Latest news with #Kerala-born
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Hanumankind announces headline show at The Academy
Indian rapper Hanumankind will play a headline show at The Academy, Dublin on Monday, July 14. Part of his OTW Europe 2025 Tour, the performance will mark the first Irish show for the Kerala-born artist. Hanumankind, whose real name is Sooraj Cherukat, grew up around the world, living in France, Nigeria, Egypt, Dubai and the UK before finally settling down in Houston. He is currently based in Bengaluru, India. A press statement said he 'will go down in history as one of the artists who introduced the world to Indian hip-hop.' Last year, Hanumankind released his high-energy track 'Big Dawgs', which became an international hit after going viral on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Following the success of the track, Hanumankind released a remixed version with A$AP Rocky. He has cited Southern US hip-hop acts such as Three 6 Mafia and DJ Screw among his early influences. Although he raps in English, Hanumankind is widely popular in India for incorporating and promoting Indian culture through his music. In September of last year, he performed at a rally for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York. Before transitioning to music, the 33-year old earned a business degree and worked for Goldman Sachs. He has released two EPs: Kalari in 2019 and Surface Level the following year. Tickets for his Dublin show go on sale this Friday, June 6, at 10 am. You can book tickets here.
Mint
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
KCA to take legal action against Sanju Samson's father, hands 3-year suspension to Sreesanth — here's why
Former India cricketer Sreesanth has been suspended by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) for making "false and derogatory" remarks about the state board. In particular, Sreesanth had pledged his support to Kerala-born batsman Sanju Samson after he was dropped from the team's Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy squads earlier this year. In an interview with Kerala-based media outlet Onmanorama, Sreesanth had blamed the KCA for not supporting Samson. He said, 'We have just one player at the international level, Sanju. Let's all support him. The so-called KCA has not produced an international cricketer since Sanju. We have great players like Sachin, Nidheesh, Vishnu Vinod, and many others, but are they (KCA) pushing them to play at higher?' Sreesanth said in the interview. Apart from Sreesanth, the KCA has also sought legal action against Sanju Samson's father, Samson Viswanath, for his comments against the association. Viswanath had publicly accused the KCA of undermining his son't career earlier in the year. The KCA said that the decision to suspend Sreesanth for three years was taken at a special general body meeting in Kochi on 30 April. Sreesanth is currently the co-owner of the team Aries Kollam Sailors in the Kerala Cricket League. It also clarified that the suspension of Sreesanth was not issued for lending support to Samson but instead for his comments against the association. In an official statement about the matter, the KCA said, 'Following the controversial remarks, the KCA had issued show-cause notices to Sreesanth and the franchisee teams Kollam Aries, Alleppey Team Lead content creator Sai Krishna, and Alleppey Ripples." "As the franchisee teams gave satisfactory replies to the notice, the meeting decided not to proceed with further action against them. However, the KCA instructed the team management to be vigilant when including new members," the state cricket body added. First Published: 2 May 2025, 04:11 PM IST
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- The Hindu
Hybrid ganja case in Kerala: Couple's arrest opens a pandora's box
Acting on specific intelligence, sleuths from the Excise department lay in wait near a resort at Omanapuzha in Alappuzha, Kerala, on the night of April 1. Around 10:30 p.m., a rented car carrying five individuals — including a couple and their two children — arrived at the location. Among them was Thasleema Sulthana, alias Christina, a Kerala-born woman currently residing in Chennai, who had booked a room at the resort under the pretence of being a film scriptwriter. She entered the premises carrying a bag. Moments later, officials apprehended Thasleema along with her accomplice K. Feroze, a native of Mannancherry in Alappuzha. Then came the real shocker. Inside the bag were three kilograms of hybrid ganja worth around ₹2 crore. According to officials, it was the largest haul of hybrid ganja ever seized by the Excise department in the State. While the size of the haul itself was significant, the subsequent investigation uncovered even more startling details. A week after the initial arrests, the Excise department nabbed Sultan Akbar Ali, Thasleema's husband, from Chennai. Sultan, who was present with Thasleema at the time of her arrest, was initially let off due to a lack of evidence. However, as the investigation progressed, he emerged as the prime suspect. Investigators said that Sultan had brought the drug from Bangkok in Thailand for distribution in Kerala, especially in the film and tourism sectors with the help of his wife. Sultan, who poses as an electronic gadget dealer had conducted multiple foreign trips, including to Malaysia and Singapore in recent times, some of which were undertaken with duplicate passports. Authorities believe he used the trips to smuggle gold and hybrid ganja into India. Excise department officials also indicated that the preliminary probe had also pointed to Sultan's involvement in 'hawala dealings'. Thasleema, known for her minor roles in films and connections within the Malayalam film industry, has reportedly been involved in drug and sex trafficking, as well as racketeering, for some time – allegedly supplying drugs to 'high-end clients'. 