The New Indian Express Chennai - April 18, 2025

In this issue

April 18, 2025

Chennai's real estate boom spurs new urban growth axis

Housing sales rose by 10% in the first quarter, thanks to MPR and PTR commercial corridors. At 2.6 mn sq.ft, nearly 10% of India's total activity in green-certified office spaces happened in Chennai

3 mins

RBI rate cut gives cost-conscious buyers shot at their dream homes

ANPAT Singh Meena spent nearly a decade renting a house in Chennai. Now, with interest rates nudging lower, the 40-year-old central government employee believes the moment has come to make the leap from tenant to homeowner.

2 mins

RBI Rate Cut Gives Cost-Conscious Buyers Shot at Their Dream Homes

ANPAT Singh Meena spent nearly a decade renting a house in Chennai. Now, with interest rates nudging lower, the 40-year-old central government employee believes the moment has come to make the leap from tenant to homeowner.

2 mins

Own a piece of Avadi, Chennai's next hub

N Tamil, the word 'Aa' means cow and legend has it that Avadi got its name from the abundance of cows once found here.

1 min

HC asks cops to book Ponmudy for 'hate speech' before Apr 23

SLAMMING Minister for Forests K Ponmudy for his \"derogatory\" speech against Hindu religious sects, the Madras HC on Thursday instructed the Tamil Nadu police to register an FIR against him for the \"hate speech\" and inform the court by April 23.

2 mins

World's tallest Muruga statue in TN soon

IN a move that may evoke both support and dissent, the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE), PK Sekarbabu on Thursday announced the plan to install three statues for Lord Muruga, including an 184-foot-tall one at Marudhamalai in Coimbatore, which will be the world's tallest.

2 mins

'N-missile': V-P raps SC on setting Prez timeline

IN a stunning broadside on the judiciary, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday chided the Supreme Court for setting timelines for the President to decide on Bills referred by the Governor.

1 min

India Rubbishes K-Claim By Pak

INDIA on Thursday firmly rejected Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir's statement calling Kashmir the country's \"jugular vein\", dismissing it as baseless and asserting that Pakistan's only connection to the region is its illegal occupation, which it must end.

1 min

Govt buys time with status quo promise

Centre to file preliminary affidavit on Waqf Act in a week

1 min

Conservationists laud TN for enforcing Nimesulide ban

VULTURE conservationists across the globe lauded the TN government for leading the country in enforcing the ban on painkiller Nimesulide in the state.

1 min

Govt reply sought on plea for CB-CID probe into woman's suicide

THE Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Thursday sought counter affidavit from Tamil Nadu police in a petition filed by a SC woman seeking CB-CID investigation into the death of her sister, who died by suicide in front of Naducauvery police station in Thanjavur on April 8 demanding the release of her brother who was allegedly detained in a 'false' case under Arms Act.

1 min

Day after CM's advice, univ officials trained in skill-oriented edu

A day after CM MK Stalin advised the universities to promote skill-oriented and scientific-based education, the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE) on Thursday organised a training programme for registrars, deputy registrars, controller of examination and deputy controller of examination of the state universities to sensitise them on their roles and duties in achieving the goal.

1 min

Study: Mercury 62 X higher in water near Neyveli mines

TNPCB analysis says contamination likely from fly ash from NLC's plants and mine water discharges; Mercury's ability to bioaccumulate in fish and livestock threatens food chain

2 mins

Two yrs after clash, Melpathi temple opens doors to public

The Shri Dharmaraja Draupathi Amman temple in Melpathi village in the district was reopened on Thursday, a year and 10 months after it was sealed following the attack on a Dalit family by the caste Hindus allegedly for entering the temple.

1 min

NIA Charge-Sheets 5 More in Kovai Car Bomb Blast Case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday charge-sheeted five more people in the 2022 Coimbatore car bomb explosion case, in which the suicide bomber Jameesha Mubin was killed.

