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

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant move aimed at easing the burden on cancer patients, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will now provide free travel for those undergoing treatment anywhere in the state, including at private hospitals. Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar made the announcement in the Assembly, stating that the facility will be available on all bus classes below Super Fast class. The KSRTC board is expected to formally approve the decision in its meeting schedul

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bio Connect 3.0, a two-day international conclave that is expected to generate investments of around Rs 200 crore in the life sciences sector, will begin in the capital on Thursday. The event, to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will be presided over by Industries Minister P Rajeeve. Health Minister Veena George and secretary of the Central Technology Development Board Rajesh Kumar Pathak will be among the guests. Timothy Rowe, founder of the Cambridge Innov

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When Gopakumar (name changed) found himself in a financial crunch, he decided like many people to sell his land in the city for an influx of money. He approached several real estate brokers, but when the efforts proved futile, Gopakumar placed a classified advertisement in the newspaper. This proved helpful. Within days, he received a call from a man who introduced himself as Joshi. The latter expressed interest in purchasing the land Gopakumar owned and requested for a meeti

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keralas innovative V-Park project, which transforms idle spaces beneath flyovers into vibrant recreational zones, is set for a major expansion. The tourism department has now granted administrative sanction for new V-Park sites across several districts as part of the next phase of the initiative jointly developed with the public works department under the states design policy. Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas informed the Assembly that a list of 77 bridges has been prepared

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Work on the Sreekaryam flyover, a key preparatory civil work part of the ambitious Thiruvananthapuram metro rail project, is gathering pace, with the laying of the service roads set to begin soon. According to sources, around 90% of the stormwater drain construction has been completed. Giving impetus to the much-awaited project, the chief secretary-led high-level committee constituted to examine and finalise the alignment for the project being implemented by the Kochi Metro R

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday accused the Left government in Kerala of abandoning its own ideology and failing to safeguard workers rights. Inaugurating the Headload Workers Leaders Meet organised by the INTUC-led Headload and Loading Workers, Chennithala said the Pinarayi Vijayan government has adopted positions that deny workers even the right to organise and bargain systematically. He alleged that the states labour welfare boards have never been in

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has expressed shock over alleged instances of exploitation involving women brought to the state purportedly as egg donors or prospective surrogate mothers under the guise of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) programmes. The court observed that the health department and the police have a clear duty to ensure that such exploitation is eradicated and prevented in the future. The court made the observation while considering a petition filed by Abdul Muthalif, managi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The drop in birth rate in the state -- from 16.63% in 2006 to 12.77% in 2020 -- has had an impact on the total number of students enrolled in the primary section (Classes 1 to IV) in state syllabus schools, the government informed the assembly on Wednesday. In a written reply to a set of questions by MLAs K J Maxi , D K Murali, P T A Rahim and G Stephen, General Education Minister V Sivankutty said the number of students in the primary section, that was 14.3 lakh in 2011-12,

KOCHI: World champions Argentina, led by superstar Lionel Messi, are set to arrive in Kochi on November 14 for their much-awaited Kerala tour. The team will play a friendly exhibition match against Australia on November 17 at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kaloor. According to the event sponsors, tickets for the match will be available from October 15. Ticket rates are being finalised and will be announced soon, said Anto Augustine, managing director of Reporter Broadcasting Company

KOCHI: Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru on Wednesday refuted the statement of former Sabarimala executive officer Murari Babu that the proposal to carry out gold-plating of the temples dwarapalaka idols in 2019 was made on his recommendation. He said he granted permission for the work after the officer came to him. Rajeevaru also said he granted the nod expecting that the work will be done at Sannidhanam itself. The officer came to me and said the gold covering of the dwarapalakas had faded due the r

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the Opposition protests disrupted assembly proceedings for the third straight day on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans remark mocking the short stature of one of the UDF MLAs ignited a body shaming controversy, with the Opposition demanding withdrawal of the unsavoury remark and an apology from him. The chief ministers remark came shortly after the Opposition staged dramatic protests and later boycotted the proceedings. Referring to a scuffle between members of t

