THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Work is progressing on Indias proposed 52-tonne space station, with the first module expected to be launched in 2028, said ISRO Chairman V Narayanan. Speaking on the sidelines of the New Vistas in Critical Minerals and Materials conclave at CSIR-NIIST in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, Narayanan said the conceptual stage of the space station, planned to be launched in five phases, has been completed, and the process of securing formal approval is underway. The station is being

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move to ensure more compassionate care for children, the state health department is preparing to issue new guidelines directing healthcare workers to show greater empathy towards young patients, especially in casualty departments. The guidelines will also stress on the importance of timely treatment for children in emergency care settings. The initiative follows a directive from the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR), which emphasised that h

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It takes a curious mind to unlock new possibilities and perspectives. If your children pester you for a toy telescope or constantly play with one, never refuse or discourage them. They could end up discovering celestial bodies! Meet Abhimanyu Krishna, a tenth grader of Loyola School Thiruvananthapuram, who even as a teenager has made a name in his favourite field of astronomy, with the discovery of Asteroid 2024 JF24, in the Main Belt Asteroid between Mars and Jupiter. The fi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The road corridor connecting the domestic and international terminals of Thiruvananthapuram Airport is all set to undergo a major transformation under the ambitious City Beautification Project. The 6-km stretch, which serves as a vital gateway for passengers arriving and departing from the airport, will get a fresh makeover with enhanced landscaping, pedestrian-friendly amenities, improved walkways, lighting and visually captivating wall art that reflects the rich culture and

KOCHI: The control room set up at the Government Medical College, Palakkad, as part of the Nipah virus containment efforts, has officially ceased operations. The control room was established on July 3, following the confirmation of Nipah infection in the district. The district administration stated on Saturday that the coordinated response by various departments played a crucial role in successfully containing the outbreak. Key departments such as the district administration, district medical of

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Supreme Court directing both the state government and the chancellor (Governor) to kick-start the process to appoint permanent vice-chancellors (VCs) in universities at the earliest, both sides are set to begin discussions to arrive at a consensus on the matter. Higher Education Minister R Bindu and Law Minister P Rajeeve are scheduled to meet Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Sunday at the directions of CM Pinarayi Vijayan. The government will try its best to resolve the

KOCHI: Thodupuzha native Johan George has been selected to represent Ireland in the U17 Cricket Squad. Johan, who currently lives in Bettystown, County Meath in Ireland, will play in the upcoming Celtic Cup in Stormont. Son of Pallikunnel George, Pallikunnel House in Muthalakodam, Johan was born and raised in Ireland. He had been playing cricket since the age of 5. He has played as a youth in higher divisions at the club level and in the interprovincial level. An all-rounder specialised as a lef

KOCHI: A follower of Sree Narayana Guru, M K Sanoo always believed in equality and social justice. The prolific writer, orator, activist and teacher, who passed away on Saturday, penned more than 70 books and was a constant presence in Keralas social and cultural sphere. Sanoo, who taught at Maharajas College for decades, had a wealth of students who went on to excel as writers, politicians, bureaucrats and actors. Gurudevan taught us that humaneness should be our religion and I have followed hi

KOCHI: Despite suffering from age-related difficulties, M K Sanoo was keen to continue writing. And he was working on a book on Ananda Theerthar, a prominent disciple of Sree Narayana Guru. I am handicapped by age. But I have some pending work. A book on Ananda Theerthar is in the works. Though he was born a Brahmin he fought against caste discrimination. The younger generations must know about his struggles. I am searching for a youngster with a taste in Malayalam literature to complete the wor

KOCHI: It was in 1992 that Navas joined Kalabhavan as a member of the ganamela troupe. For the past three decades, he remained an active member of Kalabhavan, even when he was busy with films. He contributed to the growth of the troupe, and the troupe contributed to his career. It was senior artist K S Prasad who introduced him to the troupe. In 1992, I saw him performing in a show near my place. I liked his performance and asked him to join the troupe. I also introduced him to our founder Fr Ab

