THIRUVANTHAPURAM: A man posing as a journalist disrupted the first press conference of newly appointed State Police Chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar on Tuesday, demanding action on a personal grievance. The incident occurred in the conference hall on the fifth floor of the police headquarters, where the DGP was addressing the media. The man, later identified as V. P. Basheer, a former police officer from Kannur, interrupted the proceedings, claiming that his long-pending complaint had not been acted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A new team of 7 specialists from Thiruvananthapuram Medical College has been instructed by the government to examine veteran CPM leader and former chief minister VS Achuthanandan who has been hospitalized for a week as his condition remains critical. The team has decided to continue the current intensive care treatment and initiate changes only if necessary, said a medical bulletin issued on Tuesday. VS Achuthanandan has been bedridden since he suffered from a stroke in 2019.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As Ravada A Chandrasekhar officially assumed charge as the new State Police Chief on Tuesday, he outlined a clear focus on strengthening state polices anti-drug drive, intensifying cybercrime monitoring, and improving internal systems to serve the public more efficiently. Addressing the media on Tuesday at the police headquarters, Chandrasekhar said the force would work proactively to maintain law and order. Chandrasekhar stressed the need to take forward the ongoing anti-dru

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala University Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal has raised serious concerns over the conduct of registrar K S Anil Kumar during a function attended by Governor Rajnath Arlekar at the Senate Hall on June 25. In a preliminary report submitted to the Raj Bhavan, the V-C has recommended a detailed inquiry into the registrars actions, which he said were based on vague allegations and without proper evidence. The event, organised by a pro-right wing organisation to mark 50 year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though the health department has started efforts to put out the fire after the unit head of the Urology department at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College came out openly about the shortage of surgical equipment, the Opposition has decided to intensify the protests. The UDF has formed a Health Commission led by health expert Dr S S Lal to study the serious issues in the state health sector that are affecting people. The five-member commission was asked to submit a re

KOCHI: In response to the growing number of renal patients and the need for improved dialysis facilities, the Vazhakulam Charitable Trust is set to launch a free dialysis centre for the public and residents of Vazhakulam. The unit, established in collaboration with St George Hospital, aims to offer free dialysis treatment to 32 patients daily. Several middle-class families are struggling due to the rising treatment cost. For most families, the cost of dialysis treatment is unbearable. Thus, the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an effort to curb unsafe and illegal vessel operations in Keralas backwaters and inland waterways, the Kerala State Maritime Board (KSMB) is launching a statewide crackdown on unauthorised vessels -- including houseboats, shikaras, speedboats, and other mechanised crafts. The Board will strictly enforce the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, which aims to establish a uniform regulatory framework for inland navigation and ensure safe water transportation for the public. According to

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Association of Medical and Paediatric Oncologists of Kerala (AMPOK) announced a research grant of Rs 5 lakh for cancer research at the Kerala Cancer Conclave 2025, which concluded on Sunday. The announcement comes at a time when experts are raising concerns about the quality of cancer studies, which are crucial for the prevention and treatment of cancer in the state. According to data presented by Prashant Mathur, Director of the National Centre for Disease Informatics an

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With just months left for the Thiruvananthapuram corporation councils term to end, tensions are escalating between the BJP and LDF, as both fronts trade corruption allegations. The corporations main office has effectively turned into a protest zone, frequently disrupting normal functioning and causing inconvenience to the public. The latest council meeting too was marred by noisy confrontations, with corruption charges dominating the session, leaving little room for meaningfu

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nervazhi translates to the right path in English. That, essentially, was Shaila Begums concern. An office assistant at the Vanchiyoor court, Shaila is visually impaired and finds it difficult to identify places while travelling, especially by bus. Unlike the metro system, where announcements are made before each station, there are no such mechanisms in buses. For visually impaired individuals, commuting thus becomes a worrisome affair. In January, Shaila spoke about the ordea

