PALAKKAD: A 26-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her husband at their residence in Sreekrishnapuram after he suspected her of being involved in an extramarital affair. The accused, identified as Deekshith, also aged 26, from Kattukulam, reportedly strangled his wife, Vaishnavi, to death and attempted to pass it off as a natural death. Vaishnavi was found unconscious at the residence in the early hours of Friday. At the time of the incident, only Deekshit was at home. He informed Vaishnavi

KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode police registered a case against Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil and more than 700 Congress party workers in connection with theviolent clashes that broke outduring a protest march at Perambra on Friday According to the police, the UDF workers and leaders on Friday night carried out a rally that obstructed the public way, and when they were stopped, they attacked police personnel with stones to deter them from doing their duty. A case under sections 189 (unlawful assembly), 1

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) will launch three new state-of-the-art facilities on 15 October, marking the culmination of its year-long diamond jubilee celebrations. The new facilities include an Innovation Centre, an automated nodal hub for assembling next-generation dye-sensitised light harvesters, and an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Laboratory. These will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Science &

THRISSUR: A group of Youth Congress and Yuva Morcha activists, who allegedly gathered here to protest against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, were taken into preventive custody in this central Kerala district on Saturday, police said. Five activists of the Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the BJP, gathered near the government guest house here to protest against the CM, reportedly over the Sabarimala gold-plating row . Television visuals showed that the protesters forcefully taken into custody and

KOCHI: With football fever gripping Kerala ahead of Lionel Messi s much-anticipated visit, the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor is being renovated on a war footing to host the exhibition match featuring world champions Argentina. The Reporter Broadcasting Company, the official organiser of the event, estimates the renovation work to cost a whopping `70 crore. Speaking to reporters in Kochi on Friday, Reporter MD Anto Augustine said the stadium is being upgraded to meet FIFA stand

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has appointed Excise Commissioner ADGP M R Ajith Kumar as Beverages Corporation chairperson. However, he will continue to hold the post of excise commissioner. He was earlier appointed as director in the board of directors of the Beverages Corporation. Harshita Attaluri will continue as the MD of the corporation. She had earlier served as the corporations chairperson as well.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 28-year-old man who demanded Rs 50 lakh from his father to buy a luxury car was seriously injured after his father retaliated during a violent scuffle at Kunnumpuram in Vanchiyoor on Friday morning. The accused, identified as Hridhik, allegedly attacked his father, Vinayanandan, with a knife after the latter refused to give him the money. Police said that as Hridhik continued to threaten his father, following which the enraged parent struck him on the head with an iron rod

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The centuries-old Padmatheertham pond , adjacent to the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, that has been facing numerous woes including indiscriminate algal bloom, fish death and foul odour, is set to get a new lease of life. The revival comes through an eco-restoration project proposed by the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST). The institute will implement a nature-based treatment system using floating wetlands and ex-situ purificatio

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala will attain nutritional security by 2031, Food and Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil said. He was speaking after presenting a vision document on nutritional safety at the Vision-2031 event organised at Kanakakunnu auditorium here on Friday. The programme on nutrition was one of the 33 seminars organised by the state government as part of Vision 2031 to receive ideas on Keralas future development. Food security is one of the cornerstones of the world renowned Kerala Mode

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Neyyattinkara police will register a case against Thiruvananthapuram district Congress committee general secretary Jose Franklin for sexual harassment as well as abetting the suicide of a 50-year-old woman near Perumbazhuthoor. Jose Franklin, who is also the standing committee chairman for health in Neyyattinkara municipality, was named in the suicide note by the woman. Neyyattinkara police Inspector B S Praveen said the suicide note mentioned that Jose had sexually haras

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: President Droupadi Murmu will unveil the bust of former president K R Narayanan at the Raj Bhavan premises on October 23. Governor Rajendra Arlekar, his predecessor and Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be present on the occasion. The 4.5-feet long bust was built after former president Ram Nath Kovind wrote to the then Kerala Governor Khan in 2024 suggesting that Narayanan should be honoured in a befitting manner in the Kerala Raj Bhav

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court verdict that Munambam land is not waqf property has come as a great joy for the more than 600 families who had been agitating for the past one year, demanding the restoration of their revenue rights. The happiness was writ large on the faces of the agitators on the premises of Velankanni Matha Church at Kadappuram as they celebrated the verdict by sharing sweets. Justice is served, Joseph Benny, convenor, Munambam Land Protection Council, told TNIE. According to him,

KOZHIKODE: A violent clash broke out between CPM and Congress workers in Perambra on Friday. The police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to control the situation. Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil suffered injuries on his nose amid police action that included the use of tear gas and baton charge to control the situation. Shafi, who was later admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode for treatment, has to undergo a surgery. Eyewitnesses said, chaos unfolded when UDF and CPM supporters

