News Broadcasting
Laureus ambassador Nico Rosberg swaps his Formula One
MUMBAI: Young people from the Laureus-supported Magic Bus project in India have enjoyed a day they will never forget with Formula One star Nico Rosberg at the Indian Grand Prix.
The highlight of the visit came when Laureus Ambassador Rosberg, who drives for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ team and won the Monaco and British Grands Prix this year, personally welcomed the 20 youngsters in their bus as they headed for the Buddh International Circuit.
Nico, who has won three Grands Prix since he joined Formula One in 2006, said: “Sport is so effective in inspiring young people and giving them hope for the future. Nowhere is this more true than in India where so many children have to struggle from the day they are born.
“The work Laureus does around the world to support projects like Magic Bus is wonderful and I was pleased I was able to meet the guys and talk to them. I took the chance to show them around on my working desk in the team’s garage. I think they were amazed by the whole day and I hope they will be inspired by the visit and become role models for the other young people at Magic Bus. I certainly found it moving listening to some of their stories about what life has been like for them and how they have been given support and direction by the project and now have much more hope for their future.”
Nico led a question and answer session with the young people, and also donated footballs which were loaded into the bus for the youngsters to take back to the project.
Since its inception Magic Bus, which originated in Mumbai, has reached out to 250,000 children. Through activity-based learning issues such as gender equality, health and hygiene, the programme aims to build a poverty-free future for children. The project works with children and their communities for up to ten years on a journey from childhood to livelihood. Their work helps to ensure that they create a new generation of economically independent citizens who are fully equipped to participate in, contribute to and, even, shape tomorrow’s India.
Nico Rosberg is a Laureus Ambassador, a select group of current and retired sportsmen and sportswomen, who, along with the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, support the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
Mercedes-Benz and IWC Schaffhausen are Global Partners of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. IWC Schaffhausen is the Official Engineering Partner to MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS.
Since its inception the Foundation has raised more than €60 million for projects which have helped to improve the lives of over one-and-a-half million young people. Laureus currently supports more than 140 projects in 34 countries.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
