KOCHI: The six-year-old girl who was smothered to death by her stepmother was laid to rest at the Nellimattom Juma Masjid on Saturday. A prayer session was held as part of the funeral for Muskhan before her body was buried on the mosque premises. Her father Ajaz Khan, who is from Uttar Pradesh, was present during the funeral. Meanwhile, the police have arrested a sorcerer, Noushad, 56, whom the accused, Aneesha, had consulted twice at near Kothamangalam. As Noushad had no involvement in the deat

KOCHI: Among the slew of programmes that make up the Vypeen Tourism Mela, perhaps nothing is as exhilarating as the Puthuvype Beach Race. Held every year on December 26, the event sees the beach turn into a festival ground as riders and riding enthusiasts descend from all corners of Kerala and nearby states. This year will be no different. It will be akin to Thrissur Pooram here, as is the case every year, says Emmanual Abin, one of the organisers. But this year, he adds, its extra special as it

KOCHI: Moozhikkulam Sala, a serene campus steeped in history and ideals of self-sufficiency, is hosting its first literary and heritage festival on Saturday. Known for its natural ambience and organic practices, the heritage centre seeks to blend history, politics, culture and music into a rich, immersive experience. The festival begins with a heritage walk exploring the Moozhikkulam temple, which boasts over 1,200 years of history. Distinguished speakers such as former minister K K Shailaja, hi

KOCHI: Pennine Istaayo, the short film debut by popular TV actor Achu Sugandh, has turned out to be a runaway hit with over 3.7 million views in just a month. The engaging drama revolving around the traditional pennu kaanal ceremony stars Sajin and Gopika Anil, familiar as Sivan and Anjali from the popular Malayalam soap opera Santhwanam. The story is about a chance encounter between a short-tempered traffic police constable, Prasad, and his bride-to-be Veena, that sparks a riveting ego clash. W

KOCHI: When Yuletide comes jingling all the way, spreading mirth and radiance in hearts and hearths, there is no escape from the good things that come with it. It is a fact that Christmas is a feast for the senses. The decked-up homes, illuminated trees, soothing carols, and tempting aromas wafting from the kitchen... the Christmas magic is too strong to resist. Among all its trappings, the lavish spread of gastronomic delights steals the show. But how many of us have paused to think of the orig

KOCHI: Its always been a delight to dine at Encore by District 7. This time, there was a sense of added curiosity as I was there to explore the latest additions to the menu, which maintains a fine balance between continental and Asian fares. While the plush and cosy interiors remain a constant draw, I opted for the al fresco seating. Gentle breeze and a ceiling adorned with creeping vines and flowers. Perfect for fine dining. Smisha R K, who runs the restaurant, joined me at the table to introdu

KOCHI: The Kumbalam-Thevara bridge, a long-pending demand which would substantially reduce commuting time between the city and its southern outskirts, is finally set to become a reality. Despite having received a budgetary allocation from the state government in 2016, the project failed to take off following opposition from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), which argued the bridge would obstruct the movement of vessels along National Waterway 3. Now, after numerous revisions of des

KOCHI: Apartment complexes and establishments relying on tanker services for potable water in Kochi could be in for a difficult start to the new year, if the decision of the suppliers is anything to go by. The water transporters, who currently charge 10 paise per litre, are set to increase the tariffs for water tankers having a capacity of more than 18,000 litres by a whopping 100% from January 1. It has been 11 years since we increased the rates. Even as all our operational expenses have skyroc

KOCHI: Ernakulam has reported another incident of food poisoning with as many as 13 children from an anganwadi in the Ponnurunni East division of Kochi corporation falling ill on Saturday. Earlier this month, Kalamassery and Thrikkakara municipalities had reported an outbreak of Hepatitis A and diarrhoea. Poor quality of drinking water is suspected to be the cause of the spread. Fifteen students were present in the class on Thursday. Of them, 13 had symptoms of diarrhoea. Their caretaker too is

KOCHI: A gadget resembling an improvised explosive device (IED) was found on a parked two-wheeler in front of a restaurant at Kakkanad on Thursday night triggering panic among people. Later it turned out that it was a device invented by students to identify drunk drivers. The incident took place around 11 pm when the device containing a diode, buzzer, capacitor and pressure device was placed on a motorcycle parked in front of a restaurant on KP Kurian Road near Infopark police station. The hotel

