PNGRB Initiates Suo Motu Bidding Process for LPG Pipelines
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has launched a suo‑motu bidding process for nine LPG pipeline projects totaling about 2,500 km. The initiative aims to replace bulk road transport of LPG by 2030, improving safety, efficiency and environmental performance. The pipelines will link refineries and import terminals to bottling plants, with an estimated investment of roughly ₹12,500 crore (≈$1.5 billion). The move addresses supply‑security concerns heightened by regional geopolitical tensions and aligns with India’s climate goals.
Q&A with National Health Council: Driving Patient-Centred Policy
The National Health Council (NHC), a century‑old coalition of health stakeholders, is championing patient‑centered policy as the U.S. grapples with new payment models and drug‑price reforms. Its advocacy secured patient input in the Inflation Reduction Act’s Initial Price Applicability Year...
East Front News #91: Vilnius as the Quiet Force Shaping Europe's Future, Drones and Transporters for Ukraine
France is reshaping European defence strategy to operate without direct U.S. backing, spotlighting the Baltic as a testbed for autonomy. Finland has sealed a €547 million ($590 million) deal for 112 Korean K9 howitzers, while the UK will deliver at least 120,000...
Purchase Without Limits | Integrate Your Favorite Suppliers with a Universal PunchOut Connector
Precoro launched a Universal PunchOut Connector that enables procurement teams to link any supplier’s catalog directly within the platform. Users simply provide supplier credentials, fill a short profile, and choose PR or PO initiation, completing integration in three steps without...
Ericsson Q1-2026 Revenue Dips 10% to SEK 49.3 Bn: Sales Trends Highlight Growth in India, Japan, and EMEA
Ericsson posted Q1 2026 revenue of SEK 49.3 billion (≈ $5.4 billion), a 10% year‑on‑year decline from SEK 55 billion despite 6% organic sales growth, as currency headwinds and weak North‑American spending weighed. Networks revenue fell 8% to SEK 32.9 billion, Cloud Software and Services dropped 9% to SEK 11.8 billion,...
South Korea’s Healthcare Boom Creates New Billionaires
South Korea’s healthcare sector is rapidly generating wealth, propelling several pharma executives onto the nation’s richest list. Sam Chun Dang Pharm’s weight‑loss partnership with Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo lifted chairman Yoon Dae‑in to a $5.9 billion net worth, while ABL Bio and Voronoi secured multibillion‑dollar deals that...
UK Eases Rules for Hedge Funds in Sweeping Overhaul of Short Selling Rules
The UK Financial Conduct Authority announced a sweeping overhaul of short‑selling rules, easing restrictions that previously limited hedge fund activities. The changes aim to boost market liquidity and reduce compliance costs, while Dubai simultaneously softened its regulatory burden to attract...
From Captured GHG Emissions to Green Tomatoes
Value Maritime and its ME2CC consortium will install a compact carbon capture and storage (CCS) system on the 4,900‑dwt LNG‑powered ro‑ro vessel Samskip Kvitbjorn. The modular unit reduces height and footprint by up to one‑third and can capture up to 75%...
Scorpio Gold Drills 22.25 Metres of 2.09 G/T Gold Along the Zanzibar Trend, Manhattan District, Nevada
Scorpio Gold announced step‑out results from its Phase Two drilling at the Manhattan District in Nevada. Hole 26MN‑063 on the newly defined Zanzibar Trend intersected 2.09 g/t gold over 22.25 m, including a high‑grade 45.19 g/t gold over 0.85 m. Additional holes on the Reliance...
VIDEO – Energy Storage Summit 2026: Lessons Learned From BESS Construction Projects
The Energy Storage Summit 2026 in London hosted a panel on "Lessons Learned from BESS Construction Projects," highlighting the intricate web of supplier contracts, site acceptance tests, data analysis, and multi‑contractor coordination that define utility‑scale battery builds. Panelists from Solar Media,...
EU’s Potential Antitrust Rules Relaxation a Boost for PE Exits, Says EY-Parthenon; PAI Partners-Backed Pasubio Adds on Textile Capabilities
EY-Parthenon warns that the European Union’s likely softening of antitrust rules could accelerate private‑equity exits by reducing regulatory hurdles for cross‑border sales. The analysis comes as the private‑equity‑backed leather supplier Pasubio announced the purchase of French textile firm Luilor, expanding...
