Page 67 - Kerala

AMR action: Kerala to cancel licences of pharmacies selling antibiotics

Recognising that the misuse and overuse of anti-microbials are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens, the Kerala government has decided to cancel the licences of pharmacies selling antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. The government also announced steps to make all primary health centres in Kerala antibiotic smart primary health centres, as part of strengthening its anti-microbial resistance (AMR) activities in the southern state. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. In a statement on Wednesday, the state Health Department said direct ...

Software exports from Technopark grow 15% to touch Rs 9,775 crore

IT exports from the Technopark campus in Thiruvananthapuram grew 15 per cent to touch Rs 9,775 crore for fiscal 2021-22 fiscal, according to the figures released on Wednesday

Covid surge: Kerala govt to step up measures to stop possible virus spread

In view of the surge in COVID-19 cases abroad, the Kerala government on Wednesday decided to intensify measures to prevent the spread of the virus in the southern state. This was announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a press conference here. Vijayan urged people to take steps to protect themselves from getting infected by the virus, although COVID-19 cases are less in the state. The Chief Minister also reminded the public that the lessons learned during the peak period of COVID-19 cases in the state should be followed to deal with the virus. Vijayan advised people not to ignore fever, cold and sore throat, and not to be in close contact with people who have symptoms of COVID-19. Several cities in China, including capital Beijing, have been facing a growing number of coronavirus cases attributed to a new variant of the Omicron strain with reports of overcrowded hospitals and shortage of beds.

Railways announces 51 special trains to Kerala to cater to extra rush

Indian Railways on Tuesday announced 51 special trains to Kerala to cater to the extra rush of passengers during the upcoming Christmas-New Year season. In a statement, the Southern Railway announced 17 special train services to different places in Kerala for Christmas and New Year. "Apart from the special trains notified by Southern Railway, other zonal railways have notified a total of 34 services to Kerala -- 22 special trains by South Central Railway, eight special trains by South Western Railway and four special trains by East Coast Railway," it said. With this, a total of 51 special trains will be operated serving the state of Kerala during the Christmas/New Year season, the statement said. These special trains will be operated during the period from December 22, 2022 to January 2, 2023. Earlier in the day, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor had criticised the Railway Ministry for not recognising the people's demand for more trains during the season and sought Railway Mini

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launches Jio 5G in Kochi, Guruvayoor temple

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday inaugurated the 5G services provided by Jio in Kochi city and Guruvayur temple premises. Vijayan launched Jio True 5G and Jio True 5G Powered Wi-Fi services, digitally from Thiruvananthapuram, for an event organised here. Speaking at the event, Vijayan said the 5G services in the long run will bring transformational benefits for people of Kerala. Jio, in a release said, it has invested over Rs 6,000 crore for deploying the 5G network in Kerala and will be launching 5G services in Thiruvananthapuram by the end of this month followed by Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram by January 2023. "By December 2023 every tehsil and taluk of Kerala will have Jio's 5G services," the release said. It said 5G will also enable citizens and the government to remain connected on a real time basis and will also improve implementation and efficiency of government schemes for the last mile user. Jio group epxressed their gratitude towards the Chief ..

Kerala Bevco records sale of liquor worth Rs 50 cr on World Cup final day

Tipplers in Kerala celebrated the football World Cup final held in Qatar on Sunday contributing around Rs 50 crore to the state's coffers by purchasing liquor. The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC), also known as Bevco, registered a sale of around Rs 50 crore on December 18, more than the usual Rs 33 crore to 34 crore, collected on Sundays. Bevco CMD, Yogesh Gupta said around Rs 15 crore additional revenue came on last Sunday. However, this does not include the details of sale of liquor from private bars. "It was a Sunday and the World Cup final match might have also contributed to the increase in revenue," Gupta told PTI. He said the corporation expects over Rs 600 crore sales during the upcoming Christmas holiday season for ten days starting from December 21. During the last Onam season, the Bevco collected Rs 624 crore registering a record sales from September 1-7. Thousands of Malayalees across Kerala celebrated Argentina's penalty shootout win over France in the 202

Intend to limit buffer zones within forests; may launch survey: Kerala govt

The Kerala government on Tuesday said its intention was to try limiting buffer zones within forest regions and that it was also considering a field survey of affected areas to resolve concerns of the public on the issue. Speaking to reporters at Thiruvananthapuram after meeting major archbishop-catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Baselios Cleemis, Kerala Transport Minister Antony Raju and state Water Minister Roshi Augustine said the Left government's intention was to try and limit buffer zones within the forests. The ministers, while downplaying the meeting with Cardinal Cleemis as casual, said the government was also considering carrying out field surveys of the areas where buffer zones have to be implemented in accordance with the Supreme Court directions. They met the Cardinal hours before the high level meeting, called by Vijayan on Monday, to be held in the afternoon. The high level meeting will be chaired by the CM and would comprise the state Ministers of ...