1 min

DMK, TVK Claim Credit for SC's Waqf Act Ruling

BOTH the ruling DMK and actor Vijay's TVK are claiming credit for the Supreme Court's interim stay against the Waqf Amendment Act on Thursday.

1 min

Two Arrested in ₹90L Online Investment Scam in Chennai

TWO men, involved in an online investment scam running over ₹90 lakh, have been arrested by the cyber crime police of the Central Crime Branch (CCB).

1 min

Core city witnesses growth of luxury homes

Affluent neighbourhoods of Adyar, Anna Nagar, Nungambakkam, and Kilpauk see wave of redevelopment

1 min

Powerloom weavers' strike will be settled amicably, assure ministers

MINISTERS Thangam Thennarasu and R Gandhi on Thursday assured the Assembly that the state government is taking all necessary steps to resolve the ongoing power-loom weavers' strike in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, stating the issue would be settled amicably soon.

1 min

Violent films, caste posters are fuelling student clashes

VIOLENT films and caste-based posters are fuelling student clashes, State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) member V Kannadasan has said.

1 min

TN Approves Space Policy to Attract ₹10K-Crore Funding, Create 10K Jobs

50% costs incurred by space tech firms during investment period will be reimbursed, says min

2 mins

EPS's no-coalition-govt remark to buy peace at party's EC meet?

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami's firm assertion on Wednesday that his party will not form a coalition government with the BJP and the subsequent reiteration of the same by one of the party's senior leaders and Rajya Sabha MP M Thambidurai have been received by party insiders as measures to ensure that the party executive committee meeting scheduled on May 2 happens smoothly with no public display of disappointment over the AIADMK formally joining the BJP-led NDA last Friday.

1 min

CM Inaugurates AI-Ready Data Centre in Siruseri; Facility Part of Sify's $1.2-Bn TN Investment Plan

Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday launched what is said to be South India's largest AI-ready data centre, developed by Sify Infinit Spaces Ltd, in the Siruseri SIPCOT IT Park.

1 min

Gale Uproots 5,000 Banana Plantations in Thuraiyur

GALE and rain damaged hundreds of banana plantations at Koppampatti, Erakudi and Vadakkipatti villages near Thuraiyur on Wednesday night.

1 min

SL 'pirates' attack Nagai fishers mid-sea, 4 hurt

A group of fishers from Nagapattinam who ventured into the sea in country crafts fitted with outboard motors have been attacked, in two incidents, allegedly by pirates from Sri Lanka.

1 min

Efforts on to rescue abducted bizman: Madurai cops to HC

MADURAI police on Thursday informed the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court that suspects in a case pertaining to the abduction of a businessman, are in Lucknow and steps are being taken to secure them and rescue the victim.

1 min

Caste census: K'taka special meet yields nothing

Cabinet will once again discuss the survey report on May 2 and take a final decision, says Law Minister H K Patil

2 mins

Time For Indian Consumers To Unite And Assert

Consumers rarely come together to claim their rights. The Mumbai Grahak Panchayat offers an example of such mobilisation that has worked for decades

3 mins

Umeed Or Unmaking Of Minorities?

“The past holds us together; why should the present or the future divide us in spirit?” — Jawaharlal Nehru, convocation address at Aligarh Muslim University, January 24, 1948

3 mins

Dawoodi Bohra Leaders Meet Modi Over Waqf Act, Say Key Demands Fulfilled

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting on Thursday with a delegation of leaders from the Dawoodi Bohra community, who conveyed their gratitude to him for the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

1 min

India, China likely to resume direct flights, Kailash yatra

DIRECT flights between India and China may resume soon as both countries are actively working on the necessary technical arrangements to restart the operations.

1 min

Develop swift response protocols for road accident victims, says SC

OBSERVING that road accident victims are on the rise, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed states and union territories to develop swift response protocols so that the accident victims get help at the right time.

