ALAPPUZHA: The house that once echoed with the political debates and dreams of Kerala's first woman minister, KR Gouri Amma, is set to be transformed into a museum and study centre. Kalathilparambu house in Chathanattu, Alappuzha, which witnessed many defining moments in the state's political history, including discussions that shaped the landmark Land Reforms Act, will soon open its doors as a living memorial to one of Kerala's most iconic leaders. The state government has sanctioned Rs 2 crore

PALAKKAD: A resort owner who had been absconding after allegedly assaulting and keeping a man from a tribal community in captivity has surrendered before a court in Mannarkkad, police said on Sunday. According to police, the accused, Prabhu (40), owner of a resort at Edukkupara in Muthalamada, surrendered before the Special Court for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Cases in Mannarkkad on Saturday. The incident took place on August 21, when police rescued Vellayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The head of Kerala Universitys Sanskrit department has been booked for allegedly making casteist remarks against a research scholar. C N Vijayakumari, head of the department and dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Karyavattom campus, was booked under the stringent SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act by the Sreekaryam police. The FIR was registered on Saturday based on a complaint by Vipin Vijayan, who alleged that the professor had used casteist slurs against him since

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police have found that the driver of the car, which hit the car in which Finance Minister K N Balagopal was travelling, was under the influence of alcohol. The incident occurred around 10:15 p.m. on Saturday at Vamanapuram, Venjaramoodu, while the minister was traveling from Kottarakkara to Thiruvananthapuram. The driver has been identified as Mathew Thomas (45), a native of Elanthoor, Pathanamthitta. Medical tests conducted after he was taken into custody confirmed alcohol c

PALAKKAD: In the quiet heart of Koottanad in Palakad district, a bookseller has chosen to mark his son's wedding not with spectacle, but with the silent grace of literature. Kurungattu Valappil Subair, the gentle soul behind the 35-year-old bookstall 'Books and Periodicals', has brought out a special collection of Malayalam short stories titled Sadaram , a book that breathes friendship, gratitude, and the scent of ink from a lifetime among words. The book, a private edition, will be gifted to ev

PALAKKAD: Three young men were killed and three others were seriously injured after their car lost control and overturned near Kallingal junction on Chittur Road late Saturday night. The accident occurred around 11 pm when a wild boar suddenly darted onto the road. The victims have been identified as Rohan (24), son of Ranjith from Nooradi Road, Rohan Santhosh (22), son of Santhosh from Noorani, and Sanoosh (19), son of Santhakumar from Yakkara. All three died on the spot. The injured Adithyan

GURUVAYUR: Reliance Industries Chairman Mr. Mukesh Ambani visited the Guruvayur Temple on Sunday morning, offered prayers to Sri Guruvayurappan, and completed the holy darshan by making an offering at the sopanam steps. Following his temple visit, Mr. Ambani met with the Devaswom (temple administrative body) officials. He formally handed over a cheque for Rs 15 Crore as the first installment of his donation towards the construction of the Devaswom Multi-Specialty Hospital. Mukesh Ambani arrived

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A high-level committee chaired by the chief secretary on Saturday granted in-principle approval for various infrastructure development projects amounting to Rs 1,441.24 crore under NABARDs Rural Infrastructure Development Fund Tranche 31. The projects were recommended considering the normative allocation of Rs 550 crore under the tranche. Projects worth Rs 159.64 crore were approved for the forest department, including the construction of Rapid Response Units, forest station

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a state-wide inspection Operation Haritha Kavacham, the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) found large-scale corruption and irregularities in 59 offices, including 27 Revenue Divisional Offices and 32 Deputy Collector Offices. The inspection revealed serious violations of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, with wetlands and paddy fields being illegally removed from the state databank for conversion and sale. The Vigilance received information t

