Author: News Desk

Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal, while presenting the Kerala Budget 2026–27, alleged that beyond manipulating votes, the central government is effectively “stealing” state funds. He criticized the Centre for disregarding Kerala despite the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) praise of the state’s financial management. Balagopal highlighted that at the very end of the financial year—traditionally the period of highest expenditure—the Centre cut ₹5,944 crore from Kerala’s approved borrowing limit, describing it as a “double blow” to the state. He stated that his budget speech was a way to formally protest this severe financial neglect on behalf of the people of…

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a significant international infrastructure order worth around ₹10,000 crore for a metro rail project in Saudi Arabia, marking another milestone in its global expansion journey. The contract has been awarded by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City as part of the ongoing development and expansion of the Riyadh Metro, a flagship project under the kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 initiative. The scope of work includes engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of metro corridors comprising both elevated and underground stretches, as well as the construction of modern stations equipped with advanced transit systems. The project will be executed by L&T’s Heavy Civil Infrastructure division, highlighting…

Adani Airports Ltd has called on the Indian government to ease restrictions on how many seats foreign carriers can sell on flights to and from India, arguing that the current seat caps, set by bilateral air service agreements, are constraining growth in the aviation sector and limiting India’s ambitions to become a global aviation hub. At a recent aviation event in Hyderabad, Adani Airports CEO Arun Bansal said that these limits have long frustrated international carriers, including Emirates, which often has demand far exceeding the weekly caps under existing treaties. Bansal called for a shift toward a more liberal “open skies” approach to expand connectivity and support India’s…

Naturals Salon & Spa has rolled out a new “Customer First” membership programme for 2026, calling it a disruptive, customer-centric offering aimed at delivering more value while remaining affordable. Announcing the initiative, C.K. Kumaravel, CEO and Co-founder of Naturals Salon, said the programme is designed to reward loyal customers and make premium grooming services easier to access. Under the offer, customers who pay ₹20,000 will receive salon services worth ₹30,000, delivering 50% additional value. The membership can be used across 900+ Naturals Salons nationwide, with all outlets accepting the programme without restrictions. The membership also allows customers to pre-register up to four family members, enabling shared usage across any participating…

Air India’s CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson has indicated that the Tata Group-owned carrier may place additional orders for Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft as part of its ongoing fleet transformation programme. The comments came as Air India prepares to begin commercial operations with its first custom-built Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the Mumbai-Frankfurt route from February 1, 2026, marking a key milestone in the airline’s long-haul expansion. Wilson said the airline expects a “huge transformation” of its long-haul wide-body fleet in 2027–28, signalling that more Dreamliners could be ordered beyond the existing commitments. Air India has already placed orders for hundreds of aircraft, with dozens delivered since privatisation and many…

India is shifting its semiconductor ambitions from basic chip production to cutting-edge manufacturing, targeting 3 nanometre (nm) chip production by 2032 and progressing toward 2 nm in the early 2030s as part of its Semicon 2.0 roadmap, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The plan aims to bolster domestic manufacturing and design capabilities and expand support for startup chip designers under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme. The initiative focuses on six key chip categories, including compute, radio frequency (RF), networking, power management, sensors and memory, critical for modern electronics across defence, communications and consumer products. Officials also hope to increase the number of fabless startups in India as…

The Cochin branch of the Institute of Marine Engineers (India) is set to host Comarsem, the Cochin Marine Seminar, on January 29 and 30, in partnership with the Directorate General of Shipping. This two-day event will gather policymakers, industry leaders, technologists, academicians, and maritime professionals from around the world, creating a high-impact platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. Theme and VisionUnder the banner “Maritime India — Innovations and Collaborations,” Comarsem 2026 will focus on India’s maritime transformation and explore strategic pathways to achieve the nation’s ambition of becoming a global maritime superpower. S. Krishnankutty, Chairman, described the seminar as…

Global IT giant Cognizant is broadening its footprint in India, including tier-2 cities, to tap into the rich talent pool available across the country, said Surya Gummadi, President of Cognizant’s Americas business. Speaking at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, he highlighted that India remains central to the company’s overall and AI-focused strategy. Tier-Two Cities Drive Growth Cognizant has recently expanded operations into Visakhapatnam, Indore, and Gujarat’s Gift City, among other locations. “The tier-two expansion is a key element of our strategy,” Gummadi said, adding that the company is simultaneously scaling operations in major urban hubs like Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru,…

Adipoli, a vibrant term in Malayalam meaning “super,” “excellent,” or “amazing,” is now more than just a word—it’s the name of a tropical magnesium and vitamin drink launching in the UAE. Malayalee entrepreneurs from Poland have brought this innovative beverage to Gulf consumers, starting with LuLu stores across the region. From Poland to the Middle East Retail giant LuLu Group revealed at Gulfood 2026 that it will roll out Adipoli alongside another product, Malayali Habibi, across its UAE stores. The name “Poli” in Adipoli playfully nods to Poland, where the drink is produced. Bottled and packaged in Warsaw, Adipoli is…

Indian cinema has celebrated a historic achievement as Dhurandhar officially surpassed the ₹1000 Crore mark at the domestic box office. This milestone places the film among an elite league previously reserved for only three cinematic giants: Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, KGF: Chapter 2, and Pushpa 2: The Rule. The accomplishment cements Dhurandhar as one of India’s most successful films ever. What sets this record apart is that Dhurandhar achieved this feat entirely in a single language. While previous blockbusters relied on multi-language releases to reach the four-figure gross, Dhurandhar’s success comes from its primary-language impact, audience connection, and repeat viewership.…