Achuthanandan relents, joins rival Vijayan’s march

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Buckling under pressure from party seniors, Kerala Chief Minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member V.S. Achuthanadan Wednesday took part in the concluding programme of a statewide march led by his arch rival Pinarayi Vijayan here.

No exodus from Middle East to Kerala: Study

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Contrary to media reports, there has been no ‘exodus’ of the diaspora from the Middle East to India, and remittances are not falling, says the Centre for Development Studies.

Preparations on for Oscar winner Resul Pookutty’s arrival

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - From his family and friends to the Kerala government - everyone is gearing up to give a warm reception to Oscar winner Resul Pookutty who is on his way to Mumbai. He will arrive from Los Angeles Thursday.

Dubai-based Kerala businessman gets bail in airport brawl case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - A court here Tuesday gave conditional bail to Madathil Reghu, an influential Dubai-based businessman, for allegedly manhandling a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) trooper at the airport early this month.

Kerala assembly congratulates Rahman, Pookutty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala assembly Tuesday congratulated music maestro A.R. Rahman and sound technician Resul Pookutty of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ for bagging Oscars at the 81st annual Academy Awards.

Kerala budget devoid of any clear-cut proposals: Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala’s annual budget presented to the assembly Friday is devoid of any clear-cut proposals on how to take development projects forward, Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy said here Monday.

Harmonium was Rahman’s constant companion, even during honeymoon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - As the country rejoices at A.R. Rahman’s double Oscar win, his brother-in-law and namesake Rahman says it is the reward for the maestro’s life-long commitment to music.

Politicians join the chorus, praise Pookutty’s Oscar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - From the village council head to ministers, politicians of all hues are making a beeline to laud Resul Pookuty’s Oscar win.

Kerala’s Youth Congress activist dies after clash with CPI-M

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - A Youth Congress activist who was injured in a clash with Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) members Friday died here Sunday, the leader of opposition said.

Martin Luther King III arrives in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - American human rights activist Martin Luther King III arrived here Sunday on a three-day state visit.

Youth Congress in Kerala protests ‘Gandhi vs commando’ ad

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Youth Congress activists in Kerala will Monday launch protests against Idea Cellular Ltd’s new television commercial which they say depicts Mahatma Gandhi in poor light.

Project delays in Kerala a deterrent for investors: Vayalar Ravi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi Sunday urged trade unions and workers in Kerala to desist from delaying construction work at projects in the state as it deterred investors.

Watch Kerala’s coast, countryside in ‘Bidaai’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala’s lush green fields, idyllic backwaters and lagoons are being promoted for honeymoon tourism and glimpses of it can be seen in Star Plus’ daily soap ‘Bidaai’.

Kerala woos diaspora, says investments in the state safe

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala’s Finance Minister Thomas Isaac Saturday said that the state was the ’safest place’ for the diaspora to invest their hard earned money.

Malayali diaspora buys lottery tickets worth Rs.100,000

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - An association of the Malayali diaspora in Australia Saturday purchased Rs.100,000 worth of lottery tickets to chip in for a Kerala government welfare fund for artistes from various fields.

Southern Air Command’s area of responsibility increases

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to shift its Maritime Air Operations (MAO) headquarters to the Southern Air Command (SAC) based here to enable quicker response to emergencies in the Indian Ocean region, it was announced here Friday.

No new tax proposed in Kerala budget

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - No fresh tax has been proposed in the fourth budget that was presented by Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac in the assembly Friday.

Kerala allocates Rs.100 mn for returning expatriates

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, who tabled the state budget in the assembly Friday, has allocated Rs.100 million (Rs.10 crore) for the newly-floated Pravasi Welfare Fund, a scheme to help those non-resident Malayalis who have not completed two years of employment abroad but have to return on account of the global meltdown.

Unemployment goes up in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The number of unemployed people in Kerala was a little over four million in June 2008 and included about 158,000 professional and technical job seekers, according to the 2008 Economic Review that was tabled in the state assembly Thursday.

Number of suicides in Kerala comes down

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala leads the country in literacy and health indicators but also has dubious distinction of having the highest rate of suicide. However, Social Welfare Minister P.K. Sreemathy feels no need for concern since the total number of people taking their own lives has declined in the past five years.

Kerala has highest per capita debt in southern India

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala’s 2006 per capita debt stood at over Rs.14,300 - the highest among states in south India - against the national average of around Rs.9,000.

Kerala government refuses probe into Vizhinjam port project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The entire opposition walked out of the Kerala assembly Wednesday after the state government refused to order a probe into the contract awarded to a private firm for the construction of Rs.53.48-billion port at Vizhinjam.

Kerala budget may offer sops for jobless diaspora

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac Wednesday hinted that his budget, to be presented Friday, would have some special offers for the large number of NRIs, who are returning home after losing their jobs due to the economic slowdown.

Heated exchanges in Kerala assembly over Lavalin scam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala assembly Tuesday witnessed uproarious scenes over the SNC Lavalin scam, in which a top leader of the state’s ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has been named as an accused.

Interim budget disappointing: Kerala minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The first reactions from Kerala to the interim budget presented in Parliament Monday by Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee have been those of disappointment.

Achuthanandan talks of fighting corruption, mum on Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Monday lashed out at opposition leaders facing graft charges but remained mum on the tainted Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

Kerala’s senior police official suspended for airport brawl

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala government Monday suspended two police officials who had failed to act after a foreign national and an influential Dubai-based businessman allegedly manhandled a security man at the airport early this month.

I will continue my fight against corruption: Achuthanandan

NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Sunday said he would continue his fight against corruption, a day after the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo rejected his demand for action against tainted party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

Kerala to set up life science park

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - State-run Kerala State Industrial Development Corp (KSIDC) will set up a state-of-the-art life science park near here, it was announced Saturday.

Lavalin case reverberates in Kerala assembly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The budget session of the Kerala assembly began on a tumultuous note Friday as the SNC Lavalin corruption issue rocked the house, forcing Governor R.S. Gavai to cut his speech short.