The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia has indicated that the approval for the Kochi Metro Rail project from the central government in expected to come soon.

He was speaking after ting the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's work site at Manappatiparambu Ground. After reviewing the work to widen the North overbridge and construction of new overbridge linking Salim Rajan Road with MG Road, he said that he was satisfied with the progress of work.

Kochi, June 12 : "The King and The Commissioner", billed as one of the biggest projects in the Malayalam film industry, has been creating a buzz because of the big names attached to it. But superstar Mammootty, who will start shooting for the film here Monday, is not so excited and says for him, it's just a job.

The film has been in the news because it has brought two big actors - Mammootty and Suresh Gopi - together as also it sees director Shaji Kailas collaborating with scriptwriter Renji Panicker after a gap of 16 years.

Pepper June delivery dropped Rs 1220 and settled at Rs 29282/quintal as a special margin on long positions kicks in this week and due to weak exports. According to International Pepper community (IPC) exports of black pepper from Indonesia during January to April 2011 stood at 10,821 Mt (7025), increase of 54% as compared to previous year. Exports of Black pepper from Vietnam during January to March 2011 stood at 25,000 MT, decline of
10% as compared to previous year.

Commonwealth Games are scheduled at Delhi from October 3 to 14. In order to create awareness for these games, first national awareness campaign was inaugurated in Kerala.

Kochi, Mar 21 : Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor on Sunday denied his involvement in bidding for Kochi based Indian Premier League (IPL) team, but accepted that he did facilitate and encourage the undertaking.

"Kochi making it through IPL is of national significance. I think all the associates of IPL will certainly give Kerala a sort of dynamism and energy, which I am sure, will inspire people. I am very happy about this," said Tharoor.

Kochi, Feb 8 - Director Major Ravi says that Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has given his nod for his Malayalam film "Kandahar", a film about plane hijacking that will also star veteran Mohanlal.

The news came when Big B had made a short visit to the city Sunday.

Speaking to reporters, Ravi, a former NSG commando who had directed two films featuring Mohanlal, said that he is just trying to imagine how the two greats would come in one single frame. "It is great feeling when I think of that," he said.

Kochi, Jan 11 : The Kerala police, probing the murder of Muthoot House scion Paul M. George, told the state high court Monday that they have no objection to an external agency taking up the investigations.

The state police filed an affidavit before the Kerala High Court, following a petition of M. G. George Muthoot, the father of Paul George, for the Central Bureau of Investigation to take up the probe.

The state police affidavit was filed by investigating officer A. V. George.

Kochi, Jan 9 : Concerned over reports of large number of militants from Pakistan waiting to cross Line of Control (LoC), Defence Minister A. K. Antony on Saturday said Pakistan is not taking action to combat terrorist groups.

Antony during a media conference here, said terror groups are still active in Pakistan and it is a matter of major concern.

"Almost all the terrorist outfits operating from across the border are still operating and the government of Pakistan is not taking much steps. It is a matter of concern and we are taking all precautions," the Defense Minister said.

There are reports that over 700 militants are waiting across the border in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) to sneak into Kashmir Valley.

Kochi, Jan 9 - India is not a "war mongering" nation and does not have any extra- territorial ambitions, Defence Minister A. K. Antony said Saturday.

"We might have difference of opinion with our neighbours but we have no extra- territorial ambitions. We are not a war mongering country," Antony said in response to a question about reactions from across the border over Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor's recent remarks.

Antony was interacting briefly with reporters here after attending an award ceremony of the Indian Coast Guard.

Kochi, Jan 7 : Veteran scientist and former Indian Space Research Organisation chief U. R. Rao on Thursday said that the last 50 years of space have been fantastic while the next 50 years will be spectacular.

Delivering his lecture on “Challenges in Space” in the 97th Indian Science Congress here, Rao said: “Nine great challenges in space are food security, energy security, environmental security, resource security, space security, space transportation, search for life, exploration of the universe and colonisation of Mars.”