Professor M K Sanoo was a teacher par excellence. One of the very few teachers of the past generation who had a unique and holistic idea about their job. A vanishing tribe, there are only a very few of them left now. Professor Sanoo maintained a different equation with the student community. He wasnt providing information to score marks and pass an exam. He was imparting a culture that had social, cultural, and ecstatic foundations. Above everything else, he had personal bonds with every student

KOCHI: A prominent presence in Keralas literary landscape, M K Sanoos legacy is also deeply intertwined in the socio-cultural fabric of Ernakulam assembly constituency, which he represented as a CPM-backed independent from 1987-91. A teacher by profession, Sanoo Master shaped generations of young minds in the hallowed halls of Maharajas College. His tenure as a professor at the institution not only influenced countless students but also positioned him at the very heart of the citys intellectual

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Plunging into the whirl of credit disputes and unresolved equations, the states film policy conclave witnessed open differences among major industry associations. Actor-director Revathy Asha, representing the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), highlighted how the group was instrumental in initiating major conversations around inclusivity and reform. FEFKA representative Ranji Panicker, however, felt it was an attempt to claim undue credit. Meanwhile director Anjali Menon point

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Launching an elaborate exercise to identify major issues plaguing the Malayalam film industry, the state government is all set to introduce a comprehensive film policy which will address a host of concerns -- from casting couch to compensation and working hours to labour contracts. The Kerala Film Policy Conclave, which began in the state capital on Saturday, discussed and debated threadbare key concerns in the sector and explored possible solutions for the same. Speaking at

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The release of the two Catholic nuns after nine days of imprisonment in Chhattisgarh has come as a relief for both the Church and the state BJP. The fact that it was realised following the intervention of the prime ministers office (PMO) is being viewed as a feather in party state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhars political cap. TNIE was the first to report the PMOs intervention. The entire episode is now expected to function as a catalyst in Rajeevs efforts to intensify his partys

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala received 1,190.5 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 31, against the normal rainfall of 1,301.7 mm marking a 9% shortfall. Most districts experienced normal monsoon with only three recording a deficit of over 20%: Malappuram (21%), Idukki (29%), and Wayanad (38%). According to IMD data, Kerala received rainfall within the normal range. In 2023, the state experienced a 35% rainfall deficiency during June-July period. In 2024, the deficit came in at 4%. IMD director

KOCHI: A 77-year-old retired college professor in Kochi lost Rs 1.19 crore to cyber fraudsters who impersonated Mumbai cyber cell officers. Based on the professors complaint, the Elamakkara police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Police said after receiving Rs 60 lakh from the sale of a property last week, the victim was contacted by someone claiming to be from an international courier firm on July 21. The caller informed him that a parcel sent in his name from Mumbai to Ban

The rising human-wildlife conflict has led to frequent skirmishes between forest department staff and farmers living on forest fringes. But conservationist Pramod G Krishnan, who assumed office as the chief wildlife warden a year ago, has been trying to hear the grievances of farmers and win their confidence. Pramod, also a voracious reader and a poet, shares with TNIE his vision to bring the forest department closer to people. Excerpts: Human-wildlife conflict is on the rise in the state, with

KOCHI: Writer, literary critic and orator Prof M K Sanu passed away in Kochi on Saturday. The 98-year-old author, who allegedly suffered a hip bone fracture after he tripped and fell at his house Sandhya at Karikkamuri, breathed his last at a private hospital at 5.35 pm. The body will be brought to his house at Karikkamuri at 8 am on Sunday and will be kept for public homage at Ernakulam Town Hall from 10 am to 4 pm. The funeral will be held at Ravipuram Crematorium at 5 pm. A teacher by profess

At first glance, it looks like any other shawarma soft wrap, juicy filling, and that irresistible, heady aroma. But bite into it, and you taste not meat, but something plant-based. Surprisingly, your taste buds dont mind being mocked this way; the flavour is so meaty that you may not even spot the difference. This tweaked version of the much-loved meal of Malayalis is on the menu at Grasshopper Gastronomics, a Thiruvananthapuram-based food tech startup, which takes a bold leap into the food are

