Category Archives: Business

PM Modi to Inaugurate Mega Refinery Petrochemical Project in Rajasthan

New Delhi, Apr 20 (BNP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan on Tuesday to inaugurate India’s first greenfield integrated refinery and petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Balotra.

The project, built with an investment of over ₹79,450 crore, is among the largest energy infrastructure developments in the country. Officials said it marks an important step in expanding India’s refining capacity while strengthening its petrochemical manufacturing base.

 Pic Credit: Pexel

The integrated facility is expected to enhance domestic production of key petrochemical products, reduce import dependence, and support industries such as plastics, textiles, fertilisers, and packaging.

Authorities noted that the project will also contribute to regional development by creating employment opportunities and encouraging industrial growth in Rajasthan.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a public gathering, where he is expected to highlight the project’s significance in advancing India’s energy security and industrial self-reliance.

The refinery-petrochemical complex is seen as a key addition to India’s energy infrastructure, aligning with the country’s long-term goals of boosting manufacturing capacity and meeting rising energy and industrial demand.

Dubai’s leading developers have sold vast majority of homes scheduled for delivery this year

fäm Properties analysis shows city’s 4-year pipeline 71.45% committed, as absorption rate leaves major global markets far behind

Dubai, UAE, 20^th April, 2026:  Dubai’s leading developers have already sold the vast majority of homes scheduled for delivery in 2026, while buyers have also snapped up 71.45% of the city’s total off-plan pipeline due for completion between 2026 and 2029. 

A market analysis issued by fäm Properties today reveals a sustained alignment between supply and demand across one of the most active launch periods in the emirate’s history, maintaining an historic absorption rate that leaves other major global cities far behind. 

Data from DXBinteract shows that in 2026 alone, ten of Dubai’s major developers are scheduled to deliver 43,217 units, of which 41,015 are already sold, resulting in a blended absorption rate of 94.91%. 

Across the four-year pipeline from 2026 to 2029, all Dubai developers combined have 426,182 units scheduled for delivery, with 304,493 already sold, a level of buyer conviction few residential markets anywhere in the world have come close to matching. 

“Dubai continues to demonstrate a level of forward demand that is structurally different from most international property markets,” said Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties. 

“When nearly all of next year’s deliveries and more than 70% of the next four years are already sold, it fundamentally changes how supply risk and market stability should be assessed. 

“This reflects the confidence that buyers, both regional and international, have placed in a market built on transparency, strong regulatory foundations and a long-term vision that continues to attract commitment well ahead of delivery.” 

Within the 2026 pipeline, absorption is consistently high across all of the market’s leading developers. Emaar has sold 99.1% of its 9,085 scheduled units, Meraas 99.77% of 2,615, with Dubai Holding and Meydan both fully sold out. 

DAMAC stands at 99.17% and Danube at 99.55%, while Binghatti, carrying the largest single volume with 20,906 units due this year, has sold 87.31% of them. 

Spanning the full market, encompassing tens of thousands of homes launched across one of the most active periods of project activity the emirate has seen, the data tells a consistent story. 

Of the 111,408 units scheduled for delivery in Dubai in 2026, 87,514 have already been sold, an absorption rate of 78.55%. In 2027, 87,840 of 133,618 units are sold at 65.74%. 

In 2028 the figure stands at 71.97% with 89,879 of 124,889 units already placed, and in 2029, 39,260 of 56,267 units are sold at 69.77%. Across all four years, 304,493 of 426,182 tracked units have a buyer behind them, a blended rate of 71.45%. 

For context, since records began, the entire Dubai market inventory stands at 548,106 units launched, 400,038 sold, and an aggregate absorption rate of 72.99%. The four-year forward pipeline is performing in precise alignment with Dubai’s long-run market average. 

In London, one of the world’s most established residential markets, just 8,436 new private homes were sold across the whole of 2025, according to data from Molior and research from Knight Frank published in early 2026. 

This shows how rarely even the most mature markets sustain the level of forward absorption that Dubai has recorded across its entire active pipeline. 

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FIA Member Clubs unite in Montenegro to advance mobility and motor sport in Middle East, Europe and Africa

Dubai, UAE, 20^th April 2026:  Motorsport leaders from across Middle East will join counterparts from Europe and Africa for three days of collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing at the FIA Region I Spring Meeting getting under way in Budva, Montenegro tomorrow.

With FIA President, H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem in attendance, representatives from 102 Member Clubs will discuss priorities to advance safe and sustainable mobility for road users and motor sport for fans at the three-day congress, hosted by the Auto-Moto Association of Montenegro (AMSCG).

The FIA Region I Spring Meeting will also host commissions and working groups from across the network, with the International Historic Commission and Founding Members’ Club protecting and promoting motoring heritage, the FIA Eurocouncil supporting the future of mobility in Europe, and Clubs continuing to implement the Safe Mobility 4 All and 4 Life programme across the Region.

