Wild is something that calls from deep within a pull towards the unknown, the raw, the real. It isnt something that can be explained, only experienced. And for this Motor Vehicles Department officer, the wild is his freedom, obsession, and the compass that guides his camera. Shefiq Basheer Ahammed, currently posted as regional transport officer in Malappuram, forged a bond with the wild early in his life. Growing up in Pathanamthitta, close to the forest, he was steeped in stories of wildlife.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A team of researchers led by Malayali scientist Dr SD Biju from Delhi University has discovered a frog having blue bones and green blood from Arunachal Pradesh. This is the first Indian frog to exhibit this unique biological trait where their blood is green and their bones are blue in colour. They exhibit this colour through their translucent skin. This peculiarity is known only in a handful of species in other parts of the world including Southeast Asia and far away regions

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan on Friday launched a scathing attack to Shashi Tharoor, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), over his recent actions that, he said, have placed the party in an uncomfortable position. The criticism comes a day after Tharoor penned an article in a Malayalam daily that questioned former Prime Minister Indira Gandhis imposition of the Emergency a move that has triggered backlash within the party ranks. Muraleedharan, addressin

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The office staff of Sports Minister V Abdurahiman was found dead by suicide in his quarters on Friday morning. Biju, office assistant to the minister, was found hanging in his residence in the NGO Quarters. A native of Wayanad, Biju was staying with his wife. His wife had gone to her parental home on Thursday. When he failed to report for duty on Friday morning, his colleagues tried to contact him on his mobile phone. As he did not respond to repeated calls, they went to his

PALAKKAD: Indian nurse Nimisha Priya , who is on death row in Yemen, has been informed that her execution is scheduled for 16 July. Her husband, Tomy Thomas, confirmed this while speaking to The New Indian Express over the phone on Friday. According to Thomas, Nimisha conveyed the news through WhatsApp text and voice messages sent last week from the Central Prison in Sanaa, where she is currently held. She allegedly told him that the chairman of the prison personally informed her of the decision

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet meeting has decided to exempt stamp duty and registration fees for land pooled for the LIFE Mission free housing project of the government. This is applicable to land parcels received as donation, sale or any other mode. The beneficiary will have to submit a certificate from the district collector or a tahsildar assigned by him stating that the land is for house construction under the Mission. The exemption is for two years from the date of order. The meeting appr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC has collaborated with the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) to set up a medical laboratory at Transport Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. The lab will offer blood sample collection and provide test results for both KSRTC employees and the general public. A wide range of tests, including special ones, will be available at discounted rates in accordance with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). Additionally, several health packages such as Executive Checkup

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Frequent but short trips to Oman. Luxurious lifestyle despite not having a regular source of income. Possession of several premium vehicles and a palatial 4000 sq ft house under-construction, whose source of money was unclear. And two previous drug cases. These anomalies made Thiruvananthapuram rural police interested in Shaiju aka Sanju, a 41-year-old man from Kallambalam. Their suspicion proved true on Wednesday night when the cops nabbed Shaiju and his three accomplices fr

KOCHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the back foot over MP Shashi Tharoors blistering article on the Emergency and the Nehru-Gandhi legacy, Congress leaders in Kerala have sought to distance themselves from the controversy, choosing instead to put the ball firmly in the court of the partys central leadership. In the sharply worded article, which appeared on some news websites, Tharoor termed the 21-month Emergency (197577) a dark period in Indias democratic history and accused former prime minister Indi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The revised rank list of KEAM engineering entrance exam, that was published late on Thursday after reverting to the old mark standardisation formula following a High Court directive, saw state syllabus students losing out top spots compared to the rank list brought out on July 1. While a state syllabus student was the engineering entrance topper in the previous rank list, his position slipped to No 7 in the new rank list. The top spot in the revised rank list went to a CBSE s

