November 7, 2026

Ai+ Smartphone today announced that its previously communicated price revision, originally scheduled for November 15, will now take effect on November 11, 2026. Consumers have until November 10 to purchase their preferred devices at existing prices, subject to availability.   Ai+ Smartphone Brings Forward November 15 Price Hike to November 11   The decision follows stronger-than-anticipated consumer demand, with sales exceeding initial projections and existing inventory being exhausted ahead of schedule. With fresh inventory being procured at higher memory and component costs, the company has advanced its planned price revision to reflect the updated cost structure.   Now is the best time to buy. With the revised prices taking effect earlier than initially announced, consumers planning their next smartphone purchase or upgrade have a limited opportunity to buy at current prices.   Pricing from 11th Nov 2026   Model   Variant   Previous Price Revised Cost from November 11 Ai+ Pulse 2 FE 4+64 Rs 8,999 Rs 10,999 Ai+ Pulse 2 4+64 Rs 8,999 Rs 10,999 Ai+ Pulse 2 4+128 Rs 9,999 Rs 11,499 Ai+ Pulse 2 6+128 Rs 10,999 Rs 11,999 Ai+ Nova 2 5G 4+64 Rs 11,999 Rs 13,999 Ai+ Nova 2 5G 4+128 Rs 12,999 Rs 14,499 Ai+ Nova 2 5G 6+128 Rs 13,999 Rs 14,999 Ai+ Nova 2 Neo 5G 4+64 Rs 12,499 Rs 14,999 Ai+ Nova 2 Neo 5G 4+128 Rs 12,999 Rs 15,999 Ai+ Nova 2 Neo 5G 6+128 Rs 14,999 Rs 16,999 Ai+ Nova 2 Power 5G 6+128 Rs 15,999* Rs 16,999* Ai+ Nova 2 Power 5G 8+128 Rs 16,999* Rs 18,999* Ai+ Nova 2 Pro 5G 6+128 Rs 16,999 Rs 17,999 Ai+ Nova 2 Pro 5G 8+128 Rs 17,999 Rs 19,999 Ai+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G 6+128 Rs 18,999 Rs 20,999 Ai+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G 8+128 Rs 19,999 Rs 22,999 Ai+ NovaFlip 5G 8+256 Rs 49,999 Rs 49,999   *including bank offers   About Ai+ Smartphone Ai+ Smartphone is a next-generation brand built in India, delivering reliable and high-performance mobile experiences. Powered by NxtQuantum OS, India’s first sovereign mobile operating system, the brand focuses on delivering a clean design, ensuring long battery life, and maintaining trusted software performance, all while keeping prices accessible without compromising the user experience.   About Ai+ and NxtQuantum Shift Technologies NxtQuantum Shift Technologies is a deep-tech Indian company building secure, sovereign digital platforms for a digital-first world. Founded by Madhav Sheth, the company develops NxtQuantum OS, India’s first sovereign operating system, and is committed to building technology that is designed, engineered, and developed in India while remaining globally competitive.

