THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 17th edition of Isha Gramotsavam, one of the largest rural sports festivals, will kick off in six districts of the state from August 23. Over 700 players from across the state are expected to participate, forming more than 140 teams. Matches will be held in Kasaragod, Kannur, Thrissur, Palakkad, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts. The festival unfolds in three stages: cluster level, divisional level, and the grand finale. The cluster-level matches will take place

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After a gap of nearly four years, the Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre at Vandithadam, Thiruvallam, has resumed operations. The facility, which was shut down in 2021 following High Court intervention over pollution concerns and alleged animal rights violations, has a capacity to sterilise more than 100 dogs per month. The High Court had sealed the facility following reports on death of stray dogs brought for sterilisation at the ABC centre. The corporation only had one opera

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Railway Protection Force (RPF), Thiruvananthapuram Division, has made a major breakthrough against phone-snatching gangs on trains, cracking three cases in August. Senior railway officials said the coordinated operations with the Government Railway Police (GRP) and local police led to multiple arrests and recovery of stolen property, strengthening passenger security under Operation Yatri Suraksha. According to RPF, the first case was reported on August 10 when a passenger

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Piped natural gas has been slowly, but steadily, flowing across India as a cleaner, safer and hassle-free alternative to the traditional liquified petroleum gas being distributed through cylinders. Delivered through pipelines much like public water supply, the idea has been termed revolutionary as it can change the way one books gas and cooks food at households. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has authorised 33,478km of natural gas pipeline network acro

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Food safety department has seized nearly 17,000 litres of adulterated coconut oil during more than 1,000 inspections conducted across the state. A total of 469 samples were collected for analysis, and appropriate actions were taken. Notices were issued to 25 establishments, while legal action was initiated against manufacturers of edible oils under brand names such as Kerasurya, Kera Haritham, and Kuttanadu Kera. Since April, the department has carried out 21,030 inspections.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday remembered M Anirudhan, founding president of the Federation of Kerala Associations in North America (FOKANA) and businessman, who passed away in July, calling him an outstanding researcher, industrialist, and a voice of NRI Malayalis. Speaking at a government-organised remembrance meeting, he praised Anirudhans lifelong attachment to the country. He noted that Anirudhans pioneering contributions to nutrition research and the develop

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The impasse over compensation disbursal for land owners who surrendered their land for the ambitious Outer Ring Road (ORR) project will continue inordinately. As many as 6,500 land owners have handed over their property for the Vizhinjam- Navaikulam ORR project and the move to revise the alignment of the project had come as a heavy blow for them. According to official sources, efforts are under way to revise the alignment that aims to avoid heavy hill cutting to reduce the en

Most artists find comfort in a signature style a recognisable stamp they never abandon. But for BD Dethan, that very idea feels like a cage. For over two decades, he has been deliberately breaking his mould, shifting styles whenever familiarity starts to feel like repetition. 'Parinamam', his 34th exhibition that is now going on at Vylopilly Samskrithi Bhavan, could thus be called a record of his evolution. Since 2000, I have exhibited almost every year. I cannot stick to one style forever. Once

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is set to revolutionise work-and-travel tourism with the states first-ever startup pod coming up in Varkala, a popular destination among tech professionals. Implemented jointly by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and the tourism department, the innovative initiative is expected to woo tech professionals and entrepreneurs from across the globe to enjoy workation in the state. The workpod will come up at the tourism departments land near the government guest house at Va

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala University football team that won the Inter University South Zone title in 1992 reunited at the University Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Independence Day this year, after a gap of 33 years. The nostalgic gathering was held at the very venue where the team once trained and created history. It was the first time since the universitys formation that Kerala University had emerged champions in the South Zone tournament, defeating Calicut University, Mahatma Gandhi Un

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thiruvananthapuram Regional Co-operative Milk Producers Union (TRCMPU) of Milma is set to roll out its latest offering, Milma Cow Milk, in a one-litre bottle format from Tuesday. Priced at Rs 70, the product contains 3.2% fat and 8.5% solids-not-fat, promising high nutritional value. To boost visibility and customer engagement, Milma has announced a lucky draw contest. Buyers of Milma Cow Milk on August 20 and 21 will be eligible, with 10 winners selected based on the 5-d

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week after a speeding car crashed onto the footpath near General Hospital, Thiruvananathpuram, autorickshaw driver Shafi, 42, one of the four seriously injured in the accident, passed away on Sunday. He had been on ventilator support since the incident and showed no signs of recovery, said his family. Shafi, a resident of Azhikode, was the sole breadwinner of the household. He is survived by his partners Shajeela and Shamna, and four children: Shahana, Shafana, Mohammed Say