Maharashtra Road Transport Corp’s Daily Loss Stood at ₹1.6 Crore in 2025-26
During FY 2025‑26 the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) recorded a daily loss of ₹1.6 crore (about $193,000), amounting to a total deficit of ₹591 crore ($71 million). Revenue of ₹11,475 crore ($1.38 billion) fell short of expenditures of ₹12,066 crore ($1.45 billion). Losses spread across 23 of its 31 divisions, with only...
Martin Schori on Hiring for Yesterday While Bracing for Tomorrow
Martin Schori argues that media outlets are stuck hiring for yesterday’s production‑centric roles while the future demands relationship‑focused, creative talent. He notes AI is automating speed and standardisation, eroding the value of traditional newsroom functions. Yet editors still prioritize measurable,...
Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit, China Moves to Build Leverage and Limit Risks
China has launched an intensive diplomatic tour, hosting senior officials from Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Spain and sending its foreign minister to North Korea within a week. President Xi met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and welcomed Taiwan’s opposition...
Private Label Is Once Again Growing Faster than Manufacturer Brands, but Not Everywhere
Rising grocery costs are pushing European shoppers toward private‑label products. In 2025, store brands grew faster than the overall food market in 17 European countries, both in value and volume. Switzerland led the trend, with private‑label sales up 4.1% versus...
The Rise of Virtual Therapy Platforms in Healthcare
Virtual therapy platforms have surged into mainstream healthcare, offering patients flexible, cost‑effective mental health care through video, audio, and text channels. The COVID‑19 pandemic accelerated adoption, normalizing remote sessions and prompting providers to integrate digital tools. Advances such as AI‑driven...
Strike Threat Grows at Ichthys LNG After Workers Reject Deal
Inpex reported that workers at its Ichthys LNG plant in Australia voted against a new employment agreement, heightening the likelihood of industrial action. The Offshore Alliance, representing 430 union members, said the offer fell short of industry‑standard wages and conditions....
Teijin Frontier Raises Polyester Fibre Prices by 20% Amid Rising Oil Costs
Teijin Frontier announced a 20% or greater price increase for its polyester fibres, filament and staple fibres, spun yarns and non‑woven fabrics, effective on shipments from 7 April 2026. The hike pushes overall textile prices up 15%‑25% as the company grapples with...
City Solicitor Groups Announce Funding Support for LawCare in Three-Year Partnership
The City of London Law Society (CLLS) and the City of London Solicitors’ Company (CLSC) have forged a three‑year partnership with mental‑health charity LawCare, pledging a combined £45,000 (approximately $57,600) to bolster wellbeing initiatives. CLLS will contribute £10,000 ($12,800) annually...
Trump’s Oil Gamble Could Blow up in His Face
Donald Trump’s escalation of the Iran conflict has pushed crude oil to about $100 a barrel and spurred a rapid redeployment of U.S. super‑tankers to the Atlantic, seeking to replace Gulf‑origin supplies now blocked by the Strait of Hormuz. While...
A Water Treatment ‘Odyssee’
G‑Chem Aquacare has teamed with French specialist Odyssee Environnement on the FASEP ODYAFRICA project, a €500,000 (≈$545,000) initiative to boost water, energy and carbon efficiency in three Free State hospitals. The partnership will install real‑time monitoring sensors, smart meters and...
Nissan Eyes Chery Deal to Sublease Sunderland Plant
Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the UK is running at roughly 50% capacity, prompting the automaker to explore sub‑leasing options. The company is in talks with China’s Chery, and possibly Dongfeng, to share production lines at the facility that employs about...
Inside the Push to Centralise Compliance Oversight
Financial institutions are turning to a "compliance control tower" to centralize fragmented oversight across surveillance, risk and regulatory functions. The model layers a central hub over existing RegTech tools, aggregating data into near‑real‑time dashboards. Vendors such as Cardamon, Corlytics and...
Stratasys Broadens Its Additive Manufacturing Portfolio with New Materials and Software
At RAPID+TCT 2026, Stratasys unveiled a suite of new high‑performance filaments, resins, and a software upgrade to broaden its additive‑manufacturing portfolio. The lineup adds ULTEM 1010 for FDM, two industry‑specific photopolymers, PolyJet ToughONE in white and black, and Somos WaterShed White...
