KERALA NEWS

Karanavar Murder case - All accused are charged

2010-06-09T02:04:00.000-07:00

Karanavar Murder case latest news: Four accused including daughter in law of Baskara karanavar are charged for murderer of Baskara Karanavar. Basith Ali, Nidhin(unni)Shanu hameed and daughter in law sherin are the accused in this case. Baskara Karanavar found dead on hid bed room on november 8, 2009.

Matha Amrithanandamayi's Father Passed away

2010-03-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

Father of Matha Amrithanandamayi, V. sugunandhan has passed away. He has 86 years old and lives at Amruthapuri, kollam. He was a great Kathakanli dancer and Sanskrit scholar. Matha Amrithanandamayi who wat kolkota, returned home after hearing this news.

Bomb explosion in pappinisseri

2010-03-22T20:25:00.000-07:00

Bomb explosion pappinisseri near kannur. Elderly women escapes narrowly from house. Some had thrown the bomb and house has heavily damaged.CPM Workers accused that RSS workers has done this.

Muthoot Paul Case handed over to CBI

2010-01-20T22:33:00.000-08:00

Muthoot paul murder case latest news
Kerala High court ordered for transferring muthoot paul muder case from Kerala police to CBI

Drink and Drive cause Killed Two

2009-12-03T21:01:00.000-08:00

Mother and son killed in a road accident in Ambalapuzha, kerala. Shobhana Kumari(50), Shaji(19) are dead on the spot, other four including Shobhana kumari's husband Shaji(54) are critically wounded. Shabhakumari was a health inspector in kerala women&Child welfare dept. Shaji was studying for engineering in Thirunalveli Engineering College. Family was traveling in a maruthi alto for attending a marriage function. A lorry came and hit the car. Lorry driver was drink heavily, locals caught him and handed over to police.

Tsunami panic again

2009-12-03T20:42:00.000-08:00

Panic triggered when sea water has came to land around 200meters in between ponnani and chala of kerala state. Villagers thought that this may be Tsunami. This happened yesterday early morning, all fishers alerted villagers about this. villagers informed
Police and Revenue authorities at the same time. Authorities said that this only a up tide in the sea.

Abhaya Case latest News

2009-12-03T20:16:00.000-08:00

"I did not undergone any virginity restoring virginity" said Sister steffy

CBI received a Notice from Delhi high court, this notice is related to sister Abhaya murder case. One of the accused sister Steffy lodged a complaint in Delhi High court saying that, CBI humiliated her by conducting a Virginity test on her.
Sister steffy said, she didn't do any hymenoplasty surgery, that restores virginity.
She added that " I can prove my virginity any medical board".
Sister Abhya killed in 1992. After 16 years CBI has arrested steffy and two other
priests. Sister steffy was with these priests when incidents happened. Sources said
this relationship leads to Abhaya murder. So CBI conducted a virginity test on sister steffy

KSU Election

2009-12-03T19:15:00.000-08:00

SHAFI PARAMBIL

After two decades Kerala students Federation conducted a election to find the leader in KSU. Shafi Parambil has selected as state president . Shafi selected with 2227 votes, and he belongs to Con(A) Group. Con(I) Group candidate Rijil lag behind 'A' group with 1493 votes R.B. Nijo, Kukku Merin Philip, Manju Kuttan, are the another 'A' Group General Secretaries.

Vasukutty murder case latest news

2009-12-03T19:06:00.000-08:00

Vasukutty murder case has in new twist. Police recovered the Vasukutti's missed gold ornaments from a residential water tank. Vasuktty is a financier, he found killed inside a car in Mavelikkara. He was traveling with gold ornaments, each ornaments having pledgers name and loan number. House owner Biju George's son found some oject covered with clothes in their water tank, he was inspecting tank due to some bad smell for drinking water. Biju informed police and municipality, but nobody come over there to inspect. So Biju open the object, and he found some gold ornaments.
Police said that, they interrogated Biju some days back in connection with this murder.
Police took him to Police station for further interrogation