ALAPPUZHA: Why would anyone be jailed for bathing? Most certainly, if that happens inside an overhead water tank and ends up blocking the supply of water to more than 50,000 people! Thats precisely what three intoxicated youths did at Pallippuram in Alappuzha on Saturday evening. The revelry has landed them behind bars for 14 days. According to the police, the trio K Jayaraj (27) of Panavally, Athul Krishna (27) and Yadukrishnan (25), the last two from Thaikkattusserysneaked into the 24-metre-h

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A four-member committee has initiated an investigation into the allegations raised by Dr Haris Chirakkal against the authorities at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. The committee, comprising experts from Alappuzha and Kottayam medical colleges, took statements from Dr Haris, medical superintendent Dr Sunil Kumar, principal Dr P K Jabbar, and other heads of superspecialty departments. Dr Haris, who was given the first hearing, reiterated his alle

KOCHI: With Kerala reporting a steep decline in coconut production , the Coconut Development Board (CDB) has formulated a slew of schemes to enhance productivity. The downturn has sent coconut prices soaring in the state. The schemes include subsidy for coconut nurseries and nucleus coconut seed gardens, a cluster-based productivity enhancement scheme, and assistance for expansion of area under cultivation. Besides, coconut climbers task forces will be formed under a new scheme titled Cocomitra,

KOCHI: Kerala High Court has held that the state government must frame a stringent law providing severe punishment for ragging activities in educational institutions to stop the menace so that no other student loses his/her life for the unruly, rowdy conduct of the undisciplined students. The state should also make sure that the guilty are not left unpunished. Justice D K Singh also said that though the UGC anti-ragging regulations are strict, they have not deterred the unruly behaviour and cond

KOCHI: A name as old as ancient mythology has ignited a modern-day firestorm in Keralas film industry. Janaki vs State of Kerala (JSK) , a yet-to-be-released courtroom drama, has triggered furious anger among filmmakers, artists and producers, all rallying against what they call the arbitrary and choking decisions of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). On Monday, the whos who of Mollywood including FEFKA, KFPA and AMMA members gathered outside the CBFC office in Thiruvananthapuram,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ravada A Chandrasekhar , a Kerala cadre IPS officer of the 1991 batch who was named the state police chief on Monday, had been on central deputation serving as special director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB). A native of Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh, he holds a postgraduate degree in science, and began service in the force as an ASP at Thalassery in Kannur. Over the years, he has served as SP in Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Ernakulam Rural, Railways, Vigilance Ernakulam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The appointment of Ravada A Chandrasekhar as the new state police chief was on expected lines, to put it bluntly. Unlike the previous two instances in 2021, when Anil Kant , and in 2023, when Shaik Darvesh Saheb were selected the government this time round was short of options and the writing on the wall was clear. In 2021, the selection boiled down to Anil Kant or B Sandhya, while in 2023 it was Shaik Darvesh vs K Padmakumar. There were frenetic lobbying and umpteen last-m

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Had it been a local body, Technopark would have surpassed Keralas several municipalities in terms of total population! Indias first IT park, which turns 35 years this month, currently provides jobs to over 80,000 people. In the past five years, Technopark achieved a significant growth in terms of the number of jobs and software exports by companies. The number of employees rose by 27%, from 63,000 in 2020-21 to 80,000 in 2024-25. And 45% of them are women. The park ensures a

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday observed that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cannot dictate film titles or storylines to directors and artists. Justice N Nagaresh made this remark while hearing a petition from Cosmos Entertainments, the producer of the film JSK - Janaki vs State of Kerala, starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi. The petition sought a directive to the CBFC to issue a censor certificate for the film. The court directed the CBFC to clarify its objections to the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The health condition of former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan remains critical, as his blood pressure and kidney function are yet to become normal even several days after getting admitted to a private hospital here, doctors said on Monday. According to the latest medical bulletin issued by the hospital, the veteran Marxist leader is responding to medication. However, his blood pressure and kidney function are still not stable, it said. The 101-year-old leader was adm

