- Gold smuggling: Top politician who has close contact with Swapna to be quizzed
Kochi: The case relating to the gold smuggling in diplomatic baggage at Thiruvananthapuram airport has taken a new turn as the Customs officials decided to interrogate a politician who is associatedwith Swapna Suresh, the accused in the case. The said political leader exerts a strong influence in the government. The Customs decided in a high-level meeting held on Monday to question the politician after Swapna revealed that he was aware of the gold smuggling and had helped her many times. They a…
- -
- Police to form special groups for contact tracing in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala police chief Lokanath Behera issued a notice instructing the formation of special groups, which includes 3 policemen led by an SI, in all police stations for tracing the contact list of COVID-19 patients. Police will strictly ensure regulations in containment zones. Motorcycle brigades will be formed as part of this. All health care precautions, including social distancing, will be implemented here. Large crowds will not be allowed in any public places. Special atten…
- -
- Locals protest over death of 3 migrant labourers in Kanjikode
Palakkad: Three migrant labourers were found dead at Kanjikkode here. The deceased were identified as Jharkhand native Hari Om (26), Kanhai and Aravind Kumar. The incident took place on Monday at 10.30 pm. The bodies were found near the railway track close to the IIT campus in Kanjikode. Kasaba CI N S Rajeev said the death would have occured after they were hit by train. Migrant workers did not allow the authorities to take the bodies for hours alleging that Hari Om was beaten to death by the l…
- -
- 175 eminent guests will be invited to Ram temple 'bhoomi pujan': Trust
Ayodhya : The Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra general secretary on Monday said 175 eminent guests have been invited for the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The invitation list has been prepared only after "personally discussing" with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries, the trusts general secretary, Champat Rai, told reporters here. He said 175 eminent guests, including 135 seers belonging to as many spiritual…
- -
- Trump signs executive order against hiring H1B visa holders for federal contracts
Washington: In a huge blow to Indian IT professionals eyeing the US job market, President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order preventing federal agencies from contracting or subcontracting foreign workers -- mainly those on H-1B visa -- from hiring. The move came over a month after the Trump administration in June 23 suspended the H-1B visas along with other types of foreign work visas until the end of 2020 to protect American workers in a crucial election year. The new restriction…
- -
- Kerala brings changes in containment zone criteria; steps up police part in Covid resistance
Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of surging Covid-19 cases in the state, the government decided to hand in more responsibilities to the police force in controlling the virus spread. Duties like marking containment zones, implementing the restrictions, identifying quarantine violations, ensuring social distancing and preparing the contact list of Covid patients will from now on vest with the police personnel, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while briefing media on Covid situation in state on…
- -
- Kerala reports 962 Covid-19 cases on Monday; 801 through contact
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala reported 962 Covid-19 cases on Monday, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while briefing media after the Covid review meeting here.Among the new cases, 801 patients contracted the virus through contact and the infection source of 40 patients is unknown. Also, 2 Covid deaths were reported on Monday – Thiruvananthapuram native Cleetus (68) and Alappuzha Nooranadu native Sasidharan (52). 15 health workers also tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday. 6 KSE employees…
- -
- Chennithala seeks inquiry into Finance Minister’s involvement in treasury fraud
Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala forwarded a letter to the Vigilance Director seeking an inquiry into all treasury fraud cases after LDF came into power. “During the LDF reign, money was looted from various treasuries at many times. But the government tried to protect the culprits and settle the cases favouring the party's interest,” alleged Chennithala in the letter. “Involvement of Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and treasury director in these cases also should be…
- -
- COVID-19: CM makes veiled attack on Opposition with negligence remark
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised Opposition obliquely over the lapses in following COVID-19 protocol in the state. He stated that those who contributed to making the COVID-19 situation worse, should rectify their mistake. The Chief Minister was addressing the media following a COVID review meeting here on Monday. CM noted that there were no lapses from the part of officials in taking vigilant steps against COVID-19. But hehinted at the protests staged by Oppositio…
- -
- Treasury fraud: Sr accountant Bijulal terminated from service
Thiruvananthapuram: A senior accountant of the sub-treasury here, MR Bijulal, was terminated from service for allegedly withdrawing around Rs 2 crore recently from the District Collectors account, illegally. It is learned that the finance departmentsummarily dismissed him without issuing any notice. Also, all other officials except the one who reported the fraud were transferred from Vanchiyoor sub-treasury. The action was taken after a review meeting summoned by finance minister Thomas Isaac.…