Pertamina Unit to Operate Indonesia’s Lavender Block Under 30-Year PSC
Indonesia’s state‑oil giant Pertamina, through its unit PT Pertamina Hulu Energi Sulawesi Lavender, signed a 30‑year production sharing contract to operate the Lavender block, an 8,206.95 km² onshore‑offshore area in South and Southeast Sulawesi. The PSC, a cost‑recovery model, was awarded...
Leo Express Train Hits Truck in Slovakia, Killing Truck Driver and Injuring More than 20
A Leo Express passenger train derailed near Bratislava after colliding with a truck at an uncontrolled, light‑controlled crossing in Dunajská Streda. The crash killed the 58‑year‑old truck driver and injured 21 passengers, most with broken‑glass injuries, including one head injury....
CEO Churn Exposes Growing Cracks in Big Food’s Growth Model
Over the past year, roughly 15 of the 50 largest consumer‑product companies changed CEOs—a 30% turnover rate that far exceeds broader market norms. Boards are moving faster, often appointing outsiders with turnaround experience, as growth slows and pricing power wanes....
Gujarat Road Transport Body Launches QR Code-Based Passenger Feedback System
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) has rolled out a QR‑code based passenger feedback system across its fleet, installing codes behind seats in premium buses and at least one on every vehicle. In March 2026, the system captured 1,702...
Europe Must Step up on Defence
The United States, through Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby, signaled that Europe must assume primary responsibility for its own conventional defence and for supporting Ukraine. Washington expects accelerated defence spending, expanded industrial capacity, and a new €90 billion (≈$98 billion) EU support...
Maize Prices Crash Below MSP in Telangana; Farmers Want State Govt to Procure Produce
Maize prices in Telangana have fallen to ₹1,600‑₹1,800 per quintal, well under the government‑set minimum support price (MSP) of ₹2,400. Farmers allege a loss of roughly ₹641 per quintal and are demanding that the state open procurement centres to buy...
Roblox Releases Agentic AI Tools for Creators, Promising Ability to "Build a Game with a Single Prompt"
Roblox unveiled an agentic AI suite for its Roblox Studio, featuring a Planning Mode that converts natural‑language prompts into a detailed, editable game design document and then builds the game automatically. A beta playtesting agent will run QA checks by...
China's Information War Turns Taiwan’s Own Voices Against It
China is intensifying its information warfare against Taiwan by repurposing statements from opposition figures, especially KMT leaders, and broadcasting them on state‑run Douyin and other Chinese platforms. The campaign repackages these clips for Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, reaching Taiwanese audiences...
Switcher.ie Reveals Ireland’s Most Affordable Places for First Time Buyers as Deposit Saving Time Soars
Switcher.ie’s 2026 First‑Time Buyer Affordability Index shows the average Irish couple now needs 7 years 2 months to save a 10 % deposit, up from 4 years 7 months last year. Longford remains the most affordable county for joint buyers, with a deposit saved in just 2.3 years...
AECC Rolls Out Data First Architecture for Automotive Services
The Automotive Edge Computing Consortium (AECC) released a white paper outlining a data‑first architecture for automotive services. The model distributes data processing across vehicle‑to‑vehicle links, edge nodes, and cloud platforms to handle the tens of gigabytes generated per car each...
Samsung C&T, Hitachi Energy Partner on European Power Grid Market Entry
Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction and Hitachi Energy signed a memorandum of understanding in Zurich on April 13, expanding their partnership beyond high‑voltage direct current (HVDC) to include high‑voltage alternating current (HVAC) technologies. The deal aims to create a pipeline...
Nextensa and Promobe Seal €120m Deal for Luxembourg Office Project
Nextensa and Promobe have signed a €120 million (approximately $131 million) agreement to develop a new office tower in Luxembourg’s central business district. The project will deliver premium grade‑A office space, with Citi committing to lease the top floors under a long‑term...
Market Participants Clash Over SEC Access Fee Timeline
Market participants are divided over the SEC’s plan to cut exchange access fees from $0.003 to $0.001 per share ahead of the November 2026 deadline. MEMX filed for temporary exemptive relief to postpone the fee‑cap reduction, citing concerns about costly...
Consolidated Audit Trail Enters Perilous Curve
The SEC’s Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) has moved from a delayed rollout to an operational system, but it now faces a costly overhaul. Development expenses have topped $500 million, and the 2025 operating budget of $272 million is five times the 2016...
