Author: News Desk

Marriott International has announced strong expansion milestones for The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott in India, marking rapid growth under its partnership with Concept Hospitality Private Limited (CHPL). In less than six months since the brand launched in November 2025, 75 hotels have been signed and 50 are already operational, adding more than 3,500 rooms to Marriott’s India portfolio. The company said this makes India a key driver in the early success and global rollout of the Series by Marriott brand. Marriott International Senior Vice President for South Asia, Kiran Andicot, said the pace of growth reflects the…

Dr Nikita Hari, Head of the Teaching, Research Design and Support Group, has been recognised with two major academic honours: the inaugural Google Higher Education Faculty AI Fellowship and a Senior Fellowship from Advance HE. The awards highlight Nikita’s contributions to engineering education, particularly in teaching innovation, curriculum design, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in higher education. Her work has focused on improving learning methods and integrating AI tools into teaching in a way that is ethical, inclusive, and effective. The recognition also reflects her broader impact across the University of Oxford and the global academic community, where…

HyFun Foods has announced a three-way partnership with Adani Logistics and Evergreen Marine Corporation to build a more efficient and eco-friendly export supply chain for frozen food products. The company said the initiative sets up a dedicated rail freight service for exporting its frozen goods, creating a smoother and more controlled logistics route. Under the plan, each train load is expected to replace around 40 truck trips, helping reduce fuel use, ease traffic on highways, and cut carbon emissions while maintaining temperature-controlled transport for sensitive products. The dedicated train service will run exclusively for HyFun Foods, moving cargo from Virochannagar…

Tesla has reportedly dropped its plan to set up an electric vehicle factory in India, even as it pushes ahead with major expansion in autonomous driving technology overseas. The company has now launched its full self-driving system in China after years of regulatory delays and discussions. The rollout follows Elon Musk’s recent visit to Beijing during a high-level business trip linked to a summit between U.S. and Chinese leadership. In a post on X, Tesla confirmed that its Full Self-Driving system, also called FSD Supervised, is now active in several countries, including China. The technology relies on artificial intelligence trained…

Larsen & Toubro chairman and managing director S N Subrahmanyan has emerged as one of India’s highest-paid corporate leaders in FY26, with total earnings crossing the ₹100 crore mark. His latest disclosure comes more than a year after his controversial comments on long working hours sparked widespread criticism. For FY2025–26, Subrahmanyan’s total remuneration stood at ₹120.84 crore, covering salary, perquisites, ESOP-related benefits, retirement payouts, and commission. His base salary was ₹4.32 crore, while perquisites added ₹3.63 crore and ESOP-linked benefits ₹16.72 crore. Retirement benefits were ₹21.36 crore and commission formed the largest share at ₹74.80 crore. This represents a sharp…

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has entered into an agreement to take a 5% equity stake in Dehradun-based deeptech company Maritech Integrated Maritime. The investment is part of its startup initiative called USHUS. The programme is designed to support early-stage companies working on technologies that can improve India’s maritime sector. CSL plans to use strategic funding and partnerships with startups to help develop solutions that strengthen the broader maritime ecosystem. Under USHUS, CSL has set aside a ₹50 crore fund dedicated to investing in and supporting startups in the maritime space. For implementation, the company is working alongside IIMK LIVE and…

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Washington is in active discussions with India to expand energy cooperation, a key topic expected to feature in his upcoming meetings in New Delhi during his visit from May 23 to 26. Speaking to reporters in Miami before departing for Sweden and India, Rubio said the United States is ready to supply as much energy as India is willing to purchase, pointing to record levels of U.S. oil and gas production and exports. He added that talks with India on strengthening energy ties were already underway, with both sides exploring…

A satirical online movement called the Cockroach Janta Party has gone viral across social media, quickly turning into a major digital talking point before its X account was withheld in India. The group, which began as a meme-style political joke, reportedly gained over 100,000 members within just a few days of launching and went on to attract millions of followers across platforms. Its rise was linked to online backlash over controversial remarks attributed to Chief Justice Surya Kant, who was said to have compared unemployed youth to “cockroaches,” a claim that triggered widespread reactions on social media. Despite starting as…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his council of ministers to focus on long-term planning with a clear target of 2047, when India completes 100 years of independence, according to PTI reports. At a nearly three-and-a-half-hour meeting, he said the government’s priority should be next-generation reforms that can steadily improve everyday life and make governance more people-friendly. He stressed that the goal should be overall national development by 2047 through continuous policy changes and structural reforms. Modi also highlighted that governance should focus on “ease of living,” ensuring that citizens face minimal interference from the state and can access services…

Kerala has become the first Indian state to introduce a dedicated Artificial Intelligence portfolio at the cabinet level, marking a major shift in how governments are beginning to approach emerging technologies. The newly elected UDF government announced the move as part of a wider reshuffle of ministerial responsibilities following its return to power after a decade. The new AI department has been placed under the Industries and Commerce Ministry and will be overseen by senior IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty. His portfolio also includes Information Technology, startups, mining and geology, handlooms and textiles. According to the official Gazette notification released…