The New Indian Express Chennai - October 23, 2024

In this issue

October 23, 2024

MODI, XI TALKS TODAY

● Bilateral dialogue before BRICS Summit opens at Russia's Kazan, says government ● Need to restore mutual trust to go back to status quo ante: Army Chief Gen Dwivedi

2 mins

Appoint nodal officer for better PMLA probes, ED tells TN police

Official sources said a proposal has been sent to the Tamil Nadu government for appointing a nodal officer. Since TN police doesn't have a nodal officer, the ED relies on open sources and media reports to launch money laundering investigations, sources said.

1 min

Solar scheme fails to shine in TN, only 18K applicants in six months

THE installation of domestic rooftop solar plants under the PM Surya Ghar Scheme in Tamil Nadu is facing poor response from consumers with only 70,122 registering for the scheme and just 18,032 applications submitted so far.

2 mins

40 more flights get bomb threats

HOAX bomb threats continued to keep the security agencies on their toes and inconvenience passengers on Tuesday as about 40 more flights received threat emails.

1 min

Meet on Waqf turns ugly as TMC member smashes bottle

THE meeting of the Joint Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill witnessed high-voltage drama on Tuesday as Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee smashed a glass bottle during a heated exchange of words with BJP member and former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, injuring himself in the process.

1 min

Fake PSTM certs: HC permits DVAC to search varsities if docus are denied

EXPRESSING displeasure over the non-cooperation of four varsities in the investigation being conducted by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) into the alleged issuance of fake Persons Studied under Tamil Medium (PSTM) certificates, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court permitted the investigation agency to expand the scope of the probe and add those who are suppressing material documents as offenders in the case.

1 min

Coimbatore NGO keeps injured monkey as pet in ABC centre

AN injured baby Bonnet Macaque, rescued from Vellore about 10 months back, was found housed as a pet in the Coimbatore city corporation's Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre run by local NGO Prani Mithran, illegally.

2 mins

TRB directed to fix qualification for spl edu teachers

EXPRESSING concern over the mounting vacancies for special education teachers in government-aided and recognised schools in the state under the Inclusive Education for the Disabled in Secondary Stage (IEDSS), the Madras High Court has directed the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) to prescribe qualifications for recruitment in accordance with the guide-

1 min

Lower courts, cops asked to peruse each other's reports

Noting a huge difference in the data furnished by the lower courts and the police relating to the filing of charge sheets and committal of cases in lower courts, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed both sides to peruse each other's reports and submit their remarks before October 25.

1 min

TN to set up war room to prevent maternal deaths

Decision taken during first task force meeting; 74% deaths occurred during postnatal period

1 min

NRHM nurses eligible for paid maternity leave

CHENNAI: Ruling that the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 prevails over the contractual conditions, the Madras High Court has held that nurses appointed for the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) are eligible for 270 days of paid leave for maternity.

1 min

Three held for assaulting guard at Mamallapuram

The Mamallapuram police arrested three people, including two women, on Tuesday on charges of assaulting a private security person at the entrance of Pancha Rathas in Mamallapuram on Sunday evening.

1 min

By & for women: 250 pink autos to hit city

THE state government will partially fund 'pink autorickshaws' that will be operated by women in Chennai to ensure the safe travel of women and children.

1 min

No seizures, cattle have free run in Tambaram corpn

STRAY cattle continue to have a free run in areas under Tambaram corporation as the civic body suspended fines and seizures since June, according to official sources. Up until June this year, 348 stray cattle were captured, following which the drive was put on hold owing to 'practical difficulties' which include lack of manpower.

1 min

Buy Deepavali kits for ₹499 at Amudham shops

IN an attempt to control price hikes of essential items in the open market, the Food Department on Tuesday introduced the Amudham Plus grocery kit, weighing 3.8 kg and priced at ₹499.

1 min

DMK govt scuttling oppn party protests, meetings: Edappadi

THE DMK government's aim is to create hurdles to other political parties and try to stop their meetings and demonstrations, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said at Konganapuram on Tuesday. He was replying to a question from reporters on alleged police restrictions to actor Vijay's political party TVK's first public meeting in Vikravandi.

