Author: News Desk

The newly upgraded 20-car Vande Bharat Express on the Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Central–Mangaluru Central route began its maiden journey on Tuesday from Mangaluru. Previously, the train operated with 16 coaches. Train No. 20631 was received at Thiruvananthapuram Central by Divyakant Chandrakar, Divisional Railway Manager of Southern Railway, along with Additional DRM M.R. Viji and other senior officials, according to an official release. Railways had doubled the number of coaches on Train Nos. 20631/632 from eight to 16 starting May 22, less than three months after the previous coach revision. The service, which initially ran between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod, was extended to…

India added 11 new unicorns in 2025, taking the total count to 73, according to the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Unicorn and Future Unicorn Report. The latest entrants include Ai.tech, Navi Technologies, Rapido, Netradyne, Jumbotail, and Darwinbox. Funding activity remained strong, with Peak XV Partners emerging as the most active backer, placing 42 bets across startups this year. The unicorn leaderboardZerodha leads the pack with a valuation of $8.2 billion, followed by Razorpay and Lenskart at $7.5 billion each, and Groww at $7 billion. Collectively, India’s unicorns employ more than 206,000 people. Lenskart, OfBusiness, and PhysicsWallah are among the…

Apple’s big reveal of the iPhone 17 series turned into more than just a product showcase,it also became a stage for cultural crossovers. Among those present at the Cupertino launch was Navya Naveli Nanda, granddaughter of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, who shared exclusive glimpses from inside Apple Park. Navya posted photos and a short video on Instagram, featuring Apple CEO Tim Cook, the Steve Jobs Theatre, and highlights from the keynote. She captioned her post with reflections on technology, writing that it’s “about making life better, simpler, and more meaningful.” The post drew warm reactions, including a comment from Maheep…

Joy Alukkas, chairman of the Joyalukkas Group, has overtaken all other Malayalis to become the richest from Kerala. Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List places his net worth at $6.7 billion (around ₹59,000 crore), ranking him 566th globally. M A Yusuff Ali, chairman of Lulu Group, is the second richest Malayali with $5.4 billion, ranked 748th worldwide. In 2024, Alukkas’ wealth stood at $4.4 billion, while Yusuff Ali’s fortune had decreased from $7.6 billion. Among Indians, Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries leads with $92.5 billion (rank 18), followed by Gautam Adani at $56.3 billion (rank 28). Other notable Indians in the top…

Passengers flying through Thiruvananthapuram International Airport can now clear immigration in under 30 seconds with the launch of a new e-gate facility. The system, part of the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) of the Bureau of Immigration under the Union Home Ministry, was virtually inaugurated on Thursday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. With this rollout, Kerala now has e-gates at all three of its international airports—Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode. Amit Shah said the facility is designed to make travel smoother while also introducing passengers to the country’s push for tech-driven services. He urged officials to expand…

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has instructed that physiotherapists should not use the prefix “Dr,” warning that it could mislead patients into believing they are medical doctors. The advisory comes in response to the Competency Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy, 2025, which suggested that graduates could use “Dr” before their name along with the suffix “PT.” Concerns Raised by Medical Bodies In a letter to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the DGHS highlighted objections from multiple groups, including the Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR). The regulator stressed that physiotherapists are trained in rehabilitation, not in medicine, and presenting themselves as doctors…

Indira M, a 70-year-old retired biochemistry teacher from Kerala, has travelled solo to 35 countries. But this journey didn’t begin until she was in her sixties. Like many women of her generation, Indira put her dreams on hold, first due to financial constraints, and later while raising a family. In 2015, she finally took her first solo international trip to South Africa, and she hasn’t stopped exploring since. Her adventures have taken her across continents, with each trip adding not only stamps to her passport but joy and meaning to her life. “I always wanted to travel,” she says. “But earlier in life, I…

At the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia unveiled a landmark project: the integration of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) Interconnection Platform. Built in collaboration among the Department of Posts, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), and the UPU, the move aims to merge the postal network’s reach with UPI’s speed and low cost to transform cross‐border remittances. Addressing the forum, Scindia called this more than just a technology launch, it’s “a social compact.” He emphasized that by combining public infrastructure with cutting‑edge digital payments, millions of migrant…

Sunny Varkey, founder of GEMS Education and the Varkey Foundation, has introduced the Global Schools Prize, a $1 million award aimed at recognising schools worldwide that pioneer innovative teaching, learning, and student wellbeing strategies. The announcement was made in Dubai and builds on the Foundation’s existing Global Teacher Prize and Global Student Prize, completing a trilogy that spotlights educators, learners, and now schools as key drivers of global educational change. Opportunities for Schools The Global Schools Prize will reward institutions making significant contributions in areas such as AI transformation, sustainability, inclusivity, and teacher development. Schools on the longlist will receive a Global Schools Prize Badge and gain access to an international network for collaboration and professional growth. Ten category winners will each…

In 2025, Canada implemented one of the strictest student visa policies in a decade, drastically impacting international applicants. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data shows nearly 80% of Indian student applications were rejected, while students from Asia and Africa also faced higher denial rates. This shift is reshaping global student mobility patterns. Decline in Canadian Student Enrollment For decades, Canada was a top choice for international students due to its safety, quality education, and career opportunities. Yet, the latest data shows a steep decline: in 2024, only 1.88 lakh Indian students secured admission, about half of the 2022 figures.…