La Pink, a homegrown beauty and fragrance brand, has launched its Diwali campaign, ‘Iss Baar Kuch Dil Se,’ built around the thought, ‘Dil Se Diya.’ The campaign encourages consumers to move beyond customary festive gifting and choose presents that reflect the people they are meant for.   La Pink celebrates the spirit of Diwali, where traditions bring families closer, togetherness creates lasting memories, and every home shines brighter. Shubh Diwali!   Diwali gifting often follows a familiar routine, with mithai, dry fruits and hampers exchanged as part of the festive tradition. But behind every meaningful gift lies something more personal: remembering what someone loves, noticing what they have been wanting, or choosing something they would never buy for themselves. Through this campaign, La Pink highlights how thoughtful gifting is less about the value of a present and more about the emotion behind it.   Through ‘Iss Baar Kuch Dil Se’, the brand invites consumers to shift their approach from asking, “What should I gift?” to “What would make this person happy?” Whether it is a mother’s favourite fragrance, a sister’s much-awaited skincare product or something a friend has been eyeing for a while, the campaign celebrates the small details that make a gift feel personal.   As a beauty and fragrance brand, La Pink aims to make festive gifting a more considered expression of affection and appreciation. The campaign reflects the belief that a gift becomes more meaningful when it shows that the giver has paid attention, remembered the little things, and chosen with the recipient in mind.   Commenting on the campaign, Nitin Jain, Founder and Director, La Pink, said, on the importance of thoughtful gifting and the idea behind “Iss Baar Kuch Dil Se”   With this campaign, La Pink hopes to encourage consumers to make gifting less about following a festive ritual and more about celebrating the relationships that make Diwali special. Because the most memorable gifts are often the ones that simply say, ‘I thought of you.’   Iss Baar Kuch Dil Se. Dil Se Diya   About La Pink La Pink is an Indian beauty brand focused on creating conscious, ingredient-led beauty formulations. The brand is known for its 100% microplastic-free formulations and emphasis on formulation transparency. Its portfolio spans skincare, body care and fragrances, with products formulated using carefully selected ingredients sourced globally and developed with the needs of Indian skin in mind.

Antlia Engineering Works, an ISO 9001:2015 certified Indian manufacturer of industrial pumps, has released a technical guide titled “AODD Pump: 7 Myths vs Facts Every Industrial Manufacturer Should Know”. The guide is designed to help plant engineers, procurement professionals and industrial buyers make better informed decisions when selecting Air Operated Double Diaphragm (AODD) pumps. It is available free at (link).   Antlia Engineering Works’ range of AODD pumps in PP, PVDF, aluminium and SS-316, built in Mumbai for chemical, pharma, paints and coatings applications   Industrial fluid transfer is critical to chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, paints and coatings, food processing, printing and many other sectors. Choosing the right pump involves far more than meeting a flow rate. Chemical compatibility, operating pressure, material of construction, maintenance needs and long-term reliability all affect performance and cost. Despite their widespread use, AODD pumps are still surrounded by misconceptions that can lead to poor equipment choices, premature component failure and avoidable operating costs.   “We regularly speak with buyers who select a pump on size or price alone, or who assume one material or one pump type will work for every fluid,” said Meet Jain, Founder, Antlia Engineering Works. “A wrong specification can mean corrosion, leakage or unplanned downtime. We wrote this guide to give buyers clear, practical facts before they make that decision.”   Key Findings from the Guide 1. Not all diaphragm pumps are the same. AODD pumps use compressed air to drive two diaphragms through an air distribution system, while other diaphragm designs rely on mechanical or hydraulic actuation. AODD pumps are well suited to applications that need self-priming capability, variable flow, tolerance to dry running under specified conditions and the handling of certain challenging fluids. Buyers should assess flow, discharge pressure, viscosity, temperature, solids content and chemical compatibility, not size or price alone.   2. No single material suits every chemical. Polypropylene (PP), PVDF, stainless steel SS-316 and aluminium each suit different fluids and operating conditions. The guide stresses that the choice must rest on the actual chemical, concentration, temperature and pressure, and that no material should be assumed to be universally compatible.   3. “No electric motor” does not mean “no energy cost.” AODD pumps need no electric motor at the pumping point, which is valuable where electrical equipment is undesirable. However, compressed air must be generated, and total operating cost depends on compressor efficiency, the pump’s air consumption, operating pressure, system leakage and running hours. Correct pump sizing is therefore central to evaluating total cost of ownership.   