Author: News Desk

India is waiting for a formal no-objection certificate (NOC) from Russia to complete long-pending BrahMos missile export deals with Indonesia and Vietnam, according to sources familiar with the matter. Negotiations with both Southeast Asian countries are reportedly in their final stages, with operational requirements and pricing already agreed upon. Regulatory approval from Moscow remains the last major step before contracts can be signed. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is produced by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India and Russia. Because the missile uses certain Russian-origin technologies, exports to third countries require Moscow’s concurrence via a no-objection certificate. This step…

Russian exports of spirits to India have surged nearly four times in value and three times in volume during the first ten months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, positioning India as a key emerging market for Russian producers, according to a report by financial daily Vedomosti. Citing data from the Federal Centre for Agricultural Export Development of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture (Agroexport), the report noted that Russian shipments of vodka, gin, whiskey, and liqueurs to India reached approximately 520 tonnes, valued at around USD 900,000. Vodka alone accounted for the bulk of the exports, with…

Adani Group has completed 33 acquisitions worth roughly Rs 80,000 crore (USD 9.6 billion) across its businesses since January 2023, highlighting sustained access to capital and steady execution despite the market disruption caused by short-seller allegations nearly three years ago. Analysts say improved transparency and ongoing engagement with lenders have helped stabilise funding, while consistent project execution kept operations on track. The acquisitions have focused on the group’s core sectors. Ports led with deals worth about Rs 28,145 crore, followed by cement at Rs 24,710 crore and power at Rs 12,251 crore. Emerging businesses accounted for Rs 3,927 crore, while…

The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) entered commercial service on Thursday, marking a key moment for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Operations began with the arrival of IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru at 8 am, followed by the first departure to Hyderabad at 8.40 am. The inaugural arrival received a ceremonial water cannon salute. On its first day, NMIA handled 48 flights to nine domestic destinations and served more than 4,000 passengers, with the heaviest traffic recorded between 5 pm and 7 pm. The airport is expected to ease pressure on Mumbai’s existing airport, which has long operated with a single…

The Union government has approved the construction of holiday homes in two of Kerala’s most popular tourist destinations, Munnar and Alappuzha, with an investment of 22 million euros. The project aims to provide budget-friendly accommodation for both domestic and foreign tourists while supporting the state’s tourism growth and local economy. Meeting the Demand for Budget Lodging Designed to serve government employees as well as tourists, the new holiday homes will offer 200 rooms to accommodate visitors, especially during peak travel seasons. The first-come, first-served booking system ensures that when rooms are not used by officials, tourists can access affordable lodging.…

Parveen Hafeez, Managing Director of Sunrise Hospitals, shared her journey and insights on balancing personal life, professional growth, and social responsibility. She emphasized that men and women have distinct but equally valuable roles and urged the younger generation to be confident, intelligent, and proud of themselves. Growing up in a progressive Malabari Muslim family in Kerala with five brothers, she was encouraged to pursue her ambitions without restrictions. Hafeez described her strong affinity for people, particularly women and children, and how she finds purpose in making others happy. She reflected on her education, sports, and early exposure to responsibility, highlighting the…

Shijo K Thomas, CEO of Oxygen The Digital Expert, reflected on his 25-year journey in the digital industry, sharing insights on entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and opportunities for startups in Kerala. He described starting his business accidentally, with no prior experience or family background in business, using his father’s pension to set up operations in a 100 sq. ft. space. Over the years, he witnessed the evolution of technology from personal computers to smartphones, laptops, and now innovations in AI and cybersecurity. Highlighting Kerala’s strong digital literacy, Shijo emphasized that full digital adoption could propel the state to the next level.…

Chennai-based Sweet Karam Coffee was founded by a team of cousins — Nalini Parthiban, her husband Anand Bharadwaj, Srivatsan Sundararaman and Veera Raghavan, who wanted to bring their grandmother Janaki Paati’s authentic South Indian snacks to a larger audience. The journey started in 2015 from their home kitchen with just ₹2,000. Inspired by Sunday evenings and Diwali celebrations where Paati would make traditional murukku, jaangris and mysurpa, the founders began making snacks the way they remembered, without preservatives, palm oil or artificial ingredients. Initially, production was manual and small-scale, with the founders packing snacks themselves and delivering orders by bike. Their early focus was simple: stay authentic, maintain high…

Bharat Taxi is gearing up to launch nationwide on January 1, 2026 as a cooperative ride-hailing platform designed to rival established players like Uber, Ola and Rapido. Unlike traditional cab apps owned by profit-seeking corporations, Bharat Taxi operates on a model where drivers are members and co-owners, similar to how Amul’s dairy cooperative works in India. The service is being run under Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, backed by the Ministry of Cooperation and integrated with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD). Amul’s Managing Director, Jayen Mehta, serves as the chairman, reinforcing the cooperative ethos. In this model, drivers can become members of the cooperative and retain most of their earnings (reports suggest around 80–100 % of fares) since there’s no…

Android users across India now have access to Google’s Emergency Location Service (ELS), a feature designed to significantly reduce emergency response times. ELS enables local emergency responders to pinpoint a caller’s exact location, even in areas where traditional GPS may be less effective. How ELS Works During Emergencies When a user dials an emergency number, such as 112, ELS automatically activates and sends the device’s precise location directly to responders. The service leverages a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and on-device sensors to work effectively indoors and in densely populated urban areas. Unlike standard location-sharing tools, ELS is built…