IDUKKI: With the demand for local fruits rising during the winter tourist season, farmers in Vattavada are growing strawberries extensively on their farmlands and earning good money by reaching out to customers directly through farm tourism. A kilogram of the fruit is sold to tourists at Rs 600. Visitors can buy 250g of strawberries for Rs 150, and there are also value-added products made from the fruit, such as jam, squash, and wine. A 200g jar of jam is priced at Rs 150, while a half-litre bot

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Raising concerns, two tiger deaths were reported in Kallar Range of Achankovil forest division in a month. The carcasses were discovered on December 31 and January 18 during routine forest inspections. Officials said theres nothing unusual about the deaths as one of the animals died due to old age while the other got killed in a fight with another tiger. Postmortem of the animals were conducted by a special committee formed by the South Zone Chief Forest Conservator, adhering

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government on Tuesday suspended Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (Central Zone) P Ajayakumar and Ernakulam District Jail Superintendent Raju Abraham pending an inquiry following complaints that businessman Boby Chemmanur received special privileges while lodged at the district jail in Kakkanad, Kochi. The suspension order was issued on the basis of an inquiry by DIG Prisons (Headquarters) Vinodkumar M K on the direction of Director General of Prisons & Correctional Ser

PATHANAMTHITTA: Dismissing news reports that Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan was invited to the 130th edition of the Maramon Convention, the Mar Thoma Church -- which conducts the annual event -- has said his name was discussed initially as a Yuva Vedi speaker considering his biblical interpretation and oration in recent times and not because of his politics. Joseph Mar Barnabas Suffragan Metropolitan, president of the Yuvajana Sakhyam, told TNIE that Satheesans appointment was sought as he i

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what is certain to stir up ripples in the state politics, the CAG has rejected the Kerala governments contention that pandemic-time exigencies had forced it to procure PPE kits at a very high price when the state was in the grip of Covid-19. In its report, Performance Audit on Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services, which was released on Tuesday, the CAG said PPE kits were purchased for Rs 550 apiece on March 28, 2020. Just two days later, another p

KOCHI: The much-awaited project to build a conventional metro system in Thiruvananthapuram is set to make headway with the state government expected to fix the final alignment by the end of this month. In that regard, the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has already submitted multiple alignment suggestions, its managing director Loknath Behera told TNIE. The alignment suggestions include the one prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Ltd, which is purely on a technical basis. Now, the government has to ana

KOCHI: The acute travel woes of hundreds of Lakshadweep islanders are set to worsen further as yet another ship will be taken out of service for dry-docking on February 2, leaving only a small vessel to connect Kochi with the islands. While passengers are crying foul over the lack of periodic maintenance, and poor planning that led to four of five vessels being rendered out of service, the Lakshadweep administration authorities promise to deploy back two of the main ships by March before the sum

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state legislative assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the draft UGC Regulations 2025 in the wake of concerns raised by state governments and academic experts and to come up with a new set of regulations only after taking into account the opinions evolved through detailed discussions with them. The assembly noted that the UGC's draft regulations allows the exclusion of academic experts and facilitates the selection of persons f

KASARAGOD: Kasaragod District Crime Records Bureau DySP Johnson K J, who previously served as investigating officer in the Sharon Raj murder case, said he was confident in the prosecutions pursuit of capital punishment given the heinous nature of the crime, which had been deemed rarest of the rare. He emphasised the meticulous efforts of police in not only gathering compelling scientific evidence but also linking it to the crime. The officer highlighted the thorough probe into the juice challeng

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ending all debates over the CM post, the just concluded Congress Political Affairs Committee in a statement categorically declared that it is the party high command which decides the CM. It is the agenda of certain media to start a discussion on the CM post, the PAC observed. It was also decided that the PAC would meet every month and decide the partys position on different issues by holding discussions with leaders. As part of the decision to activate the actions of Mission