4. PTFE is not automatically the best diaphragm. PTFE offers broad chemical resistance, but diaphragm life also depends on flexibility, temperature, pressure cycling and mechanical fatigue. Santoprene, Neoprene and other elastomers can be the better choice for specific applications. Choosing on chemical resistance rating alone may not give the best overall result.   5. AODD pumps are not limited to chemical plants. Applications include pharmaceutical manufacturing, paints and coatings, printing and packaging, wastewater treatment, mining and mineral processing, adhesives and specialty chemicals, oil and petroleum-related uses, and food and beverage processing with suitable hygienic configurations.   6. Imported does not automatically mean better. Pump quality depends on design, material specification, testing and performance under real operating conditions, not the country of manufacture. The guide encourages buyers to compare suppliers on measurable criteria such as quality control procedures, spare parts availability, technical support, delivery lead times and total cost of ownership.   7. AODD pumps are not the answer to every application. Centrifugal pumps are often preferred for continuous transfer of compatible, relatively low-viscosity fluids where flow and head suit the pump curve. Barrel pumps are designed for transferring liquids directly from drums and barrels. AODD pumps are favoured where pneumatic operation, variable flow, self-priming or the handling of certain viscous or solids-containing fluids is required.   Supporting Indian Industrial Buyers The guide also reflects the growing capability of Indian pump manufacturers. India’s chemical, pharmaceutical, paints, coatings and specialty chemical industries need dependable fluid-handling equipment, and domestic manufacturers are increasingly able to offer application-specific solutions in engineering, materials and support.   “Indian buyers have good reason to be careful with critical equipment, and they should compare any supplier, domestic or imported, on the same measurable parameters,” said Jain. “That means material specifications, testing, spare parts availability, technical support and delivery times. When Indian manufacturers meet those standards, they are a practical alternative for many industrial applications, with the added benefit of faster response and local support.”   A Buyer’s Checklist Alongside the myths, the guide gives buyers a short checklist to use before purchasing an AODD pump:   Flow and pressure: the actual process flow required, and the discharge pressure against the compressed air pressure available. Materials: wetted materials selected for chemical compatibility, and a diaphragm chosen for the application. Operating cost: air consumption in relation to compressor capacity. Lifecycle: spare parts availability, ease of servicing and the manufacturer’s technical support and delivery commitments.   “A properly selected pump means more reliable fluid transfer, fewer maintenance interruptions and better process efficiency,” Jain added. “That is the outcome we want for every customer.”   About Antlia Engineering Works Antlia Engineering Works is an Indian industrial pump manufacturer based in Mumbai and established in 2017. The company began with Air Operated Double Diaphragm pumps and has since expanded its range to include barrel pumps and centrifugal monobloc pumps. Its AODD pumps are offered in multiple sizes and materials of construction, including PP, PVDF, aluminium and SS-316, depending on the model and application. Antlia is ISO 9001:2015 certified, Ministry of Defence approved and GeM registered, and exports to more than 20 countries.

Aster DM Quality Care Limited, one of the leading integrated healthcare service providers in India, announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. The quarter was the company’s first as a combined entity, and the company delivered a robust performance, while bringing together diverse teams, aligning them around a shared purpose, and navigating the organizational changes associated with integration.   (L-R) Dr. Azad Moopen, Executive Chairman, Aster DM Quality Care Ltd. & Mr. Varun Khanna, Managing Director & Group CEO, Aster DM Quality Care Ltd.   Key Financial Highlights  Aster DM Quality Care Performance for Q2 FY27    Revenue for Q2 FY27 grew by 19% YoY to INR 2,829 Cr Normalised PAT stood at INR 281 Cr and grew 34% YoY ROCE stood at 23%, increased by 152 bps YoY   Commenting on the merger, Dr. Azad Moopen, Executive Chairman, said, “Completing our first 100 days as a combined entity is a milestone we are proud of. We began as one integrated platform on July 1, 2026, and the progress since then reflects the alignment of our leadership and the commitment of our clinicians and colleagues across the network. The entity delivered a strong performance in Q2 FY27, with revenue growing 19% to INR 2,829 crore and normalised PAT increasing 34% to INR 281 crore. Our emerging hospitals portfolio (incl Kasargod & Nagarcoil) recorded an impressive 61% growth, highlighting the growing contribution and long-term potential of these units. Alongside our financial performance, we