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Sneakrz operator Brandman Retail debuts on NSE; ends 5% above IPO

Brandman Retail, a distributor and retailer for the premium athleisure and lifestyle brands, has been listed on NSE at a valuation of Rs 324.85 crore. The company, which has an IPO price of Rs 176, settled at Rs 211.80 on NSE on Friday, up 4.98 per cent. Brandman Retail, which has raised Rs 86 crore through its public issue, will invest the proceeds in store expansion, working capital support, and general corporate purposes, according to a company statement. Brandman Retail currently operates 21 stores across India, which is a mix of Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs) and Multi-Brand Outlets (MBOs). "As part of its next growth phase, the company plans to open 15 new stores funded through IPO proceeds, forming the first leg of a broader expansion strategy aimed at building a 50+ store national network," it said. Founded by Arun Malhotra, Brandman Retail has positioned itself as a platform for international sports and lifestyle brands seeking structured entry and expansion in the Indian

NDMC ramps up surveillance, cleanup ahead of India AI Impact Summit

The NDMC on Saturday said it has stepped up surveillance, sanitation and beautification measures across Lutyens' Delhi ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, to be held here from February 16 to 20. In a statement, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) said Vice-Chairperson Kuljeet Chahal has conducted an on-ground review of the preparations, beginning at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), where real-time monitoring of civic services and security arrangements is being carried out. "A total of 333 NDMC CCTV cameras and 183 Delhi Police cameras have been integrated with the ICCC for round-the-clock surveillance. A dedicated traffic coordination helpline has also been set up in coordination with Delhi Traffic Police," Chahal was quoted as saying in a statement. "All sanitation and service vehicles are being tracked through GPS, including RFID-enabled bins, jetting machines, mechanical road sweepers, anti-smog guns and water tankers. Ninety-nine garbage-prone spots at

Tripura CM Manik Saha rejects Roman script demand for Kokborok language

Chief Minister Saha asserted that adopting a "foreign script" could pose a threat to indigenous identity and traditional culture

Arunachal CM Khandu asks citizens to share ideas for Budget 2026-27

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday invited citizens to actively participate in shaping the state budget 2026-27 by sharing suggestions, ideas and feedback, stressing that the government aims to make the process more inclusive, participatory and people-centric. In a message shared on social media, the chief minister called on people from all sections of society to contribute their inputs as the state prepares its annual financial roadmap. He emphasised that public participation is key to building a stronger, progressive and inclusive Arunachal Pradesh. "As we prepare the Arunachal Budget 2026-27, the government of Arunachal Pradesh invites valuable suggestions, ideas, and feedback from all citizens," Khandu said in a post on X. He urged people to be active partners in the development process. Highlighting the importance of collective effort in governance, the chief minister added, "Let us work together to build a stronger, inclusive, and progressive Arunachal.

Dollar trade with US aligns with Russia's national currency policy: Kremlin

The trade with the US in dollars does not contradict Russia's principle policy of use of national currencies in foreign transactions, the Kremlin said Saturday. Russia switched to the use of national currencies in foreign trade after its USD and Euro accounts were frozen by the West following the outbreak of the 2022 conflict with Ukraine and has been pushing for a global de-dollarisation trend. In an interview to the state-run TASS news agency, the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pointed that the dollar is the national currency of the United States, so its use in transactions with Washington will not conflict with the principle of transitioning to national currencies. "In general, yes," the Kremlin spokesman agreed with the thesis about the dollar as the national currency in Russian-American trade and that its use will not fundamentally affect Russia's interactions with its current partners. Amid reports of bilateral negotiations to expand economic cooperation between Moscow an

Access to justice must deliver real outcomes for all: CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said access to justice cannot remain an abstract ideal reserved for the legally empowered and must translate into real outcomes for marginalised citizens. Speaking at the 11th biennial meeting of the Commonwealth Judicial Educators (CJE) here, CJI Kant said judicial leadership cannot be confined to administrative authority or institutional hierarchy and must be understood as an intellectual and ethical orientation. "Access to justice cannot remain an abstract ideal reserved for the legally empowered. It must translate into real outcomes for the last person standing in the line, the marginalised citizen whose faith in the justice system rests upon its accessibility, responsiveness and humanity," the CJI said. While placing stress on integration of technology into the justice system, he said that AI must assist, and not replace, judicial reasoning. CJI Kant said judicial leadership demands not only administrative foresight but deep empath

FM calls for tech share, differentiated treatment for low emissions nations

The finance minister stressed that India had increased its commitment towards climate action, increasing its budget allocation from 3.7 per cent of GDP six years ago to nearly 5.6 per cent of GDP now

Cabinet clears ₹18,662 cr for Brahmaputra road-rail tunnel in Assam

The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 18,662-crore project to construct a four-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor between Gohpur and Numaligarh, featuring India's first road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra river in Assam. Currently, the connectivity between Numaligarh on NH715 and Gohpur on NH-15 is 240 km -- from the existing Kaliabhambhora road bridge near Silghat on NH-52, which takes 6 Hours passing through Numaligarh, Kaziranga National Park, and Biswanath Town, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) said in a statement on Saturday. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the construction of a four-lane, access-controlled greenfield road connecting Gohpur on NH-15 to Numaligarh on the 715 section, including a 15.79 km road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra River, to be developed at a total cost of Rs 18,662 crore in Assam, it added. The project will be developed on an engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) model, MoRTH said. This