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reach Kerala for a two-day visit on Friday. Shah, who is expected to land at the Thiruvananthapuram airport around 10pm by a special flight, will attend various events on Saturday. He will inaugurate the BJPs new state headquarters at Aristo Junction in the morning. Following this, he will address a massive gathering of booth-level party workers at Putharikandam ground. Senior BJP leaders said around 30,000 workers from Thiruvananthapuram, K

KOCHI: Srinivasa Rao Thota first arrived in Vazhakulam, known as Keralas Pineapple City, to master the intricate dynamics of the pineapple trade after quitting his corporate job. The Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, natives initial foray was successful: Swiftly establishing a wholesale agency on a partnership basis, and learning the ropes of sourcing, grading, and distribution. His venture flourished. Then the Covid pandemic hit. The ensuing lockdown proved to be a catastrophic blow. Supply chains seized

PALAKKAD: In a touching story of resilience and shared dreams, a couple from Hidayath Nagar in PoolakkadAbu Thahir and Thasleemaappeared hand-inhand for the Plus Two Malayalam Paper ii equivalency exam on Thursday, breathing new life into long-held aspirations they once thought they had left behind. Abu Thahir, 40, had stepped away from his studies after completing SSLC. Thasleema, 30, who dreamt of studying further, had to set those hopes aside after marriage. But destiny had other plans. encou

KALPETTA: Wayanad Tourism Departments well-timed strategy to promote Cheengeri Hills as an alternative to manage the growing tourist rush to the ecologically sensitive Chembra Peak is earning widespread praise. One of the districts most popular attractions and a favourite among foreign tourists, permits for trekking to Chembra is restricted to fewer than 100 visitors a day due to its fragile ecosystem. The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has proposed Cheengeri Hills -- a lesser-known b

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Native edible plants are making their way to schools through a new scheme proposed by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB). Titled Wild Edible Plant Gardens in Schools, the project will see selected schools developing a garden to study the indigenous plants and to incorporate edible wild plants into the school diet. Plants like spiny spinach, sissoo spinach, spadeleaf, taro, etc will be cultivated in schools. However, only traditional crops that are validated by the cur

KOCHI: The crime branch has launched an investigation into a Mangaluru-based overseas recruitment firm accused of cheating several people across Kerala of their money after offering them job opportunities in the United Kingdom. According to officials, as many as 26 cases have been registered in various districts of the state against the firm operating under the name UK in Regal Academy since 2024. Ernakulam alone accounts for seven of the complaints. Recently, all the cases were handed over to

KOCHI: The state governments decision not to consider the Standardisation Review Committees suggestion that implementing a new formula this year is not feasible has backfired with the High Court rejecting the last-minute change in the prospectus of the Kerala Engineering, Architecture, and Medical Entrance Examination (KEAM). The committees suggestion that introducing a new formula or making any modifications to the existing one would only be possible after thorough and detailed studies was prod

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ambiguities continued till Thursday evening in Joshuas house, till the new ranklist of KEAM (Kerala Engineering Architecture and Medical) entrance examinations was out. Thiruvananthapuram native, 17-year-old Joshua Jacob Thomas, topped the rank list with an outstanding 100 percentile score. I had been preparing for JEE and my board exams simultaneously, and even had to drop some of my extracurricular activities in that journey, Joshua said, with an affirmation that all his sa

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The University of Kerala witnessed high drama as K S Anil Kumar, whose suspension as registrar was revoked by the Syndicate, attended office despite a notice against him carrying out official duties. Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal had directed university security personnel to prevent Anil Kumar from entering his office on the grounds that he is still under suspension. However, security personnel remained mute spectators as the official proceeded to his chamber. In a rep

KOZHIKODE: Forest department has joined hands with the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in a mission to identify the source of the deadly Nipah virus in the state. The move comes as Kerala is grappling with another Nipah outbreak in the Palakkad and Malappuram districts. The plan is to conduct extensive tests and collect samples from bats, which have long been suspected as the primary reservoir for the virus. Forest Minister A K Saseendran has pledged the departments support, ensuring NIV of