continued to strengthen our clinical capabilities and quality standards. CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, Hyderabad, received JCI accreditation, while MIMS Kasargod achieved NABH accreditation within a year of commencing operations. These recognitions reaffirm our commitment to clinical excellence, quality and patient safety. We are equally proud of our progress in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Our recognition at the Global ESG Awards 2026, including awards for supporting economically weaker sections, renewable energy integration and CSR excellence, reflects our commitment to responsible and sustainable healthcare. Through Aster Volunteers and our various community initiatives, we remain focused on extending quality healthcare to underserved communities. Looking ahead, we remain focused on expanding our healthcare network, including progressing the Aster Trivandrum project towards commissioning, while continuing to invest in clinical talent, advanced infrastructure and technology. Our priority remains delivering better patient outcomes, strengthening operational excellence and creating sustainable long-term value for all stakeholders.”   Commenting on the performance for Q2 FY27, Mr. Varun Khanna, Managing Director & Group CEO, said, “Q2 FY27 marks our first full quarter as Aster DM Quality Care, following the successful merger of Aster DM Healthcare and Quality Care India. Building on the strong foundation laid in the previous quarter, I am delighted with the progress we have made as one organisation. Our teams have demonstrated tremendous commitment in bringing together our people, processes and systems, while maintaining an unwavering commitment to our patients, doctors and employees, ensuring seamless patient care and operational excellence.  One of the most encouraging developments has been the way our people have embraced our shared culture. The foundation laid through GO GREATER, our unified culture initiative launched across nearly 40 locations, is now coming to life through the enthusiasm and active participation of our doctors, nurses and employees. It is heartening to see our teams coming together, learning from one another and embracing a shared sense of purpose. We are encouraged by the strong performance in our first quarter together and remain grateful for the trust that patients continue to place in us. During the quarter, we served 2.2 million patients, a 12% year-on-year growth and our occupancy improved by 335 bps to 68%, reflecting improved utilisation. We witnessed encouraging growth across complex clinical procedures, with robotic surgeries, kidney transplants and joint replacements growing by approximately 39%, 31% and 29%, respectively. Our Medical Value Travel (MVT) volume grew by 31% year-on-year, despite a challenging external environment, demonstrating the continued confidence of international patients in our doctors, clinical outcomes and healthcare capabilities. This quarter we made significant advances in clinical capabilities, with several complex and specialised procedures performed across our network. The exchange of clinical expertise and best practices across the combined platform enabled CARE Banjara, Hyderabad, perform its first adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation procedure, enabling personalised, real-time stimulation for Parkinson’s disease management. Aster Medcity, Kochi, performed Kerala’s first liquid nitrogen cryoablation for breast fibroadenomas, offering a minimally invasive, breast-tissue-preserving treatment option. We also strengthened our specialised care offerings with the launch of three Centres of Excellence: the ARISE Robotic Spine Institute at Aster CMI, Bengaluru; the CARE Cancer Institute at Ramkrishna CARE, Raipur; and the Fetal Medicine Centre of Excellence at Aster Medcity, Kochi.  Higher volumes, greater clinical complexity and a favourable payor mix drove revenue growth of 19% YoY to INR 2,829 Cr, and normalised PAT grew by 34% to INR 281 Cr, a PAT margin of 10%. Going forward, our focus will be on expanding our CONGO and other high-end specialties, augmenting capacity across geographies, strengthening clinical talent and improving access to quality healthcare, while unlocking the full potential of our combined network.” Business Highlights    Total patient volume grew by 12% YoY led by Neurosciences, Oncology, Orthopedics and Gastroenterology Occupancy up 335 bps (65% to 68%), led by patient volume growth in key specialties and growth in MVT patient flows MVT revenue grew 36% YoY, led by Maldives and GCC markets, with rising contribution from West Africa, other MENA countries In H1FY27   Mature hospitals contributed approximately 73% of hospital revenue, registering an 18% year-on-year growth, driven by steady growth in patient volumes and an increasing share of complex clinical cases. Emerging hospitals (incl Kasargod & Nagarcoil) showcased a steady ramp up of 62% YoY supported by higher IP & OP volumes​   About Aster DM Quality Care Aster DM Quality Care Limited is one of India’s leading integrated healthcare providers, formed through the merger of Aster DM Healthcare Limited and Quality Care India Limited. The merged entity brings together