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar, who is on central deputation, has been selected as the new State Police Chief. An officer of the 1991 IPS batch, he was a special director with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and was offered the post of Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat from August. However, Ravada formally and through informal channels informed the state government that he was willing to return to the state. Ravada had been on a central deputation for the past 11 years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The coastal stretch near Vettucaud church (Madre De Deus Church) -- a major pilgrim centre in the state -- is facing serious threat from sea erosion with the adjoining park and surrounding areas already washed away by violent waves. The situation is alarming as the shoreline continues to recede rapidly causing damage to public infrastructure and posing an imminent threat to the pilgrim centre visited by hundreds of devotees daily. Experts warn that any structural intervention

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Cancer Conclave 2025, organised by the Association of Medical and Pediatric Oncologists of Kerala (AMPOK), concluded in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. The two-day event brought together over 200 experts from India and abroad for a series of high-impact discussions on pressing issues in oncology. The conclave featured eight key sessions addressing the growing cancer burden in the state, with a focus on emerging trends, future strategies, and barriers to optimal care.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Twelve-year-old Jesna Fathima was vacillating between teaching and medicine as a prospective career when she discovered: If I do engineering, I can do a lot more things. That thought didnt just randomly arise in her mind, rather it resulted from the STEM camp organised in her school by the Centre for Learning Engineering and Sustainable Education and the department of education, under the University of Kerala. Starting in 2023, the centre has been providing training camps in

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George has ordered an investigation into allegations raised by Dr Haris Chirakkal, head of the urology department at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital, a day after he publicly criticised the lethargy of senior officials in addressing critical shortcomings in patient care. Describing Dr Haris as honest and hardworking, the minister on Sunday acknowledged that systemic lapses could have contributed to the delay in resolving issues. Thi

KOZHIKODE: The decomposed body of Hemachandran, 53, a small-time chit fund operator from Sulthan Bathery who was brutally murdered and buried in Cherambadi, Tamil Nadu, has been brought to Kozhikode for DNA test and identification procedures. The body, recovered from a shallow grave in the Cherambadi forest, was transferred to Kozhikode Medical College, where it will remain until DNA tests confirms the identity. Deputy Commissioner of Police Arun K Pavithran revealed that multiple suspects are i

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Sunday lauded his Goa counterpart P S Sreedharan Pillai for setting a new benchmark in gubernatorial responsibilities by using his personal book royalty earnings to fund social welfare initiatives. At the launch of Annadhan, a free meal project, at the Goa Raj Bhavan, Arlekar said Pillai has initiated a new approach in the functioning of governors, moving away from the administrative style of British India. There has been a clear change in the way

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Local Self Government Institutions (LSGIs) in the state are witnessing a decline in waste management performance, raising concerns about the sustainability of the much-lauded Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam campaign. Enforcement and waste collection activities have slowed down following the campaigns peak in March. These LSGIs were declared garbage-free on March 30, coinciding with the observance of Zero Garbage Day. In response, the LSG department (LSGD) has launched a comprehe

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Students and instructors, under the aegis of the Zumba Association, staged a protest zumba at the Secretariat on Sunday against the opposition by some Muslim organisations to the introduction of the dance in schools. During the protest, they also refuted allegations that zumba instructors were not qualified. General Education Minister V Sivankutty, who visited the protest site, said an elected government was in place to decide what should be included in academic and non-acade

KOZHIKODE: Differences of opinion have emerged within Muslim organisations over the ongoing controversy surrounding zumba sessions in schools, with Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) state president T P Abdulla Koya Madani striking a different note. In a veiled reference to the remarks by some leaders of feeder organisations of the Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama and Wisdom Islamic Organisation (WIO), Madani said religious scholars should have shown more maturity before making public statement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb set to retire on Monday, the state government will convene a special virtual cabinet meeting the same day to finalise the appointment of the next state police chief. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is expected to announce the decision after the meeting. Although the UPSC has recommended a panel of three senior IPS officers Ravada A Chandrasekhar, Nitin Agrawal and Yogesh Gupta speculation continues over who will be chosen. Police department sour

