With local body elections scheduled in the state, the timetable for the Plus-One (Higher Secondary First Year) examinations has been revised.

The examinations will now be conducted from December 15, 2025, to January 6, 2026.
Christmas holidays are scheduled from December 24 to January 4, and the last examination will be held on January 6, after the vacation.

Meanwhile, registration for the SSLC, THSLC, THSLC (HI), and SSLC (HI) examinations for March 2026 will begin tomorrow (18/11/2025) and will continue until November 30.

Idukki: The popular Vagamon Glass Bridge, a major tourist attraction, will remain closed until November 30 due to maintenance work. The bridge, built in a cantilever model with a length of 40 feet and a height of 150 feet, attracts thousands of visitors.

From November 19 onwards, the structure will remain closed for repairs.
Only 15 visitors are allowed on the bridge at a time, and entry is denied during heavy rain or strong winds. The bridge is open to visitors from 9 AM to 5:30 PM, and the entry fee is ₹250 per person.

Thiruvananthapuram: To ensure smooth travel for Ayyappa devotees, KSRTC has deployed 450 buses in the first phase of Sabarimala special services.
The Nilakkal–Pampa chain service is operated with three buses every minute depending on the crowd. Currently, 202 buses have been stationed at Pampa for chain service operations, KSRTC Pampa Special Officer Roy Jacob said.

The fleet includes low-floor AC and non-AC buses. Additionally, 248 long-distance services from major depots, including Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Chengannur, Kottayam, and Ernakulam, are operating to Pampa.

Extra services are also running from Chengannur, Thiruvalla, and Kottayam railway stations to transport pilgrims to Pampa.
A total of 350 drivers and conductors have been deployed for Nilakkal–Pampa services. A mechanic garage is functioning at the Pampa stand to handle repair works. Authorities added that more services will be introduced based on crowd flow.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an urgent weather alert for the next three hours across 10 districts of Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad are likely to experience isolated light to moderate rainfall accompanied by strong winds reaching speeds up to 40 km/h.
All other districts may also receive isolated light rainfall, IMD said.

The alert was issued at 4:00 PM on 17/11/2025.

Sannidhanam, Pampa, and Nilakkal are also likely to experience thunderstorm-associated rainfall and strong winds during the next three hours. IMD has also forecast thunderstorm activity across isolated parts of Kerala from 17 November to 19 November.

Fishing has been banned along the Kerala–Lakshadweep coasts today (17/11/2025) and tomorrow (18/11/2025). However, there are no restrictions along the Karnataka coast today.
Strong winds reaching 35–45 km/h, and occasionally up to 55 km/h, are likely over the southern Kerala coast and Lakshadweep on November 17 and 18.

Media access has been restricted at Sabarimala, with entry to the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) area completely prohibited. Authorities clarified that the restrictions have been imposed as per the directive of the High Court. The Sabarimala temple opened for the Mandala pooja season with Melshanti Arun Kumar Namboothiri opening the temple doors in the presence of Tantri Kantaru Mahesh Mohanararu.

Daily entry has been limited to 90,000 pilgrims. Of these, 70,000 pilgrims can book through the virtual queue system, while 20,000 slots are allocated for spot bookings. Special queues have been arranged for women and children. Starting tomorrow, the temple will open at 3 AM, close at 1 PM, reopen at 3 PM, and finally close at 11 PM after the Harivarasanam recital.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrived at Sannidhanam as part of the scientific examination related to the Sabarimala gold theft case. The team, led by SP Shashidharan, reached Pampa this morning. The High Court has granted permission to conduct scientific examinations at the Dwarapalaka panels and Kattillappaalika structures after the Ucha Pooja tomorrow. The investigation will include removing and inspecting gold plates from areas including the Dwarapalaka sculptures to assess the scale of the theft. A one-centimeter sample of gold will be collected for chemical analysis. Scientific experts and smiths are accompanying the SIT team. The scientific examination is considered crucial in understanding the extent of the Sabarimala gold theft.

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has refused to interfere in the state government’s petition seeking relief from SIR (Special Intensive Revision) duties, citing staff shortage. The court stated that the government may approach the Supreme Court instead.

The government argued that deploying officials for the intensive revision of electoral rolls during the local body elections could disrupt administrative functioning.
The SIR must be completed by December 4, while local body elections are scheduled for December 9 and 11. The government informed the court that the same set of officials would be required for both tasks, creating practical difficulties.

Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested the prime accused in a major organ trafficking case involving the illegal transport of Indian citizens to Iran for organ donation.
The accused, Madhu Jayakumar, a native of Ernakulam, was produced before a Kochi court on November 12 following an NIA application. The court has granted NIA custody of Madhu until November 19. He is currently being interrogated at the agency’s Kochi office.

The case was registered on May 18, 2024, after immigration officials at Kochi airport detained a young man suspected of being involved in an organ trafficking network. Initially investigated by the Ernakulam Rural Police, the case was later handed over to the NIA.

Investigations revealed that the accused targeted financially vulnerable individuals, misleading them into believing that the organ donation procedures in Iran were legal. The accused arranged recipients, coordinated treatments with Iranian hospitals, and facilitated the entire process by providing false information about its legality.

Last year, the NIA filed a chargesheet against Madhu, Sabith, Sajith Shyam, and Bellamkonda Ram Prasad. A Red Corner Notice was issued in February 2025 to trace Madhu, who was residing in Iran. His arrest is considered a major breakthrough, as he is believed to have coordinated organ trafficking activities and hospital arrangements in Iran.

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has stayed the arrest of former Devaswom Secretary S. Jayashree in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The interim order will remain in effect until Tuesday.
The court intervened while considering her anticipatory bail plea, which will be heard again on Tuesday.

The Special Investigation Team had earlier found that Jayashree, during her tenure as Devaswom Secretary, had made illegal alterations in the Devaswom Board minutes. Jayashree approached the court stating that the allegations against her were baseless and that she suffers from serious health issues.
A similar petition filed earlier was dismissed by the High Court, ruling that there were no exceptional circumstances to directly consider an anticipatory bail application.