Bussiness featured News

Federal International Chamber Forum Welcomes New Chairman and Patron Ahead of 2026 Ceremony

By 64 0

The Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF) has announced key leadership, naming Shri Gokulam Gopalan as Chairman and Shri V P Nandakumar as Patron. The announcement signals a strategic step forward for the organization as it continues to consolidate its position as an elite global business collective.

FICF is a highly exclusive forum consisting solely of MBA Award laureates—distinguished leaders recognized for exceptional business success, ethical leadership, and significant contributions to society. Conceptualized by Dr. Ajit Ravi, the forum brings together industry pioneers who represent the highest standards of excellence and influence.

Dr Ajit Ravi, Founder, FICF & MBA Award

The MBA Award, which grants entry into FICF, is awarded annually to an accomplished leader whose assets exceed ₹1,000 crore and whose achievements reflect exceptional excellence, philanthropy, and commitment to nation-building.

To commemorate this new leadership announcement, FICF will host a prestigious felicitation ceremony on January 6th, 2026, at Le Meridien, Kochi. The occasion will bring together past award laureates, dignitaries, and industry leaders to honour the contributions of the newly inducted Chairman and Patron.

Under the leadership of Shri Gokulam Gopalan and the patronage of Shri V P Nandakumar, FICF aims to strengthen its international presence and continue fostering collaboration among the world’s most influential business leaders.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Hamilton Defends Focus After Ferrari Chairman’s Criticism

By 50 0

Lewis Hamilton has pushed back against Ferrari chairman John Elkann’s remarks suggesting he and Charles Leclerc should “focus on driving and talk less” following the team’s double retirement at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Hamilton said his commitment has never been in doubt, insisting he wakes up and goes to sleep thinking about racing. He added that the 2024 season has been the busiest of his career, with extensive time spent at the factory as he adapts to life at Ferrari.

Despite Elkann’s comments dominating the Las Vegas GP press conference, Hamilton stressed there was no personal issue, noting that they speak regularly and share the same passion for improving the team. The seven-time world champion acknowledged the steep learning curve in his first season in red, saying the team’s struggles have felt like “climbing a mountain” only to slip back each race weekend. Still, he remains confident that once Ferrari gets things right, the results will be “amazing.”

Hamilton, who sits sixth in the standings and has yet to score a podium this year, said the challenges have reinforced his resilience and strengthened his belief in the team’s long-term direction. He still feels the excitement of racing for Ferrari and understands that transforming such a massive organisation takes time. Team-mate Leclerc added that Elkann had informed him in advance about the intended message, framing it as motivation for improvement rather than criticism.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Ukrainian Teenagers Lured on Telegram to Commit Sabotage for Cash

By 47 0

Ukrainian security officials report a disturbing rise in teenagers being recruited through Telegram and other online platforms to carry out sabotage attacks inside Ukraine. One such teen, identified as “Vlad,” travelled hundreds of miles to plant a bomb in a military conscription van after being promised $2,000. Like many others, he was approached anonymously online with offers of easy money and gradually coaxed into increasingly dangerous tasks. Ukrainian authorities say more than 800 people have been recruited in the past two years, including at least 240 minors — some as young as 11.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says recruiters exploit vulnerable young people and motivate them with payments rather than political ideology. Many teenagers are instructed to collect explosives, commit arson, or conduct surveillance, often while being monitored by their handlers. Payments are frequently far less than promised, with many teens cheated or placed in life-threatening situations. Officials warn that some recruited minors have been killed during sabotage attempts, and in certain cases, devices were allegedly detonated remotely by handlers, knowing the teens would not survive.

