The New Indian Express Chennai - March 13, 2025

In this issue

March 13, 2025

BHEL GM found dead with gunshot wounds to his head in office

In a case of suspected death by suicide, a Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) general manager was found dead inside his office on Wednesday around 1 am with a gunshot wound to his head.

2 mins

Retail inflation below 4% for 1st time in 6 months

At 3.61% in February, low CPI inflation raises hopes for another rate cut by RBI next month

1 min

Train hijack drama over, 21 passengers killed, says Pak army

PAKISTAN military operation to rescue hostages from a train hijacked by terrorists ended on Wednesday with all hostages recovered, Dawn reported.

1 min

SAGAR grows into a MAHASAGAR vision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched MAHASAGAR, a vision for security and growth for the Global South, as India and Mauritius strengthened their strategic partnership amid China's growing influence in the region in Mauritius on Wednesday.

1 min

CM: Delimitation is BJP's conspiracy to retain power

CONTINUING his tirade against the National Education Policy (NEP) and delimitation of parliamentary seats, Chief Minister MK Stalin called delimitation a conspiracy to \"retain power\" by winning the seats in northern states alone and NEP a \"saffron policy\" formulated to develop 'Hindi' and not India. \"Even if we have to sacrifice our lives, we will never surrender to this fascism of the BJP,\" he said.

2 mins

After record deaths, TN secured 2.6L turtle eggs, highest in last 6 years

THE state forest department has secured a record 2.6 lakh Olive Ridley turtle eggs, the highest in the last six years, during this ongoing nesting season.

2 mins

VIT's AI, data science courses in QS' top 100

VELLORE Institute of Technology (VIT) has been ranked among the world's top universities for 14 subjects in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, with its Data Science and AI programme breaking into the top 100, globally for the first time.

1 min

Forest guard injured in gaur attack dies in Kovai

A 54-year-old forest guard who was undergoing treatment at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) since Monday night, after he was attacked by a gaur, died on Wednesday.

1 min

Plea Against Online Gaming Norms: TN, Centre Told to File Reply by March 21

The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the centre and the TN government to file counter-affidavits to the petitions challenging the online gaming regulations notified recently by the state government by March 21.

1 min

Local bodies to foot internet bills of government schools

Net speed in 24,438 primary schools to be cut from 100 Mbps to 50 Mbps

1 min

3-yr-old injured after falling into open drain

A three-year-old girl was hospitalized after falling into an under-construction stormwater drain at Maruthi Nagar in Thoraipakkam on Tuesday evening.

1 min

Pay ₹2,000/month, get pass to enjoy ride on any AC, non-AC MTC bus

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will soon be rolling out ₹2,000 monthly passes, which will enable pass holders to commute on all MTC services, including AC buses.

1 min

Udhaya cutout crashes on auto, driver unhurt

A 20-foot-tall cutout of Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin placed near the Tiruvallur collector's office fell on an autorickshaw on Tuesday.

1 min

No delay in acquiring land, Railways not releasing funds for TN, says govt

The state government on Wednesday refuted claims of delay in acquiring land for railway projects across the state.

1 min

Have kids soon but not many, newlyweds told

PRESIDING over the marriage of 72 couples organised by the ruling DMK as part of the party president and Chief Minister MK Stalin's 72nd birthday celebrations, the party's youth wing secretary and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, citing the alleged delimitation exercise, advised newly-married couples to have babies soon but not many.

1 min

After row, new tender for smart meters out

TNPDCL planning to finish entire tender process, award contract by May end, start installation work in June

2 mins

NGO claim baseless, amount for ferrying paddy ₹428 cr

FOOD and Civil Supplies Minister R Sakkarapani on Wednesday refuted allegations of corruption and cartelisation in the awarding of tenders for paddy and rice transportation in the state.

1 min

EPS Dares Stalin To Have Debate On Who Mortgaged TN's Rights

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami dared Chief Minister MK Stalin to have a public debate on the topic of who has 'mortgaged' the rights of Tamil Nadu to the union government.

1 min

PTR: No knowledgeable person will implement it

TERMING the three-language police as a failed one, Information and Technology Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said no knowledgeable person will implement it.

