The New Indian Express Chennai - March 19, 2025

In this issue

March 19, 2025

Deal on Ukraine energy, infra targets truce done

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin on Monday agreed to stop striking energy targets in Ukraine for 30 days, Kremlin said.

1 min

Ceasefire in the bin as Israeli airstrikes kill over 400 in Gaza

Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday killing at least 413 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and shattered a ceasefire in place since January with its deadliest bombardment in a 17-month asymmetrical war with Hamas.

1 min

Dargah trustee hacked to death by gang in Nellai

A 60-year-old former police sub-inspector was hacked to death by a gang in Tirunelveli city around 5.45 am on Tuesday in a suspected dispute regarding a parcel of Waqf land.

2 mins

Deal on Ukraine energy, infra targets truce done

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin on Monday agreed to pause strikes on energy targets in Ukraine for 30 days, Kremlin said.

1 min

A Democratic Country Must Not Function Like a Police State: SC

EXPRESSING dismay over the habit of trial courts and high courts denying bail even in minor cases despite completion of investigation, the Supreme Court said that the practice is unacceptable in a democratic country and that it creates unnecessary strain on the higher judiciary.

1 min

After ASER 'fails' TN kids, primary schools ready for 'open challenge'

Education directorate invites officials to visit 4,552 schools to assess students’ proficiency

1 min

Treks guided by tribal youth reach new high, bring in ₹63L revenue

TAMIL Nadu's scenic trekking routes have emerged as a popular draw for adventure enthusiasts, with 4,792 trekkers exploring the state's breathtaking trails between November 1 and February 14, as per the official data shared by Tamil Nadu Wilderness Experiences Corporation (TNWEC).

1 min

SL Navy arrests three more Rameswaram fishers

THE Sri Lankan Navy seized a mechanised fishing boat and arrested three Indian fishermen from Rameswaram for alleged violation of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) early on Tuesday.

1 min

Include Tamil instructions in bed kit wrapper, Rly tells bidder

Following a complaint that instructions in Tamil were missing from the biodegradable paper covers that are used to wrap the bed roll kits of AC coaches, the Madurai railway division ordered the bidder concerned to include instructions in Tamil, along with Hindi and English.

1 min

Ooty to Have Its First 3-Day Plantation Crop Summer Show in May

The horticulture department, along with the district administration, will conduct a 3-day expo of plantation crops and its byproducts in Katteri Park in May as part of the summer festival.

1 min

City's winter air quality hit due to rise in NO2 & local hotspots

CHENNAI recorded a sharp rise in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels and witnessed localised air pollution hotspots this past winter, despite a stable citywide average, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

1 min

Out of city, now out of school; cruel tale of kids in resettlement colony

Ezhil Nagar children cite lack of govt documents for admission, seat shortage in nearby schools

3 mins

If kids fail to take care of parents, settlement deeds can be cancelled, says HC

THE Madras HC has held the settlement deeds executed by parents in the name of their children for transferring properties can be cancelled in case they (parents) are not taken care of even if such a condition was not explicitly mentioned in such deeds.

1 min

Modi says Ilaiyaraaja a trailblazer in every sense

FOLLOWING his recent Symphony in London, music maestro Ilaiyaraaja called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday.

1 min

Settle Gudalur Janmam issue

AIADMK MLA Pon Jayaseelan and TVK leader T Velmurugan have urged the state government to take immediate steps to resolve the long-pending Janmam land issue in Gudalur region of the Nilgiris.

1 min

'Min belittling gig workers from the North'

BJP state president K Annamalai on Tuesday accused MSME Minister TM Anbarasan of belittling the workers from North India who are employed in Tamil Nadu.

1 min

'Contract staff with 480 days work can be made permanent'

Court gives TN power corpn 12 weeks time to complete process

2 mins

3 CMs, 1 Dy CM & Leaders From 7 States To Take Part In Chennai Delimitation Meet

THREE chief ministers, one deputy CM and leaders of political parties from seven states are expected to take part in the Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on delimitation convened by DMK president Chief Minister MK Stalin at a private hotel in Chennai on March 22 at 10 am.

1 min

Amidst heated debates, number of Avvaiyars brings laughter to House

The Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a brief debate on the number of Avvaiyars who have lived in the past in Tamil Nadu.

1 min

No lead, T'ppur triple murder probe transferred to CB-CID

NEARLY three months after three members of a family were murdered near Avinashipalayam in Tiruppur district, the state government has transferred the investigation to CB-CID.

