IDUKKI: A four-year-old playschool student died in a tragic accident on the premises of Girijyothi CMI Public School, Vazhathope, on Wednesday morning. The victim, Hazel Ben, a resident of Thadiambad, was allegedly run over by a school bus around 9 a.m. Hazel had arrived in a different vehicle and was walking towards her classroom with a friend when a bus reversing inside the courtyard allegedly hit both children and ran over Hazel. Staff members immediately rushed the two to the Idukki Medical

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by filmmaker V M Vinu, fielded as Mayoral candidate of Congress in Kozhikode Corporation, seeking a directive to the district collector to consider his appeal against the removal of his name from the voters' list. While dismissing the petition, Justice PV Kunhikrishnan said, Simply because the petitioner is a celebrity, there can be no preference to him. He's only an ordinary citizen of this country. When the petition came up

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rathan U Kelkar on Wednesday said that stringent legal action will be taken against those who obstructed the work of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Malappuram and Idukki districts. BLOs are constitutionally nominated officers working for the Election Commission. We have asked the district collectors to initiate strict criminal action against whoever obstructs this work, as per Section 121 of the BNS, the CEO said at a press conference here. He ad

THRISSUR: Even though there are numerous campaigns across the country sharing survival stories of people diagnosed with cancer, in Kerala it still remains a taboo to talk about the disease. Whether within extended families or among close friends, there is an aversion to speak openly about cancer diagnosis and treatment. For Satyan Warrier, an IT professional residing in Athani, this became clear when he had to face the situation himself. This experience inspired him to write the book CanSwar , d

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dense fog at Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo) on Wednesday morning led to the diversion of two international flightsa SriLankan Airlines service from Dammam and a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbulto the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The Turkish Airlines flight, carrying 258 passengers and 10 crew, landed in Thiruvananthapuram at 6.42 am and departed for Colombo at 8.38 am. Similarly, SriLankan Airlines flight UL-254, with 180 passengers and eight c

For many men, this moment in time feels both liberating and unsettling. They are learning to shed rigid gender roles within relationships even as society continues to judge them by an outdated set of metrics: the pay cheque, job title, and the ability to provide. While some groups view the man as provider and the woman as homemaker, many men across age groups say they no longer see themselves in that framework. In a culture shaped by patriarchy but nudged increasingly towards equality, the contr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nearly 19 DPharm and BPharm students of Kerala Academy of Pharmacy, Kandala, have decided to go on hunger strike against the managements reluctance in releasing their SSLC and Plus 2 certificates despite repeated requests. The students had decided to drop out of the college due to alleged lack of facilities and poor attitude of the authorities. Multiple students said they took the decision nearly four months ago, but have been stuck as the college has refused to release their

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the local body election campaign moves to the second phase, the UDF will release its manifesto for Thiruvananthapuram corporation this week. Congress campaign chief K Muraleedharan said the document focuses on voter priorities, fixing drinking-water shortages, repairing roads and improving waste management, and not just on high-tech promises. We are taking our pledges door to door. First we produced a chargesheet on the LDFs corporation rule, now we will present our manife

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two youths have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 19-year-old youth who was stabbed to death on Monday while trying to stop an argument over a football match. The Cantonment Police arrested Sandeep, 27, of Jagathy and Akhilesh, 20, of Kunnukuzhi. A minor student is also in police custody. The 16-year-old boy from Jagathy is being questioned. Sandeep and Akhilesh, who are the sixth and seventh accused in the case, are currently under arrest. Sandeep, who has bee

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Murajapam-Lakshadeepam festival, held once in every six years, will begin at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple on Thursday (November 20). The inclusion of Atharva Veda in the murajapam, the ritualistic chanting of vedas, will be a novelty this year. The 56-day-long festival involves the recital of vedas culminating with the Lakshadeepam, lighting of one lakh lamps, on the Makar-Sankranti which falls on January 14. In the past editions, only Rigveda, Samaveda and Yajurveda w

