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< Back India 1st hydrogen-powered train to launch on Jan 26 7 Jan 2026 The train will be launched on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana. The train, designed and built indigenously at ICF Chennai, is expected to reach speeds of up to 110 km/h. It is among the world’s most powerful hydrogen locomotives with an output of 2,400 kW across its two power cars. Although Germany and China already run hydrogen trains, India’s hydrogen train is the longest built for broad gauge (5ft 6 in). The project is a collaboration between Indian Railways, the Research, Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO), and Spanish partner Green H. It has two driver power cars and eight metro-style passenger coaches. The train aims to reduce diesel consumption and pollution significantly. Trial runs have been completed successfully. After the pilot run, a joint performance report will be submitted to the central government to determine the feasibility of wider deployment across India. Media estimates the fare to be between ₹5 and ₹25. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back Most deletions from Tamil Nadu in Election Commission’s SIR 2 6 Jan 2026 The Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a major nationwide clean-up of electoral rolls, following large-scale discrepancies detected in Bihar and West Bengal. The ongoing SIR drive marks the most extensive voter‑roll verification exercises undertaken by the ECI. In Phase 2, the SIR drive is underway across 12 States/UTs, including Tamil Nadu, Goa, Puducherry, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and West Bengal. Tamil Nadu leads with ~97 lakh absolute deletions, while Gujarat and Andaman & Nicobar Islands show the highest percentage reductions at 14.5% and ~21%, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala. So far, around 3.68 crore names have been deleted in phase 2. States have reported significant deletions due to absent, shifted, deceased, and duplicate voters. Several states required deadline extensions after irregularities surfaced—such as forms submitted by ineligible persons, misuse of BLO credentials, and entries for deceased electors. Draft rolls were published in December, and final rolls are scheduled for February 2026. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back Australia to eliminate all tariffs on Indian exports eff Jan 1 30 Dec 2025 The announcement came on the third anniversary of the Indo-Australian Economic Cooperation & Trade Agreement (ECTA). Starting January 1, 2026, Australia will eliminate all tariffs on Indian exports. It is expected to significantly boost India’s labour-intensive sectors and deepen bilateral trade ties. Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister, made the announcement on December 29 th . Since the ECTA implementation, Indian exports to Australia rose by 14% in 2023-24 and by 8% in 2024-25. Bilateral goods trade recorded $24.1 billion in 2024-25. Gems and jewellery alone increased exports by 16%. Sectors benefitting from the ECTA include pharma, chemicals, manufacturing, textiles, plastics, petroleum products, agricultural products, and gems and jewellery. The Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Organic Products boosted India’s organic exports to Australia to USD 8.96 million in 2024-25. Products such as psyllium husk, coconut milk, and rice benefited the most from the MRA. India has a similar MRA with Taiwan, which allows Indian organic products to be sold in Taiwan and vice versa. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back New airlines, Al Hind Air, FlyExpress get govt nod 26 Dec 2025 Amid the IndiGo fiasco, the government is encouraging more players to enter the market to boost competition. IndiGo holds 65% of the market share while Air India Group holds 27%. The recent episodes of mass flight cancellations and delays pushed the government to permit new carriers to enter the Indian market. Promoted by Kerala-based Alhind Group, Al Hind Air will focus on regional routes in South India. It plans to employ ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft in its fleet. Its hub will be Cochin International Airport, Kochi. FlyExpress is a Hyderabad-based new airline focused mainly on cargo and courier operations. As an existing cargo and courier service provider, it currently handles documents, food products, medicines, household items, and industrial goods to the US, Canada, the UK, Singapore, Australia, Dubai, Germany, and France. Both carriers have received their No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and are now working to secure the Air Operator Certificate from DGCA. Shankh Air, another fresh carrier in the mix, already received its NOC earlier this year. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back ISRO launches LVM-3 rocket with US’ BlueBird satellite 24 Dec 2025 At 6,100 kg, the American-made BlueBird Block-2 satellite is the heaviest satellite ever launched by India. On December 24 th , the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the US’ BlueBird Block-2 satellite using its LVM-3 rocket into the earth’s lower orbit. Built by AST SpaceMobile, this satellite is part of a global Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation, which provides direct-to-smartphone broadband. It enables 4G/5G connectivity without special devices or ground stations. This mission marks ISRO’s third fully commercial LEO launch using LVM-3. It strengthens India’s global position and enhances the nation’s heavy-lift capabilities at a lower price than international players. This is LVM-3’s ninth successful mission. It was previously used for Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3, as well as the OneWeb satellite launch. Its upgraded version will be used for India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. India is planning to build its first space station – Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). It will be a 52-tonne modular space station, orbiting at around 450 km above the Earth. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back Bharat Taxi service to launch in Delhi on Jan 1st 23 Dec 2025 It will be India’s first cooperative taxi service, conceptualised and supported by the central government. To offer relief from peak-hour surcharges of ride-hailing apps, the Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited will launch Bharat Taxi in Delhi on January 1 st . It is a multi-state cooperative project headed by Amul’s Managing Director, Jayen Mehta, and registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 (MSCS Act). It will offer car, auto-rickshaw, and bike rides at fixed rates, which means no surge pricing during peak hours, late nights, or holidays. Over 51,000 drivers have registered on the app. Its safety features include integration with Delhi Police and other agencies, verified driver onboarding, and the option for users to share ride details with their contacts during the journey. It will run on a zero-commission, driver-owned cooperative model that will improve drivers’ working conditions. The drivers will receive around 80% of the fare directly through monthly credits. This is being touted as higher than what other cab aggregators pay their drivers. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back Mexico introduces 50% tariffs on countries without FTAs 15 Dec 2025 The impacted countries include India, South Korea, China, Indonesia, and Thailand. Mexico’s Senate gave the go-ahead to steep import tariffs of 5-50% on 1,463 product categories from nations that don’t have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Mexico. The duties will come into effect on January 1 st , 2026. India actively engaged with Mexico in negotiations to protect its importers and finalise an FTA. The Indian Embassy in Mexico raised concerns with the Mexican Ministry of Economy in September 2025. The auto industry, machinery, electronics, pharma, chemicals, plastics, and textiles have been impacted. India exported goods worth USD5.75 billion in 2024-25 and imported USD2.9 billion. Analysts believe Mexico acted under US pressure. Meanwhile, in the US, the Democrats opposed Trump's tariffs on India. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Marc Veasey, and Deborah Ross introduced a resolution to terminate the national emergency that President Trump had used to justify the tariffs. They argued that tariffs are an abuse of executive power and negatively impact Indo-US relations. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion 11 Dec 2025 In the early 2010s, HBO dismissed Netflix’s potential, declined a partnership, and resisted licensing content to Netflix. Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) entered a definitive agreement, which allows Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. and its studios, HBO, HBO Max, New Line Cinema, and the debt. The enterprise value is $82.7 billion, of which equity is $72 billion. The transaction will close after WBD Global Networks Division separates from Discovery Global to form a publicly traded company by Q3 2026. Paramount Studios pursued WBD for months. After the Netflix deal, Paramount triggered a hostile takeover bid. It wants the entire WBD portfolio, including pay-TV networks, for $108.4 billion. HBO’s parent company, Time Warner, merged with AOL in 2001 and was sold to AT&T in 2016, among the worst business deals. HBO joined Warner in 2022. In the late 1990s, Amazon offered to buy Netflix for $16 million, but Netflix declined. In 2000, Netflix offered to sell itself to Blockbuster for $50 million, which Blockbuster laughed off. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back EU approves Mars’ acquisition of Pringles-maker Kellanova 10 Dec 2025 The $35.9 billion deal has been ‘unconditionally approved’ by the European Commission. Earlier this year, Brussels raised concerns about the deal that would bring Pringles and Snickers under a single umbrella brand. The preliminary concern was that consumers would have to pay higher prices and that the deal would give Mars more bargaining power over retailers in the EU. The European Commission rejected the latter concerns, arguing that their products have a longer shelf life and are subject to infrequent purchases. Further, it added that consumers were not loyal to one particular brand and there was no evidence to suggest they would switch brands if one were unavailable in retail outlets. The deal was under scrutiny in the US and the EU. The competition regulators in the US approved it, and finally, the EU did too on December 8 th . Kellanova owns Pringles, Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies, and Kellogg’s. They will join Mars’ portfolio, which includes Twix, Skittles, and Snickers. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back Railway loco pilots demand airline-like rest rules 9 Dec 2025 The All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) demanded rules for railway government employees similar to those in the private sector. India’s new FDTL rules are now among the world's strictest, compared with the US, Canada, or Europe. Encouraged by these, the railway’s locomotive pilots proposed: A Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS)-inspired system for railway pilots. Six-hour daily duty limit 16 hours of rest after each shift Weekly resting hours in addition to daily rest. They criticised the government for being lenient with airlines. Globally, aviation fatigue rules are more stringent than those for railways. Aviation rules such as Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) and FRMS are scientifically based, whereas railway rules are often based on old laws or negotiated agreements. The EU has strict overall duty limits and rest periods, similar to those in aviation. The House of Service Act of the US mandates off-duty hours for the railway staff, like 10 hours after every shift. Australia and Canada apply fatigue modelling to determine railway staff schedules. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back Lyzr.AI’s Agent Sam to help startups prepare for fundraising 5 Dec 2025 Agent Sam, named after Sam Altman, is an agentic AI capable of handling usual investor queries. During the funding season, startup founders spend up to 60% of their time answering repetitive questions for venture capitalists. This usually consumes up to 15 hours a week for around three months for them. Agent Sam has been trained on Lyzr’s financials, team background, and product information. Lyzr embedded Agent Sam on the fundraising page, and within three weeks, they received an expression of interest from 100 investors. Over 30 qualified investors engaged with Agent Sam, and 10 reached the due diligence stage. Investors’ questions were mainly expected: the company’s competitive advantage, funding raised so far, current revenue and growth, key customers, GTM strategy, and USP. Agent Sam successfully handled 60-70% of the queries, except for final negotiations and what-if questions. Lyzr.AI is a New Jersey-based startup founded in 2023 by Siva Surendira and Anirudh Narayan. Nvidia, Accenture, and Rocketship.vc are some of its notable investors. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back IndiGo faces delays, cancellations due to new pilot rest rules 4 Dec 2025 The airline had 200 cancellations on Wednesday and 1,232 in November. The new rules mandating adequate rest for pilots and crew came into effect on November 1 st , 2025. The DGCA had announced Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) in January 2024, with a 22-month preparatory window for airlines. FDTL mandates: 48 hours of weekly rest, up from 36 hours earlier Night duty window extended from midnight to 6 a.m. from midnight to 5 a.m. earlier. This ensures pilots are rarely scheduled to fly during the vulnerable period, especially from 4 to 6 am. Maximum two consecutive night duties allowed Maximum two landings at night allowed per week IndiGo’s on-time performance declined from above 80% to 35% by December 2 nd , the lowest among all Indian carriers. The other airlines, while impacted, did not share the same level of concerns. Pilot associations call it artificially created flight disruptions to put pressure on the DGCA to roll back the FDTL. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next