Kerala News Highlights: Kerala govt to protest in Delhi against Centre's financial discrimination tomorrow

4.00 PM: Kerala govt to protest in Delhi against Centre's financial discrimination tomorrow

CM Pinarayi Vijayan along with his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs and MPs of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will stage a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday (Feb 08) to protest against the Centre's "economic discrimination" against Kerala. On Wednesday, the entire Karnataka ministry led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and all the state’s Congress MLAs and MLCs, staged a sit-in at Jantar Mantar.

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3.15 PM: 'No final decision on foreign universities..': Education Minister AR Bindu on Kerala budget announcement

 Minister R Bindu expressed dissatisfaction with the budget announcement that approval for foreign universities will be considered without consultation with the higher education department. The suggestion put up by the Higher Education Council was included in the budget without the department's knowledge.

'No final decision on foreign universities..': Kerala Higher Education Minister AR Bindu

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2.30 PM: Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar calls protest by Kerala in capital as 'political drama'.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged that Congress, Left parties and DMK are conducting a national political drama during a press conference in New Delhi. He said on Wednesday that the Union Finance Minister has responded well in the Parliament to the allegations of neglect by the Central Government. 

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2.00 PM: Impersonation attempt thwarted during PSC exam in Thiruvananthapuram

During Wednesday's PSC exam at Poojappura Chinnamma Memorial Girls School, an attempt at impersonation was foiled. During the biometric verification process, the fraud allegedly fled the examination hall. The incident occurred during the early morning university LGS exam. While comparing the images on the ID card and the hall ticket, the invigilator began to doubt the miscreant's identification. Nevertheless, the impostor quickly left the area after smelling danger. The individual was still untraceable. The Poojappura police have received a case about the event.

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1.30 PM: BREAKING: SFIO begins probe at KSIDC office in connection with Veena Vijayan controversy

The SFIO team is inspecting the KSIDC corporate office in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the monthly payment controversy linked to CM's daughter Veena Vijayan. The investigation team reached here a little while ago. A team led by SFIO Deputy Director Arun Prasad is conducting the inspection. They reached the Thiruvananthapuram office after two days of inspection at CMRL.

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12.45 PM: Central Intelligence Bureau begins probe into Goa Governor's security breach

The Central Intelligence Bureau (IB) has started an investigation into the incident of CPM Kozhikode District Secretary's son Julius Nikithas driving a vehicle into the Goa Governor's motorcade. The governor's office has demanded a detailed investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the state police concluded that Julius did not deliberately drive the car into the governor's motorcade.

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12.00 PM: ISIS operative who planned suicide attack in Kerala found guilty by NIA court

The Kochi NIA court has found ISIS operative Riyas Aboobacker guilty who planned a suicide attack in Kerala. All UAPA charges were proved. The case is part of the Kasaragod IS case. He has been convicted under Sections 38 and 39 of the U.A.P.A. and 120B of the IPC.

NIA court finds terrorist Riyas Aboobacker guilty of planning suicide attack in Kerala

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11.30 AM: BJP likely to announce candidates for three constituencies

In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections later this year, the BJP is probably going to declare its candidates for three Kerala parliamentary seats. It is understood that the Thrissur district leadership of the party has already been informed that its candidate will be announced when the party releases its initial list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections the following week.

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11.00 AM: Kerala may amend excise laws to boost export of foreign liquor produced in the state

An expert committee appointed by the Kerala government suggested that the excise rules should be comprehensively revised for the export of foreign liquor produced in the state. The report was given by the committee under the leadership of KSIDC MD Hari Kishore to conduct a study to promote liquor exports. The committee also recommended that the distillery license should not be made mandatory for industrialists interested in collaborating with liquor manufacturers in the state.

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10.30 AM: Goat found partially eaten by tiger in Wayanad

Reports of tiger scare are coming out again from Wayanad. The tiger that reached Pulpally's Surabhikavala attacked the goat this time. A two-and-a-half-year-old goat was found partially eaten by locals at Sunil's house in Palamattam. Forest Department officials reached the spot and conducted an inspection.

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10.25 AM: American consul welcomes state's decision to set up foreign universities

American Consul General Christopher W Hodges welcomed Kerala's move to allow foreign universities. Christopher told Asianet News that they will cooperate more with Kerala in higher education. The American Consul General says that the budget announcement is a step in the right direction to pave the way for foreign universities to come to Kerala. Christopher W Hodges also said that a delegation of foreign universities will reach Kochi on 17th of this month.

Kerala: American consul welcomes state's decision to set up foreign universities

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10.00 AM: Man commits suicide at PF office in Thrissur after he did not get the required amount

A man who tried to commit suicide at the PF office in Kochi died today. Sivaraman, a native of Thrissur's Perambra, who tried to commit suicide by consuming poison, died. Sivaraman came to the office and consumed poison yesterday because of not getting PF. He died while undergoing treatment in a private hospital. Sivaraman was an employee of Apollo Tyres. According to reports, he had to get Rs 80000.

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9.30 AM: Govt decides not to withdraw entire premium for govt employees to obtain MEDISEP coverage

The government decided not to revoke the mandate to pay the entire premium beginning in 2022 for new government employees to obtain Medisep coverage. Despite concerns from service organizations, the government has not decided to review the directive. The organizations want to have a thorough discussion before signing the MEDISEP agreement next year.

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9.00 AM: MLA M Vincent meets with accident; suffers minor injuries

Kovalam MLA M Vincent suffered minor injuries after the car he was travelling with hit a divider at Pravachambalam in the Karamana-Kaliakkavilai route here on Wednesday at 3 am. Another person in the car, too suffered minor injuries. Police took the duo to a private hospital in Balaramapuram.

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8:34 am: Pig farm owner arrested for sexually assaulting minors in Kollam

The owner of a pig farm was arrested for giving alcohol and sexually assaulting minors in Chadayamangalam. Baiju, a native of Kottayam was arrested. He has been running a pig farm on a modest income for two years.

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8.17 AM: Gas tanker overturns in Kannur; Several injured

A gas tanker from Mangalore lost control and overturned on Pazhayangadi Bridge on Wednesday morning.  The tanker coming from Mangalore lost control and hit three vehicles before overturning. After hitting two more cars, the gas truck finally came to a stop. At Pariyaram Medical College, the eight people on the traveller who were hurt in the collision are currently receiving medical attention.

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8.12 AM: NIA to pronounce verdict against ISIS operative who planned serial blasts in state today

The NIA court will pronounce its verdict today in the case against ISIS operative Riyaz Aboobacker, who planned to carry out a series of blasts in Kerala. The Kochi NIA court will pronounce its verdict at 11 am. Riayz, a native of Palakkad's Kollankode, is the only accused in the case. He was arrested by NIA on 15 May 2018. The NIA found that the mastermind of the Sri Lanka blasts had planned a series of blasts in Kerala as well and had tried to recruit youth through social media for the same. Sections 38 and 39 of the UAPA and conspiracy have been charged. In the case, Riyaz's social media accounts and electronic devices seized from the house during the raid were presented as evidence.