Kochi, Jan 6 : The Kerala High Court Wednesday talked tough and asked the state government about the steps being taken to end the ongoing indefinite statewide private bus strike that has hit commuters badly.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice S. R. Bannurmath said that it would be forced to intervene if the government does not end the impasse as the people of the state were suffering.

Kochi, Jan 5 : A division bench of the Kerala High Court Tuesday stayed all further move by the state-owned Kerala State Industrial Development Corp (KSIDC) to set up an Islamic bank.

The division bench gave its orders after a petition was filed by former central minister Subramanian Swamy, who maintained that the proposed bank was against India's secular credentials and its banking norms.

The court accepted the petition and asked notices to be issued to the central government and KSIDC.

Kochi, Jan 4 : A Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Monday dismissed the plea of senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan to include Defence Minister A. K. Antony as a witness in the multi crore SNC Lavalin graft case.

Dismissing Vijayan's petition, Judge K. P. Jyothindranath asked the CBI to go ahead in the case.

In June 2009, the CBI had filed chargesheets against nine accused, including Vijayan, in the Rs. 374 crore scam in a deal with Canadian company SNC Lavalin.

Kochi, Jan 4 - The special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here Monday dismissed the plea of senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan to include Defence Minister A. K. Antony as a witness in the SNC Lavalin graft case.

The CBI in June last year had filed chargesheets against nine accused, including Vijayan, in the Rs. 374 crore scam in a deal with Canadian company SNC Lavalin.

Kochi, Dec 30 - Senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan, an accused in the Rs. 374 crore scam in a deal with Canadian firm SNC Lavalin, was Wednesday granted bail by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here.

The bail application was moved by the CPI-M state secretary's counsel M. K. Damodaran and CBI judge K. P. Jyothindranath granted it.

Damodaran told reporters that the bail has been secured and he has been asked to submit a bond of Rs. 200,000 besides two sureties.

Kochi, Dec 29 : The Kerala police have arrested Yusuf, a key accused in the 2006 Kozhikode twin blast.

He was nabbed near Ambalamedu in Kochi, claimed police sources.

Yusuf, a native of Parappanangadi is considered to be a close associate of Thadiyantavide Nasir, a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) activist, who was detained recently in Bangladesh.

It is reported that Yusuf played a key role in the bomb blasts that took place at two bus stations in Kozhikode in 2006.

Kochi, Dec 29 - A close aide of T. Nazeer, the self-styled south India chief of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has been caught and has confessed to have planted bombs at to bus stands in Kozhikode in 2006, police sources said Tuesday.

Nazeer's aide, identified as Yusuf, had been picked up the police from his house in Malapurram district in north Kerala a few days ago and he would soon be produced before a court near here, the sources said.

Kochi, Dec 28 : President Pratibha Patil on Monday said there was need to make legal services affordable to all.

Delivering the inaugural address at the two-day National Conference of All India Federation of Women Lawyers here, President Patil asked lawyers to ensure that high costs do not act as a barrier to seek justice.

"Affordability of legal services is an issue on which there should be constant focus in legal circles so that the right for judicial opportunity is not compromised due to high costs," Patil said.

Kochi, Dec 28 - President Pratibha Patil Monday expressed concern about alcoholism in Kerala, while she praised the numerous social advances the state has made.

Speaking at the inauguration of the National Conference of All India Federation of Women Lawyers here, she said it was significant that this event was being held in Kerala, a state which has to its credit women who have made remarkable achievements in the legal field.

On Board Aquamarine Vessel, Dec 25 : It was a unique experience not only for the priest but for Christian mariners on board the Aquamarine ship on its way to Maldives.

The mass was conducted in its proper way by a catholic Priest Fr. Justin K. at one of ships Lounge specially set by the cruise staff for this purpose.

It took around an hour for the priest to conclude and provide the cruisers and seafarers to have a glimpse of their traditional ritual, which they though could never happen because of their scheduled travel arranged during this time of the year.