KOZHIKODE/MALAPPURAM: The UDF is going ahead with its seat-sharing deal with the Welfare Party of India (WPI) in Malappuram for the local body election even as some Muslim organisations are trying to convince the fronts leadership about the danger of joining hands with the political wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami. Under the arrangement, the UDF will allocate seats to the WPI in all local bodies where the latter already has a foothold. In return, the WPI will extend its full backing to the Indian Un

KOCHI: A video of students singing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Gana Geetham during the inaugural journey of the third Vande Bharat train has sparked a major controversy. The video, initially shared by Southern Railway with a caption students singing patriotic songs, was later taken down following widespread criticism. The video shows students singing the song, associated with the RSS, in the train. Politicians from across the spectrum have condemned the incident, accusing the railways

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 67.03 crore belonging to the Popular Front of India (PFI), taking the total value of attached assets to Rs 129 crore so far. The properties attached include SDPIs land in Thiruvananthapuram, the Education and Culture Trust in Pandalam, the Islamic Centre Trust in Wayanad, the Periyar Valley Charitable Trust in Aluva, and the Valluvanadan Trust in Palakkad. The PFI has been accused of working against the nation, con

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The artwork of Vaiga V K, a Class IX student of Government Ganapath Vocational Higher Secondary School, Feroke, has been selected for this years Childrens Day stamp, issued annually by the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare. Vaiga won the first place in the state-level competition held for students from LP to Higher Secondary on the theme A nurtured childhood, a protected childhood. She won first place in the final round among 296 contestants with a painting that shows ch

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Operations of online taxi companies Uber and Ola in the state are illegal, Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar said here on Saturday. He said the state government has framed a policy in line with the Central law regulating online taxi aggregators, and companies must obtain permission from the State Transport Authority (STA) to operate legally. The minister said only Rapido has so far applied for approval, while Uber and Ola have not registered under the new policy. Online tax

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Major political parties, except BJP, expressed concerns over the timing of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Kerala, at a meeting of political party representatives, convened by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rathan U Kelkar on Saturday. The parties pointed out that it coincides with preparations for the upcoming local body elections and may affect both processes. Party representatives highlighted that booth-level officers (BLOs) lack adequate train

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pilgrims coming to Sabarimala for darshan without virtual queue booking may face inconvenience and long waiting times, the state police have informed. In a detailed press release on Saturday, the police informed that virtual queue booking is essential for darshan. Devotees should strictly adhere to the time slot allotted in the booking. Spot bookings are very limited. Therefore it is not possible to accommodate all devotees arriving without virtual queue booking. Also, pilgri

KOCHI: Keralas first interstate Vande Bharat and its third overall running from Ernakulam to Bengaluru was flagged off on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did the honours from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, via videoconference. He also flagged off three other new Vande Bharat services. The train that will run from Ernakulam Jn to KSR Bengaluru will begin its service from Tuesday. Connecting nine stations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, it will cover its one-way journey in 8 hours 40 minu

His journey from the village of Vilakkupara in Kollam district to the Oscars has been nothing short of cinematic. Resul Pookutty, Indias ace sound designer and filmmaker, was appointed chairperson of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy last week. An alumnus of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), he prefers to call himself an independent artist. TNIE catches up with the Academy Award-winner as he shares his thoughts on life, filmmaking, and the evolving challenges of t

KOCHI: In a realisation of the prayers of the sisters of the Congregation of the Teresian Carmelites and the hopes of the residents of Ochanthuruth, thousands of faithful gathered on Saturday at the Vallarpadam Basilica to witness the beatification of Mother Eliswa, the first nun of the Catholic Church in Kerala. Cardinal Sebastian Francis , special representative of Pope Leo XIV and bishop of Penang, Malaysia, officially proclaimed Mother Eliswa as blessed. The cardinal read out the declaration

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Excise Minister and senior Congress leader M R Reghuchandrabal passed away at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram early Saturday. He was 75. Reghuchandrabal served as the Excise Minister in the K Karunakaran Cabinet in 1991. He was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly twice--from Kovalam in 1980 and from Parassala in 1991. Earlier, he had also served as the president of Kanjiramkulam panchayat. He was known for personally engaging in excise enforcement activ

