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June 4, 2026 – Vilnius, Lithuania. Astrolight, a Lithuanian space and defense company developing laser communication solutions for space, ground, and maritime applications, has won the Lithuanian regional competition of the Startup World Cup, the world’s leading startup pitch contest. The company will head to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco on November 6, 2026, and compete with finalists from around the world for the title of global champion and a US$1 million investment prize.

“Because satellite constellations grow and missions expand across Earth observation, defense, emergency response, and future AI infrastructure in orbit, the need to move data between space and Earth is rising fast. Traditional radio-frequency communications alone will soon struggle to keep pace – on both the technological and regulatory level,” explained Mačiulis. “Laser links will close that gap. Much like optical fiber transformed the internet, laser communication will transform space communications in terms of data volumes and speed.”

 

Novaspace, the leading space market research firm, projects global revenues for space laser communication terminals will reach $12.9 billion through 2035, driven by the industry’s structural shift away from radio-frequency (RF) communications as operators face mounting RF spectrum constraints: regulatory scrutiny, licensing delays, and interference bottlenecks.

Similar pressure is now reaching AI infrastructure. As land-based datacenters run into limits around space, power, and cooling, industry leaders are starting to look at putting datacenters and compute systems in orbit, with high-speed laser communications as a core infrastructure layer.

Unlike radio-frequency communication, laser links use narrow and focused beams of infrared light, which can transmit data at up to 100 times faster rates than RF and are extremely resilient to electronic interference, jamming, and interception.

Incidents of electronic warfare in space and on land are growing. Russian GPS spoofing from Kaliningrad can now reach 450 km into Europe, GPS/AIS interference has surged in the Middle East Gulf, and Russia has been accused of intercepting European satellite communications and regularly jamming UK military satellites.

“The current geopolitical situation shows how vulnerable satellite communications can be, especially when they depend solely on radio-frequency. That’s why for defense users and commercial operators alike, resilient connectivity is becoming a matter of strategic advantage,” added Mačiulis. “In such an environment, laser communication should not be limited to a small number of highly specialized missions. Smaller, cost-efficient, and interoperable terminals can make optical links more accessible, helping more operators secure their communications in space. That’s what we’re aiming for at Astrolight.”

Earlier, Astrolight secured contracts and partnerships with the European Space Agency (ESA), industry primes, and leading satellite manufacturers. The company has launched three of its ATLAS-1 laser terminals into orbit for testing, joined a Kepler Communications-led team developing ESA’s HydRON optical multi-orbit transport network, and is working with ESA to build the first Arctic optical ground station in Greenland.

Startup World Cup is a global startup competition and conference organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based multinational venture capital firm. The competition includes more than 100 regional events across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, followed by the Grand Finale in Silicon Valley.

The contracts underscore shipyard expertise in complex vessel fabrication and highlight the UAE’s growing prominence as a shipbuilding hub

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 4^th June 2026: SAFEEN Drydocks, a shipbuilding, repair and maintenance company, has secured two major vessel construction contracts valued at AED 1.3 Billion (USD 354 million) in total, marking the largest awards secured by SAFEEN Drydocks to date and reinforcing the UAE’s growing position as a shipbuilding hub. 

SAFEEN Drydocks is a joint venture between AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS) and Premier Marine Engineering Services, operating within Noatum Maritime’s portfolio, as part of its broader offering of integrated maritime services. 

 The first project includes the design and fabrication of four 140-metre multipurpose vessels for AD Ports Group, representing one of the largest maritime vessel projects to be undertaken in the UAE. Supporting a range of cargo and logistics operations, each will have capacity for 105 passengers, up to 300 containers, including more than 100 reefer plugs, as well as high and heavy cargo, and up to 1000 cars and 100 trailers. 

The second award relates to the construction of 18 specialised marine support units for Nigeria’s Oilbank Logistics Services Ltd, including tugboats and pilot boats of various sizes. These will support port operations and offshore logistics in Nigeria and represent one of the biggest international vessel programmes secured by SAFEEN Drydocks.

SAFEEN Drydocks has rapidly expanded its ability to deliver complex newbuild and repair programmes. Operating across facilities in the UAE and Spain, including its shipyard at Khalifa Port and the recently acquired Balenciaga Shipyard, the company combines multi-disciplinary engineering, modular construction methods, precision fabrication and a century of shipbuilding expertise.

Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, CEO – Maritime & Shipping Cluster, AD Ports Group, said: “These contract awards demonstrate SAFEEN Drydocks’ ability to deliver complex vessel construction programmes for both local and international customers. From multipurpose commercial vessels to specialised marine support assets, the projects demonstrate the strength and versatility of our shipbuilding capabilities in the UAE. Expanding in-country capacity remains strategically important, supporting industrial growth, strengthening resilience across the maritime sector, and reinforcing the UAE’s position as an emerging regional shipbuilding hub.”

Biodun Otunola, Executive Director – Oilbank Logistics Services Ltd, said: “This contract represents an important step in strengthening our marine operations and supporting the long-term development of our port and offshore infrastructure. SAFEEN Drydocks demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements and the technical expertise to deliver a project of this scale, and we look forward to bringing these vessels into service.”

The awards reflect the growing depth of the UAE’s shipbuilding ecosystem, where facilities such as SAFEEN Drydocks are playing an increasingly central role in delivering advanced vessels, supporting the localisation of expertise and the UAE’s ambition to become a regional hub for maritime manufacturing.

Pune, June 4: On World Environment Day, HDFC Bank, through its CSR programme Parivartan, in partnership with CII Foundation, announced a landmark milestone in its Crop Residue Management (CRM) initiative, 88% of 3,78,425 acres of farmland have been saved from stubble burning across Punjab and Haryana in the 2025 season. Reaching 86,000 farmers across more than 380 villages in Ludhiana and Sangrur districts of Punjab and Fatehabad district of Haryana, the programme is a comprehensive and impactful private-sector-led effort to tackle agricultural air pollution in North India.

Stubble burning after the paddy harvest is among the contributors to the severe air pollution that blankets North India every winter, disrupting life and aggravating chronic heart and lung diseases. Burning one tonne of paddy straw, generated in approx. 1/3rd of an acre farm, releases three kilograms of particulate matter into the atmosphere, while also stripping the soil of essential nutrients. Despite a 53% reduction in burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana in 2025, small and marginal farmers continue to face barriers in accessing machinery and managing residue within tight inter-seasonal windows.

Launched in October 2023 in Ludhiana and expanded in 2024 to Sangrur and Fatehabad, the three-year programme is implemented by CII Foundation across 380 villages. To date, 8 villages have eliminated stubble burning entirely, and 174 have achieved over 90% non-burning compliance.

Speaking about the milestone, Nusrat Pathan, Head – CSR, HDFC Bank, said,

 “Stubble burning is not simply an agricultural habit – it is a systemic challenge rooted in economics, access, and awareness. HDFC Bank Parivartan’s partnership with CII Foundation has addressed all three dimensions simultaneously. By making machinery accessible to farmers through cooperative tool banks, driving behaviour change through sustained community engagement, and introducing ex-situ solutions like biogas and composting, we have built a model that delivers environmental outcomes alongside real savings for farmers. On World Environment Day, we reaffirm our commitment to scaling this impact further.”

The programme’s success is anchored in a community tool bank approach: over 450 pieces of farm machinery, including Balers, Super Seeders, Smart Seeders, Mittar Seeders, were procured and donated to more than 140 farmer cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), making these available to farmers at an affordable rental cost.  800 tractors were deployed on hire for small and marginal farmers during the peak stubble burning period. Use of machinery enables in-situ residue management, mulching and incorporating paddy straw into the soil while also completing soil preparation, sowing of wheat seeds and fertiliser application in a single operation – reducing stubble management and sowing costs from ₹2,000–₹2,500 per acre to approximately ₹800–₹1,200 per acre, while also improving soil fertility and reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers in the long run. Farmers unable to adopt in-situ straw management methods could use Baler machines to mechanically collect, bundle and dispose of straw in a quick time. Over 30 village youth were mentored and supported with provision of Baler machines to initiate small businesses on paddy straw aggregation, supply chain management and value addition. Eighteen paddy straw-based small biogas units have been installed, and two bio-pelletization plants and one bio-fertiliser plant are being established under the program to enhance ex-situ straw management.

Farmers’ participation and sustained behaviour change was brought about through thousands of village-level meetings, farmer awareness sessions, and training programmes conducted in partnership with the Agriculture Department.