Despite reporting numerous Telegram channels involved in recruitment, most remain active, continuing to post job-like ads disguised as “part-time work” or “quick money.” Ukrainian authorities accuse Russia of orchestrating the operations, while Russia denies responsibility and counters with accusations of Ukrainian involvement in sabotage inside Russia. As dozens of young suspects await trial, Vlad warns others against falling for online recruiters, saying their promises lead only to prison, injury, or death.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Albanian PM Accuses UK Home Secretary of “Ethnic Stereotyping” Over Asylum Remarks

By 46 0

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood of engaging in “ethnic stereotyping” after she highlighted Albanian families while outlining major reforms to the UK asylum system. Mahmood told MPs that around 700 Albanian families were staying in taxpayer-funded accommodation despite having failed asylum claims — a figure Rama dismissed as insignificant compared with the UK’s wider post-Brexit challenges. He stressed that Albania has cooperated closely with the UK, noting that more than 13,000 people have been returned under a bilateral agreement since 2022.

Rama criticised the Home Secretary for echoing “far-right rhetoric” and argued that Albanians are net contributors to the British economy with comparatively low benefit usage. He warned that repeatedly singling out Albanians amounted to demagoguery rather than policy, adding that official decisions should not be shaped by ethnic generalisations. His comments come amid long-standing tensions with UK politicians over how Albanian nationals are portrayed in immigration debates.

Mahmood made the remarks while announcing sweeping changes to what she described as the UK’s “out of control and unfair” asylum system. Under the proposed reforms, refugee status would become temporary, the wait for permanent settlement would increase from five to twenty years, and families with no right to remain could be removed. The UK would also introduce capped legal migration routes while continuing to prioritise the removal of failed asylum seekers “regardless of who they are.”

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Paris Court Halts Auction of Historic 17th-Century Pascal Calculator

By 53 0

A Paris court has temporarily blocked the auction of La Pascaline, one of the world’s earliest mechanical calculators, preventing its export from France. Auction house Christie’s, which had planned to sell the 1642 device for an estimated €2–3 million, confirmed it has suspended the sale. The calculator, developed by Blaise Pascal when he was just 19, is considered one of the most significant scientific instruments in history, with only nine known examples remaining.

The decision follows a legal appeal from scientists and heritage groups who argued that the machine should be designated a French “national treasure.” The court expressed “serious doubts” about the legality of the export certificate previously issued by the culture minister, which had been approved by experts including one from the Louvre. Until a final ruling is delivered, the export authorisation remains frozen.

La Pascaline had been showcased in New York and Hong Kong as part of Christie’s auction of collector Léon Parcé’s library, which also featured Pascal’s philosophical works. Heritage advocates welcomed the court’s move, noting the calculator’s immense historic value and its place as the first known attempt to mechanise human computation.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Italy Approves Extradition of Ukrainian Nord Stream Suspect to Germany

By 53 0

Italy’s top court has approved the extradition of a Ukrainian man, identified as Serhii K., to Germany, where he faces charges related to the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The suspect, a former Ukrainian military officer, has been contesting his transfer since being detained in Rimini, Italy, under a European arrest warrant in August. His lawyer expressed disappointment but remains hopeful for acquittal after the trial in Germany.

German prosecutors allege that Serhii K. was involved in planting explosive devices on the Nord Stream pipelines near Denmark’s Bornholm island, in acts described as sabotage that disrupted Russian gas transit to Europe and strained energy supplies across the continent. He faces charges including collusion to cause an explosion, anti-constitutional sabotage, and destruction of critical infrastructure.

The suspect has been held in a high-security Italian prison, where he reportedly staged a hunger strike to protest prison conditions. The court’s ruling comes amid contrasting decisions in the region, with a Polish court recently rejecting the extradition of another Ukrainian linked to the explosions, ordering his release.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Poland Shuts Last Russian Consulate, Blames Moscow for Railway Sabotage

By 89 0

Poland announced on Wednesday that it will close Russia’s last remaining consulate on its territory, escalating its response to a railway explosion that Warsaw has blamed on Moscow. The blast, which occurred over the weekend on the Warsaw-Lublin line leading to the Ukrainian border, was allegedly carried out by two Ukrainians working with Russian intelligence. Polish authorities say the suspects fled to Belarus, a close ally of Russia.

Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the closure of the Russian consulate in Gdansk is the first step, following earlier closures of Russian consulates in Krakow and Poznan in response to similar sabotage concerns. Calling the railway incident “an act of state terrorism,” Sikorski added that Poland would also pursue non-diplomatic measures. Moscow, which denies any involvement, accused Poland of “Russophobia” and indicated it would restrict Poland’s diplomatic presence in Russia.

Warsaw is now urging its EU partners to curb the movement of Russian diplomats within the Schengen zone, warning that further actions may follow. Poland and other EU states have repeatedly accused Russia and Belarus of destabilizing the region, including by fueling migration at the borders. Polish intelligence officials say several additional people have been detained in connection with the blast, amid a wider surge in sabotage, arson and cyberattacks across Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Russian Strikes Kill 16 in Western Ukraine as Missile Barrage Hits Residential Blocks

By 65 0

Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on western Ukraine since the full-scale invasion, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens in the city of Ternopil. Two residential blocks were hit by drones and missiles, with Ukrainian officials reporting that 14 children were among the 64 wounded. Strikes also targeted the regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, while separate drone attacks in Kharkiv injured more than 30 people. Widespread power outages were reported across multiple regions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired more than 470 drones and 47 missiles, causing “significant destruction” and leaving many trapped under rubble. Videos from Ternopil showed one apartment block collapsed from the third to the ninth floor, with fires and heavy smoke visible across the area. Infrastructure, including energy and transport facilities, suffered severe damage in several regions as emergency workers continued rescue efforts through the night.

The strikes came a day after Ukraine confirmed firing US-supplied ATACMS missiles at targets inside Russia for the first time. In response, Russia accused Ukraine of launching missiles at Voronezh, all of which it claimed were intercepted. Meanwhile, tensions rose across the region, with Romania reporting a Russian drone entering its airspace and Poland scrambling jets following the attacks. Diplomatic movements also intensified, with Zelensky traveling to Ankara for talks as both sides remain deeply divided on any potential peace solution.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Klimt Portrait Sells for $236 Million, Becomes Second Most Expensive Artwork at Auction

By 62 0

A rare portrait by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt has sold for $236.4 million (£179m) at Sotheby’s in New York, becoming the second most expensive artwork ever auctioned. The Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, painted between 1914 and 1916, triggered a 20-minute bidding war among six buyers. Sotheby’s did not disclose the identity of the winning bidder.

The painting’s history is as dramatic as its price. It was looted by the Nazis, nearly destroyed in a World War Two fire, and later recovered in 1948. Returned to Lederer’s brother, Erich, it remained with the family until it was sold in 1983. The portrait, which shows Lederer in a white robe before a blue tapestry with Asian motifs, later entered the private collection of Estée Lauder heir Leonard A. Lauder in 1985, where it stayed until this week’s sale.

Tuesday’s auction far exceeded expectations, with Sotheby’s originally estimating a price of $150 million. Several other Klimt works from Lauder’s collection also sold for between $60m and $80m. The record for the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction remains Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, which fetched $450.3m in 2017. In a separate headline, a 101-kg functioning gold toilet by Maurizio Cattelan sold for $12.1m during the same event.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Poland Scrambles Jets After Russian Strikes Near Border With Ukraine

By 77 0

Poland activated its air defence and scrambled fighter jets early Wednesday after Russia launched a wave of airstrikes on western Ukraine, close to the Polish border. The Polish Armed Forces said quick-reaction fighter jets and an early-warning aircraft were deployed to secure national airspace.

In a statement on X, Poland’s operational command confirmed that ground-based air defence units and radar systems were raised to their highest state of readiness amid heightened tensions along NATO’s eastern flank.

The response followed widespread air raid alerts across Ukraine around 0400 GMT, as the Ukrainian Air Force warned of incoming Russian missile and drone attacks.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright