Asian Lite News Archive

Category: Kerala Korner

  • Mani gets some relief in Bar scam

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    Kerala Finance Minister K.M. Mani, who is under a cloud over charges of corruption on the bar licence issue,  got relief after a preliminary probe by the vigilance did not find any evidence against him. Advocate General K.P. Dandapani submitted a report to a division bench of the Kerala High Court. The probe team took…

  • Iraq-returned nurses seek new jobs

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    More than 500 Kerala nurses, who lost their jobs and had to return from Iraq and Libya, appeared for an interview here Tuesday before representatives of five Middle East-based hospitals. P. Sudeep, CEO of Roots Norka, the state agency that looks after the welfare of the Kerala diaspora, said that this was part of an assurance…

  • Kerala to celebrate life of ‘Amul’ Kurien

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      As part of the birth anniversary celebrations of Verghese Kurien, father of the White Revolution in India, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will Nov 26 launch the National Programme for Dairy Development for Kerala’s dairy farmers here. The National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDP) will be launched with an aim to create and strengthen infrastructure…

  • Keralite Catholics to grace canonisation in Vatican

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    Around 5,000 Catholics from Kerala will be present in Vatican City next  to witness the canonisation ceremony of two religious leaders from the state. In April 2014, the Pope cleared Kuriakose Elias Chavara, popularly known as Chavara Achen and Sister Euphrasia, popularly known as Evuprasiamma for sainthood. A Catholic church from Kochi is taking a…

  • Kerala takes Mullaperiyar to SC

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      The Kerala cabinet  decided to file a case in the Supreme Court later in the day for lowering the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam. “The cabinet discussed the rising water level at the Mullaperiyar dam. It has reached 140.8 feet. We will file a case today (Saturday) in the Supreme Court to see…

  • Sabarimala set for five million pilgrims

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    Nearly five million pilgrims are expected to visit the revered Ayyappa temple here when it opens Monday for a two-month pilgrimage season, officials said. Located on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats 914 metres above sea level, the Sabarimala temple is four kilometres uphill from Pamba river in Pathanamthitta district, around 100 km from…

  • Poets meet in Sharjah

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      Special report on the “Kavyasandhya- Where poets meet” in Sharjah Poetry sessions are usually attended by a motley audience not numbering over 100 unless there is a celebrity presence. But an evening of Malayalam poetry in Sharjah attracted nearly 2,000 people, much to the surprise of the poets themselves. Titled “Kavyasandhya – Where Poets…

  • British help for Kerala city minimise climate impact

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      An Indo-UK technical assistance workshop for Future Proofing Aluva municipality, near here, will be held here Nov 12-13, it was announced . The project builds upon a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Aluva Municipality and WS Atkins International (ATKINS) supported by the British High Commission and witnessed by Prince of Wales Charles during his…

  • M.V.Raghavan 1933-2014

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      Veteran Communist leader and former minister M.V. Raghavan died in Kerala’s Kannur district, according to his family. Arrangements are being made for his funeral here Monday. Raghavan, 81, was a brilliant orator. He was expelled from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) in 1985 due to difference of opinion over the formation of…

  • Kerala tea industry in crisis

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    The tea industry in Kerala is in crisis due to falling prices, increase in wages and high cost of fertilisers, said B.P. Kariappa, chairman of the Kanan Devan Planters’ Association. Kariappa said in a statement  that he wanted to inform all on the present situation of the tea industry in south India, specifically to the…

  • Politics should be based on ideology: Chandy

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    Politics should be practiced on ideology and not by indulging in violence, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy . Chandy was speaking after launching State Congress president V.M. Sudheeran’s statewide ‘Janapaksha Yatra’ at the northern tip of the state here. The ‘yatra’ will pass through all the 140 assembly constituencies and conclude in the state capital…

  • Nothing to hide: Chandy

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     Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said his government has “nothing to hide or fear” in one of his ministers allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs.1 crore to allow 418 bars to operate. Speaking to reporters here, Chandy said V.S.Achuthanandan had earlier demanded for a probe by the vigilance department into the alleged graft case. “We…

