowering tariffs and signing free trade agreements to support export competitiveness.

Beyond India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka show varying trajectories. The Bank upgrades forecasts for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, citing easing fiscal strain and improving external balances. Meanwhile, Nepal and the Maldives bear the brunt of tighter global conditions, with their outlooks revised downward.

Policy responses in India are already in motion. The government launched sweeping tax cuts spanning consumer goods to automobiles, one of the largest fiscal interventions in recent years. Concurrently, infrastructure spending is being boosted to drive domestic demand and counterbalance export headwinds. The Reserve Bank of India held its repo rate at 5.50 percent in October, citing subdued inflation and leaving open room for a future cut.

Indian officials remain confident. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called the economy “resilient,” expressing faith it could absorb external shocks while targeting an ambitious 8 percent growth. The Chief Economic Adviser affirmed earlier forecasts of 6.3–6.8 percent GDP growth, downplaying long-term damage from trade friction.

International institutions have also flagged downside risks. The Asian Development Bank cut India’s FY 26 forecast to 6.5 percent from 6.7 percent, pointing to duty pressures and policy uncertainty. The IMF earlier trimmed India’s 2025-26 prediction to 6.2 percent, citing heightened global trade tensions.

The World Bank’s report emphasises that over the medium term, trade liberalisation combined with labour flexibility and investment in digital infrastructure could help South Asia reclaim momentum. Within the document, a scenario of tariff cuts and deeper trade integration is modelled to yield significant gains in productivity, employment, and output per capita.

Still, the path ahead is fraught. The report cautions that the region is vulnerable to a global slowdown, geopolitical shocks and labor market disruptions from artificial intelligence. In particular, it warns that weaker export growth from India will spill over across the region via trade, financial and migrant-worker channels.

Dubai Investments has revealed that its wholly owned subsidiary, Emirates Float Glass, will expand its float-glass manufacturing capacity by launching a second production line that will raise output from 600 tonnes per day to 1,200 tonnes. The upgrade is slated to introduce Ultra Clear low-iron glass—marketed as a first in the MENA region—with advanced automation and energy-efficient systems, and is scheduled for commissioning between late 2027 and early 2028.

Under the plan, the second line will incorporate next-generation process control technology to ensure consistent product quality while curbing energy consumption and lowering the environmental footprint. Dubai Investments emphasises that this aligns with its broader industrial growth strategy and the UAE’s ambitions in high-value manufacturing.

Abdulaziz Bin Yakub Al Serkal, CEO of Dubai Investments’ Industrial Platform, described the move as crucial for strengthening regional competitiveness. He said the introduction of Ultra Clear glass will allow EFG to penetrate premium markets, give clarity advantages over conventional float glass, and support growing demand from architectural, infrastructure and design sectors. The project involves a collaboration with Germany’s HORN Glass Industries, which will supply glass-melting furnaces and associated systems, while local civil-works contractors and international project teams will oversee implementation.

EFG currently operates out of its float plant in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, where its capacity now stands at 600 tonnes per day. The expansion marks the second phase of investment in the plant. Dubai Investments’ announcement underlines its commitment to scaling up industrial assets and achieving technological differentiation in its manufacturing portfolio.

The expanded capacity is seen as a response to rising demand across the Gulf and broader regional markets, where premium architectural glass is gaining traction, driven by growth in high-rise construction, sustainability mandates and demand for energy-efficient façades. Analysts note that the move helps EFG hedge against rising competition from international glass producers by offering higher-clarity, value-added products.

Fight Fight Fight LLC, the company behind the TRUMP memecoin, has launched a capital-raising campaign of at least $200 million with ambitions that could scale up to $1 billion to establish a dedicated digital asset treasury that would accumulate holdings of the token, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The undertaking is led by Bill Zanker, a long-time promoter and Trump ally, and signifies one of the most aggressive attempts yet to stabilise a creator-driven token through internal backing. The funds would be deployed primarily to purchase TRUMP tokens from the open market, an effort to shore up price and signal confidence in what has become a volatile asset.

