eznews.inAir India Express, India's first international value carrier, has expanded its network by adding Nagpur as its fifth new destination in two months, bringing its total to 60 destinations. Starting December 1, 2025, the airline will operate twice-daily flights between Nagpur and Bengaluru, with bookings now available online. Additionally, Air India Express is enhancing its Gulf connectivity by launching new services to Abu Dhabi, with four weekly flights from Delhi and three from Pune beginning December 2, 2025. The airline's presence in Maharashtra is further solidified with over 130 weekly flights from Mumbai and more than 90 from Pune, alongside new operations from Navi Mumbai. The airline recently launched its brand campaign, ‘Xplore More, Xpress More,’ and upgraded its Boeing 737-8 interiors. Its ‘Tales of India’ initiative showcases India's cultural diversity through unique tail designs inspired by indigenous art forms. 
Published: Nov 08 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIndia's efforts to secure exclusive rights for its basmati rice have faced significant setbacks in New Zealand and Kenya, hindering its quest for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The New Zealand High Court recently upheld a decision rejecting the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority's (Apeda) application for a certification mark, citing that the term "Basmati" cannot be registered under New Zealand's Trade Marks Act due to its shared growing region with Pakistan. Similarly, Kenya's Court of Appeal dismissed Apeda's appeal against a ruling that allowed local company Krish Commodities to register a trademark incorporating "Basmati," as the term lacks formal recognition in Kenya. Experts have raised concerns over Apeda's inability to secure international GI registrations since obtaining the tag in 2016, suggesting a need for a review of its strategies and the challenges posed by differing international interpretations of GI. 
Published: Nov 08 2025, 4 pmeznews.inUS airlines and travelers faced a second day of significant flight cancellations on Saturday, as the ongoing government shutdown prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to mandate a 4% reduction in flights at 40 major airports. This cut is set to escalate to 6% on Tuesday and 10% by November 14, affecting around 700 flights from major carriers including American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United. While cancellations decreased slightly on Saturday due to lower travel volume, the situation remains dire, with 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners working without pay, leading to increased absenteeism. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if conditions worsen, cuts could reach 20%. The shutdown, now in its 39th day, has intensified political tensions, with Democrats blaming Republicans for the impasse over health insurance subsidies. The FAA also reported hundreds of flight delays due to controller absences, with over 5,600 flights affected on Friday alone. 
Published: Nov 08 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIndia's electric vehicle (EV) retail market saw significant growth in October 2025, driven primarily by robust sales in passenger and commercial vehicles, while two- and three-wheeler segments experienced modest increases. The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) reported a remarkable 57.5% year-on-year rise in electric passenger vehicle sales, totaling 18,055 units, with Tata Motors leading the market at 7,239 units. The electric commercial vehicle segment surged by 105.9%, reaching 1,767 units, with Tata Motors again at the forefront. Electric three-wheeler sales rose 5.1% to 70,604 units, led by the Mahindra Group. The two-wheeler segment saw a slight increase of 2.6%, totaling 143,887 units, with Bajaj Auto topping the list. Overall, the data reflects a growing adoption of EVs in India, bolstered by new product launches and improved charging infrastructure, marking a significant shift towards clean mobility. 
Published: Nov 08 2025, 3 pmeznews.inMargarita Louis-Dreyfus, Honorary President of the Louis Dreyfus Foundation (LDF), recently visited Rajasthan's Tonk district to assess the impact of the "Sustainable Income Enhancement and Nutrition Security Program," which has benefited approximately 5,800 women farmers across 69 villages since its launch in 2020. The initiative, developed in partnership with the Centre for microFinance, has reportedly tripled farmers' incomes over five years and significantly improved agricultural productivity and nutrition security. During her visit on November 3 and 4, Louis-Dreyfus engaged with local farmers and leaders, observing various sustainable agricultural practices, including vegetable cultivation and micro-irrigation systems. Key outcomes include an 80% increase in mustard yields and a 140% rise in gram production, alongside enhanced household nutrition. LDF's commitment to empowering smallholder farmers aligns with its global mission to foster self-sufficiency and food security in rural communities. 