1 min

After controversial clip, DMK replaces Dharmapuri East in-charge with MP

DMK general secretary Duraimurugan on Tuesday announced that Dharmapuri MP A Mani will replace P Dharmaselvan, as in-charge of the party's Dharmapuri (East) unit.

1 min

Kotturpuram double murder: Seven arrested

POLICE on Tuesday arrested seven persons, including two juveniles, in connection with the Kotturpuram double murder case in which two history-sheeters were hacked to death.

1 min

Govt school HM suspended after video of two girl students cleaning toilet goes viral

THE district education department placed the headmistress of a panchayat union elementary school in Karur district under suspension after a video featuring two girl students cleaning a toilet on the campus went viral online.

1 min

Baby 'brought dead' to hosp sparks infanticide suspicion

Docs alert police after family tries to flee with body from hospital

1 min

K'taka minority quota in contracts bill tabled

LAW and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil on Tuesday tabled the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Assembly to provide 4% reservation for people, including Muslims and other minorities, under Category 2B of Backward Classes while awarding government contracts for civil works.

1 min

SC bins NGT ban on Auroville Township project

The Supreme Court on Monday set aside the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) barring the Auroville Foundation from undertaking developmental activities in their township in Puducherry.

1 min

T'gana Assembly Passes SC Sub-Categorisation Bill

As per the proposed law, 59 sub-castes will be divided into three groups

1 min

WHEN FANTASTIC FUTURES BECOME HISTORY FORETOLD

N The Man in the High Castle (1962), author Philip K Dick imagines an alternative history where the Axis powers win the Second World War, and the US is divided between Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

3 mins

Three Ways Out Of Delimitation Labyrinth

Dislocation between economic prosperity and political clout poses an existential threat to India. Kicking the problem to the future would be abdication of patriotic duty

4 mins

No Discrimination Against Farmers of Any State: Shivraj

AGRICULTURE Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the Centre will not discriminate against farmers from any state, be it from Kerala or Karnataka, if a natural disaster strikes.

1 min

Uproar over Modi's Maha Kumbh remarks

PRIME Minister Modi on Tuesday hailed the recent Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj saying that it gave a befitting response to those who questioned India's collective strength to organise such a large congregation.

1 min

Sitharaman says govt committed to Manipur peace

FINANCE Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to restoring normalcy in Manipur and pushing for the state's economic growth.

1 min

Modi Shares Trump's Commitment to Peace, Says Gabbard

STRESSING that 'America first' doesn't mean 'America alone,' United States National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares President Donald Trump's commitment to peace.

1 min

Jaishankar Calls Out 'Double Standard' Of West On Kashmir

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday criticised the West's double standards on the Kashmir issue, pointing out that what was originally seen as an \"invasion\" had been reframed as a \"dispute.\"

1 min

Punctuality ‘on track’ as Vaishnaw tears into Oppn

RAILWAY Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday dismissed Opposition allegations regarding train punctuality, informing the Lok Sabha that 32 railway divisions have achieved over 90% punctuality while 17 out of 68 divisions maintain more than 80% punctuality.

1 min

Sonia seeks ₹400 daily wage, 150 workdays a yr under rural job scheme

CONGRESS leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday accused the BJP-led Centre of systematically undermining the rural employment guarantee scheme MGNREGA, and demanded raising the minimum wage under it to ₹400 per day and the number of guaranteed workdays to 150 a year.

1 min

Centre to revive tradition of Kamba Ramayana

WITH an aim to preserve and promote the Kamba Ramayana, one of the most significant works in Tamil literature, the Ministry of Culture on Tuesday launched a comprehensive initiative; a festival, which is a series of performances, workshops, symposia, and educational competitions to ensure that future generations can connect with the epic text.

1 min

SC asks EC to examine pleas seeking disclosure of turnout data in 48 hours

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to examine pleas seeking disclosure of final authenticated data of voter turnout in all polling stations within 48 hours of the polling.

1 min

District units to be focal point of party organisation: Cong; meet on March 27

THE Congress will hold a meeting of District Congress Committees from across the country for three days ahead of its All India Congress Committee session on April 8 and 9 in Ahmedabad.

1 min

Sambhal admin denies nod to traditional mela

THE western UP district of Sambhal has been in the news for quite some time for reasons galore.

