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The Hindu

Kerala / The Hindu

Ponniyathangam festival draws crowds, praise from Chief Minister

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan spends over half an hour watching high-energy Kalaripayattu performances at the Ponniyathangam festival, praising its growing public appeal. The event features martial arts displays, cultural competitions and musical performances, drawing enthusiastic crowds and participants from across the country.

19 Feb 2026 11:22 pm
Kerala Minister Sivankutty launches State-level construction of model autism centres

Minister says autism complexes intended to prioritise individual learning and therapy of differently abled

19 Feb 2026 11:11 pm
Green protocol to be tightened for Attukal Pongala fete

District Collector Anu Kumari releases brochure of Bhakthikku Vritthi Mukhyam mega campaign prepared by disrict Suchitwa Mission

19 Feb 2026 10:52 pm
Attacking doctors, raising wild allegation of medical negligence unacceptable: KGMOA

KGMOA observes protest day at Nedumangad hospital by suspending all services except emergency care. They will launch indefinite non-cooperation strike on Friday, abstaining from all duties other than patient care

19 Feb 2026 9:49 pm
Patient care services at medical college hospitals in Kerala hit by doctors strike

Medical college doctors, who have been on an indefinite boycott of outpatient clinics and teaching activities, have suspended all non-emergency surgeries and procedures since Thursday

19 Feb 2026 9:27 pm
PMLA court orders restitution of 65 crore assets in Popular Group case

The properties, movable assets worth 33.20 crore and immovable assets worth 31.87 crore, were attached by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a case registered on September 17, 2020

19 Feb 2026 9:26 pm
Governor tells V-Cs to abide by Kerala HC directive on campus politics

The court has ordered formulation of a mechanism to regulate political activities of students and to ensure discipline on campuses

19 Feb 2026 9:25 pm
Concern over move to discontinue Elderlines State-level operations

It is feared that the conversion of the helpline into a centralised zonal project from April 1 will impact quality of assistance provided to the elderly

19 Feb 2026 9:04 pm
Sabarimala gold theft: Samples to be handed over to National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur for scientific examination, Kerala HC told

The laboratory has intimated that the tests will be conducted expeditiously and that the results will be furnished at the earliest, free of cost, considering their significance.

19 Feb 2026 9:01 pm
Kerala is a ray of light amid darkness of communalism and fascism, says Binoy Viswam

CPI State secretary inaugurates State Service Pensioners Council meet in Thrissur; new 85-member State committee elected

19 Feb 2026 8:46 pm
HC issues notice to CBFC, producers of film Kerala Story 2 - Goes Beyond

HC move in the wake of a petition that challenges the issuance of censor certificate to the film which, according to the petitioner, has the potential to disturb public order and incite communal disharmony

19 Feb 2026 8:39 pm
Rahul Gandhi to lay foundation stone for 50 houses for Wayanad landslides survivors on February 26

Congress housing project at Meppadi to cover 5.42 acres; financial aid of 5 lakh each for 40 affected traders also to be handed over

19 Feb 2026 8:38 pm
6,794 forest land titles distributed in Thrissur: Minister

State accelerates pending claims, uploads 4,123 cases for Centres approval; 980 hectares likely to be handed over to eligible occupants

19 Feb 2026 8:37 pm
VACB questions Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan in the microfinance fraud case

The prosecutions case is that the suspects fraudulently misappropriated large sums of money borrowed from banks through the Kerala State Backwards Classes Development Corporation under the pretext of providing seed money to economically challenged SNDP Union members, mostly women, to start household-level enterprises in soap, pickle, jam and incense stick making.

19 Feb 2026 8:33 pm
Kerala sets up committees to exempt settlements from wildlife sanctuary buffer zones

Committees will gather feedback from local representatives, prepare draft guidelines, and submit them to government for detailed review before forwarding them to National Wildlife Board, says Minister

19 Feb 2026 8:31 pm
Cherukolpuzha meet demands withdrawal of cases against Ayyappa devotees

In memorandum to government, Hindu religious meet says cases registered against those who participated in the Sabarimala Namajapa protests in 2018 should be withdrawn

19 Feb 2026 8:30 pm
Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi fellowships for Venuji, Kaithapram, Jayaprakash Kuloor

Eighteen artistes selected for 2025 akademi awards and 22 for Gurupuja honours

19 Feb 2026 8:13 pm
Cooperative healthcare conclave held in Keralas Kollam

NS hospital president and board of directors honoured in recognition of hospital being selected for International Cooperative Alliances Cooperative Global Excellence Award