National Sporting Authorities will also be meeting in Montenegro to continue developing and improving motor sport for fans as well as advocating for enhanced driver safety on the track.

To celebrate the Member Clubs showcasing their commitment to improving mobility services in their countries and across Region I, the three FIA Innovation Challenge 2026 Regional Champions will also be announced during the week.

FIA President, H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “I am delighted to be joining our Members and partners in Budva for this important regional gathering, and I look forward to engaging with colleagues from across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East on the key challenges and opportunities shaping mobility and motorsport today.

“Montenegro provides a fitting backdrop for these discussions, as we consider how to strengthen transport systems, improve road safety, and support sustainable solutions that deliver safer, more sustainable, and more affordable mobility for all road users.

“This meeting is an important opportunity to deepen collaboration, share expertise across mobility and motorsport, and advance our shared priorities.”

In Montenegro, mobility is undergoing steady development, with continued investment in road infrastructure, including the opening of the Bar–Boljare motorway in 2022, helping to strengthen connectivity and support economic growth.

Recent road safety reforms and the Sustainable Transport Action Plan are driving progress towards safer, more sustainable mobility.

In motorsport, the country’s vibrant grassroots scene is led by rally and hill climb events, with competitions such as the Montenegro Trophy attracting growing regional participation and highlighting the potential for further development.

The FIA Member Club structure forms the backbone of the federation’s governance and operations, with each full Member Club holding voting rights across the FIA’s elections and regulatory decisions. Clubs are grouped into two primary categories, with some serving in both roles:

• National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) – govern and develop motorsport at a national level, are responsible for sporting events, issuing licenses, and engagement across regulations

• Mobility Clubs – provide mobility services and represent the interest of road users, with a focus on road safety, travel and tourism, consumer rights, and sustainable mobility

Within the FIA there are four Mobility Regions and six sport zones. The global FIA Membership is comprised of 245 clubs across 149 countries, connecting over 80 million members.

Seaweed compound shows major methane cuts in beef cattle

Adelaide University researchers have demonstrated that a naturally derived seaweed compound can dramatically reduce methane emissions from beef cattle raised in extensive grazing systems, without harming calves.

The study, published in Frontiers in Animal Science, investigated the use of bromoform extract oil, derived from the red seaweed Asparagopsis, in pregnant and lactating Angus cows.

Methane is responsible for around 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the industrial revolution, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), and finding practical solutions for grazing systems – where animals roam freely and feed intake is less controlled – remains a significant challenge.

Lead researcher Dr Mariana Caetano, from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, said the results show strong potential for reducing emissions in real-world farming conditions.

“Across the eight-week trial involving 80 Angus cows, methane emissions were reduced by between 49% and 77 % in cows receiving the supplement,” Dr Caetano said. “This is a substantial reduction, particularly in an extensive system where delivering consistent supplementation can be difficult.”

The research found no negative effects on calf growth or development. Calves born to supplemented cows showed normal weight gain from birth through to 150 days of age, indicating no carry-over impacts from maternal supplementation.

“This is critical,” Dr Caetano said. “In breeding systems, it’s not just about the cow – you need to be confident there are no unintended consequences for their offspring.”

The cows also maintained stable body weight throughout the trial, despite consuming slightly less feed with the bromoform supplement, with potential cost savings for producers.

“In a commercial setting, reduced feed intake without a drop in productivity could translate into meaningful savings,” Dr Caetano said. “That’s an important incentive for adopting bromoform, alongside the environmental benefits.”

While the results are promising, the study also identified some changes in blood chemistry in supplemented cows, leading to a spike in alkaline pH levels in some animals.

“These changes were generally within acceptable ranges, but they highlight the need for further research into long-term health impacts and optimal dosing,” Dr Caetano said.

Some minor changes were also observed in calf blood markers, though these remained within normal physiological ranges.

Previous studies involving bromoform have largely focused on feedlot or intensive systems, where diet can be tightly controlled. This research is among the first to demonstrate strong methane reductions in breeding cows managed under grazing conditions.

“Our findings show that bromoform-based supplements can be effective beyond feedlots, including in pasture-based systems that dominate Australian beef production,” Dr Caetano said.

The research team says further work is needed to refine delivery methods, optimise dosage, and better understand long-term impacts on animal health and productivity.

“There is real potential here, but adoption will depend on ensuring the approach is safe, practical and cost-effective for producers,” Dr Caetano said.

“If we can get that balance right, this could be a powerful tool to help the livestock industry reduce its environmental footprint.”

‘Efficacy of bromoform extract oil supplementation to mitigate methane emissions in Angus cows in an extensive system and the health impact on the cow-calf pair’ is published in Frontiers in Animal Science. DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2026.1789660

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