PALAKKAD: Two Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and one Bajrang Dal activist were booked and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days for attempting to disrupt Christmas celebrations at a government school in Nallepilly, Palakkad. The three accused verbally abused the headmistress and teachers of Government Upper Primary School, Nallepilly, questioning why only Christmas was being celebrated and insisted that Sri Krishna Jayanthi should also be celebrated. The three accused are identified as Vadakkumt

PATHANAMTHITTA: A 21-year-old tribal woman from the Avanippara Tribal Colony gave birth inside a jeep near Konni in Pathanamthitta district while she was on her way to the hospital on Sunday. According to sources, the young woman was about to be admitted to a nearby hospital on Monday. Sajeedha, a health worker from the Kokkathodu Primary Health Center (PHC) who reached the spot, said the mother and the child, a baby boy, were safe and there was no cause for concern. The health worker provided t

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As per the direction of Education Minister V Sivankutty, a detailed report on the snake bite incident involving a student at the aided Chenkal UP School was submitted to the director of public education, K Shanavas, by the deputy director of education on Saturday. The report will be forwarded to the minister after incorporating the directors recommendations. The ministers office has also informed that actions will be taken as per the findings of the report. The victim, Neha,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state polices motto may be Mridhu Bhave Dhrida Kruthye, which means soft in temperament and firm in action, yet the force seems to getting used to forgetting the second part of the Sanskrit phrase when it comes to acting against SFI activists accused of serious crimes. Under fire for its languid response to the assault of a disabled student by SFI members of University College , city police have again come under the scanner for their failure to nab five activists who atta

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A special package of Rs 24,000 crore and Rs 2,000 assistance for Wayanad rehabilitation were among the demands made by the state at the pre-budget consultation held by the Union government. The state is fiscally stressed due to the cut in central transfers, stoppage of GST compensation and revenue deficit grant, Finance Minister K N Balagopal told the meeting. The curtailing of normal borrowing ceiling added to the states financial woes, he said. The minister said there was a

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Putting an end to misinterpretations and concerns over the use of private and rental vehicles, the transport commissioner has said that private vehicles may be used by the owners family members or friends without being deemed a violation. In a press note, the commissioner clarified that it is acceptable to lend vehicles to relatives or friends in emergencies without charging a fee. However, regular use of private vehicles by third parties or their engagement for commercial ac

KOCHI: At a time when the Syro-Malabar Church has launched a protest against the Kerala Forest Amendment Bill, 2024, the Church of South India (CSI) has come out in support of the bill. The Church claimed that the bill addresses critical issues related to forest conservation and provides a framework for mitigating man-animal conflict while protecting wildlife and saving the ecology. In a representation to the government, CSI Central Kerala Diocese bishop Malayil Sabu Koshy Cherian and environmen

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Railways has announced 10 special trains to the state to cater to the increased travel demand during Christmas in 2024 alongside 149 special train trips across various Railway Zones for Christmas. Additionally, 416 special train trips have been scheduled to ensure smooth travel for Sabarimala pilgrims. Trains for state Train No.06039/06040 Tambaram-Kanniyakumari-Tambaram weekly superfast special Train No.06043/06044 Dr. MGR Chennai Chennai Central-Kochuveli-Dr.MGR Central

KALPETTA: Significant errors have been found in the beneficiary list for the Wayanad landslide rehabilitation project, including the exclusion of many affected families and duplication of names, triggering protests by survivors. According to the Disaster Victims Strike Committee, which is leading the protest, many genuine victims said they were left out of the list. The committee members alleged that the district administration data showed no survivors from 17 affected families, which is not the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite topping the national charts on various human-development indices, Keralas economy has been limping for some time now. A recent central bank report further cemented the condition that the state finds itself in. In the Reserve Bank of Indias Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2023-24, Kerala took the 30th spot among select 33 states and Union territories (UTs) in terms of economic growth over a five-year period. Keralas average annual growth rate (AAGR) in gross

