Chennai News
View News by News Source
Private hospital opens centre for paediatric gut and liver care in Chennai
The centre is equipped to manage a wide spectrum of conditions, from chronic abdominal pain and functional GI disorders to acute emergencies, such as foreign body ingestion and paediatric GI bleeding
Over 1900 incidents of GPS spoofing of aircraft reported in two years: Centre tells Lok Sabha
As many as 1,951 incidents of GPS spoofing and interference with aircraft have been reported across various airports in the country during the two years since November 2023, the government said on Thursday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said, Total GPS interference issues reported (November, 2023 to November, 2025) are 1,951 nos after publication of DGCA circular. The minister said the GPS interference reporting started after the publication of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) advisory circular on November 24, 2023 regarding GNSS interference in airspace. There have been instances of GPS spoofing and interference incidents at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai airports. Global Positioning System (GPS)/ Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spoofing and jamming refers to attempts to manipulate a user's navigation system by giving false signals. According to Mohol, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) identifies GNSS spoofing as a form of International Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) is investigating the matter. On November 10, DGCA Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for real-time reporting of GPS spoofing/ GNSS interference events around the Delhi airport. ICAO GNSS Manual contains the mitigation plan detailing preventive and reactive measures, including frameworks for continuous threat monitoring, risk assessment, and the deployment of mitigation barriers. (With inputs from PTI) GPS spoofing of flights reported at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai: Centre tells RS
BLS International secures renewal of attestation, apostille services contract with MEA
MUMBAI, Dec 11: BLS International Services on Thursday said it has secured the renewal of its contract for attestation and apostille services with the External Affairs Ministry. The renewed contract covers its existing service operations across Delhi, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Panaji, Kochi, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Patna and Puducherry, BLS International said in a statement. Under this agreement, BLS International will provide MEA attestation and apostille services for educational, non-educational, and commercial documents across [] The post BLS International secures renewal of attestation, apostille services contract with MEA appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
TPL 7: Former World No. 23 Damir Dzumhur Lauds Tournaments Global Prominence
Former World No: Two days into Season 7 of the Tennis Premier League (TPL), the leagues expanding international reputation has been strongly validated by players across generations, as former World No. 23 Damir Dzumhur, representing Yash Mumbai Eagles, and young Czech player Dalibor Svrcina of Chennai Smashers shared their initial thoughts on the tournament and offered insights into TPLs growing global reach. Damir Dzumhur, a 33-year-old veteran of the league with experience facing top players like Carlos Alcaraz, stated that he was aware of TPL long before arriving in India. He said, I had spoken to a couple of international players that played TPL in the past and a lot of them told me the management is very good and its very fun being inside the team. I myself have played Davis Cup for my country (Bosnia and Herzegovina) for 15 years so I really enjoy working together as a team. He also praised TPLs unique format while saying, I like how it works with only 25 points a match. This is incredible for someone who wants to start watching Tennis because Grand Slam matches can go for about 4-5 hours and not everyone enjoys that. Its shorter, there is always movement, there is always something happening. Its a lot of fun for people watching, he said. The surface is very nice, the weather is great. Everything we have here to practice and play is really good. Im definitely up to do it again in future years, he concluded. Representing the younger generation of international players experiencing TPL for the first time, Dalibor Svrcina shared similar praise. The 23-year-old Czech player, who recently entered the top 100 rankings said, Its been really good so far. The facilities, hotel and the organisers are good. We feel very welcomed here. As a team we are in the positive numbers. My goal now is to help my team reach the semi-finals. Describing the leagues structure as a welcome change, he stated, Its a very different format, very fast, very fun and entertaining. You see different good players back-to-back so it keeps everything fresh. Its nice even for the fans. Representing the younger generation of international players experiencing TPL for the first time, Dalibor Svrcina shared similar praise. The 23-year-old Czech player, who recently entered the top 100 rankings said, Its been really good so far. The facilities, hotel and the organisers are good. We feel very welcomed here. As a team we are in the positive numbers. My goal now is to help my team reach the semi-finals. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With endorsements from experienced player Damir Dzumhur and rising star Dalibor Svrcina, TPLs broad appeal across different age groups becomes evident. Their experiences show that the league is highly regarded internationally and fulfils its promises once players reach India. As Season 7 advances, TPL solidifies its status as a globally significant, player-orientated, and highly engaging tennis event. Article Source: IANS
Madras Jazz Festival returns to Chennai with an IndiaGermany musical showcase at the Goethe-Institut
Harlem and ZOOM come together for a night of jazz and global collaborations
Tamil Nadu a new GCC magnet with 250+ centres
Chennai alone has 10% of Indias stock, says FICCI-Anarock Report
Jose Charles Martin, son of lottery baron Santiago Martin, has announced his new political outfit will be named Latchiya Jananayaka Katchi. The party will launch on December 14 in Puducherry, aiming to free the Union territory from corruption and divisive forces to establish real democratic governance.
