CPI-M tries to patch up with church in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Stung by one of its worst electoral reverses in Kerala, the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday made overtures to the Catholic church with whom the communists have had many run-ins during the three years in power.

Vizhinjam port project likely to get delayed further

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Mumbai-based Zoom Developers, whose bid for the proposed Rs.53.48-billion port at Vizhinjam has been rejected, Friday said it would challenge the decision in court.

Toonz ties up with Ireland firm

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala-based animation content provider Toonz Animation India has tied up with Ireland’s Telegael group to finance, develop and co-produce animation programmes for global distribution, the company said Thursday.

Kerala unit’s woes to feature in CPI-M politburo meet Friday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The factional feud in the Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) will be one of the points to be discussed in the party politburo meeting to be held in Delhi Friday, party sources said Wednesday.

Kerala CM snubs minister on IT park project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The factional feud in the Kerala-unit of the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) surfaced once again Wednesday with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan snubbing his industries minister here, saying his cabinet colleague had no role in the proposed Rs.1,500-crore ($316-million) Kochi Smart City IT park project.

46 Indian students fled Australia in the past month

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - At least 46 Indian students have fled Australia following a rise in the number of violent attacks against the community in the past month and many others are being asked by their worried parents to return home, the editor of a Melbourne-based magazine said Tuesday.

Kerala Govt. to seek Manmohan Singh’s intervention in water dispute

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala’s State Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran on Monday said that CM V. S. Achuthanandan would write to Prime Minister seeking his intervention to resolve the Mullaperiyar reservoir dispute with Tamil Nadu.

Chennithala denies factionalism in Congress’ Kerala unit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Congress’ Kerala unit chief Ramesh Chennithala Sunday denied reports that factionalism had resurfaced in the sate unit.

Minister promises Food Security Act in 100 days

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas on Sunday said that a Food Security Act would be in place within the next 100 days.

Implementing Food Security Act will be challenging: minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas Sunday said implementing the proposed Food Security Act by the UPA government would be more challenging than the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

Kerala Congress gives rousing welcome to Tharoor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - A massive crowd of Congress activists turned up at the airport here Saturday to greet Congress MP Shashi Tharoor as he arrived on his first visit to Kerala after assuming charge as minister of state for external affairs.

CPI-M to fight Lavalin case in court

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday said it will fight corruption charges against Kerala state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan legally.

Centre should chip in to help diaspora: Achuthanandan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Friday lashed out at the central government for only making announcements and not doing anything to help the diaspora and those who have returned from abroad.

CBI files chargesheet against CPI-M leader Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday filed a chargesheet against CPI-M Kerala secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, who is an accused in the multi-crore-rupeee SNC-Lavalin scam.

Fish in Kerala to get dearer as trawling ban begins June 16

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Fish will become costlier in Kerala as the state enforces an annual trawling ban in the sea up to 12 nautical miles from the coast for 47 days starting June 16.

Kerala governor’s decision not surprising: Achuthanandan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan on Wednesday said State Governor R S Gavai’s nod to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute CPI-M party leader Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the SNC Lavalin scam was not surprising.

Graft-hit Communists observe ‘Black Day’ in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Communist Party observed Monday as a ‘Black Day’ against Governor R S Gawai’s decision to permit the CBI to prosecute party’s politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan in a graft case.

Karunakaran to be made governor?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Veteran Congress leader and former Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran is likely to be made governor of a southern state following talks in New Delhi, party sources said Tuesday.

Violence in Kerala as CPI-M observes black day

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Violence was reported from some parts of Kerala Monday as the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) observed a black day to protest the governor’s nod to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute state general secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the Rs.300 crore (Rs.3 billion) SNC Lavalin scam.

Vijayan’s prosecution adds to CPI-M’s cup of woes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - With bitter factionalism costing dearly in the general elections, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) was dealt another blow when Kerala’s top leader Pinarayi Vijayan’s prosecution was given the nod by the governor.

As husbands make money abroad, Goan women find themselves lonely

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - A study conducted among women in Goa whose husbands work abroad has revealed that even though these families are well off, the problem of loneliness and the responsibility of being a single parent has given rise to social problems.

Kerala governor’s security stepped up after threat call

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - A day after Kerala Governor R.S. Gavai gave his nod to the prosecution of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, security of the former has been stepped up following a threat call Sunday evening.

CBI gets nod to prosecute Vijayan, CPI-M to fight case (Lead)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEW DELHI - In a major embarrassment to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has got the go-ahead to prosecute the party’s politburo member and senior Kerala leader Pinarayi Vijayan in the Rs.300 crore SNC Lavalin scam. The Marxist party said Sunday it will fight the case “politically and legally”.

SNC Lavalin graft case: Kerala Governor sanctions CBI probe of Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi, June.7 (ANI): Kerala Governor R S Gavai on Sunday gave sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with his involvement in the sensitive SNC Lavalin graft case.

Kerala governor gives nod to prosecute Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Governor R.S. Gavai has given the go-ahead to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC Lavalin scam, CBI sources said Sunday.

Karunakaran to meet Congress leadership in Delhi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Veteran Congress leader K. Karunakaran will be in New Delhi Sunday to meet the party’s national leadership to discuss his grievances, party leaders here said.

Goa diaspora remitted Rs.800 crore in 2008

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Goa received nearly Rs.800 crore (Rs.8 billion) in remittances last year from 56,000 emigrants settled abroad, a official study on Goan diaspora has revealed.

Smart City should not be delayed any further: Infosys chief

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Infosys Technologies chief executive Kris Gopalakrishnan Friday asked the Kerala government to take quick steps to solve the hurdles that stand in the way of the Rs.1,500-crore ($316 million) Smart City IT project, to come up in Kochi.

India to keep records of students abroad: Vayalar Ravi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi Tuesday said his ministry will prepare and maintain a register of all Indians studying abroad and streamline campus placements to foreign universities following a spate of attacks on Indian students in Australia.

Kerala bids tearful adieu to writer Kamala Das

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Nearly 1,000 people, including several ministers, converged at the Palayam Juma Masjid here early Tuesday to bid adieu to noted poet and writer Kamala Das, who died Sunday.