KOCHI: The first-ever Kerala Institutional Ranking Framework (KIRF) 2024 saw higher education institutions in Ernakulam showcasing a stellar performance. KIRF, released on Friday, had the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) taking the first spot among the universities in the state. Arts and science and engineering colleges in the district also performed well to feature among the first 10 spots in the list. Expressing joy over the achievement, Cusat vice-chancellor M Junaid Bushir

KOCHI: Amid rising complaints about foreign vessels engaged in fishing activities in Indian territorial waters, the Coastal Police have arrested 13 Sri Lankan fishermen and seized two boats for illegal fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India. The Coast Guard intercepted two Sri Lankan fishing boats as they were found fishing near Lakshadweep Islands on December 15. The fishermen and their boats were later brought to Kochi and handed over to Coastal Police on December 18. Indian Coa

KOCHI: After a wait of nearly six years, the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) is finally set to resume boat services to Mattancherry. A New Year gift perhaps, which will enable local residents and scores of tourists to reach the popular tourist destination in 20 minutes from mainland Kochi, instead of the over-an-hour-long travel by road. An experimental exercise the deployment of a silt pusher machine to clear the backwater navigation channel of accumulated silt has paved the way for t

KOCHI: An electronic device kept inside a helmet and left outside a restaurant near Kakkanad Infopark here created panic in the area after it started making a 'beeping' sound. It led to the bomb squad being called and it in turn found that the device was not an explosive, police said on Friday. The incident occurred around 11 pm on Thursday when one of the patrons of the restaurant found a helmet in a bag atop his bike. He approached the eatery owner to ask whom the bag and helmet belonged to an

KOCHI: Jew Town in Mattancherry is a well-known tourist hub where visitors explore the remnants of a once-prosperous Jewish community of Kochi. While the Paradesi Synagogue here is world-famous, there is a lesser-known place of worship nearby. A stroll from Jew Town takes one to the densely populated neighbourhood of Chakkamadam. Here, amidst the congested houses lining a narrow alley stands a nondescript structure resembling a shrine, bearing inscriptions in Hebrew. It is the tomb of a 17th-cen

Thrissur-native Poly Varghese is Keralas own icon in Hindustani music. Yet, he feels the state doesnt recognise his art. A product of Kerala Kalamandalam, 54-year-old Pauly started as a mridangam player and later became a Mohan veena exponent. Poly was among Grammy awardee Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatts first students. He took his music to stages across India and abroad, and forged bonds with global musicians. TNIE caught up with this Chennai-based maverick musician, who recently visited the state f

KOCHI: Walking into the Durbar Hall Art Gallery in Kochi, one is immediately captivated by the vibrant charm of colours. Figures of mythology, vividly brought to life in four canvas frames, showcase an eccentric mastery of lines and curves that hook in onlookers. The colour-blocked frames feature graceful women, men, and creatures that spark a unique curiosity. Blissful brushstrokes create a harmonious blend of mythology, fantasy, and folk traditions, seamlessly tuned to contemporary artscapes.

KOCHI: In a disturbing development, hepatitis A spread has been reported from two divisions, Peringazha and HMT Estate, in the Kalamassery municipality. According to officials, 13 active cases have been reported from the local body limits. Following the disease spread, Minister P Rajeeve, who is also the local MLA, has directed the district medical officer to submit a report. Issues in waste management and water quality will be studied and rectified. I have directed the local authorities and the

KOCHI: Ending a long wait, the Cochin Cancer and Research Centre (CCRC), a facility for cancer treatment and research in Kochi, will throw open its doors to the public by February next year. The eight-storey facility with 360 beds has been built using `384.34 crore from KIIFB, and aims to focus on cancer research and innovation, said Industries Minister P Rajeeve. He said the centre will be opened to the public by the first week of February. Once the facility becomes operational, we plan to prov

KOCHI: The police on Thursday took a couple into custody for allegedly smothering a six-year-old girl at their house in Iramalloor near Kothamangalam. The deceased is Muskhan who lived with her father and stepmother the arrested persons at Iramalloor. The chain of events unfolded around 6am, when Muskhan did not wake up despite repeated attempts by relatives. They alerted the neighbours and the child was soon rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared brought dead. During the inquest p