Karanavar Muder case latest news

2009-12-01T20:14:00.000-08:00

Karanavar Muder case - main accused has planning to surrender in court. Basith Ali(Bibeesh), Unni(Nidhin), Shanu Rasheed, these are the main accused persons in Karanavar muder case. Main accused and Karanavar's doughter in law has gave application
for grating bail. Authorities belive that, Sherin has planned this murder with other
accused persons for taking away karanavers wealth. Shering was well educated and doghter of a army officer. Main Accused is the wife of mentally disabled son of karanaver

Sabarinath arrested again with school girl

2009-12-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

Total 4 U owner sabarinath has arrested again for illegal activities. Sabarinath was staying his house at Kaladi. This incident happened yesterday. His neighbours informed police that, two boys and one girl reached at sabarinath's house and some illegal activities are going over there. Suddenly police raided the house and arrested one girl, three men including sabarinath. Girl is currently studying for Plus One in a prestigious school nearby. Sabarinath was first arrested for collecting money from public by giving false promises. Total4u has collected around 500 cores of Rupees.

Malayalam is essential for Govt. jobs

2009-11-01T20:24:00.000-08:00

In future there no Kerala government jobs for those who don't know Malayalam said, chief minister of Kerala. Govt. will make a law for this shortly. Government is planning to make one Malayalam University in state.
Chief minister said, govt. will inform the kendriya vidyalaya and other central schools in kerala, to teach Malayalam as one language.
Chief minister distributed awards for those who made all files in Malayalam. Three clerks in Palakkad district collectorate has received the awards

Army Arrived at Kannur

2009-11-01T20:12:00.001-08:00

Cenral Industries Security Force reached Kannur in connection with by-election in Kannur.
Three companies of Central Armed force team has arrived in Kannur as per the request of the election commission. The CISF team has arrived from their camps at Cochin, Naively and Chennai. If required Central Govt. Will sent more Armed forces to Kannur. Monday Morning they will patrol in Kannur town. There was some confusions in election list preparation in Kannur

Muthoot paul case should hand over to CBI

2009-11-01T04:22:00.000-08:00

Muthoot paul's father is not happy with the current investigations doing by Kerala police. He requested to court that, Muthoot Paul Murder case should hand over to Central Beuro of Investigation.

Case against 310 Peoples in kannur

2009-10-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

Police registered a case against 310 peoples for register in voters list with fake address proofs. Sources said that there is a plenty of peoples are registered with
address proof that demolished buildings some are really not having at all. Central Election commission recommended to remove the Kannur collector regarding this fake voters list case. Now police registered case against some govt officials, those who are approved address proofs.

Muthoot pual case latest news

2009-10-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

Muthoot Pual killing: Paul's father give petition to police and revealing some of his views about the incident. Paul'father said that:

ford Endeavour car did not sent for forencis test

blood spots inside the ford Endeavour car did not sent for forensic test

Driver shibu looks very cool after the incidents

Manu's phone was switch of for two days, and Manu made so many calls
just before the incidents that also very long duration.

There only slight injuries for Manu, that also look like he had done himself

Sources said that paul's car met an accident with a quotation team member's bike, so the quotation team traced him and stabbed, this is not unbelievable.

Om Prakash and Rajesh are sitting on the car, how quotation team will do this without any resistance?

Usually Pual don't drive stranger's car and paul only drives automatic gear car

Pharmacy Companies stopped supply

2009-10-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

Pharmacy Companies stopped supply of Medicine to Medical colleges in Kerala, due to heavy outstanding bills. Companies revealed that there is five crores of rupees outstanding bills are there at Medical colleges in Kerala. Below poverty line patients are forced buy medicines from out side shop, this is not affordable for many low class peoples. Companies said that there is one crores of rupee out standing against hospital equipment bill and 430 crores of rupee outstanding against medicine bill .
If any government would comes, this is the picture basic state-sponsored facilities.
Citizens with plenty of money can afford private hospital bills. Where poor man will go?

Bineesh Kodiyeri and Russian Girl is a Fake News?

2009-10-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

Bineesh Kodiyeri and Russian Girl is a Fake News?
Kerala Education Minister MA Baby said that, Bineesh Kodiyeri's connection to a Russian girl's arrest in Bangalore was a fake news. He said that, Some body purpose fully morphed this pictures and videos and put in Russian girls computer.
Yesterday Bangalore police arrested a Russian girl for alleged prostitute from a brothel central in st. bed layout Koramangala, Bangalore. Many picture, videos, pen drives and visiting cards are recovered from this girl.