1 min

Aadhaar authentication must to mark attendance from May 1, says NMC

To leverage the latest technology and make the attendance process user friendly, the National Medical Commission announced that they have decided to fully shift to face-based Aadhaar authentication for marking attendance.

1 min

Oppn praises SC stand, says legal battle against Waqf Act will continue

THE Opposition, including Congress, on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision of temporarily suspending the key provisions of the Waqf Act, asserting that legal battle against the unconstitutional legislation will continue.

1 min

At WAVES, startups will get a chance to make direct pitch to investors

SELECTED media and entertainment sector startups participating in live pitch session—WaveX (an initiative to provide funding and exposure), a segment of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), will get exclusive entry to phase second of Shark Tank, a business reality television series.

1 min

Urdu, like Hindi, an Indo-Aryan language

Dismissing a plea on Urdu signage, SC says 'language is yardstick to measure civilisational march of a community'

3 mins

New textbook titles rooted in Indian culture, knowledge systems: NCERT

FACING criticism for renaming new textbooks in Hindi, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Thursday said the books have been \"thoughtfully named to convey rootedness in India's culture and knowledge systems.\"

1 min

Tejashwi named GA coordination committee chief

THE first crucial meeting of the Opposition INDIA bloc ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections slated for later this year concluded with the setting up of a coordination committee for its alliance partners helmed by RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.

1 min

Cops on toes after bomb threats to chief secy in HP

The Himachal Pradesh police have been on high alert after the offices of the Mandi Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena received bomb threats via mail on Wednesday.

1 min

Amid Gujarat BJP top deck rejig buzz, key meet in Delhi

POLITICAL temperature spiked Thursday over the possibility of a new BJP chief in Gujarat after a high-stakes meeting of the BJP's top leadership at the Prime Minister's residence in Delhi strategised the party's upcoming organisational elections.

1 min

Sharia over Constitution: BJP stir against minister

JHARKHAND Minority Welfare Minister Hafizul Hasan caused a stir when he said while talking to a news channel on Monday, \"For me, Sharia is more important. We (Muslims) keep the Quran in our chest and the Constitution in our hands. Okay! So, we will first hold the Sharia and then the Constitution.\"

1 min

Mamata Urges Guv Not To Visit Riot-Hit Murshidabad

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not see eye to eye on Thursday regarding the former's proposed visit to riot-hit Murshidabad.

1 min

Army jawan arrested for training accused in attack on Punjab YouTuber home

AN Army jawan has been arrested for allegedly training the accused who lobbed a hand grenade at the residence of a Jalandhar-based YouTuber last month, police said on Thursday.

1 min

Record procurement forces C'garh to auction surplus paddy, Oppn peeved

THE Chhattisgarh government on Thursday began the process of e-auction of surplus paddy after a record procurement of over 149 lakh metric tonne (LMT) on the MSP in the kharif marketing year 2024-25.

1 min

Probe into mystery death of firebrand MP Cong leader reopened after 27 yrs

MORE than 28 years after firebrand Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress leader Sarla Mishra's \"suicidal\" death at her house in Bhopal, a judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) court in Bhopal has ordered the police to reinvestigate the case while observing that earlier investigations appeared to have been incomplete.

1 min

'In communication with US on tariffs'

CHINA on Thursday said it is in 'working-level communication' with the US on the deadlock over their high-intensity tariff war but asserted that the person who 'tied the bell' should untie it.

1 min

Federal Reserve Chair Powell Under Don Fire

PRESIDENT Donald Trump slammed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday, reiterating his frustration that the Fed has not aggressively cut interest rates and saying that the central bank leader's \"termination cannot come fast enough\".

1 min

Harvard's Foreign Intake on Cross Hairs

The Donald Trump administration has threatened to revoke Harvard University's eligibility to enroll international students if it doesn't submit detailed records of the 'illegal and violent activities' of its foreign students.