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has formally handed over a complaint to the State Police Chief seeking further investigation into the findings of the boards vigilance wing on the missing gold at Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple . Earlier in the day, the High Court had directed the vigilance to submit its report to the board for handing over to the police. The investigation will be conducted by the Special Investigation Team formed by the High Court recently. The SIT will be

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Highlighting a worrying backslide that demands immediate response, Kerala in 2024-25 reported the highest number of child marriages compared to the preceding two years. Data from the women and child development (WCD) department reveals that 18 incidents of child marriage took place in the fiscal until January 15, 2025, compared to 14 in 2023-24 and 12 in 2022-23. Thrissur had the worst figures, reporting 10 of the 18 cases this year. Malappuram followed with three child marri

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is likely to complete the six-laning work on more than half of the 644-km NH-66 stretch across Kerala by March 2026, with four key stretches covering about 145 km expected to be opened to traffic by the end of this year, senior officials said. But quicker travel is likely to come at a price. Once the entire work is completed, NH 66 will feature a total of 13 toll plazas in the state 11 finalised while two more are under consideration, the offici

KOCHI: The six-laning of NH 66, Keralas most ambitious infrastructure project, has split the state into contrasting halves. In the north, smooth, shining highways are taking shape at remarkable speed, while southern stretches especially through Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram struggle against delays, disputes and design controversies. The drive on these new express corridors will soon come at a cost. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to set up 11 toll plazas across the ent

KOCHI: The report submitted by the chief vigilance officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to the High Court on Friday regarding the missing gold-cladded panels at Sabarimala flags lapses on the part of nine staffers, including a former devaswom commissioner, which indicates that these officials will have to face investigation. The special investigation team will probe the role of all, including thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, the then melsanthi V N Vasudevan Namboothiri and administrative o

KOCHI: In a significant relief to around 600 familiesmostly from the fishing communitythe Kerala High Court on Friday ruled that the land they inhabit is not Waqf property, rejecting the Kerala Waqf Boards 2019 declaration. A Division Bench comprising Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. held that the 1950 endowment deed in question did not create a permanent religious dedication in favour of the Almighty, and therefore could not be considered a valid waqf deed under

KOCHI: Keralas financial sector has emerged as a powerhouse in Indias Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) landscape commanding nearly 90% of the countrys organised gold loan market, holding over Rs 3 trillion in NRI deposits, and setting benchmarks in cooperative banking reforms, according to a new report by KPMG in India and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Titled Improvisation Driving Performance How the Financial Services Sector in Kerala Has Grown to Pack a Punch an

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said that he had personally met and briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union ministers about the financial crisis faced by the state. Reiterating Keralas major financial and development demands, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Centre to approve an AIIMS for the state and release funds for the Wayanad rehabilitation package, among others. The CM said the state had already identified suitable land at Kinalur in

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rejected allegations that his recent comment in the state assembly amounted to body-shaming of an Opposition MLA. Terming itamere colloquial usage, Pinarayi said he was only referring to an MLA trying to attack the watch and ward staffer, under the cover of special privileges guaranteed by the assembly. Speaking to the media in Delhi on Friday, the CM justified the remark. The usage is a colloquial expression. It simply means someone who is wea

KOCHI: The investigation into the Sabarimala gold theft has revealed additional irregularities, with the Kerala High Court observing that the evidence gathered so far indicates misappropriation of gold in the side frames and lintel of the Sabarimala Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum). The Court noted that the case appears similar to the earlier fraud detected in the gold plating of the Dwarapalaka idols. The Court stated that the probe revealed a substantial quantity of gold, around 474.9 grams, had

KOCHI: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has denied a screening certificate to the Malayalam film Haal , starring Shane Nigam, citing scenes showing the eating of beef biryani and the depiction of a Thamarassery Bishop among the reasons. The filmmakers have now approached the Kerala High Court, challenging the decision, arguing that the cuts demanded are excessive and infringe upon artistic freedom. According to the petition filed by producer Juby Thomas and director Muhammed Rafeek

A year after his last release, Kochi-based singer-songwriter Jeremiah de Rozario is back with a new single, Believers Curse. Unlike the gentle ballads that built his name, this song marks a definite shift. It is louder, faster, and perhaps even restless. Its still hopeful, he tells TNIE , but not as naive. I wanted it to be more raw and honest. Those two words, raw and honest, run through this new work. Jeremiah, who once worked as a banker before turning to music full-time, says the song reflec

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has initiated a major push to digitise spoken Malayalam, a move that will enable AI-powered tools to listen and respond to public service queries in local dialects. The initiative aims to eliminate language barriers for people who lack proficiency in English or even the formal Malayalam dialect. Soon, government websites will be equipped to accept voice commands in regional Malayalam, ensuring seamless access to services. For instance, an AI chatbot devel

