Author: News Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Golden Jubilee (Sammelan) of Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha in Kochi. He highlighted the welfare initiatives for the fishing community and praised their contributions to the state. Modi also noted that Kerala’s new name reflects the cultural identity of Malayalis, bringing pride and joy to the people. Launching ₹10,800 Crore Development Projects During his visit, Modi inaugurated several major projects across Kerala worth over ₹10,800 crore. Key initiatives include the BPC Kochi Refinery polypropylene plant costing ₹5,500 crore, six-lane expansions on NH-66 Thalapady-Chengala and Vengalam-Ramanattukara bypass in Kozhikode, 23 new rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, and railway projects including the modernization of Shoranur,…
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed Parliament that Iran had requested permission for three of its ships to dock at Indian ports, a request New Delhi approved shortly afterward. The Iranian side approached India on February 28, and the government granted approval the next day. One of the vessels, IRIS Lavan, later docked at Kochi Port on March 4. The ship carried around 183 crew members, who were accommodated at Indian naval facilities. Jaishankar described the decision as “the right thing to do,” highlighting it as a humanitarian gesture during rising tensions in the Indian Ocean region following the sinking of another Iranian warship earlier in March. Iran’s foreign minister…
Donald Trump has announced a $300 billion oil refinery project in Brownsville, Texas, describing it as a historic deal aimed at boosting American energy production. The refinery will be developed by America First Refining, and Trump publicly thanked India and Reliance Industries for supporting the investment. If completed, the facility would become the first new major oil refinery built in the United States in nearly 50 years. The project is planned at the Port of Brownsville in Texas and is expected to strengthen domestic fuel supply and support exports. Trump described the initiative as part of the “America First” energy strategy, aimed at expanding oil production, boosting economic…
Kerala’s Vizhinjam International Seaport is set to expand its tourism potential with plans to develop a 20-acre cruise village near the port in Thiruvananthapuram. The project has been proposed by the port’s operator to create a dedicated hub for international cruise passengers, offering modern facilities and improved connectivity for tourists arriving by sea. The proposed cruise village will include immigration and customs counters, passenger lounges, baggage handling systems, and security infrastructure designed to meet global cruise terminal standards. It will also feature transport links, including a bus terminal connecting cruise passengers to key tourist destinations across Kerala. Authorities believe the project could transform Vizhinjam into…
India remains the world’s second-largest importer of major arms, according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Between 2021 and 2025, India accounted for 8.2% of total global arms imports, second only to Ukraine. Despite India’s push to boost domestic defence manufacturing under the Make in India initiative, the country continues to depend on foreign suppliers to meet its security requirements and modernise its armed forces. The report also notes that Russia remains India’s largest defence supplier, accounting for around 40% of India’s arms imports during the period. However, Russia’s share has declined compared with earlier years as India gradually diversifies its procurement to…
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced a new rule requiring motorists to pay unpaid national highway tolls within three days of receiving an e-notice. If the payment is not cleared within this period, double toll charges will be imposed. The rule is part of India’s upcoming Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system, which will allow vehicles to pass through toll plazas without stopping. Instead of barriers, toll charges will be tracked electronically and communicated to vehicle owners through digital notices. Officials said that if the toll is paid within 72 hours, a 50% discount on the penalty will apply, meaning users effectively…
A Namibian cheetah named Jwala has given birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, marking another milestone for India’s wildlife conservation efforts. The new litter has increased the country’s total cheetah population to 53. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav described the development as a proud moment for India’s cheetah reintroduction programme. With the latest births, the number of India-born cheetah cubs has risen to 33, marking the 10th successful litter on Indian soil. Jwala, originally known as Siyaya, was part of the first batch of eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in September 2022 when India launched Project Cheetah, a global effort to reintroduce the species after it…
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a ₹131 crore cash reward for Team India following their victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The reward will be shared among the 15-member squad, coaching staff, and support staff in recognition of their outstanding performance. India scripted history by defeating New Zealand in the final and successfully defending their title, becoming the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times and the first to retain the trophy. The bonus announced by the BCCI is ₹6 crore higher than the ₹125 crore reward given after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, highlighting…
Flipkart has moved its headquarters from Singapore back to India as the company prepares for a potential initial public offering (IPO). The relocation marks a major structural change for the Walmart-owned e-commerce giant ahead of its anticipated listing. The company had moved its holding structure to Singapore in 2011 to benefit from easier access to global capital and a more favourable tax environment. However, with plans to go public in India, relocating its domicile back to the country removes regulatory hurdles for listing on domestic stock exchanges. The shift aligns Flipkart’s corporate structure with its core operations, which are largely…
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and its parent Alphabet Inc., has received a major compensation increase that could reach $692 million (around ₹6,361 crore) over the next three years. The performance-linked package places him among the highest-paid corporate executives globally. A significant portion of the pay comes from performance stock units worth $126 million, which are tied to Alphabet’s total shareholder returns relative to companies in the S&P 100 index. If the company outperforms peers, the payout could double to $252 million, but it may drop to zero if targets are not met. The package also includes $84 million in restricted stock that will vest monthly over…