The South First
16 articles in current feed
Weather update: Forecast for Southern cities on 1 June - The South First
The India Meteorological Department issued weather forecasts for major South Indian cities on Monday, June 1st. Hyderabad will experience partly cloudy skies with the possibility of rain, thunderstorms, or duststorms, while Amaravati is expected to have partly cloudy skies with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. Bengaluru will have a partly cloudy sky that may become generally cloudy in the afternoon, evening, or night. Thiruvananthapuram will have a generally cloudy sky with a few spells of rain or thundershowers, and Chennai is expected to have partly cloudy skies with the possibility of moderate rain or thunderstorms.
AIADMK MLAs join TVK: Why the Anti-Defection Law does not apply - The South First
The resignation of four AIADMK MLAs and their subsequent entry into the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has sparked allegations of horse-trading, prompting legal experts to question whether this case falls under the Anti-Defection Law. While the law does not prevent an MLA from resigning and joining another party, it's unclear if the TVK's actions constitute a breach of the law. Legal experts argue that the current framework lacks effective mechanisms to curb defections, but suggest revisiting the provision allowing mergers involving two-thirds of a legislature party. Senior journalist RK Radhakrishnan believes the TVK's alleged efforts are driven by financial gain and political immaturity, while writer and activist Aadhavan Dheetchanya suggests the party is building an independent majority as a safeguard against potential policy conflicts with its current allies.
18-year-old Sri Lankan refugee killed in Chennai after group allegedly rams vehicle into two-wheeler - The South First
An 18-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil refugee woman, Yansi, was killed and a 17-year-old girl injured when a car allegedly rammed into their two-wheeler following a dispute near a private bar in Chennai. The incident occurred late on Saturday, May 30th, after a quarrel between two groups at the bar escalated onto the road where both groups attacked each other. Police have arrested three people and seized the car involved in the crime. CCTV footage is being examined as part of the investigation.
'A chat with my fellow anti-national Soros agents': Rahul Gandhi meets students affected by CBSE OSM row - The South First
Rahul Gandhi met with students who were labeled "anti-national" and "deep state agents" after raising concerns about the CBSE's On-Screen Marking system. Gandhi criticized the abuse directed at these students, stating that they deserve a bright future and that the government must acknowledge problems to solve them. The incident follows ongoing criticism of the OSM system from students and parents, with some schools being urged by CBSE to defend the system publicly.
Predator at cricket nets: How a coach weaponised a 7th-grader’s ambitions and her fight for survival - The South First
A special court in Thiruvananthapuram sentenced former Trivandrum District Cricket Association coach M Manu to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment for systematically abusing a minor trainee. The verdict, delivered by Fast-Track Special Court Judge Anju Meera Birla, also included provisions for mandatory financial compensation and a ₹24,000 penalty. The court's decision comes after a sweeping police investigation uncovered a pattern of child exploitation at the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) headquarters, with four other cases completed. The case exposed how Manu used his position to exploit aspiring athletes from 2012 to 2024 and was further compounded by institutional negligence from the KCA. The court recognized the survivor's courage in confronting her abuser and breaking free from the cycle of abuse.
Former Chalakudy MP and veteran Congress leader KP Dhanapalan dies aged 76 - The South First
KP Dhanapalan, a prominent Congress leader and former Chalakudy MP, passed away at the age of 76 on Saturday while receiving treatment. He served as president of the Ernakulam District Congress Committee and vice-president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. Dhanapalan was known for his strong organizational skills and close association with former Kerala Chief Minister AK Antony. Political leaders, party workers, and members of the public paid their final respects before his funeral in North Paravur.
Andhra Congress chief YS Sharmila to be sent to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka - The South First
YS Sharmila, president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress unit, has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. The decision was made by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is expected to be renominated for the seat. The nomination comes despite opposition from pro-Kannada groups who advocate for a candidate from within the state. Sharmila's elevation is seen as an attempt to appease the YSR family, whose political influence has been diminished since YS Rajasekhara Reddy's death in 2009. The Congress is facing a difficult situation in Andhra Pradesh, where the TDP and YSRCP dominate the political landscape.
Government schools in Telangana: Can public education reclaim its lost ground? - The South First
Telangana boasts one of the largest educational infrastructures in India, with nearly 41,600 schools serving over 66.38 lakh students. However, enrollment trends indicate a steady erosion of public confidence in government schools, as private unaided schools attract more than 43 lakh students. This shift is attributed to factors like rapid urbanization, rising parental aspirations, and perceptions of superior quality in private institutions. The state government has initiated several reform measures, including teacher recruitment drives and infrastructure upgrades, but the abrupt resignation of Akunuri Murali, Chairperson of the Telangana Education Commission, adds uncertainty about the pace of implementation. Reclaiming lost ground will require a concerted effort to address infrastructure deficiencies, improve learning outcomes, and foster community participation.