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed confidence that the Thiruparankundram temple issue in Tamil Nadu can be resolved locally through the strength of Hindus. He stated that while the matter is sub-judice, the awakening of Hindus in the state is sufficient for a favorable outcome. Bhagwat assured that escalation would not be necessary, but Hindu organizations are prepared if needed.
Biomining: 100 acres reclaimed at Kodungaiyur and Perungudi
CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has cleared 48.41 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste from Perungudi and Kodungaiyur dump yards through biomining, reclaiming 100.29 acres of land so far, according to an official release. At Perungudi dump yard, spread across 250 acres, nearly 27.50 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of legacy waste had been identified across 225 acres. Biomining works, taken up in 2022 at a cost of Rs 350.65 crore through six packages, have so far cleared 26.35 lakh MT, reclaiming 94.29 acres. Work to remove the remaining waste is under way. In Kodungaiyur dump yard, biomining commenced in 2024 at Rs 641 crore to clear 66.52 lakh MT of waste dumped across 252 acres. Of this, 22.06 lakh MT of waste have been processed. Packages 1, 2, 4, and 6 have reclaimed around six acres together. Of this, on about three acres, GCC is developing a green zone with fencing, drip irrigation, and 1,500 saplings, all being done at Rs 57 lakh. Every day, the city generates around 6,300 MT of waste from its 426 sq km jurisdiction, home to nearly one crore residents and commuters. For several decades, waste from zones 1-8 was dumped at Kodungaiyur, while zones 9-15 relied on the Perungudi dump yard. With rapid urban expansion, both yards witnessed massive waste accumulation, prompting the civic body to initiate biomining.
Chetpet police deny assault after man dies following encounter outside inspectors house
CHENNAI: The Chetpet police have refuted allegations of assault after the relatives of a 54-year-old man, who died shortly after being sent home by a police inspector on Tuesday night, claimed they were responsible for the death. The police have released CCTV footage to substantiate their claim that they did not attack him. The deceased was identified as Munivel, a resident of Mangalapuram and an employee at a private clinic. Police said Munivel was found sleeping in an inebriated state at the doorstep of Mylapore Law and Order Inspector Ambedkars residence in Chetpet. The inspector and a constable reportedly woke him up and sent him away. However, shortly after reaching home, Munivel collapsed and was declared dead at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. His brother-in-law Thillai Chezhiyan, an AIADMK functionary, lodged a complaint alleging that police had chased and assaulted Munivel, causing a fatal head injury, based on claims made by a friend of the deceased. Dismissing the charges, police officials stated that CCTV footage showed the officers merely waking Munivel and sending him off, with no assault recorded. A case has been registered and the body was sent for postmortem.
IndiGo flight status today: Check IndiGo cancelled flights at major Indian airports on December 11
IndiGo flights cancelled status: On Thursday, IndiGo flights were cancelled at the Goa and Chennai Airports as the crisis continued for the tenth consecutive day. IndiGo has claimed that their operations are returning back to normal but cancellations were reported at major airports on Wednesday too. Seven flights were cancelled at the Goa airport today and 36 at the Chennai airport.
CHENNAI: The Cyber Crime Wing of the Avadi Police Commissionerate on Tuesday arrested three individuals, including a private bank employee and a senior citizen, for allegedly facilitating an online trading scam in which a man lost Rs 28 lakh. The police identified the victim as Jagir Hussain (42), a resident of Paruthipattu in Avadi. According to the complaint, Hussain received an advertisement on WhatsApp regarding an online trading platform that promised double returns on investments. Believing this to be true, he transferred a total of Rs 28,70,500 to various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters over a period of several months. When he failed to receive the promised profits or his principal amount, Hussain lodged a complaint with the Avadi Police Commissioner. A case was registered under the BNS and the IT Act. Investigation revealed that the three accused had opened bank accounts and provided them to the main fraudsters to route the money in exchange for a commission. The arrested were identified as Babu Balakrishnan (46), a businessman; Vijaya (62), a homemaker; and Prasad Kumar (33), an MBA graduate and employee of a private bank. The trio was produced before a Judicial Magistrate in Poonamallee and remanded to Puzhal Central Prison.
Velachery police search for woman who abandoned 1.25 kg gold worth Rs 1.5 crore in private bank
CHENNAI: The Velachery police are on the lookout for a woman who allegedly left behind over 1.25 kg of gold jewellery worth around Rs 1.5 crore inside a private bank in Velachery five days ago. According to bank officials, on December 5, a woman identifying herself as Sharmila Banu and wearing a burqa entered the branch and said she wanted to open a new account and inquired about the banks locker facility. She said that her husband had an account with the bank. As the officers concerned were unavailable, she was asked to wait. The woman then left the bank saying she would return with documents, but did not. Some time later, the bank staff discovered gold bars and bracelets in an unattended bag that is suspected to have been left behind by the woman. The items were secured, verified by the banks audit team as genuine, and later handed over to the Velachery police. Police have registered a case and started a probe. CCTV footage from inside and outside the bank is being analysed. Officers are examining multiple angles to identify the woman and ascertain the source of the abandoned gold.