KOCHI: Alhind Air, a new player in the airline sector, is set to commence operations by mid-2025. The private airline, promoted by the Alhind Group, is expecting the first of the seven ATR 72-600 aircraft to be delivered in March next year. The airline, which will start its operations with Kochi as the hub, started its office at the Kochi airport the other day. Well initially start with Kochi as our only base. However, our strategy is to adopt the multi-base concept as part of expanding our netw

KOCHI: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, and Kochi-based semiconductor startup Silizium Circuits have signed an agreement that is considered a significant milestone for India's startup ecosystem. The pact focuses on designing and developing advanced Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite components and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio Frequency (RF) front-end application-

KOCHI: Police on Thursday took man into custody for burying his mother without informing relatives and authorities at the compound of her house in Vennala, Kochi.The deceased is identified as Alli K A, 78, of Vennala South, 42nd Division of Kochi Corporation. Police have taken 50-year-old Pradeep into custody. It was around 8 am neighbours found Pradeep burying something similar to a dead body in a pit dug by himself in front of the house. The neighbours knew that Pradeep was alcoholic and menta

Manu S Pillai Writer & historian How to Love in Sanskrit by Anusha Rao & Suhas Mahesh A translation of mainly Sanskrit poetry, it is full of beauty, humour, and occasional irreverence even. Many might imagine they know what Sanskrit poetry is like; this book challenges such preconceptions. Read it for a sense of wonder, for many a chuckle, but also to marvel at our literary riches. N S Madhavan, Writer The Menstrual Coup by Shahina K Rafique (trans. by Priya K Nair) In the growing corpus of tran

KOCHI: The term master may be gender-neutral in cinema convention, but it has traditionally been associated with men, denoting experience and expertise. Times, however, have changed, and so has this tradition. This year, the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) has placed a determined focus on the works of women filmmakers and technicians, highlighted by the presence of experienced and illustrious female figures in world cinema. Through masterclasses, audience interactions, mentorship of

KOCHI: After a polytrauma caused by a road traffic accident, a man in his late twenties is now a shattered individual. He narrowly escaped a brain injury but suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries. He lost his lower limb below the knee when his two-wheeler collided with a car during a hasty attempt to overtake. The terrifying nightmares about the accident continue to haunt him. Despite doctors reassuring him that he can lead a normal life with an artificial limb, he has not yet come t

KOCHI: Much has been written about how the Renaissance transformed Kerala. Malayalam cinema, too, experienced one of its own. In fact, there was an A-team a brilliant triad that ushered in this cinematic movement, according to writer-filmmaker V K Cherian. His book Noon Films and the Magical Renaissance of Malayalam Cinema provides a glimpse into the new wave in the industry during the 1970s and 1980s, the evolution of the film society movement, and the concept of arthouse or parallel cinema.

KOCHI: The UDF councillors on Wednesday demanded an investigation following the surfacing of an audit report that pointed to malpractices in biomining at the Brahmapuram dumpyard. The report, prepared by the state audit department, found that inert waste and coarse fraction components waste were used for landfilling in the same site when the corporation paid Rs 1,690 per tonne to the agency contracted for biomining. The report stated that when waste is disposed of at the same site, the corporati

KOCHI: Demonstrating its capability to manufacture technology intensive warships with high indigenous content, the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) conducted the keel laying ceremony of the sixth Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercraft in Kochi on Tuesday. Southern Naval Command Chief Staff Officer (Training) Rear Admiral Satish Shenai and CSL director (Operations) K N Sreejith were present on the occasion. Navy Warship Production Superintendent Commodore S Parthiban, Ship Production director at Inte

KOCHI: Heads are rolling in the Ernakulam-Angamaly archeparchy of the Syro-Malabar Church as apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur flexes his muscle to stem disobedience over implementation of orders on the celebration of the unified mode of Holy Mass in parishes. On Wednesday, the bishop ordered three priests to step down from their duties as administrators and vicars. On Tuesday, Mar Puthur had removed Fr Thomas Valookaran, vicar of Palarivattom St Martin De Porres church, from his official pos

