Author: News Desk

Andhra Pradesh is gearing up to host India’s first giga-scale electric air taxi manufacturing cluster, with Sarla Aviation from Karnataka committing ₹1,300 crore to the project. The plan was formalised after Sarla Aviation and the Andhra Pradesh Airport Development Corporation Ltd (APADCL) signed an MoU during the CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam. It comes soon after Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that drone taxi production would begin within the next two years. At the heart of the initiative is the Sky Factory, an eVTOL manufacturing hub that Sarla says will rank among the largest of its kind anywhere.…

Toyota has lifted the cover on the 2026 Century, its most prestigious model and a long-standing symbol of Japanese luxury. While people often compare it to brands like Rolls-Royce or Bentley, the Century follows its own path. It doesn’t rely on flash or noise. It leans on craftsmanship, calmness, and a style that’s confident without being loud. Toyota has packed decades of engineering experience into a car built to make every moment inside it feel effortless. The design sets the tone right away. The new Century stands tall, with a wide grille and clean, sculpted lines that give it presence…

The Union government has turned down the Metro Rail proposals for Coimbatore and Madurai, saying neither city meets the 2-million population requirement set out in the 2017 Metro Rail Policy. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in a letter dated November 14, 2025, pointed out that the 2011 census puts Coimbatore at 15.84 lakh and Madurai at about 15 lakh. Since the policy uses the 2011 figures as its baseline, both cities fall short of the threshold needed to plan a Metro. The Centre’s note also referenced Tamil Nadu’s own mobility studies. The State-approved comprehensive mobility plan suggests that…

Indonesia’s Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin is set to visit New Delhi in the last week of November for talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The meeting comes at a crucial moment, especially after Indonesia’s formal request to buy the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. Officials familiar with the preparations say this round of talks carries real weight. Both sides have held several military-level meetings in recent months, and Jakarta’s growing interest in BrahMos has pushed the engagement into higher gear. Rajnath Singh recently disclosed in Lucknow that Indonesia had officially sought to procure the system manufactured at the new BrahMos…

Andhra Pradesh has pushed forward its electric mobility plans with a new MoU signed at the Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on November 18, 2025. The agreement brings together a consortium led by ThunderPlus, joined by ETO Motors and Roqit, working with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board on a ₹515-crore multi-modal electric mobility and charging infrastructure programme. Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu endorsed the deal in the presence of Industries and Commerce Minister TG Bharath. He reviewed the consortium’s roadmap during the event and promised quick approvals and government backing to speed up execution. The initiative is expected to create…

S Jaishankar sat down with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday during a gathering of SCO delegation heads. The timing is no accident: Putin is expected in India in early December for the next India-Russia Summit, and both sides are clearly warming up for it. Jaishankar later posted on X that he’d conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, updated Putin on summit prep, and walked through the wider regional and global landscape. He added that he values Putin’s take on how to push the partnership forward. Kremlin footage showed Putin greeting Jaishankar, who was accompanied by Ambassador Vinay Kumar…

The Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, Kerala’s century-old workers’ collective known for reshaping community development, has been named a Global Cooperative Cultural Heritage Site by the International Co-operative Alliance. The announcement was made at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília, the landmark home of Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs designed by Oscar Niemeyer. This recognition places ULCCS among 31 sites around the world that capture the evolution and spirit of the cooperative movement. India now holds two spots on the inaugural list, with ULCCS joining the Dr Verghese Kurien Museum of Amul in Anand. A Place on the World Map The…

The process of Comprehensive Electoral Roll Revision (SIR) is underway in Kerala. According to Chief Election Officer Rattan U. Kelkar, over 26.3 million enumeration forms have been distributed to voters in the state so far, covering 94.52% of the total electorate. The CEO added that the actual number may be higher, as not all Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have uploaded complete data yet. The second phase of SIR was launched by the Election Commission of India on the 4th of this month, covering nine states and three union territories. SIR is a meticulous effort to verify the eligibility of every…

L’Oréal, the French cosmetics company, is planning to establish one of its largest Global Capability Centres in Hyderabad, according to reports. This new hub, separate from the company’s existing research facilities in Mumbai and Bengaluru, will handle global technology, innovation, and research initiatives. L’Oréal has begun searching for senior leadership for the centre, including candidates from its Paris headquarters. The Hyderabad project was a key topic during a recent visit by the company’s global board to India, led by CEO Nicolas Hieronimus. The expansion highlights L’Oréal’s growing focus on the Indian market. The company, which owns brands such as Garnier…

Starting 22 November 2025, Indian citizens will no longer be eligible for visa-free entry to Iran. The Iranian government suspended the facility following a rise in cases of trafficking, according to an ANI report. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an advisory warning Indian nationals to remain cautious and avoid scams offering fraudulent jobs or assured onward travel to third countries. The MEA highlighted that several Indians had been lured to Iran with false employment promises or guarantees of further transit abroad, only to face kidnapping and ransom demands upon arrival. “These individuals were tricked into travelling…