LDF calls for hartal in Idukki and Wayandu tomorrow
CPM led LDF has called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal tomorrow in Idukki and Wayandu district against the implemention of  the Kasturirangan panel report. Today LDF observing a hartal in some parts of Kozhikode district such as Kavilumpara ,Koorachund, Chakkittapara and Thiruvampady constituencies. Private bus service have been affected here. Meanwhile, two wheelers also were affected in Wayanadu district. Protest marches were held in different parts of the...

BJP leaders daydreaming about power, says Sonia Gandhi
Congress president Sonia Gandhi took the poll battle to Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) turf, criticising the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government here at a rally on Friday.     While BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi turned the heat on the Gandhi family during a meeting in neighbouring Chhattisgarh held around the same time, the Congress president said BJP leaders were greedy for power. “BJP leaders are daydreaming about...

Mani to partake in CPM plenum
Kerala Congress (M) chairman K M Mani said that he will partake in the CPM plenum to be convened in Palakkad. Talking to reporters here, he said that he is attending the seminar of the plenum as he has been invited. Mani said there is no need to exaggerate the issue. Is it necessary to look the astrology of a baby who is not yet born, he asked. The party’s socializing is transparent.

Western Ghats: Chandy urges protestors to shun violence
Responding to the violence in parts of the Kerala after the central government's order on the Western Ghats report, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Friday urged the protesters not to resort to violence. The central government Thursday came out with an order on the G. Kasturirangan committee report on recommendations of the Western Ghats Ecology Experts Panel (WGEEP). The environment ministry reiterated that the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, bars mining in ecologically...

3 dead, 29 injured as Mangala Express derails near Nashik
At least three persons died and 29 were injured after 10 coaches of the Ernakulam-bound 12618 Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Lakshdweep express derailed at Ghoti near Igatpuri station in Nashik at 6.25 am on Friday. Many trains were cancelled, terminated or diverted due to the accident. One of the deceased has been identified as Rajiv Khushwaha (31). The reason behind the mishap is yet to be ascertained. "We heard a loud noise at around 6 am today and saw the train getting...

Sachin Tendulkar fails to break 15-year-old jinx at Wankhede
The Wankhede Stadium will remain a venue of missed centuries for Sachin Tendulkar, who had a hundred in sight in his farewell and 200th Test, but fell for 74 in the first innings against the West Indies on the second day of the second cricket Test on Friday. Fans had filled up the Wankhede early in the day, anticipating a big knock from Tendulkar on his swansong. The master blaster, who was 38 overnight, enthralled the packed stadium with another 36 runs during the first hour of...

Acquittal of Pinarayi suspicious: Mullappally
Casting aspersions on the verdict that acquitted Pinarayi from the Lavalin case, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mullappally Ramachandran, has said that he will study the verdict as Pinarayi had suggested him to. Mullappally expressed his doubts and apprehensions on the fact that the court had removed Pinarayi from the accused list merely based on an acquittal plea even though a CAG report had found him guilty in the case. He  asked Why Pinarayi Vijayan thanked...

David Cameron arrives in Kolkata
 On a whirlwind visit to India, British Prime Minister David Cameron Thursday arrived here to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and to take part in several programmes. Cameron, headed for Colombo to attend the Commonwealth summit, was received at the airport by Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee and other officials. Cameron will head to Akashvani Bhavan, the All India Radio headquarters where he will interact with the British media. He will then reach the...

Chandy gifts carved elephant to Prince Charles on b'day
 Birthday boy Prince Charles was gifted an exquisitely carved wooden elephant on his 65th birthday Thursday by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. He met Prince Charles at the famed tourist location of Kumarakom in Kottayam district. Chandy told IANS that his family also accompanied him and the two families spent 20 minutes exchanging views on various issues. "I handed him (Prince Charles) a copy of the Perspective Plan 2030 of our government as I have come to know...

Malayalam actor Augustine passes away!
Malayalam film actor Augustine died at a private hospital today morning. The ailing actor was 58 and is survived by his wife and two daughters, one of whom is upcoming actor Ann Augustine.  His funeral will be held tomorrow.  Beginning his acting career through theater, Augustine entered the Malayalam film industry in the mid eighties and since then he has acted in more than 100 films.  Augustine suffered a stroke in 2010 and since then even though not fully fit, he acted in a...