Saju is the father of Gopika's child

2009-10-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

Police traced the missing Eranakulam district Panchayat member Gopika in a Ashram at Kachirapally. Gopika was missing for months. Police traced gopika with 15days old child. Two days back police arrested one person regarding the missing case. Gopika called from her mobile phone to him, while he was in police custody. Police traced that number and police got the clue that she is in a Ashram. Ahsram authorities said that, she came to ashram to put her child in a day care center.
Gopika was intorageted by police authorities, that time she revealed that Saju is the father of her child. Saju is working as contractor for panchayath where gopika was a member of panthayath. Saju is married earlier and father of two children. Gopika and Saju fall in love in 2006 and married secretly in Muruthumala temple at Coimbatore.
Saju's family denied this allegations

Adoor Bhavani Passed away

2009-10-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

Veteran film actress Adoor Bhavani, 82, passed away here at her son's residence at 12.30 pm. She died at her home here in Pathanamthitta district and her only son Rajiv was at her side when she breathed her last. She stopped acting after she fell ill six years ago.
She was ailing for quite some time and her health deteriorated during the last two weeks. She was bedridden for the past one year due to a broken bone injury. Her final rites will be held on Monday, it is learnt.
Adoor Pankajam when popular actor Thikurishi spotted her and offered her a role in 'Sheriyo Thetto'. She accepted the role and there was no looking back for her after that.

Her best-known appearance was in the national award winning film Chemmeen. In 1969 Bhavani won the Kerala state film award for the second best actress. She was also awarded the Chalachithra Saparya Lifetime Achievement award by Mathrubhumi-Medimix in 2002. In 2008, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy honoured Bhavani and Pankajam for their overall contributions to theatre and drama.

She has proved herself as a good artiste and is a prominent member of the malayalam association AMMA, said Innocent. Yester actress Sukumari also condoled the death of Bhavani. Popularly called `Amma' in the film fraternity, many actors and actresses expressed their condolence.

Russian Girl arrested in Bangalore.

2009-10-24T21:45:00.000-07:00

Russian Girl Arrested in Bangalore in a brothel central

Bangalore local news channel TV9 reported that, their correspondent investigated about the workings of brothel central in St.bed layout in koramangala, Bangalore. Police raided the place with TV9 news channel reporters. Police arrested a Russian Girl from brothel central and recovered laptops, pen drives and many photos. TV9 News channel reported that, police recovered the photos of Bineesh kodiyeri from Russian prostitute. But this is not confirmed by any of authorities. In Intoragtion Russian girl's agent said that they are charging Rs.15,000 to 20,000 for three hours.

Boat Tragedy at Thekkady

2009-09-30T07:44:00.000-07:00

34 feared dead and 20 missing in Thekkady boat tragedy
Around 34 peoples including eight children and six women were drowned when a boat carrying 75 tourists sank in the catchment area of the Mullaperiyar river in Kerala today evening. The boat has drown around 12km away from the landing. Authorities suspect that tourists are came to one side to see the wild animals in the shore. Victims are mainly from Karnataka.
Navy divers are rushed to the spot for rescuing.
Idukki superintendent of police Kuttapan said the bodies of two children and two women had been recovered.

Help Line Numbers
04869 222979
9447569315
9447979101
04869 222620
04869 222620
04869 222111
9446052361
9447979092

Birthday for Actress Kavya Madhavan

2009-09-20T01:26:00.000-07:00

Actress Kavya Madhavan Celebrating her 25th birthday
Kavya started acting in noted director kamal's film Pukalam varavai in the year of 1991. But everybody remembers actress kavya in Kamal's 'Azhakiya Ravanan'. These role are some simple roles for kavya . Kavya acted as lead actress in 'Chandranudhikunna dhikil' which was directed by Laljose. After Actress Kavya is unavoidable actress in Malayalam movie industry. Kavya has received many awards, best second actress in the year of 2000, best newcomer actress award . Lux Aisanet award for best perfomance in 'Madhura Nombharakattu' and 'Kochu kochu swapnangal', Film Audiance award, Atlas film award are some of them. She has done best perfomance in 'Omapenninu Oriyada payyan'. She got Mathrubhumi Medimix film award for the perfomance in this film 'Meesha Madhavan' is the another BO movie, which kavya has done the best perfomance. She got Kerala state best actress award for the perfomance in 'Perumazhakalam'.
Nalu Pennugal, Paradeshi, classmates, Anandhabadhram are the other movies, which kavya has done the excellent perfomance. After marriage she discontinued acting career. After Three months of marriage she said, she is coming back to malayalam movie industry. That is a good news for kavya fans.

Malayalam Movie Loud Speaker

2009-09-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

This Ramzan will good news for all malayalam movie lovers. Malayalam super stars Mamootty and Mohan lal are coming in different movies. Mamootty is coming in malayalam movie 'Loud speaker' directed by Jayaraj. Mohan lal is coming in much talked tamil movie 'unnaipol oruvan'directed by Chakri Thalothi. After long time Malayalam movie director Jayaraj and super star Mamootty toughter in movie. In this film Mamootty cast as a different and character called 'Mike Philipose'. Gracy, actress in bollywood BO 'Lagan' will play as opposite to Mamootty. Other casts are Biju Menon, Jagathi, Cohing Haneefa, Suraj Venjharanmood, salim kumar, srijith ravi Bhiman Raghu, Agastin, KPAC Lalitha, Kalpana, Ambika Menon.
Story is written by P Y Joseph, narrating he life of the central character in this movie 'Mile Philipose'.

Kerala Film Awards

2009-09-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

Prianka Bags Best Malayalam Actress Award

Kerala Chief Minister Hon. Achuthanadhan has distributed malayalam film awards to various artists. Best Actor lal, Best Actress Priyanka, Second Best Actress Prveena, Second Best Actor Anup Menon, Best Child Artist Nivedha thomas, Best Dirctor Adoor(Oru Pennum Radanum), Best second director T V Chandran (Vilapagalkapuram), Best Singer Manjari & Shankar Mahadevan,
Best Actress Priyanka started her acting career in Malayalam TV Serials. After that she has done some characters in malayalam movies.

I will come back soon Kavya Madhavan

2009-09-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

Malayalam actress Kavya Madhavan said that, she will come back to malayalam movie industry very shortly. After her marriage with Nishchal, she discontinued her film career. Three months after her unsuccessfull marriage, she first time appeared at public at calicut for inaugurating a beauty shop. There was a huge fans gathered near the venue to welcome their favorite film star. She came with her parents and she looks very happy during the function.

DYFI leader manhandled Police SI

2009-09-14T22:25:00.000-07:00

DYFI leader manhandled Police SI in Paravoor. A Dyfi leader came to police station in connection with case of chitt fund. A chitt fund has collected lacks of Rupees and run away from paravoor. Some customers taken away the bike or collection executives son. So collection executive lodged a compliant in police station. local leader came in connection with that

Death Penalty for Amayur murder case accused

2009-09-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

Court punished for capital punishment for Rejikumar who killed his wife and four children. Love married couples Rejikumar and Lisy and their two children living in Amayur. He was doing rubber taping work over there. His another two children studying at Pala school. Reji kumar has started illegal relationship with his another lady near to his house, this started some problem in house. Reji wanted live with his new lover so he killed wife and children. He raped his 12year old daughter before murder her

Muthoot Paul Case latest News

2009-09-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Omprakash and Rajesh Puthenpalam

A city court on Thursday remanded gangsters Omprakash and Rajesh Puthenpalam, accused in the Paul Muthoot murder case, in 14days' judicial custody. The two suspects, who surrendered in a Tirunelveli court on Tuesday, were brought here from Tamil Nadu a day later and produced in court on Thursday. The surrender was in connection with a 2004 attempt to murder case. he Congress Monday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder of Muthoot business group scion Paul M. George.
State Congress president Ramesh Chennithala said the probe into the murder has been “bungled completely” and people have lost faith in Kerala Police.

