The New Indian Express News

As the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) this year wakes up to protests over 19 films being stopped from screening, another form of protest comes to mind. The year was 2022, the 27th IFFK, whenIranianfilmmaker Mahnaz Mohammadi was conferred the Spirit of Cinema award. Mahnaz could not attend, having been banned from travelling by her government. Instead, she sent a tuft of her hair, which was displayed on the IFFK stage as a friend accepted the award on her behalf. Back inIran, women

There was a subtle poise on stage as a danseuse with delicate features described the beauty of a lotus in bloom. Her movements gathered pace gradually, building into a swiftness that reflected in her precise footwork. All the while, her expressions balanced with the speed of her moves and never wavered from the imagined lotus held gently in her hands. The performance garnered her applause, and it was also widely featured on social media reels. The balance of emotions, even while showcasing the t

Music streams from the speakers in a vast room brimming with zesty souls. The crowd seemingly transported to a world cut away from the one outside. There is adrenaline josh as they clap hands and sing in unison. There is positivity when the peace of music caresses hearts. The outpourings may seem weird to some and pure joy to others. The gathering is a blend of ages the old, the middle-aged and a whole lot of youth as though time barriers have melted away in waves of music. The presence of you

Over the years, the Students Biennale has evolved into an engaging platform for emerging artists to articulate personal histories and social concerns through contemporary art. Conceived as a space for experimentation, critical inquiry and dialogue, this segment of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale brings together budding artists from across the country, foregrounding works shaped by lived experiences and regional realities. This year, it unfolds across multiple venues in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, in

KOCHI: In a significant boost to Indias defence manufacturing ambitions, Kochi-based SFO Technologies has secured a high-value contract from Thales for the production of complex wired structures for the RBE2 AESA Radar fitted on Indian Rafale fighter aircraft. The contract, which pertains specifically to the manufacture of advanced wired structures, marks an important milestone in Thales Make in India roadmap for the localisation of critical Rafale sub-systems. The order follows Indias recent pr

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court was informed on Thursday that the Kerala Governor and the state government have agreed on names for the appointment of vice chancellors of the A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala University of Digital Sciences. The Attorney General, appearing for the Governor, informed the apex court that the matter had been resolved and that the development duly communicated to Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia. The Supreme Court bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Visw

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed for three months, any proceedings pursuant to the show cause notice issued to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by the ED in connection with the Masala Bonds issue. Justice V G Arun also extended the same interim relief to former state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and Vijayan's Chief Principal Secretary and KIIFB CEO K M Abraham. The order came on the joint plea moved by Vijayan, Isaac and Abraham seeking quashing of the Enforcement Directorate (ED)

KOCHI: An Air India Express flight from Jeddah to Kozhikode, carrying 160 passengers and crew, made an emergency landing at Kochi airport on Thursday morning after it was diverted following a technical snag involving tyre bursts. Air India Express flight IX 398 touched down safely at Kochi airport at 9.08 am under full emergency conditions. Upon receiving the landing information at 8.35 am, CIAL (Cochin International Airport Ltd) immediately activated its Emergency Response Plan. The authorities

KOCHI: Actor Dileeps first wife, Manju Warrier, who has consistently stood by the survivor in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case, had deposed that Dileep was angry with the survivor,an allegation the trial court ultimately rejected. The survivor, too, told the court that Dileep was her one and only enemy. But the trial court rejected these depositions, citing lack of corroborative evidence. Reflecting on the verdict, Manju later wrote on social media: The fact that those who planne

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state cabinet on Wednesday approved a range of welfare, administrative and infrastructure-related measures. The cabinet sanctioned an additional Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund to Bineesh M, a Harbour Rescue Guard from Kasaragod district who lost his leg in an accident during night patrol duty. This is in addition to the Rs 55,000 assistance granted earlier. In a move benefiting employees under the Scheduled Tribes Development Department, the cabin

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Terming the restructuring of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) one of the worst calamities that have hit the poor, social activist Aruna Roy commented that the change is an assault on democracy and an execution order on the poor citizens of the country. The peoples law, which was framed after years of formulation, rejection and examination, cannot be set aside by some law concocted in the ministry of rural development in a few weeks or months, she said. Roy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is preparing to become the first state in the country to set up an electric truck corridor. The proposed corridor will be along NH-66, one of the busiest highways in the state and a major route for transporting goods to ports and industries. The move is part of the Central governments PM E-DRIVE scheme, which aims to promote electric trucks and buses by setting up charging stations along highways. The scheme has an outlay of Rs 2,000 crore for charging infrastructure a

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has opposed the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025 , introduced by the Union Government in Parliament on the grounds that it transgresses upon basic regulations governing universities under the concurrent list. Higher Education Minister R Bindu told reporters here on Wednesday that the Bill, that provides for the establishment of an umbrella commission (VBSA) to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Educatio