1 min

Gujarat village awaits Sunita return from space

THE ancestral Gujarat village of American astronaut of Indian origin Sunita Williams eagerly awaits her return to Earth. Her homecoming has sparked joy worldwide, more so in the small village of Jhulasan in Kadi, Mehsana, where her family is already celebrating her anticipated arrival.

1 min

3 Given Death as Dehuli Gets Justice After 44 Yrs of Massacre of 24 Dalits

A special court of Mainpuri in central UP sentenced three persons to death for the massacre of 24 Dalits in Dehuli village of Jasrana in Firozabad district 44 years ago.

1 min

PM writes to Sunita, invites her to visit India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who is scheduled to return to Earth early on Wednesday after a nine-month stay at the International Space Station, and invited her to visit India.

1 min

ED Summons Lalu in Land-for-Job Scam Case Today

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad has been asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday for questioning in the money laundering case linked to land-for-job scam in the Railways.

1 min

₹80 cr gold, diamond watches, ₹1.37 cr cash seized in Gujarat raid

THE Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Gujarat ATS raided a flat in Ahmedabad and unearthed 87.92 kg of smuggled gold bars worth ₹80 crore, many bearing foreign markings, officials said on Tuesday.

1 min

Taking a cue from Chhaava film, Nagpur attack planned: Fadnavis

CM says movie fuelled anger against Aurangzeb, action will be taken over attacks on police

2 mins

Nest for future: U'khand's forests set to flourish with bird-friendly flora

IN a groundbreaking move to enhance avian habitats, the research wing of Uttarakhand's forest department is embarking on an ambitious plan to cultivate tree, shrub and vine species favoured by birds for feeding.

1 min

Sunita to return, capsule carrying her undocks ISS, splashdown today

NASA's two stuck astronauts headed back to Earth with SpaceX on Tuesday to close out a dramatic marathon mission that began with a bungled Boeing test flight more than nine months ago.

1 min

Shock & anger as Israel resumes bombing of Gaza after truce fails

UN demands Israel resume deliveries of food, medicine, fuel to Gaza's 2.1 million people

1 min

Zopper aims to end FY25 with ₹500-cr revenue

INSURTECH start-up Zopper aims to end this fiscal year with a ₹500-crore revenue, coming on back of a strong 55%-60% growth in its premiums across key lines of business.

1 min

Development Fee Hike For All Fliers Sought By MIAL

The Adani-run Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) has proposed a sharp hike in user development fees (UDF) for passengers.

1 min

Infosys Expands Base in Nordic Region; Opens 2 Offices in Sweden

IT services company Infosys has expanded its presence in the Nordic region by inaugurating two new offices in Älmhult and Helsingborg, Sweden.

1 min

Make in India is working, believe in it: Sitharaman

BRUSHING aside the opposition criticism of the 'Make in India' programme, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the scheme is yielding \"good results\" as the government has taken multiple steps to strengthen the manufacturing sector, including defence production.

1 min

Hinduja keen to raise IndusInd stake, silent on fund infusion

ASHOK Hinduja, the chairman of IndusInd International Holdings, which is the promoter of the troubled IndusInd Bank, has said it is an \"opportune time to increase the stake\" in the lender as and when the regulator permits, but remained silent on immediate fund infusion into the bank following the forex derivatives losses-induced crisis.

1 min

LIC to Decide on Health Insurance Foray by Month-End

LIFE Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is hopeful of finalising its plans to enter the health insurance space by acquiring a stake in an operational company by the end of the month.

2 mins

Maha, Guj biggest beneficiaries of PLI scheme; eastern states fail to cash in

MAHARASHTRA has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, with 212 approved manufacturing units under the initiative.

1 min

Be prepared for 2nd jump in car prices from April this year

TOP car manufacturers in India, including Tata Motors, Kia India and Maruti Suzuki have announced significant price hikes for their vehicles starting next month.

1 min

Market at 2-month high; Nifty up 1.5%

Stocks surge on global cues, value buying; investor wealth jumps ₹7 lakh crore to ₹400 lakh crore

1 min

Rift wide open as BFI chief suspends secy and treasurer

THE Boxing Federation of India election is getting more and more intriguing and messier.

3 mins

Runner Archana gets four-year doping ban

INDIA's long-distance runner Archana Jadhav was on Tuesday banned for four years owing to a failed dope test in January, the findings of which she did not contest despite repeated reminders, prompting World Athletics to deem her actions as acceptance of guilt.

