The New Indian Express Chennai - January 23, 2025

In this issue

January 23, 2025

Central team visits TN to inspect rain-hit paddy

A four-member team of officials deputed by the union government's food and public distribution department to assess the moisture content of paddy affected by the unseasonal rainfall in delta districts began its four-day tour by visiting the farmlands in Thanjavur on Wednesday.

2 mins

Sebi Moots Mini SIPs at ₹250 a Month

SEEKING to increase financial inclusion among the underserved sections and inculcate the habit of systematic saving, capital markets regulator Sebi has proposed that fund houses launch sachet-sized systematic investment plans (SIPs) starting ₹250.

1 min

12 killed as they jump off train, hit by another

AT least 12 rail passengers were killed and 55 others injured after they jumped off their train reportedly over a false fire alarm and were hit by another speeding train around the same time while crossing the tracks in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district on Wednesday.

1 min

Tata, MMS lead the Bharat Ratna race

It's that time of the year when speculation mounts over the possible recipients of the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.

1 min

Irregular migration a concern: US to India

Rubio tells Jaishankar US wants to bolster bilateral ties

1 min

12 killed as they jump off train, hit by another

AT least 12 rail passengers were killed and 55 others injured after they jumped off their train reportedly over a false fire alarm and were hit by another speeding train around the same time while crossing the tracks in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district on Wednesday.

1 min

Video of elephant calf with empty beer bottle goes viral

In a viral video of an elephant calf with an empty beer bottle discarded at Masinagudi in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) has sparked a debate regarding the effectiveness of Tasmac's bottle buy-back scheme, besides concerns about the harm bottles discarded in forest areas will cause to the environment and wildlife.

1 min

Kanchi court slams cops for 'casual' probe, acquits 12 in murder of Dalit youth

ACQUITTING 11 caste Hindus and one Muslim man accused of killing a Dalit in 2013, the Kancheepuram sessions court criticised the investigating police officials for their 'lethargic and casual' probe which led to the case crumbling. The judge recommended departmental action against the officers involved.

1 min

SIX TONNES OF LIQUOR BOTTLES REMOVED FROM KODAI LAKE

The Kodaikanal municipality removed over six tonnes of liquor bottles from Kodaikanal lake over the past two months.

1 min

Trawlers spotted amid Olive Ridley deaths, NGT warns of complete ban

Vessels seen off Chennai beaches; NGT pulls up state govt officials for not enforcing rules

2 mins

Chennai Ceat plant's WEF honour speaks to TN's stature

INDUSTRIES Minister Dr T R B Rajaa congratulated Anant Goenka, vice chairman of Ceat, a leading Indian tyre manufacturer, during the World Economic Forum in Davos following the company's plant in Sriperumbudur being recognised as part of the WEF Global Lighthouse Network.

1 min

Anna univ: No affiliation if correct faculty info not provided on time

IN light of the ghost faculty scam that rocked the reputation of Anna University (AU) a few months ago, the premier institution has now issued strict guidelines to its affiliated colleges regarding the submission of faculty details.

1 min

130 Pedestrian Pathways Cleaned in GCC Special Drive

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has, by Wednesday, cleaned around 130 footpaths, covering a total distance of 80 km, as part of its special mass cleaning drive launched in the city on January 20.

1 min

Southern Railway Reschedules Trains for Cricket Crowd

SOUTHERN Railway announced on Wednesday that, to accommodate passengers attending the India-England cricket match at MA Chidambaram Stadium on January 25, two MRTS local trains will be rescheduled, and one will stop at Chepauk for 10 minutes.

1 min

Commuters complain of dwindling rly services on Chennai-Arakkonam route

RAIL commuters dependent on the Chennai-Arakkonam route are alleging that local train services are being neglected by the railways, causing inconvenience to lakhs.

1 min

Officials rejected beach sand scam, later accepted it

EVEN as the arguments into the 10-year-long suo motu PIL on illegal beach sand mining case have come to an end, an analysis of the affidavits and counters filed by the secretaries of various departments of both state and central governments reveals that the government authorities, who had urged the court to dismiss the case with exemplary cost, later admitted to the violations after the Satyabrata Sahoo committee's and the amicus curiae's comprehensive reports established unlawful mining.

2 mins

EPS says MNREGA salaries not paid; FM says centre failed to release funds

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday condemned the DMK government for failing to disburse wages for the workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for the past two months.

1 min

Tungsten: Villagers Meet Union Minister; BJP Prez Says Favorable Decision Today

Representatives of villages in Melur block in Madurai district led by BJP state president K Annamalai called on Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishen Reddy on Wednesday and demanded that the tungsten mining proposal should be given up.

