Author: News Desk

Cochin International Airport (CIAL) has once again solidified its position as Kerala’s leading airport by handling over 10 million passengers for the third consecutive year. Between January and December 2025, the airport recorded a total of 1.15 crore passengers, marking a 4.85% growth compared to 1.09 crore passengers in 2024. This increase of roughly 5.33 lakh passengers highlights the airport’s consistent performance and balanced growth across both domestic and international travel. Peak Traffic Months Highlight Robust Operations May 2025 emerged as the busiest month, with passenger traffic surpassing 11.07 lakh. Other strong months included January and December, with 10.44 lakh and 10.06 lakh passengers respectively. These figures demonstrate the airport’s ability to maintain…

Days after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump revealed his first concrete plan regarding Venezuelan oil. He announced that Venezuela would provide up to 50 million barrels of oil, which will be sold at market prices. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that the interim authorities in Venezuela would hand over between 30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality, sanctioned oil to the United States. “I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States…

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has turned down Bangladesh’s appeal to move its ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures from India to Sri Lanka. On January 4, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally requested a venue change for its Group C matches, citing security concerns. During a virtual meeting on Tuesday, the ICC reportedly informed the BCB that the request had been rejected and that Bangladesh would have to travel to India for its matches. The ICC also warned that failing to play in India could result in forfeited points, though the BCB maintains that no such ultimatum was…

Adani Group’s flagship firm saw heavy demand for its third public bond issue, with subscriptions crossing more than twice the offer size on the first day, according to people familiar with the transaction. Adani Enterprises had aimed to raise ₹10 billion through two, three and five year bonds, but bids had exceeded that amount by late afternoon. Corporate investors led the response, subscribing over four times their allotted portion, followed by high net worth and retail investors. The issue is expected to close ahead of its scheduled January 19 deadline. This marks the company’s third public bond sale, following issuances…

Bhogapuram International Airport in Andhra Pradesh has successfully completed its first domestic test flight, bringing the country’s second greenfield airport closer to full commercial operations. The Air India flight from New Delhi, carrying Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and senior officials, landed smoothly on the airport’s 3.8-km runway on Sunday, January 4. The validation flight marks a critical step in final checks before passenger and cargo services begin. Spread over 2,200 acres and built by the GMR Group in a public-private partnership, Bhogapuram Airport is designed to operate up to 200 flights daily, with capacity to park 18…

Lakshmi Padma, a seasoned journalist and news presenter, offers an unfiltered look at the realities of working in media today. She emphasizes that journalism is more than reporting events. It is a responsibility to society. Lakshmi highlights that young aspirants entering the field, especially women, must be prepared for the intensity, long hours, and fierce competition that define the industry. Newsrooms are fast paced environments where schedules can be unpredictable, requiring journalists to work early mornings, late nights, or during weekends, often with little time for personal life. For those passionate about the profession, balancing work and family is challenging…

Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) has appointed actor Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador for its packaged water brand, Campa Sure, according to sources familiar with the development. The deal is currently for one year, with the company aiming to leverage Bachchan’s wide popularity while emphasizing Campa Sure’s affordable pricing, an executive said. Similar to cola pricing strategies, Campa Sure is priced 20-30% lower than competitors like Bisleri, Coca-Cola’s Kinley, and PepsiCo’s Aquafina. Requests for comments from Reliance went unanswered. Bisleri, a key rival, is endorsed by actor Deepika Padukone. This marks RCPL’s third recent brand endorsement. In April, Campa…

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to visit India from January 12 to 13, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Monday, January 5, 2026. The visit will begin in Ahmedabad, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will welcome Chancellor Merz on January 12. During the visit, the two leaders will review progress in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which marked its 25th anniversary last year. Discussions are expected to focus on trade and investment, technology exchange, education, skills development, and worker mobility. This marks Chancellor Merz’s first trip to India. Bilateral talks will also address defence and security issues, providing an…

India has launched a new e-Production Investment Business Visa, called the e-B-4 Visa, specifically for Chinese nationals. Introduced on January 1, 2026, the visa allows Chinese businesspeople to travel to India for activities such as installation and commissioning of equipment, quality checks, essential maintenance, production, IT and ERP ramp-up, training, supply chain development, plant design, and senior management tasks. The e-B-4 Visa can be applied for entirely online, without visiting the embassy or agents. It is typically issued within 45 to 50 days and allows a stay in India of up to six months. Indian companies inviting Chinese nationals under…

India is expected to involve France as a key partner before making a final decision on local production of the Sukhoi SJ-100-95B Superjet, with the aircraft’s engine emerging as the most critical factor for Indian commercial operators. The issue centers on the PowerJet SaM146 turbofan, jointly developed by France’s Safran (via Snecma) and Russia’s NPO Saturn, and uncertainties around its long-term support, efficiency, and suitability for India’s civil aviation market. Following geopolitical developments, PowerJet stopped providing technical support, spare parts, and maintenance for the SaM146 in March 2022. Since then, the engine has become largely irrelevant outside Russia and is…