Page 16 - Kerala

Rekhachithram OTT release: When and where to watch this crime thriller?

A Malayalam mystery crime thriller, Rekhachithram is set to debut on OTT platform soon. Under the direction of Jofin T Chacko, Rekhachithram has become the top-grossing Malayalam film of 2025

Legalising land leasing across states continues to face multiple hurdles

While the Economic Survey last month hailed a Kerala model of land leasing, there exist multiple blocks to a comprehensive policy, in part due to differing state laws

Private university bill necessary in accordance with times: Kerala edu min

Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu on Tuesday defended the cabinet decision approving a draft bill for the establishment and management of private universities in the state, saying that it was a necessary move in accordance with the changing times. Bindu, speaking to reporters here, said that it was a decision which the state could no longer avoid and that it was necessary for the progress and improvement of higher education in Kerala. She said that the cabinet also approved a bill for bringing changes to the functioning of state-run universities. The minister said that the new bills will bring changes which would benefit students from the state and help them keep up with the increasing competitiveness in higher education. She also said that there was nothing to be concerned about the coming of private universities as only 20 per cent of the higher education institutions in the state were government-run and the rest were all aided or unaided. Bindu also said that there would

We ensured Centre sends relief funds: Priyanka Gandhi on Wayanad landslide

Highlighting other challenges faced by the people, she pointed out the lack of access to health and education services for Adivasi communities

Who is Ananthu Krishnan, the man behind multi-crore fraud in Kerala?

Ernakulam Rural Police arrested 26-year-old Ananthu Krishnan, who allegedly orchestrated a fraud involving promises of laptops & scooters at half price, leading to a loss of about 500-600 crore

Kerala CSR scam: Former judge CN Ramachandran Nair named in cheating case

Former Kerala High Court judge CN Ramachandran Nair has been named in CSR fund scam (half price scam) FIR; accused of patronising a fraudulent NGO

Kerala govt plans to develop state-owned AI engine for schools this year

After imparting training to school teachers about the use and the inclusion of the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) textbooks, the Kerala government is now planning to develop a state-owned AI engine for schools. State General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday announced that an AI engine will be developed this year, under the leadership of Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), within the academic framework, an official statement said. The minister was speaking after inaugurating the State Camp of Little KITEs at the International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS) campus here. The minister also announced the completion of the distribution of 29,000 Robotic Kits in schools, undertaken by KITE, the technology arm of the state General Education Department. The Open Hardware based Robotic Kits, which are deployed to schools by the KITE, comprises of Arduino Uno Rev3, LEDs, SG90

Centre doing everything to weaken Constitution, democracy: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday claimed that the country was going through a period where the government at the Centre was doing everything "to weaken the Constitution and democracy in India". Priyanka, the Wayanad MP, was speaking at a booth level leaders meeting at Mananthavady assembly constituency here where she said that till date victims of the landslides that hit the high range district are facing housing troubles and have not received adequate compensation. The Congress leader said that the central government "atleast" declared the Wayanad landslides as "a disaster of severe nature due to our efforts in the Lok Sabha" and expressed hope that as a result more funds will be received for the rehabilitation of the victims. She also referred to the various instances of loss of lives due to wild animal attacks in the district and said that the human-animal conflict was also leading to loss of livelihoods. Priayanka said the last time she was here in .

Cong MP Priyanka Gandhi in Kerala for 3 day visit to meet local leadership

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived in Kerala on Saturday morning on a three-day visit to the state, party sources said. Priyanka, the Wayanad MP, landed at Kannur airport around 10 am and was greeted by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran. She will travel to Wayanad by road from there, the sources said. The Congress MP will be holding meetings with the local party leadership in the high-range district of Wayanad during the day and there will be no public meetings, the sources added. According to her itinerary released by the party, she will hold meetings with booth level leaders in Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta assembly constituencies during the day. Towards evening she will visit the Lourde Matha Church at Pallikkunnu in Kalpetta, the sources said. On Sunday, she will hold meetings with booth level leaders in Eranad and Thiruvambadi assembly constituencies. On Monday, she will hold meetings with booth level leaders at W

Kerala to draw more tax from Rs 15 lakh+ EVs to charge up revenue

The lifetime road tax on EVs costing above Rs 15 lakh was raised to 8 per cent of the vehicle's price, from the current 5 per cent

Kerala MP raises concerns of Indians in GCC in RS, seeks inclusive policy

P Sandosh Kumar, CPI MP from Kerala, raised the challenges being faced by the Indians residing in six countries under the Gulf Cooperative Council and demanded a comprehensive policy on workers going abroad in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Raising the issues during the Question Hour, Kumar said that the GCC, which consists of six countries in the Middle East, has a very huge Indian population and there is an urgent need for a comprehensive and pragmatic policy for them as they are contributing immensely to strengthen the Indian economy. According to Kumar, Indians living in GCC countries are 93,72,076 as per the answer furnished by the government in the House in December last year and out of these, 27 per cent are from Kerala. Pointing out some major issues, he said that airfare hikes, especially during the season, have become a menace for the Parvaasi community. "This has become a source of exploitation for aviation companies. Our aviation ministry has become a mute spectator to this

State survived financial crisis; welfare schemes unaffected: Kerala FM

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Friday, while presenting the budget for the financial year 2025-26 in the Assembly, said the state has survived the most intense phase of financial crisis without any of its welfare schemes or development work being affected. Presenting the second Pinarayi Vijayan-led government's fifth budget in the Legislative Assembly, Balagopal announced a Rs 750 crore project for the rehabilitation of the Wayanad landslides victims. Balagopal said that the Mundakkai and Chooralmala villages in Wayanad witnessed an extreme calamity that plunged Kerala into deep sorrow. The disaster claimed over 200 lives, destroyed hundreds of properties and thousands lost their livelihoods with the estimated loss due to the landslides being around Rs 1,202 crore, while the cost of rehabilitation is expected to be approximately Rs 2,221 crore, as assessed by a team of experts, the minister said. He said the 2025-26 Union Budget has not allocated any assistance for the ..