A week after a college student was killed when a speeding private bus rammed into his scooter near the busy Town Hall Junction, a vexing question echoes across Kochis bustling streets: Who will bell the speeding private buses? The chilling incident, preceded by the death of another bus driver in a collision at Kundannoor, has once again brought into focus the alarming frequency of mishaps involving private buses. For years, the city has been terrorised by rashly driven private buses. In fact, th

Two months into the southwest monsoon, the capital city has largely escaped the kind of widespread flooding and waterlogging that have plagued the urban areas in recent years. Between June 1 and July 31, the capital received 510.5 mm of rain, exceeding the historical average of 507.8 mm, which is one per cent more. According to experts, the monsoon showers this season have been mostly intermittent and distributed, giving time for the stormwater to recede. Many felt that an open estuary at Veli e

Pan-Asian cuisine is not alien to the Kochi palate. From street stalls to fine dining, menus almost always feature a section devoted to it. In recent years, this love has sparked a rise in restaurants dedicated solely to Asian flavours. Among them is Little Soi, tucked into the heart of Panampilly Nagar. Recently, the restaurant unveiled a trial menu. We arrived early on a rainy Sunday evening to find the place unusually calm, almost empty. In Kochi, this often signals a struggling spot, but her

THIRUVANTHAPURAM: Condemning a recent National Award-winning film for misrepresenting Kerala and discrediting its globally respected secularism, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the state's film fraternity to unite against the misuse of cinema as a medium for spreading communal narratives. Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day Kerala Film Policy Conclave in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to uphold the cultural and secular foundations of Malayala

BILASPUR: A special court in Chhattisgarhs Bilaspur on Saturday granted conditional bail to three individuals including two Catholic nuns from Kerala who were arrested on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. Principal District and Sessions Judge (NIA Court) Sirajuddin Qureshi granted bail to Preethi Merry, Vandana Francis (both from Kerala), and Sukaman Mandavi, with conditions that they surrender their passports, furnish a bond of Rs 50,000 each, and provide two suret

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police have arrested five people for cheating several job seekers by offering fake appointments in ISROs Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thumba. The accused promised jobs and collected over Rs 2.5 crore from several people. The arrested are Ramsi, 30, from Koliyakkode, Ajmal, 29, from Oachira, Murugeshan, 59, from Tirunelveli, and Vishnuraj, 33, and Suresh Babu, 50, both from Attingal. The scam began in March 2024 when a woman named Anjali, a degree holder, was introdu

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major development, Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) and the city corporation have decided to re-tender the long-delayed redevelopment of the century-old Palayam Connemara Market. The decision comes after the existing contractor, RDS Projects, demanded cost escalation, triggered by prolonged delays. The project, awarded in 2021, has been plagued by delays owing to relocation and rehabilitation of the traders from the market. A top SCTL official told TNIE that a de

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is a girlish spright in her steps as she sashays into the thick, verdant spread surrounding her mud house, the insides of which reflect a deeply earthy aesthetic smoking stoves, dim interiors, and a clustered room brimming with mementoes and accolades she has earned over the years. At 81, Lakshmikutty Amma takes pride in all that she has achieved, especially the Padma Shri, which reached her from Delhi to the remote, reclusive stretch of land nestled in Ponmudis Kallar

KOCHI: In a significant ruling, the Kerala High Court has held that rent-related disputes involving units operating within Special Economic Zones (SEZs) cannot be brought before regular rent control courts. It quashed proceedings initiated by the developer of SmartCity-Kochi before the Munsiff Court, Ernakulam (Rent Control), ruling that such matters must be dealt with under the SEZ Act, 2005. A division bench of Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and P M Manoj allowed a petition filed by Musthaf

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what appears to be a witch hunt against Dr Haris Chirackal who highlighted major gaps in states healthcare system, the government has come up with fresh allegations which could corner the urology professor. Health Minister Veena George on Friday said medical equipment worth Rs 20 lakh has been found missing from urology department, apparently putting the blame on the whistleblower. The minister said a departmental inquiry has found that medical equipment in the department

KOCHI: In a move aimed at phasing out rickety private buses, the motor vehicle department (MVD) will henceforth issue fresh permits only to private players willing to operate new buses that adhere to Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission norms. New permits will be issued only to new private buses. Weve discussed the matter with major private bus associations which agreed to the condition. A government order (GO) in this regard will be out in a few days, Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar told TNIE.