Deccan Herald news : Sensational twist to Muthoot murder case
IBN Live news: Police Planted the muthoot murder weapons

Sister abhaya latest news

2009-09-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

In a dramatic twist to the 17-year-old Sister Abhaya case, two priests and a nun have allegedly confessed to the murder of the sister. The alleged admission was made during a narco analysis test by the CBI of the three key accused - Sister Steffi, Father Thomas M Kottur and Father Dr E Jose Puthrikayil
Sister sefy confessed that she has, she has hammered at sister abhaya's head. Father Thomas Kotoor and Father Joseph puthukayil came in the early morning. Sister sefy said that, she has illegal relationship with these priests. These things are explained by in narco analysis test CD. Accused persons has asked for more proofs from cbi, so Eranakulam CJM Court has provided the narco analysis test cd and other paper to accused persons.

two arrested in muthoot paul murder case

2009-08-23T18:52:00.000-07:00

OmPrakash

Rowdy gang leader om prakash has arrested in connection with muthoot paul murder case. Police found the omprakash's diving licence from paul's vehicle. Rowdy gang members are escaped in pauls vehicle after the incident.
Murdered young entrepreneur was leading the hospitality division of muthoot group. Paul was the second son of company's chairman

Bineesh Kodiyeri married

2009-08-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

CPM leader and Kerala minister Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's son, Bineesh Kodiyeri has got married in star hotel in Trivandrum

Muthoot hotels executive director killed

2009-08-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

Kochi: A young entrepreneur and son of muthut M George of Muthoot group Mr. Paul M George has killed by stabing by a gang of roudies. Mr. Paul has on the way from Alleppy to kochin, around 12 killer gang attacked him on nedumudi jyothi juncion.

Rajan P Dev Passed away

2009-07-28T23:42:00.000-07:00

Malayalam movie's talented villian Rajan P Dev has passed away. He was on on 54. Yesterday he was in hospital due to some health problem. Today early morning, he was passed away

Aishwarya Rai as lead actress in Malayalam movie

2009-07-27T02:43:00.000-07:00

Malayalam comedian sailm kumar will direct a movie in malayalam. Salim kumar is one of the talented comedy actor in malayalam. He has also done charector role in some malayalam movies.
Aishwarya rai will play lead actress in this film. Mamooty will be the lead actor. Bollywood superstar Sharukhan will play as guest actor in this movie.
Malayalam movie's another comedy actor ' Harisree Ashokan' will be the production controller for this movie

Blue Dart Sucks

2009-05-14T01:37:00.000-07:00

Two times they put me in pinpoint by not delivering important documents to me at right time. They hold that document in their office for three days. When i called their office, customer care executives not replied properly. At last i went stright away to bluedart office and collected the documents.
It is happend in the main city of Inidia - Bangalore
This the third time my courier is misplaced/undelivered by blue dart courier. This time a courier form Google Hyderabad office to Kerala.

Conman arrested

2008-05-23T05:59:00.000-07:00

TRIVANDRUM — After week-long drama events, the controversial guru Santhosh Madhavan alias Amrutha Chaithanya, was yesterday arrested in Kerala and charged with three offences. Interpol had issued a look-out notice against Santhosh for allegedly swindling about Dh400,000 from a Dubai based Keralite woman.
The conman was picked up from Vypin near Cochin while travelling in a Lancer car yesterday morning. His driver Thomas was also taken into custody. He was interrogated by Inspector-General of Police Vinson M. Paul and Cochin Police commissioner Manoj Abraham interrogated him.
Apart from financial fraud, the police have also registered a case of rape against the self-styled ‘swami’ on the basis of a complaint lodged by a 15-year-old girl from Kadavanthra in Cochin city yesterday morning. He has also been charged with producing pornographic films.
The Cochin police commissioner told reporters that Santhosh had admitted that he had cheated the Dubai-based Non-Resident Indian woman, Cerafin Edwin. However, he contested the amount mentioned by the complainant.
Cerafin had alleged that Santhosh had collected Dh400,000, promising a partnership in a hotel project. Manoj Abraham said that the police had received information that the fake ‘swami’ had raped at least five minor girls.
He had allegedly used some of these girls for producing pornographic materials. A large number pornographic films were also recovered. "We have seized some of the CDs and find out whether any of these girls had figured in them", Manoj said.
The senior police official said that two cases police had registered against him in connection with the seizure of tiger skin and sandalwood from his flat last week have been transferred to the forest department.
Santhosh had moved an application for anticipatory bail with the high court. However, the application became infructuous following his arrest. The police commissioner said Santhosh would be presented before a magistrate today.
Meanwhile, Aleppey Deputy Superintendent of Police Sam Christy Daniel, who had served as an aide of the controversial ‘swami’, has been suspended from service by additional chief secretary K.J. Mathew.
The suspension came on a direction from Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who was told by Director General of Police Raman Srivasthava that Christy's misdeeds had brought ill repute to the entire police force.
In his report, the DGP said that Sam had organised the second marriage of the godman with a woman at Palghat.

