The New Indian Express News

KOCHI: In a significant setback for the prosecution, the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court on Friday sentenced all six convicts, including prime accused Pulsar Suni, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in the 2017 actor abduction and rape case. The prosecution had strongly argued for life imprisonment for all the accused, particularly Suni, but the court held that this was not a case warranting the maximum sentence. All six convicts will now be shifted to Viyyur Central Jail in Thrissur. De

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kollam Vigilance court has turned down the bail plea of former Travancore Devaswom Board president and ex-MLA A Padmakumar , who has been arrested in the Sabarimala gold theft case . A former MLA from Konni and CPM Pathanamthitta district committee member, Padmakumar was arrested on November 20 by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the theft of gold from the door frames of the sanctum sanctorum. Padmakumars counsel argued that his custody was no longe

KOCHI: The verdict on the quantum of punishment for the six convicted men will be pronounced at 3:30 pm, following intense arguments from both the prosecution and defence earlier in the day. Tense and emotional scenes unfolded at the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court on Friday as the trial court prepared to deliver its judgment in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case. The long-running trial saw multiple rounds of evidence, witness statements, and legal challenges before the court

PALAKKAD: The residents association of Builtech Summit Apartments, Kunnathurmedu, has handed over a formal notice directing MLA Rahul Mamkootathil to vacate his rented flat by December 25, citing persistent inconvenience caused to other occupants. The decision was taken at a residents meeting held the other day, and the notice has already been served to the MLAs assistants. The MLA has reportedly agreed to comply and will soon begin moving out his belongings. Rahul took the flat on rent during t

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The massive Rs 495-crore redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station, the principal hub of the capital city, is advancing at a rapid pace. Comprehensive development activities are in progress to transform the station with a modern architectural design and upgraded passenger-friendly facilities. The major works have been divided into two distinct segments, the construction of the north block at the Thampanoor side and the south block at the Power House Road sid

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command Marshal Manish Khanna on Thursday visited the Technopark and interacted with industry leaders and startups with a focused interest in the defence and aerospace sectors. Technopark CEO Col Sanjeev Nair (Retd) received Air Marshal Manish Khanna and presented an overview of the states IT sector and about the Kerala Defence Innovation Zone (K-DIZ). Kerala stands as Indias most digitally empowered state where a thriving startup

KOCHI/BRAUNSCHWEIG: A new Indo-German study has offered some of the clearest proof yet that when the gut falls out of balance, the brain suffers too especially our ability to learn and remember. Published in the journal BMC Biology, the research shows how long-term antibiotic use, unhealthy diets, stress and poor sleep can disturb the gut microbiome, setting off an inflammatory chain reaction that eventually reaches the brain. The study was led by Dr Baby Chakrapani P S of the Centre of Excelle

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Retelling the rich legacy of endless love for cinema, the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will begin on Friday with 11 films. Making a bold political statement, Palestine 36 , directed by Ameenah Jaleel, will be screened as the inaugural film at the Nishagandhi Open Theatre at 6pm. The World Cinema category will also be launched on Friday, with the screening of Emmanuel Finkiels Marianas Room, Erkan Yazicis Fragments from the East, and Thomas

PATHANAMTHITTA: After the heavy footfall witnessed on Monday and Tuesday, Sabarimala recorded a marginal decline in the devotee turnout on Wednesday, with 74,928 pilgrims offering darshan at the hill shrine. Thursday also saw a moderate flow of devotees. With this, the total number of pilgrims who have visited the hill shrine during the Mandalam season has crossed 20 lakh. A large share of the pilgrims arrived over the past two days was from other states, and nearly 30,000 devotees had completed

KOCHI: The countrys only biennale, a spectacular showpiece of Asias largest contemporary art event, is poised to enter its sixth edition, promising expansive and immersive art experiences for nearly four months from Friday by turning the Kerala port city into a site for dialogues around emerging global perspectives. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) will feature 22 venues besides seven collaterals, significantly widening the socio-historical as well as political footprints of Indias new-age art e

KOCHI: The prosecution is set to seek three life terms for accused numbers one to six, who were convicted in the 2017 actor abduction case, with the Ernakulam Principal and Sessions Judge scheduled to conduct the sentencing hearing and pronounce the quantum of punishment on Friday. On December 8, the trial court found the first six accused, Sunil aka Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh V P, Salim H aka Vadival Salim, and Pradeep guilty. The court acquitted actor Dileep, stating that

KOZHIKODE: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan succeeded in setting the agenda for discussion on the second phase of polling to local bodies on Thursday by shifting the whole focus to the Rahul Mamkootathil issue and thereby diverting attention from all other issues the opposition wanted to raise. What are these womanisers in the Congress doing? Why were the survivor women not ready to come forward with complaints. This should be viewed seriously. There were threats that they would be killed. The vi