'Thasleema and her husband are involved in multiple illegal activities such as gold smuggling, operating a sex racket and ganja trade. The interrogation of the accused is ongoing. We are investigating their connections, including links to people in the film industry,' said an Excise official. The official said call and message details retrieved from Thasleema's mobile phone had 'established' her links with a couple of Malayalam film stars. 'We are in the process of corroborating the evidence and determining whether anyone else can be named as an accused in the case. It is highly likely that film stars with connections to Thasleema will be summoned for questioning,' the official added. A few years ago, Thasleema was arrested in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case registered at a police station in Ernakulam. The case involves the sexual abuse of a girl after administering drugs. She also spent a few days in jail in connection with a gold smuggling case. Meanwhile, an 'intimation' submitted by Excise sleuths probing the ganja case to top officials has suggested handing over the investigation into hawala and gold smuggling to Central agencies. 'Our assumption is that he used foreign trips to smuggle gold and hybrid ganja to India. The preliminary investigation has revealed that he carried out large money transfers. We have sent an intimation to higher authorities suggesting that gold smuggling and money transfer investigations be handed over to Central agencies, while the hybrid ganja case should continue to be probed by the Excise department,' said an Excise official. Feroze is believed to have been responsible for supplying the drugs to people in the tourism sector in Alappuzha.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pope Francis India connection: Canonisations, cardinals, and a visit that wasn't
NEW DELHI: and India shared a deep yet distant relationship of spiritual milestones, gestures of recognition of cardinals, and an unfulfilled dream—a papal visit that never came to pass. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The visit that was most likely to be held this year- the Jubilee Year - could not materialize as the Pope passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. His departure attracted condolence from leaders across political ideologies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalling his meeting him. "I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace," he said. The missed visit Despite his long-standing desire to visit India, Pope Francis never made the journey. Hopes were high that his visit would align with PM Modi's trip to the Vatican, but the plan ultimately didn't materialize. Still, his efforts to strengthen ties with India's Catholic community never waned. Just months before his passing, Francis elevated Indian priest George Jacob Koovakad to the rank of Cardinal—a significant moment that underscored his recognition of the country's vibrant Catholic presence. The 51-year-old from Kerala's Archdiocese of Changanassery became the sixth Indian cardinal, appointed during a grand consistory at St Peter's Basilica on December 7, 2024. Koovakad, a key Vatican figure responsible for coordinating the Pope's international travels since 2020, also serves as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. PM Modi and senior church leaders welcomed the announcement with pride, with Union minister George Kurian leading a delegation to witness the historic ceremony in Rome. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Canonisations that inspired a nation Pope Francis's tenure saw several landmark canonisations that brought joy to the Indian faithful. In 2014, he elevated Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia Eluvathingal—both from Kerala—to sainthood. This was followed in 2019 by the canonisation of Mariam Thresia, another Kerala-born nun, adding to the growing list of Indian saints . Perhaps most notably, in 2022, Pope Francis canonised Devasahayam Pillai, an 18th-century Hindu convert to Christianity from Tamil Nadu. He became the first Indian layperson to be declared a saint, an event celebrated by both the Catholic Church and the wider Indian Christian community. A papacy marked by both unity and discord However, Pope Francis's papacy also faced challenges within the Indian Church, particularly surrounding the contentious issue of liturgical uniformity in the Syro-Malabar Church. A Vatican-endorsed directive—known as the "50:50 formula"—required priests to face the altar for the bulk of the Holy Mass, diverging from the tradition in some dioceses of facing the congregation throughout. The directive sparked ongoing protests in the Ernakulam–Angamaly Archdiocese, with a strong section of priests and laity refusing to adopt the change. The dispute led to the resignation of Cardinal George Alencherry as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church in 2023. He was succeeded by Bishop Raphael Thattil, as the Church continued grappling with internal divisions.