KOCHI: Pope Leo XIV gave his approval to the Syro-Malabar Church Synods decision to redraw the boundaries of its 12 dioceses. The approval came during a meeting held between the Syro Malabar Church Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil and the Pope at the Vatican. Mar Joseph Pamplany, secretary of the Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops, and Bishop Mar Stephen Chirappanath, the Major Archbishops Procurator in Rome, were also present with the Major Archbishop during the meeting. During the hour-long mee

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Defusing the crisis related to the delay in giving censor exemption certificates for 19 international films, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has issued the required documents for nine more films, while six more films are yet to receive the nod. Chalachithra Academy vice-chairperson Cuckoo Parameswaran said that only six more films remain to receive censor exemption certificates from the Union ministry, while all others have received the certificates. Naturally, the

PATHANAMTHITTA: The total revenue generated during the ongoing Sabarimala pilgrimage season has reached Rs 210 crore, said Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president K Jayakumar on Wednesday. Of this, Rs 106 crore was earned from the sale of aravana. Compared to previous years, there has been a significant increase in revenue, he noted. Speaking to reporters at the Devaswom Guest House conference hall, Jayakumar said the pilgrimage season had progressed smoothly without major issues. Devotees as

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Regular film festival goers would have noticed this award, a mainstay at IFFK, for its modesty. FIPRESCI (Federation Internationale de la Presse Cinematographique), the international federation of film critics that gives away this award, is entering its 100th year of formation. The FIPRESCI team, in fact, is a regular at film festivals across the world and comprises a team of professional film critics whose choice is valued for its creative, social, and logical content. The i

KANNUR: Sixty-two-year-old Ambujakshi M V is preparing for a rare and deeply significant ritual -- perform the Devakkoothu Theyyam. It is the only theyyam performed by women. In keeping with tradition, Ambujakashi -- a resident of Vengara in Pazhayangadi -- will perform the theyyam after completing a rigorous 41-day period of fasting and spiritual discipline. This is considered essential to attain the purity and devotion required to perform the Devakkoothu Theyyam, which holds a special place in

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Deceased organ donations in Kerala have climbed to a five-year peak, with 21 contributions recorded this year, signalling renewed public confidence in a programme that has often faced criticism. The two contributions were instrumental in pushing the tally to a record high of 21 this year. The surge was driven by the families of two donors who were declared brain-dead in separate accidents. Thiruvananthapuram native K Satheesh, principal of a Higher Secondary School, was one o

KOCHI: In a decision that puts a stamp on the need for inclusive innovation, and, that too right at the university level, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) has formally integrated Social Technology & Research for Inclusive Design Excellence (STRIDE) into its official academic credit system --which was one of the mandates under its 2024 curriculum framework. From the next academic year, BTech, BDes, BBA and BCA students in colleges affiliated to KTU contributing to STRIDEs inclusive

KOCHI: The long-drawn-out widening of NH 66 in Kerala is now targeted for a phased completion between March and August 2026, with most major stretches unlikely to be ready before the upcoming assembly elections. Revised timelines released by the Ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) indicate that the bulk of the work will be completed only by the middle of next year. In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on December 11, the ministry said work is under way on 16 s

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A comprehensive survey by the Suchitwa Mission has revealed serious deficiencies in Keralas flagship Take a Break toilet complexes, with only 190 out of nearly 1,298 facilities managing to secure even a single-star rating. Alarmingly, 46 Take a Break complexes were found to be completely non-functional, raising concerns over maintenance lapses and the sustainability of the initiative that was envisioned as a model for clean, accessible public toilets along highways and major

KOCHI: While the trial court observed that the prosecution was duty-bound to examine prime accused Pulsar Sunis claim about a madam, the chargesheet filed on July 22, 2022, indicated that the special investigation team (SIT) had probed the alleged role of actor Dileeps wife, Kavya Madhavan, in the 2017 actor abduction case. We dont understand why the court made a sweeping observation suggesting that the investigation team did not look into the so-called madam. In addition to investigating about

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Its alarming. Kerala has witnessed a steep rise in cancer cases over the past decade, with annual incidence climbing by 54%, from 39,672 cases in 2015 to 61,175 in 2024. More worryingly, the states per capita cancer incidencecases per 1 lakh populationrose to 173 in 2024 from 114 a decade ago, according to figures from the ICMR-National Cancer Registry Programme. The data was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Union Health Minister J P Nadda in response to a question from DMK MP Kani