Kerala Property Expo

2008-05-23T03:07:00.000-07:00

Fifty renowned builders from various parts of Kerala under the umbrella of Kerala Builders Forum (KBF), an affiliate of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI) are taking part in a two-day (May 11-12) Kerala Property Expo at the Ramada Hotel in Riggae. This yearly event which is being held in Kuwait for the third successive year kicked off in Doha, Qatar at the Regency Hotel on May 8 and from Kuwait it moves on to Dubai. The Dubai Airport Expo will be held between May 15 and 17. The expo which is co-sponsored by the State Bank of India and the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) is being managed by the Mumbai-based Impresario Event Management India Ltd.
PlatformGeorge E. George, Chairman of KBF said the KBF Property Expo 2008 is a platform for NRIs residing in the Middle East to make informed decisions on investing in property, houses and real estate in Kerala. It also gives opportunity to the builders to showcase their projects to potential clients. Harish Babu, Managing Director of Impresario told the Arab Times a range of residential properties are being showcased at the expo to cater to the varied needs of the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). The expo, he said, acts as a source of information on the projects or reputed builders with options like apartments having wi-fi Internet, biometric entry, digital surveillance system, video door phone, etc. The real estate sector in Kerala is booming with companies developing innovative, eco-friendly residential apartments. Not only the luxury facilities but the provision of spiritual and intellectual life is also offered in the apartments, he added.
PositionHe went on to say the expo offers for sale apartments and villas costing between 1.5 million and 20 million rupees. 'The Kerala Property Expo has secured its position as the largest real estate expo in the Gulf,' he added. Almost all, what he called, the new-generation banks working in Kerala are aiming at the Indians who are working abroad to provide housing loans. It is sure that the demand for luxury apartments will boost when the NRIs also invest in these apartments, he said. The changing aesthetics of Keralites as well as the returning NRI also increased the demand for apartments. 'When people began to love communal life, the old concept of a lonely house in the midst of the city changed and they got more attracted to an apartment life,' he added. The last two years, he said, saw property investors harvesting double profit on their investments and NRIs prefer Cochin because it provides metro life experience and yet have a small-town ambiance.The younger generation is very interested in settling in Kochi as the IT sector has developed enough to offer an attractive carrier, he stressed.

Kerala's houseboats

2008-05-23T03:04:00.000-07:00

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A romantic night on the majestic backwaters of Alappuzha in a one-bedroom houseboat could be a winning ad line to attract the niche group of newly-weds. But houseboat operators in Kerala with an eye on the bottomline are now tapping businesses beyond what is provided by dreamy couples. The latest obsession appears to be sheer size of vessels as houseboat owners attempt to bite into the growing segments of confrences roup tours with vessels that feature multiple bedrooms and seating capacity for over 100 persons, with additional features thrown in. The Alappuzha-based CTN Agro and the Coir Group have added heat to the competition for sheer size, launching a six bedroom boat that also boasts of conference facilities for 150 persons, besides an open-to-air courtyard in the middle of the vessel. “We find a growing demand from group travellers who need more than a couple of rooms and from corporates who are looking for conference facilities for 100 or more executives. Besides, a larger number of rooms provides better economy in operations,” says Aria Holidays and Resorts advisor Sreekumar N. The firm operates the CTN Agro and Coir-promoted houseboat business . Mr Sreekumar says a healthy trend being witnessed in the houseboat business is the growing percentage of revenue contributed by the domestic travellers, adding that the majority of revenues presently come from domestic clients. Pulickattil Houseboats MD Tomy Pulickattil, who was the first to launch mega-sized houseboats with conferencing facilities, adds that the larger vessels are attracting both foreign and domestic clients meetings and conferences. Industry circles are also upbeat about smaller corporates and holiday groups opting for large houseboats. “There is a particularly growing interest among Tamil Nadu groups, besides smaller companies in Kerala itself, to discuss business and hold board meetings while enjoying a backwater cruise,” they explain. In 2007, foreign tourist arrivals to Kerala had touched 5.15 lakh, an increase of over 20% over the previous year.a