KOCHI: Malayalam cinema had a very fruitful outing at the 71st National Film Awards , with several honours across feature and non-feature categories. Vijayaraghavan and Urvashi were named best supporting actors in the male and female categories a rare double for Mollywood. Urvashi was selected for her performance in 'Ullozhukku'. This is her second national award in the category, having previously won in 2006 for Achuvinte Amma'. Veteran actor Vijayaraghavan was picked for his role in 'Pookkaal

KOCHI: It has been a week since Sr Vandana Francis and Sr Preethy Mary of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI) were jailed on charges of forced religious conversion and human trafficking . On Friday, their hopes of getting bail were crushed when prosecutors vehemently opposed their petition in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, to which the case was referred by a sessions court citing jurisdictional issues. This, even after Union Home Minister Amit Shahs assurance that the Ch

THRISSUR: BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday visited Thrissur Archbishop and president of Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), Mar Andrews Thazhath, and assured all support for the release of two Malayali nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh . Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mar Thazhath said this was not the first case of arrest involving nuns. There should be a mechanism to ensure justice for the nuns who conduct social work and charity. He added that the Church welcomed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keralas socio-political and religious leadership paid homage to former chief minister and veteran Communist V S Achuthanandan on Friday. Inaugurating the programme organised by CPM at Nishagandhi auditorium, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan dismissed the narrative presented now by different corners that it was in his latter years that V S Achuthanandan took a pro-environmental position. The protest organised by the Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union against the filling of

KOCHI: Malayalam rapper Hirandas Murali, popularly known as Vedan, approached the Kerala High Court on Friday seeking anticipatory bail in the rape case registered against him based on a complaint filed by a young doctor. In his petition, Vedan claimed that the relationship with the complainant was consensual and voluntary. Vedan submitted that the complaint was a result of personal issues between him and the complainant. He argued that even if the allegations are taken at face value, they do no

KOCHI: In 2019, ten-year-old Shahla Sherin died of snakebite at a government school in Wayanad, triggering a massive uproar. Last December, a girl was bitten by a snake at a school in Thiruvananthapuram. In Kerala, old school buildings often see these slithering reptiles turn up as uninvited guests, leading to panic. The threat is a constant source of worry for the parents. They can rest easy. For teachers of the state have decided to get trained, and that too by the forest department, in snake

KOZHIKODE: That began as a routine weekend commute for Sreeja (name changed) from Kottiyam to Kollam on a KSRTC bus quickly devolved into a deeply distressing ordeal. Looking forward to reuniting with her family after a week of work, Sreeja found her journey abruptly interrupted by a man in his early 40s brazenly masturbating across from her, his gaze fixed on her. Despite her profound discomfort, Sreeja, unwilling to let the incident pass, summoned the courage to capture the perpetrators action

Malayalam film actor and mimicry artist Kalabhavan Navas was found dead in a hotel in Chottanikkara here on Friday evening, police said. The incident came to light when the staff of the hotel, where Navas (51) was staying for a film shoot, alerted authorities. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead, police said. Police suspect he suffered a cardiac arrest. Manorama News reported that Navas had completed shooting for his upcoming film Prakambanam on Friday and was pre

A home where dogs, cats, a goat, geese, chickens, and a bull can roam freely. A space where their existence is just as important as the humans who live there. Sowbhagya Venkitesh, dancer, social media influencer, vlogger, and daughter of artist Thara Kalyan, who runs the Thara Kalyan Dance Academy in Thiruvananthapuram, lives in such a home. For any pet lover, her house is nothing short of a paradise. A lifelong dog lover, Sowbhagya traces her love for dogs back to her childhood.I used to watch

