Bhubaneswar to Get 2.3-km Six-Lane Road Linking Guru Kelucharan Park to Patia Railway Station

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 22 (UDN): Bhubaneswar is set to get a new 2.387-km six-lane road corridor connecting Guru Kelucharan Park with Patia Railway Station, a project aimed at easing traffic congestion on the busy Jaydev Vihar–Nandankanan stretch and improving connectivity in the city’s rapidly growing northern suburbs.

 Representational Image

Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister and Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) Chairman Krushna Chandra Mahapatra laid the foundation stone for the Rs 55.85-crore project on Friday.

The road is being developed under the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) as part of the Right Side Road Network (RSRN) to strengthen the city’s transport infrastructure.

Modern Urban Corridor

The 45-metre-wide corridor will pass through Patia, Chandrasekharpur and Gadakana mouzas before terminating at Patia Railway Station.

Designed as a modern urban road, the project will feature six traffic lanes, street lighting, pedestrian footpaths, stormwater drainage and a dedicated utility corridor for essential services. Officials expect the construction to be completed within 18 months.

Alternative Route to Ease Congestion

The new road is expected to provide commuters with an alternative to the congested Jaydev Vihar–Nandankanan corridor, reducing travel time during peak hours and improving access to Patia Railway Station.

Officials said the project would also enhance pedestrian safety and urban mobility through improved footpaths and drainage infrastructure.

Affordable Housing Project Reviewed

After the foundation ceremony, Mahapatra inspected the Affordable Housing Project (AHP) at Gadakana, where the BDA is constructing 680 housing units under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model.

The housing project is intended to expand affordable residential options for eligible beneficiaries while complementing Bhubaneswar’s broader urban infrastructure and development initiatives.

Dynamics of the Icelandic Ice Sheet Altered the Chemistry of North Atlantic Seawater

Aug 22: Environmental physicists reveal fluctuations over the past 230,000 years based on the isotopic composition of deep-sea sediment samples Over the past 230,000 years, the growth and retreat of the Icelandic ice sheet have led to major changes in the seawater chemistry of the North Atlantic, caused by the interaction between volcanism and ice in Iceland. Scientists at the Institute of Environmental Physics at Heidelberg University have demonstrated this using sediment cores from the northeastern Atlantic – the Rockall Plateau.

The researchers analyzed the isotopic composition of the rare-earth element neodymium in these drill cores. According to their findings, the isotopic signal fluctuated significantly over the course of glacial and interglacial periods, following the “rhythm” of the ice ages, as shown by the studies led by Prof. Dr. Norbert Frank.

The isotopic composition of neodymium in seawater is one of the most commonly used tools for reconstructing how ocean circulation has changed in the recent geological past. The method is based on the central assumption that the chemical “fingerprints” characteristic of the composition of large water masses have remained largely constant over time. Research by the Heidelberg scientists now suggests that this fixed isotopic composition no longer applies to the North Atlantic during glacial periods. Their analyses of deep-sea sediments from the Rockall Plateau show that the chemistry of North Atlantic seawater has changed repeatedly and significantly. The researchers attribute these changes to volcanic material from Iceland.

Their investigations are based on the fact that different types of continental rock exhibit different isotopic signatures. The ratio of the specific isotopes 143Nd and 144Nd of neodymium dissolved in seawater reflects the rocks from which the rare-earth element was extracted. As the ice sheet in Iceland advanced during a glacial and carved its way through the Icelandic basaltic bedrock, it produced large quantities of fine, highly reactive rock dust. This material was released into the surrounding North Atlantic Ocean, where it dissolved and released neodymium with a distinct radiogenic signature – enriched in 143Nd.

Analysis of neodymium isotopes from the ODP Site 982 sediment core on the Rockall Plateau shows that the upper water masses of the North Atlantic were consistently much more radiogenic during glacial maxima than during the warm interglacial periods, and that these fluctuations correlated closely with the volume of the Icelandic ice sheet.