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Accusing the SCERT teachers handbook of portraying Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as a coward, Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) sent letters to the central education minister and NCERT director on Sunday. According to the right-wing student organisation, the Class 4 social sciences teachers handbook mentions that Netaji fled to Germany out of fear for the British regime. The organisation said the students textbook of the same grade also deliberately omitted the names of

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Candlelight flickered in front of the Secretariat on Sunday evening as animal lovers gathered under the banner of India Unites For Animals, a protest organised by People for Animals (PFA) Trivandrum. The protest was in the wake of a recent Supreme Court order that allows mass confinement of street dogs. Holding placards and candles, protesters called for scientific and compassionate alternatives to street dog management, including sterilisation, vaccination, licensing, and c

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: DYFI workers on Saturday took out a protest in front of the Varkala child development project officers (CDPO) office after photos of BJP leaders tying rakhis on anganwadi children as part of the Independence Day celebrations went viral on social media platforms. Close to 25 protesters were arrested and later released, said a DYFI leader who alleged that the BJP and RSS leaders tied rakhis (a sacred thread tied on brothers by their sisters) to the students of 11 anganwadis. On

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The unchecked rise in wild boar population is spilling into urban areas, triggering frequent attacks and even fatalities across the district. The forest authorities have identified as many as 64 hotspots where the threat is most severe, raising alarm among residents and local bodies. In a recent incident, a young software engineer, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, was killed in an accident involving a wild boar on the Thiruvananthapuram - Chenkotta Road. According to forest au

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Alleging that BJP and RSS leaders tied rakhi to students of 11 anganwadis as part of Independence Day celebrations, DYFI leaders protested before the Varkala Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) office on Saturday. According to DYFI leaders, close to 25 protesters were arrested and later released. The issue began when photos of BJP leaders tying rakhi in the hands of anganwadi children surfaced on social media. The CDPO had instructed the teachers through a WhatsApp voic

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After numerous representations from students, teachers and staff unions, the Kerala University has finally opened the main entrance gate of its sprawling Kariavattom campus that was undergoing reconstruction for the past many months. Though the reconstruction of the main entrance was completed six months ago, it was not opened, citing various reasons. Due to the delay, people accessing the campus had been taking a circuitous route from the main road. On the basis of the repor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Popular tourist destination Ponmudi has been shut down following heavy rains and minor landslides. The eco-tourism destination will remain shut down until further notice, said forest authorities. It is learned that the heavy rain that has been lashing the region since Thursday night triggered landslip in the 21st hairpin bend, prompting the forest authorities to shut down the hill station immediately. Huge boulders and land fell into the road blocking the way, following which

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Onam vacation around the corner, the Shankhumukham beach a popular tourist spot in the city dons a sorry look. The reason: unregulated vending is turning into a major nuisance despite several crores being spent on the development and relaunch of Shankhumukham as a prime location. With the plan to shift them to designated zones yet to materialise, street vendors have taken over the recently developed beachfront areas, leaving visitors and tourists at the receiving e

On the morning of August 15, 1947, the rest of India erupted in celebration, marking the nations long-fought freedom from colonial rule. But in Travancore the atmosphere was different. The streets were not filled with joyous processions. Instead, there was an unusual stillness, laced with anxiety. Three days before the historic day, dewan C P Ramaswami Iyer issued an order that the Indian Tricolour was not to be hoisted anywhere in Travancore. Only the flag bearing the conch shell emblem of the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A meeting of the academic council of the Kerala University was called off by Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal on Thursday, owing to the possibility of violent protests by pro-Left Syndicate members over the suspension of K S Anil Kumar from the post of registrar. The Syndicate members, who are also members of the academic council, had reportedly planned to ensure the participation of the suspended registrar in the meeting and stage protests against Mini Dijo Kappen, who h

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The poorly-lit streets in many parts of the city are raising safety concerns among residents, pedestrians and motorists. Complaints regarding defunct streetlights are becoming a regular affair in all 100 wards. P Jayadevan Nair, president of the Fraternity of Residents Association Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT), blamed the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and City Corporation for the ill-lit streets. This is a huge concern for the residents and we have been raising this issue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dr. K.V. Vishwanathan, who was at the centre of the controversy involving Dr. Haris Chirakkal, has been appointed as the Director of Medical Education (DME), bypassing five senior candidates. He has admitted to instructing the Medical College Principal, Dr P K Jabbar, and Superintendent, Dr. Sunil Kumar, to hold a press conference against Dr Haris. The Save University Campaign Committee has petitioned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, protesting the appointment and alleging p

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dismissing allegations over attempts to curtail media freedom, the state government on Wednesday clarified that no such move has been made. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the the allegations baseless. The statement from the CMO said the government has ordered an inquiry into how a copy of a highly confidential letter regarding the World Banks fund allocation for the Kera project was leaked to the media. The CMO said such leaks could

