Author: News Desk
Kerala has officially designated Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kannur district as the state’s first butterfly sanctuary, recognising its exceptional diversity of butterfly species and its importance as a conservation area. The move underscores Kerala’s commitment to protecting delicate ecosystems and promoting eco-tourism that is aligned with wildlife preservation. Aralam’s varied habitat, including moist deciduous forests, riverine landscapes and flowering grasslandS, provide ideal conditions for hundreds of butterfly species, many of which display vibrant colours and unique patterns. The sanctuary is also known for seasonal butterfly migrations, drawing nature enthusiasts and photographers to witness spectacular gatherings of butterflies fluttering across flowering meadows. The sanctuary’s new…
Ola Electric has formally expanded beyond its core electric vehicle business with the launch of Ola Shakti, a residential Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) designed to meet home and small-business power needs. The product, rolled out from the company’s Gigafactory in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, represents Ola’s entry into India’s fast-growing energy storage market. Powered by the company’s indigenous 4680 Bharat cell technology, Ola Shakti aims to provide reliable, scalable backup power and intelligent energy management for households and enterprises. The system can be configured in multiple capacities to suit different usage requirements, making it suitable for powering appliances and essential loads during grid outages. Ola’s…
India’s imports of Russian crude oil saw a significant decline in December 2025, dropping about 29 per cent month-on-month, according to trade data analysed by industry sources. The reduction comes amid shifting global crude supply dynamics, inventory adjustments and strategic sourcing decisions by refiners responding to price movements, freight considerations and evolving geopolitical factors. Industry analysts noted that while Russia remains an important supplier, Indian refiners have diversified their crude intake mix, increasing purchases from the Middle East and other regions where alternative grades are more competitively priced or better suited to refining configurations. The drop in Russian crude imports also follows seasonal demand fluctuations,…
Blinkit, one of India’s leading quick-commerce platforms, has removed its popular “10-minute delivery” claim from all its apps and websites after government orders aimed at ensuring consumer protection and safety in the fast-growing instant delivery sector. The move comes amid increasing scrutiny of ultra-fast delivery guarantees, which officials and safety advocates argue may inadvertently encourage unsafe practices by delivery partners and create misleading expectations among consumers. Authorities have raised concerns that the intense focus on extremely short delivery windows can pressure riders into risky behaviour and overlook fair working conditions, prompting calls for clearer industry standards and advertising norms. Blinkit’s decision aligns with these…
Zoho Corporation, the Chennai-based global software and cloud services provider, has inaugurated its first data centres in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with facilities in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The move represents a strategic expansion of Zoho’s cloud infrastructure to better serve customers in the Middle East, reduce latency and enhance data sovereignty for regional clients. The new centres will support Zoho’s portfolio of cloud applications, including CRM, HR, finance, collaboration and productivity tools, catering to businesses of all sizes seeking local hosting and improved performance. Zoho’s data centre presence in the UAE aligns with growing demand for secure, compliant cloud services that help…
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, focusing on key aspects of the India-U.S. strategic partnership including trade negotiations, critical minerals, defence cooperation, nuclear collaboration and energy ties. Sharing details on social media, Jaishankar described the exchange as a “good conversation”, highlighting that both sides agreed to remain in touch on these and other issues as they work to strengthen cooperation across economic and security domains. The call comes amid ongoing efforts to revitalise bilateral relations after recent strains linked to trade disputes and tariffs, with negotiators on both sides aiming to push forward discussions on a comprehensive trade framework. Officials…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited leading German universities to open their campuses in India, underscoring a significant push to deepen academic cooperation between the two nations. The invitation came during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the sidelines of bilateral talks aimed at strengthening strategic ties across education, mobility and skills development. As part of an Indo-German Comprehensive Roadmap on Higher Education, both countries agreed to enhance institutional partnerships, expand student and research exchanges, and facilitate collaborative programmes designed to broaden opportunities for learners and educators alike. Modi highlighted that encouraging foreign universities to launch campuses in India will bring global academic…
The Ministry of Railways has announced that nine new Amrit Bharat Express trains will be flagged off soon, strengthening rail connectivity between the eastern and northeastern regions and major destinations across India. The services were detailed by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who shared that the new trains will originate from West Bengal and Assam and connect with key cities across Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and other states. Among the routes set for launch are services linking Guwahati (Kamakhya) with Rohtak, Dibrugarh with Lucknow (Gomti Nagar), New Jalpaiguri with Nagercoil and Tiruchirappalli, and connections between Alipurduar and SMVT Bengaluru or Mumbai (Panvel). Trains will also run between Kolkata and Tambaram, Howrah and Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi), and Sealdah…
The northeastern Indian state of Assam is widely known as the “Tea Garden of India”, a title earned through its vast stretches of lush tea plantations and its dominant role in the country’s tea industry. Nestled along the fertile plains of the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam offers ideal natural conditions for tea cultivation, including rich alluvial soil, heavy rainfall and a warm, humid climate. Assam is one of the world’s largest tea-producing regions and contributes a significant share of India’s total tea output. The state is especially famous for its strong, malty and full-bodied Assam tea, which is highly valued in global markets and commonly used…
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…