Sanitary workers union submits plea to MAWS secy
CHENNAI: After months of protests by sanitary workers from Royapuram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar zones, against the privatisation of solid waste management operations and demanding reinstatement of their jobs, representatives of the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), which is spearheading the agitation, met municipal administration and water supply secretary D Karthikeyan on Wednesday and submitted a petition in support of their demands. The officials have purportedly assured them that the issue will be looked into and taken up further. Earlier in the day, around 350 sanitary workers, along with representatives from 16 labour unions staged a protest near the Chennai collectorate against the alleged illegal termination of sanitary workers in the two zones since August 1, despite their 15-20 years of service. The unions reiterated their demand that the workers be reinstated directly under the Greater Chennai Corporation instead of being employed through Chennai Enviro Solutions Private Limited (Ramky Group).
CHENNAI: A private clinic in Gummidipoondi was sealed after the doctor failed to suggest termination of pregnancy of a 22-year-old pregnant woman even after the scan report in the fifth month of pregnancy showed anomalies in the foetus, on Tuesday. According to sources, Bhuvaneshwari, resident of Malliankuppam village in Ponneri taluk had been taking consultation at Sumathi Clinic in Gummidipoondi since her pregnancy was confirmed. The doctor in the clinic allegedly failed to notice anomaly in the scan report and caution the patients family on continuing the pregnancy. Health Department officials said the report by the radiologist at the scan centre had mentioned anomalies with brain defects. Since the doctor failed to notice it, the woman continued with the pregnancy. She delivered a baby girl on November 8 at the Government Raja Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar (RSRM) Lying-in Hospital in Royapuram. The baby was kept in an incubator, but died on December 6. The clinic was sealed after the family protested. Tiruvallur district health department officials said the initial investigation revealed the doctor was not a gynaecologist. Source added that the family staged a protest in front of the clinic when the baby died and Gummidipoondi police apprehended around 20 people. After the matter was taken to the notice of Tiruvallur collector, health officials were instructed to take action.
On December 11, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 12,965 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,884 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,90,900 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.
India beat Argentina 4-2 to win bronze
FIH Mens Junior World Cup CHENNAI, Dec 10: India produced a brave-heart performance, nullifying a two-goal deficit to beat Argentina 4-2 and clinch the bronze medal in the FIH Mens Junior World Cup here on Wednesday. India, who won the title in 2016 in Lucknow, failed to finish on the podium on the last two []
Sights of inclusive opportunities at TCS Siruseri
Chennais caf culture has always had a heart. In a city where international brews, artisanal bakeries and neighbourhood cafs keep multiplying, spaces that centre purpose, building their own customer community. Eateries like the Museum Caf in Mylapore and Writers Caf in Taramani double as grounds for employment for differently abled individuals, paving paths to independent living. And now, tucked inside TCS Siruseri, Blind Bake Caf employs visually impaired chefs, who whisk, chop, and plate with an ease that challenges everything we assume about disability. As we walked in on Tuesday for the cafes launch, the kitchen had already set its rhythm. Muffins puffing in an oven that has braille symbols, French fries softening into mild crispiness, cold coffees lining up in rows and the air carrying the hum of a team settling into their inclusive kitchen. The chefs, trained by National Association for the Blind (NAB) India, move with an intuitive certainty, guided by tactile flooring, adapted techniques and months of preparation. Much of this learning traces back to the NAB India Centre for Blind Women in Delhi, where director Shalini Khanna Sodhi has spent over two decades building blind-friendly culinary training. When we started teaching them cooking, we could see that everybody learns, maybe a little slowly. Putting the lighter to the burner and handling the knife are the two main things which actually take a long time, she says. As the centre scaled, the team split the programme into two parallel streams. Not everybody is ready for baking, and not every baker is good at cooking, she says. Cooking basics take about three months; baking and beverages require another three. This training model powered their first large corporate caf in TCS Olympus campus, Mumbai. Speed was our main concern but slowly they learnt the rhythm, she recalls. Chennai, however, demanded a wider talent pool. Applicants came in from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, some with basic cooking skills but many without prior exposure to large kitchens, but with determination. The team here includes six visually impaired chefs, four sighted supervisors, and one manager. For Vennila, working here marks her first experience outside her home state, Andhra Pradesh. I am feeling very happy, she says. At first it seemed difficult, but gradually it became easy. She hopes her parents will feel proud seeing her being independent. Today she handles the kitchen as one of the main chefs, mainly preparing rice, noodles, French fries and manchurian gravy with confidence and ease. Initially started just for women, the training, on request, extended for men as well. Naveen Kumar from Sivagangai arrived with almost no formal cooking experience. But he says that the three-month training helped him understand both preparation and pace. The hardest part initially, he says, was locating ingredients and equipment. He now handles with ease one of the scariest parts for everyone who steps into kitchens the knife. I think this is a matter of awareness and people should understand the importance of visual impairment, he says. Tactile tiles, bus service for daily commute and even sensitisation programmes were conducted by TCS for its employees to create a relaxed and inclusive workspace for the cafs team. Inside the campus, the team underwent a 10-12 day orientation mapping out the large kitchen, memorising storage, and visiting other cafs on campus to observe service speed. As blind people dont see faces, the smiles, the whole range of experiences, it takes them time, Shalini explains. By their soft launch on October 29, the chefs were ready. The caf now serves an 83-item vegetarian menu, including breakfast, lunch, beverages and desserts. Yet, the team wants to make more. Nithya, a sighted person and helper, who learns alongside the chefs, says, When I heard about it, I was surprised at how experienced the blind can be. They are very confident. When I see them, I feel confident and excited. Her role includes taking measurements and assisting only when required. For TCS, the caf is a reflection of its broader inclusion framework. Sudeep Kunnumal, chief human resources officer, says, Sensitisation cannot remain limited to training modules. They must be experienced in everyday ways that enable us to understand and appreciate diverse abilities. The Blind Bake Caf embodies this belief, offering our associates a space where inclusion and accessibility is lived and felt. Inside the caf, that foundation is already visible. As Shalini puts it, The whole table has been turned; where the visually impaired are providing the service and others are receiving it.