The cyber crime wing of the Kerala Police has registered a case against unknown persons over a parody song titled Pottiye Kettiye that circulated during the recent local body elections in the state and allegedly hurt religious sentiments, PTI reported. The parody, based on a popular devotional song dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, makes references to the Sabarimala gold loss case and the alleged role of prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty. According to PTI, the complaint was received on Tuesday by State

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal has stated that the recent changes introduced by the Central Government in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) will impose an additional financial burden of Rs 16002000 crore annually on the state. Currently, the Centre bears 90 per cent of the schemes expenditure. With the contribution reduced to 60 per cent, the state will be forced to shoulder a significantly higher share. Last year, the Centre prov

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The special investigation team has former Sabarimala administrative officer S Sreekumar in connection with theft of gold-plated sheets from the dwarapalaka idols. Sreekumar, who was the administrative officer when the alleged offence took place, was arrested after his anticipatory bail plea was dismissed by the High Court. Following that, the SIT summoned him to the office and registered his arrest. This is the seventh arrest in the case. After TDB's former chief K Padmakumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The second phase of expansion at the Vizhinjam International Port will begin in the second week of January, Ports Minister V N Vasavan announced after a review meeting on Tuesday. He said the exact date would be finalised after consultations with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Adani Group. Preparations for the upcoming phases of construction have already been completed. The Rs 10,000-crore investment by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) will signific

KOLLAM: The judicial remand of A Padmakumar, former Travancore Devaswom Board president, in the case related to the theft of gold plating from the Dwarapalaka sculptures at the Sabarimala temple has been extended by two weeks. The remand period in the related case regarding theft of gold from the door panel of the sanctum sanctorum ends on Thursday. Padmakumars bail plea in the Dwarapalaka case will be considered on December 22. The court has directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to subm

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four days after the verdict in the actor assault case, the survivor met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his official residence at Cliff House on Tuesday. At the meeting, the CM is learnt to have assured her of the governments support, stating that the people of Kerala stand with her. He also said the government would file an appeal at the earliest against the trial courts verdict. He also made it clear that the government would take appropriate action in connection with th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid speculations of Kerala Congress (M) considering options to quit the LDF in the wake of the fronts poor performance in the local body polls, party chairman Jose K Mani made it categorically clear that the party will continue with the LDF. Speaking to the media here, he also rejected reports of his partys poor performance in the polls. The KC(M) has just one stance. We shall remain with the Left front, he said. He also rejected reports about KC(M)s performance. Last time w

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the local body election results, a flex appeared at Thirumala junction We dedicate this victory to our Ani chettan. The person mentioned was Thirumala Anil, a BJP councillor who died by suicide due to financial issues in the cooperative bank he led, two months before the local body polls. However, despite ambiguity over who the voters would choose, the public decided to side with the BJP. Even in neighbouring Thrikkannapuram ward, where BJP member Anand K Thampi

KOCHI: After decades in the shadows, the Malayalam translation of Bram Stokers Dracula first published in 1975 will return to print in January 2026. For publisher Rayan Pushpanath, the rediscovery of the long-lost book felt less like routine archival work and more like cracking a cold case. Written by his grandfather, legendary Malayalam crime and horror writer Kottayam Pushpanath, the translation had virtually vanished from circulation. No major library had a copy. Collectors drew blanks. Eve

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After months-long standoff, Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have finally reached a consensus on the appointment of vice chancellors (VC) to two universities. The governors secretariat on Tuesday issued orders appointing Ciza Thomas as VC of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and Saji Gopinath as VC of Digital University Kerala (DUK). Ciza Thomas and Saji Gopinath were the candidates preferred by the governor and the state government,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF, at its first meeting after the local body elections, on Tuesday, decided to take up a detailed discussion on the poll outcome in the first week of January. At the meeting, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM state secretary M V Govindan did not comment on the election results, leaving the matter to LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan. He told the leaders that the issue would be taken up after the constituent parties complete their organisational reviews. CPM has decide

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sensing a chance to come back to power in Kerala, the Congress high command is set to play a more decisive role in the partys state unit in the run-up to the 2026 assembly election. Following its unprecedented, direct intervention in the recently concluded local body elections, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) is expected to exercise a strong say in key aspects of the assembly polls. Sources said the high command would play an active role in framing strict criteria for

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is likely to hold crucial discussions with the partys central leadership in New Delhi on Wednesday or Thursday to finalise the BJPs mayoral candidate for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Sources said the state leadership has almost settled on R Sreelekha for the post, with the final call to be taken after consultations with the central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Party insiders said projecting Sreelekha as th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A UDF candidate who was reportedly distressed over his defeat in the local body elections died by suicide in Aruvikkara grama panchayat. Vijayakumar, 59, the UDF candidate from Manambooru ward, passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here on Tuesday. Vijayakumar had ended up in the third place in Manambooru ward, securing 149 votes. The BJP won the ward. On Saturday, Vijayakumar allegedly attempted to take his own life by hanging on a tree near his house.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly will host the fourth edition of the Kerala Legislature International Book Festival (KLIBF 4) at the Assembly premises from January 7 to 13. The week-long event will be open to the public with free entry. More than 200 publishers are expected to participate, setting up over 250 stalls across the complex. Visitors will also be given the rare opportunity to tour the Assembly Hall and the Legislative Museum during the festival. The event will bring together re