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has come to the aid of a 100-year-old woman seeking maintenance from one of her sons by upholding a family court order directing him to pay Rs 2,000 per month to her. Justice P V Kunhikrishnan also slammed the 57-year-old son, saying that if he fails to take care of his mother, he should be ashamed of himself. It is the duty of every son to look after his mother. It is not a charity, the court said and dismissed the man's appeal against the family court order of Apri

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two former employees of BJP leader Krishnakumars daughter Diya Krishnas firm have surrendered in connection with a financial fraud case involving Rs 69 lakh. The accused, identified as Vinitha and Radhakumari, appeared before the Crime Branch office on Friday morning. Their surrender comes after the High Court rejected their anticipatory bail pleas. Another accused in the case, Divya, has not yet reported. The police had informed the court that the employees needed to be inte

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Rajendra Arlekar has re-appointed K Sivparasad and Ciza Thomas as interim Vice Chancellors of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and Digital University, Kerala (DUK), respectively. According to separate notifications issued by the Raj Bhavan on Friday, both Sivaprasad and Ciza will exercise the powers and perform the duties of the office of the Vice Chancellor in the respective universities for a period of six months or till a regular Vice Chancellor is a

In Kohima, Nagalands hilltop capital, music is not an extracurricular pursuit. It is life itself. Every home has a guitar resting in a corner, and melodies are passed down like heirlooms, from parents to children, siblings to siblings, and neighbours to neighbours. For Anovi Shohe, a 33-year-old Naga singer now in Kochi, those strings were the first threads that would lead him from childhood daydreams to founding a choir, the Kerala Singing Ambassadors, in Kochi TNIE catches up with Anovi to dis

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government is gearing up to enforce a state-wide ban on single-use plastic products starting October 2, following a directive from the High Court. In the lead-up to the Onam festival season, the Local Self Government Department (LSGD) has issued strict orders to all Local Self Government Institutions (LSGIs) to implement green protocols and crack down on violators. The LSGD has instructed LSGIs to ramp up surveillance in markets and streets prone to high waste gene

THIRUVANTHAPURAM: As the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) gears up for a major organisational overhaul, internal concerns are mounting over the lack of representation for marginalised communities, particularly the Ezhava community, the largest OBC group in the state. Once known for its strong community arithmetic, the Congress in Kerala now finds itself facing a critical challenge: ensuring equitable caste representation within its leadership. This issue has come to the fore as the party

KOCHI : A potentially fatal fall onto the railway tracks was narrowly averted on Thursday, thanks to the quick thinking and bravery of a woman passenger at Tripunithura station. Usha Suresh Babu, a nutritionist based in Tripunithura, saved the life of an elderly man who was left dangling from the handrail of the AC coach of the Ernakulam Junction Thiruvananthapuram Central Vanchinadu Express. The incident occurred as the train began pulling out of the station. Usha, who was standing at the door

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the construction work of the Rs 177-crore Muthalapozhi harbour development project, which is expected to enhance safety for fishermen and stimulate economic activity in the region. Speaking via video conference, he described the project as an example of cooperative federalism, expressing the states expectation of continued collaboration with the Central government. He highlighted that, once completed, the project would significantly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With local body elections around the corner, corruption allegations in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation are taking a new turn with CPM claiming that opposition leaders have been involved in a massive scam. CPM district secretary, V Joy, who pointed out that a total of Rs 1.47 crore has been scammed from the money allocated for women entrepreneurs from the SC, ST, BPL communities, said that the role of UDF and BJP councillors must be investigated in the issue. The new turn in th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Law Minister P Rajeeve inaugurated K-DISCs new resource facilities for electric battery packaging at C-DAC in the Technopark campus on Wednesday. It is aimed to promote indigenous manufacture and utilisation of electric vehicle (EV) components using locally sourced raw materials. The facility is part of a newly formed EV consortium to accelerate the states growth in the field of green mobility. The meeting, which was attended by K-DISC member secretary P V Unnikrishnan, C-DAC