A movement to break the misogyny hidden in words
In November, psychologist and social media influencer Divija Bhasin started the Proud Randi Movement online, encouraging women and girls in India to take back the meaning of a misogynistic Hindi slur by adding it to a hashtag to their bios. Bhasin said in a reel: If we stop finding this word insulting, men will lose the power to use it as an insult. The Proud R movement has had interesting offline predecessors when it comes to the reclamation of certain words. The Slutwalks of the early 2010s come to mind, of course. The first Slutwalk was in Toronto, in response to a police officer shaming women for their clothing. More were organised internationally; in India they were held in Bhopal, Delhi and Kolkata. The United States saw a pussyhat movement during which protestors wore pink hats to the 2017 Womens March, with the accessory serving as a rejoinder to President Donald Trumps widely-reported statement on women: grab them by the p***y. Bhasins current project is a virtual manifestation on the same lines, highlighting words that are used in sexually violent ways and repossessing them as the basis of activism. But online presence itself carries risks, and this campaign increases risks for some participants. Multiple FIRs have been lodged against her on charges of inciting minors to adapt abusive language and potentially influencing them towards sex work. Interestingly, both conservative and liberal factions have taken issue with the Proud R movement. Bhasin has been critiqued regarding how the slur originated in specific caste and class locations, raising questions about its weightage to people of privileged positionalities. The slur may be widely used against all women but it more precisely denigrates sex workers, who are likely for various systemic reasons to be of marginalised backgrounds. Bhasin acknowledges the words history in her original reel, and indicates rightly that the clients should be stigmatised, not the service providers. As to whether defanging the R-word creates intersectional solidarities depends on broader individual choices. Chances are that a person who is more deeply invested in feminist living will find the R-word deleterious because she is ideologically allied with sex workers issues, and not because she finds it offensive to be called one. That the word is in Hindi, and isnt weaponised pan-India, has also been a point of contention. But perhaps a more productive take would be to see that the fact there is no one terrible insult that cuts across all languages and cultures is not a bad thing. The misogyny is long-steeped, but not monolithic. The reclamation of sexually violent and highly gendered words is a part of known feminist practice. Shock is deployed purposefully, and sometimes effectively. The discourse that arises from the shock may be the most valuable part of such methods, which isnt to say that this kind of provocation isnt also problematic. What such provocation forces is (re)acknowledgment of misogyny, and its pervasive and assorted layers. It exists not only in ghastly crimes. Its in the everyday on the Internet and in the home, on public transport and in schools and offices. Its certainly in small words that have the power to detonate.