Published: Nov 08 2025, 2 pmeznews.inAir India flight AI129, originally set to depart from Mumbai to London at 6:30 am on Saturday, has been delayed until 1:00 pm due to technical difficulties. Passengers were initially informed of a half-hour delay, with boarding starting at 6:00 am instead of 5:20 am. However, after boarding, passengers remained seated for up to 90 minutes before being asked to deplane due to ongoing technical issues. Many travelers, who had not slept the previous night, are now facing significant challenges due to the delay. This disruption follows a series of delays at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, where over 100 flights were affected on Friday due to a technical issue with the Air Traffic Control system. Airlines, including Air India, have advised passengers to check for updates and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by these unforeseen circumstances. 
Published: Nov 08 2025, 1 pmeznews.inFarmers in North Karnataka, a key sugarcane-producing region, have been protesting in districts such as Belgavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, and Haveri, demanding higher prices for their crop. The state government has announced a price of ₹3,300 per tonne for the 2025-26 season, which includes an additional ₹100 above the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of ₹3,200. This decision follows negotiations between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah, sugar factory owners, and farmers, who initially sought ₹3,500 per tonne. The new price, effective after discussions on Friday, includes ₹3,250 from factories and ₹50 from the state, excluding harvesting and transportation costs. Karnataka ranks as the third-largest sugarcane producer in India, with expectations of increased production this year due to favorable monsoon conditions. The Centre has set the FRP at ₹355 per quintal, linked to sugar recovery rates, to encourage efficiency among farmers. 
Published: Nov 08 2025, 1 pmeznews.inThe All Omni Bus Owners Association has announced the suspension of services to Kerala starting November 7, following the imposition of substantial fines by the Kerala Transport Department, totaling ₹70 lakhs for alleged permit violations. This decision is expected to disrupt travel for hundreds, particularly Ayyappa devotees heading to the Sabarimala pilgrimage. Association president A Anbalagan criticized the sudden enforcement of fines ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh per bus, which he claims has caused significant hardship for both passengers and operators, leading to the cancellation of 150 bus bookings. He has called on the Tamil Nadu government to intervene promptly to resolve the matter amicably, emphasizing the urgent need for a solution to alleviate the difficulties faced by affected travelers. 
Published: Nov 08 2025, 12 pmeznews.inFlight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi are gradually returning to normal following significant disruptions caused by a technical issue with the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS). The Airports Authority of India (AAI) reported that the glitch, which began early Friday morning, led to delays for over 800 flights and required air traffic controllers to manually prepare flight plans. The AAI confirmed that the problem was resolved by Friday evening, with additional staff deployed to assist in managing the situation. By Saturday morning, the airport operator, DIAL, indicated improvements in operations, although over 200 flights were still delayed. IndiGo, the country's largest airline, noted that while the situation was stabilizing, some adjustments to flight timings might continue. The AAI assured that the AMSS systems are now functional, and efforts are ongoing to clear any remaining backlogs. 
Published: Nov 08 2025, 12 pmeznews.inIndian basmati rice exporters, who dominate over 70% of the global market, are facing significant challenges as high input costs and currency disadvantages squeeze profit margins. Despite selling the same or larger quantities, rising inflation has increased expenses for fertilizers, diesel, and labor in key producing states like Haryana and Punjab. Additionally, high logistics costs, exacerbated by pandemic-related disruptions, have further eroded profitability. Competing with countries like Pakistan, which benefit from currency depreciation, Indian exporters struggle to maintain competitive pricing. The recent ban on non-basmati rice exports has created uncertainty in international markets, complicating negotiations and order fulfillment. Furthermore, shifting consumer preferences towards cheaper rice varieties and stringent quality regulations in markets like the EU have increased compliance costs, further impacting net margins. As a result, exporters are navigating a high-risk, low-margin environment, with profit margins shrinking despite strong export volumes. 
Published: Nov 08 2025, 10 am
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