PALAKKAD: In a pioneering move, a Kerala government-owned liquor manufacturing unit is planning to use purified water from quarries to produce Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in its blending and bottling plant. The new plant is coming up at Malabar Distilleries in Menonpara, with waste water from the quarries of the state-owned Malabar Cements in Walayar set to be a key resource. Water extracted during rock-blasting operations for the production of raw materials at the Malabar Cements site is

KOCHI: Without adding fuel to speculation over the Kerala Congress (M) returning to the UDF fold, front convenor Adoor Prakash on Thursday said the opposition alliance would be expanded before the assembly election next year. Speaking to mediapersons after the UDF coordination committee meeting in Kochi, he said discussions on broadening the front have been ongoing for some time. Although it wasnt part of todays agenda, the conversation around alliance expansion is not new. A final decision will

KOCHI: Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the shipping company involved in the MSC Elsa 3 accident case, has informed the High Court that it is unable to deposit the compensation amount demanded by the Kerala government. The company made the submission when the Admiralty suit filed by the state government seeking Rs 9,531 crore as compensation from the shipping company came up for hearing. The company claimed that the only environmental issue was plastic waste washing ashore. The counsel for

A little fir swayed its branches in tune with the wind as it stood among the stately pine trees deep in the forest. Scampering around the fir tree were little bunnies, squirrels and mice. A group of Class VIII students of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Ernakulam, brought alive the wonderous tale of The Fir Tree by Sergei Mikhailkov by turning into butterflies and bunnies. The students enacted the story of the environmentally-conscious forest ranger and a little fir tree bringing the w

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has once again stirred controversy within the party by strongly criticising the Emergency period and directly targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family. In a recent article published in Malayalam daily Deepika that has gone viral, Tharoor described the Emergency as a dark period in Indias democratic history and called out the unspeakable atrocities committed during that time. Tharoor did not mince words as he blamed former Prime Minister Indira G

ALAPPUZHA: A 15-year-old girl student of a Navodaya school in Chennithala was found hanging in the school hostel on Thursday morning, police said here. According to Mannar police, the body of the Class 10 student from Arattupuzha was discovered in the early hours, hanging in the corridor leading to the hostel bathroom. Further investigation is on. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundatio

NEW DELHI : The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to use diplomatic channels to make an attempt to save an Indian nurse, who is likely to be executed in Yemen on July 16 for murder charges. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi listed the matter for hearing on July 14 after advocate Subhash Chandran KR said diplomatic channels need to be explored at the earliest. He submitted that payment of blood money to the family of the decea

KOCHI: Following the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)s lead, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also launched an investigation into the activities of darknet-based drug racket. The ED has stepped in to explore possible angles of money-laundering involving the accused, including prime suspect Edison Babu, and the illicit proceeds generated through drug trade. We have been conducting a preliminary investigation. As part of it, we have sought the transaction details of the accused from the NCB, sai

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CBI team that probed the suspicious death of a 13-year-old girl, who was found lying in the bathroom of her residence located in the police quarters here in March 2023, has filed a report before the Pocso Special Court ruling out the doubt that she couldve been raped. The CBI report also suggested that the Class 8 student might have died of natural causes. The girl was found lying in an unconscious state in the bathroom on March 30. She died on April 1 in a hospital while

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Remember the tale of Mittu poocha and Thanku poocha that went viral on social media during the pandemic? The video which is one of the most viewed in the KITE VICTERS channel, gained widespread attention for the imaginative ways in which teachers took lessons for primary students helping the education sector survive the Covid crisis. Years later, those classes have levelled themselves up, with its third edition First Bell 3.0 launched on Wednesday. The sessions will no longer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The capital city came to a near standstill due to a statewide strike called by trade unions, affecting bus services and forcing many shops, including restaurants, to shut down. Despite this, railway operations continued smoothly in the capital under strict police surveillance. While autorickshaws and some taxis operated around the railway stations, the absence of public buses left many commuters stranded. However, the city police emerged as a crucial support system for those