  • Police supress ‘Kiss of Love’ at Kochi

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    It was absolute disappointment for people here in Kerala who had gathered for an event named “Kiss of Love” organised by a group of youth to protest the increasing moral policing in the state. The event had generated huge interest in the social media after the group announced that they would assemble at the Marine…

  • Chandy orders probe

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     Kerala bar owner Biju Ramesh, 50, who blew the lid on Finance Minister K.M. Mani’s demand of Rs.5 crore for allowing closed bars to remain open, is under pressure to keep silent as the state Sunday ordered a probe into the allegations. The Kerala government has ordered a preliminary vigilance probe into the allegations as…

  • Chandy defends Mani over graft allegation

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      Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy S defended Finance Minister K.M. Mani following a graft allegation made against him by a businessman who owns hotels with bars here. “This is a baseless allegation levelled by the businessman. He (businessman) said that he came and told me about this graft. Such a thing has never taken place…

  • Modi greets four states on foundation day

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    Prime Minister Narendra Modi  greeted people of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana on their states’ foundation day and ignore wishing the people of Kerala on its foundation day. “Greetings to people of Karnataka on Kannada Rajyotsava. May Karnataka scale new heights of progress in the years to come,” Modi said. Kannada Rajyotsava is celebrated Nov…

  • NRK voters can register online

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    With Kerala going 100 percent online in preparing voters list, Keralites working abroad can register their names online in the upcoming special summary revision of electoral rolls, an official said here . “Anyone sitting anywhere in the world in front of a computer that has internet facility can log on to www.ceo.kerala.gov.in and carry out…

  • Kerala to host climate change meet

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    More than 450 scientists and policymakers from around the world will discuss ways and means to tackle climate change and disaster management at a conference to be held here from Feb 26-28, 2015, it was announced here Wednesday. The Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) will host the International Conference on Climate…

  • Kerala welcomes funding for Vizhinjam port

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    With the central government clearing Rs.800 crore as viability gap funding (VGF) for the proposed Vizhinjam port in Kerala, construction work is expected to begin very soon, a minister said here . Minister for Ports K. Babu said that with a “very positive” decision from the central government on the VGF – the first such grant…

  • ‘Magic Planet’ to open in Kerala

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    Magic Planet, the world’s first magic-themed edutainment complex, is all set to open  here. Built at a cost of Rs.15 crore, the complex is fruition of the decade-old dream of popular magician Gopinath Muthukad. “It’s definitely a dream come true for me as for the past one decade this was within me and, after three…

  • Tharoor launches cleanliness drive

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    Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor  launched a cleanliness drive on Kovalam beach, personally collecting garbage in bags. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised his efforts and also retweeted the pictures. Tharoor, who was sacked as spokesperson of the Congress party for tagging along with Modi’s Swachh Bharat campaign, said that Mahatma Gandhi’s sanitation drive was a…

  • Achu turns 91

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      Leader of Opposition in Kerala and former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan turned 91 . “For him (Achuthanandan) Oct 20 is like any other day. He woke up as usual before sunrise and had his exercise. I do not know if any VIP called him, but people called to wish him on his birthday,” said…

  • Ganesh Kumar’s return opposed

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         Any plan to reinduct K.B. Ganesh Kumar into the cabinet is facing stiff opposition not only from Congress leaders but also from the Malayalam film industry, making a cabinet rejig in Kerala a remote possibility. The only person keen to take back Ganesh Kumar into the cabinet appears to be Chief Minister Oommen…

  • Air Kerala might take off soon

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    By Sanu George   The next few days could prove decisive for Kerala’s dream project, Air-Kerala, the southern state’s very own airline. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that he along with his cabinet colleague K. Babu, who looks after airports and the proposed airline, will discuss the floating of the airline with the aviation ministry in New…

  • Kerala to reward revenue offices

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    The top three Kerala districts that bring in more revenues by mopping up outstandings will be rewarded with better office infrastructure, a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced . State Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash told reporters here that the decision was made at a high-level meeting of all department heads and 14 district…