KOCHI: Nefertiti the first sea-going luxury cruise liner of the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) raked in an impressive revenue collection of Rs 1.35 crore in December, thanks to the KSRTC, which has emerged as its top client for the first time. Its a win-win scenario for both the state-run agencies. The KSRTCs Budget Tourism Cell brought us a revenue of Rs 30 lakh last month with its Nefertiti tour package. The next best performer was a travel agent, bringing us a bus

KOCHI: An 11-month-old boy died mid-air on board a flight from Doha to Kochi in the early hours of Tuesday. The baby, identified as Fezin Ahmmed, was travelling with his mother when he developed sudden sickness mid-air on the Gulf Air flight. The toddler was rushed to the Angamaly Little Flower Hospital as soon as the flight landed in Kochi, said an airport official. However, the baby was declared brought dead by the doctors. The family hails from Kodithodi, Arimbra, Malappuram. The Angamaly pol

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Convicted for the murder of Sharon Raj, S S Greeshma on Monday became the youngest person in the state to receive the death sentence. The 24-year-old is the third woman to be awarded the death penalty and the second woman on death row in the state. Rafeeqa Beevi, convicted in the Mulloor Santhakumari murder case last year, is the other woman awaiting capital punishment. With the announcement of the quantum of sentence in the Sharon murder case, there are now 35 people on deat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Only one with the mind for extreme brutality can carry out a similar crime against a boyfriend or husband while in love, the Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court observed, while awarding the capital punishment to S S Greeshma. The court said Sharon Raj was killed inch by inch, adding that Greeshma had previously attempted to murder Sharon by giving him juice spiked with paracetamol pills. Greeshma actively sought to prolong the victims suffering, to cause extreme pain befo

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Until recently, he was the toast of ordinary Congressmen and an influential section of party leaders. Buoyed by the Congress victory in a string of recent by-elections in the state, he was all set to lead the UDF in the 2026 assembly election, besides being tipped as the chief minister if the front forms the next government. But V D Satheesans apple cart was upset at the Congress Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting on Sunday with a slew of leaders, with the tacit backin

IDUKKI: For generations, they stayed ignorant about their rights. Despite lacking basic, infrastructural and medical facilities, members of the Muthuvan tribe, inhabiting the forest ranges of Idukki, hardly raised their voices simply due to ignorance. However, the formation of Adivasi Muthuvan Samudaya Sangram (AMSS), a first-of-its-kind outfit working for the Muthuvan tribe in the state, a few months ago brought a change in their lives by inspiring them to unite and protest against the denial o

KOCHI: Can a Team India cricketer who has several international and franchise commitments walk into their state team irrespective of whether they have attended a training camp for a tournament like the Vijay Hazare Trophy or Ranji Trophy? On Monday, Mumbai announced its squad for the Ranji Trophy game against Jammu and Kashmir, and Rohit Sharma, who is struggling for form after a disastrous tour of Australia, walked into the team after nearly a decade. And going by reports, Virat Kohli has made

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Greeshma, who was awarded capital punishment in the Sharon murder case , is the youngest person in the state to receive the death sentence. She has become the third woman to be sentenced to capital punishment and is the second woman on death row in the state. Rafeeqa Beevi, awarded capital punishment in the Mulloor Shanthakumari murder case last year, is the other woman convict on death row. With the verdict in the Sharon murder case, the total number of inmates on death row

KOCHI: Kerala is attending the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting at Davos (Jan 20-24), as the CPM-led government continues its efforts to engage with global leaders and multinational giants to invest in the state. This is the first time that Kerala is participating in the World Economic Forum, held at the Swiss ski resort of Davos. WEF, which is into its 55th edition this year, is hosting some of the world's wealthiest and most powerful people. Industries Minister P Rajeeve, who is lea

Greeshma, the primary accused in the Sharon murder case , remained impassive as the Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court sentenced her to death on Monday. With her head bowed, Greeshma stood motionless as the judge delivered the verdict and observations. The third accused, Nirmalakumaran Nair, sentenced to three years in prison, also had no reaction. Before the verdict, Sharons parents were called to the front by the court. As the judgment was announced, they broke down, clasping their hands

