Author: News Desk

The Adani Group is preparing to raise between $1 billion and $1.5 billion through yen-denominated borrowings from Japan over the next 12 to 18 months, leveraging one of the world’s deepest sources of long-term capital following credit ratings upgrades by the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR). JCR recently assigned ratings to three Adani companies—Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (A-, above India’s sovereign rating), Adani Green Energy (BBB+, at par with the sovereign), and Adani Energy Solutions (BBB+, at par with the sovereign). These upgrades are expected to broaden Adani’s investor base in Japan, opening access to banks, insurers, pension…

Kerala is set to become the first Indian state to designate an official “state bacterium” to raise awareness about beneficial microbes. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the name of the bacterium on January 23 during the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM). The centre will develop microbiome-based products, including probiotic foods and other industry applications. Currently housed at the KINFRA Film & Video Park in Thiruvananthapuram, CoEM will eventually move to the Bio 360 Life Science Park at Thonnakkal. The initiative aims to shift public perception of microbes from being seen only as disease-causing agents to recognizing…

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has announced the creation of India’s first dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) University in Amaravati, set to begin operations on February 19. The initiative, unveiled by Katamaneni Bhaskar, Secretary of the Information Technology, Electronics, and Communications (ITE&C) Department, was announced during the “TechBharat: AI for Public Good” summit at GITAM Deemed to be University in Visakhapatnam. Bhaskar emphasized the state’s ambition to become a centre for emerging technologies, highlighting that the partnership with NVIDIA will give students and researchers access to advanced computing infrastructure and specialised AI curricula aligned with global standards. In addition to education,…

Palki Sharma has announced her decision to step down as Managing Editor of Firstpost to start her own venture. The development was shared during a town hall meeting for Firstpost employees on Thursday evening, according to sources. Santosh Menon, Chief Content Officer at Network18, told staff that Sharma will remain with the company until March. Binoy Prabhakar, formerly Chief Content Officer at Hindustan Times Digital, will take over as Chief Content Officer at Firstpost, while Rakesh Rai, currently Executive Editor at Firstpost, will be promoted to Managing Editor of News18.com. At Menon’s request, Sharma addressed Firstpost employees, reflecting on her…

The Railway Board has ended the long-standing hold on two significant railway projects in Kerala—the Angamaly–Sabarimala and Guruvayur–Tirunavaya lines—reviving proposals that had been stalled for years. Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said official orders have now been issued, calling it a major boost for the state’s development and pilgrimage infrastructure. “Another important promise fulfilled for Keralam, bringing us closer to the vision of #VikasitaKeralam,” Chandrasekhar posted on social media. The Angamaly–Sabarimala line is expected to ease travel for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visiting the hill shrine annually, while the Guruvayur–Tirunavaya line will improve connectivity between two key pilgrimage centres…

Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR), one of the country’s leading rating agencies, has assigned long-term foreign currency credit ratings with a stable outlook to three Adani Group companies—Adani Ports & SEZ (APSEZ), Adani Green Energy Ltd. (AGEL), and Adani Energy Solutions Ltd. (AESL). APSEZ received an A- (Stable) rating, surpassing India’s sovereign threshold, while AGEL and AESL were rated BBB+ (Stable), in line with India’s sovereign rating. JCR highlighted APSEZ’s strong credit profile, diversified asset base, and resilient cash-flow generation, noting its leadership among Indian infrastructure companies with an above-sovereign rating. The rating reflects APSEZ’s operations across 15 domestic and…

Fresh scientific evidence has brought much-needed clarity to the high-profile Sabarimala gold theft case. Experts have confirmed that the sanctum door panels were never replaced and that the crime involved stripping gold from copper-plated sheets, not the removal of solid gold fixtures. The findings were submitted to the Special Investigation Team and presented before the Kerala High Court on Wednesday. They dismiss theories that the sanctum fixtures were swapped out or trafficked through international smuggling networks. Scientists from ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, who carried out detailed material testing, stated that the panels currently installed are the original copper sheets.…

With India’s 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal potentially reaching $50 billion, the Rafale is the clear frontrunner. However, New Delhi must look beyond traditional “Make in India” assembly. For a deal of this magnitude, India holds the leverage to demand a two-way street: France should begin procuring Indian-made defense systems for its own military. For decades, the Indo-French defense relationship has been a one-way flow of high-value acquisitions. As the scale of investment hits unprecedented levels, India should mandate that France integrate indigenous hardware, such as the Astra BVR missiles, Pinaka rocket systems, or Indian loitering munitions, into the French Armed Forces or…

Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu has expressed confidence that the strategic collaboration between the Adani Group and Brazilian aerospace major Embraer will deliver significant growth within two years. The partnership aims to establish a final assembly line for regional transport aircraft in India, marking a major step toward strengthening the country’s aviation manufacturing ecosystem. Speaking at the Wings India 2026 aviation summit in Hyderabad, the minister highlighted India’s strong bilateral ties with Brazil and indicated that upcoming high-level discussions, including a visit by Brazil’s president could help set specific timelines for implementation. The collaboration reflects India’s broader push to develop a robust aviation supply chain and boost domestic…

Amazon has announced a new round of layoffs affecting roughly 16,000 corporate jobs worldwide as part of an ongoing organisational restructuring aimed at reducing layers, increasing ownership and streamlining decision-making. In a blog post, Amazon’s Senior Vice-President of People Experience and Technology, Beth Galetti, said most US-based employees impacted by the cuts will be offered a 90-day period to seek other positions within the company, with timelines tailored to local requirements in other countries. Those who do not secure internal roles or choose not to pursue one will be provided with transition support, including severance pay, outplacement services and health insurance benefits where applicable. The latest layoffs…