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Gurugram, June 18: FUJIFILM India is proud to announce the launch of the “Fujifilm Spectrum” India Tour 2026, a multi-city Touch & Try tour roadshow designed to bring Fujifilm‘s imaging solutions closer to photography enthusiasts, visual creators, photography students and existing Fujifilm users across India. Operating under the theme “Imagine. Create. Inspire.”, the tour will travel across the country starting from Delhi NCR. It will showcase the full spread of Fujifilm’s imaging solutions, offering an immersive, hands-on experience tailored for amateurs, enthusiasts, photography students, and existing Fujifilm users. Spectrum is an experiential festival celebrating the Fujifilm Imaging Ecosystem built around a comprehensive Click to Print narrative. The tour will also feature curated image gallery displays across the Spectrum events, showcasing visual storytelling and creative excellence.

The tour’s inaugural leg will take place at the iconic Museo Camera from June 18th to June 20th. Visitors can experience interactive Touch & Try zones, curated image exhibitions, creator-led sessions, community engagements and live demonstrations across Fujifilm‘s imaging portfolio.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Koji Wada, Managing Director, FUJIFILM India, said, “At FUJIFILM India, we are committed to delivering innovative products, solutions, and experiences that embody our Group purpose of ‘Giving our world more smiles.’ The Fujifilm Spectrum tour is a testament to our belief in bringing diverse ideas, unique capabilities, and extraordinary people together. We are thrilled to provide a platform where creators can experience our rich heritage in photography seamlessly fused with cutting-edge technology.”

The Fujifilm Spectrum tour offers an immersive, end-to-end experience across Fujifilm’s imaging ecosystem through dedicated Touch & Try zones covering vlogging, cinema, street and travel photography, portraiture, premium imaging and the GFX system. Beyond cameras, attendees can also explore Fujifilm‘s instax™ offerings, Photo Imaging solutions with live print demonstrations, binoculars, and optical devices experiences, along with solutions from accessory partners. Adding further depth to the experience, the Delhi edition will feature sessions and masterclasses by India‘s most distinguished visual storytellers, Fujifilm X-Mentors, Ashish Chawla, Abhimanyu Pandey, Dinesh Khanna, and Tarun Khiwal – offering attendees practical insights into visual storytelling, portfolio building and photography techniques.

Emphasizing the evolving needs of the Indian market, Arun Babu, Associate Director, Imaging Solutions Division, FUJIFILM India Private Limited, added, “Indian creators are no longer just taking photos or shooting video; they are crafting comprehensive visual stories. The Fujifilm Spectrum tour is designed exactly for this new era of visual expression. By bringing our imaging portfolio from the X Series and large-format GFX to instax™, QuickSnap, Optical Devices, and compact dye-sublimation printer ASK 400, we aim to provide hands-on experience and community support to the creators to further elevate their craft.”

A key highlight of the tour is the “Experience Passport Challenge”, designed to encourage exploration across the venue. Visitors will receive a passport that can be stamped across different Touch & Try zones, creator sessions and experience areas. Completing the challenge will unlock entry into giveaways featuring Fujifilm merchandise. Additionally, interactive Treasure Hunts will encourage attendees to test gear on the spot through challenges like “Spot the X-T30III,” “Shoot your friend” portraits, and “Shoot & Vlog” contests using the Fujifilm X App.

A core focus of the tour is fostering a strong visual community. The event serves as a physical extension of Fujifilm X Academy, Fujifilm‘s community-driven photography platform that offers tutorials, expert guidance, and workshops to help photographers of all skill levels learn and connect. Hands-on sessions with Fujifilm X-Mentors and engineers will provide attendees with practical knowledge and guidance on maximizing their creative potential.

New Delhi, June 18: India has successfully navigated the challenges posed by the recent global energy shock, according to a new report that highlights the country’s resilience amid volatile international fuel prices and supply disruptions.

The report notes that despite significant fluctuations in global energy markets, India has managed to maintain stability in energy availability and pricing through a combination of strategic policy interventions, diversified import sources, and accelerated investment in domestic energy infrastructure.

It further highlights that India’s proactive approach to energy security, including the expansion of renewable energy capacity and improved efficiency in fuel consumption, has helped cushion the economy from external shocks.

Experts cited in the report emphasize that India’s balanced energy strategy—combining traditional fuel sources with rapid clean energy adoption—has played a key role in ensuring uninterrupted supply and economic stability.

The findings underline India’s growing capability to manage external economic pressures while continuing to support industrial growth, urban demand, and long-term sustainability goals.

The report concludes that India’s experience offers a model for resilience in an increasingly uncertain global energy landscape.