1 min

TN Has 1 Crore State-Board Students, 15 Lakh in CBSE, Anbil Tells Pradhan

RESPONDING to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's claim that many students in TN prefer English-medium education over Tamil, School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Wednesday highlighted that 1.09 crore students are enrolled in over 58,779 schools that follow the state board syllabus, while only 15.2 lakh students study in 1,635 CBSE schools.

1 min

Victims of Veerappan task force: Govt told to pay compensation in 3 weeks

THE Madras HC on Wednesday directed the state government to disburse the compensation to the victims of the atrocities of STF during the operation for hunting sandalwood smuggler Veerappan within three weeks.

1 min

Locals Vandalise New Toll Plaza Over 'High Fare' in Batlagundu

A few hours before its scheduled inauguration, over 80 villagers attacked the toll plaza in Lakshmipuram near Batlagundu in Dindigul early on Wednesday.

1 min

Liquor scam will rattle TN govt too

THE liquor scam that toppled the governments in Chhattisgarh and Delhi will rattle Tamil Nadu as well, said state BJP president K Annamalai, adding that the investigation into the 'Chennai liquor scam' by the Enforcement Directorate has gained momentum.

1 min

Doctors successfully remove 1-yr-old baby's brain tumour

Doctors at MGM Healthcare Hospital successfully operated upon and removed a large tumour in the brain in a one-year-old baby girl.

1 min

Cancellation of Exp MEMU services extended till Mar 17

The South Central Railway has extended the cancellation of MEMU express trains operating on the Tirupati Katpadi and Katpadi-Jolarpettai sections, as the rakes were sent to Northern Railway for the Kumbh Mela.

1 min

15 Tourist Spots in Hampi Unsafe, Say Activists

Recent rape of 2 women and murder of an Odisha tourist underscore need for security measures in all popular spots

1 min

KL guv breaks protocol, joins Pinarayi to meet FinMin seeking funds

BREAKING protocols, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar joined Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for an informal meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Delhi's Kerala House on Wednesday to raise the state's pressing demands, including the release of central funds and a special financial package for landslide-hit Wayanad.

1 min

₹1K/month for Pondy govt students pursuing college education

₹13,600-crore Puducherry budget hikes financial aid for women heads of BPL families to ₹2,500 per month, extends Perunthalaivar Kamarajar scheme to all courses

2 mins

The Import of Iron Age Discoveries in Tamil Nadu

THE recent archaeological revelations from Sivagalai in Tamil Nadu have sent ripples across historical and scientific communities.

3 mins

Trump Transactions Spell Trouble for Transatlantic Pacts

The bullying of Zelenskyy flies in the face of decades-old alliances between the US and Europe. A quick history tour shows what their unravelling might mean for the world

4 mins

Make Aadhaar-based payment optional, says House panel

A parliamentary panel report has argued that Aadhaar-based payment system (APBS) for MGNREGA workers should be kept optional and alternative payment mechanisms are made available to ensure that they get their rightful wages.

1 min

Make Aadhaar-based payment optional, says House panel

A parliamentary panel report has argued that Aadhaar-based payment system (APBS) for MGNREGA workers should be kept optional and alternative payment mechanisms are made available to ensure that they get their rightful wages.

1 min

Budget allocation to health ministry continues to fall

A parliamentary panel has noted that despite the National Health Policy's target of increasing government health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, the allocation to the health sector, particularly to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, has not gone up.

1 min

Firm up norms before announcement to skip delays

Highlighting the delay in finalisation and necessary approvals for implementation of various schemes, the standing committee on Housing and Urban affairs has recommended that the ministry should complete paperwork and guidelines for any scheme in consultation with stakeholders before any budget announcement.

1 min

Oilfields Amendment Bill gets House approval

THE Lok Sabha on Wednesday cleared the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024, that seeks to amend the existing law governing exploration and production of oil and gas as well as delink petroleum operations from mining operations.

1 min

Over 2.6K Bangladeshi nationals apprehended in 13 months: MoS to RS

The government on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that the border guarding force BSF has apprehended 2,601 Bangladeshi nationals who attempted to enter the Indian side from along the frontiers in the last 13 months beginning January 1, 2024.