TRUMP, launched just before Donald Trump’s second inauguration, operates on the Solana blockchain under two joint issuers—Fight Fight Fight LLC and CIC Digital—together controlling 80 percent of its total supply. The public tranche was released in January 2025, and the token rapidly gained speculative traction before encountering steep declines.

Insiders caution that the fundraising process is ongoing and not guaranteed to succeed in full. They also note that structuring such a treasury around a politically branded memecoin carries substantial market, regulatory and reputational risks.

Cryptocurrency analysts observe that the move is consistent with broader trends in 2025: increasingly, token issuers are creating “treasury models” to backstop flagging price action. Yet few of those are tethered so explicitly to a political figure or narrative, making the TRUMP case unique.

The token’s price trajectory has been volatile. After peaking earlier in the year, it has fallen sharply—losing more than 80 percent of its value from highs—attracting scrutiny about its speculative nature and sustainability. Meanwhile, TRUMP maintains strong social media backing and occasional high-visibility events, such as a dinner hosted by Trump in May for top token holders, which had triggered a notable price bump.

In June, plans were floated by the issuer to launch an “Official Trump Wallet” to facilitate trading and custody, but disputes emerged with World Liberty Financial. Those tensions underscored internal complexity and fragmented control within the broader Trump crypto ecosystem.

Analysts underline that for the treasury plan to have long-term impact, it must go beyond buybacks. Critics argue that stockpiling tokens may serve only short-term price support, lacking sustainable utility or integration into broader infrastructure. There is a risk that concentrated control over token issuance and vesting schedules could invite regulatory scrutiny or undermine confidence among external investors.

Institutional curiosity is emerging: Canary Capital Group has reportedly filed paperwork with U. S. regulators to launch a spot ETF tied to TRUMP. Yet the Securities and Exchange Commission’s cautious posture toward meme coins, and obstacles in listing a futures-based derivative market, could impede progress.

The broader Trump-adjacent crypto strategy has already stretched into multiple verticals. Trump Media & Technology Group announced a $2.5 billion initiative to build a bitcoin treasury, and World Liberty Financial has launched a $1.5 billion self-buy programme in its own token, WLFI. In that case, about half the funding is to be in WLFI itself, with the rest directed to debt settlement and resale.

Serbia will serve as the Future Digital Economy Partner Country at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai, becoming the first European nation accorded that role. The designation foregrounds Serbia’s ambitions to reposition itself from outsourcing hub to innovator in global tech markets.

Serbia’s IT exports crossed €3.5 billion in 2023, and the sector has maintained close to 20 percent year-on-year growth. The number of IT firms now exceeds 4,000, with many branching into domains such as fintech, health tech, AI and gaming. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, which leads the national delegation, views the GITEX platform as an opportunity to elevate the country’s narrative beyond cost-competitiveness to creative capacity.

Marko Čadež, president of CCIS, said Serbian firms are now pitching themselves as long-term transformation partners rather than simple vendors. He emphasised that enterprises increasingly expect strategic collaboration, not just software delivery. Meanwhile, analysts point to Serbia’s strong foundations—high math and engineering education standards, English proficiency, and relatively affordable costs—as a competitive edge in Eastern Europe.

Yet Serbia confronts headwinds. Talent retention is an ongoing challenge: many trained professionals migrate to Western Europe or the U. S. Infrastructure remains uneven, with rural areas lagging behind Belgrade in connectivity. In addition, venture capital inflows to the Balkans are smaller compared to Western Europe, constraining the ability of startups to scale aggressively.

Serbia is attempting to counterbalance those constraints through targeted programmes. The Chamber of Commerce has launched “Start 2,” a support scheme for scale-up firms, which includes mentoring and market access, and will be showcased at GITEX Europe in Berlin. The programme focuses on Serbian companies already achieving revenues above €250,000 and aims to open doors into German and EU markets.

