M F Husain no more

India`s most celebrated painter Maqbool Fida Husain died in a London hospital late Wednesday night, according to reports from U K.

He was 95 and had been unwell for quite some days.

Husain was in self-imposed exile since 2006 after Hindu groups threatened him for his paintings of Hindu deities. The controversy was related to his paintings of Hindu deities in the nude, which were originally painted in the 1970s, were interpreted as anti-Hindu. After eight legal cases and death threats in India, he was on a self imposed exile. He had been living in Dubai and London, and was offered citizenship by Qatar in January 2010. He had accepted the offer.

One of the world`s greatest masters, Husain`s paintings regularly fetched over 1 million dollars at auctions....more here...http://keralz.com/news/india/2011/june/jun2.html

Chandy is new Kerala CM

Senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy was sworn in as the 21st Chief Minister of Kerala at an exciting function at Raj Bhavan here on May 18.

Governor R S Gavai administered the oath of office and secrecy to Chandy.

Leaders of six constituents of the United Democratic Front were also sworn in as ministers at the function.

Outgoing Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and a number of his former ministerial

Colleagues were present at the function.

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P K Kunhalikutty, Kerala Congress (M) leader K M Mani, Socialist Janata (Democratic) leader K P Mohanan, Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader T M Jacob, KC (B) leader K B Ganesh Kumar and Revolutionary Socialist Party (Baby John) leader Shibu Baby John are the others were sworn in today...more.... http://keralz.com/news/kerala/2011/may/may4.html

Photo of Laden`s body not to be made public

US President Barack Obama has said that the photos of killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden`s body would not be made public and stated that `` We don`t trot out this stuff as trophies``.

``We don't trot out this stuff as trophies. ... I think Americans and people around the world are glad that he is gone. But we don`t need to spike the football. ... would create some national security risk.``.. More here...

http://keralz.com/news/world/2011/may/may1.html

All-party delegation to meet PM on endosulfan

An all-party delegation headed by State Health minister P K Sreemathy would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in connection with the endosulfan issue.

Kerala will observe April 25, the day on which the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants begins in Geneva, as anti- Endosulfan Day, Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan told reporters after the cabinet meeting...read here...http://keralz.com/news/kerala/2011/apr/apr4.html

Uterus of 226 women removed

Three private hospitals in Rajasthan`s Dausa district have removed the uterus of 226 women last year and earned about Rs 14,000 from each patient.

This was brought to light through a Right to Information by an NGO. These private hospitals were recognised for delivery under the government scheme `Janani Suraksha Yozna`.

In the wake of the report, the district administration has ordered an inquiry into the matter by a three-member committee...read here...http://keralz.com/news/india/2011/apr/apr3.html

Obama`s income drops

The annual income of United States President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle dropped by more than two-thirds to 1.73 million dollars in 2010 as against 5.5 million dollar in 2009, the White House said.

The President and the First Lady filed their income tax returns jointly and reported an adjusted gross income of 1,728,096 dollars, The White House said. read more here...http://keralz.com/news/world/2011/apr/apr.html

At last V S Again

In a repeat of the 2006, the Communist Part of India (Marxist) has been forced to give a party ticket to Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M)stalwart V S Achuthanadan amid protest from grassroots workers and last minute intervention by the party politburo.

Achuthanandan would contest the Assembly elections from Malampuzha constituency, party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Friday while announcing the candidates here.

When asked about the sudden change in party`s decision, Vijayan said, ``Achuthanandan has been contesting since 1967 so it is not a new thing. V S needs no one to plead his case``.

The CPI(M) state committee`s reported denial of seat to Achuthanandan on March 16 had triggered a widespread protest in Kerala, forcing the Party central leadership to hold an available politburo meeting at New Delhi this morning to discuss the crucial issue....more here...http://keralz.com/news/elections/el27.html