1 min

Economy: At 4.6%, FY25 inflation lowest since 2018-19

The finance ministry on Thursday said the government's 'strategic interventions' have been pivotal in achieving lower retail inflation, which was at a 6-year low in FY25.

1 min

Adani Ports to acquire Aus terminal for $2.4 bn

ADANI Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ), India's biggest private port operator, announced on Thursday a $2.4 billion non-cash acquisition of a coal export terminal in Australia from a group company.

1 min

Salil Parekh to receive ESOPs worth ₹52 cr

INFOSYS has granted employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) worth ₹51.75 crore to its CEO and MD Salil Parekh in FY25.

1 min

ITC to acquire maker of 24 Mantra Organic products for ₹472 crore

ITC Limited will acquire 100% stake in Sresta Natural Bioproducts Private Limited (SNBPL), a manufacturer of organic packaged food products under the '24 Mantra Organic' brand, for a total consideration of ₹472.50 crore, the Kolkata-headquartered FMCG major said in a press statement.

1 min

Hindustan Unilever assures HC to remove disparaging ads targeting rival Mamaearth

HINDUSTAN Unilever (HUL) assured the Delhi High Court on Thursday to remove from its advertisements for Lakme sunscreen, the alleged disparaging references to competitor Honasa Consumer Ltd's The Derma Co sunscreen.

1 min

Markets gain over 6% in 4 sessions

Investors gain ₹18 lakh crore this week as m-cap surged from ₹401.67 crore to ₹419.60 crore

2 mins

Retail market participation amid global crisis shows strong fundamentals: FM

FINANCE minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the massive surge in retail participation in the Indian equity markets amid global uncertainties is a reflection of the country's strong economic fundamentals.

1 min

Will not allow commercial interest to trump public interest, says Sebi chief

SEBI chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Thursday said the regulator will not let commercial interest trump general public interest in deciding on the share sale plans of country's largest equity bourse, NSE.

1 min

Check Mate: New Dimension In Bats

Over the last five days or so, the on-field umpires have administered a bat gauge test to examine if the willow carried by the batter clears guidelines according to the Indian Premier League 2025 Playing Conditions.

1 min

Sourav overcomes Pankaj Advani, crowned world champ

ACE Indian cueist Sourav Kothari clinched the 2025 IBSF World Billiards title after an emphatic victory over multiple-time winner Pankaj Advani in the final in Carlow, Ireland.

1 min

MCC to lock horns against NTC in final

MADRAS Cricket Club (MCC) 'A' and Nungambakkam Tennis Club (NTC) 'C' will play in the final of the 'A' Zone, after winning their semifinal ties in the 32nd TNTA Chennai City Club league championship.

1 min

Assistant coach Nayar 'shown the door', Team to get new trainer, fielding coach

IN what could be termed as the first major casualty since India's Test debacle at home (0-3 loss against New Zealand) and away (1-3 defeat against hosts Australia), the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has apparently terminated the contract of assistant coach Abhishek Nayar.

2 mins

Slow but steady Mumbai feel at home vs SRH

MI bowlers make hay on sluggish wicket, restrict Sunrisers to just 162; batters make sure no hiccup during chase

3 mins

Arteta's Arsenal Come of Age With Madrid Masterclass

MIKEL Arteta's Arsenal side came of age as they dethroned Champions League kings Real Madrid with ease to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.

2 mins

Software development leaders bullish on agentic AI and its impact

AROUND 92% of software development leaders in India believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents will become as essential to app development as traditional software tools.

1 min

AI & MOBILE GAME DEVELOPMENT

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the mobile game development pipeline by reducing time-to-market and enabling smarter, more responsive design systems.

2 mins

Why Apple's New AI Features Don't Work on Instagram and WhatsApp

Apple has finally launched its Apple Intelligence features in India.

1 min

A Taste of Medieval Charm in Germany

Go off the well-trodden path and explore two of Germany's hidden gems

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.