THIRUVANTHAPURAM: A pioneering study on cancer patients has found that recovery from cancer is not just about medical treatment but also the social support that plays a crucial role in improving outcomes, as nearly half of the patients experience severe emotional distress and social isolation. The research, led by Dr Boban Thomas, Senior Medical Oncologist at Caritas Hospital, Kottayam, reveals that 49.82% of cancer patients undergoing treatment suffer significant emotional strain, with many fee

PATHANAMTHITTA: A political storm has begun to sweep Pathanamthitta as protests by the youth wings of opposition parties over the Sabarimala gold-plating controversy have set the tone for the upcoming local body election campaign in the district. Violent demonstrations by the Youth Congress and the BJP's Yuva Morcha this week have reignited the Sabarimala issue, placing the ruling LDF on the defensive. For months, political observers had anticipated that Sabarimala, a religiously sensitive topic

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the state recorded modest increase in tax and non-tax revenues, overall revenue receipts declined in 2023-24, partly due to the dip in central grants, the CAG report on state finances, that was tabled in the assembly on Thursday, showed. The states own tax revenue increased by 3.28% from Rs 71,968.16 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 74,329.01 crore in 2023-24. Non-tax revenue increased by 8.12% along with a 19.07% increase in the states share from central taxes and duties. Howe

KOCHI: Refuting the claims of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) that the Dwarapalaka idols, doors and pillars of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple were not covered with gold by industrialist Vijay Mallya, former special commissioner to Sabarimala Justice K P Balachandran said he was personally convinced that the the idols and other structures were gold cladded in 1999. I was the special commissioner for Sabarimala from 1997 to 2000 May and the gold cladding of the temple was taken up during this period. I

PATHANAMTHITTA: Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan on Thursday lashed out at the LDF government over the suspension of three UDF MLAs from the assembly, terming it a blatantly unjust and politically motivated decision executed through a conspiracy between the Speaker and the government. Addressing reporters here, Satheesan said MLAs Roji M John, M Vincent and Saneesh Kumar Joseph were suspended after the House was guillotined. They committed no offence, nor did they indulge in violence like CPI(

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Yesteryear film producer and writer P Stanley, 81, died here on Thursday after a cardiac arrest. Stanley had also donned the roles of assistant director and scenarist in the film industry in Madras, along with A Vincent and Thoppil Bhasi, for over three decades. He was the assistant director of around 25 films, notable among them being Velutha Kathreena, Enippadikal, Asuravithu, Thulabharam, Nadhi, Ashwamedham and Nizhalattam. Stanley also produced films such as Thoovanathumb

ALAPPUZHA: Shibu (Saji), 50, of Cheravally, Kayamkulam, died on Wednesday evening after being assaulted by a group of people. Shibu was accused of stealing a gold bangle belonging to the daughter of his neighbour, Vishnu, and pledging it at a private money-lending firm in Kayamkulam on Sunday. On Wednesday evening, the group went to Shibus house and assaulted him. He collapsed during the attack and later died. The Kayamkulam police have registered a case of mob lynching against seven people, inc

KOZHIKODE: A 19-year-old migrant worker from Assam was brutally assaulted by a mob and subsequently by the police in Koodaranji on Tuesday after a local resident falsely accused him of chain snatching to cover up an alleged sexual assault attempt. The worker, Maminul Islam, was left injured and traumatised by the ordeal that began after he fled from his employers house in terror. The incident unfolded after Islam completed his work at the residence of Saji Mazhuvanchery, 56, a former expatriate.

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has sought the Centres response on a petition against the denial of issuing certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification to the Malayalam movie Haal, starring Shane Nigam. The court issued the order on the petition filed by the producer and the director. The board informed the petitioners that the film has been viewed by the revising committee, and it has come to the conclusion that the film is not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition but may be suit

KOCHI: Former Kerala Prant Sanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) PEB Menon passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Thursday. The 86-year-old RSS leader, respected by the Sangh for his contributions during the past two decades in building the organisation, was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi. The body will be kept for public homage at Aluva Town Hall from 10 am to 1 pm on Friday. The funeral will be held at Aluva Thantra Vidya Peedam at 3 pm. He is survived by

KOCHI/BENGALURU : Scores of passengers travelling between Kerala and major South Indian cities like Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad were left stranded after several private luxury bus operators cancelled trips, citing safety concerns following alleged assaults on drivers. According to operators, a section of drivers resorted to a token strike, demanding adequate protection after one of their colleagues was reportedly attacked by anti-social elements near the Kerala border. The drivers handed ov

