The New Indian Express Chennai - January 29, 2025

In this issue

January 29, 2025

In first call, Don nudges Modi to buy US weapons

Says he expects Modi to do 'what is right' on return of undocumented Indians in the US

1 min

From history to AI, a stage for diverse perspectives

INCISIVE discussions on education, culture, and governance captivated the audience as scholars articulated their vision on the second day of the 13th edition of the ThinkEdu Conclave 2025 hosted by The New Indian Express in Chennai.

1 min

Bodies of 2 fishers wash ashore on Marina beach

Two fishermen from Triplicane were found dead on the Marina beach on Tuesday, hours after reported missing, police said.

1 min

Deaf Games Medallists Say TN Yet To Recognise Their Triumphs

ELEVEN of the 12 medallists from Tamil Nadu, who won at the Asia Pacific Deaf Games 2024, held at Kuala Lumpur, and their parents, submitted a written complaint to the State Commissionerate for Welfare of the Differently Abled, alleging discrimination against deaf sportspersons, on Tuesday.

1 min

Turtle deaths: NGT flays govt for failing to curb violation by trawlers

THE southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday intensified scrutiny on the Tamil Nadu government's failure to prevent mass deaths of Olive Ridley turtles along the Chennai's coast during the ongoing nesting season.

1 min

Politicians must stay ahead of curve: TN BJP president

TAMIL Nadu needs an alternative political discourse to restore its former glory, reboot its economy, and enhance the quality of life for its people, said BJP state president K Annamalai.

1 min

Colonial edu system reason for societal tension

INDIAN education is not only a source of empowerment but, more importantly, a source of liberation, said Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Bihar on Day 2 of the conclave.

1 min

Experts' take on country's mental health emergency

THE conclave highlighted an issue often overlooked but deeply pervasive: India's mental health crisis.

1 min

'Brit collaborators turned vital figures post Independence'

SANYAL SAYS CERTAIN PARTS OF INDIAN HISTORY DELIBERATELY OBFUSCATED

1 min

History thrives when there is multiplicity of voices: Sampath

HISTORY flourishes when there is multiplicity of voices and diverse interpretations, said author Vikram Sampath.

1 min

Allow children to pursue their passion, artiste couple tells parents

CARNATIC vocalist Sandeep Narayan and classical dancer Radhe Jaggi have asked parents to adopt an alternative approach to education when their child has a genuine interest in any art form, sports, or any other thing.

1 min

T'gana working to reduce the gap between haves, have-nots

TELANGANA Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Tuesday expressed his dissatisfaction over the manner per capita income is calculated and said his government is working towards reducing the gap between the haves and have-nots.

1 min

Leaders must know implications of their actions: Gauthami

CUTTING across the political divide, leaders from major parties in Tamil Nadu, including the DMK, AIADMK, Congress and BJP, shared their insights on improving the declining standards of political discourse in the country, on the second day of the ThinkEdu Conclave on Tuesday.

1 min

Jobs down as firms prioritise skill over degree

THE decline in job opportunities and placement rates in certain sectors stems from industries prioritising skills over degrees.

1 min

Centre should fund state varsities

Karnataka minister wants union govt to assist states in meaningful ways, rather than stripping them of their powers

2 mins

Prof discusses AI models that reduced road crashes in TN

THE lack of availability of reliable data is the most prominent challenge in building workable AI models, said Prof Venkatesh Balasubramanian, Head of RGB Labs, IIT Madras, in his address, \"AI and Behavioural Change: A Roadmap,\" on Tuesday.

1 min

Focus on spirituality can help improve IQ

SWAMI Shailendra Saraswati of Vedic Life explained the concept of Spiritual Quotient (SQ) as the essence of our being, the deepest level of existence and the key to enhancing all aspects of life.

1 min

India has potential to become AI leader, says Tanuj Bhojwani

WITH a vast population and an untapped market for artificial intelligence (AI), India has the potential to become a global leader in the AI realm, said Tanuj Bhojwani, Head of People+AI.

1 min

Kanisetti highlights Chola empire's long legacy of cultural integration

ONE of the most distinguishing features of the Chola empire was their comfort with diversity. Instead of replacing existing cultures after the conquest, the Cholas added a new layer to them which helped them to build a transregional empire, said writer and researcher Anirudh Kanisetti on the second day of the ThinkEdu Conclave 2025 on Tuesday.