Mental health narratives from the margins
While discussing mental health narratives, it is of paramount importance not to bury the factors from which they stem. There is a need for these stories tethered to margins to be told, preserved, retold, and brought to the forefront. Systemic oppression, caste- and class-based injustices, childhood trauma, poverty, unemployment, inaccessibility to mental health care these socio-economic factors can shroud ones life. But we dont hear such stories often, despite a rise in mental health discussions. On Saturday, at Savera Hotel, one such initiative, dedicated to centring and preserving stories of the psyche from marginal socio-economic locations, called The Keshav Desiraju Lived Experience Repository, was launched. This project is created in memory of Keshav Desiraju, former Union Health Secretary, architect of Indias Mental Health Policy. Vandana Gopikumar, co-founder of The Banyan, explained the importance of the initiative. It aims to centre diverse experiences drawn from a broad landscape from a person who left home in search of her sister, who suffered a psychotic break, to a child carer, who saved her depressed mothers life because she plainly expressed fear and the desire to live. There is no one way of understanding and learning from lived experience wisdom. At the event, a discussion, In Conversation: Stories Art, and Care, with filmmaker Mani Ratnam; production designer and artist Aradhana Seth; business head, Westland Books, Gautam Padmanabhan; lived-experienced experts, Srividya, and Kavipriya, centred on how to tell stories most truly and why these stories matter. Mani Ratnam stressed that the emotional authenticity has to be kept intact. Aradhana, on retaining the complexity of mental health experiences through art, said that the spaces, characters, the everyday lives and the slightest details like ageing materials in a room all these have to be done in subtle ways, but we can also dramatise emotions like frenzy. The conversation moved to discussing the shift we have been seeing in the narratives, as the panelists with lived experiences shared glimpses of their own mental illnesses the gloom, the acceptance, and the resilience. Undoubtedly, there are many first-person accounts in the form of memoirs, shared experiences today, but there is a wide cleft when it comes to inclusion and representation. Vandana said, The first-person accounts are typically global north-centred; or if situated in the global south, they follow a particular aesthetic that represents the reality of a few, typically privileged. Consequently, overarching narratives that do not take into account systemic injustices or intersectionality are clumped together to represent a microcosm of emotions and social contexts, which, while important are limiting. Recording stories Introduction to such real-life experiences was also the crux of the event. Jothi , a story of a woman named Jothi, was a way to keep her memories alive, almost tangible through words. Vandana shared a very close and personal bond with Jothi, who was one of the original members of the founding team, who grew on everyone she met. She didnt age at all in spirit...despite the many hardships that she had to face, she carried both her suffering and resilience with a sense of nonchalance and lightness and continued to remain spunky, loyal and determined. Finding a vocabulary to describe the dark demon, to draw the entangled web of despair, to explain the baggage of the past, for someone who does not belong to the entitled strata, isnt quite easy. The team said, In the early days of the organisation, when the vocabulary of lived experience expert did not exist, Jothi was already contributing in that capacity. Amali, one of the main characters of Jacklin and Amali by Regha Jha, which was re-released at the event, said that she felt a sense of pride when she saw her story narrated. As Amali said, her story will be passed on to the young children. Its also a way to understand mental health from a different lens. While such stories are told, many dimensions of who they were, are also explored. Waggy Tales , another book, was also launched. It is a constant reminder that pets have always been a comfort to our pain, a companion for their lifetime. Arundhati Lakshmi Satish, the author, said, The bond that dogs and humans share should not be overlooked as something ordinary; in fact, it is everything but ordinary. The book with personal undertones is a collection of these wondrous connections between the people at The Banyan and dogs. Arundhati noted the words of a person whom she interviewed for the book, The only reason I get out of bed every day is that I need to feed my dog. It gives me a purpose. Anushka Madhavan, illustrator of Waggy Tales and Jacklin and Amali , believes that grim and real subjects like grief, poverty and homelessness in the book had to be articulated in the most authentic ways. This creative process was also a space to ask herself how she could give a visual form to these subjects. She added, The Banyan believes in an authentic display of emotions and allowing the viewer to see the light and the dark for what it is. While Deepti George, illustrator of Jothi , who is fascinated by Japanese Manga and Chibi characters, says that she is inclined towards using bold colours, especially while showing exaggerated features and expressions. With such a collection, Vandana hopes to bring new perspectives through books, art, comics, graphic novels, theatre, podcasts, fellowships, etc., that will widen the social imagination around mental illness/ madness. Remembering the cherished friend of The Banyan, she said, Mr Keshav Desiarju, incidentally, always drew from real-world messy experiences that he integrated into the first Mental Health policy.
Margazhi music season: How Chennais Carnatic stars are preparing
As Margazhi arrives, Chennais leading musicians reveal how they ready themselves - from meditation to reviving timeless kritis
Rasoham reimagines Margazhis artistic map