SF Campaign: Andhra has more obese men among large states, Kerala tops among women - The South First
The National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) revealed that Andhra Pradesh has the highest prevalence of overweight or obese men among large Indian states, with 47.9% of men aged 15 to 49 years classified as such. Kerala leads in female obesity prevalence, with 46.7% of women in that age group classified as overweight or obese. The survey highlights a growing obesity burden across southern states, with rising prevalence in both urban and rural areas, raising concerns over lifestyle-related diseases. Public health experts have warned that obesity is becoming a widespread challenge across rural India as well.
'Dhobi' on mortuary duty: HR crisis dogs busy medical college in Kerala - The South First
The Government Medical College (GMC), Manjeri, is facing severe staffing shortages despite its growing role as a major tertiary-care teaching hospital. Malappuram, with its unprecedented political influence in the new UDF government, has sparked hopes that long-pending issues at the medical college will be addressed. The institution struggles with chronic staff shortages, vacant specialist posts, and administrative bottlenecks, leading to employees taking on responsibilities far beyond their designated roles. The GMC faces a shortage of 271 permanent positions and 32 vacancies under the Health Department. A study conducted by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department revealed that outsourced workers are handling crucial duties due to staff shortages, highlighting the urgent need for additional personnel. The institution recommends converting all 40 outsourced posts into permanent ones and creating six new posts to address the growing workload.
Reported spousal violence declines across India, but rises sharply in Kerala: NFHS-6 - The South First
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) reveals a mixed picture of spousal violence against married women in India. While the national rate declined from 29.2% to 22.3%, Kerala saw a sharp increase, while Telangana remained among the worst-affected states with 30.8% reporting abuse. Karnataka recorded one of the steepest declines, falling from 44.4% to 14.1%. The survey also found a rural-urban divide in domestic violence, with higher rates in rural areas across most states. Despite improvements nationwide, Telangana, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh continue to have alarmingly high levels of spousal violence. The survey also examined sexual violence before the age of 18 among young women aged 18-29, revealing a national decline from 1.2% to 0.7%.
Former YSRCP Vinukonda MLA among absconding accused in ₹1,000-crore land scam - The South First
Bolla Brahma Naidu, a former YSRCP MLA from Vinukonda, and his relative Bolla Ramesh are key suspects in an alleged ₹1,000-crore government land fraud involving forged government orders (GOs) and the illegal sale of government land in Gandipet. The case was initiated after a complaint filed by Gandipet Tahsildar Srinivas Reddy, alleging that five fabricated GOs were circulated falsely claiming 10 acres of government land had been regularized and allotted to private individuals. The Nimmala family, who have been pursuing legal remedies since 2012, allegedly entered into an agreement with Brahma Naidu and Ramesh to sell the land at ₹3.5 crore per acre. Police seized bank records, fake MoUs, mobile phones, and a laptop from the arrested accused during their investigation.
Six dalits hacked over banner dispute in Tenkasi; Residents protest seeking justice - The South First
A masked gang attacked six members of the Devendra Kula Vellalar community in Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu, on May 29th during a wedding celebration. The victims sustained severe injuries and were hospitalized. P. Uchimakali, CPI(M) Tenkasi district secretary, claims the attack was caste-driven and stems from a dispute over a banner erected for the wedding. Police have detained eight individuals in connection with the incident, including three juveniles. Investigations are ongoing.
From blacklisting clauses to technical criteria: Class 12 student exposes Coempt Eduteck tender - The South First
A 12th-grade student, Sarthak Sidhant, alleges that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) revised tender conditions to favor Coempt Eduteck, a company with a history of operational failures. The changes included removing disqualification provisions for past performance issues and lowering turnover requirements. Sidhant claims these alterations allowed Coempt to qualify despite its previous track record and benefited from other modifications like relaxed software ownership requirements and penalties related to delivery timelines. Rahul Gandhi has demanded an independent judicial inquiry, while KTR, former Telangana Minister, criticized the CBSE's actions and called for accountability from the Union Government.
DK Shivakumar elected CLP chief, to take charge as Karnataka CM on 3 June - The South First
DK Shivakumar was invited by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to take the oath of office as Karnataka's 18th Chief Minister. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) unanimously elected Shivakumar as its leader on May 30, after he staked a claim to form the government and moved a resolution thanking former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his service. Surjewala and Venugopal, AICC general secretaries, attended the CLP meeting at the Vidhana Soudha.
AIADMK leaders meet Governor, seeks CBI probe into TVK's 'horse-trading' - The South First
AIADMK leaders Agri SS Krishnamurthy and M Dhanapal met with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to request a CBI investigation into the defections of four of their MLAs to the ruling TVK party. The AIADMK alleges that the quick processing of resignations and immediate membership cards for the new MLAs raise suspicions about political horse-trading, suggesting monetary transactions were involved in the defections. The party has accused the ruling TVK of targeting Opposition MLAs and weakening rival parties.
