Page 48 - Kerala

LDF, Cong-led UDF trade charges over installation of AI cameras in Kerala

The ruling LDF in Kerala on Tuesday slammed the Congress-led opposition UDF for questioning in the Assembly as to why Keltron, which allegedly makes no components, was given the contract for installing artificial intelligence (AI) cameras in the state. State Transport Minister Antony Raju and Industries Minister P Rajeev said it was a highly unfair and irresponsible statement by senior Congress MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan that public sector undertaking (PSU) Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd (Keltron) makes no components. The Ministers contended that it was Radhakrishnan himself, when he was Home Minister in the previous UDF government, who used the PSU's services to set up cameras across Kerala at a much higher cost than the AI cameras project. They also sought to remind that components made by Keltron were used in Chandrayaan-3 and Adithya L1 missions of ISRO. "So kindly do not say that Keltron is just a mute spectator. You should be ready to withdraw your

Nipah alert sounded in Kerala's Kozhikode after 2 'unnatural' deaths

The Kerala Health Department sounded a health alert in Kozhikode district on Monday following two "unnatural" deaths suspected to be due to the Nipah virus infection. State Health Minister Veena George held a high-level meeting and reviewed the situation, the health department said in a statement on Monday night. It said two "unnatural" deaths following fever were reported from a private hospital, and it is suspected that these were due to the Nipah virus. Relatives of one of the deceased are also admitted to the intensive care unit, it said. Deaths due to Nipah virus infection were reported in Kozhikode district in 2018 and 2021. The first Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in south India was reported from Kozhikode on May 19, 2018. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person-to-person. Among infected people, it cause

Bypoll results 2023: BJP wins in Tripura, Uttarakhand, Congress in Kerala

The bypolls are seen as a significant test for the Opposition alliance INDIA against the ruling BJP-led NDA, with implications for upcoming state elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls

UDF's Chandy Oommen wins margin of over 36,000 votes Puthuppally bypoll

Opposition Congress-UDF on Friday retained the Puthuppally Assembly constituency in Kerala as its candidate Chandy Ommen won by a margin of over 36,000 votes in the bypoll, Election Commission sources said. While Oommen, son of late Congress stalwart Oommen Chandy, gained a clear edge since the initial round, his nearest rival and ruling LDF candidate Jaick C Thomas could never gain a lead in any rounds. The CPI(M)-led LDF lost ground even in its stronghold areas, and BJP candidate Lijin Lal was nowhere in the picture when the counting was over. Chandy Oommen (37), currently chairman of the Youth Congress's national outreach cell, could well surpass his father's record of margin of 33,255 votes in the constituency, which the late Congress leader represented Puthuppally in the state assembly for over five decades. The bypoll result, which came a few months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, is seen as a huge setback for the ruling CPI(M), which has been facing allegations of corrupt

Kerala-based startup launches AI-based learning platform for all ages

A city-based start-up, Hello AI, registered with the KSUM has launched an artificial intelligence (AI)-based self-learning platform that offers a comprehensive and personalised learning experience for people of all age groups. The platform, HelloAI-HAILabs.ai, aims to empower students with essential AI and data literacy skills, besides equipping them with the essentials of self-learning through adaptive learning, personalised tutoring using AI tutor, and context-aware content generation, the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) said in a statement. "This will empower children for an AI-driven future with personalised AI literacy and fostering critical thinking," it said. HAILabs.ai will provide free access to Level 1 through a freemium model, with premium options enhancing the learning journey, the statement said. The platform also offers personalized learning experiences focusing on each student's needs by ensuring effective knowledge acquisition and skill development, KSUM said. Prasad

LIVE news updates: National capital decked up to welcome delegates for G20

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Kerala CM opposes 'one nation, one election'; criticises BJP-led Centre

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday criticised the BJP-led Union government's "one nation, one election" idea alleging that such a move was meant to give supremacy to the Centre. He said the concept of India, the parliamentary democratic system and the constitutional values are under "serious threat". In a hard-hitting statement, the CPI(M) veteran also said the present slogan of "one nation, one election" raised by the Sangh Parivar is making that threat further severe. "The slogan of one nation, one election is the agenda to give supremacy to the Centre... The democratic society should come up against it," Vijayan said. The Sangh Parivar has an "hidden agenda" of undermining the federal system to give all dominance to the Centre, he further charged. The Kerala CM's statement came days after the BJP-led Centre set up a high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind to make recommendations on the possibility of holding simultaneous elections. The ..

Voting begins in six states for seven assembly seats including UP, Kerala

Voting for the bye-elections to the seven assembly constituencies of six states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tripura, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, started on Tuesday at 7 am.

