India to study in detail July 22 solar eclipse: Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/KOLKATA/BHOPAL - G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has said that India plans to study in detail the effects of total solar eclipse on July 22.

Kerala to press for voting rights of diaspora

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala will ask the central government to change electoral laws to enable NRIs to vote, state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said in the state assembly Friday.

Heavy rains claimed 8 lives in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Heavy rains in north Kerala have killed eight people, destroyed crops and caused damages worth Rs.19 crore (Rs.190 million) in the past two days, state Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran said Thursday.

Kerala wants defence, railways to use new coir product

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Armed with a host of new applications with coir such as geotextiles, the Kerala government is making a strong pitch for the country’s defence and railways establishments to bail out the ailing industry, even offering to sell the products at cost to begin with.

Kerala opposition stages walk out on CPI-M’s street clashes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Congress-led opposition Tuesday staged a walk out of the Kerala assembly protesting the Communist Party of India-Marxist’s (CPI-M) inner factionalism spilling out on to the streets.

Opposition stalls Kerala assembly over feud in CPI-M

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Congress-led opposition in Kerala Monday stalled the proceedings of the state assembly, alleging lack of governance due to the feud in the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) that saw Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan’s removal from the party politburo.

Protests against Achuthanandan’s ouster from politburo

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Hundreds of supporters of Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan took to streets in different parts of the state Sunday evening after he was ousted from the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo.

Indian space centre plans manned space probe by 2015

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), a unit of the country’s premier Indian space research programme, plans to send two humans into space by 2015, an official said here Sunday.

CPI-M to decide fate of warring Kerala leaders at crucial meet

NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) begins a crucial two-day central committee meeting here Saturday hoping to put an end to the bitter factional feud in its Kerala unit.

Kerala to introduce post-graduate courses in e-governance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Billed as the first of its kind by any state, Kerala government’s Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management and the Institute of Management in Government have jointly announced the launch of a post-graduate diploma course in e-governance.

High alert in Kerala after Kochi blast

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - A high alert was sounded across Kerala and security beefed up after an explosion at the Kochi collectorate building Friday evening was identified as a pipe bomb blast.

Achuthanandan heads to Delhi for crucial CPI-M meet

Thiru - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan left for New Delhi Friday to attend a crucial two-day meeting of the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) during which a decision is expected to be taken on ending the feud between him and party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

Toonz Academy ties up with Anna University

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Toonz Academy, a leading animation training institute, has tied up with the Anna University Coimbatore, it was announced Thursday.

Nothing in budget for Kerala diaspora: Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The union budget for 2009-10 presented in the Lok Sabha Monday offered nothing to the non-resident Keralites (NRKs), who were hit hard by the slowdown in the Middle East and other countries, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said.

CPI-M Central Committee to decide next week on Kerala infighting

NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), after its two-day politburo meet, decided Sunday to convene a meeting of the party’s Central Committee July 11-12 to take a decision on curbing the infighting in its Kerala unit - between Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

Kerala to get eight new trains, two world class stations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala got a fair share of the budgetary proposals of Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee tabled in parliament Friday.

Air Marshal S. Radhakrishnan is ADC to president

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Air Marshal S. Radhakrishnan, Southern Air Command chief, has been appointed Honorary Air aide de camp (ADC) to President Pratibha Patil.

Withdraw fuel price hike: Achuthanandan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Wednesday demanded that the central government immediately withdraw the hike in petrol and diesel prices and provide relief to the common people.

Kerala sees healthy rise in tourist arrivals, revenue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Tuesday informed the state assembly that there was a 14.84 percent growth in tourism revenue and a 14.41 percent rise in tourist arrivals in 2008 as compared to 2007.

Kerala to set up Rs.250-crore trade centre

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala State Industrial Development Corp (KSDIC) has tied up with Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT) to set up a world class trade and exhibition centre in Kochi at an investment of Rs.250 crore, it was announced Tuesday.

Article 377 will be repealed soon: Moily

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily on Sunday said that the Central Government would take a decision soon on when to repeal Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that criminalizes homosexuality.

Kerala students vie for $250,000 prize in global competition

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Innoz, a company floated by students of LBS College of Engineering at Kasargode in the state, is the only Indian start-up among 16 such firms vying for a $250,000 prize money Tuesday in a global competition for the best business plan.

Kerala’s liquor policy - open new bars, run awareness campaign

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala’s Excise Minister P.K. Gurudasan Friday said there will be no ban on opening of new liquor shops but at the same time stressed that the government is running an awareness programme, which includes street plays and short film, on the ill-effects of alcohol.

Kerala seeks more central public sector units

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala will ask the central government to set up more public sector units and centre-state joint ventures in the state to spur its industrial development, Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem said Friday.

NRI deposits in Kerala banks touch record high

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Deposits by non-resident Indians (NRIs) in Kerala banks grew from Rs.29,889 crore in March 2008 to a record high of Rs.37,019 crore as on March 31, 2009, according to the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC).

Vizhinjam port must go ahead, say Kerala parties

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala’s ruling and opposition parties joined hands Thursday to say that the Rs.53.48 billion port in Vizhinjam must go ahead, a day after the developer who had won the bid to build the project pulled out on grounds of delays and legal tangles.

Opposition walks out of Kerala assembly over price rise

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Congress led opposition Wednesday walked out of the Kerala assembly after their adjournment motion plea to discuss the price rise in the state was shot down by the Speaker K. Radhakrishnan.

Achuthanandan admitted to hospital

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan was Wednesday admitted to a private hospital here following complaints of high blood pressure.

CPI-M politburo to discuss Kerala feud at special meet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - With the factionalism in its Kerala state unit showing no signs of abating, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) is to hold a special politburo session July 4-5 in New Delhi to discuss the rift that has affected the party’s fortunes, a party source said Tuesday.

Kerala opposition to prepare development plan for state

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The opposition in Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), Monday said it will appoint a committee to prepare a development road map for the state. The plan will be presented to a meeting of all 20 MPs of the state, including six central ministers, Aug 7.