Conde Nast Traveller Hot List

2008-05-23T03:02:00.000-07:00

Ista Hyderabad, the flag ship five-star business hotel promoted by New Delhi-based IHHR Hospitality Pvt Ltd, has been awarded a spot in ‘The Years 136 Top New Hotels’ by Conde Nast Traveler in their 12th annual May ‘Hot List’ issue for 2008. The spa at Ista Hyderabad, which is among the three upcoming Indian spas to be listed in the annual Hot List, has been placed in the ‘76 Hot Spas’ across the globe list by Conde Nast Traveller. The other two spas to be included in the list are Divya Spa in Kerala and the Aura Day Spa in New Delhi.The spa at Ista Hyderabad which brings in the expertise of Ananda Spa to Hyderabad, comprises of six treatment rooms. Two rooms are for Ayurveda and four multi purpose rooms are for western, oriental and other international treatments. It also boasts of a yoga and meditation pavilion, hydrotherapy and relaxation areas for men and women. The 2008 Hot List features 136 new hotels and resorts, 105 new restaurants, 28 new nightclubs, and 76 new spas.

Confident Hotels roll off the mill

2008-05-23T02:59:00.000-07:00

The Confident Group is diversifying into hospitality. The total targeted investment for this foray is Rs 1,200 crore. The group is putting across 10 hotels and resorts in Bangalore. These hotels and resorts are in the three star to five star category. They are at different stages of execution. The land acquisition for all the projects have been completed. Confident Cascade is already operational and is currently one of the favourite party spots for employees of multinational companies . These companies use this hotel to stay and to conduct conferences . This resort has already completed over 2,200 corporate outings and conferences. It is located on Bannerghatta main road and is very close to Bannerghatta National Park. Iris, the four star hotel is to be launched recently. It is located in the heart of Bangalore city on Brigade Road. It currently has 60 rooms with three restaurants and buiness centre facilities. To be launched by August end, is Propus at Langford town, again in the heart of the city. This hotel has 50 suites and rooms with three restaurants and all other facilities. Confident Aquraii, an up-spa and resort on Old Madras Road, Bangalore. This spa and resort would provide South-East Asian and Kerala ayurvedic treatments apart from high end stay. This resort has tied-up with Derma Health Care Dubai for antiaging treatment. This resort is of the five-star category with 15 presidential cottages, 21 luxury cottages and 51 suites. This resort is slated to open by this year end. The current status is that civil construction is completed and the interior works and are in progress. Confident is also putting up its most prestigious project Confident Champion Reef, a 18-hole golf course. Planned by world famous Ron Fream. This project consists of 600 high end villas and exclusively designed by Edward, SAA Architects Singapore. This project is spread over 201 acres and just 30 minutes drive from the new international airport. This golf course would also consists of high end resort and hotel facility. Confident Group would be running all the properties under its own brand and management team. The brand has over seven years experience in running hotels and resorts. Confident Group is the only hospitality brand to own its own airlines .The group has recently launched its own chartered airline called Confident Airlines. The company already owns a P68 plane and is in the process of acquiring another five small planes and helicopters. The basic objective of this division is to cater to chartered and fractional ownership of planes. This division would also support the hotel and resorts to ferry high end customers. The long term objective of Confident Group includes health-tourism whereby the high end customers from abroad are ferried in its own chartered plane and sent for treatment to leading hospitals. Pre and post care is provided in Confident's own hotels and resorts. The first four hotels and resorts would be operational in the next six months and the chain of 10 hotels and resorts would be fully operational in the next 30 months.