1 min

HONOURING THE SPIRIT OF ‘DEVIS'

In a glowing tribute to their resilience and spirit, 13 women changemakers were honoured at the 31st edition of the Devi Awards in Chennai on Tuesday for not only breaking ground in the diverse fields of their choice but for the paths they have paved for the generations to come.

2 mins

Apollo's success driven by sisterhood, each has a key role: Preetha Reddy

There are a lot of lessons we have learned from Covid-19, but the biggest was that it taught us to work in collaboration and stop working in silos, said Preetha Reddy, vice chairperson of Apollo Hospitals.

1 min

Cooking asst recruitment: Exclusion of PwDs stayed

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday stayed a portion of a G.O. issued by the Department of Social Welfare, Nutrition and Women's Rights, which restricted persons with disabilities (PwD) from being appointed as cooking assistants.

1 min

NAYANTHARA DOCUMENTARY: HC BINS PLEA TO REJECT DHANUSH'S PLAINT

The Madras High Court on Tuesday dismissed Netflix's plea seeking to reject the copyright infringement suit filed by actor Dhanush against Nayanthara over her documentary.

2 mins

HC seeks reply from health secretary on temporary staff for dialysis units

DISSATISFIED by the state's decision to once again hire temporary staff for the post of dialysis technicians in government hospitals across Tamil Nadu, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare Supriya Sahu to file an affidavit explaining reasons for the decision.

1 min

Kovai woman attacked by elephant dies

A 67-year-old woman, who was undergoing treatment at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital after being attacked by a wild elephant at ETR Estate near Valparai, died on Monday night.

1 min

Govt hikes mini-bus fares, operators say not enough

Fare is fixed at minimum of ₹4 for first 4 km and ₹10 for up to 20 km

1 min

VCK MP seeks martyr honour for 12 Dalits

VILLUPURAM MP and general secretary of VCK D Ravikumar on Tuesday demanded Chief Minister MK Stalin to recognise as martyrs the 12 members of Scheduled Caste, who were hawkers and labourers, and who died in a caste violence in Villupuram in 1978.

1 min

13 TN, Karaikal fishers arrested by Lanka; two injured in naval firing

MEA calls use of force unacceptable, registers protest with Lankan High Commissioner in Delhi

2 mins

CM: Funds crunch won't stop our work for state's progress

The Dravidian movement emerged to establish social justice, and the DMK would continue its journey on the social justice path, Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Tuesday.

2 mins

Thiruma Decries Restriction on Vengaivayal Entry

VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan on Tuesday expressed strong disapproval of the ongoing restriction imposed by the police for outsiders, including advocates, to enter Vengaivayal.

1 min

Laid-off staff of US firm up in arms over termination

AFTER a US-based company operating in the city allegedly laid off hundreds of employees without prior notice on Saturday, the disgruntled staff on Tuesday thronged the labour department office on Balasundaram Road near Anna statue seeking a remedy to get the salary and experience certificates from the firm.

1 min

Vijay to install statues of TVK icons at HQ

TVK has commenced work to install statues of the five leaders — BR Ambedkar, 'Periyar' EV Ramasamy, K Kamaraj, Anjalai Ammal and Velu Nachiyar — whom the party projected as its guiding forces, at its headquarters, party sources said.

1 min

NIA arrests ambulance driver suspected to be 'key ISIS operative'

THE National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested a person, suspected to be an important operative of the ISIS (international terrorist organisation), from the central part of Chennai and conducted searches around 20 locations in Chennai and Mayiladuthurai districts, sources said.

1 min

In a first, OCF set to export military attire to Suriname

IN what it termed as the first ever export order for defence uniforms in India, the Ordnance Clothing Factory in Avadi, a unit of Troop Comforts Limited (TCL) of the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), said it will be exporting ₹1.71 crore worth military uniforms to Republic of Suriname to strengthen the mutual ties between the two countries.

1 min

Stone laid for 526 houses at rehab camp

DRAWING parallels with the principles of Periyar's Samathuvapuram, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday inaugurated the Bharat Scouts and Guides Diamond Jubilee Jamboree and Kalaignar Centenary Jamboree at Manapparai.

1 min

3 of family die by suicide

A couple and their daughter died by suicide in Salem on Tuesday morning.