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition seeking a directive that the votes of persons with mental disabilities be recorded digitally on a separate electronic voting machine while they cast their votes in the 2025 general election. Justice P V Kunhikrishnan said that the persons with mental illness or persons with intellectual disabilities are also citizens of this country, and they are our brothers and sisters. We should hold them close to our hearts and not insult them by treating

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state police have booked a UK-based woman and her husband under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly trying to indoctrinate her 16-year-old son to join ISIS. The Venjaramoodu police registered the case against the boys mother and stepfather based on his statements. The matter came to the polices attention after the woman lodged a complaint against the teen accusing him of molesting his younger sister. It was filed in apparent retaliation to the boy leavi

MALAPPURAM: At 54, when most people begin to slow down, Thavanur native Salim is picking up speed. A lifelong coconut picker who spent decades battling financial setbacks and personal responsibilities, he never imagined that his second innings would unfold on the athletics track. Yet today, this late bloomer stands as one of Keralas most inspiring masters athletes a national gold medallist now training his way to the 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea. Salim spent

PATHANAMTHITTA: An unprecedented surge of devotees in the opening days of the Sabarimala season caught the authorities unawares, throwing crowd management arrangements haywire and leaving pilgrims stranded in queues for over 10 hours without food or water on Tuesday. Many of them collapsed from exhaustion. More than two lakh pilgrims reached Sannidhanam in the first 48 hours of the season, far exceeding the daily quota of 90,000 (including 70,000 virtual queue bookings). Till noon on Tuesday alo

PATHANAMTHITTA: Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham, one of the largest organisations of Ayyappa devotees, alleged that it had repeatedly warned authorities about the need for robust crowd management well before the pilgrimage season began. In the light of heavy rush at Sabarimala as soon as the pilgrim season began, they alleged that the government was busy with damage control over the gold theft controversy and failed to address the basic requirements at Sabarimala. Pointing out that several

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid apprehensions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and lingering doubts that exclusion from the final voters list could create grave trouble in future, several major mosques in the state have opened help desks to assist the public in completing the formalities. Thiruvananthapurams Vallakkadavu mosque - one of the biggest jamaaths in the state comprising about 25,000 members - was the first to take the initiative. It set up a help desk in the first

KOZHIKODE: The administration committee of the Elambangottu Kavu Shiva temple in Kunnummakkara, Vadakara, has reversed its controversial decision to bar members of the backward Malayan community from performing a decades-old percussion ritual. The move comes in the backdrop of legal pressure and public backlash over caste-based discrimination. The controversy stemmed from the committees decision last year to exclude a Malayan family comprising brothers Sudheesh M, Vinodhan M, and Ratheesh M, an

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In Keralas political landscape, local body elections have become a crucial precursor to the assembly polls that are held soon after. The results of the civic polls over the past three decades have shown that the front that sweeps the local bodies often goes on to capture power in the state. Except in 2000, when LDF and UDF were almost tied in terms of the number of local bodies won, and in 2010 when UDF registered its only clear victory, all other local body polls went in fav

KALPETTA: The local body elections in Sultan Bathery municipality have escalated into a pivotal political confrontation, acting as a critical barometer for the UDF and LDF ahead of the assembly polls. The result here will not simply determine local council control but will send a political signal regarding the resonance of corruption allegations and the UDFs ability to recover from internal setbacks. Two interconnected issues are posing challenge to the Congress-led front. First is the recent de

KANNUR: In the village of Palanad in Koodali panchayat, a simple paddy field has unexpectedly transformed into a popular photography spot in the election fervour, drawing curious local residents and party workers alike. The centre of attention is a striking CPM party symbol featuring the hammer, sickle, and star, carefully crafted using grass by 58-year-old P Madhusoodanan. The grass-art installation stands out not just for its 25-ft size and precision, but for the dedication behind it, turning