KOCHI: Lieutenant Commanders Dilna K and Roopa Alagirisamy, currently on a mission to sail around the globe, have bagged the prestigious Admiral Ramdas Trophy 2024 for the outstanding voyage of the year. They won the award, instituted by the Yachting Association of India (YAI), for two sorties undertaken as part of preparatory training ahead of their circumnavigation voyage. The first saw them sail from Goa to Port Blair and back in double-handed mode. The second entailed a transoceanic sortie f

KOCHI: We are different but not less. This is the motto of the Centre for Early Intervention Rehabilitation and Research (CEIRR), Perumbavoor, which works with persons with disabilities (PwDs). And through its actions, the institute is showing it means what it says. This Christmas-New Year season, 17 students, enrolled in the centre's Ability Zone project, are competing with big players in the baking, confectionery and handmade gifts sector. And they have made it big too, says Dr Mary Anitha, th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Six tech-savvy youths from the state have come together to develop an Artificial Intelligence-based web application designed to send personalised Christmas greetings and messages in Santa Claus voice. The application -- www.santacallingai.com -- which has gained significant traction globally, especially in the US and the UK, features interactive responses from Santa, offering a festive and fun experience for users. The idea was conceptualised by Sidharth N, who had previously

KOCHI: Pachyderms are out in force -- and for a cause. One may be excused for assuming that printed calendars have been kicked to the curb by our shiny digital gadgets. Hold your trunks! Several groups of elephant enthusiasts have discovered that these calendars are the perfect way to lend a helping hand to those in need! Aimed at supporting mahouts who picked up injuries while caring for elephants, many groups have introduced printed annual calendars featuring stunning photographs of renowned e

Singer Minminis journey in the world of music has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her iconic rendition of A R Rahmans Chinna Chinna Asai in the film Roja catapulted her to nationwide fame, making her a household name across India. With a repertoire spanning over 2,000 songs in languages such as Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Badaga, and Odia, she established herself as one of the most versatile, ebullient playback singers of her time. However, her career has been a rollercoaster

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is grappling with a medical-waste crisis as incidents of illegal dumping in neighbouring states become a major concern. The dumping of medical waste in Tamil Nadu has landed the state under the scanner of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which has reiterated its call for urgent measures to address the critical issue. According to sources, only 70 tonnes of medical waste generated daily in the state are being handled scientifically. And the fact that the health depart

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an effort to prevent pollution and dumping of waste into the Amayizhanchan Canal, the irrigation department and local self-government department (LSGD) are all set to implement an underground compact STP and dome-shaped fencing. LSGD Minister M B Rajesh told TNIE that a tender has been floated for setting up an underground compact STP to address the pollution caused by Rajaji Nagar, which is home to around 900 families. He said that Trivandrum Central Railway Station, Tham

KOCHI: The HC has suggested the inclusion of depositing an amount towards damage caused as a condition for granting bail to the accused in cases registered under the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act. Justice P V Kunhikrishnan made the observation while granting bail to Nithin Gopi, an accused in a case registered in connection with attacking doctors and destroying hospital properties in Thiruvananthapuram, o

IDUKKI: Eleven years after a five-year-old boy, Shafeeq, was brutally attacked by his biological father and stepmother in Idukkis Kumily, leaving him in a near-death condition, the Thodupuzha First Additional Sessions Court judge Ash K Bal sentenced the duo to rigorous imprisonment (RI) on Friday. Shafeeqs father Shareef of Kumily, the first accused, was sentenced to seven years RI and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000. In default of payment, he shall undergo rigorous imprisonment for one more year. S

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the suicide of a commando attached with the Special Operations Group of the state police on December 15, the State Police Association has alleged that the suicide was the end result of inhumane treatment meted out towards subordinates by senior officers. The association state committee passed an unusually strong-worded resolution which said there was information that the commando training stoops to the level of persecution of individuals in accordance with the menta