KOCHI: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) maintains that it was forced to depend on Unnikrishnan Potti to re-plate the dwarapalaka idols in 2025 as Smart Creations, Chennai, had issued the warranty in the name of the sponsor in 2019. Experts have contested the claim, pointing out how the Devaswom Board can accept a warranty issued in the name of a sponsor for a property it owned. Records accessed by TNIE reveal that the same Smart Creations had issued a warranty in the name of the TDB secretary

KOLLAM: Kerala has recorded a fall in carbon stock over the past six years even as its forest cover has expanded, according to the Environmental Accounting on Forest 2025 report released by the National Statistics Office (NSO). The states total carbon stock declined from 256 million tonnes in 2017 to 214 million tonnes in 2023. This drop comes despite an increase in the states forest growing stock the total volume of trees from 152 million cubic metres in 2013 to 169 million cubic metres in 20

KOCHI: Coming down heavily on the central government for its stand that there would be no loan waiver for the Wayanad landslide victims, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday orally observed that the Centre has failed the people of Kerala. Enough is enough. We don't need the central governments charity. This is just bureaucratic babble. Its not about whether the central government can act, but whether they are willing to act. If you are unwilling to act, we (the Bench) dare to say it. Who are you t

KOZHIKODE: A doctor was seriously injured after being attacked with a machete at Thamarassery Taluk Hospital on Wednesday. Dr. Vipin P.T., who was working in the emergency ward, suffered a skull fracture and was moved to Baby Memorial Hospital in Kozhikode for urgent treatment. The attacker, Sanoop, is the father of a 9-year-old girl, Anaya, who died two months ago from a rare brain infection called Amoebic Meningoencephalitis. Sanoop came to the hospital with two children and asked to see the M

KANNUR: The Thalassery District Court has acquitted all 14 accused in the RSS twin murder case that took place in New Mahe, bringing an end to a legal battle that lasted 15 years. The court found the accused, including Kodi Suni, not guilty due to the prosecutions failure to establish the charges. The case pertained to the brutal killing of two BJP-RSS workers, who were stopped on a bike, attacked with bombs, and hacked to death. Most of the accused were CPM followers. Among them, Kodi Suni, Muh

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has termed the Opposition's protests in the Assembly over the 'missing' gold claddings at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple as unprecedented and shameful. The Chief Minister's critical remarks came after the Opposition protests disrupted Assembly proceedings for the third straight day on Wednesday. Pinarayi alleged that the Opposition was shying away from a discussion on the issue as they were afraid that the facts would turn against them. He also

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly on Wednesday witnessed yet another day of protest with the proceedings disrupted for the third consecutive day as the Opposition escalated the protest over Sabarimala gold row. Within moments after the kicking off of the day's proceedings, the Opposition MLAs stormed the well of the assembly shouting slogans and holding placards demanding the resignation of Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan and dissolution of the Travancore Devaswom Boards (TDB). Opposition le

Back in 2017, a small group of rappers, including names now familiar, like Thirumali, Rakz Radiant, and Jay Stellar, gathered at Manaveeyam Veedhi, laid down their verses on a single track, and unwittingly kindled Keralas first hip-hop cypher. Since then, Thiruvananthapuram has been dubbed the unofficial hip-hop capital of Kerala. Notably, the states first and only hip-hop protest also took place here in 2019, when rappers, breakers, and poets turned a demonstration outside the Secretariat into

Excerpts : Could you tell us about your entry into cinema? I used to do mono-acting and take part in drama in school. I had a liking for acting, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would work in films. My first break came in 2014, through my friend who asked me to play a small role in Last Supper, which starred Unni Mukundan. Then, in 2018, another friend forwarded details of a casting call by Friday Films. That is how I landed the role of Chekuthan Lasser in Aadu 2. And thats how