KOCHI: Plan At Art, an exhibition of artworks made of plastic waste that washed up on the Fort Kochi beach, is currently underway at the Jail of Freedom Struggle building in Fort Kochi. About 15 artworks, including recreations of paintings by world-renowned artist Vincent Van Gogh, and baskets made from plastic waste are part of the exhibition. It is a joint initiative of Plan@earth and HCL Foundation. Suraj Abraham, founder secretary of Plan@earth, said that environmental awareness is the prime

KOCHI: The Apostolic Administrator of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archeparchy, Bishop Bosco Puthur, has issued a directive prohibiting Fr Thomas Valookaran, vicar of the St Martin De Porres Church at Palarivattom, from celebrating Holy Mass or officiating any sacraments or ecclesiastical functions in the parish and all its institutions or chapels with immediate effect. The apostolic administrator issued the directive after it was found that Fr Valookaran had been non-compliant with ecclesiastical orders

KOCHI: A new, swanky building stands beaming by the quaint Broadway. Lorries, autorickshaws, and small goods vehicles pass by every few minutes. Porters in blue uniforms are at work or resting in the compound. Inside, vendors are busy arranging and selling perishable goods. The new Ernakulam Market Complex, inaugurated on Saturday, is stirring itself awake. The building, just a few days old, hasnt yet reached its full potential. The flow of customers is only picking up. Its just been a day since

KOCHI: Once a quiet suburban neighbourhood in Kakkanad, Judgemukku is now a bustling corner littered with shops and businesses and a flurry of traffic. No passage through this locality is without thoughts meandering as to why the place got such a peculiar name. A creole of Judge and mukku (which means corner). TNIE paid a visit to learn how the place got its name. The area is known as Judge Mukku because a high court judge once lived here, say all the shopkeepers. Surprisingly, the name is relat

KOCHI: At just 20, Cyril Abraham Dennis, the youngest filmmaker at the 29th edition of IFFK, brings a fresh perspective with his debut feature film Watusi Zombie. The film, set in pre-pandemic Kochi, delves into the lives and dreams of Gen Z. A second-year communication design student, Cyril has been making short films since he was 13, consistently honing his craft. In a conversation with TNIE, Cyril shares his vision for Watusi Zombie, his thoughts, and aspirations. What is the story of the tit

KOCHI: The house in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, where legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak and his niece, celebrated writer Mahasweta Devi, spent years, stood as a reminder of the countrys past as part of the Indian side of Bengal. It was akin to a pilgrimage site where love for the arts transcended earthly realms. In August this year, as the Sheikh Hasina government fell and miscreants went on a rampage, the house built in traditional style with wooden windows bearing antique charm and an expansive, no

KOCHI: Last week, during an online video consultation with my patient S from the UK who has been undergoing treatment for depressive disorder with mood swings, I recognised that she was in a helpless state. S is in her thirties and has been doing well with a combination of medication and counselling. However, during our follow-up call, she expressed considerable distress. She shared that she had been experiencing episodes of uncontrollable anger directed towards her husband, accompanied by feeli

KOCHI: Not many women had turned up to steer Kochi Metros feeder autos christened Commuto when the electric vehicles were introduced last year, but the scenario is set for a major change. Thanks to Kochi Corporations initiative to provide free training to women to drive e-autos, over a dozen trained women are set to take up piloting duty soon. The training for the first batch of 17 women is nearing completion. We have also started the training for the second batch, which comprises 20 women. Upon

KOCHI: With the ganja harvest season on in Odisha, there has been a rise in the flow of narcotic substances to Ernakulam district over the past one month. Since the beginning of November, over 140kg of ganja has been recovered in several cases registered with the Ernakulam Rural and Kochi City police stations. On November 11, the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Forces of the Kochi City police intercepted five Odisha natives and recovered 57kg of ganja concealed inside their trolley bags a

KOCHI: An Air India Express flight had to make an emergency landing at the Kochi airport soon after take-off on Tuesday noon after a portion of the outer layer of the aircraft's tyre was found on the runway. The Kochi-Bahrain flight (IX 471) with 104 passengers, however, landed safely. The IX 471 landed safely. The emergency has been withdrawn, said an airport spokesperson. The flight took off at 10.45 am. A small section of the outer tyre of the aircraft was found on the runway during a subsequ