  • Sachin’s Kerala Blasters face NorthEast United

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      A humdinger of a contest is on the cards as NorthEast United FC take on Sachin Tendulkar co-owned Kerala Blasters FC in the second match of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) here Monday. The Ricki Herbert-coached home side will bank on the support of a fanatical home following and a potent attack to…

  • Kerala diaspora directory to go online

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     A diaspora directory for all the non-resident Keralites will go online Nov 1, which is celebrated as the Kerala Day, an official said Friday. The software for making the directory was developed in-house, P. Sudeep, CEO of Roots-Norka, the Kerala government agency that looks after the welfare of the state’s diaspora, said. Kerala came into…

  • Shashi Tharoor sacked as Congress spokesperson

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      Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor was Monday sacked from the post of Congress spokesperson, a statement from the party said here. “Congress President Sonia Gandhi has accepted recommendation of AICC (All India Congress Committee) disciplinary committee to remove Shashi Tharoor from the list of spokespersons of the AICC with immediate effect,” it said. Tharoor,…

  • Vayalar award for K.R. Meera

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      Former journalist K.R. Meera, 44, has bagged the Vayalar Rama Varma Award, the most prestigious literary award in Kerala. Announcing this here Saturday, M.K. Sanu, a trustee of the Vayalar Rama Varma Trust said that Meera’s novel “Aarachaar” won her the award. “The award carries a cash prize of Rs.25,000 and a citation. The…

  • MP Joice George in trouble

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    Kerala Police registered a case against Idukki MP Joice George for allegedly attacking Forests Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. The incident occurred Saturday when Radhakrishnan arrived at Neriamangalam village to sort out issues between the forest department and the public works department over some sections of roads. When Radhakrishnan arrived, George with his supporters jumped in front…

  • Indian pays tribute to 50 Australian greats

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    It’s a 50×1.5 metre canvas that took Melbourne-based, Kerala-origin Sedunath Prabhakar 18 months and AUS$7,000 to create as a tribute to 50 Australian greats, both living and dead, thereby bringing alive the country’s history. It is set to be unveiled next month. “Through my 50 portraits, I wanted to narrate the history of Australia. The…

  • Kerala Tourism, a hit in Japan

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    Kerala’s tradition of ayurveda and its unique backwaters have found numerous admirers in Japan where these were showcased at the state’s theme pavilion at one of the biggest travel events in the world. The JATA Tourism Expo, held Sep 25-28 at the Tokyo Big Sight, the biggest convention centre in Japan, saw heavy footfall at…

  • Sachin unveils Kerala Blasters jersey and anthem

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      Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, co-owner of Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Kerala Blasters, Monday unveiled the Kochi-based football team’s jersey and the anthem. Tendulkar said the yellow coloured jersey signifies determination and faith. “Our jersey symbolises determination as far as the players are concerned and faith for all the well wishers of the team.…

  • All set for Amma’s birthday

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    Mata Amritanandamayi’s followers have arrived at her ashram here from all over the world to take part in her 61st birthday celebrations that begin Friday. Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders will arrive Saturday to attend the two-day event ‘Amritavarsam61’ Sep 26 to 27 and greet Amma. On Sep 27, important announcements and inaugurations…

  • Kerala finds tax windfall

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     Kerala officials are studying a CAG report that has spotted Rs.12,000 crore lying unrecognised in the electronic records of the state IT system, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said, adding they are finding ways to recover it. The CAG report, titled Effectiveness of the Kerala Value Added Tax Information System (KVATIS) in the Tax Administration of…

  • Gulf returnees seek self-employment loans

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    A total of 40,000 applications have been received in response to the Kerala government’s rehabilitation programme for diaspora who return to the state, a government official said Tuesday. The applications for loans at the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (Norka) are for small projects in services, trading, manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Following the Saudi Arabian government’s new…

  • Munnar Biodiversity conservation project begins

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     A key biodiversity conservation project covering more than 3,000 sq km in Kerala’s Idukki district has begun, according to a top Kerala government official. Titled the Munnar landscape project, it aims to put in place a collaborative framework for governance of multiple-use landscape with a view to achieving sustainable development and conservation goals. Munnar in…