Chandrakant Pradhan, Lead – Climate Resilience, CII Foundation, said,

“What makes this programme exceptional is the depth of community ownership it has generated. Farmers who once had no alternative to burning now champion in-situ management and actively encourage their neighbours. Across villages in Ludhiana, Sangrur and Fatehabad, farmers in large numbers have moved on from the practice of open field burning of paddy straw for years, to become harbingers of a zero burning movement just within a two-to-three-year time, a testament to what becomes possible when communities are equipped, educated, and trusted to lead change.”

The human dimension of the programme reflects its breadth of reach. Gurmeet Singh of Cheema village, Ludhiana, shifted to CRM practices across his entire farm in 2023 and has since halved his per-acre residue management costs. Paramjeet Singh, a small landholder from Lamba village in Fatehabad, found that access to a cooperative-owned Super Seeder eliminated the financial pressure of expensive private machinery rentals, making sustainable farming viable for even the most resource-constrained households.

As the programme continues through 2026–27, HDFC Bank Parivartan and CII Foundation are committed to deepening adoption in new villages, expanding ex-situ straw management infrastructure, and building long-term agricultural resilience across the region.

The upcoming FIFA World Cup is expected to be the largest commercial sporting event in history, with FIFA projecting record-breaking $13 billion in revenue across the 2026 tournament cycle. But beyond the goals, rivalries, and celebrations lies something even bigger: a global emotional economy that changes consumer behaviour in real time.

A new study by Click Intelligence explores how football increasingly influences spending habits, hospitality demand, advertising engagement, retail behaviour, and social commerce during major tournaments. 

From stress spending during penalty shootouts to celebration spending after dramatic victories, the emotional highs and lows of football are driving measurable shifts in how consumers spend money.

The report identifies a growing behavioural trend known as “emotional spending,” in which consumers make impulsive purchasing decisions influenced by excitement, anxiety, national pride, social participation, and emotional volatility during live sporting events.

Key Stats

• FIFA predicts the 2026 World Cup will generate a record-breaking $13 billion in revenue, making it the most lucrative sporting event in history. 

• Americans spent $19 billion across restaurants, transport, and accommodation during the 2025 Super Bowl. 

• Spending within 1km of English football stadiums rises by an average of 4.1% on matchdays. 

• Average football fan spending reaches £138 per matchday outside of ticket costs alone. 

• 37% of Gen Z and 39% of Millennials admit to “doom spending” during periods of emotional or economic stress. 

• 74% of sports fans now follow sport through social media, turning tournaments into real-time digital commerce events. 

• 49% of Gen Z notice advertising more during sporting events. 

• Restaurant and bar spending near the Champions League Final increased by 7.4% during the event. 

• FIFA’s revenues are expected to rise by 73% by the end of the current World Cup cycle. 

• Fans continue spending billions supporting teams despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures. 

Football: Emotional Economy

Football is no longer simply entertainment. Major tournaments now function as large-scale emotional economies capable of influencing how consumers spend, travel, socialise, and engage with brands in real time.

During events like the FIFA World Cup, emotional intensity rises dramatically. Excitement, anxiety, tribal loyalty, optimism, disappointment, and fear of missing out all contribute to impulsive consumer behaviour that businesses can increasingly track through measurable spending patterns.

The more emotionally invested fans become, the more reactive their spending behaviour becomes.

Click Intelligence’s research identified four major emotional spending behaviours that consistently emerge during major football tournaments.

1. Celebration Spending

Winning drives reward-based spending behaviour.

Last-minute goals, qualification victories, dramatic comebacks, and major upsets regularly trigger spikes in:

• Food delivery orders 

• Pub and bar spending 

• Merchandise purchases 

• Transport demand 

• Nightlife activity 

• Group spending behaviour 

This behaviour mirrors the emotional release fans experience after positive sporting moments.

The scale of this effect is already measurable. Americans spent $19 billion during the 2025 Super Bowl across restaurants, accommodation, and transport, while the average football fan now spends £138 per matchday, excluding ticket costs.

Football victories increasingly create short-term “celebration economies” where emotional highs temporarily override budgeting habits.

2. Doom Spending & Stress Spending

Football not only influences spending during victories. High-pressure moments can also trigger emotionally driven stress spending behaviour.

Penalty shootouts, knockout fixtures, rivalry games, unexpected losses, and controversial refereeing decisions heighten emotional states, often leading consumers to seek comfort through spending.

