Thrissur: Nurses working in private hospitals across Kerala are set to go on a token strike tomorrow, February 21. Organized under the leadership of the United Nurses Association (UNA), the primary demand of the protest is to increase the basic minimum wage for nurses to ₹40,000.

Currently, the minimum wage stands at just ₹20,000. The UNA points out that there has been no pay revision in the state’s private healthcare sector for the past seven years, prompting the urgent call for government intervention.

Key Details of the Strike

• Hospital Impact: Tomorrow, only one-third of the nursing staff will report for duty to ensure emergency services remain active. The remaining staff will actively participate in the token strike.
• Rights Declaration Convention: A major convention will be held in Thrissur on the day of the strike to officially declare the nurses’ demands to the public and the government.
• Warning of Escalation: UNA National President Jasmine Sha warned that if the state government fails to issue a favorable order regarding the wage hike, the association will escalate to more intense, indefinite strike measures in the coming days.

Systemic Issues Highlighted

During the announcement, Jasmine Sha also addressed the recent medical negligence incident at Alappuzha Vandanam Medical College, where a surgical instrument was left inside a patient’s abdomen. He categorized the incident as a failure of the healthcare system rather than individual negligence.

He emphasized that strictly maintaining a proper nurse-to-patient ratio is essential to prevent such errors, and he strongly criticized the tendency of doctors to shift the ultimate blame onto the nursing staff.

Kochi: Putting an end to recent political speculations, popular Malayalam film director and Bigg Boss winner Akhil Marar has officially joined the Twenty20 party. The formal declaration was made during a press conference where Marar appeared alongside Twenty20 chief Sabu M. Jacob.

During the press meet, it was officially confirmed that Akhil Marar will be stepping into electoral politics and contesting in the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly elections.

However, his specific battleground has not yet been finalized. Addressing the media, Sabu M. Jacob clarified that since Twenty20 is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the NDA leadership will make the final decision regarding which constituency Akhil Marar will represent.

This move is seen as a significant political development, bringing a popular youth icon and media personality into the NDA fold ahead of the crucial assembly polls.

Thiruvananthapuram: Following the massive popularity of the ‘Jawan’ brand, the Kerala Government is all set to introduce its brand-new affordable liquor into the market. The highly anticipated state-produced liquor has officially been named ‘Malabar Mystery’.

Produced under the state’s direct supervision, the new brand aims to meet the high demand for quality, budget-friendly liquor in Kerala.

Launching Soon from Malabar Distilleries

The official launch and naming ceremony of ‘Malabar Mystery’ will take place on February 21 during the inauguration of the Malabar Distilleries plant located at Menonpara, Chittoor. Once the plant’s fully automated bottling line is functional, it is expected to significantly boost the state’s domestic liquor production capabilities.

The Story Behind the Name

The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) had initially crowdsourced naming suggestions from the public, receiving nearly 40,000 entries. Officials initially shortlisted the name ‘Malabar Mist’. However, due to unforeseen technical and trademark hurdles, the department ultimately finalized the name ‘Malabar Mystery’.

Key Highlights of ‘Malabar Mystery’

• Affordable Pricing: Just like the fan-favorite ‘Jawan’, Malabar Mystery is expected to be priced in an affordable range, making it accessible to the common man.
• Bottle Size: Initially, the liquor will be distributed in convenient 500 ml (half-liter) bottles.
• High Production Capacity: The Chittoor plant features a sprawling 75,000 sq. ft. facility capable of producing up to 13,500 cases (1,08,000 liters) of liquor per day.
• Job Creation: The production plant will operate with staff deputed from Travancore Sugars and existing Bevco warehouses.

What This Means for Kerala’s Market

With ‘Jawan’ often facing stock shortages due to its high demand, the introduction of ‘Malabar Mystery’ is expected to balance the supply chain in Bevco outlets across the state. By offering another government-backed, quality-tested, and budget-friendly option, the excise department hopes to curb the sale of illicit liquor and provide a reliable alternative to consumers.

KOLLAM: The Kollam Vigilance Court on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) granted bail to the senior Tantri of Sabarimala, Kandararu Rajeevaru, in connection with the high-profile gold theft case at the Lord Ayyappa temple.

The court’s decision comes 41 days after the Tantri was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). He was granted bail in two specific cases: one involving the misappropriation of gold from the doorframes (Kattilappadi) of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) and another regarding the gold cladding on the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) strongly opposed the bail plea, arguing that the Tantri had a significant role in the conspiracy. The Vigilance Court observed that, at this stage, there was no direct evidence linking the Tantri to the physical theft of the gold. Considering that the prime accused (Unnikrishnan Potti) and other officials had already secured bail, and the remand period was approaching the 90-day mark without a final chargesheet, the court allowed the bail under strict conditions.