THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP on Wednesday launched its electoral interaction march, titled Vikasitha Ananthapuri (Developed Thiruvananthapuram), promising to usher in development in the state capital. The march, held in the evening, was inaugurated by Kummanam Rajasekharan in the presence of senior BJP leader O Rajagopal at Poojapura. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar led the march, which began from Poojapura towards Kalady. Kummanam said the BJP would come to power in the upcoming local b

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Medical college teachers, under the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA), boycotted outpatient (OP) services on Wednesday as part of the ongoing protest demanding better service conditions. The OP clinics were managed by house surgeons and senior residents. Academic sessions and other non-emergency services were affected. The organisation stated that despite months of demonstrations and repeated representations, the government has not initiated any

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram has successfully implanted one of the smallest pacemakers, the Micra AV Leadless Pacemaker, in a 74-year-old patient from Anchal. This marks the first time a government medical college in the state has performed this advanced procedure using keyhole surgery. The Micra AV is a revolutionary, capsule-sized device that is directly implanted into the heart without the need for traditional wires or surgical pockets. Its compact

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the election declaration expected any moment, the city corporation on Wednesday launched the construction work of Palayam Connemara Market, a long pending redevelopment project of the century-old market. Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh launched the work at a function held here. The project, which was originally awarded in 2021, had been stalled for nearly three years due to repeated administrative and procedural hurdles. Recently, the project faced a major setb

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A rift has erupted in the BJPs Thiruvananthapuram unit even before the release of the candidates list for the upcoming local body elections. BJP Nemom area president M Jayakumar resigned from his post on Tuesday, citing differences over the candidate selection process. In his resignation letter, Jayakumar said that despite serving the party for the past 43 years, he was denied justice within the organisation. He submitted his resignation to BJP district president Karamana Jay

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala will firmly voice its objection to the Centres new labour codes at the National Conference of Labour and Industry Ministers and Secretaries, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on November 11 and 12, Labour Minister V Sivankutty said on Tuesday. Kerala is ready to bring in timely reforms in labour laws from a worker-centric perspective. But reforms that dilute workers protections cannot be accepted, Sivankutty said. He added that labour reforms must go beyond Ease of Doi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday said that India is moving steadily towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047, where every citizen, including the poor, should have access to the best healthcare facilities. Addressing a gathering at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) here, the vice president highlighted the importance of wealth generation for national progress and stressed that its benefits must reach even the most remote

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a year-long chase, the Fort Police team has tracked down and returned 272 stolen or lost phones worth nearly Rs 1 crore to their owners, many of them recovered from far corners of the country. Acting on complaints from East Fort, Pazhavangadi and Chalai, a team led by the former station house officer Shivakumar used the CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) portal and technical data such as IMEI numbers and location tracking to trace the stolen phones. Since November

What does tranquillity look like in the eyes of a child? At the Nalanda Art Gallery in Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan, it appears in 56 different ways. Given the freedom to not fear a wrong stroke or a loud shade, Tranquility, a childrens art exhibition organised by Expression, has stopped the world from turning grey. Here, trees still smile, buses still fly, and sunsets never fade. Honouring the memory of child prodigy Edmund Thomas Clint, the five-day exhibition, in connection with Childrens Day

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Raising major concerns, yet another case of harassment has been reported from Varkala tourism destination. A German woman tourist was allegedly assaulted by a group of men. The incident has triggered widespread concerns over the growing number of harassment cases at one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state. Poor policing, lack of surveillance, CCTVs and streetlights are turning the destination unsafe for women travellers. Interestingly, this is happening at a

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a strategic move ahead of the crucial assembly election, the state Congress has done the unthinkable - announcing a 47-member candidate list for the Thiruvananthapuram corporation while finalising the names for the remaining five corporations and other local bodies. Both the CPM and BJP are yet to release their candidates list, making Congress the first to make a decisive start in the local body election preparation. In a surprise decision, the party has fielded former MLA

KOLLAM: Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan has said the education system must be transformed to nurture talent and leadership, rather than clerical skills. Curricula and teaching methods should be revised accordingly, he said. Today, education often produces clerks. It should instead create outstanding individuals in administrative, political, religious, academic and creative fields, the vice-president said, after inaugurating the 75th anniversary celebrations of Fatima Mata National College in Ko

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress on Sunday released its first list of 48 candidates who will contest the local body elections in Thiruvananthapuram corporation. The civic body has 107 seats. Among the prominent names is former MLA K S Sabarinadhan, who will contest from Kowdiar ward. Senior leader Johnson Joseph has been fielded in Ulloor. The list was announced by senior leader K Muraleedharan. We are confident of winning. Our target is to secure 51 seats, Muraleedharan told reporters. Party le