The Heidelberg scientists developed a so-called box model that allowed them to reproduce their analyses of the deep-sea sediment samples. According to the model, the changes in seawater chemistry resulting from volcanic input were not strongly linear but rather responses to the dynamics of the ice in Iceland – they peaked during periods of rapid glaciation.

“The isotopic signal followed the rhythm of the ice ages almost step by step,” says Dr. Antao Xu. “This suggests that the Icelandic ice sheets themselves were the driving forces behind the repeated reshaping of the North Atlantic’s seawater chemistry over the past 230,000 years.” The research findings also show that the ice sheet regulated the influx of micronutrients such as iron. This likely had an impact on marine life and the carbon cycle during the ice ages, according to Dr. Xu, who is a member of the “Physics of Environmental Archives” research group led by Prof. Frank.

“The results of our research underscore that ice sheet systems at high latitudes play a crucial role in regulating ocean chemistry,” emphasizes Prof. Frank. According to the scientist, the findings have far-reaching implications. “They urge caution regarding the assumption that there are fixed isotopic fingerprints that can be used to reconstruct past ocean circulation. Furthermore, they reveal a previously underestimated connection between the cryosphere, continental weathering, and ocean chemistry.”

The latest research was part of a project funded by the German Research Foundation that investigated how ocean circulation and geochemical cycles evolved during major climate change phases in the past. It is based on sediment cores from an expedition conducted by the Ocean Drilling Program / International Ocean Discovery Program, which were provided by the IODP Bremen Core Repository at MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen. The results of the Heidelberg study were published in “Science Advances”.

Centre Moves to Stabilise Sugar Prices, Rules Out Ethanol Link

New Delhi, Aug 22: The Centre has stepped up efforts to keep sugar prices stable and ensure adequate supplies for consumers, while clarifying that the recent rise in prices should not be attributed to ethanol production.

The government said sugar prices increased from Rs 48.18 per kg on July 20 to Rs 55.70 per kg on August 20. It attributed the rise to lower-than-expected sugar production, weather-related crop damage, higher demand ahead of the festive season, tightening global supplies and concerns over hoarding and speculation.

Sugar production during the current season is expected to be around 306 lakh tonnes, compared with the initial estimate of about 343 lakh tonnes. Despite the lower production, the government said stocks remain sufficient to meet domestic demand until the next crushing season.

The Centre has taken several steps to improve availability and prevent excessive price increases. These include stockholding limits and measures to discourage hoarding, along with steps to increase supplies in the domestic market.

The government has also clarified that the quantity of sugar diverted for ethanol production has declined in recent years. The share fell from around 12 per cent in 2022-23 to about 9 per cent in 2025-26, while nearly three-fourths of ethanol production now comes from grains, particularly maize.

The Centre is closely monitoring sugar prices and availability and will take further measures if necessary. The focus remains on maintaining sufficient supplies, protecting consumers from sharp price movements and ensuring stability across the sugar sector.

Odisha Clears 14 Investment Projects Worth INR 2,780 Crore, Over 14,000 Jobs Expected

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 22 (UDN): The Odisha government has approved 14 investment proposals worth Rs 2,780 crore, paving the way for industrial expansion across 10 districts and the creation of more than 14,000 employment opportunities.

 Representational Image 

The proposals were cleared by the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA), chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, covering investments in sectors ranging from food processing and chemicals to pharmaceuticals, textiles, steel and medical devices.

Major Projects Receive Approval

Among the biggest proposals is a Rs 500-crore investment by Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt. Ltd. to set up a snacks and baked products manufacturing unit in the state.

Prasol Chemicals Ltd has been cleared to establish a phosphorous-based derivatives manufacturing plant with an investment of Rs 450 crore, while Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has received approval for a Rs 405.35-crore private railway siding project in Angul district to strengthen industrial logistics.

Investments Across Key Sectors

The approved projects span a diverse range of industries, including textile and apparel, agro and food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, steel, iron and ferro alloys, and steel downstream manufacturing.