BENGALURU: A 22-year-old MBA student from Kerala has died by suicide leaving behind a death note mentioning three mobile phone numbers and details of a bank account.The deceased has been identified as Jagan Mohanan, a second year MBA student at a private college in Soladevanahalli. He was a native of Vadakara in Kozhikode district. The reasons behind the suicide are yet to be ascertained. The police suspect that the student must have taken the extreme step following blackmail and threats from un

MALAPPURAM: At 75, most candidates prefer to stay anchored at their base camp on polling day. But in Ponmundam, BJPs Malappuram district panchayat candidate Ali Haji was anything but still. From the moment voting began, he was on the move walking briskly between booths, checking turnout, greeting familiar faces and offering quick reminders to voters he spotted along the way. By mid-morning, he had covered several booths. By afternoon, he seemed to be everywhere. Wearing his trademark smile, Ali

CHOORALMALA: For the hundreds displaced by the devastating Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides, the local body election on Thursday was less about political mandate and more about a desperate, heartfelt reunion. As the community, scattered across districts and state borders, returned to cast their votes, the polling booths became tearful meeting points for old neighbours who had lost everything. To facilitate the voting process for the displaced community, the district administration arranged eight

KANNUR: While most of Kannur was immersed in the intensity of election day, the cantonment area of Kannur corporation remained on the sidelines, watching the flurry of activities from a distance. For, the residents of cantonment area of the corporation have not participated in a local election since 2015, the year the last Cantonment Board polls were held. As the rest of the district engaged in the democratic exercise, people in the regions could only observe the excitement around them. The cant

KOZHIKODE: Early morning, while at her home in Eravattur, 109-year-old Manikkoth Omana Amma had only one concern: When will you take me to vote? Her simple but firm question set the stage for one of the most touching moments this election day. Despite her age and frailty, Omana Amma was determined not to miss her chance to vote. By 3:45pm, she was on her way to booth number 2 in ward 18 of Perambra panchayat, travelling in an autorickshaw with her family and neighbours. The journey wasnt easy fo

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A series of houseboat accidents across Alappuzha and Kottayam districts has triggered concerns over tourist safety and exposed serious regulatory lapses in Keralas iconic backwater tourism sector. On Wednesday, a family of four miraculously escaped after the houseboat they were staying in capsized at Kumarakom. All occupants were rescued safely. Experts are calling for urgent government intervention to curb illegal operators, enforce compliance, and strengthen safety protocol

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As curtains for the International Film Festival of Kerala set to rise on Friday, top-guns are set to give the prestigious 30th edition a miss. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state Chalachithra Academy chairperson Resul Pookutty will not attend the inaugural event, to be held at the capitals Nisagandhi auditorium in the evening. The noticeable absence of Resul Pookutty from the international festival has already triggered discussions within film circles. Despite this bein

PALAKKAD: In a dramatic end to weeks of political turbulence, expelled Congress Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil who vanished from public view soon after a woman approached the Chief Minister on November 27 with a sexual harassment complaint surfaced briefly on Thursday evening to cast his vote in the second phase of the local body elections . Mamkootathil appeared at St. Sebastians School in Kunnathurmedu North (ward 24) around 4.50 pm, choosing the near-empty final hour of polling to avoid pu

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha witnessed a protest during the Zero Hour on Thursday by the CPI(M) over allegations of spurious and substandard medicines in Kerala. The protest began when Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisham launched a blistering attack on Keralas drugs control department, claiming that recent raids across the state had exposed the widespread availability of counterfeit and poor-quality medicines. As soon as Congress MP Hisham made her allegations, CPI(M) MP John Brittas and others sharply

NEW DELHI: Noting the continuous deadlock between the Kerala chief minister and the governor, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked a committee headed by Justice (retd) Sudhanshu Dhulia to recommend one name each for appointing vice chancellors in two technical universities. The top court was hearing the matter related to the appointments of VCs of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology. A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An overall voter turnout of 63.8% was recorded at 3 pm in the second phase of the local body polls in seven northern districts of the state. Electors are choosing representatives to three tier panchayats in rural areas as well as municipalities and corporations in urban areas. The districts in which polling is being held in the second phase are: Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. Voting is being held in 18,274 polling stations from 7 am

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The second phase of polling in the crucial local body elections commenced in seven districts of Kerala on Thursday morning with the turnout crossing 8 per cent in the first two hours of voting. Voters began casting ballots from 7 am at the 18,274 polling stations in the districts of Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. Polling will conclude at 6 pm. People of all ages and professions, including political leaders, queued up at polling stati

KOLLAM: Three people died after the autorickshaw in which they were travelling collided with a bus at Anchal in the wee hours of Thursday, police said. The deceased were identified as Akshay (23), Jyothi Lakshmi (21) and Sruthy Lakshmi (16), all residents of Karavaloor. According to police, the autorickshaw driven by Akshay lost control and hit a bus carrying Lord Ayyappa devotees from Andhra Pradesh. The devotees were returning after their Sabarimala pilgrimage when the accident occurred around