1 min

Delivery video: Police complaint filed against doc, YouTuber Irfan

A show cause notice has been issued to YouTuber Irfan, who cut the umbilical cord of his newborn, and a police complaint was filed against him and the doctor for permitting non-medical persons inside the operation theatre at a private hospital in Chennai, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Tuesday.

1 min

NGO alleges land grab by min's kin; firm 'owned by' sons slaps legal notice

ANTI-CORRUPTION NGO Arappor Iyakkam on Tuesday alleged Dairy Minister RS Rajakannappan's family of grabbing close to five acres of government land in a prime location near Alandur metro station on GST Road, worth approximately ₹411 crore in the market. It sent a complaint to the DVAC demanding action against the minister.

1 min

CM slams EPS, says DMK's popularity intact, party will win '26 election too

Palaniswami mortgaged TN's honour, AIADMK's support too declined under him, says Stalin

2 mins

Assembly session live telecast only after ensuring decorum: Speaker

ASSEMBLY Speaker M Appavu has said live telecasting of house sessions, as promised by the DMK in its electoral manifesto, will be possible only after ensuring that MLAs refrain from using unparliamentary language.

1 min

Police warn of online cracker sale fraud

THE Tamil Nadu police's cyber crime wing has warned people to beware of an online cracker sale fraud wherein dubious websites offer crackers at discounted rates but later abscond with the money.

1 min

TN writes to S rly, seeks spl trains for Deepavali

AFTER analysing transport demand from previous years during Deepavali, the state transport department has requested the Southern Railway to operate special trains from Chennai to Thanjavur, Nagercoil and Madurai on October 29 in the evening and on October 30 in the morning.

1 min

Erode receives 112 mm of rain, key roads inundated

HEAVY rain lashed Erode on Tuesday disrupting normal life. Due to the rain, district administration had also declared holiday for schools.

1 min

Chopper over MTR: Tribunal warns officials

THE southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has cautioned the forest department and Nilgiris district administration after a private helicopter flew over the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) and Mukurthi National Park in violation of norms. The incident, which occurred on December 27, 2023, prompted NGT to register a suo motu case.

1 min

Nodal officers trained by ED to spot cases for PMLA probe

PMLA is invoked to attach the proceeds of such crimes. Cases registered by other LEAs like CBI, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) also act as predicate offences.

1 min

Students ask for matches at excise office for ganja, caught

STUDY tour from school turned a messy business for a group of higher secondary students after the boys accidentally entered the Narcotic Enforcement Squad office in Adimaly mistakenly thinking it as a workshop and sought for matchbox to light up their beedi rolled with ganja.

1 min

Fake website created to cheat med students, says K'giri college dean

FOLLOWING some miscreants creating a fake website in the name of Government Krishnagiri Medical College Hospital (GKMCH) and cheating MBBS aspirants, the college dean lodged a police complaint at the Krishnagiri cyber crime on Monday.

1 min

Cloud burst hits Yelahanka, 10 layouts, 4,000 homes flooded

Disaster response teams deploy boats to rescue 3,000 residents

2 mins

NETANYAHU: THE MAN AND HIS MISSION

With the world waiting for Israel's response to attacks from Iran and its proxies, it's essential to understand the anxieties and convictions that drive its leader, Bibi Netanyahu

4 mins

FOCUSING ON STATES TO ACHIEVE A VIKSIT BHARAT

THERE has been a growing realisation of the need to accelerate economic growth at the state level to take the Indian economy to a higher growth path. At NITI Aayog's ninth meeting of the governing council on July 27, Narendra Modi observed that states could play an active role in achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047. Even earlier, at NITI Aayog's governing council meeting on June 15, 2019, the PM had appealed to the states to recognise their core competence and work towards making India a $5-trillion economy.

3 mins

SMALL SATELLITE CITIES ARE A BETTER SOLUTION TO URBAN CONGESTION

QUIETLY but surely, a string of satellite cities have come up dotting India's urbanscape in recent decades. These offer affordable housing and jobs that help decongest the old, creaking megalopolises. Gurugram and Navi Mumbai come to mind first.