There will be increased spending on:

• Takeaways 

• Alcohol 

• Impulse purchases 

• Betting activity 

• Convenience spending 

• Emotional “treat” purchases 

Research shows 37% of Gen Z and 39% of Millennials admit to doom spending during stressful periods, while more than a quarter of Americans report emotionally driven spending linked to economic anxiety.

Football appears to temporarily amplify these same emotional spending behaviours during high-stakes tournament moments, particularly among younger audiences who are already more emotionally reactive consumers.

3. Tribal & Identity Spending

Football spending is increasingly identity-driven rather than purely practical.

Fans spend money not only to support teams but to reinforce belonging, national identity, and participation within a wider fan community. During major tournaments, emotional loyalty frequently overrides budgeting concerns.

This drives increased spending on:

• Shirts and merchandise 

• Flags and decorations 

• Watch parties 

• Travel 

• Hospitality experiences 

• Social events 

Even during periods of economic pressure, supporters continue spending billions supporting clubs and national teams because football fandom is deeply tied to identity and emotional connection.

The continued commercial growth of football reflects this behaviour. FIFA expects the 2026 World Cup to become the most commercially successful tournament in sporting history, highlighting the enormous financial power of tribal consumer behaviour.

4. Social Media & Second-Screen Spending

The modern World Cup experience is no longer confined to stadiums or television screens. Football has become a fully integrated social media event.

Fans increasingly experience matches alongside:

• TikTok reactions 

• Live commentary 

• Memes 

• Highlight clips 

• Influencer content 

• Live betting apps 

• Ecommerce promotions 

This creates what Click Intelligence describes as “second-screen spending” — where emotional reactions on social platforms directly influence purchasing behaviour during live matches.

The behavioural shift is especially visible among younger audiences:

• 74% of sports fans now follow sport through social media 

• 72% of Gen Z sports fans consume sports content socially 

• 49% of Gen Z notice advertising more during sporting events 

Emotionally heightened environments combined with algorithm-driven exposure create ideal conditions for impulsive purchasing behaviour, increased ad responsiveness, and real-time consumer engagement.

Football’s Local Economic Impact

Major football tournaments also generate substantial economic surges around stadiums, host cities, and fan zones.

The emotional atmosphere surrounding matches creates measurable increases in:

• Hotel demand 

• Transport usage 

• Restaurant spending 

• Nightlife activity 

• Tourism 

• Local retail spending 

Research already shows that spending within 1km of English football stadiums rises significantly on matchdays, while spending at restaurants and bars near the Champions League Final increased by 7.4%.

As the 2026 World Cup expands across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, local economies are expected to experience unprecedented demand spikes throughout the tournament.

Why Brands Care About Emotional Spending

Emotionally heightened sporting moments create rare periods where consumer attention, social engagement, and impulsive purchasing behaviour peak simultaneously.

For brands, this creates significant opportunities across:

• Retail 

• Hospitality 

• Food delivery 

• Ecommerce 

• Betting 

• Transport 

• Travel 

• Entertainment 

Sporting emotion increases:

• Advertising visibility 

• Social engagement 

• Brand recall 

• Conversion opportunities 

• Impulse purchasing behaviour 

Businesses that understand emotional spending patterns are increasingly building campaigns around live sporting moments rather than relying solely on traditional advertising schedules.

Expert Insight

James Owen, Co-Founder of Click Intelligence, states:

“Major football tournaments are becoming real-time emotional economies. The emotional volatility of sport increasingly shapes where consumers spend, how quickly they make purchasing decisions, and which brands successfully capture attention during high-pressure moments.

The 2026 World Cup will likely become one of the largest emotional spending events ever measured, creating enormous opportunities for brands that understand how consumer behaviour changes during live sporting experiences.”

Conclusion

The FIFA World Cup is no longer just a sporting tournament. It has become one of the world’s largest emotional economies, capable of influencing consumer behaviour at enormous scale.

From celebration spending after dramatic wins to stress spending during penalty shootouts, football increasingly shapes how consumers spend money in real time.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, businesses, marketers, retailers, and hospitality brands are preparing for what could become the most commercially influential sporting event the world has ever seen.

 

 

Naso Profumi reimagines the art of traditional attar-making with the launch of its Attar Bag Charm, a bespoke accessory designed to carry fragrance as an intimate part of everyday life. Encased in an intricately crafted silver exterior, the charm balances contemporary design with the heritage of Indian perfumery.