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rotary Club of Thiruvananthapuram Central has launched an advanced blood bank unit in memory of the late rotarian R Raveendrakumar. With the Blood Bank on Wheels mobile unit, the club aims to bring donation services directly to the donor. Cultural Minister Saji Cherian flagged off the vehicle at a ceremony held at the Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce Hall in Kowdiar on Saturday. He said that the mobile blood bank will be a great asset to the health sector, providing essential s

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite a stay order issued by the Varkala Municipality, unauthorised construction work continues unabated on the iconic Varkala Cliff, a site included in UNESCOs tentative list of World Heritage Sites. Municipality authorities have sought the intervention of the police after the violator defied the stop memo and resumed construction activities. In a formal letter to the police, the municipality has requested immediate action, including confiscation of the machinery being use

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A meeting of the Kerala University Syndicate on Saturday has reportedly decided to refer to the chancellor (governor) the revocation of the suspension of Registrar K S Anil Kumar who was embroiled in the Bharat Mata portrait row. In the discussion, the Left-backed Syndicate members and the representative of the Congress demanded that Anil Kumars suspension be revoked immediately. They also demanded that a committee be constituted to inquire into the disciplinary action agains

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With only days remaining for the local body elections, the city corporation held its last official council on Saturday. An emotional Arya Rajendran told the council that she had often taken tough stands based on the principles and policies of her political party. To celebrate the states declaration of eradicating extreme poverty, the meeting began with the serving of payasam. BJP members, however, alleged that some residents in a few wards still lacked proper documents. Prese

A trip to Thiruvananthapuram towards the end of the year has now become a ritual for movie lovers. All for one of the most cherished film festivals in the country, the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). This year, it is all the more special as IFFK is turning 30. With the general body meeting of the states biggest film event scheduled for this week, the authorities are discussing how to make this 30th edition even more special. With the capital gearing up to step into the big world of

Ever seen Virginia Woolf, Vincent van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway, Kevin Carter, and Rajalekshmi in one room, all passionately discussing life, despair, and how suicide is never the answer? Wondering how different it might have been if they had held on for just one more moment? Step out, and the doors open toa house full of walls glimmering with 25,000 tiny sculptures representing the chemical that keeps us moving and feeling the dopamine house. Charts and displays explain what happens when there is

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a first-of-its-kind initiative to create a statewide network of clean and accessible toilets, the Suchitwa Mission is set to launch KLOO, a mobile application that helps travellers easily locate public and private toilets across the state. The application, developed by a Bengaluru-based start-up, is all set to go live in December. According to Suchitwa Mission Executive Director U V Jose, the KLOO platform will bridge the gap in public sanitation infrastructure by bringing

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, announced that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will increasingly deploy drones to safeguard strategic interests in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands. He emphasised that the Southern Air Command, headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, will lead and coordinate these operations. While IAF has used drones in mountainous regions, the coastal and island environments present new challenges. We are looking for drones capable of

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rampant unauthorised constructions continue unabated along the iconic Varkala Cliff, which was recently included in UNESCOs tentative list of World Heritage Sites. Despite repeated directives and decisions by the district administration and municipal authorities, little has changed on the ground. Illegal structures continue to mushroom on the fragile and fast-eroding cliff, posing a grave threat to its ecological stability and heritage value. The recent violation has emerged

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The annual Alpashy festival at Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple concluded with the arattu ceremony on Thursday. In the evening, hundreds of devotees accompanied the colourful arattu procession to the Shankumukham beach carrying the idols of Sree Padmanabha Swamy and other deities. At 4.30pm, the idols were taken from the sanctum to mathilakam. The idols of Sree Padmanabha Swamy, Sree Narasimha and Sree Thiruvambadi Sreekrishna were taken through the east gopuram. Members of the K

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A former Coast Guard officer allegedly murdered his 76-year-old mother after she objected to him consuming excess alcohol, at their residence in Kalliyoor under Nemom police station on Wednesday night. The police said Ajayakumar killed his mother Vijayakumari, a retired police ministerial staff, by slitting her throat and wrists around 11.30pm. He has been arrested. As per the police, Ajayakumar had been staying with his mother for some time. His wife and daughter stayed sepa

