Achuthanandan inducts three new ministers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Monday expanded his ministry by accommodating three allies in the 20-member council of ministers.

Kerala minister resigns to make way for party leader

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Public Works Minister Mons Joseph resigned from his post Sunday, making way for Kerala Congress (Joseph) chairman P.J. Joseph to take over again after he was cleared of sexual harassment charges by a court.

Achuthanandan slams India’s globalisation policies on I-Day

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan criticised the central government’s economic and globalisation policies in his Independence Day speech here Saturday while highlighting his Left government’s achievements in the state.

Kerala ministerial expansion Monday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala will expand its ministry Monday with three allies getting one minister each.

Kerala’s Left Front recommends 50 percent quota for women

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) Friday recommended to the state government to reserve 50 percent seats in local governments for women.

India-ASEAN pact detrimental to farmers, claims Achuthanandan (Lead, Changing dateline)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - India’s signing of an economic pact with the ASEAN nations has evoked strong criticism from Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who said Thursday that the pact was “detrimental” to the agriculture sector in the state.

Kerala mulls constructing north-south highway

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - State Public Works Minister Mons Joseph Wednesday said a feasibility study would be conducted shortly for a highway that will connect the northern-most part of the state to its southern tip.

India-ASEAN trade pact inevitable, says Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala’s Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Oommen Chandy Wednesday defended the proposed trade pact between India and ASEAN nations, saying the positive sides of the agreement should also be seen.

Kerala Tourism wins international, national awards

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Tourism has been awarded the 2009 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award in the marketing destination category and has been selected as “best in class” from amongst 236 entries worldwide.

Kerala government departments to have Malayalam websites

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala government has asked all its departments to develop their websites in Malayalam to help provide official information to the people, officials said Monday.

Muraleedharan wants to return to Congress, expelled from NCP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEW DELHI - K. Muraleedharan, the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) Kerala unit chief, Friday said he would appeal to Sonia Gandhi to revoke his suspension, while his father K. Karunakaran met the Congress president in the national capital.

Muraleedharan wants to return to Congress, appeals to Gandhi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEW DELHI - K. Muraleedharan, the Kerala unit chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Friday said he would appeal to Sonia Gandhi to revoke his suspension, while his father K. Karunakaran met the Congress president in the national capital.

Kerala to host Indo-British business seminar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala will host a seminar on Indo-British business partnership here Aug 6 to explore fresh business opportunities in the European country.

NCP Kerala unit seeks dissolution of state committee

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Thursday decided to ask the party’s national president Sharad Pawar to dissolve its state committee.

CIAL announces 10 percent dividend

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), the fourth largest airport in India, Wednesday announced a divided of 10 percent up from eight percent given last year.

Day-long workshop in Kerala to fight cyber crimes against women

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala government will host a day-long workshop Aug 1 to find ways and means to tackle cyber crimes against women, state Social Welfare Minister P.K. Sreemathi said here Wednesday.

Tharoor takes lead for twinning Thiruvananthapuram, Barcelona

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said Tuesday that a delegation from Barcelona would soon arrive here for talks on making the Spanish city and the Kerala capital twin cities.

Kerala military station pays homage to Kargil martyrs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/DRASS - In a solemn ceremony today at the Pangode Military station, homage was paid to martyrs of the 1999 Kargil War.

Indian Army celebrates 268th anniversary of Colachal battle

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Indian Army Saturday celebrated the 268th anniversary of the victory of the Travancore kingdom’s forces over the Dutch in the mid-18th century.

Kerala opposition walks out over increase in terror attacks

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Congress-led opposition Friday staged a walk out of the Kerala assembly over the alleged failure of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) to curb terror activities in the state.

Kerala assembly demands a new dam at Mullaperiyar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala assembly Friday passed unanimously a resolution demanding that the central government take the lead in resolving the Mullaperiyar dam issue, allowing the state government to construct a new dam and decommissioning the existing one.

Mute and deaf actor earns rave reviews

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Overcoming physical impediments, a deaf and mute actor left people astounded with her power-packed performance in a regional film.

No dowry, no ostentatious weddings, say Kerala MPs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala assembly united Friday to condemn ostentatious weddings and the practice of dowry, prompting Social Welfare Minister P.K. Sreemathy to declare that the government may call an all party meeting as the first step towards a law on the issue.

Free software saves Kerala schools Rs.11 crore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - By opting for the free and open software platform (FOSS) for the state-sponsored IT@School project, Kerala’s General Education Department has saved Rs.11 crore.

Kerala opposition walks out in protest against textbook

THIRU - The entire Kerala opposition walked out of the assembly Thursday, protesting that the class 7 social studies textbook contains more about Communist-led agitations than the Independence struggle.

Jet to launch Kochi-Sharjah daily flight from Sep 1

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Private carrier Jet Airways will launch daily services on the Kochi-Sharjah route from Sep 1, the airline said Tuesday.

Deutsche Welle to broadcast educational programmes in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcaster, Tuesday signed an agreement with the Kerala government to telecast educational programmes for school children in the state.

Kerala seeks Gulf countries’ help to rehabilitate returnees

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala has sought the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) help to rehabilitate thousands of Gulf returnees who lost their jobs in the wake of the global slowdown.

Congress-led UDF to take in JD-S in Kerala, says no to NCP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Monday agreed to include the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in the opposition combine but said the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is not welcome.

Kerala hosts conference on recession and the Gulf

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala capital is set to host a two-day international conference beginning Tuesday on the global economic crisis, its impact on Gulf nations and its implications for migrant labour, including Indians, working there.