1 min

2 Brain-Dead Patients Give a New Lease of Life to Six

ORGANS donated by families of two brain-dead patients at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre gave a fresh lease of life to six patients.

1 min

Private medical college violated green norms, must pay up: NGT

THE southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday held ACS Medical College and Hospital in Tiruvallur as a violator as it was found guilty of operating from 2008 without a consent to operate (CTO) from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and prior Environmental Clearance (EC).

1 min

Kannagi Nagar kabaddi team girls honoured

GIRLS from the Kannagi Nagar kabaddi team, who have been playing for Tamil Nadu and bagged home the gold in the Chief Minister's trophy, were honoured at an event at the Women's Christian College on Tuesday.

1 min

Learning levels of Class 3 students back to pre-Covid level: ASER report

12% able to read Class 2 level text in 2024, improvement from 4.8% in 2022, 10.2% in 2018

2 mins

HC Extends Harish's Protection From Arrest

Justice K Lakshman of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday extended the interim order protecting BRS MLA T Harish Rao from arrest until February 5, 2025, in connection with a phone-tapping case and directed the Punjagutta police not to arrest the legislator until further orders.

1 min

History-sheeter Murdered Near Temple, 4 Held

A 35-year-old history-sheeter was hacked to death in broad daylight by a six-member gang near the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam on Tuesday.

1 min

Ensure at least 10% conviction in atrocity cases

CHIEF Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday directed police and other senior officials to ensure at least 10% conviction rate in atrocity cases in Karnataka.

1 min

Bro fakes accident, kills sister for ₹1cr insurance money

PRAKASAM police arrested Malapati Ashok Kumar Reddy, a 30-year-old real estate businessman, for murdering his sister, Malapati Sandhya, to claim ₹1 crore in insurance.

1 min

Munambam panel has no powers to enforce its decisions, Kerala tells HC

THE state government has categorically stated that the Justice Ramachandran Nair Commission, appointed to look into the Munambam land dispute, is neither a judicial nor quasi-judicial body, and has no power to enforce its own recommendations.

1 min

Now is the time to invest in Odisha, PM tells investors

Inaugurating Utkarsh Odisha, PM assures all support for state growth

2 mins

SC rejects plea to transfer cases against Naidu to CBI

IN a major relief to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea seeking the transfer of CID (Crime Investigation Department) cases against him to the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), stating that the petition lacked \"merit.\"

1 min

REIN IN PROFITEERING MICROFIN INSTITUTIONS

A fear of microfinance companies demanding repayment of loans has gripped rural Karnataka-so much so that some have fled from home or ended their lives.

1 min

REJUVENATION AND DIVESTMENT OF PSUS CAN GO TOGETHER

THERE has been a perceptible slowing of disinvestment of public sector units in recent years.

1 min

Making Sense of Insensibility With The Dismal Science

Economics assumes rational decisions and efficient markets, though the world does not work that way. Yet, some tenets of the discipline hold up an essential mirror to human behaviour

4 mins

How ASEAN Can Ride Out the Trump 2.0 Challenge

Recent Senate hearings to confirm Donald Trump's cabinet picks brought into sharp contrast the candidate for US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, and the secretary of state, Marco Rubio.

3 mins

States told to file compliance report on ending caste bias in jails

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted “one last opportunity” to the States and Union Territories to file their compliance reports on implementation of its earlier verdict on prison manuals.

1 min

Muslim woman seeks succession law

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Centre's stand after hearing a Muslim woman's plea seeking to be governed by the Indian succession law.

2 mins

Only 57% teens use smartphones for study: ASER

MORE than 82% of children aged 14-16 in India know how to use smartphones, but only 57% of them use them for educational purposes whereas 76% use the device for accessing social media, according to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 released on Tuesday.

2 mins

Optimistic about eliminating TB from India this year, says Nadda

\"I am optimistic about meeting the target,\" Nadda said, when asked about whether India will be able to eliminate TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global target.

1 min

Private company bags Army contract to supply indigenous drones

A private Indian company, IG Drones, has bagged a \"significant contract\" from the Indian Army for supplying VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) and FPV (First-Person View) drones, indigenously manufactured and without Chinese components.