Sporadic violence reported from parts of Kerala after Argentina win

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from various parts of the state on Sunday night as celebrations in the wake of Argentina's World Cup win went out of control. Different incidents of minor violence were reported from Kannur district last night in which two cases were registered and six persons were under custody. "One person suffered a stab injury on his leg and was hospitalised during an incident of violence at Palliyamoola in the district. In another incident at Thalassery, a police officer was injured," a senior special branch police officer told PTI. Kannur Police said a total of six persons were under custody in both the incidents. A police officer was attacked and dragged by a five-member gang at Kaloor junction in Kochi city. "A gang of five attacked the police officer who was on duty on Sunday night. They attacked him and dragged him while he opposed them blocking the road and celebrating," police said. In the Kochi incident, a case has been registered against

Messi's victory celebrations in Kerala takes violent turn, teen dies

In Kannur, the Argentian victory celebrations of supporters turned violent

India sees 135 new Covid infections, active cases rise marginally to 3,559

India logged 135 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased marginally to 3,559 from 3,552, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,76,087). The death toll stands at 5,30,674 with two fatalities reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.80 per cent, the ministry said. An increase of seven cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,41,854 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40

Kerala HC asks why RBI did not appear despite being served notice

Kerala HC asked why RBI did not appear before it even after being served a notice on pleas challenging the summons issued by ED in connection with its probe into the financial transactions of KIIFB

Buffer zone: Congress warns of agitation if public concerns not addressed

The Congress on Saturday threatened to lead a public agitation if the Left government in Kerala does not take immediate steps to address concerns of the farmers and common people who would be affected by the Supreme Court order to maintain a one kilometre buffer zone around protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries across the country. Not just the Congress, but locals in various villages of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Kozhikode districts of the state said they would be protesting against the inclusion of habited, commercial and agricultural areas in the buffer zone in a recent report compiled by an expert committee appointed by the state government. The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) too came out against the expert committee report and said that urgent intervention by the state government was required to address the concerns of the public. It suggested, in a statement, that the areas of protected forests or wildlife sanctuaries be decreased by one kilometre to ...

Centre's globalisation, liberalisation policies pro-corporates: Kerala CM

The BJP-ruled Centre's policies of globalisation and liberalisation have created a situation wherein farmers of the country have no hope or social security while big corporates are protected and encouraged at the expense of the general public, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Friday. Speaking at the All-India Kisan Sabha's national conference here, Vijayan lashed out at the Centre for its alleged anti-farmer and anti-people policies and claimed that the BJP was trying to divide the country along social, economic and communal lines. He alleged that while ignoring the plight of the farmers, the Central government was busy protecting big corporates by writing off their debts and providing them with loans at low interest rates. Besides that, the Centre was more interested in privatising public sector undertakings (PSUs) to fill its coffers rather than try to run them effectively, he claimed. "However, Kerala has adopted a stand contrary to that of the Centre and this

Kerala to frame 'Design Policy', says Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

CM said Kerala is working towards 'Design Policy' with intention of making the state a global hub in the fast-emerging creative field by capitalising on the region's strong start-up ecosystem, culture

I am not important, Bill should not be against the law of land: Kerala Guv

The Bill removing him as the chancellor was passed in the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday, but till now it has not been send to the Governor's office

Kerala official suspended over derogatory remark against defence personnel

An official attached to Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited, (Supplyco), has been suspended for making an "objectionable" remark against the defence personnel

All charged up: 5 bidders in fray for India's largest electric bus tender

18 bids received for electric buses in eight slots based on bus size, specifications and state transport undertakings

Woman's right to reproductive choice is her personal liberty: Kerala HC

A woman's right to reproductive choice is part of her personal liberty under Article 21, the Kerala High Court has said while allowing medical termination of pregnancy for a minor rape survivor. Justice V G Arun, in an order issued on December 12, allowed the petition of a 17-year-old mentally challenged girl, to terminate her pregnancy that reached 26 weeks. "A woman's right to make reproductive choice is recognised as part of her personal liberty under Article 21, subject of course to reasonable restrictions," the court said. The court noted that the medical board, after considering all aspects, has opined that continuation of pregnancy can seriously affect the mental health of the victim and she is likely to develop depression and psychosis. "In view of the Medical Board's opinion and considering the mental status of the victim, I am inclined to allow the prayer for medical termination of the pregnancy," the court said. It also opined that each day's delay will add to the victi

Centre awards nine GI tags to take total to 432, Kerala bags five

With this, the total number of GI tags in India comes to 432

Water level in Kerala dam crosses 141 ft; second flood warning issued

An alert has been sounded by Kerala as the water level in Mullaperiyar Dam here crossed 141 ft on Wednesday. The district authorities here said the 'second flood warning' was issued as the water level in the reservoir touched 141 ft at 6 AM. "The water level reached 141.20 ft at 12 PM. If the excess water is released, it will reach the Idukki Reservoir in the downstream," an official source said. The maximum permissible limit of water storage in the dam is 142 ft, District Collector Sheeba George said in a statement. There are chances of releasing extra water by opening its shutters if the water level touches the maximum permissible limit, she said. The departments concerned and its heads should take emergency steps as per the government directives in this regard if there is any situation of releasing excess water. Necessary alerts should also be passed on to the local people and the media based on information from the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC), the statement add