MALAPPURAM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the death of Indian Reserve Battalion commando Vineeth C, has recorded statements of his family members. The team visited the house of Vineeth in Wayanad on Thursday to record the statements. Statements were taken from Vineeths wife, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, and friends. Vineeth was found dead inside a washroom at the Special Operation Group (SOG) camp in Areekode last Sunday. According to the police, Vineeth die

KOCHI: The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) carried out an accident prevention-based fitness review in the last few weeks before issuing the order allowing Educational Institution Buses (EIBs), whose fitness certificates have expired or about to expire soon, to continue plying for another four to five months, Transport Commissioner Nagaraju Chakilam said on Friday. His reaction comes in the wake of the TNIE report published on Friday about the recent order issued by his office allowing the extensi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suspended IAS officer Prasanth N has issued a legal notice to chief secretary Sarada Muraleedharan and IAS officers A Jayathilak, and K Gopalakrishnan besides a vernacular newspaper, alleging grave misconduct, including document fabrication, forgery, manipulation of official records and criminal conspiracy. Prasanths legal move is against an inquiry report prepared by Jayathilak, in his capacity as additional chief secretary, that held the former responsible for missing files

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM has dismissed its Kozhikode district secretary P Mohanans statement that MEC 7, a group that promotes physical exercise, has links with Jamaat-e-Islami and banned Popular Front of India (PFI). State secretary M V Govindan told media on Friday that Mohanan retracted his stand as the party does not hold such an opinion. CPM never said MEC 7 group has become a tool in the hands of communal elements. We dont view any groups that are engaged in physical exercise as part of

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Ernakulam Principal Session Court to submit a report on progress in the Abhimanyu murder case. The court issued the order on a petition filed by Abhimanyus mother, seeking a directive to expedite the trial. In her petition, Bhoopathy pointed out that the case was still in the preliminary hearing stage. Even six years after the murder, charges had not been framed. Hearing was put off multiple times, between July 11, 2023, and November 18, 2023,

PALAKKAD: In a remarkable display of courage and presence of mind, Muhammad Zidan, a Class 5 student of Kalladi Abdu Haji HSS, Kottoppadam, saved the lives of his classmate Muhammad Rajih and a senior student, Shahjaz, after they suffered electric shocks from a live fuse. His timely intervention earned him praise from Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty and Education Minister K Sivankutty, who conveyed their appreciation over the phone, while teachers, PTA members, and the entire village lauded

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will hold a meeting of officials of state governments, institutions and organisations which have come up with sponsorship offers for the rehabilitation of landslide victims in Wayanad. The meeting will be held in January 2025. Addressing mediapersons here on Friday, Revenue Minister K Rajan said the first phase of rehabilitation will include 388 beneficiaries. The list will be published shortly. People will be given fifteen days to submit griev

KOZHIKODE: Jnanpith laureate M T Vasudevan Nair, who was admitted to the Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode, continued to be in critical condition, hospital sources said late Friday night. The renowned writer suffered a heart attack and is battling multiple health issues, including respiratory and cardiac complications. Doctors have reported significant deterioration in the functioning of other vital organs, the sources said. The 91-year-old was admitted to the hospital on December 15 following b

THRISSUR : The government on Friday released its first ranking of universities and colleges in the state under the Kerala Institutional Ranking Framework (KIRF). Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) took the top honour among universities. It is for the first time in the country that a state government has ventured into ranking its higher education institutions. Launched on May 3, 2023, KIRF was adopted by the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) as the methodology for the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One of 29th IFFKs prime inclusions was Brazilian filmmaker Pedro Freires passionate portrayal of Malu Rocha, a free-spirited woman who shares a volatile relationship with her mother and daughter. Titled Malu , the films intense treatment of the protagonist, who lingered in the minds of the viewer long after the film was over, led it to be adjudged the best film at the festival that concluded in the state capital on Friday. Freire received the Golden Crow Pheasant (Suvarna Cha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 29th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) gained prominence for its focus on feminist politics, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He was inaugurating the closing ceremony held at Nishagandhi Auditorium on Friday. Crediting cinephiles unparalleled participation for the festivals success, the chief minister said that IFFK serves as an inspiration for the younger generation to venture into the world of cinema. Calling it a celebration of solidarity

