Author: News Desk

Veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal has been presented with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest recognition in cinema, at the 71st National Film Awards for 2023. He becomes only the second personality from Kerala to receive the award, following filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan. About the Award Instituted in 1969 in memory of Dadasaheb Phalke, who directed India’s first feature film Raja Harishchandra in 1913, the award recognises lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. Recipients receive a golden lotus medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of 10 lakh rupees. Career Beginnings and Rise to Stardom Mohanlal made his film debut in 1980 with Manjil Virinja Pookkal. Early roles in films like T.P. Balagopalan M.A. and Nadodikattu highlighted his talent…

In a major operation code-named Namkhor, the Kochi Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate recently seized 36 luxury cars across Kerala. The raids were carried out with support from the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), and Kerala Police. Bhutan Car Smuggling Network Under Scanner According to officials, over 200 luxury cars were allegedly smuggled into Kerala from Bhutan by evading import duties. The modus operandi involved registering the vehicles in Himachal Pradesh before moving them to different parts of India and eventually changing their number plates. Film Stars, Industrialists, Dealers Raided Raids were conducted at around 30 locations, including the residences of…

The first day of Navratri, coinciding with the implementation of reduced GST rates on passenger vehicles, gave India’s carmakers a massive sales boost. Maruti Suzuki reported around 80,000 enquiries and close to 30,000 deliveries, while Hyundai recorded 11,000 units in dealer billings on Monday, marking one of the strongest single-day performances in recent years. Exceptional Response from Customers Maruti Suzuki’s Senior Executive Officer for Marketing & Sales, Partho Banerjee, noted, “The response from customers has been phenomenal—something we haven’t seen in 35 years. Deliveries are expected to reach 30,000 very soon.” Hyundai Motor India’s Whole-time Director and COO, Tarun Garg,…

Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) has outlined an ambitious slate of projects for the current fiscal, ranging from expanding its international terminal (T3) to commissioning the world’s first green hydrogen plant at an airport. West Coast Canal Project CIAL’s wholly owned subsidiary, CIAL Infrastructures Ltd (CIL), is spearheading the prestigious West Coast Canal project, a 590 km waterway running parallel to Kerala’s coastline from Kovalam to Bekal. The first phase, a 235 km stretch from Akkulam in Thiruvananthapuram to Chettuva in Thrissur, is slated for completion by January next year. As part of this initiative, CIL is introducing a state-of-the-art…

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin unveiled “Chennai One” on Monday, described as India’s first integrated public transport ticketing mobile application. The launch was announced by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), the city’s nodal transport agency, which highlighted the app as a major advancement for Chennai commuters. Seamless Travel Across Multiple Modes “Chennai One” is designed to unify multiple modes of transportation under a single digital platform. Initially, the app will cover Metro rail, MTC buses, and Namma Yatri autos and cabs, with MRTS and suburban trains to be integrated soon. According to CUMTA, the app combines QR-based…

Kerala’s industrial community is celebrating as Vizhinjam International Seaport reaches a remarkable milestone handling its 500th ship. The port has also set two records in a single day, highlighting its rapid rise as a key player in India’s maritime sector. Record-Breaking Container Ship Berth Early today, the MSC Verona, the container ship with the deepest draft ever handled in India, berthed smoothly at Vizhinjam. With a draft of 17.1 meters—the distance from the ship’s bottom to the water level—the MSC Verona surpassed the previous Indian record of 17 meters, marking a new national benchmark. Dual Records in One Day Vizhinjam…

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to visit India around the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, scheduled for October 7–9, according to senior diplomatic sources. Summit-Level Talks with Modi During the visit, Starmer will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for summit-level discussions. The visit comes just over two months after Modi traveled to the U.K. for the signing of the U.K.-India free trade agreement, which is still awaiting ratification in the U.K. and is anticipated to take effect in 2026. The two countries are also negotiating a bilateral investment treaty and have launched a Technology Security Initiative in July…

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) has signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with key partners, marking a significant step toward India’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by 2047. The agreements were announced at Bhavnagar during the ‘Samudra Se Samriddhi’ Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Commitment to Collaboration and Self-Reliance Cmde P. R. Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director of GRSE, highlighted the company’s dedication to revitalizing the Indian maritime sector and contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Maritime Amritkal vision. He emphasized that the MoUs will foster a collaborative…

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Monday that he is switching to Zoho, India’s homegrown office productivity platform. The move underscores his endorsement of domestic technology solutions and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swadeshi call. Vaishnaw shared the news on his official X account, urging citizens to favor indigenous products over foreign alternatives: “I am moving to Zoho — our own Swadeshi platform for documents, spreadsheets & presentations. I urge all to join PM Narendra Modi’s call for Swadeshi by adopting domestic products and services.” Zoho’s Response Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu welcomed the minister’s support, describing it as…

Kochi Metro is set to launch a freight service modeled after the Delhi Metro system. This service will allow the transport of non-perishable packaged goods during off-peak hours without affecting passenger convenience. Boost for Local Commerce The initiative follows a recommendation from the Union government to implement freight services across metro networks nationwide. It is expected to provide significant benefits to Kochi’s business community while helping KMRL generate additional revenue. Strengthening Business Connections The service will also foster closer relationships with local businesses and provide a fast, reliable way to move goods and services across the city. How to Apply…