Projects to Span 10 Districts

The investments will be spread across Angul, Bolangir, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Keonjhar, Khordha, Nayagarh, Nuapada and Sundargarh districts, reinforcing the state’s efforts to attract industrial investment beyond major urban centres.

Officials said the approved projects are expected to boost manufacturing capacity, improve industrial infrastructure and generate substantial employment across Odisha.

BL Networks (BLNWX) Details Major Global Infrastructure Expansion and Upgrades

SHERIDAN, Wyo., Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BL Networks, operating under ASN 399629, today detailed its ongoing global infrastructure expansion. Highlighting a multi-year project to strategically meet demand for associated privacy-VPS provider BitLaunch, it reinforces its commitment to deliver high-performance and low-latency networking to a growing global user base of privacy-conscious cloud users.

BLNWX: The Latest Network Expansions

Over the past three years, BL Networks has ramped up its mission to deliver private infrastructure to growing internet populations. Its most recent expansions include:

1. Singapore (May 2026) – BLNWX’s APAC debut

Responding to demand in the Asia-Pacific region, BLNWX launched its newest location in Singapore. The location was selected to deliver low-latency service to BitLaunch customers in the APAC region while maintaining the reliability and performance its users have come to expect.

2. Amsterdam (September 2025) – The 20 Gbps Upgrade

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most critical routing hubs and therefore one of the most popular hosting locations. To meet significant user demand, BL Networks rolled out a third Amsterdam location with major upgrades. 20 Gbps network speeds built on tier-1 multi-homed bandwidth and modern DELL server hardware ensure that even the most bandwidth-heavy workloads remain stable.

3. Bucharest, Romania (March 2024) – Extending the European footprint

While locations in London and Amsterdam provided BL Networks with excellent coverage across Europe, there was room for improvement in the east. The launch of a new data center region in Bucharest delivered ultra-low latency to users in Eastern Europe. A favorite location for VPNs and web hosting providers, Romania has the fastest internet speeds in the region, enabling BitLaunch to deliver 20 Gbps up/down.

4. Dallas, Texas (February 2024) – Serving the South

Following rollouts in Los Angeles and Chicago, the next logical step was to serve the US’s southern states. Lying in the center of the telecom corridor, Dallas, TX was the natural choice. Strong fiber coverage and a low incidence of natural disasters, combined with proximity to some of the world’s largest networking firms, made it the near-perfect expansion choice.

Hardware specifications and performance standards

Rather than confusing users with varying hardware profiles, BL Networks has opted for strong baseline specifications built on:

• Modern Dell server hardware featuring Intel Gold CPUs
• Fast Samsung Enterprise SSDs configured in RAID10 for maximum I/O and redundancy
• High-speed ECC memory (RAM)
• Hardware-level KVM virtualization
• Industry-leading, heuristic DDoS protection

Just as crucial as the specifications themselves, however, is BLNWX’s philosophy of scaling sustainably with demand. Rather than overselling like many providers, it endeavors to under-promise and over-deliver.

BLNWX’s Eco Commitment

BL Networks’ philosophy of sustainability extends beyond responsible infrastructure scaling. As it expands its physical footprint, it remains committed to environmental sustainability through its Carbon Negative Pledge.

Doubling its commitments until it pays off its historic carbon debt, it has directly funded the planting of almost 25,000 trees and offset 961.54 tons of CO2e. It also endeavors to reduce its e-waste output by purchasing refurbished server hardware whenever it reasonably can without sacrificing quality.

BitLaunch VPN and the Future

BLNWX’s continuing infrastructure expansion enables not only capacity for its VPS customers but also new regions for BitLaunch VPN, which it launched in July 2025. The service allows users to deploy their own, private VPN across multiple regions in seconds.

Looking ahead, BL Networks remains dedicated to expanding its first-party network to more regions while maintaining its rigorous privacy and sustainability standards and continuing to eliminate the barriers associated with traditional payment methods.