At GITEX Global 2025, Serbia will present a showcase of startups and products under “North Star,” highlighting innovations in AI, e-commerce, predictive analytics, and diagnostics tools. Its delegation will also include outsourcing firms pitching upscaled offerings—product co-development, R&D support, and domain expertise in sectors such as telecom and healthcare.

GITEX organisers themselves have underscored Serbia’s place among rising tech nations: the 2025 edition includes 6,800 tech enterprises, 2,000 startups, and participant countries from 180 nations. Serbia joins Brazil and Pakistan as Country Partners this year—a reflection of the broader intention to diversify the event’s global footprint. The spotlight on AI, biotech, semiconductors, data infrastructure, and robotics offers Serbia a chance to align its exposure with the global themes defining tech agendas.

Oil markets climbed modestly on Wednesday as traders digested OPEC+’s decision to raise production by only 137,000 barrels per day from November — a figure widely viewed as cautious and aimed at managing oversupply pressures. Brent crude gained about 0.7 per cent to $65.93 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate added 0.8 per cent, reaching $62.24.

The measured increase is part of an ongoing tug-of-war between easing supply fears and softening demand estimates. Analysts argue that the restrained hike helped calm immediate market jitters about a flood of new barrels entering global markets. At the same time, the surge in output from non-OPEC producers—especially the United States—is tipping the scale toward a heavier supply environment.

The U. S. Energy Information Administration raised its 2025 forecast for domestic oil production to a record 13.53 million barrels per day, up from earlier projections. That upward revision intensifies concerns that global inventories could swell, placing downward pressure on prices. The EIA warns that crude inventories may build further, potentially squeezing prices in the coming months.

OPEC+ has signalled a cautious approach. The bloc’s members, including Saudi Arabia and Russia alongside six others, opted for incremental supply additions rather than aggressive increases. The decision underscores a balancing act: securing market share without triggering a disruptive oversupply.

Some market watchers believe the group is constrained by internal capability limits and the risk of destabilising the market. Only about 75 per cent of the targeted 2.7 million bpd raise since April has actually materialised, as certain member states struggle to meet output goals. Meanwhile, signs of macro slowdown and tepid fuel demand, especially in Asia and Europe, loom as headwinds.

Large oil majors are already adjusting strategies to navigate the tighter margins. Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, and TotalEnergies are implementing cost cuts, trimming share buybacks, and streamlining operations to preserve balance sheets. Oil prices under $65 are straining profitability across the sector, particularly for producers with high breaking-even costs. Shell, for instance, has taken a $600 million impairment hit tied to biofuel and remediation operations in Europe.

In Argentina, falling oil revenues threaten the government’s ambitious economic plans centred on energy exports. Output at the country’s Vaca Muerta formation peaked in August but has shown signs of deceleration due to weaker global pricing and elevated costs. Local industry sources warn that strapped fiscal conditions and foreign-exchange restrictions are discouraging further investment.

Futures markets also reflect a state of tension. The structure remains sensitive to signals that either reassure or alarm about supply and demand balances. Traders are closely watching upcoming US inventory data, geopolitical developments affecting Russian shipments, and demand dynamics from China. Some analysts regard the cautious output hike as a temporary reprieve, with the risk that a sharper fall may take prices into the $50–$60 range if oversupply intensifies.

The International Energy Agency projects a potential surplus of 3.3 million barrels per day in 2026, even if current output levels persist — a scenario that would further test OPEC+’s capacity to contain downside. In contrast, OPEC’s internal modeling suggests a smaller deficit under the same conditions, reflecting wide divergences in forecasting assumptions. Investors and policymakers now wait for signs of demand resilience or fresh supply shocks, both of which could dictate whether oil stabilises in the $60s or slips further.

By Sushil Kutty Rare minerals included lots of ores, this was something we were taught in school and we learned about stone age, copper age and iron age, the last of which remains to this day the most basic of minerals, out of which was born steel and the term steely strength, like in ‘Superman […]

The article Pakistan Is The Dearest To Trump In Asia As Islamabad Exports Rare Earth Minerals appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).