Luxury Resort & Spa

2008-05-23T02:57:00.000-07:00

Pegasus Realty and Hotel Developments (I) Pvt. Limited, an offshoot of Dubai based realty solutions firm Pegasus Realty LLC, today announced the launch the only 6 star luxury spa resort in the scenic locales of Kumarakoam, Kerala.

Chavez ties Merkel

2008-05-12T00:49:00.000-07:00

Caracas: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has attacked German Chancellor Angela Merkel, comparing her to Adolf Hitler in response to her criticism of the South American leader's policies.Merkel belongs to the political right, "the same right that supported Hitler, fascism," Chavez said on his television programme "Alo Presidente" Sunday.Chavez's remarks came after Merkel said that the left-wing leader is not the voice of the region.Merkel, speaking in an interview to DPA ahead of the European Union-Latin American summit, indicated that leftist polices pursued by leaders like Chavez were not the solution.Pointing to the emergence of "left-wing populism" in some of the nations of Latin America, Merkel said: "Based on our experience in Europe, I don't believe that state-guided economies can provide a better or more sustainable response to such pressing problems."Chavez replied that he would answer Merkel at the summit if he chooses to attend."Many people want you to shut up. But if I fly to Lima and I say something to her and she gets upset, she would then stand up and say 'why don't you shut up?' Why don't you shut up? Because here there is dignity," Chavez opined, playing off a controversial moment last year that set off a diplomatic spat between Venezuela and Spain.Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero criticized Chavez at the Iberian American Summit in November for calling his predecessor Jose Maria Aznar a "fascist" who favoured the failed coup in Venezuela in 2002, sparking an outburst that ended with Spanish King Juan Carlos shouting, "Why don't you shut up?" at Chavez.On Sunday, Chavez said the region could do without empty offers of help from the US and Europe.The Europeans "come here to help us. Where is their plan to help the poor? Ask the president of Haiti how much promises from Europe and the United States have done," Chavez said, stressing the region's social programmes would be carried by Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina and Brazil.Merkel is visiting Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Mexico during her week-long trip to Latin America, the highlight of which will be her participation in the fifth EU-Latin American and Caribbean Summit (EU-LAC) to be held Friday and Saturday in Lima.

NREGS online

2008-05-12T00:37:00.000-07:00

Transparency is the name of the game. The names of job seekers, the wages they are paid and many other details of employment under the government's flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) will soon be made available online in a Kerala district.Wayanad, the district headquarters of which is Kalpetta, will soon become the first district in the state to execute total online monitoring of India's much touted rural jobs scheme.The NREGS is aimed at generating employment in India's backward regions and proposes to provide 100 workdays for the rural poor in a year.In Wayanad, one of the two districts in Kerala where the scheme was first introduced, a computerised system to monitor the NREGS is already in place at the block and district levels."The online system will be complete when all the village panchyats are ready with a broadband connection," C.V. Joy, the joint programme coordinator for the NREGS in Wayanad district, said.Under the NREGS, job seekers should first register their names with the respective village panchayats. Upon registration, they will get an employment card. "The employment card is just like a ration card. If you want work you have to produce the employment card."The online system will be armed with all the information on the NREGS like details of job seekers, the project they are employed in, the amount of wages paid and the funds deployed for a project. All these details can be accessed and monitored through the internet."Transparency is the biggest advantage of the system. You can access information from any place. In villages, the data is manually compiled at present. This will change soon," Joy said.The online system will also reduce the scope for malpractices. The payments for the NREGS are credited to bank accounts. Computerisation will now allow online generation of payment instruction to the banks."The NREGS beneficiaries have around 87,000 bank accounts in the district. The nationalised banks, where the NREGS fund remains, upon receiving the payment instruction through e-mail, will credit the amount to the beneficiary account," said Joy.The district generated an average of 48 workdays in the last financial year. "This year we are confident of generating 100 work days as stipulated in the scheme," he added.The software for the system is a product of the National Informatics Centre, a wing under Department of Information Technology providing the network backbone and e-governance support to the central and state governments.

new minister in kerala

2007-10-12T23:09:00.000-07:00

Mr. Monse Jacob is new minister in kerala cabinet