News and Views

Onam week celebrations concluded in the capital on Sunday with a cultural pageantry and variety entertainment.

Governor P. Sathasivam flagged off the pageant which featured more than 75 floats and various art forms of Kerala. These included Kathakali and folk arts forms. African dance and art forms from nine States were also featured in the pageant.

Kerala Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala has urged the Centre to evaluate the environmental and health impacts of genetically modified mustard before giving permission for its cultivation.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Opposition Leader noted that many environmentalists, agriculture scientists and farmers had raised concerns about commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops.

Supreme Court of India has commuted the death sentence of Govindaswamy, accused in the Soumya murder case.

The Court upheld the life sentence awarded by the trial court, and confirmed by High Court, for rape.

The Court observed that the rape was committed in a most brutal and grotesque manner which justified the imposition of life sentence awarded to him.

Liquor sales in Kerala during Onam have gone up in terms of turnover.

The sales during eight days ending on the eve of Thiruvonam (September 13) was of Rs. 409.55 crore against Rs. 353.08 crore during the corresponding period last year. This marks an increase of nearly 16 per cent.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Government has sent 100 policemen to Bangaluru to provide security for safe transit of Keralites who are stuck at various places in Karnataka.

The police will accompany vehicles from Mandya to Kerala border. Director General of Police Loknath Behera had discussions with his Karnataka counterpart in his regard.

One person has been killed and another injured in police firing at Rajagoplanagar in Bangaluru, reports reaching here said. Curfew is in force in 16 police station limits in Karnataka.