Author: News Desk

India’s exports of rice, fruits, and vegetables to Gulf countries have resumed, but high freight charges and slow clearance processes are limiting shipment volumes, exporters say. Perishable items like onions, bananas, and grapes are particularly affected, with onward movement through Dubai to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait hampered by the ongoing security situation in the region. Logistical BottlenecksDubai Customs recently allowed temporary cargo facilitation through smaller ports at Khorfakkan and Fujairah, bypassing the congested Jebel Ali Port. However, these ports have limited capacity, slowing operations. Ajit Shah, a leading onion exporter, said freight costs for vegetables have surged roughly sixfold…

Nykaa is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire a controlling stake in 82°E, the premium skincare brand founded by actress Deepika Padukone. Padukone is expected to retain a minority stake if the deal goes through. The potential acquisition aims to strengthen Nykaa’s House of Nykaa portfolio while providing 82°E the scale it has struggled to achieve independently. With over 42 million customers, Nykaa plans to leverage its robust distribution, logistics, and repeat-purchase ecosystem to boost the brand’s performance. Padukone has been associated with Nykaa as its global brand ambassador since September 2025, highlighting an existing working relationship. Launched in late…

The Ministry of Railways has officially completed the 1,506‑km Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), stretching from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) in Maharashtra to Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. The project, executed in phases by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), reached a major milestone with successful trial runs on the JNPT–New Saphale (Vaitarna) section. During the trials on March 31, 2026, a container train headed downwards from JNPT to New Saphale using an electric locomotive, while another train ran upward from New Saphale to JNPT with a diesel locomotive. DFCCIL noted that this demonstrates the operational readiness…

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced that the UAE has entered the top 10 global exporters of goods for the first time, according to the latest World Trade Organization (WTO) report. In a post on X, Sheikh Mohammed highlighted that the UAE moved from 17th to 9th place worldwide in just five years, reflecting rapid economic growth and stronger global trade competitiveness. The UAE’s total foreign trade reached AED 6 trillion ($1.6 trillion) last year, a 15% increase from the previous year, with a trade…

As NASA’s Artemis II mission heads toward the Moon, the astronauts have enjoyed a mostly smooth test flight—except for one surprising hurdle: the Orion spacecraft’s toilet. The capsule, built by Lockheed Martin, is equipped with the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS), similar to the toilets used on the International Space Station. Designed for microgravity, the system relies on airflow to move waste, while astronauts use footstraps and handles to stay in position. Trouble began on the first day in orbit when the toilet’s pump failed to function properly. Mission specialist Christina Koch, jokingly dubbed the “space plumber,” fixed the system…

India’s first semi-high-speed train has marked a decade of service. It was inaugurated on April 5, 2016, by then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu from Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM) station. The train is operated and maintained by the Northern Railway (NR) zone. Gatimaan Express: Name, Route, SpeedThe train, known as the Gatimaan Express, initially ran between Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM) and Agra Cantt. From April 1, 2018, its route was extended to the Bundelkhand region, reaching Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Junction. This extension has improved connectivity for tourists visiting Gwalior, Jhansi, and nearby attractions. The train can reach speeds of up to…

India has provided humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to help those affected by recent floods and an earthquake. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared on X that the assistance included kitchen sets, hygiene kits, plastic sheets, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, and other disaster relief supplies. He emphasized that India stands in solidarity with Afghanistan and is committed to offering support during this difficult time. The natural disasters have claimed 35 lives and injured 52 people across 25 Afghan provinces over the past two days, according to TOLO News. Heavy rains and floods have destroyed 131 homes, partially damaged 650 others, and affected more…

Canon has described India as an “R&D eye-opener,” highlighting how the country is influencing its global innovation strategy in unexpected ways. According to Canon India CEO Toshiaki Nomura, engineers from Japan are now travelling to Indian cities to observe how customers actually use their machines in real-world conditions. These observations have revealed that Indian users often push devices beyond their intended use, discovering new applications and efficiencies that were not initially designed. For example, local businesses like small copy shops use machines in innovative ways, prompting Canon’s R&D teams to modify products and introduce new features based on these insights. In one case, demand in India led to product changes that resulted in 10–30 times higher sales, which…

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is known for a highly disciplined routine designed to maximise deep work and productivity. One of his key principles is to protect the first few hours of the day, which he considers his most productive time. He avoids scheduling meetings or distractions during this period and focuses only on important work. Altman also follows a strict rule of minimising early communication, often avoiding emails and interruptions in the morning to maintain deep focus. His approach is simple, do the most important work when energy and clarity are at their peak. Interestingly, he rarely eats breakfast, instead opting for intermittent fasting of around 15 hours, usually starting…

Peyush Bansal, founder and CEO of Lenskart, is often described as the “somehow founder”, someone who made unconventional decisions and still succeeded against the odds. His journey took a pivotal turn while working at Microsoft, when a dinner with Bill Gates made him rethink his purpose. Inspired by the idea of building something impactful, he chose to leave his job and return to India. Bansal initially experimented with multiple ventures before discovering a major gap in the eyewear market, a large percentage of Indians who needed glasses didn’t have access to them. To understand the problem deeply, he even worked at…