1 min

AIADMK Made TN Revenue-Deficit State: CM

Stalin says out of the 505 election promises made by DMK ahead of 2021 polls, 389 of them have been fulfilled

2 mins

Cong will seek more seats from DMK in 2026

TAMIL Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai on Wednesday said the party will demand more seats from the DMK during the 2026 Assembly elections.

1 min

CBI Registers 3 FIRs to Probe K'kurichi Tragedy

The special task branch (STB) of CBI, Chennai, on Tuesday, registered three FIRs to investigate last year's hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi district where at least 68 people died after consuming the illicit liquor.

1 min

Can't take cops extorting money lightly

THE Madras High Court has commented that policemen extorting money from the public is a serious offence and it cannot be taken lightly.

1 min

Important archaeology-related announcement today, says CM

CHIEF Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday said that an important archaeology-related announcement will be made on Thursday, when he will be releasing the book ‘Irumbin Thonmai’ (The antiquity of iron), relating to the Iron Age in Tamil Nadu, published by the State Archaeology Department.

1 min

Tiruchendur temple renovation plan: HC notice to state govt

THE Madras High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the state government on a batch of PIL petitions seeking direction to the Archaeological Survey of India and Tamil Nadu Heritage Commission into the master plan of works at the Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur.

1 min

Periyarists Protest Outside Seeman's House

A large number of people from various organisations, including Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) and the May-17 Movement, were arrested on Wednesday for attempting to besiege NTK leader Seeman's residence in Neelankarai, on the outskirts of Chennai, as a mark of protest against his remarks on Periyar EV Ramasamy.

1 min

Erode East returning officer transferred

THE returning officer (RO) for Erode East bypoll Manish Narnaware has been transferred following the controversy over the acceptance of nomination of an independent candidate from Karnataka and the delay in rejecting it.

1 min

Annamalai University Asks Staff To Seek Nod To Meet Edu Officials, Sparks Row

THE Annamalai University in Cuddalore district has issued a circular, directing its teaching and non-teaching staff to obtain prior permission to meet the higher education department minister or the department officials in Chennai.

1 min

CB-CID to Probe Activist Jagabar Ali's Murder Case

Mining Department Inspects More Quarries for Illegal Mining in Pudukottai for 2nd Day

1 min

14 killed, 29 injured in two separate road accidents in Karnataka

FOURTEEN people were killed and 29 injured in two road accidents in Uttara Kannada and Raichur districts on Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

1 min

Crop damage survey: Farmers stage protest, businesses shut

AROUND a hundred farmers carrying damaged crops blocked a road near Sirkazhi in the district on Wednesday condemning the authorities for not inspecting the impact of the recent unseasonal rains on their fields.

1 min

Kantara 2 crew violating rules: Cong leader slams K'taka forest officials

CONGRESS leader D C Sannaswamy lashed out at the forest officials for failing to protect the forest resources and wild animals in western ghats by giving permission for shooting of a movie.

1 min

HIGH CONSUMPTION BY GEN Y REDRAWING THE WEALTH BALANCE

DEMOGRAPHY is working as a great leveller as consumption is increasingly proving to be a function of age.

1 min

DEVISE STATE-WISE PLAN TO TACKLE FOREST FIRES

AS the winter makes its way out, Odisha needs to be on watch for the annual forest fire season.

1 min

Time To Imagine A New Trade Order

International trade and the idea of nation-states choosing their independent economic policies face a challenge as the new US president, Donald Trump, has warned the BRICS nations, including India, against developing their own common currency.

3 mins

HOW THE BLOC IS CHIPPING AWAY AT ITSELF

Contradictions between INDIA partners have been coming to fore since the 2024 Lok Sabha results. The Congress can neither go it alone, nor wholeheartedly take others along

4 mins

Electoral bonds scheme: Petition seeks review of SC's Aug order

A petition filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a review of its August 2, 2024 order, which dismissed earlier pleas for confiscation of ₹16,518 crore received by political parties under the 2018 electoral bond scheme.

1 min

Parakram Diwas: Honouring Netaji's legacy in the heart of Odisha's history

As the nation gears up to celebrate Parakram Diwas 2025, all roads lead to Cuttack, Odisha—birthplace of one of India's most indomitable leaders, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

4 mins

Oppn says last JPC meets on Waqf Bill convened in a hurry, seeks more time

AS the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is set to hold the last round of meetings on January 24-25, DMK MP A Raja on Wednesday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and panel chairman on behalf of Opposition Parties that the sittings be postponed to the 30th and 31st of this month.

