Latest news with #Anto
New Indian Express
26-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Row erupts over unloading of panels; CITU leaders step in
KOCHI: A dispute broke out between the proprietors of an interior designing firm and headload workers over the unloading of toughened glass panels at a construction site in Maradu on Friday. The standoff involved Idea House Interiors, which is handling the interior works of a commercial building, and CITU-affiliated headload workers. According to Anto Rafi, a partner of Idea House Interiors, the company is racing to complete the project before the July 31 deadline. The issue began on Tuesday when a truck carrying toughened glass arrived at the site. Anto and his partner Louis Isaac insisted that the glass must be unloaded using proper safety equipment and only by skilled workers.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- The Hindu
Two fishing boats adrift in Sri Lankan waters rescued along with 20 crew members on board
A well-coordinated and timely effort by District Collector K. Elambahavath, officials of Department of Fisheries, Indian Coast Guard, and the Thoothukudi fishermen has ensured the safe return of two mechnaised boats with 20 crew that drifted into the Sri Lankan waters after sudden technical snag. The mechanised boat 'Samson' left Tharuvaikulam Fish Landing Centre, its base, on June 15 for the first multi-day deep-sea stay fishing in Indian Ocean after the 61-day-long annual fishing ban with 11 crew with a lot of hopes of good harvest. However, the 140 hp six-cylinder engine developed a snag dashing the hopes of the crew even as they were fishing at the depth of more than 3,000 feet northeast off Kanniyakumari coast on June 27. After the crew's efforts to rectify the glitch failed, they sought the help of the mechanised boats fishing nearby through their communication devices to tow the boat back to Tharuvaikulam. However, rough sea conditions thwarted their repeated attempts to tow the 93-tonne steel structure. To make things worse, the boat's wireless set too went dead. On getting information, the stranded 10-year-old boat's owner Athishta Kumar of Tharuvaikulam and his brother-in-law A. Aniton sought the help of Thoothukudi mechanised boat fishermen as the engine hauling power of Thoothukudi trawlers was much higher. As the owner of boat 'Anto' agreed for the rescue operation, his boat left Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour with nine crew members on June 28 early morning towards the GPS location marked by the stranded boat. Unfortunately, 'Anto', which was carrying the authorisation letter given by the Fisheries department about the proposed rescue operation, developed a snag in hostile weather conditions and both 'Anto' and 'Samson' started drifting towards Sri Lankan waters. 'When we narrated our plight to Assistant Director of Fisheries Bushra Shabhnam over the phone on Saturday night, she straightaway started the work even though she was in Thiruvananthapuram to receive the Thoothukudi fishermen returning from war-torn Iran. She shared this information with the District Collector over the phone around 9.45 p.m. even as she was returning to Thoothukudi for action through the Indian Coast Guard,' recalls Mr. Aniton. On getting information, Mr. Elambahavath alerted the Indian Coast Guard to rescue the boats drifting towards Sri Lankan waters. And, the ICG commandant kept an ICG boat ready at Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour before dawn for the rescue operation. The Collector wisely alerted the Sri Lankan officials through proper channels about the Thoothukudi boats drifting towards their shores that effectively averted arrest-like incidents by Sri Lankan navy. Meanwhile, Tharuvaikulam fishermen arranged two mechanised boats from Thoothukudi for the rescue operation and Ms. Bushra, who reached Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour late on Monday early morning, made arrangements for giving groceries and 2,000 litres of diesel to each boat even though the fuel station in the fishing harbour was closed on Sunday. Since both the boats did not have satellite phones, Ms. Bushra started searching for this communication device. 'When I was told that a Tharuvaikulam boat with a satellite phone was returning to the shore after fishing around 6 a.m. on Monday, we brought it to be handed over to one of the rescue boats even though they were accompanied by the ICG boat,' Ms. Bushra said. While the ICG boat can sail at the speed of 25 knots, the rescue boats' maximum speed is only 10 knots and hence the ICG boat slowly accompanied the two boats until it reached the International Maritime Boundary Line. After communicating with their Sri Lankan counterparts, the ICG officers allowed the rescue boats to enter the Sri Lankan waters to tow the stranded boats to reach Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour on Monday forenoon. 'We are immensely indebted to the Collector, the Indian Coast Guard, Ms. Bushra and the Thoothukdi fishermen for having safely rescued our livelihood (the boats) with the crew through well-coordinated efforts. All of them had sleepless nights on Saturday and Sunday for our wellbeing,' said Mr. Aniton.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Asian Century: The Transnational Journey of a Durian