KOZHIKODE: Nearly two months after the death of nine-year-old Anaya, who was suspected to have succumbed to amoebic meningoencephalitis, the post-mortem report has finally reached the Thamarassery police. The report, received on Thursday, attributes her death to fever-induced pneumonia, though officials maintain that the chemical examination report is still awaited to confirm the precise cause. Speaking to TNIE, Thamarassery DySP P Chandramohan said, The delay in receiving both the post-mortem a

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The highly-anticipated national highway project, NH 66, will be inaugurated in January. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate the completed stretches of the 678-km-long highway, state Public Works Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said on Thursday. The decision was taken during a meeting that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Riyas held with Gadkari earlier in the day. After the meeting, Riyas told reporters that over 450 km of the highway pr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Will there be a D K Shivakumar effect in the Kerala assembly election as had happened in Telangana? The question has popped up with the appointment of Harsha Kanadam, a protg of the Karnataka deputy CM, as chairperson of the Congress state war room in Thiruvananthapuram to oversee its campaign and strategy formulation. It doesnt mean Shivakumar will be directly involved in Congress election strategy planning, but there are enough straws in the wind that suggest the ace strate

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has pointed out serious lapses and delays in the implementation of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) in Kerala, citing deviation from guidelines, delayed projects, unutilised funds, and poor monitoring mechanisms that undermined the objectives of improving access, equity, and quality in higher education. RUSA, a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2013 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, aimed to st

KOLLAM: Bringing an end to one of the states longest-running land protests, the state government has struck an agreement with protest groups leading the 14 year old Arippa land struggle in Punalur, Kollam. Revenue and Housing Minister K Rajan announced that all six protesting organisations have accepted the conditions proposed by the government. Under the settlement, 35 families from the Scheduled Tribe communities who originally had rights over one acre of land in Arippa will now be given 20 ce

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has unearthed major deficiencies in the implementation of the Integrated Financial Management System Kerala (IFMS-K), a key e-governance project meant to modernise the states financial administration. The audit watchdog's report exposed weak planning, poor documentation, and several system-level lapses that undermined the objectives of transparency and efficiency in financial management. According to the CAG, the absence of

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Recommending an increase in the monthly honorarium for ASHA workers, the government-appointed Haritha V Kumar committee has proposed a hike of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. The report suggests that workers with over 10 years of service be granted a Rs 1,500 raise, while others receive Rs 1,000 more. Ensuring the timely disbursal of honorarium by the 10th of every month was among the major recommendations. The report made no mention of the ASHA workers' persistent demand for a Rs 5 la

In May, when Mubeena P As name was announced as the South Asia Gold Medallist in bodybuilding at a grand event held in Mumbai, the 35-year-old mother of three could not believe her ears. I never thought Id reach this far, she tells TNIE . I only wanted to see how strong I could get. Indeed, her journey began far from the world of witness. Originally from Kochi, Mubeena was working in a salon in Dubai when she fell seriously ill. I had a terrible stomach pain, she recalls. And when I consulted do

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly on Thursday suspended three Opposition members in connection with the ruckus that broke out earlier in the day. The suspended legislators, all from the Congress party, are Roji M John, M Vincent, and Saneesh Kumar Joseph. They have been suspended from attending the remaining period of the current session. The session, which was originally scheduled to end on Friday, has been cut short. In effect, the suspension applies only for Thursday. The Opposition is

Social media is often painted in unflattering hues as a distraction, a vanity fair, or even a necessary evil that eats into time, focus, and mental peace. Doomscrolling, performative perfection, the endless chase for likes they are scorned at for pulling the young away from purpose. Yet, a growing number of students are flipping that narrative. For them, social media isnt merely a pastime but a tool to learn, connect, stay informed, and build networks that could shape their futures. Take the ca

There are many things we learn to value only with time. Like the simple delight of opening a letter and feeling the touch, and maybe catching a whiff, of the person who wrote it. This old-world charm is now being relegated to collective nostalgia. Letter-writing, today, is a rarity especially among the urban population. However, for people in remote corners, where digital connectivity still falters, the humble post office continues to be a vital bridge to the world outside. Moreover, despite th

ALAPPUZHA: Rupesh S, a 45-year-old from Alappuzha, is not just another dentist. When he is not treating his patients in his clinic, Dr Rupesh is thinking about how to conquer waves and mountains. Over the past four years, he has conquered the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Arctic Ocean, and Lake Harku in Estonia and has completed his fourth full Ironman triathlon, cementing his place among a rare league of global endurance athletes. His is a rare achievement for a Malayali. At the Ironman Barcel

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Legislative Assembly witnessed high drama for the fourth consecutive day as the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) persisted with its protest over the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala. Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan renewed calls for the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan. He also criticised Speaker AN Shamseer for deploying watch and ward staff to block protesting members from reaching the dais, and condemned a controversial remark made by Chief Min