GRSE commences production of two coastal research vessels for GSI

Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd on Saturday commenced the construction of two coastal research vessels (CRV) for the Geological Survey of India (GSI), an official statement said. The ceremonial steel cutting, marking the commencement of the construction of the ship, was held in the presence of GSI Director General Asit Saha and senior officials from GRSE and the Indian Armed Forces. The research vessels, each having a length of 64 metres and a width of 13 metres, will have capabilities to carry out offshore geological mapping, mineral exploration (including dredging), ocean environment monitoring and research, the statement said. "They will have modern, well-equipped scientific laboratories on board for data processing and sample analysis," it said, adding that these ships will operate within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of India. The defence shipyard, which also builds research and survey platforms, is currently building an ocean research vessel

Ties with India must go beyond economic complementarity: Australian envoy

India and Australia have "highly complementary" economies, and both countries produce things which fit each other's interests, but the bilateral relationship needs to be deeper than that aspect, Australian envoy Philip Green said. "We need to understand each other at a deeper level. We need to tell each other's stories and hear each other's stories," Green told PTI on the sidelines of an event hosted on Friday night on the premises of the Australian High Commission here. Two Australians of Indian heritage, including India-born Reuben de Melo, who won "The Voice Australia" singing competition in 2024, entertained guests at the event, "Gig on the Green". "It is a very special occasion for us. You know, we are building up a multi-faceted bilateral relationship across defence and security, across economics, across education," Green said. The human connection that we have is a very special thing about the bilateral relationship, he said. "There are now more than a million people of Ind

Rebellion in Verse: Devotion as a social disruptor in Tamil Bhakti movement

Raghavan Srinivasan reclaims the Tamil Bhakti saints as radical poets who challenged caste, ritual authority and hierarchy through powerful Tamil verse

Happiest Minds to double hiring in AI business amid skill shortages

Mid-tier IT firm Happiest Minds plans to double its AI and GenAI workforce to over 1,000 by next fiscal, investing more to address skill gaps that are leading to lost revenue

Switzerland to hold referendum in June on capping population at 10 million

According to Swiss government statistics, roughly 40 percent of residents aged over 15 are from a migrant background, most of them from European countries

Kremlin memo maps US-Russia economic ties, including dollar reset

At the heart of the offer is Russia's return to the dollar settlement system, a move which would mean a stunning reversal of Kremlin policy and, potentially, a dramatic shake up for global finance

CBIC to roll out Eligible Manufacturer-Importer Scheme by March 1: Chairman

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is set to introduce the proposed Eligible Manufacturer-Importer scheme by March 1, with a draft framework to be released in five to six days for stakeholder consultation, a top official said on Thursday. Addressing a media interaction in Mumbai, CBIC Chairman Vivek Chaturvedi said the scheme will initially be introduced for two years, offering eligible manufacturer-importers a "preview" of the benefits under the new framework. Manufacturers, who are not currently Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs), will receive benefits under this scheme for a period of two years, during which they must comply with the prescribed norms to obtain AEO certification, officials clarified. The government is currently working on finalising the eligibility criteria through an internal committee, and detailed contours of the scheme will be shared soon for public feedback. Chaturvedi indicated that the EMI scheme is aligned with the broader push towar

Tell My Mother I Like Boys: Suvir Saran's honest, heartbreaking memoir

As an openly gay man, Suvir Saran's memoir weaves his personal struggles to find love and belonging with reflections on policy, resulting in a memoir that is brutally honest and partly heartbreaking

Comply with quality norms to gain global edge, Paswan tells dairy industry

Union Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan on Thursday called upon the dairy industry to adhere to quality regulations, warning that non-compliance undermines market access and allows fraudulent players to thrive at the expense of honest businesses seeking international recognition. Speaking at the 52nd Dairy Industry Conference organised by the Indian Dairy Association (North Zone), Paswan said India has the potential to position itself as the world's dairy basket, capable of addressing global shortages through better organisation and strategic market channelling. "Today, India has the capacity to present itself as a global basket. We just need to be more organised in this direction, channelised and move forward," Paswan said, asserting that the dairy sector has a crucial role in building a globally competitive India. The minister said while the government formulates policies - including resolving GST issues and promoting dairy processing through central schemes - it i

Can AI cook dinner? India's smart kitchens test the limits of automation

From guided multi-cookers to robotic chefs, AI-powered appliances promise urban Indian homes precision and convenience, but raise questions about emotion, memory, and the meaning of cooking itself

Angela Merkel to deliver first Manmohan Singh Memorial Lecture in Delhi

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel will deliver the first Dr Manmohan Singh Memorial Lecture in the national capital on February 26, sources said here on Thursday. The lecture is being organised by the Dr Manmohan Singh Trust. Merkel, who shared good ties with the former prime minister, will deliver the inaugural lecture series in memory of Singh. She will speak on "Germany and India in times of global change". Singh, considered the architect of India's economic reforms and a consensus builder in the rough world of politics, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, on December 26, 2024. He was 92. Manmohan Singh steered the country as prime minister for 10 years from 2004-2014 and helped set up the country's economic framework as finance minister. He was also a renowned name in the global financial and economic sectors. The memorial trust was established by the family of the former prime minister to oversee the construction of his memorial at Rashtriya Smrit

Rolls-Royce CEO calls on PM Modi, shares plans to be part of Viksit Bharat

Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared plans to scale up its activities in India to become a part of Viksit Bharat. "It was wonderful meeting Mr. Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of Rolls-Royce, earlier today," Modi said in a post on X. "We welcome Rolls-Royce's enthusiasm towards scaling up its activities in India and partnering with our innovative and dynamic youth," the prime minister said. Modi was responding to a post by Rolls-Royce on Erginbilgic's meeting with Modi. "Our CEO Tufan Erginbilgic met Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi today to discuss how Rolls-Royce is scaling up to be a part of Viksit Bharat, including expanding its GCC to be the largest globally, co-creating complex manufacturing and building high-value engineering capabilities," the British manufacturing firm said in the post.