Author: News Desk

Mohanlal’s much-awaited sequel, L2: Empuraan, has set new benchmarks at the box office, becoming the fastest Malayalam film to surpass ₹100 crore globally in just two days. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the film is now the 10th Malayalam movie to achieve this milestone, overtaking Aadujeevitham—The Goat Life, which took nine days to hit the same mark. Biggest Opening for a Malayalam Film Empuraan shattered previous records for the biggest opening in Malayalam cinema, earning over three times more than Mohanlal’s Marakkar, which held the previous record with ₹20 crore worldwide. The film’s strong global performance even outshone Bollywood releases at…

India has approved its largest-ever defence deal, clearing the purchase of 156 Light Combat Prachand Helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for ₹62,000 crore. The decision was finalized by the Cabinet Committee on Security on Friday. Deployment Along Borders Of the 156 helicopters, 90 will go to the Indian Army, while 60 will be allocated to the Indian Air Force. These helicopters, manufactured at HAL’s Tumakuru plant in Karnataka, will be deployed for operations along the China and Pakistan borders, strengthening India’s defence capabilities in high-altitude regions. Designed for Extreme Conditions The Light Combat Prachand Helicopters (LCH) are the only…

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has officially amended its contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the supply of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1 Final Operational Clearance (FOC) fighter jets. The original contract, signed in December 2010, was valued at ₹5,989.39 crore. However, due to changes in the delivery schedule, the contract has now been revised to ₹6,542.20 crore. HAL confirmed the revision in a regulatory filing, highlighting the strategic importance of the Tejas jets in strengthening the IAF’s fleet. Tejas Mk1A: Advancing India’s Indigenous Fighter Technology The Tejas aircraft is a domestically developed, multi-role fighter jet designed for…

Nissan is gearing up to introduce a new 7-seater MPV in India, based on the Renault Triber facelift. Recently, a Renault Triber facelift was spotted on a flatbed truck, indicating an imminent launch. Nissan had promised a Triber-based MPV back in 2023, and now, the Japanese brand has officially teased its upcoming model. Design and Styling The new Nissan MPV will share its platform with the Renault Triber but will feature distinct design elements. The teaser reveals a revised front and rear bumper, giving the car a fresh look. While the headlights remain similar to the Triber, Nissan has added LED DRLs and an LED wrap-around design.…

As Salman Khan gears up for his big-screen comeback with Sikandar, his choice of wristwear has sparked interest online. The Bollywood superstar was recently spotted wearing an exclusive Ram Janmabhoomi edition watch, featuring “Jai Shree Ram” engraved on the dial along with motifs from the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. He shared glimpses of the timepiece on Instagram while promoting his film, writing, “See you in theatres on 30th March!” A Luxury Watch with Spiritual Symbolism The Jacob & Co Epic X Ram Janmabhoomi Titanium Edition 2 is a limited-edition timepiece available for ₹34 lakh. Salman, however, sported the rose gold edition,…

For the first time, digital media has overtaken television as the largest segment in India’s media and entertainment (M&E) industry. According to the Ficci-EY Media & Entertainment Report 2025, digital media contributed 32% of the sector’s total revenue in 2024, reaching ₹80,200 crore, while TV revenues stood at ₹67,900 crore. Industry Growth and Digital Expansion India’s M&E sector grew by 3.3% to ₹2.5 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach ₹2.68 trillion in 2025. Digital advertising surged 17%, accounting for 55% of total ad revenues. Subscription revenues also rose 15%, with paid video subscriptions reaching 111 million across 47…

TGI Fridays, once a staple of the American casual dining experience, has been rapidly closing locations across the United States. In the past several months, the restaurant chain has shut down over 130 stores as it grapples with ongoing financial challenges. The closures come after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2024, citing declining sales, shifting consumer habits, and mounting debt. Widespread Closures Across Multiple States The latest round of shutdowns has impacted TGI Fridays locations in New York, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Ohio. Signs placed on locked doors have informed customers that closing the stores…

JioHotstar, the streaming platform owned by JioStar, has crossed 100 million paid subscribers within two months of its February 14 launch. This milestone follows the merger of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema. The subscriber count includes both direct sign-ups and those acquired through telecom bundling deals. At launch, the platform had 50 million paying subscribers, alongside 500 million overall users. Commitment to Accessibility and Innovation Kiran Mani, CEO – Digital at JioHotstar, highlighted the platform’s vision of making top-tier entertainment accessible to all. “Crossing 100 million subscribers reinforces India’s immense potential and strengthens our commitment to pioneering category-first experiences at scale,”…

Abu Dhabi is set to become the first city in the region to operate Archer Aviation’s ‘Midnight’ flying taxi. A partnership agreement was signed between Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) and US-based Archer Aviation, making ADA the company’s first global ‘Launch Edition’ customer. The deal includes the supply of Midnight aircraft later this year. First Operator in the Region Abu Dhabi Aviation will fund and oversee the deployment of Midnight, marking a major step in the region’s urban air mobility sector. Test flights are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2025 to assess the aircraft’s performance in extreme temperatures before…

Saudi Aramco is in discussions to invest in two planned refineries in India as it seeks a steady outlet for its crude in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. India, the third-largest oil consumer, aims to become a global refining hub while Western nations reduce crude processing capacity to shift toward cleaner energy sources. Declining Saudi Share in India’s Oil Imports Despite being a key oil supplier, Saudi Arabia’s share in India’s crude imports has declined. Indian refiners have invested billions to upgrade their facilities and are increasingly sourcing cheaper alternatives, including Russian oil. Planned Investments in BPCL and ONGC…