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram (BVK) has come out against the state governments introduction of zumba sessions for school students, terming the dance an intrusion and invasion of the cultural identity and tradition of the land. Zumba was imported to counter the increasing acceptance for yoga, alleged BVK director R Sanjayan said in a statement. The organisation also alleged malicious intent on the part of the government in forcing a foreign dance on students in the name of a

KOZHIKODE: The Students Federation of India (SFI) has elected Adarsh M Saji as its new all India president and Srijan Bhattacharya as the general secretary at the 18th All India Conference, held at Sitaram Yechury and Nepaldev Bhattacharya Manch in Palestine Solidarity Nagar (Aspin Courtyard), Kozhikode on Sunday. Both leaders were previously serving as all India joint secretaries in the outgoing central committee and bring years of organisational experience and student leadership to their new r

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Beneficiaries of Medisep, the health insurance programme for Kerala government employees and pensioners, are free to approach the consumer disputes redressal commission, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) has ruled. The commission rejected the argument by the Oriental Insurance Company, insurance provider of Medisep, that complaints against the scheme should be submitted to the Medisep Grievance Redressal mechanism before approaching the consumer commiss

THRISSUR: Residents of Thrissurs Vellikulangara were at a loss of words on Sunday. News of the brutal murder of the newborn babies came as a huge shock to them all, especially the neighbours of Aneesha, the woman who has been arrested in the incident. Aneesha had been staying at the locality with her mother and younger brother. We are all shocked. The family has been staying here for decades and no one ever thought it would do such a thing, said ward member Seeba Alukkal. She said none was aware

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress lacks the moral integrity to speak about protecting the Constitution, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi said. He was speaking after inaugurating the 50th anniversary observance of the Emergency, organised by the BJPs Thiruvananthapuram district committee on Sunday. Secularism and democracy are not in the blood of the Congress. The party amended the Constitution 50 times during the 21-month-long Emergency. Fundamental r

THRISSUR: Police on Sunday arrested a 23-year-old woman and her male friend in connection with the murder of their two newborns over the past four years in Thrissur. The arrests followed a dramatic turn of events on Saturday night when Bhavin, 25, in a highly intoxicated state, walked into the Puthukkad police station carrying a bag containing skeletal remains, reportedly of two infants. According to police, Bhavin, a native of Amballur, told the officers that his girlfriend, Aneesha, had killed

KOCHI: For many of the families of the 51 souls aboard the MV Kairali, time froze on June 30, 1979. While 46 years to the day have painfully passed since the ship set sail from Goa, for them, the vessel is forever afloat, its phantom silhouette perpetually poised to dock. The cruellest trick of the unresolved tragedy is the imagined stasis of their loved ones: Forever young, forever sailing, and never ageing. Closure, a comforting harbour, remains elusive, a horizon that stubbornly refuses to dr

KOZHIKODE: Until a few months ago, most of the 17 tribal musicians now part of the Earthlore Fellowship could have never imagined that their centuries-old songs would travel beyond the hills of Wayanad or the forest fringes of Coorg. For many, music was simply a way of life, performed during harvests, births, or rituals with no thought that these oral traditions would one day be showcased on prestigious stages or recorded for a global audience. The idea of receiving structured training, a stipen

PATHANAMTHITTA: Retirement often is the transition to a quiet, carefree life, but for sub-inspector Shahjahan, of Kollam West police station, it marked the start of a bold new mission. On May 31, after completing 31 years of service in the force, Shahjahan mounted his bicycle and set off on an ambitious 2,025km expedition across the state to raise awareness about the growing menace of drug abuse. Shahjahan, a career officer known for his dedication to public welfare, has always gone beyond the c