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The trial court verdict in the actor assault case has sparked widespread debate across the state amid calls for solidarity with the survivor. On Wednesday, people from various walks of life gathered at Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram to express support to the survivors long fight for justice. A solidarity meeting, under the banner #Avalkoppam (With Her), held there in the evening had cultural figures, social activists and students in attendance. CPI state secretary Bi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A major fire broke out at a resort on the North Cliff in Varkala on Wednesday, partially destroying the structure and triggering panic among tourists and local residents. The blaze was reported around 1.56pm at Calaila Boutique Stay. No casualties were reported, and all guests staying at the resort managed to escape unhurt. Fire and Rescue Services personnel rushed to the spot, but the fire tender could not be brought to the site due to the narrow access route. A fire personn

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: How far will you go for a vote-- a few kilometres, a ten-minute drive? Meet Arya Sasidharan, who travelled for over 32 hours, all the way from Australia to Thiruvananthapuram to cast her vote in the local body election. Arya, who made the trip with the sole aim of exercising her franchise on Tuesday early morning, will return to Australia next Monday to continue her Geology PhD studies at James Cook University in Queensland. Initially, I was a bit sad that I couldnt be here f

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the ABC programme coming to a grinding halt following the Supreme Courts recent directions, the state government has issued fresh instructions amid rising stray dog attack incidents, clarifying that the lack of animal shelters cannot be cited as a reason to stop sterilisation and vaccination drives. After the Supreme Court order of November 7, the local bodies across the state had suspended vaccination and sterilisation drives, as the direction was to move the dogs to sh

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With over 206 films from 82 countries ready to be screened across 26 categories, the Capital city is all set to welcome cinema lovers from across the world from Friday for the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala. Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award in the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Five of his films, including the Oscar-nominated Timbuktu and Golden Bear-nomina

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, it was the turn of Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan to challenge Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for a public debate on his criticism against the Oppositions baseless objection towards development projects in Kerala. The chief minister can fix the date and place for the public debate, he said in a statement issued on Wednesday. Setting the agenda for the local body election for LDF, CM had unleashed criticism against UDF on issues

KOLLAM: The Kollam Vigilance Court on Tuesday adjourned to December 17 the hearing on the Enforcement Directorates (ED) plea seeking certified copies of documents related to the Sabarimala temple gold theft case. The adjournment came after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) sought more time to file its written objection. The SIT denied that the delay in filing its objection was deliberate, countering the EDs allegation that it was attempting to stall proceedings. Both the government and the SI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Discussions between Governor Rajendra Arlekar and the state government on the selection of permanent vice-chancellors to two state universities ended in a deadlock on Wednesday, paving the way for the Supreme Courts direct intervention in the appointment process. It was on the basis of the apex courts directive to both parties that discussions were initiated to pick VCs for the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and the Digital University Kerala (DUK). The possibi

ALAPPUZHA: Representatives of Erumeli Vavar mosque visited the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna temple on Sunday to offer annadanam (community feast) in connection with the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrim season of Sabarimala shrine. The event marked the 21st day of the offering and sharing of food organised by the Ambalappuzha Yogam Petta Sangam at the temples ootupura. Vavar mosque has been sponsoring one days annadanam at the temple for the last 15 years, fostering a strong message of communal harmony

PATHANAMTHITTA: Feeling the chill of the Western Ghats and the lush scent of Shola forests, pilgrims to Sabarimala embark on a spiritual trek like no other, crossing over grasslands. The Satram-Pulmedu traditional forest path offers pilgrims a fusion of devotion and wilderness, where nature and faith seem inseparable. With chants of Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa echoing through the slopes of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, the devotees walk under the watch of the forest department, police, and health teams

MALAPPURAM: With the deadline to upload waqf property documents to the UMEED portal expiring last Saturday, uncertainty now hangs over the future of thousands of waqf property in Kerala -- particularly those mired in long-standing disputes. Waqf protection groups say most of the pending entries involve properties locked in legal or historical conflicts, some dating back decades and others to pre-Independence lease arrangements. Many mahals are unable to submit proof of ownership because original

PALAKKAD: For Chandran Chamy, knowing is believing. And, as an independent candidate in Palakkads Chittur Thathamangalam municipality, he redefined grassroots campaigning with his information activism. In the run-up to the second phase of local-body elections on December 11, as party cadres flooded neighbourhoods with glossy pamphlets, manifestos, and attacks on rivals, the 54-year-old went door-to-door with something far more unusual -- government orders secured through his own relentless use o