A new look bat for Tendulkar in final Test
 Appearing in his 200th and final Test, iconic Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar’s willow on Thursday sported a different look as the manufacturer’s sticker on the blade as well as the grip featured the tri-colour. Tendulkar is playing his landmark 200th Test against the West Indies at his home ground in Mumbai. Tendulkar, who usually wears a black grip on his bat, had a tricolour around his sponsor’s logo, specially designed for his final...

Tendulkar shines in farewell Test, India in driver’s seat
 Iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar kept his emotions in check and showed his genius for one last time in front of adoring fans with an unbeaten 38 as India seized early control of his 200th and final cricket Test against the West Indies after a disciplined bowling display in Mumbai on Thursday. The 40-year-old maestro walked in to the middle amid thundering cheers from the crowd and a guard of honour from his West Indies rivals as he showed glimpses of his vintage form to remain...

Landslide at TVM: 6 trains cancelled
Following heavy rains in Thiruvananthapuram areas, six trains slated for departure from TVM were cancelled on Wednesday due to landslides. The Nagercoil-Mangalore Parasuram Express, TVM-Shornur Venad Express and TVM-Kozhikode JanaShatabdi Express were cancelled. Nagercol-Kochuvelly, Kochuvelly-Nagercoil, TVM-Kollam passenger trains were also cancelled due to the torrential rains. TVM-Gorakhpur Raptisagar Express, Kanyakumari-Mumbai CST Jayanti Janata Express are running late. The...

CBI director Ranjit Sinha expresses regret over rape remarks
Faced with criticism over his remark on rape, CBI director Ranjit Sinha on Wednesday expressed regret if he had hurt anyone inadvertently, saying he has deep sense of regard and respect for women and commitment to gender issues. In a statement, Sinha said he had made the comment in the context of legalizing betting in sports. "I gave my opinion that betting should be legalized and that if the laws cannot be enforced that does not mean that laws should not be made. This is as...

Khurshid justifies India’s presence in CHOGM
 Brushing aside the demand of political parties in Tamil Nadu for a total boycott, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid arrived here on Wednesday to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet (CHOGM) this week saying India remains committed to the welfare of the ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka and that “we have to remain engaged” in “enlightened national interest." Mr. Khurshid was given a warm welcome on arrival here accompanied by Foreign Secretary...

Gold smuggling-Malayalam film industry link to be probed
The apex intelligence organisation of Indian Customs has begun investigations into links between gang of gold smugglers, arrested in Kerala in the recent past, and the Malayalam film industry, an official said. An official with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) told IANS a flat here was the hub of the gold-smuggling gang. "We have come to know that a few people associated with the Malayalam film industry were regulars in the flat and in the coming days we will...

Tendulkar's final Test, Amul dedicates 'Master Butter' ad to Master Blaster
As the entire nation gets set to see Sachin Tendulkar play his last Test at his home ground in Mumbai starting this Thursday the anticipation and eagerness is at an all time high. The website selling the tickets crashed on Monday and on Tuesday all tickets were sold assuring that the Tests match will be a housefull affair. Dairy product company, Amul which lauds itself for being the taste of India for its well known witty ads featuring the famous 'Amul girl' paid tribute to...

Maya Kodnani gets 3-month bail on medical grounds
Gujarat High Court today granted three-month temporary bail to Maya Kodnani, a convict in the 2002 Naroda Patiya riots case, on medical grounds. A division bench of justices K S Jhaveri and K J Thaker, after hearing temporary bail application seeking six months' relief by Kodnani, granted three-month bail to her. Kodnani's advocate Hardik Dave submitted before the court that she was suffering wuth tuberculosis of intestine besides heart disease and...

A flop in theatres becomes super hit on YouTube!
A movie that was an utter flop in the theatres has become a super hit on YouTube. ‘Father’s day, produced by J Bharat Samuel and directed by Kalavoor Ravikumar, has outshone superstar movies and earned itself numeorus viewers on YouTube. The movie that was uploaded on YouTube on October 25 has earned 1,95,780 hits till date. People, who viewed it once, expressed their positive opinions on the social media and this led to thousands viewing the movie every single...

VS to continue as opposition leader: Kodiyeri
CPM leader and deputy opposition leader, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, has said that VS Achuthanandan would continue as opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly. Kodiyer denied that there were moves to make changes at the top during the CPM state plenum. Kodiyeri said that VS Achuthanandan was an elected leader and that the plenum was a platform to discuss organisational issues in the party.

