Author: News Desk

Kannapuram, a village in Kerala’s Kannur district, has gained global attention for its unique fight against cancer. The “Cancer Mukta Kannapuram” (Cancer-Free Kannapuram) programme, launched in 2016, has now been featured in the WHO South-East Asia Journal under the name “Kannapuram Model.” How the Programme Works The initiative relies on frequent cancer screenings, awareness drives, and strong community participation. It is jointly run by the Kannapuram Panchayat and the Malabar Cancer Centre, with local women leaders playing a pivotal role in mobilising people. Participation and Results According to the WHO study, 96% of women above 30 years participated in breast…

India’s defence shipbuilding sector is in expansion mode, fuelled by the government’s push for indigenous manufacturing and rising defence budgets. Experts estimate that by FY27, order inflows could triple, touching nearly ₹2.12 lakh crore. These include repeat orders for submarines, corvettes, and frigates. PSU Shipyards in Focus The three listed public sector shipyards—Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Cochin Shipyard, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders—are well placed to benefit from this wave of new contracts. Strong order books signal long-term visibility, though near-term earnings have been uneven. Earnings Snapshot: Q1 FY26 Order Books Remain Solid Market Performance YTD (as of Aug 15, 2025) Outlook…

Upasana Kamineni Konidela, Vice Chairperson of Corporate Social Responsibility at Apollo Hospitals, is set to inherit her family’s sprawling business empire valued at nearly ₹77,000 crore. The Kamineni family name carries weight in healthcare and entrepreneurship, and Upasana is steadily shaping her own space within it. Beyond the Film Connection While many know her as the wife of actor Ram Charan and the daughter-in-law of megastar Chiranjeevi, Upasana’s identity extends far beyond cinema. Her professional focus has been on healthcare, wellness, and insurance—areas tied closely to her grandfather Dr. Prathap C. Reddy’s Apollo legacy. Roles Across Healthcare and Wellness Upasana…

Mansa Musa ruled the Mali Empire from 1312 to 1337 CE, overseeing its golden age of wealth, culture, and territorial growth. Known as history’s richest man, he turned Mali into a powerhouse recognized across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. An Empire of RichesMali under Mansa Musa included today’s Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, and Mauritania. Its wealth came from gold, salt, ivory, and thriving trans-Saharan trade routes. Mansa Musa expanded commerce, elevating cities like Timbuktu and Gao into centers of culture and learning. He inherited the throne after Mansa Abu Bakr II vanished at sea.…

Spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev, widely known as Sadhguru, is one of India’s most recognized modern mystics. Founder of the globally active Isha Foundation, he’s celebrated for bridging the gap between ancient yogic practices and contemporary life. But there’s more to the man than meditative stillness. Born in Mysuru, raised in a Telugu family, and a graduate in English Literature from the University of Mysore, Sadhguru’s life took a spiritual turn after a powerful meditative experience in 1982. He later founded the Isha Foundation in 1992, a spiritual and environmental nonprofit known for initiatives like Rally for Rivers, Project GreenHands, and Cauvery Calling. What surprises many is his…

India is set to triple the Maritime Development Fund (MDF) to ₹70,000 crore, nearly three times the allocation in the February Budget, as part of an aggressive plan to ramp up shipbuilding and port capacity. The expanded fund will back shipyards, green vessel projects, and port upgrades as the country aims for a top five global shipbuilding rank by 2047. The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) has cleared the proposal, which blends 49% concessional capital from the government and major ports with 51% commercial funding from multilateral and sovereign investors. Cabinet approval is expected soon. By 2047, the maritime sector could…

StampMyVisa, a B2B visa platform, has acquired travel tech startup Teleport to expand and simplify visa services across India and Southeast Asia. The move combines Teleport’s consumer-focused technology with StampMyVisa’s strong B2B infrastructure to offer faster and more reliable visa solutions. Teleport is backed by well-known Indian startup founders, including Kunal Shah (CRED), Vidit Aatrey (Meesho), and Phanindra Sama (Redbus). The startup has built a loyal following among young travellers, making it a strong partner for StampMyVisa. “Teleport has created a trusted brand among travellers. By joining forces, we can combine their innovation with our infrastructure to make visa services…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked India’s 79th Independence Day with a record-breaking 103-minute speech from the Red Fort, rolling out a mix of economic, defence, and technology announcements. Key measures included new GST reforms, a major push for self-reliance in critical minerals, and the launch of schemes aimed at job creation and women’s empowerment. GST Overhaul by Diwali Modi announced “next generation” GST reforms set to roll out before Diwali, promising lower taxes on daily-use goods. He positioned it as a direct relief measure for households, framing it as a festival gift to the nation. Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Defence Innovation…

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a major milestone in India’s high-speed rail ambitions, receiving a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) worth ₹4,467.7 crore for the track work package T-1 of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project. Package T-1 marks the final track installation phase of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, bringing the vision of a world-class bullet train closer to reality. The journey to this award began in October 2024, when the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL) invited bids for the contract, which carries a 5.9-year completion timeline of 2,157 days. Three firms responded, submitting technical bids that were…

Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) is making a strategic move beyond rail by stepping into the shipbuilding industry. The company’s Board has approved the formation of a wholly owned subsidiary, Titagarh Naval Systems Private Limited (TNSPL), by acquiring its entire share capital for Rs 10,000. Alongside this, TRSL will transfer its existing Shipbuilding and Maritime Systems (SMS) business to TNSPL as a going concern. The goal is to let TRSL sharpen its focus on the core rail systems business, while TNSPL develops the naval systems arm independently and attracts potential strategic investors. Details of the New Subsidiary TNSPL was incorporated on…