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Kochi: Political parties ended their campaign on a high note for the Thrikkakara Assembly by elections as the time for open canvassing came to an end on Sunday evening.Political parties went full throttle on the last  day soliciting votes in favour of their candidates.The centrist UDF candidate Uma Thomas, wife of late Congress leader P

Kochi: Writer Geetanjali Shree has won the Booker Prize for her translated Hindi novel, ‘Tomb of Sand’, which is the first Indian language book to win the award.Hindi book  ‘Ret Samadhi’ was translated into English by Daisy Rockwell.The book was one of the 13 novels, which were translated to English from 11 languages. The prize money

Kochi: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that his government would ensure justice  to the survivor of the actor assault case.The government would ensure that justice is delivered in the case, he said in wake of the survivor moving the High Court accusing the government of attempting to sabotage the case.The government earnestly wanted the

Kochi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Twenty20 coalition today announced its decision to stand neutral in the Thrikkakara Assembly by-election to be held on May 31.Addressing a press conference, Twenty20 Chief Coordinator Sabu M Jacob and AAP state convener P C Cyriac said people should evaluate things threadbare while exercising their franchise.The voters should

Kochi: With the District and Sessions Court rejecting former government Chief Whip P C George’s anticipatory bail in a hate speech case in Ernakulam, police are out in search of George who is not reachable.George’s phone was found switched off. George is likely to challenge the verdict in the High Court on Monday.George claimed that

Kochi: Due to constant increase in inflation, the centre has decided to cut the central excise duty fuel bringing down the cost of one litre of petrol by Rs 9.5 and diesel by Rs 7.Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman said the move would lead to revenue implications of Rs 1 lakh crore per year.‘She tweeted that

Kochi: Mass cancellation of trains passing through Kottayam in the name of doubling work has hit passengers hard.Twenty-One trains have been canceled via Kottayam from today till May 28 for completion of the doubling work.Ten hours restrictions from 7.45 am to 5.45 pm will be there from May 24 to 28.People, mainly women, traveling to

Kochi: Neyyattinkara Bishop has denied allegations that he tried to help actor Dileep secure a bail in the actor abuse case of 2017.Dileep had accused director Balachandra Kumar of swindling Rs 10 lakh from him in the name of seeking the help of the bishop in getting him a bail.The Bishop Vincent Samuel made this

Kochi: In a big relief the organizers of Thrissur Pooram, the much delayed Vedikkettu (fireworks) were held just before heavy rains drenched the cultural capital of Kerala today.The fireworks were scheduled for 3 am on May 11 to bring curtains on the annual festivities of Thrissur Pooram involving Vadakkunathan Siva temple and ten other temples.The

Kochi: The Newgen party Twenty20 has said that the LDF government may convert the Rs 75 lakh imported Volvo buses into poultry farms soon.Taking a dig at the Kerala government’s plans to turn KSRTC Volvo buses into classrooms, party Chief Coordinator Sabu M Jacob said no one should be surprised if the Agriculture Minister came

Kochi: Actor Dileep’s businessman friend Sharath G Nair has been arrested in connection with the actor assault case of 2017.The arrest was based on the charges of destroying evidence in the case.Owner of a hotel, Sharath is sixth accused in the conspiracy to harm police officials who probed the case in 2017 leading to the

Kochi: Another political front has taken birth in Kerala following the tie up of Aam Aadmi Party and Twenty20 at Kezhakkambalam near here on Sunday.The formation of new front People’s Welfare Alliance was announced by Twenty20 coordinator Sabu Jacob and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.The alliance will fight the local bodies elections in 2025.The alliance

Kochi: The Congress has finally expelled senior Congress leader and former union minister K V Thomas from the party for anti party activities.The Kerala unit of the party put the suggestion before the AICC seeking expulsion of Thomas during the Chinta shibir at Rajasthan.The AICC gave the green signal for his removal.The party cannot take

Kochi: Veteran journalist V P Ramachandran, 98, passed away at her residence here tonight.Cremation will be held at Thrikkakara Public Cremation, Athani, Ernakulam, tomorrow.Born to Thozhoor Shekharan Nair and Vettathu Rukminiamma on April 21, 1924, V P Ramachandran began his life on a low note as a typist in the defense services. Later, he joined

Kochi: Incessant rains dampened the spirit of the Thrissur Pooram revelers as they were deprived of witnessing the mesmerizing Vedikkettu in the wee hours of today.The administration has decided to hold it at about 7 pm tonight.The city was drenched in rains intermittently in the daytime on Tuesday even as the pooram festivities continued unabated.People

Kochi: Former Government Chief Whip P C  George was booked for allegedly making objectionable speech in a temple in Vennala.Palarivattom police have registered the case under IPC sections under 153, 295 A against George for making the utterances on May 8.Further action will be taken after studying the case, media reports quoting Palarivattom police said.A similar

Kochi : The Vilambaram (announcement) ceremony marking the beginning of Thrissur Pooram festivities was held at Vadakkunathan Siva temple in the presence of ten of thousands of people on Monday.The idol of Naithala kavilamma mounted on top of Ernakulam Sivakumar elephant opened the southern end gate of the Vadakkunnathan temple signaling the opening of the

Kochi: The Crime Branch sleuths wound up questioning actor Kavya Madhavan in connection with actor assault case at her house in Aluva today.The team led by DySP Byju K Paulose started questioning her at about 11.30 am and ended it at 4.45 pm.A few days back the crime branch had asked her to appear at

Kochi: Emergence of Right Wing leader Veer Savarkar’s image on some umbrellas (kuda) brought out for the Kudamattam (exchange of umbrellas) event kicked up controversy after which they were taken off from the event.The Azadi Umbrellas are brought out by the Paramekkavu Devi temple depicting pictures of revolutionary leaders, freedom fighters and social reformers.It was

Kochi: The sample fireworks of Thrissur Pooram happening after a gap of two years was marred by arguments and protests following restrictions imposed by the authorities in Swaraj Round against viewing the event from close quarters tonight.The event which was scheduled to start at 7 pm began one hour behind schedule.The spectacular event whipped up