Author: News Desk

Uber is broadening its focus in India beyond individual ride-hailing to pursue the corporate transportation market, which the company and industry estimates predict could be worth around $13 billion by 2030. According to Uber Shuttle’s General Manager for EMEA and India, Nikolaas Van de Loock, the rapid growth of global capability centres (GCCs), IT parks, manufacturing hubs and large enterprises is creating strong and predictable demand for organised employee commuting solutions, a segment ideal for shared transport services. Uber began exploring fixed-commute patterns nearly a decade ago, first piloting such services abroad before pivoting to India due to its vast market scale, traffic congestion…

British bicycle brand Muddyfox is set to launch in India this month, partnering with Ananta Ventures as its exclusive distributor. Founded in the mid-1980s, Muddyfox grew out of the rising popularity of off-road cycling in the United States and brought the trend to the UK. In 1985, the company introduced the “Courier,” an affordable model that became an urban favorite. By 1987, Muddyfox captured about 50% of the UK mountain bike market, selling roughly 20,000 units annually. Within two years, annual sales approached 100,000 bikes. For its initial launch in India, Muddyfox will offer 18 SKUs catering to different segments…

US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor has underscored the critical role India plays in US foreign policy, announcing that Washington and New Delhi will resume their next round of trade negotiations starting Tuesday, January 12. Gor, who also serves as Special Envoy to South and Central Asia, indicated that US President Donald Trump may visit India next year. Speaking at the US Embassy in Delhi, Gor described the relationship between the two nations as “anchored at the highest levels,” emphasizing that real friends can resolve differences. He highlighted Trump’s strong personal friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it genuine and consistent.…

Union Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday chaired a consultation with around 20 companies to discuss the ₹7,280-crore scheme designed to encourage domestic manufacturing of sintered rare earth magnets. The meeting highlights India’s effort to establish a homegrown supply chain for magnets, essential for electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy, and defence applications. “The consultation saw participation from over 20 industry stakeholders, and their concerns and suggestions on the scheme were discussed in detail,” Kumaraswamy said on X, formerly Twitter. Industry concerns about raw material availability were addressed, with the government assuring that state-run India Rare Earths Ltd (IREL) will…

US President Donald Trump has announced a 25 percent tariff on any country conducting trade with Iran, escalating pressure on Tehran in response to its violent suppression of nationwide protests that have left nearly 600 dead and resulted in thousands of arrests. The move could affect major trading partners of Iran, including India and China. “Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a 25 percent tariff on all trade with the United States. This order is final and conclusive,” Trump said on Truth Social. The announcement comes as Trump considers possible military action…

In a move aimed at strengthening India-Germany relations, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Indian nationals will no longer require a transit visa when passing through German airports. The announcement was made on Monday during Chancellor Merz’s visit to Gujarat, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a joint press conference. The new facility will simplify international travel for Indian citizens, allowing them to transit through airports such as Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich without the need for a separate Schengen transit visa. Previously, Indian travellers needed this visa even if they remained in the airport’s international transit area and…

India set new benchmarks in highway construction as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in collaboration with M/s Rajpath Infracon Private Limited, achieved four Guinness World Records while building the Bengaluru–Kadapa–Vijayawada Economic Corridor (NH-544G) in Andhra Pradesh. The achievement unfolded in two phases. On 6 January 2026, near Puttaparthi, teams set two global records in a single day: the longest continuous laying of Bituminous Concrete at 28.89 lane km in 24 hours, and the highest quantity laid continuously at 10,655 metric tonnes. Both records were achieved on a six-lane highway project, a first globally. On 11 January 2026, two…

Indian Railways is preparing to launch its first sleeper-class Vande Bharat train on the 958 km Howrah–Kamakhya (Guwahati) route. The service marks the introduction of overnight travel in the Vande Bharat fleet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the train on Saturday, January 17. The route will link major districts across West Bengal and Assam, including Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Malda, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar in West Bengal, and Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon in Assam. The train will have 16 coaches: 11 three-tier AC, four two-tier AC, and one first-class AC coach, with a total seating and sleeping capacity of about 823…

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is actively supporting startups across India to contribute to defense research and development, according to Shri Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO. Speaking in an exclusive interview with ChannelAm, Samir outlined several initiatives aimed at fostering innovation in the defense sector. “We have established multiple mechanisms to support startups. The Technology Development Fund (TDF) provides funding to help startups advance their ideas. We also organize ‘Dare to Dream’ contests, allowing startups to propose solutions to specific defense challenges. Additionally, we have launched schemes that enable our labs to work…

Ronnie Screwvala, the celebrated film producer and entrepreneur, has crafted one of the most remarkable success stories in Bollywood, transforming early setbacks into a vast ₹13,314 crore empire. According to the Hurun India Rich List 2025, he now ranks as the richest individual in the Hindi film industry, surpassing even iconic stars and producers. Screwvala’s entry into cinema was far from smooth. His first production venture, Dil Ke Jharokhe Mein (1997), was a major box-office failure, and the next five films he backed also flopped, posing a stern test to his resolve as a filmmaker. at the time, he had no “Plan B”, drawing strength from his…