In Chennai, Margazhi arrives like a quiet swell. A gentle rise of tanpura, palms tapping on thighs, vocals rising and falling, and the audience left in a trance; it is the season when the city breathes art as naturally as air. However, over the past three years, a new addition to the regular cultural events taking place across the city has emerged. An event which is softer than the sabha buzz, smaller in scale, yet somehow more meaningful and impactful. Kutty Kutchery, a 10-day festival of intimate, alternative-space performances curated by dancer and co-founder of Rasoham, Laasya Narasimhachari, returns this year in its third edition. Over the years, the festival has grown wider, deeper and surer of its direction. Its (the festival) not a breakdown. Its a breakthrough. The curation is fresh and different. People are going to perceive and receive art in a very different way each time, she says. Putting together a festival of this scale artistes from the city and outside, held at unconventional spaces such as terraces, temples, dance and yoga studios, art galleries, cafs, educational institutions, and nature-centric spaces Kutty Kutchery was never meant to be an easy exercise; its very philosophy opposes most of the old expectation and set traditions in terms of artistes invited, performances presented, the venues and for the audiences it is performed. This year, she brings in two artistes from beyond Chennai Kuchipudi exponent Vaijayanti Kashi from Bengaluru and Goan classical Portuguese vocalist Sonia Shirsat. The reason, Laasya says, [We] want a different perspective from a performer from a different city, from its art environment. For Laasya, every artiste, every form, every voice becomes a reflection of self. It (the art form) is prayer, purpose, identity. It defines us, she says. Laasya Narasimhachari Kutty Kutchery is structured to eliminate hierarchy: no dominant stage, no overpowering format, no curated distance between performer and viewer. When set up without any distance and difference, Laasya says, There is no power shift. The only thing that holds power in this entire curation is art. Everyone here puts art ahead of themselves. The festival is not about an individual flourishing its about an art economy flourishing. She explains that this economy isnt built on performance alone. Each of the curated performances is followed by a guided interaction with the attendees. For the artistes, its a moment of spontaneous, unpredictable, and grounding truth. Laasya says, For an artiste, doing something on the spot is the most satisfying. More than rehearsals or choreography. That spontaneity is a gift. Audiences have changed, too. Where once viewers quietly consumed performances, they now enter the space with vulnerability, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility. The audience has evolved into a level of awareness I felt was missing earlier. Now they are a part of the performance. Their authenticity mirrors the artistes authenticity, she notes. According to Laasya, The question and the answer are equally important. Different people think differently, and when they ask questions after receiving the art performances, thats the learning I dont want to miss. Laasya speaks of a collective turning on the lineup this year, which includes dancing, singing, storytelling, puppetry, tribal music, contemporary work. Watching different art forms at the festival taught me that the right way forward is doing it together. This is how we change the face of an economy when people start voting for something more, something meaningful. That becomes the new normal. A quiet revolution rooted in intimacy, carried by conversation, and sustained by the unwavering belief that art deserves better. I always look forward to coming out of this as a better person and artiste. The dream is much bigger than the 10 days, concludes Laasya. Kutty Kutcheri Festival 2025 will be held from December 13 to 22. Entry is free. Registration is mandatory. To register, visit rasoham.org
India needs ethical AI alliance with all states: Industries min
During her time as secretary for the past four years, Ms. Sahu has positioned Tamil Nadu as a global leader in climate mitigation, adaptation and heat resilience
Study looks at migrant-linked leprosy transmission in Chennai
The authors conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using secondary programme data from 15 administrative zones of Chennai district
Chennai airport faces minor dip in revenue after IndiGo fiasco
A total of 629 flights of IndiGo were cancelled between December 1 and 9 at the Chennai airport and a total of 1,317 flights were delayed, according to the data released by AAI
Traffic diversions at Madhya Kailash junction from Friday
Work to install lamp posts and to lay power lines has already begun near the VHS hospital, said a source in the Highways Department
Childrens home shut after director is arrested for sexual abuse on girl child
Citys reservoirs near full as inflow continues; WRD maintains marginal release
Reservoirs in Poondi and Red Hills reached capacitywhile the one in Chembarambakkam may reach capacity by Thursday; it would ensure normal drinking water supply to city for another year
TN Govt Reorganises Panchayat Unions in 7 Districts
GCC removes encroachments in T Nagar
Docs remove rare tumour in heart through keyhole surgery
Changes have caught up with the sabhas in Chennai in many ways
MSME Marketing Conclave held in Chennai
Retired Judge Hariparanthaman wants shifting of the Thiruparankundram case to some other judge
The retired judge cited several instances where Mr. Justice Swaminathan had allegedly not followed protocols to issue a contempt notice against officials of the State government, and had paralysed the government machinery
BIS Chennai gets new Deputy Director-General
WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine to be held in New Delhi
Freed bonded labourers body calls for speedy trials
Corporation allocates 89 lakh to each zone for road repair works
Tractor sales, production hit historic 1mn mark in 11 months of 2025
SIs daughter robbed at bus stand
Woman, 34, kills self in Tiruvottiyur
Death of man sparks row; cops refute assault allegations
Woman leaves behind gold at bank; probe on
Chennai-Trichy highway upgrades stuck as TN-CMRL decision pending: Gadkari
SIR form collection nears completion in Tambaram, Avadi
Rahul, Priyanka to visit TN for poll campaign in January
GCC processes nearly 48.41 lakh tonnes of legacy waste from dumpyards
According to a press release, the Greater Chennai Corporation cleared an average of 6,300 tonnes of waste each day from all 15 zones
Doctors at SIMS Hospitals remove rare heart tumour from left ventricle through keyhole surgery
About 90% of the cardiac tumours occur due to random changes in the hearts cells without any clear reason and only 5% to 10% is linked to genetic tendencies
If an alliance is formed under TVK, it will challenge DMK: Dhinakaran
The Hindu, in association with Naruvi Hospitals, launches e-book Care and Cure
The e-book is the result of a fruitful partnership between the two institutions, based on a series of webinars, Healthy India, Happy India: Prevent Illness - Promote Wellness.
Mortal remains of man who died in Saudi Arabia brought to Tamil Nadu
HEAD: 10_Che_KS_HC SHRC POCSO case
JioHotstar announces 4,000-crore investment plan in southern India; unveils 25 new titles
The streamer unveiled an exciting array of films, shows, and non-fiction titles in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, and workshops for next-gen filmmakers
Uber passengers in Bengaluru can now book Namma Metro tickets on app
The feature has already been adopted in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, and Bengaluru is the latest metro city where Uber is integrating public transport into its ecosystem
T Nagar welcomes The Perch cafe, a place to savor coffee and connection
AI and the evolving landscape of Chennais Margazhi Season
Classical musicians must move past skepticism when it comes to AI. It cannot replace human mastery, but can be a modern instrument for practice, planning and cultural propagation.
