Chennai Petroleum plans to increase refinery capacity to 280,000 barrels per day

The French energy giant TotalEnergies announced on Monday that it has reached a deal with Shell, under which the company will acquire Shell's European onshore renewable energy businesses for an undisclosed sum.

This deal includes approximately four gigawatts of electricity generation capacity, primarily solar and wind, which are either already operational or under construction in Italy and the Netherlands. Furthermore, the acquisition encompasses solar, wind generation projects, and energy storage systems in Italy, the United Kingdom, and Spain.

In parallel, TotalEnergies announced its intention to sell a 50% stake in a portfolio of wind and solar assets located in Germany, Spain, France, and Poland. This deal with the American investment firm KKR values the portfolio at 1.8 billion euros ($2.1 billion).

The specified portfolio generates approximately 1.2 gigawatts of electricity. Stéphane Michel, Total's President of Gas, Renewables and Electricity, stated in a company release that 'these two transactions allow us to optimize capital allocation in the renewable energy sector, continuing the implementation of our integrated energy production strategy.'

The acquisition of Shell's operations will strengthen TotalEnergies' presence in Europe in the renewable energy sector. The company noted that it already has nearly 10 GW of operating or under-construction facilities, with another 27 GW in the development stage.

Thrifty Car Rental UAE has announced the launch of a new service, 'Rail to Road,' which will allow Etihad Rail passengers to rent a vehicle directly at railway stations to complete their journey across the UAE.

On Monday, Thrifty Car Rental UAE reported that it has signed an exclusive five-year agreement with Etihad Rail to service the national passenger rail network. Passengers will be able to book cars through the Etihad Rail website and app, as well as via the Thrifty platform. Digital kiosks for rentals and physical assistance points will be installed at each of the 11 stations in the network.

Both companies are working to integrate transport booking with train ticket purchases, allowing travelers to process both parts of their journey through a single digital process. This service aims to solve transportation issues at the beginning and end stages for tourists, business people, and passengers whose final destinations are not near railway stations.

Thrifty UAE stated plans to invest over 10 million dirhams over the next five years in expanding its fleet, developing digital infrastructure, and improving customer experience. Initially, about 500 vehicles will be allocated to the service, with capacity expected to increase according to passenger demand and the development of the rail network.

According to Thrifty UAE, more than half of global train passengers use car rental or other shared mobility services to complete their trip. By combining rail transport with on-demand transport access, passengers can pick up a car at the arrival station and continue to their destination.

The company is also developing AI-based booking and customer service features within its platform. Abdullah Ahmed Almoosa, founder of A.A. Almoosa Enterprises, noted: 'True connectivity covers the entire journey from start to finish. By bringing Thrifty into the Etihad Rail network, we eliminate gaps for passengers and help build a smarter, fully connected, and sustainable future for travel in the UAE.'

Etihad Rail launched the first phase of its passenger service on June 30, connecting Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. The network is planned to expand on September 30, 2026, with the opening of Dubai Station, located near Jumeirah Golf Estates, and Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah. These additions will increase rail accessibility for two major population centers in the country. Additional stations are planned to open in phases until the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027. Madinat Zayed and Liwa Stations in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi are scheduled to open earlier than planned, on November 30, 2026. Al Sila, Al Dannah, and Al Mirfa Stations, also in the Al Dhafra region, will begin operations on December 30, extending the passenger network further west. The Sharjah University Station is scheduled to open on March 30, 2027, completing the first phase of the passenger network. It is expected that after full operation, the Etihad Rail network will carry approximately 10 million passengers annually.

American billionaire Elon Musk commented on recent UN data regarding low birth rates in the world's largest economies, stating that these economies could disappear due to a demographic crisis. He made this comment in response to an article published by the Financial Times.

According to UN data, in 21 countries of the European Union, mortality has exceeded birth rates, and these nations have been on a path to population decline for a long time. Musk noted that in countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the United States, the birth rate has been declining since the 1950s.

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla, considers the decline in birth rates one of the most serious threats to civilization. In his opinion, even with a global population of eight billion people, civilization will begin to 'wither' if the population does not grow.

Speaking at an event organized by the WSJ, the billionaire emphasized: 'In my opinion, the biggest threat to civilization is the lack of births. Most people assume that our planet's population is growing uncontrollably. In reality, the situation is the opposite. If people do not have more children, civilization will wither. Listen to my words.'

A study published in the Lancet predicts that the Earth's population will peak at 9.7 billion people in 2064 and then decrease to 8.8 billion by 2100. According to this data, in 23 countries, including Japan, Thailand, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and South Korea, there is a possibility of a population reduction of more than 50 percent.

Musk, who himself has six children, stated that he strives to be an example in approaching the issue of birth rates.