1 min

India peeved at Lankan Navy firing on fishermen

Summons top envoy, calls it unacceptable after five sustain injuries

1 min

Panel on Waqf Bill all set to approve govt's move to include non-Muslims

THE Joint Parliamentary Committee scrutinising the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is set to approve the government's move to include non-Muslims in Waqf boards, saying they can be \"beneficiaries, parties to disputes, or otherwise interested in Waqf matters\", sources said on Tuesday.

2 mins

NIA officials will soon leave for US to bring back 26/11 accused Rana

A team of senior NIA officers will shortly travel to the United States to complete the formalities for the extradition of one of the 26/11 Mumbai attack masterminds, Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

1 min

7 killed, scores hurt as stage collapses in UP

AT least seven people were killed and over 60 were injured after a 65-ft high makeshift stage collapsed during a religious event of Jain community in Baghpat district of western Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.

1 min

Farooq says will wait for statehood, not to press Centre

NATIONAL Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that his party will continue to wait for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.

1 min

Party hopping begins, 2 from JD(U) join Congress

PARTY-hopping has picked up in Bihar as the assembly election draws near, charging the state's political atmosphere.

2 mins

Like sports, UCC stands for spirit of equality, non-discrimination: PM

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi praised the Uttarakhand government's efforts in implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), calling it a pioneering initiative in India.

1 min

Raj govt to table bill in Assembly on coaching centres to check suicides

GIVEN the alarming rise in suicides among coaching students, the BJP government in Rajasthan has announced a plan to introduce a bill focused on suicide prevention.

1 min

Major anti-terror ops in Jammu

To track down 40-50 terrorists involved in hit-and-run attacks on security personnel

2 mins

HC: Marriage between 2 Hindus sacrosanct, can't be dissolved within 1 year

THE Allahabad High Court on Monday held that marriage between two Hindu individuals is sacrosanct and its dissolution within one year would be permissible only for reasons permissible in law.

1 min

Mobs attack foreign embassies in Congo

Protesters want the international community to pressure Rwanda to halt advance of rebels like M23 into their city

2 mins

High chlorate forces Coke to recall some products in EU

COCA-COLA has recalled some of its soft drinks in Europe after higher-than-normal levels of a chemical called chlorate were detected in bottles and cans at a production plant in Belgium.

1 min

Wannabe PM of Canada lays out plans to take on Trump

CHRYSTIA Freeland, the former finance minister who is running to replace Justin Trudeau as Canada's prime minister, said on Monday Canada needs to release a 'retaliation list' of goods the country would target if US President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on Canadian goods.

1 min

Marshall Islands bans fishing in two isles

MARSHALL Islands declared on Tuesday its first national marine sanctuary, protecting a \"pristine\" expanse of tropical Pacific Ocean home to deep-sea sharks and green turtles.

1 min

IDF to remain in Syria buffer zone indefinitely

DEFENCE Minister Israel Katz said during a visit to the Syrian side of Mount Hermon today that the IDF will remain there indefinitely, The Times of Israel reported.

1 min

US federal grants tap off, Don orders ideological review

THE White House is pausing federal grants and loans starting on Tuesday as President Donald Trump's administration begins an across-the-board ideological review of its spending.

1 min

G-Maps to Rename Gulf of Mexico

GOOGLE said it will take its cue from the US government if it has to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali on its maps.

1 min

Bajaj Auto net profit surges 8% to 2,196 crore; revenue increases to 13,169 crore

Food Bajaj Auto on Tuesday said its consolidated net profit jumped by 8% to 2,196 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2024, on the back of robust exports.

1 min

Paytm Payments' CEO Nakul Jain steps down

NAKUL JAIN has stepped down from the role of chief executive officer at Paytm Payments Services Ltd (PPSL). This comes as the fintech company continues to wait for the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) approval for its payment aggregator licence.

1 min

DeepSeek effect: India should build cheaper AI models

TWO years after OpenAI's ChatGPT took the world by storm, China's AI model DeepSeek has now sparked a debate among tech enthusiasts on building low-cost AI models and India's potential to tap the opportunity, train foundational AI models relatively cheaper than the cost involved currently.

1 min

Non-interest income boosts Union Bank net profit by 28.2% to ₹4,604 crore

STATE-owned Union Bank of India on Tuesday reported a healthy set of numbers, with net income rising by 28.24% year-on-year to ₹4,604 crore, driven by higher non-interest income and improved asset quality, which cushioned a fall in net interest margin in the December quarter.