SOCOMEC Group, in collaboration with the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI), has launched Project Edu-Sustain - Education, Environment & Sustainability Initiative, a series of impactful CSR interventions focused on Education, Clean & Green Energy, and Zero Plastic Waste Management. The initiative aims to promote holistic and sustainable community development across Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi-NCR, contributing to a cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive future. SOCOMEC and IFCCI Launch Multi-Faceted CSR Initiatives Promoting Education, Clean & Green Energy, and Zero Plastic Waste Management Reflecting SOCOMECs enduring commitment to social and environmental responsibility, Project Edu-Sustain integrates education, renewable energy, and environmental conservation to create long-term, scalable impact. Key Focus Areas: Clean & Green Energy: Installation of solar panel systems in 7 government schools across Chennai and Delhi-NCR, generating over 35,00050,000 kWh of renewable energy annually, reducing carbon emissions and ensuring energy-efficient learning environments. Education for Underserved Communities: Establishment and running of two educational centres supporting over 80 primary-level children from high-risk and underserved communities and ensure least drop out. These centres provide after-school academic support, mentoring, and creative learning spaces to strengthen learning outcomes and prevent school dropouts. Zero Plastic Waste Management: Adoption of two beaches Prabhadevi and Dadar in Mumbai under a comprehensive Zero Plastic Waste Management initiative, targeting the collection and recycling of over 15,000 kg of marine plastic waste annually. The collected plastic is upcycled into useful products, generating livelihood opportunities for local waste pickers. Awareness & Employee Engagement: Through employee volunteering, community outreach, and sustainability awareness programs, the initiative promotes environmental consciousness among students, corporate employees, and local residents. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Partnership for Goals) Project Edu-Sustain underscores SOCOMECs dedication to integrating sustainability with social progress. Leadership Speak Mr. Meenu Singhal, Regional Managing Director, SOCOMEC Greater India, stated, At Socomec, sustainability is a core part of our business strategy and culture. We are committed to advancing carbon footprint transparency, upholding ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, and advancing eco-design practices. Through Project Edu-Sustain, in collaboration with IFCCI, we bring this vision to life by integrating clean energy solutions, enabling education for underserved communities, and championing zero-plastic initiatives. These efforts are creating resilient ecosystems that empower people and protect the planet, ensuring that progress and responsibility can go hand in hand . Ms. Nida Khanam, Head of Human Resources, SOCOMEC Greater India, stated, Socomecs commitment to social and environmental sustainability extends both inside and outside the organization, fostering an inclusive and safe workplace, empowering communities through sustainable actions. Over the past few years, we have successfully collaborated with IFCCI on strategic CSR projects. We are taking this partnership forward through Project Edu-Sustain, operating two education centers for children of female sex workers, installing solar panels in seven government schools across Chennai and Delhi NCR to promote renewable energy, and adopting two beaches in Mumbai under the Zero Plastic Model to drive environmental awareness and community participation. Ms. Payal S. Kanwar, Director General, Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) , added, We are proud to partner with SOCOMEC Group in driving projects that deliver measurable and lasting impact onboth people and the planet. Through initiatives such as solarizing government schools, empowering children fromunderserved communities, and reviving beaches through zero-plastic interventions, we are collectively buildingecosystems of change. These efforts represent a true convergence of innovation,inclusion, and sustainability. We are also deeply thankful to SOCOMEC Group for their continued partnership with IFCCIs CSR Departmentsince its inception in 2023. Their commitment to community development and sustainability hasbeen instrumental in driving impactful initiatives that empower underserved communities and promote a moreinclusive and environmentally responsible future .
Unveiling the body: Art, intimacy, and resistance intersect at an art exhibit in Chennai
How does a body change when it is intimate? What does it look like when it protests? Avtar Foundations latest exhibit Udal, meditates on the primacy of the body in art, assertion, and intimacy
CM Stalin determines target of 440 votes for DMK at his booth
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin, spearheading the My BoothVictory Booth movement, stated that the army of black and red shirts will confront the Shahs of Delhi
Emirates flight crew member caught with Rs 11.5 crore gold at Chennai airport; five held
Chennai Customs apprehended an Emirates airline crew member at Chennai Airport, seizing 9.46 kg of gold paste worth 11.5 crore. Following this, four individuals, including receivers and an accomplice, were arrested near the airport. The investigation into the gold smuggling syndicate is ongoing.
Youth arrested for robbing a woman in Chennais CMBT
Bangkoks Fah Beer brings her inventive cocktails inspired by the bustling citys streets, to Chennai
At The Park, Chennai, Fah Beer of Bangkok bar Lost in Thaislation will whip up vibrant cocktails inspired by the city and bring her behind-the-counter zero-waste philosophy rooted in respect
Chennai's Tambaram water crisis: How to quench their thirst?