Mumbai, June 18: S8UL Esports, a global name in esports and gaming content, has secured representation in its fifth title at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 after all three of its Trackmania athletes advanced through their respective regional open qualifiers. United Kingdom’s Alexander Page (Whizzy), the USA’s Neal Kamdar (Neal), and India’s Kunal Upreti (Spark) will represent the organization in Trackmania’s EWC debut, with Spark emerging as the sole Indian competitor in the field.

Trackmania is widely regarded as one of the world’s most unique and skill-intensive racing esports titles, challenging players to navigate custom-built tracks filled with jumps, loops, drifts, and technical corners. At EWC 2026, the title will feature 32 of the world’s top competitors battling for a prize pool of USD 500,000 (~INR 4.7 crore) from August 19 to 22.

The Open Qualifiers served as an alternative pathway to EWC 2026, offering a limited number of places across each region through a cup-mode double-elimination tournament. Players with Elite Cup Ranking points were seeded directly into the playoff bracket, while the remaining competitors battled through a Time Attack stage to determine seeding. The playoffs featured four-player double-elimination matches, with only the top performers from each region advancing to the main event.

Widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading Trackmania talents, Whizzy received direct playoff seeding through his Elite Cup Ranking in the European qualifier, which featured 41 players competing for six EWC berths. The 24-year-old has been competing professionally since 2020 and is best known for winning the British and Irish Professional Cup 3, securing a Top 6 finish at the Trackmania World Tour 2023 World Championship, and finishing third overall in Season Two of the Trackmania Formula E Championship.

In the qualifier, he delivered a consistent run through the bracket, finishing second in both Round 2 of the Upper Bracket (UB) and Round 6 of the Lower Bracket (LB) with 121 points in each round before recording 141 points in the UB Semi-Final and 140 points in the UB Final. The performance secured a third-place overall finish and a place at EWC 2026.

Sharing his thoughts on qualification, Alexander Page aka Whizzy said, “The European qualifier was incredibly competitive, so securing a spot at the Esports World Cup feels rewarding. I have always enjoyed testing myself against the strongest players, and this is another opportunity to do exactly that. I am looking forward to representing S8UL on a global stage and making the most of the opportunity.”

Competing in the North American qualifier, which featured 10 players battling for three EWC berths, Neal received direct playoff seeding through his Elite Cup Ranking. Widely regarded as one of the region’s most accomplished Trackmania competitors, the 24-year-old has built an impressive résumé since entering the scene in 2021, with victories at the Trackmania All-American Spring 2023, NCSA DuoCup 2024, GDEX 2024, NCSA DuoCup 2025, and Americas Masters: Season 1.

He dominated the qualifier from start to finish, securing first-place finishes in both Round 1 and Round 2 of the UB before recording 121 points in Round 3 and an impressive 143 points in the Grand Final. Neal ultimately topped the standings and finished first overall.

“My focus going into the qualifier was simple: play my game and secure the spot. I am pleased with how everything came together, but qualifying is only the first step. The Esports World Cup will bring together the strongest players in Trackmania, and I am excited for the challenge that lies ahead,” commented Neal Kamdar aka Neal.

Among India’s most decorated Trackmania competitors, Spark competed in the Asia and Oceania qualifier, which featured 14 players battling for four EWC berths. The 22-year-old has won Trackmania India Cup editions 5, 6, 7, and 8, in addition to claiming the Mahi Cup in 2025. He has also represented India internationally at the Trackmania Games, the Trackmania Seasonal Country Championship, and the Trackmania Country Championship.

Spark entered the qualifier through his Elite Cup Ranking and immediately established himself among the frontrunners. He finished first in Round 1, followed by a second-place finish in Round 2 of the Upper Bracket. Strong performances in the later stages, including 141 points in Round 3 and 142 points in the Grand Final, saw him finish second overall and earn his place at EWC 2026. In doing so, he became the only Indian player set to compete in Trackmania at this year’s tournament.

“Being the only Indian player to qualify for Trackmania at this year’s Esports World Cup makes this achievement even more meaningful. The Indian Trackmania community has continued to grow over the years, and I hope this result encourages more players to pursue the game competitively. I am proud to represent both India and S8UL on such a big stage,” said Kunal Upreti aka Spark.

Having been selected for the Esports Foundation’s Club Partner Program for the second consecutive year, S8UL earlier unveiled its most ambitious international esports campaign to date, pursuing qualification across 13 titles at EWC 2026. While continuing to field elite international talent, the organization has also placed a strong emphasis on Indian representation across its competitive ecosystem.