1 min

QUAD meet says committed to regional maritime security

In the first major diplomatic event of the second Donald Trump presidency, Quad countries opposed any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion while reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific.

2 mins

MHA Directs Maha Govt to Take Action Against Illegal Immigrants from B'desh

\"Take appropriate action\"

1 min

6% Hike in Raw Jute MSP Approved

Cabinet reviews progress of National Health Mission in last 3 years after 5-year extension

2 mins

Stay on court-monitored survey of Shahi Idgah complex extended

The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended its stay till April 1 on the Allahabad High Court's order permitting a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah Mosque complex in Mathura.

1 min

2 more bodies found, C'garh gunfight toll 16

THE security forces engaged in the ongoing anti-Maoist campaign in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district, adjoining Odisha border, had recovered two more bodies of the red rebels, including one female, on Wednesday.

1 min

2 workers die while cleaning septic tank

TWO sanitation workers from the Dalit community are believed to have died from asphyxiation while cleaning a manhole in Patdi taluka, Surendranagar district.

1 min

UP cabinet okays aerospace-defence policy for growth

HOLDING a meeting in the Maha Kumbh Mela area at Sangam, the Yogi Adityanath cabinet on Wednesday approved 10 key proposals, including establishment of an aerospace and defence unit as well as an independent prosecution directorate.

1 min

Woman among 2 Maoists gunned down in J'khand's Bokaro encounter

IN a breakthrough, security forces gunned down two Maoists, including an area commander, during an anti-Naxal operation in Bokaro early Wednesday morning.

1 min

Vande Bharat's 1st female loco pilot gets R-Day invite

RITIKA Tirkey, the first female tribal assistant loco pilot of the Vande Bharat Express, was left speechless when she opened her door to a team of Post Office officials who had come to deliver an invitation for the 'At Home' reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

2 mins

JD(U) flip-flop on withdrawal of support to Biren govt in Manipur

THE Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday sacked its Manipur unit president Ksh Biren Singh, hours after he wrote to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla informing him of the party's withdrawal of support to the BJP-led government in the state.

1 min

J&K village declared containment zone after 5 more cases surface

FIVE new cases of a mysterious illness have been reported in the remote village of Badhal in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

1 min

Fadnavis Inks 32 Maha MoUs Worth ₹9.3L Cr in Davos Meet

Sets record for securing such a huge investment in a single day at World Economic Forum

2 mins

US federal staff in diversity roles sent on leave

Administration sends note to all employees at Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accesssibility offices that they be placed on paid leave as the programme is shut

1 min

Son, Ellison, Altman come together for AI

PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Tuesday talked up a joint venture investing up to $500 billion for infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence by a new partnership formed by OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank.

1 min

Control of Rafah crossing will stay with Israel: PMO

ISRAEL said it will maintain control of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip during the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas. A statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Wednesday denied reports that the Palestinian Authority would control the crossing.

1 min

Harry Settles Tabloid Suit After Murdoch Apology

Prince Harry claimed a monumental victory on Wednesday as Rupert Murdoch's UK tabloids made an unprecedented apology for intruding in his life over decades and agreed to pay substantial damages to settle his privacy invasion lawsuit.

1 min

Warns of sanctions if Russian president avoids the talks table on Ukraine

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he is ready to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin anytime, but at the same time warned that he would likely impose sanctions on Russia if the latter does not come to the negotiations table on the issue of Ukraine.

1 min

Trump Takes Middle Ground on H-1B, Wants Bright Workers

DONALD Trump said he likes both sides of the argument on the H-1B foreign guest workers' visa, noting that the country needs \"very competent\" and \"great\" people which is possible through this visa programme.

1 min

Consumption growth remains weak: CEO & MD

FMCG demand trends remained subdued with continued moderation in urban growth while rural sustained its gradual recovery, said Rohit Jawa, CEO and managing director of HUL.

1 min

BPCL's Q3 profit up 20% on healthy sales growth

BHARAT Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) reported a 20% rise in consolidated net profit to ₹3,806 crore for the quarter ending December 31, 2024.

1 min

Digital Economy to Touch 20% of GVA by 2030

INDIA'S digital economy is expected to grow almost twice as fast as the overall economy, accounting for nearly 20% of the Gross Value Addition (GVA) by 2030, according to a report prepared by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in collaboration with Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations.

1 min

HDFC Bank net profit up 2.2% in December quarter

DESPITE a sharp deterioration in the asset quality in its agri book, HDFC Bank has reported steep numbers, earning ₹16,736 crore in net income for the December quarter, up 2.2% year-on-year.