1 min

Retail digital payments increase 100-fold in 12 years; 83% via UPI

RETAIL digital payments have grown from 162 crore transactions in 2013 to over 16,416 crore transactions in 2024, which is nearly 100-fold jump during the past 12 years, show the latest payments system report by the Reserve Bank.

1 min

TVS Motor net profit rises 20% to ₹609 crore, revenue from ops at ₹11,134.63 crore

TVS Motor Company on Tuesday reported a 20% rise in consolidated net profit to ₹609.35 crore in the December quarter, riding on higher sales.

1 min

Zepto Moves Corporate Base From Singapore To India Ahead Of IPO

QUICK-COMMERCE unicorn Zepto has officially moved its corporate base from Singapore to India, ahead of its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO).

1 min

Sebi rejects Danny Gaekwad's offer to buy 26% in Religare

SEBI has rejected the competing open offer for Religare Enterprises by Florida, US-based investor Digivijay 'Danny' Gaekwad.

1 min

Hyundai PAT falls 19% in Q3 over subdued demand

OWING to subdued demand in the domestic market and global headwinds impacting exports, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Tuesday reported a 19% decline in its profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ending December this fiscal (Q3FY25) at ₹1,161 crore as against ₹1,425 crore profit in the same quarter last financial year (Q3FY24).

1 min

Missing Games, Mirabai training for new category

Another big name to miss the 2025 National Games will be Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu.

1 min

Modi reiterates Olympic ambitions

The current dispensation will move heaven and earth to win the right to host the 2036 Olympics.

1 min

National para-athletics meet from Feb 18

ABOUT 1700 athletes are expected to participate in the 23rd National para-athletics championships to be held from February 18 to 20 at the Nehru Stadium, Periamet, Chennai, while the Asia Triathlon Cup will be held on February 16 at the INS Adyar.

2 mins

Bumrah ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year

JASPRIT Bumrah feels honored after winning the prestigious ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year award but team's success would always be his priority and he picked India's T20 World Cup triumph as his most cherished moment of 2024.

1 min

Varun's fifer not enough as England get vital win

Spinner shines but visitors clinch 3rd T20I in Rajkot to stay in hunt

2 mins

Kohli trains with Delhi, set for Ranji comeback

FORMER India captain Virat Kohli started training with the Delhi team at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday ahead of the Ranji Trophy clash against Railways that begins Thursday.

1 min

MEIYAZHAGAN IS MY COMFORT ZONE

At the 13th edition of the ThinkEdu Conclave, actor Karthi spoke about the intricacies of preparing for a role, the importance of acknowledging non-film talents, his upcoming sequels, and more

4 mins

Faking fine, ONE SHOW AT A TIME

EVER find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the constant pressure of work, relationships, or just life in general? The stress builds up, and all you want is to switch off for a bit. You turn on Modern Family, laugh at Phil's antics, and for a while, everything else fades away. It's a welcome escape, right? But what happens when this becomes a habit? When the distractions start to feel like a routine, and we forget to ask ourselves, \"Are we really fine?\"

2 mins

A Digital Depiction of Scriptures

A black screen opens with a disclaimer: \"The serial attempts to explain the concepts of the Upanishads and depicts the philosophy of the Vedic culture.\" The screen fades and characters come to life, spreading messages about life's journey, knowledge transformation, universal welfare, source of Dharma and more.

1 min

A Mughal Imperial repast

PICTURE this: a grand Mughal feast, bathed in the warm glow of a glittering chandelier, spread across a table draped in rich velvet and silk.

3 mins

Jeremy Allen White to Lead Enigma Variations

ACTOR Jeremy Allen White, who is currently playing the lead in director Scott Cooper's Deliver Me from Nowhere, has signed on to play the lead in Netflix's bisexual romantic drama Enigma Variations.

1 min

Through the peeping hole

When it comes to its exploration of the theme of voyeurism, there is a lot about Yeo Siew Hua's Stranger Eyes that could make one instantly recall Alfred Hitchcock.

3 mins

Kriti Sanon Joins Dhanush's Tere Ishk Mein

Hanush's upcoming film with director Aanand L Rai has a new cast member. On Tuesday, it was announced that actor Kriti Sanon has joined the cast of Tere Ishk Mein.

1 min

Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan start filming for a thriller

CTOR and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has started shooting a new film with her Tanu Weds Manu (2011) co-star R Madhavan.

1 min

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