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Muthalapozhi harbour mouth had been a point of concern for fishermen for the last few years. Though the new harbour project was launched early this month, the dredging activities were stopped by mid-June due to equipment failure. In view of the recent incidents of boat capsizing, authorities confirm that dredging will resume within two weeks. An equipment part named spud, which holds the dredger firm to the seabed, was broken, and we are now looking for alternate options,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Venjarammoodu police will take into custody four men accused of using the dating app Grindr, primarily intended for individuals of the LGBTQ+ community, to lure in and rob victims. The accused Sudheer, 24, Muhammed Salman, 19, Ashiq, 19, and Sajit, 18, all hailing from Chithara in Kollam are alleged to have targeted hundreds including high-profile individuals like doctors and lawyers, many of whom refrained from filing complaints out of fear of social stigma. The police

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five girls with cerebral palsy are anxiously awaiting their UK visas, uncertain if they would be able to fulfil their dream of participating in an international football championship. Trained by the Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India, the five girls were chosen to represent the country in the intercontinental football tournament for children with cerebral palsy, organised by the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football. The delay in getting visas has pushed

It is a space where music meets joy, and musicians meet connoisseurs who get to soak in authentic Western rock, jazz, and blues. With its cosy, intimate setting reminiscent of an English movies cool hangout,Joys Music Room hasquickly become a beloved spot for music lovers in the city, who seek something beyond the ordinary. Its founder, Jobin Joseph, says there is an inspiring journey behind this music room, which began functioning around 10 years ago with the disbanding of Jobins old band, the

With Onam around the corner, many are in search of a perfect Kerala saree. So, how about adding a Bengali twist to your Onam wardrobe? The Rang Mahal Bengali Weavers Exhibition, being held at YMCA, has come to dazzle the city with designs of the quintessential Kerala saree, but done in soft, Bengali handloom. Rang Mahal, the organisation coordinating the festival, collects the textiles from over 250 weavers from the Nadia district in West Bengal. Their officials sell these fabrics in different p

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soft skills are the most important skillset in the job market today. Not everyone in a crowd may be strong in this area, but securing a job remains essential. To help aspirants of all age groups to get into their dream job, the Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM) have stepped forward to give support on the soft skills part. Marking a remarkable feat in their journey, the KKEM has already provided soft skills training to over 9,396 people of different age groups in the las

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Women of Vattiyoorkavu now have a new option for evening activities - cycling - as free cycling training will be arranged in the constituency for them. The She Cycling programme, inaugurated by MLA V K Prasanth on Monday, will provide a five-day free cycling training for women and girls of the locality. The training is being carried out by the Indus Cycling Embassy. The women and children who have gathered here for the training are the brand ambassadors of this programme, MLA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two fisherman died, while three miraculously escaped after their boat capsized at Muthalapozhi on Monday evening. The fishermen on board Carmala Matha boat, which is owned by an Anchuthengu native, met with the tragedy when the vessel was returning to the harbour after the days catch. The deceased have been identified as Michael, 68, and Joseph, 43. Three other fishers, who were on the boat, were rescued by other boatmen. The Anchuthengu coastal police said the incident occur

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four men have been arrested in Venjaramoodu for abducting and robbing a youth after luring him through Grindr, a dating app for the LGBTQ+ community. The arrested individuals are Sudheer, 24, Muhammed Salman, 19, Ashiq, 19, and Sajith, 18 all from Chithara. The incident took place on August 7 on the Venjarammoodu-Attingal road. The gang allegedly targeted the Venjaramoodu native by arranging a meeting at Mukkunnoor Junction. The victim met the first two accused in a car, whi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ambitious CITIIS 2.0 (City Investments To Innovate, Integrate and Sustain) programme that aims at promoting climate-oriented reforms and integrating waste management with a major thrust on the circular economy is all set to take off in the capital city by mid-October. Official sources said a team from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development visited the capital recently ahead of giving a final nod to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by the city corporation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: To rein in soaring vegetable prices during the Onam season, Horticorp will procure vegetables worth `3.5 crore from other states as part of a major market intervention initiative. The agriculture department has allocated around `10.24 crore to implement the market intervention effectively. According to official sources, the prices of vegetables are likely to go up during the festival season. Owing to erratic weather conditions, there has been a slight decline in vegetable pro

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the Scheduled Tribes development department celebrated its golden jubilee on Saturday, a key group that should benefit from the department protested in Thiruvananthapuram, citing the departments shortcomings. Close to 60 members of the Adivasi Mahasabha (AMS) protested before the Secretariat, stating that the department is unable to address their basic concerns, including roads, houses and stipend for students. According to Adivasi Maha Sabha president Mohanan Triveni, eve

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Scheduled Tribe Development Department celebrated its 50th foundation day on Saturday with a grand function at Kanakakunnu, coinciding with the International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples. The event brought together over 300 tribal people from across the state. Inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reaffirmed the governments commitment to ensure the development of Scheduled Tribes in the state. He pointed out that Kera