KOZHIKODE: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is facing an unprecedented internal revolt in Kozhikode. Traditionally characterised by its strict organisational discipline, the party is broiled in accusations of unilateral decisions in candidate selection and apathy from its state leadership. The deepening crisis, which includes multiple resignations and electoral pacts with rivals, challenges the IUML ahead of the upcoming polls. At the centre of the storm is IUML state vice-president M C May

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ahead of the local body elections, senior BJP leader V Muraleedharan speaks to TNIE about the partys position on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), of electoral rolls, the recent controversies related to officials poll-related workload, and the BJPs expectations, particularly in Thiruvananthapuram. Key excerpts: BJP was the only party that supported implementing SIR amidst the local body elections. Recently, a BLO in Kannur died by suicide, and his family claims it was due

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The prolonged suspension of young IAS officer N Prasanth has emerged as a rare and contentious episode in Keralas bureaucratic history, with the duration stretching beyond one year. The ongoing tussle between Prasanth, a 2007 batch IAS officer, and Chief Secretary A Jayathilal has drawn significant attentionnot only within the IAS fraternity but also across social media, where Prasanth enjoys considerable popularity as Collector Bro. Prasanth was originally placed under suspe

KOCHI: The Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), Keralas century-old labour cooperative famed for its transformative role in community-led development, has been honoured as a Global Cooperative Cultural Heritage Site by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA). The announcement, made at the iconic Itamaraty Palace in BrasliaBrazils Ministry of Foreign Affairs, designed by Oscar Niemeyerplaces ULCCS among 31 globally significant sites that capture the spirit and legacy of th

KOCHI: The Cardiological Society of India (CSI), Kerala Chapter, has issued a strong statement condemning the circulation of false and misleading media reports across India that wrongly linked Dr Arif Mohammed, a young cardiologist from Kozhikode, to the recent Delhi bombing incident . Several media outlets and social media posts have misused Dr Arifs photograph and identity, causing severe distress to him and those around him. Dr Arif, who is currently working at the Metromed International Card

In Thiruvananthapuram, far from the usual global fashion circuits, a small group of friends are experimenting with socks. The project started three years ago. They never imagined how far the idea would eventually take them. Now, the project has turned into Haspo a brand that exclusively designs socks. Hapso didnt begin as a business idea at all. It grew out of an art community called Happyccino, formed five to six years ago by engineers, designers, photographers, and self-taught artists who sim

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a shocking incident, a 19-year-old was stabbed to death after he intervened in a clash that broke out between a group of youngsters on Monday near the Shri Dharma Shastha Temple at Thycaud. The deceased has been identified as Alen, a resident of D-47, Thoppu, near Aristo Junction. Cantonment Police have taken four youths into custody following the incident. The incident took place around 5 pm. According to the police, about 30 youngsters had gathered near the temple after

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Human Rights Commission has directed the state government to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation to a construction labourer, who was subjected to custodial torture by a sub-inspector earlier attached with Varkala police station. The directive issued by SHRC chairperson Alexander Thomas said the government can deduct the amount from the police officer. Suresh Koyippad, a native of Chathannoor, was beaten up by then Varkala SI P R Rahul on August 30, 2022. Suresh sustained

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seeking to regain control of the political narrative after the suicide death of Anand Kumar Thampi and another suicide bid by a BJP woman worker triggered criticism from the Congress and the Left, the BJP on Monday kicked off a statewide signature campaign demanding a detailed probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case and alleged irregularities in other temples. The campaign was launched at the Pazhavangadi temple in Thiruvananthapuram, with the party targeting to collect one

MALAPPURAM: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters list in Kerala ahead of the local body elections. Rajya Sabha MP Haris Beeran will present the partys plea before the court, making the IUML the first political party in the state to legally challenge the SIR. The petition raises concerns over the SIR notification itself, stating that conducting a radical revision of the electoral roll si