Attack on CM: four get bail
The four who have been accused of attacking Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Kannur recently, have been granted conditional bail. Even though the prosecution opposed bail to the accused, the court said that it was ready to provide conditional bail. They were directed to deposit Rs 50,000 each at the magistrate's court towards damages inflicted on the CM's car. Intelligence reports and documents of security arrangements made by the police before the attack were transferred to...

Prince Charles visits indigenous aircraft carrier
Taking time off from his hectic schedule, Prince Charles today visited INS Vikrant, India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, now under construction at the public sector Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL).  Shipyard Chairman and managing director commodore K Subramaniam and flag officer commanding in chief, Southern Naval Command, vice admiral Satish Soni received the Prince of Wales at the shipyard and escorted him to the aircraft carrier, the biggest warship to be built in the...

CJI forms panel to probe intern's sexual harassment charge against former SC judge
 Chief Justice of India Justice P Sathasivam on Tuesday constituted a three-judge committee to inquire into a law graduate's sexual harassment charge against a recently retired Supreme Court judge. The three-judge committee of Justice RM Lodha, HL Dattu and Ranjana P Desai will start inquiry into the alleged incident from this evening. CJI P Sathasivam revealed this in open court after attorney general GE Vahanvati moved a petition based on a TOI story reporting the charges by...

Aarushi murder case verdict on November 25
A CBI court on Tuesday reserved for November 25, 2013 the verdict in the 2008 double murder case of teenager Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj in which her parents Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are accused. Additional Sessions Judge Shyam Lal reserved the order after the defence completed its final arguments and the CBI submitted its rebuttal in the case. The CBI on Tuesday maintained its stand that it was the dentist couple who had killed their teenaged daughter and their servant as...

Chidambaram says Modi a 'challenge', Shinde says no
A day after finance minister P Chidambaram acknowledged BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as a “challenger”, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the Gujarat chief minister was no match for the 125-year-old Congress that had overcome many such challenges. “Narendra Modi is not a challenge to the Congress,” Shinde told reporters on Monday. “The Congress is a big party, and a very old party. It has already completed 125 years of its...

Oommen Chandy's mass contact programme under way in Palakkad
Seeking solutions to their grievances, people in large numbers turned up to meet Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at his Mass Contact Programme in this predominantly rural district today. Security was tight in and around the stadium grounds in the town, where Chandy came walking from a nearby Inspection Bungalow as the opposition LDF blocked the roads leading to the venue in the morning.     According to Chief Minister's Office, a total...

Sachin Tendulkar is to cricket what Michael Jordan is to basketball, says Brian Lara
West Indies batting great Brian Lara on Sunday said Sachin Tendulkar is to cricket what Michael Jordan is to basketball and Mohammad Ali to boxing and suggested that the Indian batsman should try scoring 400 in his last Test match. Lara is the only batsman in the history of the game to have scored 400 runs in a Test innings. In a talk show with former India captain Sourav Ganguly here this evening, Lara said in term of greatness, no cricketer can get close to...

Aadhaar cards cannot be made mandatory for gas connections, says Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Monday shot down the government's plan to make Aadhar cards as the major credential of identity proof in the country. The Supreme Court said that the government cannot make Aadhar cards mandatory for providing services like gas connections. The court further added that Aadhar card should remain a purely voluntary scheme. The court asked the government not to issue Aadhar cards to illegal migrants in the country. The court was hearing a PIL which...

Prince Charles, wife on 4-day visit to Kerala from tomorrow
A visit to the Jewish Synagogue at nearby Mattancherry, the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth, and a trip to the elephant corridor at Vazhachal will be the highlights of the four-day visit of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles to Kerala, starting tomorrow. The royal couple, on their maiden visit to the State, will be reaching Kochi after completing their visits to Dehradun, New Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. Some 1,000 additional police personnel have been deployed in...

One killed in BCCL mine mishap in Jharkhand
One person was killed and three were feared dead after a mishap at an underground mine at BCCL’s Basantimata colliery in Dhanbad district. “One body has been brought out,” Tapas Kumar Lahiry, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL), told PTI. “Three others trapped inside are also feared dead. Two of them are officers.” Lahiry said the roof of a mine at Chanch/Victoria area at Basantimata colliery caved in at about 11 a.m., during coal...