A 3-foot wide, 3-foot tall wooden bookshelf now stands on the front wall of Arun Ayyappans house in Thiruvananthapuram. But this is not just about books. Named T A Ayyappans Library in memory of his late father, this Pusthakakoodu, which can be translated to book nest, is Aruns personal attempt to keep the reading habit alive. Pusthakakoodu is open to everyone. Anyone can walk by, take a book, read it here, or carry it home. If they have a book of their own, they can leave it behind. Its not man

Vega Dimora in Thiruvananthapuram is rewriting the veggie story. Their newly launched Signature Platter sweeps aside the predictable paneer-and-cauliflower routine, serving up an interesting mix of tradition and innovation. This is the star hotels third signature menu in three years, with each edition refreshed to keep regulars curious while retaining some top favourites. The experience begins with a thoughtful first bite masala pori, two types of sundal, and slices of raw mango sprinkled with

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A section of leaders who attended the CPI Thiruvananthapuram district conference demanded the party state leadership to change the decision taken at Bhatinda Party Congress to end the support given to Congress and start an alliance with the CPM. The CPM treats the CPI like the way in which in-laws consider the parents of daughters who had decided to reside with them, a leader said. We had two chief ministers in the past. Now, it has come to such a level that the CPM tried its

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Residents of Karikkuzhy settlement were caught in a frenzy for a brief time after a leopard escaped during a tranquillisation attempt at Amboori in Thiruvananthapuram. It was later found and tranquillised by the forest officials. The animal was first found trapped in a wild creeper around 7am near Chakkappara at Amboori in the Karikkuzhy tribal settlement. Upon getting information, the forest officials rushed to the spot and began preparations to capture it using a dart gun.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Moving a step closer to achieving the status of countrys first carbon neutral assembly constituency, the second carbon audit report of Kattakada constituency shows a 46.75% reduction in annual emission compared to 81.7% in 2019-2020. The carbon audit was carried out by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM). According to the report, the reduction in sectoral emissions from the baseline is observed across multiple sectors. A remarkable 99.5%reduction

Lagged by poor traffic discipline and overcrowding, the congested East Fort junction has been infamous for accidents and fatalities. Now, however, it is poised for a major overhaul, with the High Court issuing a six-month ultimatum to streamline traffic and improve pedestrian safety in one of the busiest parts of the state capital. The directive comes in response to proposals submitted by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC), which has recommended the construction of

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A man died after a gas cylinder exploded at a hotel in Manickyapuram, Nedumangad, on Friday afternoon, just minutes after his wife and grandchild had stepped out. The deceased has been identified as Vijayan (55), the owner of Arsha Fast Food Catering Service. The incident allegedly occurred around 1 p.m. According to the fire service, a suspected gas leak at the hotel may have triggered the blast. Vijayan was alone at the time of the incident. His wife and grandchild, who had

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Casting doubt on whistleblower Dr Haris Chirackal, the Principal of the Government Medical College Dr PK Jabbar, made a revelation that he had discovered a new purchase bill for an equipment that was previously missing from the department led by Dr. Haris. The discovery was made during an inspection of Chirackals office while he was on leave. Principal PK Jabbar suggested that the equipment was recently purchased after a probe committee had identified it as missing. This reve

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In A relief to hundreds of displaced fisherman families, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday handed over keys of newly bult houses to 332 beneficiaries at a function held at Muttathara in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. Inaugurating the event, the chief minister said that Kerala with its long coastline faces numerous challenges related to climate and sea erosion. The fisherfolk are forced to live close to the sea making them vulnerable to environmental hazards because

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the state government celebrated the inauguration of a new flat complex for fisherfolk at Muttathara on Thursday, a section of beneficiaries from the earlier phase of the Punargeham project staged a protest. The residents cited irregularities in the allocation of new flats claiming that multiple flats were given to individuals belonging to the same families. The protest, which erupted during the inaugural event attended by the chief minister, was led by residents of th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The non-functional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Idukki has left hundreds of people in distress. The commission, with 500-odd pending cases has not conducted a single sitting after December 5 when a member retired. Unlike many other district commissions, a significant number of the consumers before the Idukki forum are small-time farmers. Their petitions deal with the disputes over the purchase of cattle or about crop insurance schemes. Large number of he

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The forest department on Thursday organised a remembrance meet in honour of forest watcher Muthuvan Krishnan at the Forest Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. A crowd of over 100 gathered for the event, titled Thinakalude Kavalkaran, to reminisce about a man who dedicated his every breath to the woods he belonged. Retired forest official James Zachariah, who had known Krishnan for 41 years, shared his memories, while environmentalist E Kunhikrishnan applauded the commemoratio