1 min

EXTEND SOCIAL SECURITY FOR WORKERS IN ODISHA

A rapid structural change in the economy notwithstanding, social security continues to elude a large chunk of the labour force in Odisha. Two reports, completely different in scope and objective, give a clear picture of the situation.

1 min

SC says 171 encounters in Assam 'very serious'

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday described the matter concerning 171 police encounters in Assam from May 2021 to August 2022 as “very serious”, noting that such petitions “could not be brushed aside as premature.”

2 mins

Teesta can go abroad to attend film festival: SC

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted social activist Teesta Setalvad to travel from November 14 to 24 to attend the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam.

1 min

Rlys widens search for specialised technical staff

TO address specialised technical requirements, the Ministry of Railways has announced that it will recruit officers for the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) through both the Civil Service Examination (CSE) and the Engineering Service Examination (ESE) conducted by the UPSC starting next year. From 2022 to 2024, the recruitment was solely through civil services.

1 min

Clamour for relook as 35 of 66 BJP candidates are turncoats

AS many as 35 of the 66 BJP candidates in the Jharkhand Assembly polls are turncoats, upsetting the party workers who say their credibility is being doubted within the party. Besides, many of the close relatives of some top politicians have managed to get tickets, putting BJP workers in a tight spot over their plank of dynastic politics.

1 min

BJP's minority outreach: 26L members brought to saffron party fold during drive

MORE than 26 lakh people from minority communities, including a large number of Muslims, have become members of the BJP during its nationwide membership drive. Nearly six lakh people from minority communities have taken memberships offline. So far, the party has managed to rope in more than 10 crore members.

1 min

On 19th year, RTI reels under vacant positions amid uptick in complaints

A year after the Supreme Court directed the Central and the state governments to take immediate steps to fill the vacancies in the Central Information Commission (CIC) and state information commissions (SICs), the transparency watchdog is functioning with reduced capacity, leading to inordinate delays in resolving RTI cases and backlog of complaints.

2 mins

15-seat Maha hurdle between Congress and Uddhav sorted?

THE opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi on Tuesday decided to iron out its differences over seat-sharing by negotiating the disputed seats for the Maharashtra assembly polls.

2 mins

Budgam village loses the healer in terror attack

WE have lost the healer and an honest man,\" said Abdul Gaffar, an elderly resident of Nadigam village of central Kashmir's Budgam district. Dr Shahnawaz was among seven persons killed on Sunday in the terror attack on a workers' camp at an under-construction site belonging to APCO Infratech company at Gagangir in central Kashmir's Ganderbal.

2 mins

Prosecution sanction against Ram Rahim in sacrilege cases okayed

DAYS after the Supreme Court vacated a stay on the prosecution of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government on Tuesday gave the prosecution sanction for the controversial sect head in three sacrilege cases of 2015.

1 min

Charges framed against MLA over CAA protest

A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday framed charges against activist-turned-MLA Akhil Gogoi and three of his associates for their alleged role during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests in Assam.

1 min

Oppn plans to take up RG Kar against Mamata in 6 bypolls

WITH by-elections to six Assembly seats in West Bengal scheduled for November 13, the Opposition parties have decided to corner the ruling Trinamool Congress over the RG Kar incident, in which a 31-year-old post graduate student was raped and murdered while on duty. The EC announced bypolls for Sitai (SC), Madarihat (ST), Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, and Taldangra, as their MLAs have contested and won seats in the Lok Sabha.

1 min

Shah's big push for coop sector

Minister says govt to set up 2 lakh new farm credit societies to empower rural communities

2 mins

Oppn plans to take up RG Kar against Mamata in 6 bypolls

WITH by-elections to six Assembly seats in West Bengal scheduled for November 13, the Opposition parties have decided to corner the ruling Trinamool Congress over the RG Kar incident, in which a 31-year-old post graduate student was raped and murdered while on duty. The EC announced bypolls for Sitai (SC), Madarihat (ST), Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, and Taldangra, as their MLAs have contested and won seats in the Lok Sabha.

1 min

Of 193 Maoists killed in encounter with security forces in Bastar, 68 women

CHHATTISGARH has witnessed more casualties of women Maoist cadres than any other Indian state. The outlawed CPI (Maoist) is believed to be most active in Chhattisgarh where they have been waging a war on the security forces for nearly four decades.

1 min

Powerful blast at Jabalpur ordnance factory kills 2 workers, injures 15 others

A powerful blast inside the Ordnance Factory Khamaria (OFK) premises in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh killed at least two workers and wounded 15 others on Tuesday.

1 min

Maduro's ex-oil czar in dock for sharing secret

VENEZUELA's top prosecutor on Monday announced the arrest of a former oil minister and accused him of working with the US government to undermine the industry that drives the country's economy.

1 min

China-Vatican deal on bishop appointment extended

CHINA said on Tuesday it agreed to extend for four years a deal with the Vatican concerning the appointment of bishops.

1 min

Afridi chosen Pak chief justice, not seniormost Shah

THE Special Parliamentary Committee constituted to decide on the appointment of Pakistan's next chief justice on Tuesday agreed on the name of Justice Yayha Afridi as the new top judge.

2 mins

New Zealand airport imposes 3 min cuddle cap for drop off

EMOTIONAL farewells are a common sight at airports, but travelers leaving the New Zealand city of Dunedin will have to be quick. A new three-minute time limit on goodbye hugs in the airport's drop-off area is intended to prevent lingering cuddles from causing traffic jams.

1 min

Blinken asks Israel to capitalise on Sinwar's death for Gaza ceasefire

He pressed for more aid to be allowed as concerns rise for civilians

2 mins

Two men plead guilty to murder of Air India bombing accused

TWO men accused of killing Ripudaman Singh Malik, a Sikh man acquitted in the tragic 1985 Air India Kanishka terrorist bombing case, have pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a Canadian court, according to media reports.

1 min

Ukraine peace talks tied to US presidential polls

UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the prospect of peace talks with Russia \"depends\" on the outcome of next month's US presidential election.

1 min

Hyundai Motor shares plunge 7% on debut

SHARES of Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) made a tepid debut on the stock exchanges on Tuesday as they were listed at ₹1,934 on NSE, a discount of 1.3% to the issue price of ₹1,960. On BSE, the shares were listed at ₹1,931, down 1.5%.

1 min

BSNL not to raise tariff in near future, says CMD

STATE-owned telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has said that it won't increase tariffs in the near future even though all its private peers have raised tariffs by up to 25%.

1 min

Shrinking middle class dragging volumes growth: Nestle chairman

THE fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector is facing challenges as inflation continues to drag volume growth. Chairman and managing director of Nestle Suresh Narayanan blames it on the “shrinking” middle class.

1 min

Allianz seeks to exit JVs with Bajaj insurance

ON a day the insurance regulator has invited all companies, both domestic and foreign, to set up more insurance ventures in the country, one of the oldest JV partners — the Allianz group of Germany, which has two joint ventures with the Bajaj Group in the life and general insurance spaces — said it wants to exit.

1 min

India strong amid global economic challenges: FM

DESPITE challenges in the global economic environment, India is in a strong position to leverage new growth prospects, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at an address at the Columbia University.

1 min

Reliance Infra to set up ₹10K cr ammunition unit

ANIL Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure on Tuesday announced it would set up India's largest integrated project for manufacturing explosives, ammunition, and small arms at an investment of ₹10,000 crore in Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.

1 min

Only structure realigned, no cut in agent fees: LIC chief

AMID threats of a nationwide strike by its agents to force LIC not to change their commission structure or lower the fees, the national insurer has denied any plans to do so. The insurer also said the new surrender value norms will not impact its margins as it has already tweaked its products.

2 mins

Markets crash as FII sell-off continues

Foreign investors shift to cheaper markets amid weak Q2 earnings, stronger bond yield & dollar

2 mins

Adani group to acquire 46.8% stake in Orient Cement for ₹8,100 crore

ADANI Group's Ambuja Cements on Tuesday announced the signing of a binding agreement for the acquisition of Orient Cement Ltd (OCL) at an equity value of ₹8,100 crore. Ambuja will acquire 46.8% shares of OCL from its current promoters and public shareholders at ₹395.4 apiece. This acquisition would trigger an Open Offer, under which Ambuja will acquire an additional 26% stake at the same share price of ₹395.4 apiece.