BEIJING, June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "Belt and Road, Durian Leads the Way." In June 2024, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, China opened its market to the import of fresh Malaysian durians. Durian has become a "sweet bond" between the two countries, building a solid bridge for the people of China and Malaysia to share a better life and pursue common development. The first episode of the Asian Century documentary's Malaysia chapter focuses on "The Transnational Journey of a Durian". In the Musang King durian-producing region of Raub, Malaysia, farmer Anto carefully ties ropes around each durian on a rare sunny day during the rainy season, safeguarding this precious sweetness. The durian pulp produced here will soon be shipped via cold chain to Qinzhou Port in Guangxi, China, where Malaysian durian trader Vance Chiang is anxiously awaiting its arrival. Within weeks, freshly ripened whole durians will also make their way directly to thousands of dining tables across China. Vance Chiang is also planning a reverse "sweet journey"—introducing specialty fruits from Yulin, Shaanxi, China, to the Malaysia market. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, bilateral trade between China and Malaysia reached $212 billion in 2024 — nearly a thousand-fold increase since the establishment of diplomatic relations. China has remained Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. The two nations have consistently upheld free trade, advancing hand in hand to weather challenges and share the fruits of prosperity. This profound friendship, rooted in mutual respect and win-win cooperation, is a vivid embodiment of the China-Malaysia community with a shared future. The Asian Century is a social and cultural documentary centered on the theme of building an Asian community with a shared future. Through authentic, multidimensional, and comprehensive storytelling, it showcases the shared historical roots, cultural bonds, and developmental aspirations of Asian nations. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Asian Century
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
AICC eyes Christian face for Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee
KOTTAYAM: As moves for a change of guard at the helm of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) gather pace, all talk is now centred around naming a person from the Christian community to the position. Even as Pathanamthitta MP and former Kottayam DCC president Anto Antony has emerged as a strong contender, the AICC leadership has reserved its decision, at least for the time being, as a consensus remains elusive. In addition to Anto, the names of former Kannur DCC chief and Peravoor MLA Sunny Joseph, and senior leader and Chalakkudy MP Benny Behnan are actively being considered. The AICC seems keen to take into account the concerns of the Christian community, especially the Catholic Church, over inadequate representation in the party leadership, especially after the era of A K Antony and Oommen Chandy. The Church has aired its concerns on multiple occasions. While Anto has the backing of the AICC leadership, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra blessings, Sunny is the preferred nominee of the Syro-Malabar Church. The party leadership's stance has not gone down well with the Church. Apart from the fact that its nominee is being overlooked, Anto does enjoy good relations with the Church, say Christian leaders. Meanwhile, there is a strong feeling among senior leaders that both Anto and Sunny will come up short when pitted against CPM's seasoned Pinarayi Vijayan and BJP's new generation leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar, prompting them to back an extended term for K Sudhakaran. Meanwhile, the Church is viewing reports of Anto enjoying the support of Changanassery archbishop Thomas Tharayil as mere propaganda aimed at sidelining its nominee. While trhe Church initially planned to release a statement debunking the rumours, it ultimately decided against it, preferring not to intervene in Congress politics. Anto's links to the Pentecostal Church have also created hesitation among some Church leaders.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
AICC eyes Christian face for KPCC
KOTTAYAM: As moves for a change of guard at the helm of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) gather pace, all talk is now centred around naming a person from the Christian community to the position. Even as Pathanamthitta MP and former Kottayam DCC president Anto Antony has emerged as a strong contender, the AICC leadership has reserved its decision, at least for the time being, as a consensus remains elusive. In addition to Anto, the names of former Kannur DCC chief and Peravoor MLA Sunny Joseph, and senior leader and Chalakkudy MP Benny Behnan are actively being considered. The AICC seems keen to take into account the concerns of the Christian community, especially the Catholic Church, over inadequate representation in the party leadership, especially after the era of A K Antony and Oommen Chandy. The Church has aired its concerns on multiple occasions. While Anto has the backing of the AICC leadership, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra blessings, Sunny is the preferred nominee of the Syro-Malabar Church. The party leadership's stance has not gone down well with the Church. Apart from the fact that its nominee is being overlooked, Anto does enjoy good relations with the Church, say Christian leaders. Meanwhile, there is a strong feeling among senior leaders that both Anto and Sunny will come up short when pitted against CPM's seasoned Pinarayi Vijayan and BJP's new generation leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar, prompting them to back an extended term for K Sudhakaran. Meanwhile, the Church is viewing reports of Anto enjoying the support of Changanassery archbishop Thomas Tharayil as mere propaganda aimed at sidelining its nominee. While trhe Church initially planned to release a statement debunking the rumours, it ultimately decided against it, preferring not to intervene in Congress politics. Anto's links to the Pentecostal Church have also created hesitation among some Church leaders.