1 min

PTPA launches series of cases against tennis bodies

A TENNIS union co-founded by Novak Djokovic on Tuesday announced a series of legal actions aimed at the sport's governing bodies, alleging \"anticompetitive restraints and abusive practices\".

1 min

Five minutes with Sharath: Playing India's top paddler weeks before his swansong

WITHIN the broad world of sports journalism, there exists a niche form of writing. Participatory journalism. It's when scribes duel with athletes — professionals with records under the belt — to get a first-hand look into what it's like to face some of the best in the world.

3 mins

Devices of Hope

BEHIND THE SCIENCE essie Virginia Griffin, better known as Bessie Blount, was an American physiotherapist, inventor, and pioneering figure in the field of healthcare, particularly for people with disabilities.

1 min

FEELINGS 90 100 0010,100 010900 0 OF ΑΙ

Researchers test Artificial Intelligence's emotional D responses in mental healthcare, exposing GPT-4 to different emotional conditions to test reaction

2 mins

A PENCHANT FOR PENS

This is a story that takes us a few decades back, familiarises with the history, the makers and making of Ranga Pens one that made rounds at the Chennai Pen Show

3 mins

LOCKED IN THE MOMENT

WE'VE all wondered how barely any pictures or juicy insider info have ever leaked from weddings like Virat-Anushka's or DeepikaRanveer's.

3 mins

Blazing reeds and beating drums

OME instruments whisper. The nagaswaram doesn't. With its powerful, resonant sound, this wind instrument isn't just heard—it commands attention.

2 mins

FEEDING THE FUTURE

THE world of baby food is a minefield of conflicting advice. One side swears by age-old traditions-ragi porridge, sprouted grains, and homemade ghee while the other promotes modern nutrition trends like baby-led weaning and protein packed purées.

3 mins

STAY HEALTHY WHILE SEDANTARY

SEDENTARY lifestyle is a type of an inactive behaviour status of the individuals, such as sitting, watching television, playing digital games, using a computer, social media, and office works that results in more fast foods and high-calorie nutrient intakes, the studies, and outcomes of the sedentary lifestyle and behaviour and its effect on the health status of the age groups have been determined as well as the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle on chronic diseases such as obesity and overweight, type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, mental health conditions, autism, and depression.

2 mins

A concerted effort

INDIA Vision Institute (IVI) has announced a partnership with Plastic Odyssey they will explore the feasibility of making spectacle frames, cases and accessories from recycled plastic waste.

1 min

A concerted effort

NDIA Vision Institute (IVI) has announced a partnership with Plastic Odyssey—they will explore the feasibility of making spectacle frames, cases and accessories from recycled plastic waste.

1 min

THE KIDS ARE NOT ALRIGHT

THE first thing I did after watching Adolescence was call up my young niece, urging her to check it out immediately.

3 mins

'I THOUGHT BANDIT QUEEN WOULD BE MY LAST FILM'

Seema Biswas discusses her role in the upcoming Tamil series Om Kali Jai Kali, her renowned characters, acting in plays versus films and web series, typecasting in Indian cinema, her Bengali comeback, and more

4 mins

Sam Wrench to Direct The Idolmaker Remake

After directing Taylor Swift: Eras Tour, live event and documentary filmmaker Sam Wrench has found his next project.

1 min

Pamela Anderson Onboards Place to Be

After playing a glamorous showgirl in her comeback film, The Last Showgirl, Pamela Anderson has landed another project.

1 min

Happy Gilmore 2 To Release In July

Adam Sandler returns to the golf course after 29 years with Happy Gilmore 2, the sequel to his 1996 film Happy Gilmore.

1 min

Read all stories from The New Indian Express Chennai

The New Indian Express Chennai Newspaper Description:

The New Indian Express Chennai is an English-language daily newspaper published in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the most popular English newspapers in Tamil Nadu, covering a wide range of topics, including:

* Local news: The New Indian Express Chennai covers all aspects of local news in Chennai, from politics and crime to business and entertainment.
* State news: The newspaper also covers news from across Tamil Nadu, including government policies, development projects, and social issues.
* National news: The New Indian Express Chennai also covers national news and events, including politics, business, and economy.
* International news: The newspaper also covers international news and events, with a focus on South Asia and the Indian diaspora.
* Culture and entertainment: The New Indian Express Chennai also features articles on culture, entertainment, and lifestyle.

The New Indian Express Chennai is known for its in-depth reporting, investigative journalism, and editorial independence. It is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to stay informed about the latest news and developments in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and India.