US firm The Standard opens GCC in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): US-based firm The Standard, a leading provider of insurance, retirement, and investment products, on Tuesday opened a GCC at Embassy Tech Village in Bengaluru.
The facility, inaugurated by IT Minister Priyank Kharge, marks the next phase of The Standard’s growth in India, following the launch of its India operations in November 2025, the company said.
According to a statement, the centre will support the continued expansion of capabilities across AI engineering, cloud platform development, data and analytics, digital transformation, and insurance operations, aligned with the company’s global strategy.
The inauguration also marks the opening of The Standard India’s permanent Bengaluru office, with plans for long-term expansion in software engineering, total experience, AI, and enterprise platforms.
The company said it will continue strengthening its in-house technology expertise in line with its long-term transformation roadmap.
“Karnataka, and Bengaluru in particular, continues to be the global epicentre for Global Capability Centres. The addition of The Standard’s GCC is yet another testament to the strength of our ecosystem—anchored in world-class talent, progressive policies, and a strong culture of innovation,” the IT minister said.
“We are witnessing sustained momentum in GCC investments, with global enterprises increasingly choosing Karnataka to drive high-value functions across AI, engineering, and digital transformation. Our focus is on enabling the next generation of GCCs that are innovation-led, outcome-driven, and deeply integrated with global business strategy,” he added.
Since establishing its presence in India in November last year, The Standard has strengthened its local leadership team across finance, human resources, talent acquisition, information technology, administration, and communications, the company said.
Greg Chandler, Executive Vice President of Information Technology at The Standard, said its operations in India play an increasingly important role in the company’s technology transformation.
“The launch of The Standard India strengthens our ability to fuel ongoing growth, innovate, scale technology capabilities, accelerate digital transformation, and deliver new solutions to our customers faster,” he said.
“This centre represents a long-term investment in world-class talent and reflects our confidence in India as a strategic partner in shaping the future of our business,” Chandler added.
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Kerala: Blast at fireworks unit rips through paddy field, leaving death, devastation
Thrissur (Kerala) (PTI): Scenes from a powerful explosion at a fireworks unit in Mundathicode were heartbreaking, as rescuers—mostly residents—described how the blast tore through a quiet paddy field, killing at least 12 people, injuring several others, and leaving widespread destruction.
Columns of thick black smoke rose high into the sky from a cluster of temporary sheds erected in the middle of the field, where firecrackers were being prepared for a local annual festival known for its spectacular fireworks and percussion ensembles.
A routine workday quickly descended into chaos at around 3.30 pm.
Firefighters and rescue personnel who rushed to the isolated site were forced to stop midway as intermittent explosions continued, sending shockwaves across the area.
Unable to approach, they sprayed water from a distance, waiting for the blasts to subside before moving in.
Television visuals and eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture—residents, among the first to reach the spot, were seen carrying the injured across uneven, slushy terrain and collecting scattered human remains.
“Parts of bodies were lying scattered. We helped gather them and send them to hospitals,” said a local man, his voice trembling.
Officials said around 40 workers were believed to have been present at the unit at the time of the explosion, many of whom suffered burn injuries, several of them critical.
The injured were rushed to hospitals, mainly the Government Medical College, Thrissur, as ambulances shuttled between the remote site and medical facilities.
Wilson, one of the surviving workers, recalled the terrifying moment.
“There was a sudden flash beside me and then fire… after that, I don’t remember anything,” he said. He maintained that all workers at the unit were Malayalees and that no migrant labourers were employed.
According to him, the unit had been operating in compliance with safety norms.
“There was nothing illegal. Maybe the extreme heat or direct sunlight on the gunpowder triggered the fire,” he said.
Residents said the fireworks unit had functioned in the area for years without incident, making the scale of Tuesday’s tragedy even more shocking. The sound of the explosion was heard kilometres away, and some nearby houses reportedly suffered damage.
Even hours after the initial blast, occasional explosions and the risk of igniting stored firecrackers continued to hamper rescue operations, with fire and police personnel proceeding cautiously through the debris.
As smoke slowly cleared over the once tranquil fields, festive anticipation surrounding the Pooram gave way to grief, with families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones and authorities struggling to ascertain the exact toll in what is among the worst such accidents in the region in recent times.