PATHANAMTHITTA: They deftly juggled and rolled the Rubiks Cubes, arraying them from the bottom up on to a specially designed metal canvas. One by one, Abhinav Krishna, 10, and his brother Advaith, 6, linked the colour schemes to slowly reveal the mosaic of Lord Ayyappa. A total of 504 cubes were used for the creation. It takes hand speed and mental calculation to make this art form unique and interesting. The two, from Amballur, in Ernakulam, used standard (5.5cm) Rubiks Cubes, with 15 of them t

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the blame game between the state and centre over the post-landslide rehabilitation in Wayanad continues, a charity organisation is rekindling the hope for survivors. The Chalakudi-based Philokalia Foundation handed over new houses to 14 families and is building another 15 houses that would be handed over in January. The 'Rebuild Wayanad' project of the foundation is supported by donations from kind-hearted individuals, said Mario Joseph, who along with his wife Gigi M

Acclaimed writer MT Vasudevan Nair has been admitted to Baby Memorial Hospital in Kozhikode in critical condition with a diagnosis of heart failure. The bulletin from the hospital said that the 91-year-old author is under the care of a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including cardiologists and critical care experts. He is currently receiving intensive medical support, to optimize cardiac function and stabilize vital parameters. The medical team treating him is closely monitoring the situ

The Fort police probing the brawl that erupted between gangster Om Prakash and the rival gang led by Airport Dany during a DJ party held in a city-based bar on December 14, have issued notices to two more persons to appear for questioning on Friday. The Fort police have already arrested 12 people so far, which include Om Prakash and his rival Dany. Danys father Sajan used to be Prakashs friend, but their relation turned sour later and the two became rivals. The police said the notices were issue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Varkala MLA V Joy would continue as the district secretary of the CPM as the four-day Thiruvananthapuram district conference starts on Friday at Kovalam. Joy was elected the partys Thiruvananthapuram district secretary in January 2023 after Anavoor Nagappan was inducted into the state secretariat. Senior politburo member M A Baby will officially inaugurate the conference at Anathalavattom Nagar on Saturday. The state leadership is satisfied with the work of the district leade

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: This year, Locally Made returns with a Christmas Carnival to kick off the festive season. The 8th edition of the event promises to celebrate local talent and festival cheer. The three-day gala is set to light up the Salvation Army School Ground, Kowdiar, from December 20 to 22. Organised by a five-member team led by Amal Babu, the founder of the Instagram page WhatsAroundThiruvananthapuram, the carnival aims to create visibility and opportunities for small-scale businesses in

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Urban Commission, formed to guide urbanisation for next 25 years, has come up with a slew of recommendations including 25% reservation for youngsters in local bodies, formation of metropolitan planning committees in Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, strengthened early-warning systems to address climate-related risks, professionalisation of urban governance and more. The commission submitted its interim report to the chief minister on Wednesday. LSG Minister M B Raj

KOCHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the guidelines issued by Kerala High Court on parading of elephants at festivals, bringing relief to the devaswoms of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu, the major participants of Thrissur Pooram. A division bench of the Kerala High Court had imposed strict restrictions on elephant parade, directing that a 3-metre distance be maintained between elephants, and 8 metres between elephants and percussion ensemble at festivals. A Supreme Court bench comprising Ju

KOCHI: A special court has been established at Mount St Thomas, the headquarters of the Syro-Malabar Church, to take action as per ecclesiastical and canonical laws against the indiscipline in the Ernakulam-Angamaly archeparchy over matters of liturgy. The court was established by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil. According to Canon Law No. 89 for the Eastern Churches, the major archbishop has the right and duty to exercise disciplinary supervision over the clergy. The special court will take di