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the local body elections draw near, the enforcement activities by local self-government institutions (LSGIs) for waste-related violations are yet to gather steam, raising concerns over achieving the zero-garbage status for Kerala by March 30, 2025. The local self-government department (LSGD) as part of the high-octane campaign Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam aiming to transform Kerala into a garbage-free state has launched a week-long anti-littering initiative. LSGIs have b

KOZHIKODE: Shocking information has come to light in the primary investigation into the incident in which a 25-year-old youth hacked his mother to death at a relatives house at Puthuppady near Thamarassery on Saturday. The accused Ashiq, a drug addict, stated that he killed his mother Subaida Kayikkal, 53, of Adivaram, as punishment for giving birth. He is Subaidas only child. The police said Ashiq took a machete from the nearby house and slashed Subaidas neck. He used to ask his mother for mone

KOCHI: The recent series of unnatural deaths among teenagers across the state has placed the spotlight firmly back on unhealthy tendencies within the demographic. While it is virtually impossible to pinpoint the exact cause, most of the deaths have been linked to trauma or other psychological factors. These tendencies are most often seen in children studying in the eighth grade and above. Familial issues such as poor interpersonal relations, sparse communication within the family, lifestyle prob

KOCHI: It has been two years since the excise department received clearance for a dedicated de-addiction centre for women and children in Ernakulam district, but the project remains a non-starter. Excise officials cite non-availability of space and staff for the delay, even as narcotic cases involving the demographic are seeing a rise. It was in 2022, that former excise minister M V Govindan gave the green light for the de-addiction centre in Ernakulam. The department initially planned to start

THRISSUR: Ashtapadi songs when the sanctum is closed for rituals is an ancient tradition still in practice at the Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayur. For several years, it has been the right of certain families in and around Guruvayur to sing Ashtapadi for Lord Krishna. However, the Guruvayur Devaswom has scripted history by appointing a person from an Other Backward Classes (OBC) community to the post. Nandhakishore, 24, a resident of Atholi in Kozhikode district, joined as the Ashtapadi singer a

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a strong warning to warring leaders in the state, Congress Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi has said there is no point in continuing in her post if there is no unity within the leadership. Her warning came in the partys political affairs committee (PAC) meeting on Sunday. The statements of some leaders point towards lack of unity in the party. Then there is no use in me continuing in the post. Congress has to win both the 2025 local body and 2026 assembly elections, Deepa

KOCHI: A month after the appointment of a committee to finalise the contours of the withdrawal of Tecom Investments from the joint venture, the Kerala government is set to take over the SmartCity Kochi project in a move that enables the government access to the 246-acre IT park at Kakkanad. Tecom, a subsidiary of Dubai Holding, held 84% stake in SmartCity Kochi, while the state government held 16%. The expert committee -- comprising Kerala State IT Mission director Sandip Kumar, Infopark CEO Sus

PATHANAMTHITTA: As many as 57 of the total of 59 people accused in the sensational case of alleged sexual abuse of a Dalit girl in the district , have been arrested so far, police said on Sunday. Since the first case in this regard was registered at Ilavumthitta police station on January 10, all the listed accused, except two who are currently abroad, have been arrested through a comprehensive probe, district police chief V G Vinod Kumar said. A 25-year-old youth was the last person who was take

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union governments education reforms are aimed at giving more freedom in studies to students, Union Minister George Kurian has said. He was speaking after inaugurating the new building of Jyothis Central Senior Secondary School at Attingal. The new reforms will help students obtain PhD after degree education. It helps in early employment, he said. Jyothis Group of Schools chairman S Jyothis Chandran presided over the function. CBSE regional director Mahesh D Dharmadhikari