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The KSRTC has launched an AI-based automated scheduling system for its regular and Budget Tourism fleets, marking a major step towards full digitalisation. The new system enables better fleet tracking and operation, thereby reducing operational expenses, said Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar. With the introduction of the AI application, daily losses will come down by 45%. Income and expenditure statements, as well as profit and loss figures, can now be accessed instantly.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 74-year-old woman was stabbed to death by her son, who was in an inebriated state, at their residence at Kalliyoor in Thiruvananthapuram district on Wednesday night. Vijayakumari, a retired government employee, was fatally stabbed on her neck by her son, Ajaya Kumar. Vijayakumari was stabbed in her neck with a broken liquor bottle. Ajaya Kumar was staying with his mother after being separated from his wife.The sources said Vijayakumari often had a tiff with her son over the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The health department, in collaboration with the National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai, has initiated a multi-district field study to investigate the causes of amoebic meningoencephalitis (amoebic brain fever). The study, which began in Kozhikode, will extend to Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Malappuram, Health Minister Veena George said on Tuesday. The move comes amid a surge in cases and ongoing challenges in pinpointing the underlying causes of the infection. T

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday announced the launch of Nirnaya a hub-and-spoke model of diagnostic services aimed at providing affordable, near-home testing facilities for the public. She was distributing the Ardra Kerala, Kayakalp, MBHFI, and Nurses Awards of the State Health Department at a function in Thiruvananthapuram. The initiative being implemented by the health department in collaboration with India Post will link around 1,300 laboratories across the st

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) has directed a vehicle dealer to refund Rs 3.34 lakh to a customer, a retired SI, after the gearbox of the car he bought fell off while driving. The recent order was issued on the appeal petition filed by the dealer against a favourable order secured by the customer from the Kasaragod CDRC. The complainant said he purchased the Hyundai car in March 2013. The vehicle met with an accident in September 2014 and the dealer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Russian house director and the Honorary Consul of Russia in Trivandrum, Ratheesh C Nair, was presented with a badge of honour for international cooperation by the Foreign Ministry of Russia. Signed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the medal was presented by the department for Liaisons with the Constituent Entities of the Federation Director Igor N Kapyrin, at a function held in the Russian Geographical Society headquarters in Moscow. The first deputy to the Russian

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to enhance stray dog management and control its population, the state has launched the first-ever portable ABC centre on Wednesday at Nedumangad municipality in Thiruvananthapuram. Inaugurating the unit, Animal Husbandry Minister J Chinchurani announced that seven more portable ABC units in Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kannur districts will be implemented this financial year. This is the first step towards finding a sustainable s

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Raga Sindhu Bhairavi, popular in both Carnatic and Hindustani traditions, is known for its emotional depth. The gentle rise and fall of its nuances evoke a medley of subtle, inexplicable feelings. Music aficionados in Thiruvananthapuram have been revelling in the resonance of such ragas at the Carnatic series held as part of the ongoing Soorya Festival. Titled Sindhu Bhairavi, the series features some of south Indias finest Carnatic vocalists from the clear-toned Sudha Raghu

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Providing a safety shield for fishermen and ensuring emergency medical aid, a life support ambulance has been set up at Muthalapozhi. The ambulance will offer 24-hour service and will have paramedical staff on duty. MLA V Sasi will officially dedicate it to the public at 5pm on Wednesday at the Muthalappozhi harbour. The ambulance was arranged as part of a ministerial-level decision to make Muthalapozhi safer, using Rs25.2 lakh from the special development fund of Chirayinkee

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Agriculture Minister P Prasad instructed the Kerala Agricultural University to take back a student, who had availed of a transfer certificate due to a fee hike. V S Arjun, a first-year BSc Agriculture (Hons) student at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, decided to opt out of his studies after his yearly fees increased threefold. However, the student commented that every student who dropped out of the course due to the fee hike deserves the same benefit as him, and he does

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The recommendation to award PhD degree in Sanskrit to an SFI leader who allegedly does not have proficiency in the classical language and whose dissertation was found to be lacking the required standards, has kicked up a controversy in the University of Kerala. In an unprecedented move, the Dean of Oriental Studies and Head of the Department of Sanskrit, C N Vijayakumari, has written to Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnumal pointing out serious flaws in the dissertation and has

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vizhinjam International Seaport is set to become Indias first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering facility, marking a transformative step in the countrys maritime energy transition. Strategically situated close to the East-West international shipping corridor, the upcoming facility will establish Vizhinjam as a pivotal gateway for low-carbon shipping across the Indian Ocean region. Conceived as a dedicated LNG refuelling hub for international vessels, the project will provide a cleane

As the golden cup of the ongoing Kerala State School Sports Meet was taken on a grand procession through the capital city, there were not many who doubted where the trophy would finally come to rest. After all, the host district Thiruvananthapuram had displayed such a stellar performance from the very first day of the meet, especially in aquatics and game events. Now, with less than one-tenth of the events to be complete, they were head and shoulders above the rest in the overall points table. T