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Penske Automotive Sets Scene for Freedom 250 Grand Prix: NYSE Content Update

NYSE issues a pre-market daily advisory direct from the trading floor.

NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. 

Ashley Mastronardi delivers the pre-market update on August 21st

• The Freedom 250 Grand Prix commences this weekend.
  • Representatives from Penske Automotive (NYSE: PAG) and McLaren will join NYSE Live this morning.
  • President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are expected to attend the race.
  • The Freedom 250 Grand Prix marks the first ever NTT INDYCAR series race on the National Mall.
• Manchester United (NYSE: MANU) representatives will join Taking Stock.
  • Manchester United begins its Premier League season on Saturday at 7:30 AM ET.
  • The club will host a special match screening at Pier 17 in New York City.
• Investors are tracking the latest bond market movement.
  • The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield reached its highest level since 2007 earlier this week.

Opening Bell

Penske Automotive (NYSE: PAG) celebrates the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington D.C.

Closing Bell

Manchester United (NYSE: MANU) celebrates the start of the Premier League season

For market insights, IPO activity, and today’s opening bell, download the NYSE TV App and check out the NYSE YouTube: TV.NYSE.com and YouTube.com/@NYSEofficial

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PM Modi Engages with Space Startup Leaders, Urges India to Lead Global Space Economy

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the CEOs and founders of 20 Indian space startups at Seva Teerth, highlighting the growing role of private enterprise in strengthening India’s position in the global space industry.

The interaction brought together entrepreneurs working across a wide spectrum of space technologies, including launch vehicles, reusable semi-cryogenic propulsion systems, avionics, satellites, advanced propulsion, space and defence intelligence, space-debris removal, and AI-powered hyperlocal weather and climate intelligence. The startup leaders outlined the rapid advances being made by India’s private space sector and shared their vision for its next phase of growth.

The founders highlighted their efforts to develop critical capabilities and technologies indigenously, noting the strong support provided by the government and increasing collaboration within the industry. They said the opening of the space sector to private participation had created significant opportunities for entrepreneurs and encouraged companies to develop innovative solutions for both domestic and global markets. Several companies are also showing interest in adopting technologies emerging from India’s private space ecosystem.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated the startup leaders for taking the initiative in an emerging and strategically important sector. He said the confidence demonstrated by private space companies has reinforced the vision behind opening the sector to private participation. With several countries either unable or unwilling to make large investments in space, he noted, India has a major opportunity to expand its global footprint and emerge as a leading space power.

The Prime Minister urged companies to look beyond conventional applications and explore ways in which space technologies can directly improve people’s lives. He called for stronger collaboration between space startups and organisations in sectors such as agriculture, environment and education. For instance, space-debris companies could work with environmental organisations to scale their solutions, while companies developing space-based agricultural technologies could collaborate with agricultural universities and government departments to help farmers make better-informed decisions and improve productivity.

Calling for the creation of a world-class space ecosystem, Modi said India should aspire to become the country the world looks to whenever space is discussed. He also underlined the potential of the sector to attract global talent, investment and companies to India.

The Prime Minister further encouraged space startups to establish closer links with Atal Tinkering Labs, saying early exposure to space technology could stimulate curiosity and innovation among schoolchildren and inspire the next generation of space entrepreneurs and scientists.

The meeting was attended by leaders of 20 startups, including Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, Dhruva Space, GalaxEye, PierSight, Bellatrix Aerospace, Digantara, SatSure, Suhora Technologies, Manastu Space, Astrobase, TakeMe2Space, VyomIC, Cosmoserve Space, OrbitAID Aerospace, SkyServe (Hyspace), Serendipity Space, Vassar Labs and mistEO.

The interaction underlined a broader transformation underway in India’s space economy—one in which private innovation, government support and cross-sector collaboration are increasingly coming together to build a globally competitive space ecosystem.