1 min

MoD inks pacts with BEL for procurement contract of radar at cost of ₹2.9K cr

Bolstering capability

1 min

Reduction of seats will be against principle of federal structure: CPM

THE Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Wednesday sought a consensus on the issue of delimitation, stressing that the exercise based on the current population would result in a decline of political representation of southern states in Parliament.

1 min

IAF chief bats for quick upgrade in capability to check security hurdles

CHIEF of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Wednesday emphasised the need for rapid capability enhancements to counter emerging security challenges in the evolving geo-strategic landscape.

1 min

Omar-led govt launches bids for 305 liquor shops

AS the demand for banning sale and consumption of liquor is growing and legislators have moved the Private Members Bill on banning liquor in J&K Assembly, the Jammu and Kashmir government has launched bids for 305 liquor shops in the Union Territory.

1 min

Woman killed for refusing to hand over Maiya aid

A woman in Jharkhand's Garhwa has allegedly been killed by her in-laws over her refusal to hand over the financial aid she received under the Maiya Samman Yojana to them.

1 min

₹4.2L cr Budget Bets Big on Ladli Behna Yojana

MADHYA Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Jagdish Devda on Wednesday presented a ₹4.21 lakh crore-plus budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

2 mins

Maha amends birth, death registration laws to curb fake certificates

The Maharashtra government has introduced stricter rules by amending laws to curb fake registration of births and deaths by foreign nationals, state revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said in the assembly on Wednesday.

1 min

No more 10-km run as J'khand tweaks rules for recruitment of excise cops

LESS than a year after over 13 candidates died in the excise constable recruitment drive in Jharkhand while attempting to clear the physical test required for selection, the state has decided to relax the rules.

1 min

'Feminist' Rabri takes 'bhaang' potshots at Nitish in Assembly

ALLEGATIONS and counter-allegations flew thick and fast in the Bihar legislative council on Wednesday, as CM Nitish Kumar and his predecessor, Rabri Devi, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, exchanged heated words over developmental works undertaken during their respective regimes.

1 min

ASI Asked to Whitewash Sambhal Mosque in a Week

HC asks mosque committee to reimburse cost within seven days

1 min

NASA's newest space telescope blasts off to map sky, galaxies

NASA's newest space telescope rocketed into orbit on Tuesday to map the entire sky like never before a sweeping look at hundreds of millions of galaxies and their shared cosmic glow since the beginning of time.

1 min

Pak train firing continued for 50 minutes: passenger

THERE was a huge explosion and firing, a scene that can never be forgotten, said Mushtaq Muhammad as he recounted the moment when Baloch militants attacked a passenger train in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province.

1 min

Surprise victory for Oppn in Greenland

THE centre-right opposition has won a surprise victory in legislative elections in Greenland, the Danish territory coveted by US President Donald Trump, as support also surged for the nationalist Naleraq party seeking independence as soon as possible.

1 min

Houthi Threat to Resume Attacks on Israeli Ships

YEMEN's Houthi rebels warned shippers that 'any Israeli vessel' travelling through nearby Mideast waters is now a target as Israel continues to block aid to the Gaza Strip.

1 min

Trump Says Ball in Russia's Court to Accept Ceasefire Plan

Special envoy Steve Witkoff may travel to Moscow to meet Putin

2 mins

JLR may shelve EV production plans from TN plant

TATA MOTORS said on Wednesday that the specific models and production timelines at its upcoming Tamil Nadu plant will be aligned with the broader strategies and market requirements of Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM) and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).

1 min

Ola Electric Sees Auto Segment's Breakeven in Q1

OLA ELECTRIC MOBILITY LTD said on Wednesday it has concluded its company-wide cost-reduction initiative, the 'Network Transformation and Opex Reduction Programme,' which will help its automotive segment to achieve EBITDA breakeven in Q1FY26.

1 min

RBI asks for forex derivative info from banks

Banking regulator is examining derivatives exposures of private and state-run banks which have large forex derivatives

2 mins

Riyadh Air eyes partnership with Air India and IndiGo

TONY DOUGLAS, CEO of the soon-to-be-launched Riyadh Air, is exploring partnerships with home-grown airlines — Air India and IndiGo — as the new Saudi Arabian carrier seeks to establish a strong presence in the Indian market, particularly in the India-Saudi sector.