At its heart lies a handcrafted attar created using rich botanical ingredients, chosen for both their olfactory beauty and grounding qualities. Inspired by the connection between scent, memory, and ritual, the fragrance unfolds gently through movement and touch, creating a personal sensory experience that lingers throughout the day.

Designed to travel with its wearer, the charm releases delicate traces of fragrance through everyday moments, transforming scent into something instinctive and deeply lived-in. Whether accompanying long journeys, quiet mornings, or intimate evenings, it serves as both a meaningful accessory and a treasured keepsake.

Founder Astha Suri shares, “We wanted to create something that felt intimate, emotional, and lasting, a piece that becomes part of your everyday rituals and memories. The Attar Bag Charm is designed to travel quietly with you, offering moments of comfort, grounding, and beauty wherever life takes you.”

Available in scents including Oud Mud, Saffron Musk & Amber, Basil Infused in Sambac, Mint Infused in Rose & Lemon, Gardenia Marigold, Tabac, Tamarind, Pepper Wood, Sarawak Mazzo, Blackcurrant, and Palo Santo, each charm offers a unique fragrance journey rooted in craftsmanship and self-expression.

Shopping Link:https://www.nasoprofumi.com/products/attar-copy

Mumbai,  June 4 : 121 Finance, a  NBFC-Factor, has crossed INR 10 crore in cumulative disbursements through GeM Sahay, the credit facility integrated with the Government e-Marketplace . The company has disbursed over 2,600 loans to more than 400 MSMEs across 173 cities in 27 states, helping small suppliers access working capital against confirmed government purchase orders.

Built on the Open Credit Enablement Network , GeM Sahay enables eligible MSMEs to access collateral-free, short-term financing in minutes by leveraging transaction data from government procurement orders. 121 Finance was the first lender to go live on GeM Sahay and remains the largest lender on the platform.

The company has focused on serving small-ticket credit needs, often underserved by traditional lenders. Its collection-controlled lending model routes repayments through cash flows generated from government orders, enabling faster and more efficient underwriting while reducing credit risk. It has built its own technological backbone to meet high-volume micro-ticket transactions efficiently. With GeM Sahay, 121 Finance has shown how underwriting and disbursing loans of as small as INR 127 can be made possible by digital public infrastructure, demonstrating how even the smallest business finance needs can be met.

Commenting on the milestone, Dr. Ravi Modani, Founder & Managing Director, 121 Finance, said:

“India’s MSME ecosystem requires credit products that are aligned with business cash flows rather than traditional collateral-based lending. GeM Sahay demonstrates how digital public infrastructure and OCEN can make formal credit accessible to even the smallest enterprises. Our focus remains on enabling seamless, transaction-based working capital financing for MSMEs across the country. Our expertise in technology-enabled factoring and cashflow-based lending has enabled us to develop scalable financing solutions that align with the business cycles of MSMEs and provide access to formal credit where it is most needed.”

According to GeM data, the platform crossed INR 5 lakh crore in Gross Merchandise Value during FY25 and has recorded cumulative transactions exceeding ₹18 lakh crore since inception. With over 11 lakh MSMEs registered on the platform, the opportunity for embedded, cash-flow-based financing continues to expand.

Commenting on the broader significance of the initiative, Sagar Parikh, Core Volunteer at iSPIRT, the institution behind OCEN and India Stack, says,

 “GeM Sahay demonstrates how OCEN can enable highly personalised, cashflow-based lending at scale. By combining transaction-linked underwriting with controlled repayment mechanisms, it helps expand credit access while improving portfolio quality.”

Industry stakeholders view GeM Sahay as one of the first scaled demonstrations of OCEN-enabled lending, showcasing how transaction-based underwriting can improve credit access for underserved businesses while maintaining portfolio quality.

Adding to this, Rahul Bhaik, Volunteer, iSPIRT said

“GeM Sahay is one of the first large-scale demonstrations of cashflow lending in India. It shows how verified transaction data can help deliver credit in minutes while creating better outcomes for MSMEs.”

Building on its experience with GeM Sahay, 121 Finance is exploring opportunities to extend similar purchase-order-linked financing solutions across other government procurement ecosystems, further supporting MSME growth and financial inclusion.