1 min

SARFARAZ VS RAHUL FOR ONE SPOT

AT any given point of time, at least one Indian middle-order batter is in constant scrutiny. Over the last few years, that particular mantle has been occupied by the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill. It's now time for this particular spotlight to shine on KL Rahul.

3 mins

Bates & Martin, the Bert & Ernie of NZ cricket

CONVENTIONALLY speaking, Bert and Ernie are two Muppet characters who appear together on the PBS children's television show called Sesame Street. Both of these characters have been part of one of the most beloved shows since its inception. Who are these two? Simply put, Bert and Ernie are best friends and they are always by each other's side. They go on adventures, learn a thing or two in an episode, and interact with guests but all of this by remaining together. You cannot separate one from the other. Suzie Bates and Katey Martin are the Bert and Ernie of New Zealand cricket and even when one of them has replaced wicketkeeping gloves for commentary mic, they are still standing together like they did when the journey started in Dunedin, Otago.

2 mins

ISL: Fall rises to lift Odisha

MOURTADA Fall scored the decisive goal as Odisha FC condemned East Bengal to their sixth consecutive defeat in the ongoing season of the ISL, here on Tuesday.

1 min

Double delight for swimmer Maanya

CHENNAI'S Maanya Mukta Manesh bagged a double while Kancheepuram's Danush S lived up to his favourite status in the college swimming competition at the CM Trophy 2024.

1 min

Sporting fraternity not happy with CGF move

THE Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) officially announced that Glasgow will be hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

2 mins

THE BALANCE IS BROKEN!

In 'saving' Blue Water, and neglecting Green Water, humankind has put a dent in the laws of nature, as the water cycle, for the first time in recorded history, has gone off balance

3 mins

Impressions of Chettinad mores

EVERY corner of The Folly, Amethyst was loaded with aesthetics on Monday as we entered the venue lured by the aroma of filter coffee served in a davara set five-foot wooden cupboards with glass doors, brass utensils, lantern-shaped chandeliers, wooden cradles, and rows of fashionable attires inspired by the heritage of Chettinad. The outfits are part of 'Payanam', the latest collection by Anavila, a luxury womenswear brand.

2 mins

Sips of success

FROM the vibrant petals of floral arrangements to the rich aroma of spiced chai, Navanethan Ponniah's entrepreneurial journey is an example of adaptability and innovation. His transition from the floral business to creating chai-making machines showcases creativity. What began with crafting beautiful bouquets for South Asian weddings evolved into a quest to bring the comforting taste of chai to the Canadian market.

2 mins

M-powering

Transitioning from a drab healthy alternative to a trending everyday superfood, millets have emerged as a popular choice of grain

2 mins

Culinary heritage preserved in GI tags

TAMIL Nadu is known for its rich cultural heritage, which is reflected in its food history too. The state is a foodie's dream destination with each region giving a unique gastronomic experience. This vibrant food scene includes festival delicacies, temple prasadams, street food, and snacks made from the finest local and seasonal ingredients making each dish a culinary masterpiece.

2 mins

Beyond the Boundary

LIFE doesn't always give you second chances, but when you get one, you ought to make the best Tamil appearance, Swaswika has now made a smashing comeback with the sports drama Lubber Pandhu, in which her performance has garnered unanimous appreciation.

3 mins

Peter Dinklage joins Roofman

THE cast of the upcoming film Roofman is getting bigger with the addition of Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage.

1 min

Tom Holland to star in Christopher Nolan's next?

PREVIOUSLY, we reported that Christopher Nolan has set his next film at Universal Studios, with Matt Damon cast in a prominent role.

1 min

I'VE LEARNT A LOT FROM STAR'S MIXED REVIEWS

Kavin speaks about his upcoming release, Bloody Beggar, creating the look of his character, competing with films like Amaran and Brother, and more

3 mins

Sharon Stone and Lily Gladstone join cast of In Memoriam

EARLIER, we reported that actor-stand up comedian Marc Maron is starring in a film titled In Memoriam, an independent comedy from writer-director Rob Burnett. The latest development about the project is that Sharon Stone and Lily Gladstone are all set to join the cast.

1 min

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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:

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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.