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Voter turnout has been slipping across successive local body elections in Kerala and the first phase of polling in the states southern districts has reinforced the trend. All seven districts posted a uniform 3% dip, offering a clear preview of the statewide trend. Notably, voter participation figure in these districts have dipped to levels lower than those recorded in 2020, a year marked by the Covid crisis. Pathanamthitta, known for its large NRI population and chronically l

KANNUR: In the popular imagination, Kannur, the home turf of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPM state secretary M V Govindan, former state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and senior party leaders E P Jayarajan, P K Sreemathi and K K Shailaja, is almost synonymous with the communist party. Here, everything boils down to politics and all discussions invariably progress along party lines. CPM holds sway in a majority of local bodies in the district; there are even councils where its candidates ar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: From exhaust notes to melodic scores, a group of KSRTC employees are looking to tune themselves up for runaway success. The 18-strong musical ensemble -- named Ganavandi will debut on Thursday at the Uchakkada Sree Durga Sree Dharmashastha temple, on the outskirts of the capital city. The musicians were assembled as part of an enterprising move to break the monotony of work and generate additional revenue for the corporation, which continues to struggle with its finances. Th

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court is set to examine the alarming revelations in the anonymous letter that predicted the verdict in the 2017 actor abduction and assault case a week before it was pronounced. The administrative committee of the HC comprising the Chief Justice and four other senior-most judges will meet on Thursday. At the meeting, it is expected to consider the matter in view of the communication sent by the president of the Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA). The anonymous

KOCHI: Amid controversies surrounding the actor-abduction case verdict, the probe team that filed charges against the suspects expressed confidence that all the accused including actor Dileep who was acquitted in the case will be convicted in the higher courts when the appeals are considered. Though the trial court may not have considered some of the evidence submitted by the prosecution, we believe the higher courts will, said a top source with the SIT. As part of the investigation, we collec

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The coastal belt of Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation saw chaotic and uneven voting on Tuesday as thousands of residents turned out for the local body polls. Many voters struggled to find their assigned polling booths, while others discovered their names were missing from the voters list, forcing them to return home without casting their votes. Local activists estimated that 60 to 100 voters were absent from each polling booth in the coastal wards. Vishnu M, 31, who arrived

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Election fervour gripped the city on polling day, and Technopark, home to nearly 80,000 employees across more than 450 companies, was no exception. The usually bustling IT campus ran with minimal staff as many professionals left their desks to cast their votes. Most companies followed employee-friendly policies in line with Election Commission directives, offering leave, work-from-home options, or flexible hours. Client support teams were allowed to adjust schedules without w

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tribespeople of Thodumala ward in Thiruvananthapuram's Amboori grama panchayat are grateful to the government for the Kumbichal bridge. The newly-opened, but yet-to-be-inaugurated bridge has significantly cut down the travel time of the residents of the ward's 11 tribal settlements and also reduced their dependency on boats their lone mode of transport until now. However, as the capital's tribal belts cast their votes in the local body elections on Tuesday, one question ling

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major relief for Rahul Mamkootathil- MLA, the additional district and sessions court has granted him anticipatory bail in a second rape case registered against him on the complainant of a 23-year-old woman. Rahul's counsel had swiftly moved the pre-arrest bail after the High Court granted him protection from arrest in the first rape case till a verdict is given on his anticipatory bail plea, which is scheduled to be heard on December 15. The pre-arrest bail plea was move

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday categorically stated that he would not accept an award named after VD Savarkar, nor attend a related event, even as a senior party colleague wanted the Congress MP to not accept any honour named after the ideologue whom he claimed owed before the British. Tharoor said that he will not accept the Veer Savarkar Award and also won't attend the event where it will be presented in the absence of clarifications about its nature or the organisation prese

Pantones Colour of the Year is usually a global signal, a preview of what shades people may gravitate toward. But 2026s pick, a billowy, balanced white called Cloud Dancer, feels unusually intimate. It arrives at a moment suspended between overstimulation and exhaustion, a shade that feels like a welcoming, clean canvas amid complex times marked by grim, jarring notes. Yet, choosing white has triggered one of the most polarised reactions Pantone has seen in years. Recent selections carried mood

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For a city long shadowed by its reputation for lacklustre polling, Thiruvananthapuram seemed to slip deeper into that pattern on election day. In the citys upscale neighbourhoods, where voter apathy has become almost ritual, the silence was unmistakable. By noon, turnout still hovered stubbornly below 30%, a telling sign of the indifference that had marked the morning. At the Kowdiar LP School, nestled in one of the citys quietest upscale pockets, the polling station wore a u

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first phase of local body elections began on Monday amidst crises and uncertainties across the capital district. In a critical incident, election ink applied to voters forefingers at the Sasthamangalam ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation faded within minutes. Sources from Booth 2 of the Raja Kesavadas NSS Higher Secondary School polling station reported that the ink was diluted, causing it to disappear quickly. In the same ward, a female voter was not permitted to