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The International Childrens Summit on Cleanliness is a revolutionary step in education, General Education Minister V Sivankutty has said. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the two-day event focusing on zero waste management, at the Nishagandhi Auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. Organised by the Kudumbashree Mission, the summit brought together over 750 Bala Sabha members, with 80 essays prepared by children on environmental issues being presented through

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has cancelled the driving licence of a tourist bus driver involved in the accident at Nedumangad on Friday night that killed one and injured over 40 persons. Additionally, the fitness certificate of the vehicle has been revoked, while procedures are on to cancel its registration and permit. The driver, Renju, of Ottasekharamangalam, who was absconding after the incident, was nabbed from his friends residence on Saturday morning. He suffered

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid criticism that the party state unit is in deep slumber, the KPCC leadership has asked all DCCs to hold district core committee meetings on the first Saturday of each month. In a circular sent to all party office-bearers, the PCC has asked all constituency core committees to call a meeting on the second Saturday of every month. On the last Saturday of every month, the district core committee should convene to review the meetings of all core committees. The state core comm

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Waste management in the state capital has gone haywire with the Tamil Nadu government imposing more restrictions on the cross-border movement of food waste to pig farms. Private service providers engaged by the corporation and the Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) members deployed for door-to-door collection of biodegradable waste are cutting down on regular services, landing residents and bulk-waste generators in the state capital in a fix. Authorities have been flooded with complain

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The prosecution has sought the death penalty for S S Greeshma, the prime accused in the Parassala Sharon Raj murder case , highlighting the gravity and premeditated nature of the crime. The Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court, which concluded arguments on Saturday, will pronounce the sentence on Monday. During Saturdays hearing before Judge A M Basheer, the prosecution sought capital punishment, describing the crime as one of the rarest of rare cases. Special public prose

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government will direct unaided schools following the state syllabus to strictly adhere to the common academic calendar followed in government and aided schools, General Education Minister V Sivankutty told TNIE. He said that the government is also planning to take stern action, such as revoking the no-objection certificate (NOC) of unaided schools, that collect huge sums as donation during admission. Sivankutty said the government has decided to crack the whip on unaided

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has issued an order giving primary permission to Oasis Commercial Private Limited to establish a unit at Kanjikode in Palakkad to produce extra neutral alcohol and other liquor products. The taxes department in its order dated January 16 has stated that permission has been given based on the governments decision to promote production of extra neutral alcohol in the state and give permissions to distilleries and units which come forward for it. The decisio

KOCHI: Dramatic scenes unfolded in front of Koothattukulam municipal office on Saturday as a CPM councillor was abducted and held captive for seven hours allegedly by members of her own party over suspicion of defection. Councillor Kala Raju, representing Koothattukulam ward, who arrived at the municipal office to attend a discussion on the no-confidence motion moved against the LDF, was allegedly dragged and forcibly pushed into the car of the municipal chairperson and taken to CPM area committ

The state governments declaration of the internet as a basic right made headlines. Can you tell us the context of that move and the status of the free internet connection project? Kerala was one of the first states in the country to announce the internet as a basic right to its citizens. Other countries, such as Finland, have made the internet a basic right. Food, shelter, clothing, and bandwidth are the new norm. We cant live without these four now. That was an important announcement by the gov

KOCHI: In the wake of the Chendamangalam murder in which a 27-year-old killed three of his neighbours, experts point to the wrong perception that police cannot initiate any action against people with psychiatric issues. In fact, the law states that police should take protective measures to ensure that people with mental illness dont become a threat to themselves and others. Following the murders of Kizhakkumpuram residents Venu, 65, his wife Usha, 62, and their daughter Vinisha, 32, neighbours c

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an effort to effectively deal with incidents of human-wildlife conflicts, the forest department has identified nine local bodies which are highly critical. A decision has been taken to give special attention to issues faced by the high-range population. Going by the latest assessment, two municipalities - Mananthavady and Sultan Bathery - in addition to seven panchayats - Aralam, Kuttampuzha, Noolpuzha, Panamaram, Thavinhal, Thirunelli and Thondernad - fall in the very hig