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The tussle between the Vice Chancellor and the Syndicate in Kerala University over the suspension of Registrar K S Anil Kumar further intensified on Wednesday. Hours before handing back charge to Dr Mohanan Kunnummal, Vice Chancellor Ciza Thomas issued a notice barring Anil Kumar, whose suspension was revoked by the Syndicate, from entering the varsity headquarters. In the notice, the VC said the July 6 Syndicate meetings decision to revoke Anils suspension was invalid and th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday demanded a comprehensive probe into alleged irregularities in the Rs 240-crore tender for the installation of solar pumps under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme. Chennithala released a set of documents that point to serious violations in the tendering process managed by the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT). He alleged that the tender was illegally

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of complaints over alleged misuse of funds in the Digital University Kerala (DUK), Governor Rajendra Arlekar has directed the police to inquire into the charges and also asked the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General to conduct a thorough audit of the varsity funds. The governors action came in the wake of a report by DUK Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas that flagged major irregularities in varsity fund utilisation and demanded a thorough independent audit. Th

PALAKKAD: Uncertainty surrounds the reported execution date of Nimisha Priya , the Malayali nurse sentenced to death in Yemen for the murder of a Yemeni national. Over the past two days, multiple media have claimed that her execution has been scheduled for July 16. However, there is no official confirmation from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) or the Indian Embassy so far. The initial reports were sparked by a statement from Samuel Jerome Bhaskaran, an Indian national who has lived in Yem

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The High Court verdict quashing the KEAM engineering entrance rank list has come as a major setback to the state government that carried out an eleventh hour attempt to rectify the disadvantage faced by state syllabus students due to the standardisation of marks of various Plus Two boards. Though stung by the adverse verdict, the government indicated that it will appeal against it before a division bench. The cabinet will take an appropriate decision on the course of action i

KOZHIKODE: While the rest of Kerala came to a grinding halt on Wednesday in response to the nationwide general strike , the iconic and historically prominent locality of Kuttichira, in the heart of Kozhikode city, stood apart: Quietly but firmly choosing normalcy over shutdown. While deserted streets, shuttered shops, and sparse public transport remained the norm across the state, Kuttichira was a hub of activity. Across the state, the strike brought daily life to a near standstill. Streets were

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Daily life came to a standstill in the state on Wednesday as the 24-hour general strike, jointly called by several Opposition trade unions, left most business establishments closed and roads deserted. Key government offices reported poor employee attendance. Despite the police increasing security at the Secretariat, staff attendance dropped to 14%, with just 600 employees reporting for duty, against the total strength of 4,200. KSEB offices registered a meagre 15% attendance.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a growing sign of increased human-snake interaction, the state has recorded 494 king cobra rescues from human-inhabited areas over the past five years. They had either strayed into homes, plantations or backyards and were rescued without harm and released back into forests. According to district-wise records from the forest department, Ernakulam reported the most rescues at 70, followed by Wayanad (68) and Kannur (61). At the bottom of the list are Alappuzha (2), Thiruvana

ALAPPUZHA: Cheruthana Puthen Chundan, rowed by Cheruthana New Boat Club, lifted the Raja Pramukhan Trophy in the Moolam Boat Race held in the Pampa River at Champakulam in Kuttanad on Wednesday. Chambakulam Chundan rowed by Chambakulam Boat Club finished runner-up, while Ayaparambu Valiyadivanji Chundan, rowed by members of Niranam Boat Club, finished third. Six boats participated in the snake boat category. Competition was also held in Veppu A and B grade categories. In Veppu A grade Ambalakada