- -
- Gold smuggling case: Customs submits 32-page statement by Swapna in court
Kochi: The Customs on Monday submitted the copy of the statement given by Swapna Suresh, the second accused in the gold smuggling case. The 32-page statement copy was submitted at the court that deals with financial crimes. The statement was presented at the court to avoid any changes in the same later. Only the statement given by Swapna was submitted here. Gold smuggling accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair were arrested by NIA from Bengaluru, few days after the seizure of goldin diplomatic…
- -
- Centre issues guidelines for reopening of gyms from Aug 5
New Delhi:From maintaining a distance of six feet, using visor rather than mask, following respiratory etiquette, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday issued guidelines for re-opening of gyms and yoga centres as a part of the third phase of easing of lockdown. Yoga institutes and gymnasiums are slated to open from August 5. The guidelines aim to minimize possible physical contacts between staff, members and visitors and maintain social distancing, other preventive and safety me…
- -
- Mathrubhumi sub-editor Anu Abraham bags first KM Basheer memorial award
Anu Abraham Thiruvananthapuram: Mathrubhumi Kochi unit sub-editor Anu Abraham bagged the first KM Basheer Memorial Media Award constituted by Siraj management. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a citation and memento. Anu's news series on young doctors in debt won the award. A committee including Kerala Press Academy chairman RS Babu, senior journalists Jacob George and G Sekharan Nair selected the award winner. Development stories published in Malayalam dailies between January 2…
- -
- Supplyco approves new logo; selects from 549 entries
Ernakulam: The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation better known as Supplyco approved anew logo for the company. The logo wasselected from 549 designs obtained through competition conductedacross and outside the state. The selected logo was designed by Aluva west Kadungalloor native Aparna Muraleedharan. A committee including Supplyco chairman and managing director, general manager and AGM selected the new logo from the 10 logos shortlisted by an 8-member committee of Supplyco managers. Apa…
- -
- ‘Don’t try to scare me with terms like treason, protocol violation,’ warns Jaleel
Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Higher Education KT Jaleel warned those unleashing allegations against him in connection with the controversial gold smuggling case. Taking to Facebook, the minister responded on the accusations levelled against him by BJP and Congress. “The ruling party at the Centre and the former ruling party are raising allegations that transporting Holy Quran copies, gifted by UAE, to Malappuram in a government vehicle carrying books with no extra expenses from the treasu…
- -
- Chellanam native stages headstand protest against delay in seawall work
Kochi: Protesting against the delay in construction of seawall in Chellanam, a member of the action council staged a unique protest on Monday. VT Sebastian, a trustee of the action council which was formed demanding a solution for sea attacks in Chellanam, did headstand for hours. Criticising the decisions taken by the authority in Chellanam, Sebastian decided to stage a protest by staying upside down for hours. At the same time, the public protest demanding seawall in Chellanam completed 281…
- -
- Sushant Singh Rajput searched for 'painless death' on internet
Mumbai: Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found hanging at his Bandra residence on July 14, had googled several words related to death and mental disorder towards the end, said Mumbai police on Monday. Sushant searched for words like "painless death", "schizophrenia" and "bipolar disorder" on Google, according to Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. Commissioner Singh revealed these details while interacting with the press on Monday. Sharing the information, celebrity photograph…
- -
- CM blames negligence for Covid surge in state
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said negligence and laxity has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 in state. The present situation is the result of our careless behaviour, he said while inaugurating the 102 family health centres via video conferencing. “Kerala-model was considered the best in handling the pandemic. This was because our health systems were prepared to handle the virus infection. We were successful in the first phase with everyone's cooperation. But later,…
- -
- 3-yr-old’s death: Autopsy report rejects swallowing of coin as cause of death
Kochi: Two coins were recovered from the stomach of the three-year-old boy who died after swallowing them in Aluva on Sunday. Coins of Re 1 and 50 paise were recovered during post-mortem. The coins were found in the lower part of the large intestine. According to the primary post mortem report, swallowing coins could not be regarded as the cause of death. Internal organs were sent for chemical examination at Kakkanad regional chemical examination lab. It is reported that the actual cause of de…
- -
- Farm owner's death in Kudappana: 2 forest officials suspended
Pathanamthitta: In connection with the death of farm owner Mathayi, after being taken into custody of the forest department, two forest officers have been suspended. The action was taken on the basis of primary investigation. The police have sought legal advice to add theofficers as accused in the case charging more sections. The Crime Branch had found that the two officers at Gurunathanmannu forest station arrived at Chittar and took the general diary from there on the day of the incident. Af…
- -
