Kerala News today: Congress kicks off election campaign today in Thrissur

4.00 PM: Interest payments on Kerala’s debt soaring, Centre informs SC why it capped borrowing limit

Kerala will soon experience a severe financial crisis, the central government told the Supreme Court, citing the state's rising interest payments on its debt. The state government's borrowing partners, Kerala Social Security Pension Limited and KIIFB, have no independent sources of revenue, according to a note the central government submitted to the Supreme Court. Along with Punjab and Bengal, Kerala is the state with the worst fiscal management in the country. It also stated that borrowing was 31 percent of the GDP in 2018-2019 and increased to 39 percent in 2021-22. 

Read More: Interest payments on Kerala’s debt soaring, Centre informs SC why it capped borrowing limit

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2.20 PM: Shocking report reveals 60,000 people sought treatment for cancer last year alone 

The number of cancer patients is increasing alarmingly in Kerala. Last year alone, 66,000 new patients sought treatment. Experts say that if the disease is not detected and treated on time, there will be more complications. The figures and reports coming out are worrying.

Read More:Kerala: Shocking report reveals 66,000 people sought treatment for cancer last year alone

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1.15 PM: Pellet wound found on elephant 'Thaneer Komban's body

According to reports, there were several pellet wounds on the body of Thaneer Komban, the wild elephant that died yesterday. The elephant, spotted wandering in the Karnataka region of Hassan, was reluctant to go into the thick forest. There has been speculation that the pellet wounds were caused by locals trying to drive the elephant away with airguns or other weapons.

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12.30 PM: More than 6000 traffic violations caught on each AI Camera in Kozhikode

More than 6000 traffic violations are recorded by each AI camera installed throughout the Kozhikode city every month. In total, 53 AI cameras have been installed across Kozhikode city. 

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11.30 AM: 'Both Ram Mandir, mosque in Ayodhya are symbols of secularism': IUML

Muslim League state president Panakkad Sadiq Ali Thangal's speech in connection with the newly constructed Ram temple in Ayodhya is in controversy. In his speech, Sadiq Ali said that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the Babri Masjid, which is to be built in place of the demolished mosque, are equally symbols of secularism.

Kerala: Both Ram Mandir and new mosque in Ayodhya are symbols of secularism, says IUML

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11.15 AM: Former KSEB Chairman TM Manoharan passes away

TM Manoharan, who served as former KSEB chairman and also as head of the state forest department, died at the age of 71. He breathed his last at his residence in Kalamassery around 7:30 PM on Saturday. Manoharan is a native of Perinjanam in Thrissur.

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11.00 AM: Man eats live cat in Malappuram

A young man ate a cat raw in Malappuram's Kuttipuram. An unbelievable incident took place at the Kutippuram bus stand yesterday evening. When the bystanders asked why he was doing this, the Assam native replied that he was hungry and had eaten the cat. Following the incident, the police arrived and bought food for the young man. The locals are also shocked as to why the young man did such an act when people would buy and give him food if he was hungry.

Kerala shocker! Youth in Malappuram kills and eats a cat, leaves people horrified

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10.30 AM:  Kozhikode Light Metro to resume soon; KMRL to prepare mobility plan

Kozhikode Light Metro discussions have resumed after a while. A high-level meeting in Kozhikode resolved to create a mobility strategy under the direction of Loknath Behera's Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL). For the initial phase of the light metro, the Meenchanda-Ramanattukara and Beach-Medical College lines are under consideration. While the project was revisited during the first Pinarayi government, it was not significantly advanced from its beginnings during the UDF government.

Read More: Kerala: Kozhikode Light Metro to resume soon; KMRL to prepare mobility plan

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9.45 AM: Central University withholding salary for exposing bribery, claims teacher

Ramanand, who filed a bribery complaint, told Asianet News that there was an attempt to prevent him from being appointed as a temporary teacher in the social work department of the Central University of Kerala in Periya, Kasaragod. He also alleged that the interview list was published without even a waiting list. Professor AK Mohanan was arrested after he filed a complaint with the Vigilance Department.

Read More: Kerala: Central University withholding salary for exposing bribery, claims teacher

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9.15 AM: CM Pinarayi Vijayan to interact with Malabar Christian college students on February 18

As Malayalee students leave the state for higher education, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will interact with the students. A face-to-face program will be held on February 18 at Malabar Christian College. Eminent people from the field of education will also participate. Kozhikode is the first edition of the face-to-face program conducted by Pinarayi Vijayan from 10 regions selected by Nava Kerala Sadas.

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8.45 AM: One dead, two injured in KSRTC-car collision in Pathanamthitta

One person was killed and two others were injured when a KSRTC bus and a car collided on MC Road, Adoor. One of the passengers in the car died. Two people in the car were seriously injured in the accident. The accident happened at 7 am today. The accident took place between a KSRTC bus going towards Thiruvananthapuram and a car coming from Adoor. Those injured in the accident have been admitted to Adoor General Hospital.

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8.35 AM: Lottery winner found hanging in Kasaragod

A youth who won the lottery of Rs 70 lakh four months ago was found hanging dead. Vivek Shetty (36), owner of a bakery on Nellikunnu Beach Road, Kasaragod, was found dead inside his bakery. The police concluded that there was no financial difficulty and there could be some other reason behind the death. The body was found yesterday morning. Vivek got Rs 44 lakh net of tax for winning the lottery. Kasargod town police reached the spot after getting the information. After an inquest and post-mortem, the body was cremated. He is the son of Rampenna Shetty and Bhavani. Wife: Aarti, Son: Alvin.

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8.17 AM: Kerala state budget to be presented tomorrow

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal will present the state budget on Monday (Feb 05). The budget is expected to include allocations for services that directly impact the public, including welfare pensions, and announcements to mobilize additional resources during the crisis. The budget will include measures to encourage private investment to overcome the financial crisis. Tax rates, including on alcohol, may not increase significantly.

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8.10 AM: Congress to kick off election campaign today in Thrissur; Mallikarjun Kharge to attend event

Congress National president Mallikarjun Kharge is reaching Thrissur today to kick off the election campaign. AICC President will inaugurate the Mahajana Sabha being held at Thekkinkad Maidani at 3 pm. Deepdas Munshi, general secretary of AICC in charge of Kerala, said that there is no INDI alliance in Kerala and it is a direct fight with CPI(M).