KOCHI: The state unit of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP), a constituent of the LDF, is in dilemma as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has cold-shouldered its demand to elevate Kuttanad MLA Thomas K Thomas as minister. NCP-SP state president and national working president P C Chacko has taken a tough stand that colleague and forest minister A K Saseendran should step down honouring the party decision. However, Saseendran said the move will strain the relationship between t

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the heels of the intervention by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, the Kerala government has formed a special team to investigate the recent illegal dumping of medical and other waste in Tamil Nadus Tirunelveli district . The illegal dumping of medical and unsegregated waste in neighbouring states is becoming a major challenge for the state government, which is on a mission to declare Kerala garbage free by March 2025. With the NGT a

KOTTAYAM: Senior Congress leader and permanent invitee to the AICC, Ramesh Chennithala, whose political career looked to be heading south, has received an unexpected boost from the Nair Service Society (NSS). After an 11-year standoff, the NSS has extended an olive branch to Chennithala by inviting him to deliver the keynote address at the Mannam Jayanthi celebration, one of the most important events on the community organisations calendar, on January 2 at its headquarters in Perunna. The invita

KOCHI: In a curious move debunking the Waqf Boards claim, Farook College, Kozhikode, has said that Munambam land is not classified as waqf property, and the college received it through a gift deed. Members of the college management committee stated this on Thursday before Justice C N Ramachandran Nair, chairman of the judicial commission appointed by Kerala government to investigate Munambam land issue and submit a report. They asserted that since the property was not waqf, the college had every

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the central leadership is exploring ways to address the demand for finding a new KPCC president, the state leadership has decided to go ahead with the reorganisation of District Congress Committees. The state leadership will start the process of reorganisation by the end of December or first week of January. The leadership is of the view that the reorganisation should be completed before the coming local body elections. The last time the DCC reorganisation took place was i

KOCHI: The recent fatal accidents that shook Kerala have sparked calls for stringent measures to reduce the number of mishaps. However, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has gone more lenient, allowing educational institution buses (EIB) whose fitness certificates have expired or about to expire soon, to continue plying for another four to five months. So far, the practice was to withdraw the vehicles from service and carry out repair and maintenance works before subjecting them for fitness te

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Chirayinkeezhu police have arrested two persons and seized banned tobacco products worth Rs 4 crore from their possession at Koorakkada near Chirayinkeezhu. The raid was jointly conducted by Thiruvananthapuram DANSAF and the local police. The arrested have been identified as Shiju of Vanchiyoor and Shambhu Mohan of Chirayinkeezhu. The seized contraband was being stored for sale during Christmas-New Year festivals. According to the police, contraband was stored in 277 sack

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: His years International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) is celebrating Armenian cinema in its Country Focus section, giving audiences a chance to discover the rich stories of this small yet resilient northwestern Asian nation. Filmmakers Mikael Dovlatyan, Serge Avedikian, and producer Karina Simonyan shared their thoughts on the history, struggles, Indian connection, and future of Armenian cinema. Armenia has many important stories to share, remarked Avedikian. During the Sovi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Film critics are known to be opinionated, scalpel-witted, and even caustic. Yet, the likes of Quentin Tarantino, the acclaimed Hollywood director known for mixing cathartic, suave violence, profane dialogues, and show of pop culture in his landmark movies, took them seriously, at least in his younger days. He later transformed into a critic himself and even contemplated making a movie titled The Movie Critic , which now remains one of his famously unrealised projects. The rol

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a landmark ruling, the state information commission has held that self-financing educational institutions, that function with the approval of the government, come under the purview of the Right To Information (RTI) Act. State Information Commissioner M Sreekumar made the clarification while hearing an appeal filed by an RTI applicant who was denied a reply by a self-financing teachers training institute. The commission has issued directives to the secretaries of general ed