That strategy has already begun delivering results. S8UL’s Honor of Kings roster, comprising Indian players, has secured qualification for EWC 2026, while Indian chess grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram have also qualified for the Chess competition. Spark now joins that list through his success in Trackmania. The organization has additionally secured qualification in Apex Legends and Fortnite through its international rosters.

Scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from July 6 to August 23, EWC 2026 will feature a record-breaking prize pool of USD 75 million (approximately INR 714 crore) and bring together more than 2,000 players representing 200 clubs from over 100 countries.

LONDON/HOUSTON/SINGAPORE, June 18: The next generation of AI agents could consume between 10,000 and 40,000 times more computing power per task than today’s chatbots. That pressure is pushing some of the world’s largest technology companies to consider putting their data centres in space. A new report from Wood Mackenzie finds they face a significant cost problem to get there.

Global data centre power demand stands at 460 TWh in 2026, equivalent to half of Japan’s total power generation. Wood Mackenzie forecasts that figure will reach 1,280 TWh by 2030 and 3,700 TWh by 2040, a 703% increase from current levels, growing at 16% per year. The United States and China together account for 78% of the global planned data centre pipeline.

On the ground, that pipeline is running into real constraints. Grid connections in the United States can take up to seven years. Gas turbine equipment faces long wait times through 2030. In dry regions, cooling systems are competing for limited water supplies. Construction costs are rising from higher labour and material costs. These bottlenecks, Wood Mackenzie concludes, are driving serious exploration of orbital data centres.

The economics are not yet close.

A hypothetical 1 GW orbital data centre would cost an estimated US$170 billion, more than three times the equivalent terrestrial facility, with launch and satellite costs accounting for approximately 60% of that total. To bring orbital costs to parity with terrestrial alternatives would require a 70% reduction. That is achievable, the report notes, only if the historical trend of exponential cost declines in space launch continues.

There is reason to think it might. Global orbital launch attempts reached 324 in 2025, a 25% increase over 2024, with commercial operators conducting 70% of those attempts. Launch costs have already fallen approximately 90% with current-generation reusable rockets compared to their expendable predecessors. A record 4,517 satellites were deployed into orbit in 2025, 58% more than the previous year, with 87% owned by private entities.

SpaceX and xAI have announced ambitious plans to put 100 GW of orbital computing capacity into space annually, a figure ten times the combined announced pipeline of every other orbital data centre developer in the world. Non-US companies account for less than 0.5 GW of total planned orbital capacity, reflecting how concentrated this emerging sector is among US-based firms. Despite the higher costs, launch activities across the top five companies are expected to begin accelerating between 2027 and 2028.

Space launch costs have seen exponential cost declines of over 90%

Source: Wood Mackenzie

Spending on terrestrial capacity has not slowed in the meantime. Anthropic recently committed US$ 45 billion over three years to SpaceX for access to its 300 MW Colossus 1 terrestrial data centre, deploying 220,000 Nvidia GPUs. Wood Mackenzie forecasts US$ 9 trillion in cumulative capital expenditure between 2026 and 2040 to build approximately 395 GW of new terrestrial data centre capacity under its base case.

“The constraints on terrestrial data centres are genuine, and they are not going away quickly,” said Robert Liew, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie. “But putting a data centre in orbit still costs at least three times as much as building one on the ground. That gap does not close without sustained and dramatic progress on launch costs. We forecast US$ 9 trillion of terrestrial data centre investment between now and 2040. That is where capital goes first. Orbital data centres are a serious long-term proposition, but right now they remain a bet on the cost curve.”

Wood Mackenzie’s base case energy transition outlook does not include large-scale orbital data centres. No gigawatt-scale orbital or terrestrial facility currently exists. The report concludes that terrestrial build-out will be driven by necessity, while orbital data centres remain, for now, a technology preference.

New Delhi, June 18: India’s electricity demand is projected to grow by up to 7% in the financial year 2026–27, supported by robust economic activity, industrial expansion, and rising household consumption, according to a recent industry report.

The anticipated growth reflects increasing energy requirements across manufacturing, infrastructure development, and the services sector, alongside continued urbanization and electrification trends across the country.

The report highlights that sustained economic momentum, coupled with rising adoption of electric appliances, digital infrastructure, and mobility electrification, is expected to further drive power consumption in the coming years.

Experts note that India’s power sector is undergoing a structural transformation, with growing emphasis on renewable energy integration, grid modernization, and capacity expansion to meet future demand efficiently and sustainably.

The projected demand growth underscores the need for continued investment in generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure to ensure reliable and affordable electricity supply for all consumer segments.

Industry observers believe that managing this demand surge while maintaining sustainability goals will be a key priority for policymakers and energy providers in the years ahead.