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the State Election Commission to consider the appeal filed by Vyshna Suresh , the Congress candidate for the Muttada division of the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, against the deletion of her name from the voters list, and to pass an order on or before November 19. Justice P V Kunhikrishnan made it clear that a 24-year-old woman should not be denied her right to participate in the election on mere technical grounds. In these types of cases, the wi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Solution to stray dog menace, taking extreme poverty eradication to the next level and jobs to women are among the promises LDF made in its manifesto for local body elections released in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. The manifesto also accused the Congress of adopting a soft Hindutva stand and joining hands with communal elements like Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI. The manifesto said as a further step in eradicating extreme poverty from Kerala, the government would take steps to f

KANNUR: The Congress has alleged that booth-level officer (BLO) Aneesh George, who died by suicide on Sunday, was pressured by the CPM. Releasing audio of a phone conversation between the BLO and Congress worker and booth-level agent (BLA) Vyshakh at a news conference here on Monday, DCC president Martin George said that BLAs deputed by political parties are supposed to accompany BLOs to help identify households. However, instead of sending the BLA, CPM deputed its branch secretary Chandran to a

PATHANAMTHITTA: The special investigation teams (SIT) probe in the Sabarimala gold theft case has entered a decisive phase, with officers carrying out scientific examination at the Sannidhanam on Monday. The team, led by SP Sasidharan, removed the gold-clad plates from the sanctum sanctorum as part of the scientific examination to determine the purity and quantity of gold. The process, suggested by the Kerala High Court, was carried out in compliance with court directives. Officials said the pro

KOCHI: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will operate three buses every minute on the Pampa-Nilakkal route during periods of heavy rush for the ongoing Sabarimala pilgrimage season. It has deployed a total of 450 buses in the first phase, focusing on both the critical chain service and long-distance routes. A total of 202 buses have been brought to Pampa for the chain service, a fleet which includes both low-floor AC and low-floor non-AC buses. As the pilgrim count increases, K

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While migration remittances remain one of the key contributors to the states economy, the wives of male expatriates appear to have little workforce participation within the state. A new study by independent researcher Nafeesath K A, to be presented at the Annual International Migration Conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, found that not even one-fourth of the highly educated women from migrant households are taking part in the states workforce. The study, carried out

KOCHI: A 28-year-old from Attingal who was assigned female at birth, identifies as a transgender man and has undergone gender-affirming treatment including hormone therapy and double mastectomy in 2023 is currently involved in a landmark legal battle. Hari Devageeth is seeking the right to cryo-preserve his gametes (egg cells) for use at a later stage in life. In a petition filed before the Kerala High Court, Hari stated that he has not yet completed sex-reassignment surgery. Once he undergoes

KOCHI: Ward number 10 aane Safiya Haris sthanaarthee! The catchy line set to the tune of the hit film Lokah has become one of the most viral election parody songs ahead of the local body polls. And Safiya Haris, contesting from ward 10 of Othukkungal panchayat in Malappuram, has gained wide attention, as candidates increasingly use such songs to strike a chord with voters. Besides, parody artists and social media influencers known for their musical content are now busy creating catchy tunes and

PALAKKAD: Palakkad Municipality holds a unique place in Keralas political landscape as the first urban body to be governed by the BJP. Having won in both the 2015 and 2020, the party is now aiming for an unprecedented hat-trick. The UDF, determined to reclaim power at any cost, is tightening its organisational grip, while the LDF has begun preparing for a strong contest with renewed strategy. In the 2020 elections, the BJP won 28 of the 52 seats, improving on its 2015 tally of 24 seats and secur

MALAPPURAM: The ruling party in a majority of local bodies, the CPM faces a dramatically different reality in Malappuram. In this Muslim-majority district, where the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) maintains an unshakeable hold, the CPM is not merely weak, it lacks even a single official party member in 14 local bodies. The organisational vacuum runs so deep that the party often struggles to field candidates on its own symbol. Across several panchayats and municipalities, CPM-backed candidates