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: To promote sustainable urban development and improve the quality of life in the city, the Thiruvananthapuram corporation has partnered with K-DISC, KILA, and Social Alpha under the Innovations in Sustainable Urban Transition initiative supported by the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF). The collaboration comes under K-DISCs One Local Government, One Idea (OLOI) programme, which helps local bodies implement innovative and transformational projects. The partners hav

KOCHI: With only hours left for the beatification of Keralas first nun, Venerable Mother Eliswa who established the first indigenous religious congregation for women (TOCD), all eyes are on Koonammavu on the outskirts of Kochi where she lived for 43 years. However, apart from its association with this saintly woman, who also established the first convent school and boarding school for girls in Kerala in 1868, not many are aware that Koonammavu is the only place in India to be closely associated

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Both CPM and Congress locked horns over Jamaat-e-Islami relationship with CPM secretary M V Govindan accusing the Jamaat e Islami of becoming the ideological leadership of UDF. At a press conference on Friday, Govindan accused the UDF of becoming the epicentre of communal alliance. The Kozhikode DCC presidents statement that there would not be an open alliance with Jamaat e Islami shows that both Congress and the Jamaat would have an alliance in secret. Satheesan has already

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The newly constituted 16-member core committee set up to oversee the preparations for the upcoming elections has dramatically reshaped the power balance within the state Congress. The emergence of a new faction openly aligning with AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal has intensified the internal fighting for the next chief ministerial post should the UDF return to power. This prompted the high command to introduce a new system. Regaining power in Kerala after

KOCHI: The Supreme Court order directing states to remove stray dogs from public places and rehabilitate them in shelters after conducting sterilisation and vaccination in accordance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules has landed the state government in a tight spot. At a time when Kerala is preparing for the local body elections, it will be a Herculean task for the government to implement the order within the stipulated time. The state has to file a compliance report before the apex court

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The family of a patient who died after allegedly being denied proper treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, has accused the hospital of medical negligence. They claimed that the patient, who had suffered a heart attack, was not provided with a bed or pain relief despite his critical condition. K Venu, 48, an autorickshaw driver from Panmana in Kollam, died of heart failure on Wednesday night after reportedly waiting five days for an interven

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Putting an end to uncertainties and inordinate delays, the state government has finally given in-principle approval for the first phase alignment of the long-pending Thiruvananthapuram Metro Rail project. The 31-km-long corridor will stretch from Pappanamcode to Enchakkal, covering 27 stations and connecting key points, including all three phases of Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Thampanoor bus terminal, central railway station, Secretariat and medical

PALAKKAD: The State School Science Festival 2025 commenced in Palakkad on Friday evening with General Education Minister V Sivankutty announcing major reforms, including the introduction of a gold cup for the festival from next year and an increase in prize money. He has also put forward a proposal for a unified school prayer song based on constitutional values and scientific temper. The minister said the prayer proposal would be presented for public discussion to ensure inclusivity and prevent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reaffirming the governments stand against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) policy, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is on a visit to Gulf countries, held discussions with representatives of Malayali organisations and leading figures from the social and cultural spheres in Kuwait on Thursday. The meeting held at the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel focused on key issues affecting the Malayali expatriate community. Participants called on the state government to oppose the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 23-year-old male lion-tailed macaque, Raman, died at the Thiruvananthapuram zoo on Friday morning following injuries suffered in a fight between two macaques earlier this week. The incident occurred on Wednesday when zoo staff were shifting the macaques to another enclosure for cleaning. During the process, two macaques became aggressive and attacked each other, leaving Raman seriously injured. Although his external wounds were treated, veterinarians later detected internal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Tumkur railway station in Karnataka will soon be sporting a new look and its elegant design has turned many heads. Not many know that it was developed by a Kerala-based company KIIFCON, consultancy arm of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). KIIFCON has been entrusted with the design of the new station building, parking facility - both four storey structures - and Type -II quarters for officers. After various phases of clearance, the design of the stat

KOCHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the new Vande Bharat Express to Kerala -- between Ernakulam Junction and KSR Bengaluru -- through videoconferencing on Saturday. The main event will be held at the Banaras railway station in Uttar Pradesh, from where the Prime Minister will flag off four Vande Bharat services -- Banaras-Khajuraho, Lucknow Jn-Saharanpur, and Firozpur Cantt-Delhi, besides the Ernakulam-Bengaluru train. This will be the third Vande Bharat service for Kerala and the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Caught in an unenviable situation in the wake of controversies surrounding Sabarimala, the CPM appears to have pushed its way out with a surprise pick for the post of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president. Former chief secretary K Jayakumar, a veteran in handling the administration in Sabarimala, will be the new TDB president. The official order is expected to be issued after the chief minister returns from abroad on Saturday. Once appointed, he will assume office immedia

MALAPPURAM: Can you imagine the Congress joining hands with the CPM to challenge the IUML in the elections to a panchayat in Malappuram? Defying coalition dharma, the Congress is flirting with the CPM, floating Janakeeya Munnani, in Ponmundam to take on the IUML which is the dominant force in the panchayat. Neither ideological differences nor the UDF unity have come in the way. That too when the CPM has only a modest presence in the panchayat. Both the IUML and the Congress have never shared a c

KOCHI: If Keralas non-banking financiers were a country, they would rank 16th in the world for gold reserves right after Portugal and ahead of the United Kingdom, Spain and Austria. Together, Kerala-based non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) now hold a glittering 381 tonnes of gold, a stash that surpasses the official reserves of several European nations and testifies to the states enduring obsession with the yellow metal. The combined holdings of major gold-loan giants Muthoot Finance (208

Micheal Gleich has been on a quest to understand the denouement of human existence. The nuances of final farewells always intrigued him. Fascinated by the existentialism behind it and the numerous ways of bidding adieu, the Berlin-based journalist sought to explore how different cultures viewed life and death. Silence Alive: The Global Culture of Farewell, a photo exhibition currently on display at the Museum Park captures this exploration in a visual journey. Coordinated by Goethe-Zentrum, Thir

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 23-year-old male lion-tailed macaque, Raman, died at the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo on Friday morning following injuries sustained in a fight between two macaques earlier this week. The incident occurred on Wednesday while zoo staff were shifting the macaques to another enclosure for cleaning. During this process, two macaques suddenly became aggressive and attacked each other. Raman sustained serious injuries in the scuffle. Although his external wounds were treated, veterinar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted a search at the Nemom Service Cooperative Bank, where irregularities worth Rs 97 crore were allegedly detected earlier this year. Officials from the EDs Kochi office took part in the proceedings. The bank, which was governed by a CPM-led panel, has been at the centre of controversy, and the EDs intervention has acquired political overtones as it comes just ahead of the local body elections in the state. The controversy bega

KOCHI: Keralas investment drive under the Invest Kerala Global Summit has crossed a major milestone with the foundation stone of the 100th project being laid at Chununganveli near Aluva. The project a Rs 250-crore A-grade warehousing and logistics facility promoted by NDR Space Pvt Ltd forms part of Keralas total Rs 36,000-crore investments garnered through the summit held in February this year, said Industries Minister P Rajeeve. Speaking at the ceremony, the minister said the states investme

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ive been running this ice cream cart at Shankhumukham beach for the past 18 years. I started street vending to raise my child - this is my only source of income. Yet, both the Centre and the state neglect us. Every time theres a programme, we are chased away. Dont we have the right to earn and live with dignity? asks Geetha (name changed), a street vendor. According to local trade unions, nearly 150 vendors operate along Shankhumukham beach, supporting around 500 families. Bu