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Voters of Parassala, the states best panchayat, decided not to choose the front under which the local body attained this title in the Mission Antyodaya rankings. Ending 10 years of Left rule, the UDF has emerged as the single largest majority in the 24-member panchayat with 11 wins: 10 official and one independent candidate. With this, questions have risen about which Left council 2015 or 2020 had contributed more towards Parassalas development. Though no front has a clear

KOLLAM: CPM district acting secretary S Jayamohan on Monday said that attempts to extrapolate local body election results to assembly constituencies were misleading and politically motivated. He alleged that such calculations were being deliberately circulated to demoralise party workers who continue to stand firmly with the LDF in the district. Jayamohan said the LDF currently holds a clear lead in 8 of the 11 assembly constituencies in the district and has secured overall 66,652 more votes tha

The Left government in Kerala on Tuesday directed the organisers of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) to go ahead with the screening of all selected films, openly challenging the BJP-led Centre over its refusal to grant clearance to more than a dozen titles . Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Kerala Chalachitra Academy said the festival would screen all films regardless of whether central clearance had been granted. In a Facebook post, Vijayan described the Centres denial of

KOZHIKODE (Kerala): The CPI(M)'s youth wing DYFI on Tuesday carried out a march to the Changaroth panchayat office here in protest against the alleged purification ritual carried out by IUML activists at the local body a day ago as its former president hailed from the Dalit community, police said. Police said that the protest was peaceful and there was no tense atmosphere prevailing in the area. It also said that the LDF will be holding a protest march to the panchayat office in the evening. Pol

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the screening of 19 international films at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) ran into an unprecedented crisis following the Centres failure to issue censor exemption certificates , acclaimed filmmaker Dr Biju has criticised the festival organisers for what he described as serious procedural lapses. In a Facebook post, Dr Biju said that while there was no doubt that the central government had been increasingly intervening in cinema and the arts, sch

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran has alleged that an open understanding between the CPM and the SDPI in Azhiyoor panchayat of Vadakara reflects the degeneration of the ruling party and demanded that the chief minister respond to the issue. Mullappally said that despite being one of the largest parties in the panchayat, the CPM managed to secure only 10 votes in Azhiyoor first ward and just seven votes in the 20th ward. He claimed this was indicative of a nexus

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A man accused of trespassing into a neighbours house and assaulting a woman has been arrested by the Thampanoor police. Ananthu aka Achu, a native of Kannettumukku in Thampanoor had been absconding since October. Police said he had forcibly entered a neighbours house and assaulted the homemaker before fleeing. Police tracked him down and attempted to apprehend him. On spotting the police team, the accused tried to escape and later attempted to attack the officers with a knife

IDUKKI: Munnar woke up to an unmistakable nip in the air on Monday, with the mercury sliding to a low of 3C at Chundavurrai, while Letchmi Estate recorded 4C and Sevenmallay 5C, according to the latest weather bulletin. The early morning mist was thick and persistent, and tea gardens across the hill station wore a frosted look as winter tightened its grip on this beloved Western Ghats retreat. For residents and workers in the high ranges, the sudden chill is familiar yet striking. Estate laboure

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) is facing a bizarre crisis with the Centre refusing to issue censor-exemption certificates to 19 films, including four from Palestine, scheduled to be screened at the event. The withholding of clearances has invited rebuke from various corners, with a slew of socio-political and cultural leaders, including CPM general secretary M A Baby, and veteran filmmakers Adoor Gopalakrishnan and T V Chandran criticisin

KOCHI: The Kerala Judicial Officers Association has approached the High Court seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings against persons allegedly defaming Judge Honey M Varghese, who pronounced the verdict in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case. In its memorandum, the association stated that certain media houses and individuals with vested interests began disseminating baseless allegations after the judgment was delivered. It alleged that defamatory content was deliberatel

KOLLAM: The first and second accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, Unnikrishnan Potti and Murari Babu, respectively, have been remanded in the custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for two days by the Kollam Vigilance Court. They will be taken to Thiruvananthapuram for detailed questioning. Murari Babu was remanded in the dwarapalaka case, while Unnikrishnan Potty was remanded in the case registered in connection with the missing gold from the door frame of the sanctum sanctorum.