MALAPPURAM: In a remarkable shift within the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the young women of Haritha once pushed out of Leagues political arena have now returned as some of the partys most prominent candidates in the local body election. Three former Haritha leadersFathima Tahiliya, Mufeeda Thesni, and T Najma Tabsheerawho were sidelined after they filed a sexual-harassment complaint against MSF state president P K Nawas in 2021 are now being fielded by the IUML in key wards. Once blacklis

Songs have the power to transport listeners to different worlds, stir memories and alter moods. Few voices have done this as effortlessly as Kishore Kumar, and his songs are considered the masters of it. The playfulness of Roop tera mastana , the pain in O majhi re , and the unfiltered romance of Pal pal dil ke pass are just a few examples of his repertoire that spans emotions still influential decades after his passing. A maverick in every sense, Kishore Kumar was not merely a playback singer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The High Court-appointed expert committee has reported damage due to wear and tear for the moolavigraham, the main idol at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The idol is made of a concrete-like mixture called kadusharka-rayogam. The damage includes those to the right chin of the idol, foot finger and reinforcement between the idol and the anantha. There are wear and tear to the lotus that grows from the idols navel and Lord Brahmas idol on top of the flower. The alankarangal or

KOCHI: After nearly 40 days of relentless search for Suraj Lama a Bengaluru resident who went missing in Kochi soon after being deported from Kuwait across every corner of the city, from crowded streets to quiet bylanes and almost every shortcut in between, his son Santon finally returned to Bengaluru late on Saturday. The junior Lama, known among friends and colleagues as Sunny, ended his final search along the inner routes of Aluva and Kalamassery on his rented bike, before quietly handing i

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, V.D. Satheesan has alleged that CPM had a 'role' in the suicide of booth-level officer Aneesh George in Payyannur. He said the CPM leaders threatened the BLO for taking the Congress BLA along for SIR-related activities. He added that the pressure of this threat and the stress due to workload pushed the officer to end his life. He demanded a serious and convincing investigation by the government and said that the Election Commission shou

KOCHI: Vyshna Suresh, the Congress candidate for the Muttada division of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, approached the Kerala High Court on Monday challenging the deletion of her name from the voters list. The court will take up the case today at 1.45 pm. Senior advocate George Poonthottam will appear for the petitioner. According to the petitioner, she and her family were included in the draft voters list published on 29 September. However, she alleged that the Branch Secretary of the CPM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have identified the key witness in the case in which a girl was kicked off a moving train in Varkala . The youth who rescued Archana the friend of the seriously injured Sreekutty and overpowered the attacker, Suresh, a native of Vellarada, was traced on Sunday. The rescuer has been identified as Sankar Paswan, a native of Bihar and an employee with a private firm at the Kochuveli Industrial Estate. His statement has been recorded. The investigation team had earli

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is placing a strong emphasis on improving passenger experience to build loyalty and attract more customers. Following the introduction of air-conditioned waiting rooms at major depots, the corporation is now experimenting with a range of innovative products and services aimed at enhancing its premium offerings. We are committed to offering a world-class travel experience. Along with improving amenities for a more enjoyable journ

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the sun set in the capital city on Sunday, the names of the children who died in Gaza during the Israel-Palestine war echoed through the walls of the Manaveeyam Veedhi. Over 150 renowned faces from the socio-cultural and political spaces of the state expressed their solidarity for Palestine, as they wore a Palestinian keffiyeh and uttered the names of the children who passed away. Marking an end to the Names of Gaza programme, the event had the Palestinian Ambassador to In

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Election Commission has strengthened its vigil against the use of AI in poll campaigns, state election commissioner A Shajahan has informed. Strict steps will be taken against fake pictures and voice messages misusing technology. Candidates and political parties should ensure credibility in campaigning, he said in a statement. The commission has issued clear guidelines in this regard. Provisions of IT Act 2000, IT (Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, BNS 2023, Mo