Kochi, Feb. 6 : Blackberry, one of the latest in advanced mobile technology instruments, recently drew much attention after the new U. S President Barack Obama got a special handset for himself while defying security concerns. But in Kochi city of southern India, it could be a major blessing for local cops.

As part of the total modernisation of intelligence system after Mumbai attacks, the Kerala State police are using Blackberry to check the movement of intruders, traffic violators and to control vehicle thefts in the city.

Kochi (Kerala), Feb 3 : To serve better quality processed foods, vegetables, fruits and seafood to the 2.5 million expatriates living in West Asia, Europe and America, the Cochin International Airport, which remained in the forefront of setting new models to other airports has come out with one of the largest Center for Perishable Cargo
(CPC) in India.

This newly inaugurated center will have state of the art advance technology facilities and be able to handle more than 25000 Mts. annually.

Kochi (Kerala), Jan. 25 : An elephant that fell into a muddy swamp at Thevara on Friday midnight near Kochi was rescued on Saturday night after 24 hours of rigorous rescue operations and concerted efforts by elephant enthusiasts, owners and rescue teams led by the Fire and Rescue Service.

It was probably be the toughest day in the life of rescuers and the worst for the mighty 23 year old tusker Vishnu Narayanan, which got trapped in a marshy land in between the mangroves after being hit by a car on Friday midnight.

Kochi, Jan 24: The French Navy's helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc, with about 250 cadets and midshipmen on board, will call at Kochi port on January 28 on a six-day visit.

A training squadron for naval officers, the training ship will be accompanied by another ship of the French Navy.

The commanding officer Captain Herve Blejean of Jeanne d'Arc and Commander Thierry Catard is the Commanding Officer of ASW Georges Leygues.

According to sources, the purpose of the visit is to facilitate interaction between cadets of French and Indian Navies.

Kochi, Jan 19 : Veteran CPI (M) leader E Balanandan died at a private hospital here on Monday morning. He was 84 and ailing for sometime.

He was admitted to a hospital following breathing problems last Friday.

E. Balanandan had been a member of the CPI (M)''s politburo since 1978. He initiated his political career in the Indian National Congress, but he later joined the CPI, and then the CPI (M).

From 1967 to 1977, he was a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. In 1980, he was elected for a four-year term to Lok Sabha.

He did not get a second term, but was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1988 and 1994.

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.