19 Feb 2026 8:13 pm
Wreath threat at M.N. Vijayans sons house shows CPI(M)s intolerance, alleges V.D. Satheesan

Says incident signals threat politics, alleges CPI(M) benefits from a culture of intimidation and martyr narratives

19 Feb 2026 8:12 pm
CISFs coastal cyclothon to cover three Malabar districts

The cyclothon, covering a total distance of 6,553 km, is being undertaken by around 120 participants, including 65 cyclists and other CISF personnel, divided into two teams traversing the eastern and western coasts

19 Feb 2026 8:02 pm
Congress leader K.C. Joseph questions Nativity Card proposal

He says the move will lead to serious repercussions and calls for its withdrawal

19 Feb 2026 7:43 pm
New proposal to widen the NH in Kottayam

Project worth 150 crore has been proposed to upgrade a section from Aida Junction to Mannathipara in Kottayam, expanding the road to a width of 10 m in accordance with modern standards

19 Feb 2026 7:38 pm
Njeliyanparambas legacy waste to be cleared, 12.6 acres to be recovered

A significant portion of the recovered land will be handed over to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited for the establishment of a modern compressed biogas plant

19 Feb 2026 7:35 pm
New AI-focussed courses soon at Chokli govt. college: Minister

The government ushers in innovative changes in higher education through infrastructure development and curriculum reforms, says Higher Education Minister R. Bindu

19 Feb 2026 7:31 pm
SHRC registers suo motu case over poor facilities at taluk hospital

The Commission asks the Director of Health Services and the District Medical Officer to conduct an investigation into the matter

19 Feb 2026 7:28 pm
First phase of Wayanad landslide rehab township to be inaugurated on February 25

In the first phase, 178 houses will be handed over to the survivors. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan says 327 beneficiaries will be provided land and houses before the next monsoon season, ensuring complete rehabilitation

19 Feb 2026 7:09 pm
Kerala State Sports department aims to send 250 athletes to 2036 Olympics under Olympic Path scheme: Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman

As many as 5,000 children will be identified at grassroots level across various disciplines and provided with systematic training. They will compete in major events, including National Games, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games, with the best 250 groomed for participation in Olympics, says Minister

19 Feb 2026 7:07 pm
Kuthiravattom mental health centre plagued by security concerns

The centre at present has only five security staff instead of the required 20. At least 10 people are reported to have quit the job in the past one-and-a-half months alone

19 Feb 2026 7:07 pm
Sale of adulterated coconut oil: farmers elated over SHRCs intervention

The Commission sought a report from the Food Safety Commissioner in 15 days and the case would be considered in the next adalat in Kozhikode district

19 Feb 2026 7:00 pm
Iconic tusker Padayappa tests nerves in Munnar

The beloved elephant of the tea hills is again on a destructive spree during musth, attacking vehicles along forest routes. Even as concerns rise among travellers, plantation workers and wildlife groups defend the ageing tusker as a seasonal wanderer, not a conflict animal.

19 Feb 2026 6:42 pm
Traditional knowledge docketing system among proposals in draft Kerala Intellectual Property Rights Policy

The IPR policy is being revised after 18 years. While 2008 IPR policy sought to lay a foundational vision for democratising innovation and safeguarding community-held knowledge, the 2026 revision attempts to build on this legacy, responding to the shifts in global trade, digital transformation and biodiversity governance

19 Feb 2026 5:40 pm
Chander Kunj apartment owners resist move by army housing forum to opt out of tripartite agreements for appointing consultant, demolition contractor

Army Welfare Housing Organisation and Chander Kunj Army Towers Apartment Owners Association clash over more issues, including green building and swimming pool matters

19 Feb 2026 5:18 pm
Kerala ruling front and Opposition close ranks against film The Kerala Story 2

The opposing political fronts have unanimously condemned the controversial movie as one that brazenly advances Sangh Parivars Hindu majoritarian agenda by demonising minorities, chiefly Muslims

19 Feb 2026 4:58 pm
P.K. Sasi quits as KTDC chairman amid rift with CPI(M)

Sasi says his resignation is due to personal reasons and that he has no plans to join UDF

19 Feb 2026 3:26 pm
Congress a divided house in Kerala, has no leader to match stature of Pinarayi Vijayan: K.V. Thomas

K.V. Thomas, Keralas Special Representative with Cabinet rank in New Delhi, discusses the States political landscape, financial challenges, and prospects for the Left ahead of Assembly elections. He says Kerala has been pushed to the brink of a financial crisis for political reasons

19 Feb 2026 2:09 pm