The Stack: Advertising’s Next Phase
Advertising, streaming and regulation converged this week as platforms intensified monetisation while facing heightened scrutiny. The IAB unveiled a guide to mature AI‑driven commerce‑media networks, and Publicis reported 6.4% revenue growth with 86% of its services now AI‑powered. OpenAI rolled...
![Germany’s Akbank AG Successfully Completes First Phase of Core Banking Migration to Mambu in Partnership with Innovance [Sponsored]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://cdn.tech.eu/uploads/2026/04/akbank-ag-innovance-mambu-661.png)
Germany’s Akbank AG Successfully Completes First Phase of Core Banking Migration to Mambu in Partnership with Innovance [Sponsored]
Akbank AG, the German arm of Turkey’s Akbank, completed Phase 1 of its core‑banking migration to Mambu’s SaaS cloud platform, moving all Retail and Private‑banking customers onto a composable, API‑first architecture hosted on Microsoft Azure. The transformation was executed with Innovance,...
Argobio: The Venture Model Building Europe’s Next Biotech Champions
Argobio, led by Thierry Laugel, raised roughly $54.5 million in 2021 to launch a venture‑builder focused on European biotech. The model has already spun out three companies—Enodia, Laigo Bio and Elkedonia—that together secured over $46.9 million in seed funding for platforms in protein degradation...
Climate Adaptation Funding Is Scarce. Private Investors Could Help.
Cities face a massive funding shortfall for climate adaptation, with low‑ and middle‑income nations needing $256‑$821 billion by 2050. A new C40 report, released at the World Bank spring meeting, showcases ten case studies—including the Dutch Afsluitdijk’s 25‑year private‑financed upgrade—to illustrate...
Microsoft: Some Windows Servers Enter Reboot Loops After April Patches
Microsoft confirmed that certain Windows domain controllers using Privileged Access Management enter reboot loops after installing the April 2026 security update KB5082063. The LSASS crashes cause repeated restarts, disabling authentication and potentially taking the entire domain offline. Affected operating systems include...
IOC Wins Bid for Kochi–Kanyakumari–Thoothukudi Natural Gas Pipeline
Indian Oil Corporation secured the PNGRB’s authorization to build and operate the 425‑km Kochi‑Kanyakumari‑Thoothukudi natural gas pipeline. The line will move up to 6.84 MMSCMD of regasified LNG from the Kochi terminal to demand hubs in Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu. It...
Code Wizards Announced as Key Sponsor of MCV/DEVELOP Awards 2026
Code Wizards has been announced as a key sponsor of the MCV/DEVELOP Awards 2026, a ceremony that has celebrated the UK games industry for over two decades. The awards recognize achievements across game creation, recruitment, public relations, retail and media....
Alternative App Store Aptoide Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google, Alleges "Anticompetitive Chokehold"
GamesIndustry.biz has relaunched its weekly podcast after strong listener demand, debuting an alpha‑release episode timed with the close of London Games Week. The show recaps the week’s biggest stories, including new UK government funding for the games sector, alleged revenue...
Tesco Switches From Barcodes to QR Codes in ‘Revolutionary’ Move
Tesco announced it will replace traditional barcodes with QR codes on packaging for 13 own‑brand sausage lines, describing the shift as a revolutionary retail improvement. The QR codes give shoppers instant access to nutrition facts, traceability data, recipes and promotional...
Supreme Court Of Appeal Consolidates Appeal Process In Offshore Oil And Gas Case
South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ordered that Shell’s leave‑to‑appeal application and the full merits of the Block 5/6/7 offshore drilling case be heard together, creating a single consolidated hearing. The Western Cape High Court had already set aside the...
US Widens Hormuz Blockade Net as Dark Fleet Hunted Across Pacific
The U.S. Central Command has broadened its blockade of Iranian shipping, now applying to all Iranian‑flagged vessels, OFAC‑sanctioned ships, and any craft suspected of moving contraband, regardless of location. The order expands the net to the Pacific, targeting dark‑fleet tankers...
6K Additive Wins $2M Defense Contract to Localize Critical Metal Powders
6K Additive has secured an approximately $2 million Phase II contract from the Department of Defense to transform scrap metal from U.S. military depots into high‑purity powders of nickel, titanium, tungsten and niobium. The 18‑month effort leverages the company’s UniMelt microwave‑plasma refining...