Fake blood tubes, skull masks, and neon face paints have begun to fill the shelves of city stores. Witch hats hang beside LED pumpkins, and plastic fangs are stacked in baskets next to strings of cobwebs. Makeup kits with fake scars and pale powders sit neatly arranged on counters, waiting for the weeks rush. As hotels, colleges, malls, and cafs line up themed nights and costume parties, the Halloween mood is unmistakably in the air, which is enough to suggest that Keralas October calendar now h

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A father training his child in a sport in which he has a glorious past. The child, through his efforts, achieves a top honour in the game though it seems like a film plot, this is an excerpt from the life of the Nedumangad native Nikhilesh, whose son Neeraj emerged as the gold medal winner of the 83kg senior boys powerlifting competition at the Central Stadium here on Monday. A Class 11 student of Anad SNVHSS, Neeraj lifted a total weight of 542.5 kg in three sets of the com

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the election around the corner, the City Corporation and Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) are taking steps to launch the long-delayed redevelopment of the Palayam Connemara Market. According to official sources, a Hyderabad-based construction firm has been roped in for the execution of the project and the inauguration of work is likely to be held on November 5. We are all set to launch the project ahead of the election declaration. If everything goes as planned,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) has announced that its ongoing protest will continue, with doctors in government medical colleges deciding to boycott outpatient (OP) services on October 28. The organisation stated that despite months of demonstrations and repeated representations, the government has not initiated any meaningful steps to address their concerns. According to KGMCTA, doctors in medical colleges are currently staging a relay OP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday accused the state government of trying to take credit of the Central governments poverty eradication initiatives. He alleged that the states claim of eradicating extreme poverty, the CPI-CPM rift over the PM SHRI scheme, and allegations against him were attempts to divert public attention from the Sabarimala gold scam, the Messi controversy, and other irregularities. The state government is trying to take credit for every sch

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is increasing flight operations by 22 per cent, taking weekly air traffic movements to 732 from 600. The surge in services comes into effect with the winter schedule, which began on Sunday and runs until March 28, 2026. There has been a growing demand for air travel from Thiruvananthapuram, particularly to metro cities and popular international destinations. Domestic operations will see the most notable rise, with several new route

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a rare humanitarian move, 12 crew members aboard the Liberia-flagged cargo vessel MSC Akiteta-II were permitted to disembark at Vizhinjam International Seaport after being stranded for nearly four months, on Saturday. A special permission was obtained from immigration authorities allowing the crew change despite the ports lack of an Integrated Check Post (ICP), marking the first such operation under special circumstances. Among those relieved was Chief Engineer Avjaye Aggr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following up on Minister V Sivankuttys announcement on Saturday that the state government will build a house for gold medal-winning athlete Devananda, the general education department has decided to build houses for star performers of the State School Sports Meet from weaker backgrounds. Announcing the new scheme in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, Sivankutty said new houses will be built for eligible students who win gold medals in the meet. Record setters are also likely to be

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the senior girls neduvadipayattu competition, a kalaripayattu event, came to an end at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, two girls from Wayanad were seen walking away from the arena, engaged in a joyful conversation. Though a bit disappointed that they could not bring out their best in the kalari of the State School Sports Meet, Abhinava Shaji and Aleena Saji from St Josephs HSS, Kalladi were happy that they were able to progress to the state level wit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Varkala helipad, the main gateway to the world-famous Varkala cliff, lies in disarray following preparations for President Droupadi Murmus recent visit to Sivagiri. Streetlights, benches, dustbins, and other infrastructure around the helipad were reportedly dismantled for security and landing arrangements. Now, with the peak tourism season under way, the area presents a neglected look broken benches, scattered lights, and damaged bins litter the viewing deck and surround

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After a gruelling contest that stretched 8.43 minutes, Palakkad bagged the gold in the senior boys tug-of-war at the State School Sports Meet, toppling Kannur in an event that they have had a firm grip on over the years. It marks the second consecutive year that Palakkad dominated the category. However, the event was not without controversy. Participants raised concerns over the frequent change of venues. Originally scheduled at the Central Stadium, competition was shifted to

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala University Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal has convened a meeting of the varsity Syndicate on November 1 to decide on many important academic matters that have been pending resolution for the past many weeks. As a petition seeking urgent convening of the Syndicate has been filed before the High Court, the varsity has informed the court of the impending Syndicate meeting. The varsity has also made arrangements to convene the Syndicate meeting under CCTV surveillanc

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Marking the end of the fourth day, a total of 25 new records were set in a single day in the State School Sports Meet. Thiruvananthapuram has established a strong lead from the beginning. The host district tops the charts with 165 gold, 122 silver, and 138 bronze medals, amassing 1,472 points. Thrissur trails in second place with 694 points, having secured 76 gold, 38 silver, and 78 bronze medals. Palakkad stands third with 615 points, including 47 gold, 66 silver, and 73 bro