Author: News Desk

The Government of Tamil Nadu has unveiled its Shipbuilding Policy 2026, aiming to position the state as a major global hub for shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing. The policy focuses on attracting international shipyards and investors to build large ocean-going vessels, including Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and other mega ships. To encourage investment, the state is offering a Structured Package of Assistance for projects investing at least ₹1,000 crore and generating around 1,000 jobs. Incentives include state equity participation of up to 49%, capital subsidies between 10% and 25%, asset leasing support up to ₹6,000 crore, and production-linked incentives for large projects. The policy also proposes developing integrated shipbuilding…

On February 6, 2026, the Supreme Court partially allowed a woman’s appeal over a bad haircut case, awarding her ₹25 lakh instead of the ₹5.2 crore she had sought. The court noted that while she claimed the haircut hurt her confidence, impacted her modelling opportunities, and caused depression, the evidence she provided did not justify such a high compensation. The Court emphasized that claims must be backed by reliable proof of actual loss, not assumptions. Background:The incident occurred on April 12, 2018, when the woman went to a five-star hotel salon for a haircut, which she alleged was cut too…

Kerala-based Hygiene Laboratories has launched a patented product, Diaper Dissolver, designed to break down used diapers and sanitary pads, addressing a growing environmental concern in both urban and rural areas. The product targets Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP), or sodium polyacrylate, the substance that causes diapers and sanitary pads to swell when wet. This swelling is a major contributor to blocked drains, flooding, and long-term pollution. Improper disposal of these items in toilets, drains, or landfills has repeatedly led to drainage issues, water stagnation, and contamination of soil and water bodies. Founded in 2006 in Chadayamangalam, Kollam, Hygiene Laboratories has a history of…

Investment banking giant Morgan Stanley announced on March 4 that it is laying off approximately 2,500 employees, around 3% of its global workforce. The cuts, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, affect major divisions including Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management, but financial advisors are not impacted. Both front-office and back-office roles are included, though the bank has not specified which regions will see the highest impact. The layoffs are set to begin in early March, according to sources, and stem from shifting business priorities, a revised global location strategy, and individual performance reviews—not from artificial intelligence adoption.…

Air India on Wednesday announced additional flights to Toronto, Frankfurt, and Paris (Charles de Gaulle) to meet rising demand amid the ongoing situation in West Asia. Air India Express, the airline’s low-cost subsidiary, confirmed that its services to Muscat will continue, along with extra flights between Muscat and Delhi and Mumbai. Between March 5 and 11, Air India will operate three extra flights between Delhi and Toronto. From March 7 to 10, the airline will add three flights between Delhi and Frankfurt and one flight between Delhi and Paris. These added services aim to give travellers more options, with convenient…

Tyre manufacturer MRF Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government, pledging an investment of ₹5,300 crore over 12 years to establish a new tyre plant in the state. The proposed factory will be located in the SIPCOT Industrial Park in Sivaganga district and is expected to create around 1,000 jobs, the government said. At a ceremony at the Secretariat, MRF Ltd Chairman and Managing Director K M Mammen and Vice Chairman Arun Mammen exchanged documents with Guidance MD and CEO Darez Ahmed, in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin, Chief Secretary N…

Indian Railways has approved an ₹8,710 crore infrastructure package for projects in Rajasthan, Kerala, and West Bengal to modernise maintenance facilities and expand capacity. The package includes upgrades to coach and engine maintenance with new washing lines, stabling lines, pit lines, and a wheel lathe line to support modern rolling stock, including LHB coaches and Vande Bharat trains, increasing maintenance capacity by six rakes per day. The investments aim to reduce turnaround times and improve reliability at key depots. Phase II expansion at Lalgarh in the Bikaner region, costing ₹140 crore, will feature a 600-metre washing line, a covered shed…

Union Minister of State for Fisheries, George Kurian, said the Centre is prepared to develop MatsyaFed into a national-level cooperative similar to Amul, if the Kerala government submits a proposal. Speaking at a workshop under the PM Vikas scheme held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram, he added that the government would provide the necessary financial support for the initiative. The Minister emphasized that significant growth in the fisheries sector requires close coordination between the Centre and the State. The workshop was organised under the Matsya Shakti project as part of the PM Vikas scheme.

Britain has announced it will stop issuing student visas to nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan. Skilled work visas for Afghan nationals will also be suspended, according to a statement from the Home Office on Tuesday. The government said the move aims to curb asylum claims made by people entering the country via legal visa routes. The Home Office described it as an “emergency brake” on visas, imposed for the first time on these four countries following a sharp rise in asylum applications from legal entrants. Since 2021, nearly 135,000 people have entered the UK on valid visas before…

Nivin Pauly has been named the brand ambassador of Kalyan Homes. He will lead the company’s major campaign initiatives across Kerala as the brand’s public face. Managing Director Kartik R said the company sees a natural alignment in this association, noting that Nivin’s credibility and connect with audiences mirror the values Kalyan Homes aims to reflect in its projects. Chairman T. S. Kalyanaraman announced that the company plans to roll out five new residential projects in the next financial year across Kerala, covering a combined construction area of 10 lakh sq ft with an investment of ₹600 crore. The developer…