  • NRI remittances to Kerala grows

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    Remittances to Kerala have continued to grow ever since Keralites started migrating to the Gulf region, a study said. During the 12-month period ending in March 1, 2014, it stood at Rs.72,680 crores, 46 percent higher than the remittances in 2011, the study added. The number of Kerala emigrants as estimated by the study in…

  • Kerala the land of the elderly

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    Kerala added one million elderly every successive year since the census of 1981, a study said. In terms of the proportion of elderly in the population, Kerala ranks first, with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh occupying the second position, followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, says the study, which also shows that more than 12 percent…

  • Bahrain king lauds Indian expats

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    Bahrain’s King Hamad has lauded the Indian expatriate community for its contribution in pushing forward the island nation’s development. King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa made the remarks Saturday during the two-day visit by India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to attend a forum meeting held here on investment opportunities in India. “The Indian migrants are…

  • Kerala celebrate Onam

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    Despite light rain in some parts of Kerala, Onam was celebrated across the state Sunday with a lavish, 26-dish traditional vegetarian lunch, flowers and a degree of nostalgia. On the occasion of Thiru Onam Sunday, the most important day in the 10-day long Onam calendar, people were in a festive mood, while a few recalled…

  • Kamal introduces Jayaram son

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    Oru Pakka Kathai’ will mark the debut of Kalidas, the son of veteran actor Jayaram. Thespian Kamal Hassan introduced theyoung actor at a Muhurt. The director had watched a mimicry performance of Kalidas in a recent award function has impressed Balaji and he has cast the young talent reportedly in the lead role.

  • KSHRC :Succour for the poor

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    There has been a marked increase in the number of people approaching the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) with their grievances, especially from the poor and helpless, its top official said. Justice (retd) J.B. Koshy said when he took over as chairperson of KSHRC in September 2011, the commission was handling less than 5,000…

  • Kerala ready for Onam Sadhya

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    Once again, the 26-dish ‘Onam sadya’ is set to be the common chord across Kerala’s homes, cutting across religious beliefs, as the Onam festivities are all set to begin. Onam is probably the only festival in Kerala which is celebrated cutting across caste, creed or religion. Historically it has been named the ‘harvest festival’ of…

  • Liquor policy not negotiable: Chandy

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    Despite simmering discontent in various quarters, including by many of his colleagues, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Wednesday said there will be no change in the state’s liquor policy. “Abstinence from liquor and prohibition is the two-prong strategy that will make our state achieve total prohibition. Phased prohibition has been our ultimate objective and what…

  • Dry state & Tourism: Kerala to ape Gujarat

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    Kerala to study ‘Gujarat model’ of dry state With Kerala deciding to close all the 730 bars to bring about prohibition in a phased manner, Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar Wednesday said they would study Gujarat model of a dry state for tourists. “When it comes to the tourism industry, tourists arrive in the state…

  • GALLERY: Kaaviya Thalaivan (Epic Ruler)

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    Kaaviya Thalaivan (Epic Ruler) is an upcoming Tamil historical fiction film written and directed by Vasanthabalan. Set in early 20th century, the film is about the lives of two theatre artistes played by Siddharth and Prithviraj and the competition that exists between them in a small drama troupe. The former is the main lead whereas…

  • God’s Own Country to Go Dry

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    South Indian state of Kerala, one of the top destination for tourists, readies for new liquor policy Kerala’s new liquor policy would be submitted to the high court on Aug 26, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said.”Today (Friday) morning we have finalised the details of the liquor policy that was recommended last evening by the UDF…

  • KERALA NEWS LETTER – Sanu George

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    Sanu George ponders will Kochi blackmailing case go the solar case way?  Sleaze stories make headlines in Kerala at regular intervals. If it was the solar scam that took centrestage last year, it appears that what is known as the Kochi blackmailing case this year is going to give sleepless nights to many. The solar…

  • Chandy says Congress united

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    Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Wednesday said the Congress party is united in the state and asked the media not to speculate on anything. “The Congress in Kerala is united. You (the media) please do not set agenda for what we should be doing. You weave out stories, which are based on imagination and not…