Tamil Nadu must step up its preparations for the northeast monsoon, which is crucial to the State’s water needs but often brings heavy rain, flooding and disruption to daily life. With Chennai and several other districts vulnerable to waterlogging, overflowing drains and inundated roads, advance planning is essential to minimise the impact of intense rainfall. The focus must be on prevention rather than emergency response after flooding occurs. The State government and local bodies should prioritise desilting stormwater drains, clearing canals and waterways, removing garbage from drainage systems and identifying flood-prone areas. In Chennai, where rapid urbanisation and encroachments…
Author: Agency
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning on October 23 in a money-laundering investigation linked to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL). Officials said Vijayan had been asked to appear at the agency’s Kochi office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The case follows a Kerala High Court direction to the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register a case based on material submitted by the ED. The agency has alleged that CMRL made payments totalling Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company owned by Vijayan’s daughter Veena, under…
NEW DELHI: Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, has defended his party’s proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march, saying peaceful protests do not hurt businesses but restrictions on movement and internet services do. In a post on X, Dipke said the party had organised peaceful demonstrations in several cities and remained committed to non-violence. He said questioning elected representatives and protesting against injustice were fundamental democratic rights. His remarks came amid a standoff with Delhi Police over the proposed march at Central Park in Connaught Place. Police said permission had not been granted and cited prohibitory orders, while the…
KARWAR: The Indian Navy commissioned Samarthak, its first multi-purpose vessel built by a private shipyard, at a ceremony in Karwar on Friday. Built by Larsen and Toubro at its Kattupalli shipyard in Tamil Nadu, the vessel has more than 75 per cent indigenous content. Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan attended the commissioning ceremony, where Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan highlighted its role in strengthening India’s defence self-reliance. Samarthak will support maritime surveillance, patrols, trials of indigenous weapons and sensors, and operations involving unmanned systems. It is also equipped for towing, firefighting, medical assistance and humanitarian relief missions. It is the first…
LUCKNOW: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday accused the Congress and its allies of seeking a change of government in India along the lines of Bangladesh, alleging that they were using youth protests to create political unrest. Speaking at a press conference, Singh said democratic rights did not permit anyone to undermine constitutional institutions or create disorder. His remarks came amid opposition protests in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition leaders have questioned the transparency of the exercise and expressed concern that eligible…
A new cricket format called Test Twenty will make its debut at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from November 14 to 29, bringing together boys’ and girls’ teams in a competition designed to combine their
ABU DHABI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and a member of the UAE Supreme Council, on Friday to discuss bilateral relations and the situation in the Gulf. Jaishankar, who arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for a three-day visit, said the meeting focused on strengthening India-UAE ties and expanding engagement with the region. During the visit, he also met UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. India and the UAE have expanded cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defence and security, supported by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership…
CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed critical Crew Module-Service Module separation tests for the Gaganyaan mission, a major step towards ensuring astronaut safety during India’s first human spaceflight. The tests validated the separation mechanism and its ability to disconnect electrical and fluid connections before the crew module re-enters Earth’s atmosphere. ISRO also assessed the resilience of key systems, including avionics, navigation equipment and heat shields. The mission aims to send three astronauts into low Earth orbit at an altitude of around 400 km for three to seven days before bringing them safely back to Earth. ISRO is…
Former Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper Aditya Tare has backed Arsenal to win consecutive Premier League titles, expressing confidence that the London club can build on its success under manager Mikel Arteta and establish a