Author: News Desk

Starbucks is closing stores and trimming 900 jobs as part of a $1-billion restructuring under CEO Brian Niccol. The move comes after six straight quarters of declining same-store sales, as the company tries to reset its strategy. Fewer stores, but more inviting spaces The coffee chain will cut its US and Canada store count by about 1%, dropping to 18,300 outlets. After that, it plans to expand again and revamp another 1,000 cafes. Niccol’s focus is on making Starbucks locations more welcoming by adding seating and electrical outlets to encourage customers to linger. Struggling for profitability A review of outlets…

Customs raids in Kerala recently uncovered the smuggling of foreign cars from Bhutan, including at locations linked to film professionals. While some high-profile owners are under scrutiny, authorities are investigating broader networks. Here’s a guide to legal imports and how Customs handles illegally imported vehicles. Eligibility for Importing VehiclesNon-Resident Indians (NRIs) returning to India after ending their expatriate life (transfer of residence) can import their car if they are the first owner and the vehicle has been used for at least two years abroad. The car must be free of financial liabilities and not intended for resale. New vehicles not…

On September 26, the Indian Air Force (IAF) retired its last MiG-21s at Chandigarh Air Force Station. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh led the final flight of six jets, marking the end of a six-decade era for India’s legendary Soviet-designed interceptor. Khrushchev’s MiG-21 LegacyIndia acquired the MiG-21 from the Soviet Union under Nikita Khrushchev in the 1960s to counter Pakistan’s US-built F-104 Starfighters. Over the years, the IAF operated more than 1,200 MiG-21s, with 800 built locally at Nasik. These jets played a key role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, outperforming rival fighters and establishing a lasting legacy. The Modernization…

Tata Motors announced a leadership reshuffle on Friday, appointing Shailesh Chandra as managing director and CEO, and Dhiman Gupta as chief financial officer. The move comes amid operational disruptions at Jaguar Land Rover, which recently faced a major cyberattack. Chandra will officially take over as MD and CEO from October 1, serving a three-year term until 2028. He currently serves as joint managing director of Tata Motors’ passenger vehicles and passenger electric mobility businesses, and will continue overseeing the electric mobility segment. Dhiman Gupta succeeds PB Balaji as CFO. Balaji, in turn, is set to become CEO of Jaguar Land…

Addressing the 10th convocation of the Indian Maritime University (IMU), Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted India’s growing focus on its maritime sector, linking national prosperity and security to the seas. He announced plans to scale up investment in maritime infrastructure to ₹80 lakh crore (over $90 billion). A major component of this expansion is a new shipbuilding hub in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, capable of constructing naval warships, cargo ships, and Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) that can transport nearly two million barrels of crude oil. The hub is being developed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and…

Sonam Wangchuk, often described as the real-life inspiration for Aamir Khan’s Phunsukh Wangdu in 3 Idiots, is one of Ladakh’s most celebrated innovators. An engineer by training, he has dedicated his life to education reform, sustainability, and community-driven solutions in the Himalayan region. Early YearsBorn in Uleytokpo near Leh, Wangchuk grew up in a village with almost no access to schools and was taught at home until the age of nine. His father’s move to Srinagar gave him exposure to a formal education system, though he struggled with languages and cultural differences. At 12, he left for Delhi on his own…

Nvidia has invested over $900 million to bring Enfabrica’s CEO, Rochan Sankar, along with key team members, on board while licensing the startup’s specialized networking technology. Enfabrica, a Silicon Valley AI hardware startup, tackles a core challenge in scaling AI: connecting tens of thousands of GPUs efficiently so they operate as a single system without bottlenecks. Their technology reportedly supports clusters of up to 100,000 GPUs before performance drops. This move reflects a growing trend in AI: acquiring talent and IP through “acqui-hires” rather than full acquisitions, likely to sidestep lengthy regulatory hurdles. Sankar, an Indian-origin technologist with prior experience…

Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan, whose pan-Indian action hit Marco boosted his profile, is now stepping into Hindi cinema. On his birthday, Reliance Entertainment announced he will star in two upcoming Hindi films under its banner. These projects are part of Unni’s broader strategy to scale his career beyond regional cinema. At the same time, he is already signed for Maa Vande, a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, directed by Kranthi Kumar CH and planned as a multilingual release. While details on cast, crew, and timelines remain under wraps, this marks his first confirmed tie-up with a major Hindi production…

Zappyhire began in 2018 when Deepu Xavier and K.S. Jyothis decided to leave their corporate jobs. They spent a day in a small hotel in Cherai discussing ideas and planned everything in one day, investment, first customers, product features, team size, and expansion. The next day, they quit their jobs and started the journey. Why Zappyhire They wanted to solve the slow, manual recruitment processes they had seen during their 14 years in the industry. Companies of all sizes struggled with hiring efficiently, and automating these steps could save a lot of time and effort. Early Steps They started small, taking guidance…

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has launched India’s first fleet of electric heavy trucks equipped with swappable batteries at the Nhava Sheva Distribution Terminal. The initial rollout includes 50 vehicles, with plans to expand to 80 by the end of the year. Battery Swap Infrastructure for Seamless Operations Alongside the rollout, JNPA commissioned a dedicated heavy‑duty battery swap station to ensure smooth and uninterrupted operations. The port authority aims to convert nearly 90% of its internal fleet—about 600 heavy trucks—to electric vehicles by December 2026. Support from Government and Dignitaries The event was officiated by Union Minister of Ports,…