1 min

India to have 1 mn start-ups by 2035: Nandan Nilekani

WITH many unicorns flipping back to India, by 2035 India will be the most preferred IPO market globally, said Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani.

1 min

Pact with telcos may expedite Starlink's India entry process

The Indian government may soon grant a licence to Elon Musk's SpaceX to launch its satellite communication services in India, following a partnership with the country's leading telecom service providers, as per industry analysts.

1 min

Singapore state-run Temasek acquires 10% stake in Haldiram's for ₹8,000 cr

SINGAPORE'S state-owned investment firm Temasek has signed a deal to acquire approximately 10% of Haldiram Snacks Foods Private Limited (HSFPL) for over ₹8,000 crore (around $1 bn), according to sources familiar with the development.

1 min

SIP Inflows Drop to 3-Month Low of ₹25,999 Cr in Feb on Market Sell-Off

FOR the second month in a row, the monthly inflows into systematic investment plans (SIPs) has fallen to ₹25,999 crore in February as the market selloff intensified, pulling down all sub segments.

1 min

BFI polls get murkier as Thakur's name scrapped from electoral college

The way things stand at the moment, another National Sports Federation seems to be heading towards a stalemate.

3 mins

U-15 Table Tennis Tourney From March 17

DREAM Sports Foundation is set to organise the first-ever U-15 table tennis tournament.

1 min

Deepak eyes int'l career relaunch with Asian C'ships qualification

BETWEEN August and September 2019, wrestler Deepak Punia's stock hit the roof.

2 mins

Hardik of things: India's balance manufacturer

Numbers might not reflect, but Pandya was key to India's CT success

2 mins

Reds pay the penalty in thrilling pre-quarters

PARIS Saint-Germain held their nerve to beat Liverpool 4-1 on penalties and reach the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday after their tie finished one-apiece on aggregate, while Bayern Munich saw off Bayer Leverkusen to complete a 5-0 win over both legs.

1 min

Early exit for Sindhu, Rohan-Ruthvika in Rd2

STAR Indian shuttler PV Sindhu suffered an inexplicable meltdown, bowing out of the All England Championships with a three-game loss to Korea's Kim Ga Eun in the women's singles opening round on Wednesday.

1 min

Mise en Scène

As The White Lotus turns luxury hotels into star attractions, the set-jetting trend proves that hit web series are drawing travellers eager to live out their main character energies

2 mins

Get ready for your Balam Pichkari moment

HERE'S something about Holi that feels straight out of a Bollywood dream sequence.

3 mins

A NEW ERA OF MUSIC

The pandemic and the subsequent lockdown confined people to their homes, giving them time to pause, reflect, and get back to basics.

4 mins

LET'S PLAY BALL

PERHAPS one of the most versatile playthings is the ball. Almost every child is introduced to it at a young age.

2 mins

OF LOVE, LONGING AND EXILE

Hoshang Merchant's My Sunset Marriage weaves rage, queerness, memory and myth | into a luminous poetic testament to love

3 mins

Hypothetical questions versus real issues

LAST year, a hypothetical better-or-worse question made the rounds on social media, mostly in America.

2 mins

'I WANTED TO STEER CLEAR OF MELODRAMA'

Director Ram Madhvani, along with actors Taaruk Raina, Nikita Dutta, Bhawsheel Singh Sahni, and Sahil Mehta discuss their web series, The Waking of a Nation, the director's idea of patriotism, and more

3 mins

Steve Buscemi joins Wild Horse Nine

AFTER Parker Posey and John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi becomes the latest to join Sam Rockwell in Wild Horse Nine. He replaces previously announced cast member Mark Ruffalo in the upcoming film.

1 min

Sasikumar to headline rooted family drama

IT was recently announced that Sasikumar's next, with debut filmmaker M Guru, has gone all floors.

1 min

Metro In Dino to release in July

NURAG Basu's much-delayed romantic drama Metro In Dino will now be released in theaters on July 4, the makers announced on Tuesday.

1 min

Sonam Bajwa to star in Deewaniyat

ACTOR Sonam Bajwa has joined the cast of Harshvardhan Rane's romantic drama Deewaniyat.

1 min

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