Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 2 : A five-day food festival was held here to propagate the culinary traditions of the State.

It aimed to resist the organised corporate moves against the traditional food habits and agricultural practices.

The governmental and the non-governmental institutions came together to hold the first National Food and Agro Bio Diversity Festival here from December 27 to 31.

The fest was a celebration of ethnic food traditions and agricultural biodiversity that emphasised the delicate correlation between food diversity and health.

Young CPM MP, A P Abdullakutty praised the Gujarat Chief Minister's industry friendliness, although the Marxists hate Narendra Modi.  

Abdullakutty, who represents the Marxist stronghold of Kannur in Kerala, spoke so while speaking at an interaction organized by the Indian Media Forum in Dubai.

On Monday, the CBI informed a court hearing the Sister Abhaya murder case in Kochi that it was Sister Sephy, who was under arrest along with two priests, who hit the nun on the head with a hand-held axe.

CBI further said that Sister Abhaya was attacked since she saw Sister Sephy in a compromising situation with the two priests at the Pius X Convent hostel in Kottayam district.

Spice exports from the country have increased both in terms of quantum and value during April-November period of this fiscal. It increased 15 per cent in rupee value and 6 per cent in quantity as compared to the same period of last year.

According to the data of Spice board in Kochi, spice oils and oleoresins, including mint products, contributed 42 per cent of the total export earnings while Chilli contributed 21 per cent, cumin 8 per cent, pepper 8 per cent and turmeric 5 per cent.

Kochi (Kerala), Dec 30 : Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora has said the Government has decided to bring down the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG further following the fall in international oil prices.

Deora added that the announcement could be made in a few weeks.

He was speaking here during a function to facilitate Hibi Eden, who was recently elevated as president of the National Student Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress.

Deora said oil prices in the international market had come down to 37 dollars to 38 dollars a barrel.

Thrissur (Kerala), Dec. 27 : Far away from the tensions brewing between India and Pakistan's political circles, people in Thrissur district applauded the famed theatre group of Pakistan which performed a play at the International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFK) here on Friday.

Pakistan's Ajoka Theatre, represented by a 16-member troupe, has been invited by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi to perform the play `Bullah' at the 10-day theatre festival.

The play `Bullah' revolved around the life and message of great Sufi poet Bullah Shah (1680 - 1758) who witnessed the downfall of the Mughal Empire.