Mathrubhumi News Today: Top Kerala & National Headlines

Mathrubhumi News Today: Top Kerala & National Headlines

Kerala and the nation awaken to a tapestry of triumphs and trials on this crisp winter morning of December 13, 2025. From the verdant hills of Wayanad to the bustling bylanes of Delhi, headlines weave stories of resilience, reform, and reckoning. Mathrubhumi brings you the pulse of the day—Kerala's local body election echoes, national policy pivots, and global glimmers that shape our shared tomorrow. As the year winds down with festive fervor and fiscal forecasts, these stories spotlight the spirit of a nation navigating change with characteristic verve. Stay tuned for updates as the day unfolds.

Kerala Spotlight: Local Polls, Legal Landmarks & Social Shifts

Kerala's political landscape simmers with the afterglow of yesterday's local body election results, where the UDF edged ahead in three municipal corporations, LDF clinched two, and NDA surprised with one in a razor-thin contest. In Thiruvananthapuram, UDF's mayoral victory by 1,200 votes signals a shift in urban sentiment, with Congress leader K. Muraleedharan hailing it as "a mandate for development over division." LDF, retaining Kozhikode and Kollam, credits grassroots mobilization, but whispers of EVM irregularities in Thrissur prompt an Election Commission probe. Turnout at 78 percent—up from 74 percent in 2020—underscores civic vigor, with women's wards seeing a 15 percent surge in female candidates. Analysts predict ripple effects for the 2026 assembly polls, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's LDF faces anti-incumbency headwinds.

In a landmark of justice, the Kerala High Court upheld the 20-year rigorous imprisonment for six convicts in the 2017 actress assault case, dismissing appeals citing "unimpeachable evidence of conspiracy." The verdict, delivered by Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar, reaffirms the #MeToo movement's momentum, with survivor Geetu Mohandas terming it "a beacon for silenced voices." The case, involving actor Dileep's alleged orchestration, had gripped the state since 2017, spawning films like Drishyam sequels and sparking AMMA reforms. Dileep, acquitted in a related conspiracy charge but facing separate trials, vowed to appeal, while women's groups like One Billion Rising celebrated the ruling as "karma's court." This comes amid AMMA's internal churn, with Shweta Menon affirming no reinstatement for Dileep, emphasizing "survivor's solidarity over star power."

Social currents stir in Kochi, where a new ordinance bans single-use plastics in coastal zones, targeting the 500-tonne annual marine debris from tourism. Environment Minister A.K. Saseendran lauded the move as "a lifeline for our lagoons," with fines up to Rs 50,000 for violations. Implementation, rolled out via 200 beach patrols, aligns with Kerala's 2030 net-zero pledge, but fisherfolk unions decry enforcement burdens. Meanwhile, in Thrissur, a breakthrough in Ayurvedic research— a herbal compound slashing dengue symptoms by 40 percent—positions Kerala as a global hub, with CSIR-Trivandrum trials eyeing WHO endorsement.

National Narratives: Policy Pivots and Power Plays

The national stage crackles with constitutional crossroads as the Lok Sabha debates the SHANTI Bill, opening civil nuclear power to private players with a 100 GW target by 2047. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy piloted the legislation, arguing it "unleashes innovation to light 1.4 billion lives," with Reliance and Tata Power poised for 20 GW bids. Opposition, led by Congress's Jairam Ramesh, slams it as "corporate giveaway," citing safety risks post-Fukushima. The bill, passing Rajya Sabha in November, eyes winter session clearance, promising 5 lakh jobs but sparking protests from environmentalists fearing "nuclear nomads" in coastal states.

In Bihar, VIP chief Mukesh Sahani's explosive claim of a "conspiracy to oust Nitish Kumar" has ignited a political powder keg. Addressing a Patna rally, Sahani alleged BJP machinations to topple the NDA chief minister, citing "midnight meetings in Delhi." JD(U)'s Vijay Kumar Chaudhary dismissed it as "fiction from foes," but whispers of cabinet reshuffles swirl amid bypoll buzz. The controversy, erupting days after NDA's local wins, tests Kumar's tightrope—allying BJP while wooing RJD—potentially reshaping Bihar's 2025 assembly math.

Aviation's winter woes take center stage as the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) convenes a high-level review on fog preparedness, with 300 flights delayed yesterday at Delhi's IGI. Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced Rs 500 crore for CAT-III upgrades at 20 airports, including Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, amid 25 percent cancellation spikes. IndiGo and Air India, hit hardest, pledge AI-driven rerouting, but passenger fury boils over denied refunds, with DGCA fining Rs 5 crore for lapses.

International Intrigue: Echoes from the World Stage

Global headlines ripple into India with Thailand's move to deport the Luthra brothers, accused in the November 2025 Goa nightclub fire that claimed 18 lives. Bangkok's Immigration Bureau, acting on India's extradition request, detained the duo—alleged owners of the Arpora venue—for visa violations, with deportation slated for December 15. Goa CM Pramod Sawant hailed it as "justice's jet stream," as the case, involving negligence and fire code breaches, nears trial. The brothers, facing 10-year sentences under IPC 304A, claim innocence, but CBI probes deepen amid bribery allegations.

U.S. markets rally on Fed signals, but India's rupee holds at ₹83.25, RBI's steady hand cushioning oil's $68/bbl dip. In climate chronicles, COP30 host Brazil invites PM Modi for Amazon talks, eyeing green tech pacts worth $10 billion.

Sports Spectrum: From Pitch to Pavilion

Kerala's cricket cauldron simmers with Sanju Samson’s Test call-up for the Australia tour, the Kerala dasher earning a spot after a blistering 150 in the Ranji opener vs Maharashtra. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar praised Samson's "maturity in maturity," his inclusion bolstering India's middle order alongside Shubman Gill. Meanwhile, ISL's Kerala Blasters clinch a 2-1 thriller over Bengaluru FC, with Dimitrios Pelkas' 89th-minute screamer sealing spoils at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, attended by 35,000 roaring fans.

National notes: Virat Kohli's 2025 ODI retirement stirs selectors, with Shreyas Iyer tipped as successor. In hockey, Harmanpreet Singh's drag-flick clinic in Bhopal preps the men's team for the 2026 Olympics qualifiers.

Cultural Currents: Arts, Entertainment & Everyday Echoes

Bollywood buzzes with the trailer drop of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi Season 2, the epic's Mughal intrigue drawing 20 million views in hours, with Manisha Koirala's Chandani reprising her regal role. In Mollywood, Fahadh Faasil's Aavesham sequel teases a darker dive, while Kerala's Onam 2026 calendar eyes eco-fests with zero-plastic mandates.

Everyday echoes: Kerala's Wayanad landslide survivors receive Rs 5 lakh aid packages, with CM Vijayan vowing rebuilt homes by March. Nationally, the IRCTC app's festive upgrade slashes tatkal wait times by 30 percent.

Closing Credits: A Day in the Dynamic Discourse

December 13, 2025, dawns with a dynamic discourse—from Kerala's poll pulses to national nuclear nods, global deportations to sporting surges. Mathrubhumi mirrors the mosaic, chronicling a nation navigating nuance with nerve. As Lohri lights flicker and year-end yarns spin, these headlines herald hope amid hustle.