Author: News Desk

At the Times Now Summit, BJP leader and former Union minister Smriti Irani shared her personal journey, recounting the struggles she faced before entering politics. She spoke about working multiple jobs, including selling cosmetics on the streets, working in a courier company, and even mopping floors at McDonald’s. Irani recalled that at 17, she sold cosmetics at Janpath, earning ₹200 a day. By 18, she had joined a courier company, shuttling between Palam airport, Delhi railway station, and Golda Khana, before returning to East of Kailash to write rosters. At 19, she aspired to own a logistics company but lacked the funds to do…

Pioneer Corporation has announced its plan to start manufacturing in-car products in India from 2026, reinforcing its commitment to one of Asia’s fastest-growing automotive markets. This decision follows the establishment of a research and development (R&D) center in the country in 2023. Focus on Display Audio and Future Expansion Initially, the company will manufacture Display Audio products for automakers, with plans to expand into a wider range of in-car products for both factory installation and retail distribution. Pioneer will collaborate with local contractors to set up its production operations. Strategic Move for Localized Production Pioneer’s President and CEO, Shiro Yahara,…

In 2024, Indians collectively spent 1.1 trillion hours on smartphones, primarily on social media, gaming, and videos. With affordable internet and growing 5G adoption, mobile screens have overtaken traditional media as the leading entertainment source. Digital platforms now dominate the country’s ₹2.5 lakh crore media and entertainment industry, surpassing television for the first time. The Rise of the Creator Economy The explosion of digital consumption has fueled India’s creator economy, with millions making money from short videos, vlogs, and brand collaborations. Businesses are shifting their focus from TV ads to digital campaigns, where content creators play a key role in…

L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF), a leading Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), has announced Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah as its brand ambassador. This collaboration is aimed at enhancing LTF’s brand visibility and deepening engagement with its customers across India. Bumrah will play a key role in LTF’s marketing campaigns, appearing in both Above The Line (ATL) and Below The Line (BTL) promotions across various media channels. These campaigns will focus on increasing brand awareness and highlighting LTF’s diverse financial services portfolio. Kavita Jagtiani, Chief Marketing Officer of L&T Finance, expressed excitement over the partnership, stating that Bumrah’s discipline, commitment, and widespread appeal make him the perfect representative for LTF. She emphasized that his humility and trustworthiness align…

Elon Musk has sold the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to his artificial intelligence company, xAI, in a $33 billion all-stock deal. The move marks a major step in integrating AI with social media, a vision Musk has long pursued. Musk’s Vision for the X-xAI Merger Announcing the sale on X, Musk emphasized that the merger would unlock immense potential by blending xAI’s advanced AI capabilities with X’s massive reach. He stated that the deal values xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. “xAI and X’s futures are intertwined. Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution, and talent. This combination will unlock immense potential by blending xAI’s…

DD FreeDish has grown significantly, reaching an estimated 49 million homes in 2024, according to the FICCI-EY M&E Report. Operated by Prasar Bharati, the platform now offers 179 channels, including Doordarshan, e-Vidya, and Swayam Prabha, attracting budget-conscious viewers. Rising Demand for Free TV A survey of 200 FreeDish dealers revealed that 65% saw an increase in customers, while only 5% reported a decline. Many viewers in rural and semi-urban areas prefer FreeDish due to better content and a one-time setup cost of ₹300–₹500, avoiding recurring Pay TV fees. TV Industry Faces Decline Despite FreeDish’s growth, India’s television industry saw a…

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.…