1 min

UCO Bank Q3 net income grows 27%

KOLKATA-based public sector lender UCO Bank has reported 27% growth in net income at ₹638.83 crore in the December quarter, buoyed by better asset quality, better margins and higher interest income as it sold more credit.

1 min

Real estate stocks bleed amid sales slowdown

REALTY stocks are under significant pressure amid the broader market sell-off. Over the past month, the Nifty Realty Index has declined sharply by around 20%, with a single-day drop of 4.56% on Wednesday.

1 min

HUL buys 90.5% stake in Minimalist

Acquisition at enterprise value of ₹2,955 crore likely to be completed by first quarter of FY26

1 min

Airtel's new tariff makes it pricier for base users

BHARTI Airtel's new plan, rolled out following the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) directive to introduce a single voice and SMS tariff pack, has made the rates 10-15% more expensive for basic phone users.

1 min

Presumptive tax benefit extended to non-resident cruise ship owners

THE government has notified presumptive tax for non-residents engaged in the business of operation of cruise ships.

1 min

BSNL user base erodes by 3.4 lakh in Nov as customer migration slows down

AFTER gaining customer base for four consecutive months, the State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) lost 0.34 million subscribers in November 2024, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said.

1 min

India Will Comply With ICC Dress Code for CT: Saikia

WITH reports of the Indian team not having Pakistan's name on the jersey for the upcoming Champions Trophy, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed to this daily that ICC rules will be adhered to and no changes would be made.

1 min

LA28 in mind, ACTC for 4 years; focus on NSF good health

THE flagship annual calendar for training and competition (ACTC) plan for four years, hosting of international competitions and conducting national leagues for player identification and development were some of the talking points of the meeting between the sports minister and the National Sports Federations (NSFs) in New Delhi on Tuesday.

2 mins

MI Cape Town gain after rain

MI Cape Town took another step towards securing their first-ever SA20 playoffs spot after their match against Durban's Super Giants at Kingsmead was washed out here.

1 min

Liverpool Seal Last-16 Berth, Barca Post Epic Victory in CL

LIVERPOOL beat Lille 2-1 on Tuesday to maintain their perfect record in this season's Champions League and clinch qualification for the last 16, while Barcelona produced a stunning comeback to beat Benfica 5-4 in a classic to secure their own place.

1 min

Samantha Unveils Super Champs Jersey

CHENNAI Super Champs owner and actor, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, unveiled the team's fiery yellow-and-red jersey at a function held at Sathyabama University, here on Tuesday.

1 min

England crumble to spinners... once again

ENGLAND have not had a good time in white-ball cricket in India in recent times. At the 50-over World Cup in 2023, the champion's defence went up in flames multiple times as both their batters and bowlers faltered.

1 min

Ranji This Round: All Star Game

Eye on penultimate round as big names return to domestic cricket amidst new guidelines

3 mins

Clinical Sinner Crushes De Minaur To Advance

DEFENDING champion Jannik Sinner raced into the Australian Open semifinals on Wednesday in imperious fashion after Iga Swiatek was equally ruthless to close on a first Melbourne crown.

1 min

ISL: Odisha FC fight back to sink 10-man Bengaluru FC

Odisha FC fought back to post a thrilling 3-2 win over Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League in Bengaluru here on Wednesday.

1 min

DESIGNER DESTINATIONS!

IN recent years, luxury fashion houses have expanded their influence beyond the runway, venturing into the hospitality sector to offer exclusive hotels, spas and suites that embody their brand's essence and a piece of their history.

3 mins

The Adventures of a Family Man

While talking about his directorial debut Kudumbasthan, in an earlier conversation with CE, Rajeshwar Kalisamy had revealed that he set out wanting to make an adventure film before finally realising, \"What greater adventure than that of a family man's?\"

3 mins

Threading Tales

An exhibition, honouring the craftsmanship of the lost art of quilting and treasuring its colourful intricacies, has found its way to the city

3 mins

Partners In Power Games

IN July last year, I wrote in this column in response to news that author Neil Gaiman had been accused of sexual assault by two women \"I would bet my last rupee that there are more than two women out there whom he has harmed this way.\"

2 mins

The beauty of Brutalism

TAKE a walk down any Indian street at any time of the day. Go with a singular purpose to soak in the beauty of the buildings that line it.

2 mins

Universality in place of parochialism

Matthew Rankin's Persian-French language Canadian film Universal Language is among the fifteen shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film Oscar and perhaps the most unique of the lot in terms of form, vision, imagination and craft.

3 mins

Veera Dheera Sooran Part 2 gets release date

Earlier, we reported that the highly-anticipated Vikram-starrer Veera Dheera Sooran will release as two parts, with the second part opening in theaters before the first one.

1 min

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