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Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Air India, is projected to achieve its first operating profit since being acquired by Tata Group in 2022, thanks to increased capacity and market share. This positive outlook, shared during a recent town hall meeting, comes as Air India's full-service operations face financial challenges due to an airspace ban imposed by Pakistan. The airline plans to invest over $70 million in aircraft refurbishments and aims to double its fleet size to more than 200 jets within the next four to five years. Additionally, Air India Express is set to add 30 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The broader Air India Group is undergoing a significant multi-billion-dollar restructuring, although it faces hurdles from ongoing jet delivery delays, impacting its financial performance and affecting stakeholders like Singapore Airlines, which holds a 25% stake in the carrier. 
Published: Feb 05 2026, 2 pmeznews.inA study from Louisiana State University, published in the journal Nutrients, suggests that incorporating freeze-dried blueberry powder into the diet may alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety in individuals from rural communities. Led by Joseph Francis, the research involved 23 participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder, who consumed either blueberry powder—equivalent to one cup of fresh blueberries—or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. Participants completed assessments at various intervals, revealing a notable reduction in clinical symptoms among those consuming the blueberry powder. While the study's small size limits its generalizability, it highlights the potential benefits of nutrition on mental health, particularly in underserved rural areas. The authors advocate for further research in larger, more diverse populations to explore the mechanisms behind these effects, emphasizing that blueberry supplementation should not replace standard psychiatric care.
Published: Feb 05 2026, 3 pmeznews.inApogee Aerospace has secured an order for 15 amphibian aircraft from Australia's Amphibian Aerospace Industries (AAI), valued at ₹3,500 crore, as part of a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing India's aviation capabilities. The Indian firm will invest ₹500 crore to develop manufacturing, maintenance, and training facilities in India, supporting AAI's Albatross 2.0 amphibious aircraft, which can accommodate up to 28 passengers. This collaboration aligns with the Indian government's push for improved air connectivity and self-reliance in the aviation sector. AAI plans to establish a manufacturing facility in India, with Apogee serving as its exclusive representative for defence and government needs. The first Albatross 2.0 aircraft is anticipated to enter the Indian market within 18-24 months. Additionally, the Union Budget for 2026-27 includes incentives for seaplane manufacturing to bolster tourism and remote connectivity, alongside a proposed Seaplane VGF Scheme for operational support.
Published: Feb 05 2026, 3 pmeznews.inVizhinjam International Seaport is swiftly establishing itself as one of India's leading container transshipment hubs, developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited in collaboration with the Kerala Government. In January, the port achieved a record monthly container throughput of 123,092 TEUs and processed 62 vessels, marking its highest monthly figures since operations began just over a year ago. This surge in productivity has propelled Vizhinjam to the 83rd position globally among container ports. As India’s first semi-automated container port, it is equipped to handle the largest container vessels, having processed over 740 vessels and 1.57 million TEUs since its inception. Looking ahead, a ₹16,000-crore investment will fund the port's expansion, increasing its berth length and capacity from 1 million TEUs to 5.7 million TEUs by 2029, with completion of the next phase targeted for 2028.
Published: Feb 05 2026, 3 pmeznews.inA new report by Bessemer Venture Partners, titled ‘Transforming Indian healthcare, one specialty at a time’, reveals that single-speciality healthcare providers are rapidly becoming the fastest-growing segment in India's healthcare landscape. The market for these providers is projected to surge from $4.4 billion in 2025 to $12.3 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 22%. While multi-speciality hospitals remain vital for complex care, the rise of focused providers is attributed to their efficient care protocols and concentrated expertise. These platforms are particularly effective in high-volume areas like eyecare and oncology, benefiting from quicker scalability and robust unit economics. Bessemer highlights the lack of nationally recognized brands in many specialties, presenting opportunities for new leaders to emerge. As the market evolves, successful platforms may become attractive IPO candidates or acquisition targets for larger healthcare entities, according to Bessemer's insights.
Published: Feb 05 2026, 3 pmeznews.inThe Kerala Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has launched the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization (KERA) project, inviting agri-businesses nationwide to partner with Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in Kerala. Suresh C Thampi, Deputy Director of Agriculture, announced that the initiative aims to establish 150 Productive Alliances (PAs) by 2029, starting with 50 in northern districts. Eligible alliances can receive grants covering up to 60% of costs, with a maximum of ₹2 crore for investments. The project, with a total outlay of ₹2,365 crore—70% funded by the World Bank—focuses on enhancing climate resilience and improving farmers' livelihoods through sustainable practices. Approximately 70 acres have been earmarked for food parks, and the initiative seeks to foster collaboration among farmers, agri-businesses, and research institutions to create a robust agricultural ecosystem in Kerala. Meetings to engage agri-businesses are being held in various regions, including Mangaluru.
Published: Feb 05 2026, 2 pmeznews.inIndia has officially launched talks for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), marking a resumption of negotiations that last took place in 2006 and 2008. The terms of reference for the FTA were signed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who emphasized the potential for enhanced bilateral trade and investment, particularly benefiting the approximately 10 million Indians residing in the GCC region. In the fiscal year 2024-25, bilateral trade between India and the GCC reached USD 178.7 billion, with Indian exports growing to USD 57 billion and imports rising to USD 121.7 billion. The UAE emerged as India's third-largest trading partner, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar also featured prominently in trade relations. The FTA aims to build on existing agreements, including a free trade pact with the UAE and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Oman.
Published: Feb 05 2026, 2 pmeznews.inIndia's sunflower oil imports are projected to decline by approximately 10% in the 2025/26 marketing year, reaching a four-year low due to rising prices that have made it less competitive compared to alternatives like palm oil. Currently, crude sunflower oil from the Black Sea is priced at about $1,420 per metric tonne for March delivery, significantly higher than crude palm oil at $1,165 and crude soy oil at $1,255. As a result, India, the world's largest vegetable oil importer, is expected to import only 2.65 million tonnes of sunflower oil, down from 2.94 million tonnes the previous year. This shift is likely to bolster palm oil imports, which surged by 51% in January, while sunflower oil imports fell by 23%. The price surge is attributed to adverse weather conditions in Russia and Ukraine, which dominate global sunflower oil exports, although Argentina is offering cheaper alternatives.
Published: Feb 05 2026, 2 pmeznews.inHindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) announced on Thursday that five LCA Mk1a fighter jets are fully prepared for delivery, with an additional nine aircraft already built and flown. The public sector aerospace and defence company stated that it is in active discussions with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to expedite delivery, having received five engines from General Electric (GE) to support this process. HAL expressed confidence in meeting its delivery targets for the current financial year. The IAF is set to review the LCA Mk1A project in May, which involves a total order of 180 aircraft, following previous discussions in December. Delays in delivery, initially expected last year, have been attributed to supply chain issues related to the engines, with the IAF insisting on fully operational configurations before acceptance. The first prototype of the Tejas Mk1A was flown on October 17, 2023, with project completion anticipated by April 2026.
Published: Feb 05 2026, 1 pmeznews.inIndia and the United States are poised to finalize a joint statement on the initial phase of their bilateral trade agreement within the next 4-5 days, according to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Following the signing, the US is expected to issue an executive order reducing tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, down from the current 25% reciprocal tariff and an additional 25% on Russian crude oil imports. Goyal indicated that a comprehensive legal agreement for this first tranche is anticipated by mid-March, with Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal expressing optimism about signing the legal text by then. However, Goyal clarified that the pact does not include any investment commitments. The forthcoming legal agreement will also facilitate tariff reductions by India on select US products, marking a significant step in enhancing bilateral trade relations.
Published: Feb 05 2026, 1 pm
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