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) projects that by 2030, every year cancer will affect 45,813 women and 43,930 men in Kerala. This forecast, shared at the Kerala Cancer Conclave organised by the Association of Medical and Pediatric Oncologists of Kerala (AMPOK), reflects growing concerns among medical experts regarding the increasing cancer burden in the state. In 2024, 43,110 men and 45,008 women were diagnosed with cancer, making the projected

Sunny Joseph belongs to the rare breed of Congress leaders who prefer to keep a low profile and remain in the background. That trait must have played a crucial role in making Sunny Vakeel, as he is fondly called, the partys Kerala president. Close on the heels of assuming office, he led Congress to victory in the Nilambur bypoll. Sunny shares with TNIE his take on the Nilambur success, P V Anvar factor, Satheesanism in the party, larger than life image of Shashi Tharoor, and his optimism about t

KOCHI: In a significant move to better tend to the chronically ill and bedridden, Kerala on Saturday launched the Universal Palliative Care project and the Kerala Palliative Care Grid a tech-enabled initiative that aims to unify healthcare efforts across the state and respond to the rising needs of an ageing population. Inaugurating the initiatives, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said they are a new model of compassionate governance that brings together volunteers, NGOs, healthcare workers, an

KOZHIKODE: Expressing the state governments resolve not to be cowed down by opposition from various Muslim organisations to the introduction of zumba sessions in schools , General Education Minister V Sivankutty said controversy over the initiative will only help grow of communalism and sectarianism. Addressing a press conference in Kozhikode on Saturday, the minister said the exercise was introduced to combat drug menace among the youth. The stand of those opposing it will spread poison in soci

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With incumbent State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb set to retire on Monday, uncertainty looms over his successor as the state government weighs its choices. Though the UPSC has shortlisted three names for the post, the government is reportedly considering appointing an in-charge DGP from outside this panel. Amid the brewing controversy, the government has reportedly sought legal advice on the feasibility of appointing an acting State Police Chief, bypassing the UPSC recomm

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an unprecedented move, the head of the urology department at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, publicly criticised the authorities for their failure to procure essential surgical equipment. Dr Haris Chirakkal, voiced his frustration on social media after multiple surgeries were delayed due to a lack of necessary tools. He expressed disappointment at having repeatedly approached the authorities without success, calling the postponement of surgeries shameful an

KOCHI: Mediapersons working in visual and print media are facing multiple challenges with the development of information technology and the spread of social media, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Kochi on Saturday. Though they are called the protectors of democracy, mediapersons are facing challenges in their work sphere, he said while inaugurating the Journalist Welfare Fund organised by Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) in Kochi. As Indias ranking in the World Press Freedom In

KOCHI: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday inaugurated the LuLu Groups state-of-the-art IT Twin Towers at SmartCity, Kakkanad --- a landmark Rs 1,500-crore project that adds key momentum to the states transformation into a digitally driven, knowledge-powered economy. Strategically located within the SmartCity Kochi SEZ, the 152-metre-tall towers are the tallest and largest IT infrastructure in South India, offering a total built-up area of 3.5 million sqft, with 2.5 million sqft of leasa

KOZHIKODE: Fifteen months after a man went missing from Kozhikode, police said they have recovered his decomposed body from a forest area near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. He was reportedly murdered over a financial dispute. The remains, suspected to be that of Hemachandran, 53, a native of Sultan Bathery in Wayanad, were found buried in Coffee Kadu, which comes under the TANTEA plantation, at Cherambadi in TN on Saturday. Hemachandran reportedly went missing from his rented residence in Mayana

MALAPPURAM: The police have exhumed the body of a one-year-old boy who died due to jaundice at home, for postmortem examination. The deceased child, Esen Erhan, is the son of Hira Harira, an acupuncture practitioner, and Navas, both residents of Pang in Kottakkal, Malappuram. The incident occurred on Friday evening. The health department has confirmed that the baby had jaundice. He died at home without receiving proper treatment. The parents buried the body without conducting a postmortem, which