Author: News Desk

A government-backed brandy that sparked controversy over its naming process is set to hit the market on February 21. Produced at Malabar Distillery in Palakkad, the liquor will be sold under the name Malabar Mystery. The state’s directly marketed alcohol products will be known by the abbreviation MM. The issue first drew attention after Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) announced a ₹10,000 reward for suggestions for the brand’s name and logo, triggering public criticism. The controversy intensified when a petition was filed in the Kerala High Court, arguing that promoting alcohol consumption is unlawful. The court subsequently imposed an interim…

Qualcomm, the US-based semiconductor and telecommunications giant, has announced plans to invest up to $150 million in Indian startups through its venture arm, Qualcomm Ventures, via the Strategic AI Venture Fund. The fund will focus on artificial intelligence and deep technology startups across stages, with particular emphasis on sectors like automotive, IoT, robotics, mobile technologies, and edge computing. The initiative aims to support startups developing AI and edge-AI applications for devices, industrial systems, and connected platforms that rely on on-device processing. Beyond providing capital, Qualcomm intends to work closely with startup founders on product development, go-to-market strategies, and global partnerships, strengthening the development of AI-native products for both…

Kuwait is preparing to launch a new freelance residency permit that will allow expatriates to work independently without needing a traditional employer sponsor. The initiative aims to reduce visa trading and strengthen labour market regulations. The scheme is expected to roll out within the next two months, with an annual fee between KD 750 and KD 1,000. Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, confirmed the plan, describing it as part of broader labour reforms. “Instead of paying visa traders, pay the government directly between KD 800–1,000,” he said, highlighting the government’s goal of eliminating…

The Indian Navy has introduced dedicated “floating classrooms” for cadets with the launch of INS Krishna, the first of a new class of indigenous three Cadet Training Ships (CTS). These ships are designed to provide hands-on training in navigation, seamanship, and watch-keeping under real sea conditions, a significant upgrade from earlier limited sea training opportunities. The three CTS vessels will form the core of the Navy’s sea training program for the next 30 years, taking cadets onboard soon after their basic shore-based training. In a traditional launch ceremony, Anupama Chauhan, wife of CDS General Anil Chauhan, commissioned INS Krishna in the presence of…

N. Jehangir, Chairman and Managing Director of the NeST Group, exchanged an Expression of Interest with A.P.M. Mohammed Haneesh, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries), while Industries Minister P. Rajeeve looked on. SFO Technologies, the Kochi-based NeST Group’s flagship technology and engineering company, announced plans to invest ₹2,000 crore in Kerala in phases. The announcement was made at Tradex Kerala 2026, the international buyer–seller meet. The investment will be implemented across multiple sectors. These include Advanced Electronic Manufacturing Services to boost Kerala’s hardware production, Software and Embedded Engineering for high-end research, development, and design services, Energy Sector Solutions targeting oil and natural gas technologies, and Precision Engineering with applications in aerospace…

India and France have set a goal to increase the number of Indian students studying in France to 30,000 by 2030, up from around 10,000 currently. This announcement coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron elevating bilateral relations to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership.” President Macron visited India from February 17 to 19, 2026, at PM Modi’s invitation, attending the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit 2026 and jointly launching the India–France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai. This marked Macron’s fourth visit to India, following PM Modi’s trip to France in February 2025. On education, the leaders reaffirmed the target of 30,000 Indian…

FedEx and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) have officially begun construction on FedEx’s fully automated air cargo hub, aiming to boost capacity in India’s largest international trade corridor and enhance Western India’s position as an integrated logistics and trade gateway. The ₹2,500 crore investment will fund a 300,000 sq. ft. regional consolidation and redistribution facility, developed in partnership with Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. (AAHL). Leveraging NMIA’s multimodal infrastructure, the hub is expected to generate over 6,000 direct and indirect jobs across logistics, warehousing, transportation, and related services. The groundbreaking ceremony included Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, FedEx President and CEO Raj Subramaniam, Richard…

The Kerala government has announced an extension of operating hours for bars and beer and wine parlours by two hours, allowing them to open from 10 a.m. to midnight. Additionally, FL3-licensed bar hotels with a five-star rating or higher will be permitted to operate until 3 a.m., with an extra three hours beyond the standard closing time, subject to an annual fee of ₹5 lakh. The move, issued via an extraordinary gazette on February 17, 2026, is aimed at promoting MICE tourism, destination weddings, international conferences, and other events. Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh said the change standardises timings for all…

Galgotias University faced controversy at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in Bharat Mandapam when a robotic dog displayed at its booth, presented as an in-house innovation called “Orion,” was identified as the commercially available Unitree Go2 from Chinese robotics firm Unitree. Government sources said the university was asked to vacate the expo after scrutiny revealed the robot was imported rather than developed on campus. The incident sparked criticism from opposition leaders, with the Congress and Rahul Gandhi calling the summit a “disorganised PR spectacle” and questioning the promotion of foreign technology as domestic innovation. Professor Neha Singh had initially described…

At the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced plans for a new subsea cable that will directly connect India with the United States, strengthening digital and AI connectivity between the two countries. At present, most global internet traffic flows through undersea cables routed via hubs such as West Asia or Singapore, as there is no direct India–US link. The project would become the second such system after Meta Platforms unveiled its Project Waterworth. Technical and route details of the cable have not yet been disclosed. India–America Connect Initiative to Expand AI Infrastructure Google also introduced the India–America Connect initiative,…