Author: News Desk

Meta Platforms Inc. has announced the acquisition of Manus, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup originally founded with Chinese roots, as part of a strategic push to strengthen its AI capabilities and accelerate innovation across its suite of products, including Meta AI, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. Manus specialises in developing general-purpose AI agents, autonomous systems capable of performing complex, multi-step tasks such as market research, coding, resume screening and data analysis with minimal human input. The technology has attracted millions of users and generated significant subscription-based revenue, making it an attractive asset for Meta’s expanding AI strategy. Under the deal, Meta will integrate Manus’s AI…

British aerospace giant Rolls-Royce is actively targeting significant investment and collaboration in India’s defence and aerospace sectors, backing co-development of a next-generation jet engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. The company has proposed a bespoke 110 kN thrust engine design, developed from the ground up to meet the AMCA’s performance needs. Unlike derivative engines, this approach emphasizes a fresh design tailored for India’s strategic and operational context. A standout element of Rolls-Royce’s pitch is the complete transfer of technology and intellectual property rights (IPR) to India, enabling Indian engineers and organisations such as the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to own, modify, scale and potentially export…

Russia is increasingly turning to Indian blue-collar workers to address a growing labour shortage that has intensified due to demographic decline and prolonged economic pressures. According to recruitment firms, demand from Russian employers for Indian welders, tailors, carpenters, steel fixers and other skilled and semi-skilled workers has risen sharply over recent years, with hiring up about 60 % compared with four years ago. Recruitment agencies handling overseas placements say the trend mirrors past Middle East hiring booms, with Indian workers being sought in sectors from construction and manufacturing to fish processing. The surge is partly driven by a bilateral focus on labour mobility following agreements between India and Russia…

InterGlobe Aviation’s IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has announced a boost in allowances for its pilots, coming weeks after the carrier faced widespread flight cancellations at Delhi Airport due to dense fog conditions. The move is aimed at improving pilot retention and morale amid operational pressures and industry competition. Under the revised structure, pilots are set to receive higher duty and flying allowances, along with increased incentives tied to operational performance and schedule reliability. While the airline has not disclosed exact figures, industry sources indicate that the adjustments are competitive within the Indian aviation sector and designed to strengthen IndiGo’s workforce stability. The decision follows…

Australia will remove tariffs on 100% of Indian exports starting January 1, marking a significant step forward in bilateral trade ties, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said. The decision comes under the India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), aimed at deepening economic engagement between the two countries. With the tariff elimination, a wide range of Indian goods, including textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering products, pharmaceuticals, agricultural goods and food products, will gain duty-free access to the Australian market. The move is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Indian exporters and open new opportunities for MSMEs. Officials say the agreement will help…

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister, leaves behind a legacy defined by historic achievements and democratic milestones. Rising to national leadership in 1991, she played a pivotal role in restoring parliamentary democracy after years of military-backed rule, marking a turning point in the country’s political evolution. As leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia built one of the nation’s strongest political institutions, steering Bangladesh through multiple electoral cycles and reinforcing the role of opposition politics in a young democracy. Her tenure helped normalise competitive elections and civilian governance in a volatile political environment. Beyond politics, her governments focused on education access, healthcare initiatives…

The year 2025 quietly but significantly reshaped India’s startup ecosystem. While new ventures continued to emerge, a parallel story unfolded beneath the surface: closures, bankruptcies, and abrupt endings to once well-funded startups. Analysis of 2025 data on Indian startup shutdowns shows a clear trend: scale and funding alone did not guarantee survival. Even some of the most visible and heavily backed startups exited the stage, marking one of the most significant ecosystem shakeouts in recent memory. Shutdowns spanned multiple sectors, from consumer internet and mobility to enterprise tech and digital platforms, affecting startups at various funding stages and founding eras.…

Indian-origin entrepreneur Dhruv Amin, 33, has gained international attention for a bold move that transformed his startup trajectory. Amin, a former Google product manager who studied and worked in Silicon Valley, co-founded a profitable startup that generated approximately $2 million in annual revenue but chose to shut it down in favour of a new, AI-centric vision. Partnering with Marcus Lowe, Amin rebranded and rebuilt the company under the name Anything, an AI-driven “vibe-coding” platform that allows users to create software with minimal technical barriers. The pivot was driven by emerging advances in generative AI and the founders’ belief that automation would redefine how software is built. By…

Kiran Riyaz, Senior VP at Hedge Wealth Management Services, explains that financial balance is about being prepared for life even without a steady income. It’s not just earning and spending—it’s ensuring you can handle unexpected events without stress. In simple terms, Kiran Riyaz defines financial balance as the foundation of financial freedom. Financial Freedom Essentials According to Kiran Riyaz: Importance for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners:Kiran Riyaz points out that financial planning is crucial for entrepreneurs because it provides a safety net and a plan B for unexpected events. Starting early, even from the first paycheck, helps build discipline and long-term…

India’s textiles sector saw strong growth in investment and exports in 2025, driven by government incentives and reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business. The government approved seven PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks with world-class, plug-and-play infrastructure, allocated Rs 4,445 crore for seven years through 2027-28. The parks are being developed in Tamil Nadu (Virudhnagar), Telangana (Warangal), Gujarat (Navsari), Karnataka (Kalaburagi), Madhya Pradesh (Dhar), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow), and Maharashtra (Amravati), according to the Ministry of Textiles. Investment MoUs totaling over Rs 27,434 crore have been signed, with 100% land acquired and handed over…