PALAKKAD: In the dim glow behind a white screen, leather puppets dance to ancient rhythms. Their gestures are precise, their shadows vivid, and their story - startlingly modern. This is not the tale of Rama and Ravana, as traditionally told. This is the story of a teenager battling addiction. This is Tholpavakoothu for todays world. The centuries-old ritualistic art form of Tholpavakoothu, once confined to the sacred koothumadams (mandapams) of Devi temples in Kerala, has found a powerful new pu

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keralas public healthcare system has often been a hot topic in development debates across the country and even abroad, and for good reason. However, despite topping in five of the 11 indicators, the state has now been ranked fourth in the NITI Aayogs good health and wellbeing index. Reason: Unscientific thinking against immunisation and institutional deliveries gaining ground in the state, as well as inclusion of three new parameters. Gujarat now holds the top spot in the ran

KOCHI: Kochi-based deep tech startup Infusory has introduced augmented reality-based learning tools in 121 tribal schools of Maharashtra. This move comes following the states recent collaboration with the KSUM-registered company. Infusorys TutAR app, which Maharashtra is implementing as part of its Tribal School Infrastructure Enhancement Program, is set to give students (from nursery to Class XII) access to a comprehensive library of curriculum-appropriate 3D models. It will aid their study in

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday annulled the results of the Kerala Engineering, Architecture, and Medical (KEAM) 2025 entrance examinations, ruling that the last-minute amendment to the prospectus was unlawful. The KEAM exams were conducted by the Commissioner of Entrance Examination from 23 to 29 April 2025, with results announced on 14 May. The final rank list was published on 1 July. Justice D.K. Singh observed that the revised ranking methodology for KEAM 2025 disproportionately di

KOCHI: Human remains, including a skull and bones, were discovered on a private property near the NIA office in Kalamassery, police said on Wednesday. The remains were found by a JCB operator, a staff member of the company, while clearing a plot of land owned by Blue Star Realtors Limited. Upon being alerted, the Kalamassery police arrived at the scene and initiated an inquest and forensic procedures. Moreover, a case of unnatural death has been registered in connection with the discovery. We we

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two hotel employees have been arrested in connection with the murder of a hotel owner in the city. The arrests were made on Tuesday night from Adimalathura. Police identified the accused as David, a native of Vizhinjam and Suresh, a Nepal native. Both were employed at the Kerala Cafe hotel near Cotton Hill School. According to police, the accused attacked officers during the arrest, injuring four. The duo had been absconding since the incident. The body of Justin Raj, the hot

KOCHI: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) informed the Kerala High Court that it is only suggesting two cuts in the film Janaki Vs State of Kerala starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi. The first suggestion is to remove the character's name from the film's subtitle or change it to Janaki V or V Janaki, as the character's full name is Janaki Vidhyadharan. The second is to mute the name Janaki from a cross-examination scene. Supreme Court lawyer Abhinav Chandrachud, representing the CBFC

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Normal life across Kerala came to a standstill on Wednesday as a 24-hour general strike shut most shops and left roads deserted. The unavailability of private buses and KSRTC services left travellers in a struggle. The rail passengers who got off at Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station stood stranded without any way to proceed to their destinations. However, the police have arranged vehicle facilities for patients to the RCC and Medical College. The police have increased securi

It may sound ironic that people in a sun-drenched country like India need to be medically prescribed a dose of sunshine for their physical and mental wellness. But, well, thats the reality of our time. Deficiency of vitamin D the sunshine vitamin has indeed emerged as a major public health concern these days. National studies across all age groups and risk categories estimate that deficiency levels range between 40 and 99 per cent. Most studies show a prevalence between 80 and 90 per cent, acc

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state BJP leadership found itself on the back foot on Tuesday after a video surfaced on social media in which Jyoti Malhotra, the social media influencer who was arrested for espionage, was seen travelling with former Union minister V Muralidharan in the inaugural journey of Vande Bharat train. In the video Jyoti was seen interviewing Muralidharan. The video surfaced at a time when the BJP has accused the state government and Tourism Minister Mohamed Riyas of inviting Jyo