Kerala secures Rs 2,424 cr World Bank loan to strengthen healthcare system

The Kerala government on Wednesday approved the Kerala Health System Improvement Programme by availing a loan of Rs 2,424.28 crore from the World Bank. The state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which granted approval, decided to implement the project under the Programme for Results (P for R) model. According to a CMO release, the main objective of the programme is to ensure an excellent standard of living and life expectancy while helping the people of the state build a life free from preventable diseases, accidents, and premature deaths. "All interventions under the programme will focus on ensuring the welfare of the poor. The project aims to establish resilient healthcare systems that provide value-based healthcare while addressing the state's evolving demographic and epidemiological challenges," it said. The government said the project will also enhance coordination between various state departments to effectively respond to emerging threats, includin

Govt says 339 foreign companies registered in India in last 5 years

The government on Tuesday said 339 foreign companies have been registered in the country in the last five years and the registration of such firms has been on the decline since 2020. This year, five foreign companies have been registered -- 1 each in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala and two in Tamil Nadu, official data shared by Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra with the Rajya Sabha showed. Under Section 2 (42) of the Companies Act, 2013, a foreign company means any company or body corporate incorporated outside India, which has a place of business in India whether by itself or through an agent, physically or through electronic mode. "Thus, foreign companies are incorporated outside India and they have a place of business in India. These companies are set up with foreign capital," he said. While 90 foreign companies were set up in 2020, the number came down to 75 in 2021 and 64 in 2022. The count reduced to 57 in 2023 and 53 in 2024. On whether certain foreign ..

Bullying isn't harmless; it destroys lives: Rahul on Kerala student suicide

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the tragic loss of a student to suicide due to bullying in a Kerala school is heartbreaking and said those responsible -- both bullies and those who failed to act -- must be held accountable. "The tragic loss of Mihir Ahammed to suicide due to bullying in a Kerala school is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to his family," Gandhi said in a post on X. "No child should endure what Mihir faced. Schools must be safe havens for children yet he suffered relentless torment. Those responsible -- both bullies and those who failed to act -- must be held accountable," the former Congress chief said. "Bullying isn't harmless; it destroys lives. Parents must teach kindness, love, empathy, and the courage to speak up. Believe your child if they say they're being bullied, and intervene if they are the bully," Gandhi said. Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Friday directed the Director of General Education (DG

Kerala court issues non-bailable warrant against Baba Ramdev, Balakrishna

The case against Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna was filed for allegedly publishing misleading medical advertisements in English and Malayalam newspapers

Budget marks pivotal moment in economic trajectory: Kerala biz community

The Union Budget proposals presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday received a positive response from the business community in Kerala. Yusuff Ali M A, Chairman of Lulu Group said the buget marks a pivotal moment in India's economic trajectory, delivering a much-needed boost to the middle class while advancing the country's goal of becoming a 5 trillion USD economy. Key measures, such as income tax reductionsincluding a no-tax threshold up to Rs 12 lakhand expanded exemptions and incentives for startups and MSMEs, will directly benefit individual incomes and entrepreneurial ventures, he said in a statement here. This budget clearly empowers the middle class and fosters a vibrant, self-reliant economy, he added. The direction of the budget is towards the goal of Vikasit Bharat, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Kerala Chairman Vinod Manjila said. "A very positive budget that takes care of the diverse sectors of the economy including agriculture, middle clas

'Mad about Cuba': Exploring the unique connection between Cuba and Kerala

Cuba is a metaphor in Kerala for communist values, but there is another, lesser-known reason for Malayalis to feel a special affinity for Fidel Castro

Kerala Food Commission warns ration traders over strike, asks to withdraw

The State Food Commission on Saturday warned of legal action against ration traders on their proposed indefinite strike in Kerala from January 27. Legal action will be taken against anyone obstructing ration cardholders from receiving their entitled share of food grains, according to an official release issued by the Commission. "It is the responsibility of the State Food Commission to ensure that the food rights guaranteed under Section 16 (6) (b) of Chapter II of the National Food Security Act, 2013, are upheld and made available to consumers through the public distribution system." "The Commission will take a serious view of any act that disrupts the delivery of food grains to ration cardholders and will initiate legal proceedings against those responsible," the release stated. The Ration Traders Coordination Committee announced the indefinite strike starting January 27 after talks with Finance Minister K N Balagopal and Food and Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil failed to resolv

Kerala to launch rare disease patient registry, treatment clinic this year

A registry for rare disease patients in the state will become a reality this year, State Health Minister Veena George said on Friday. Speaking after inaugurating a workshop for experts in rare disease treatment here, George said the government aims to prevent rare diseases as its primary objective. She said a rare disease treatment clinic will be established in Kozhikode this year. The government is making efforts to bring affected children back to life, the minister said. "The registry for rare disease patients in the state will become a reality this year," George said. According to her, currently, more than 90 per cent survival rates have been achieved for children undergoing treatment for SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy). She said the state government aims to identify congenital disabilities and ensure specialised treatment for children. "Kerala is making significant strides in the field of rare disease care. In February 2024, the state government launched the CARE scheme for ra