States use off-Budget borrowing to foot power subsidy bills: CSEP

According to the report, the aggregate loss of 68 discoms increased by 66 per cent to Rs 50,281 crore in FY21

Four Kerala PSUs part of India's first solar exploration mission Aditya-L1

As India's first solar exploration satellite reached space, four Kerala public sector undertakings, including Keltron, have reason to be delighted as they too have contributed to this achievement by the country. Various products indigenously developed and manufactured by the four PSUs - Keltron, Steel and Industrial Forgings Limited (SIFL), Travancore Cochin Chemicals (TCC) and Kerala Automobiles Ltd (KAL) - have been used in the Aditya L1 mission. This milestone achieved by the PSUs was highlighted by state Industries Minister P Rajeev in a Facebook post. The minister said 38 electronic modules manufactured by the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (Keltron) were used in the PSLV-C57 launch vehicle used to send the Aditya L1 satellite into space. In addition to that, Keltron also provided testing support for various types of electronics models required for the mission, he said. Rajeev further said that the forgings for the various stages of the Aditya L1 la

Seven Assembly seats across six states to go to bypolls on September 5

The seats to go to polls include Dumri in Jharkhand, Puthuppally in Kerala, Boxanagar and Dhanpur in Tripura, Bageshwar in Uttarakhand, Ghosi in Uttar Pradesh, and Dhupguri in West Bengal

President Murmu appoints judges in Orissa, Gauhati and Kerala High Courts

President Droupadi Murmu appointed advocate Sibo Sankar Mishra and judicial officer Ananda Chandra Behera as judges of the Orissa High Court

Kerala CM congratulates ISRO and team on successful launch of Aditya-L1

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday congratulated the ISRO and the scientists on the successful launch of India's first solar mission Aditya-L1. Shortly after the successful takeoff of PSLV-C57, carrying the Aditya satellite from Sriharikota, Vijayan in a social media post said that it was another "momentous achievement" for India in space research. "India marks another momentous achievement in space research as #AdityaL1 sets off on its mission to explore the secrets of the Sun and its atmosphere. Hats off to@isro and the incredible team that made this possible. Together, we reach for the stars!," Vijayan posted on X, formerly Twitter. The satellite will be observing the Sun round the clock and extract exact data regarding various solar phenomena.

Manchester City's "Happy Onam" Instagram post in Malayalam goes viral

English Premier League club Manchester City's Instagram post extending Onam wishes in Malayalam went viral on the internet and warmed the hearts of the local populace. Manchester City wished Malayalees across the world "Happy Onam" in Malayalam, as a result of which the Instagram picture went viral and warmed the club's fan base in Kerala. While the image focuses on superstar Erling Haaland in blue jersey biting into a fried pappadam, the background shows two houseboats lined up close to a piece of land defined by coconut trees, catching the instant attention of Malayalees across world. Kerala Tourism reposted the image on Facebook, saying "The team with 32 major honours in the English Premier League wishes all Malayalees a happy Onam. Manchester City has quite a dedicated Malayalee following all over the world. This, too, earned a flurry of congratulations, a Kerala Tourism statement said here on Thursday. Commenting on the post, Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said on

Happy Onam 2023: Wishes, Quotes, Celebration, Special Dishes and Sweets

Onam is an important harvest celebration, holds extraordinary significance in the Indian state of Kerala. This year Onam is celebrated from August 20 to August 31, 2023

Celebration of Onam by all gives message of social harmony: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday greeted citizens on the eve of Onam and said the celebration of the festival by all irrespective of their religious and caste identities gives a message of social harmony. The festival marks the beginning of the harvest season and is a unique example of Kerala's rich cultural heritage, the president said in a message. "This festival is also an occasion to express gratitude towards nature. Celebration of this festival by all irrespective of their religious and caste identities also gives a message of social harmony," Murmu said. She extended best wishes to all fellow citizens living in India and abroad, especially the brothers and sisters of Kerala and hoped that "this joyous festival inspires us to contribute to the progress of our nation and strengthen the spirit of brotherhood among fellow citizens.

Kerala govt releases additional books to include portions deleted by NCERT

The chief minister said that in class 11 and 12, 12 subjects with 44 textbooks are from NCERT. Naturally, students of 11 and 12 are getting textbooks prepared by NCERT with vested interests

ED freezes Rs 28 lakh deposits of Kerala CPI(M) MLA Moideen, wife

The ED on Wednesday said it has frozen bank and fixed deposits worth Rs 28 lakh of Kerala CPI(M) MLA A C Moideen and his wife, a day after conducting searches against him and others in a money laundering case. The case is linked to the alleged Rs 150 crore fraud in the party-controlled Karuvannur cooperative bank. The searches, launched at five locations across Kerala on Tuesday, have also led to the "seizure of 36 properties valued at Rs 15 crore, being proceeds of crime", it said in a statement. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said the raids were conducted to probe "benamis and beneficiaries who siphoned off bank funds of more than Rs 150 crore from Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank Ltd". Two orders were issued for freezing bank deposits and fixed deposits worth Rs 28 lakh found to be in the "possession of" A C Moideen and his wife, the ED said. It said the probe has found that "on the instructions of certain persons, who were district-level leaders and committee members of .

Goa guv questions Kerala assembly's resolution against Centre's UCC

Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai on Wednesday appeared questioning the resolution adopted recently by the Kerala assembly that decided to request the Central government to refrain from implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the country. Pillai was addressing a special session of the Goa legislative assembly in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu. Pointing out that the President had praised Goa for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, Pillai said, In other states, the daughter is entitled to one-third of property of her father and while two-thirds goes to male (son). Where is the gender justice? There is discrimination based on sex which is not allowed in the Constitution". Without taking any name, Pillai said recently a legislative assembly unanimously passed a resolution which is their right. "I am not mentioning the name. If I mention it, the shame will come to me also as I am from that state. Of course, they can express their opinion. Everybody has the right to .

Kerala is at forefront of promoting knowledge sector: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

The Chief Minister said that Rs 3,500 crore has been allotted in the latest state budget for research and development