KOCHI: The probe against a Kochi-based hostel chain which swindled money from investors has revealed a major scam, with the police in touch with more victims. The Elamakkara police, which registered two cases against Kasaragod native Sayid M, proprietor of the hostel Sleep Easy in Edappally, found that the accused cheated investors of crores of rupees. It was in November 2022 that Sayid started the hostel business in Kochi. Sleep Easy later took over several hostels in the city, providing hostel

KOCHI: The tiff between the Maharajas College Old Students Association (MCOSA) and the college authorities over the formers forceful eviction from its office -- which it had been given 35 years ago -- has intensified. Reconciliation efforts by the alumni, including former minister T M Thomas Isaac, Venu Rajamony, Justice K Sukumaran and Justice P S Gopinath, failed to make headway. The Association has also refuted the claims made by the college authorities, that the space is needed to start cour

KOCHI: The Angamaly police arrested a 49-year-old Gujarat native settled in Dubai for allegedly cheating a Karukkutty native of Rs 56.50 lakh by promising huge profit through short-term online trading. The arrested has been identified as Parthiv Nalinkant Jani. According to police, the suspect who is a member of a large gang, contacted the victim through WhatsApp and promised him huge profits if he invested a few thousands of rupees at first. The suspect also made the victim install a fake app t

KOCHI: Even as the Kerala Students Union (KSU) made a near-clean sweep of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) students union elections, the Students Federation of India (SFI), which had been in power at the varsity for the past 30 years, termed it a temporary setback. The Cusat students union elections saw KSU winning 13 out of the 15 posts. SFI state secretary P M Arsho said such setbacks happen. And to say the KSU has swept the elections is not correct. In the case of campu

KOCHI: Even before the break of dawn on what would otherwise have been a quiet Sunday, the Sagarika International Cruise Terminal in Willingdon Island was buzzing as over 5,000 participants lined up for the many races held as part of the Kochi Navy Marathon. The crowd included defence personnel and civilians, but they were indistinguishable from each other as each runner sported the blue-white jersey provided with the marathon registration. Some ran for glory, a few for a cause, many for fitness

KOCHI: An owner of a prominent budget-friendly hostel chain in Kochi is under investigation for allegedly duping several people of crores of rupees after luring them with false promises of huge profits and making them invest in opening new branches. The Elamakkara police have lodged multiple cheating cases against Sayid M K, 50, an active partner of the hostel chain having separate stay facilities for women and men, and four of his staff. The native of Thekke Trikaripur in Kasaragod is abscondin

After a week-long, scintillating contest off the coast of Ezhimala in Kannur, team Russia emerged as champions of the prestigious Admirals Cup Sailing Regatta 2024, organised by the Indian Navy. The winning team was represented by Lt Gorkunov Petr llyich and Cdt Loshichinina Polina Vladislavovna. Italy and India were the runners-up. While the formers team was represented by Midshipman Carlo Leonardo and Ensign Camilla Bernabei, SLt Japman Avtar and Cdt P K Reddy carried the banner for the host c

KOCHI: A 21-year-old BTech student died after a tree uprooted by wild elephants fell on her at Neriyamangalam on Saturday evening. The deceased is Ann Mary C V, a resident of Kanjikode, Palakkad, and third-year engineering student of MA College, Kothamangalam. The incident occurred when Ann and her friend Althaf Aboobacker, 21, of Adivad near Kothamangalam, were travelling on a motorcycle from Neriyamangalam to Kothamangalam. Althaf was riding the motorcycle and Ann was riding pillion. When they

KOCHI: The body of a man, suspected to be street dweller near the Marine Drive area, was found stuck on top of the gates of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) at Mangalavanam near High Court on Saturday. The victims body was stuck on vertical iron rods of the gate and the pointed rods had pierced into his body. Though the person is yet to be identified, police suspect that the deceased, who is around 40, was a street dweller from Tamil Nadu. It was around 6am that people who were out f

KOCHI: A 34-year-old woman on Saturday came out against Ernakulam Government Medical College Hospital alleging that the doctor who treated her prescribed a medicine after checking the wrong X-ray report. The Kalamassery native, who sought treatment for back pain at the hospital, alleged that the medicine was prescribed after checking the report of a 64-year-old patient. Following the issue, she filed a complaint with the health minister and the hospital authorities. Meanwhile, the medical colleg