KANNUR: Police have booked a doctor from Pinarayi who has been identified as the driver of the SUV that reportedly obstructed the passage of an ambulance carrying a critically ill heart patient at Eranholi in Kannur on Thursday. The patient later died en route to hospital. After the ambulance driver filed a complaint, Kadirur police registered a case against Dr Rahul Raj, a paediatrician at a private hospital. He was arrested on Friday night and released on bail. The motor vehicle department fin

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shiv Sena Kerala units founder and chief M S Bhuvanachandran has left the organisation. He had been leading the state unit of the party for the past 34 years. Bhuvanachandran said he had a disagreement with the working style of Uddhav Thackeray. Bal Thackerays ideals were the inspiration to start the Kerala unit. I am quitting the organisation due to disagreement with the working style of Uddhav Thackeray, he said in a statement. Shiv Sena should not have a politics without H

ALAPPUZHA: A 45-year-old man died and another 55-year-old man suffered injuries after breathing carbon monoxide while they were drinking liquor in a parked car at Poochakkal near Cherthala on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Jossy Antony (45), Kelamparambil house, Thyckattussery, Cherthala. His friend Manoj (55), Ponnampozhi house, Thyckattussery is under treatment in a hospital in Cherthala. According to Poochakkal station house officer P S Subrahamaniyan, the incident happened on Fr

KOCHI: Dramatic scenes unfolded in Koothattukulam municipality on Saturday morning after a CPM councillor was abducted minutes before a no-confidence motion moved by Opposition UDF was scheduled to be taken up for discussion. Councillor Kala Raju was whisked away forcefully in the official vehicle of the municipality chairperson soon after she arrived there, even as several police personnel turned moot spectators. Earlier, Kala Raju had given indications that she would vote in favour of the UDF

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court will deliver its verdict in the Parassala Sharon murder case on January 20. The court concluded final arguments ahead of sentencing on Saturday. While the prosecution demanded the death penalty for the accused, the defense sought leniency, arguing that the maximum punishment should be life imprisonment, considering the age of the first accused, Greeshma. The sentencing arguments began at 11 am on Saturday, with Judge A M Basheer pr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Art is what makes life bearable. These words by Friedrich Nietzsche guide the veteran artist George R from Thiruvananthapuram who believes in the deep connection between art and life. A lover of both science and literature, George explores human connections through his paintings. Now, he is back with his latest collection, Touch , a series born from the idea that touch is the essence of life, the language of survival, and the force that connects beings and to themselves. Duri

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Loyola College of Social Sciences has officially announced its transition to autonomous status during a formal ceremony held on its campus at Sreekaryam near here on Friday. The launch of the newly introduced four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUGP) was also celebrated on the occasion. Starting from the 2025-26 academic year, the newly introduced undergraduate programmes on offer are: BCom Finance and Accounts with CA and ACCA, BCom FinTech and AI, BCom Logistics and Supply

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The states food safety laboratories are on track to receive accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in the microbiology category, with the inauguration of a new microbiology laboratory at the Government Analysts Laboratory here on Wednesday. Health Minister Veena George announced that NABL accreditation for all three labs will be achieved within a set timeline. This recognition is expected to boost the states standin

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The opposition Congress has stepped up criticism against the LDF government for giving permission to Oasis group of companies to start a distillery unit in Kanjikode. Leader of opposition V D Satheesan questioned the criteria on which the company was given the permission. Why was this company given permission? he asked. The owner of the company had been arrested in connection with the Delhi liquor case. A case had been registered against the company for polluting groundwater

KOLLAM: Supplyco has discontinued its Supply Kerala delivery service introduced to offer doorstep delivery of essential goods. The service was phased out due to limited customer engagement with the app for online purchases. Launched by the civil supplies department, the Android app aimed to ensure fast delivery of essentials, particularly in rural areas. However, it garnered just three orders and fewer than 500 downloads over the past three years. Via the app, customers could place orders by sel