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Renewable Energy Regulations 2025 released on Thursday, has capped the prosumer-friendly net metering facility for domestic solar plants up to 20 KW capacity. Under net metering system, excess energy fed by the prosumer to the grid can be used by them to offset the power they consume from the grid, thereby reducing their overall electricity bill. The regulations, brought out by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) will be in force till March 31, 2030

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who arrived in Kuwait on Thursday for a two-day visit, received a warm welcome from the Kuwaiti leadership and the Indian community. Kuwaits Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah received the chief minister at the Al Bayan Palace. Kuwaits Finance Minister and Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) chairman Saad Al Mukhaizeem was also present. During the meeting, both sides recalled the historical ties between

KOZHIKODE/MALAPPURAM: Apparently fearing a backlash from Hindu and Christian voters, the UDF has decided not to go for an open state-level alliance with the Welfare Party of India, the political wing of Jamaat e Islami in the local body elections. However, there are indications that the front will have local-level understanding with the WPI. DCC president K Praveen Kumar said that the UDF has decided that seat sharing will be done only among the constituents of the front. Asked whether the IUML

KOCHI: Indian Navy has fully transformed from a Buyers Navy to a Builders Navy, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said on Thursday. Commissioning INS Ikshak, the large hydrographic survey vessel built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers at Kochi Naval Base, he said the Navys growing operational capabilities underscore Indias role as the first responder and preferred security partner in shaping a free, open and inclusive global commons across the region. Pointing out tha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With all major processes in the run-up to the local body polls being completed, decks have been cleared for the declaration of election by the State Election Commission any time now. State Election Commissioner A Shajahan told TNIE that the exact poll dates will be finalised after a final review of security preparedness with the police. The last major process was fixing reserved posts for the heads of councils of various local bodies and the corresponding notifications were i

NEW DELHI: Hailing the Kerala High Court interim order restraining physiotherapists and occupational therapists from using the Dr prefix , a doctors body said this would prevent professional misrepresentation and ensure the public is not misled on the qualifications of healthcare professionals. The Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR) said the interim direction reinforces the position that the title Doctor is protected under the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916, and

KOCHI: Kerala, Gods Own Country, is slowly earning a new, less favourable tag Taxi Unions Own Territory. For a state that has precious little manufacturing muscle, tourism has long been its golden goose. But that goose is beginning to look bruised, thanks to the growing menace of taxi and autorickshaw drivers unions who have decided that they, not the law, get to say who drives whom. At beaches, hill stations and even airports, visitors are being greeted not with smiles and kathakali murals, bu

KOCHI: As Catholics across the globe celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope, seeking the renewal of the conflict-ridden world, a Malaysian cardinal with Malayali roots is in Kochi as a pilgrim of hope to discover the multi-faceted personality of the first Keralite nun and foundress of the first indigenous religious congregation for women, who will be beatified on November 8. Speaking to TNIE, Cardinal Sebastian Francis of the Diocese of Penang termed his visit to the home state of his parents as a p

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The KPCC has shortlisted three more names to be added to its list of general secretaries. KPCC president Sunny Joseph has submitted the draft list to the Congress high command, and the final list is expected to be announced shortly. The names proposed for inclusion are Maryapuram Sreekumar (Thiruvnanthapuram), Sooraj Ravi (Kollam) and Abdurahman Kutty (Thrissur). With these additions, the total strength of the general secretary panel will go up to 62. Maryapuram Sreekumar, wh

KANNUR: As theyyam season has returned to the sacred groves (kavu) of north Malabar, the clash between ancient ritual and modern media has reached a flashpoint. Vloggers and social media influencers are swarming the courtyards to capture reels and videos, prompting the temple administrations to restrict photography and videography inside the thirumuttam the most sacred ritual space. This years season began on October 27, and was marked by an untoward incident at a Kuthuparamba kavu where overcr