Tambaram's water network struggles to meet the needs of its growing population, with a significant deficit in daily supply. Many areas rely on costly tankers due to patchy pipelines and a lack of overhead tanks. While a new desalination plant promises future relief, immediate infrastructure upgrades are crucial to ensure equitable access for all residents.
H-1B, H-4 visa appointments pushed back across India as US shifts to social media vetting
Amid the US governments new social media vetting policy for H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents, appointments across consulates in India have been postponed or rescheduled, with the US Embassy issuing an advisory on the immigration process. The US Mission in India confirmed that visa appointments scheduled for December and the coming weeks had been shifted, with immigration attorneys saying many were pushed to March to allow time for the social media vetting. The embassy warned that arriving on the previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate. Mission India confirms what we have been hearing. They have cancelled a number of appointments in the coming weeks and rescheduled them for March to allow for the social media vetting. https://t.co/gjsIDxmPOX Steven Brown (@AttyStevenBrown) December 9, 2025 According to a report in TOI , H-1B and H-4 visa appointments scheduled for mid to late December at the US consulates in Hyderabad and Chennai have been cancelled, with some rescheduled to March 2026. This follows a December 4 directive from the US State Department stating that, from December 15, it will review the online activity of all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, requiring them to keep every social-media profile set to public an expansion of a measure already applied to students and exchange visitors. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public', it had said. Underscoring that a US visa is a privilege and not a right, the department said it uses all available information in screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible or pose a threat to America's national security or public safety. Every visa adjudication is a national security decision, it said. The department said the US must be vigilant to ensure applicants do not intend to harm Americans and that all visa applicants credibly establish eligibility and intent to comply with the terms of their admission. The directive is the latest in a series of steps by the Trump administration to tighten immigration rules. The administration has launched a massive crackdown to check abuse of the H-1B visa programme, used largely by US technology companies to hire foreign workers. Indian professionals, including tech workers and physicians, form one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders. In September, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation , titled 'Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers' , imposing a one-time USD 100,000 fee on new H-1B work visas, an order that could significantly impact Indian workers seeking temporary employment in the US.
RRB Junior Engineer 2025, Apply Today Before The Deadline For 2,585 Vacancies
Vacancies for RRB JE 2025 increased to 2,585 from 2,569, with notable increments in Chennai and Jammu-Srinagar regions. Correction window for applications opens December 13 to 22.
Chennai International Book Fair from January 16, open to public
CHENNAI: School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Tuesday announced that the fourth edition of the Chennai International Book Fair (CIBF) will be held from January 16 to 18 at the Kalaivanar Arangam. For the first time, the event will be open to the members of the public, and they could register through online, he said. This years edition will feature the organising committee of the Frankfurt Book Fair, one of the worlds largest and oldest book fairs, as the Guest of Honour, with publishers from more than 100 countries expected to participate. The three-day event will also host special literary and business sessions including a session by the French government for Tamil publishers, a seminar on Turkeys TEDA Turkiye translation grant and workshops by the Bologna Childrens Book Fair on painting, design, translation and cartooning. Sessions on textbooks with illustrations led by the Iranian government will also be held. The minister also released the CIBF logo on the occasion, and said the fair is being organised with the motto Taking Tamil to the World and the World to Tamil, reflecting the states emphasis on promoting literature and reading. The fair, jointly organised by the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation and the Directorate of Public Libraries, will facilitate the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to translate the works of Tamil writers into foreign languages and vice versa. CIBF is positioned as a unique B2B (business-to-business) platform that brings together international conferences, publishing trade shows and literary forums.
Gang fakes accident to rob, assault motorist on Vyasarpadi flyover
CHENNAI: Police have launched a manhunt for a a six-member gang who faked an accident to rob a 27-year-old motorist of cash and jewels on the Vyasarpadi flyover. According to police, Vijay Ravi of Puzhal was driving down the flyover on December 7 when a woman riding a scooter suddenly fell in front of his car. As he stopped to assist her, she accused him of knocking her down and immediately dialled her husband. Within minutes, five men arrived, confronted Vijay and allegedly assaulted him. They forced him to transfer ` 20,000 and took his two-gram gold ring and a 15-gram silver bracelet. The gang pushed the semi-conscious Vijay into his own car, drove it to Parrys Corner, and abandoned him, police said. Later, a hospital employee alerted the Vyasarpadi police and Vijay was admitted to a nearby hospital. A case was registered under Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 309(4) (robbery) of the BNS. Police sources said it was a planned extortion and special teams are analysing CCTV footage to identify and nab the six suspects.
Two-year-old boy run over by school van in Chennai
CHENNAI: A two-year-old boy was killed after he came under the wheels of a school van at Navalur village near Tiruttani in Tiruvallur district on Tuesday. The child, G Kameswaran, had stepped out to see off his elder brother, who was boarding the van for school. Police said Kameswarans father works in a private company and his mother is a homemaker. The family has three children, including the UKG student who was being picked up from their home. As the older child boarded the van, the vehicle moved forward, running over the toddler who was standing nearby, sources said. Kameswaran sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to the Tiruttani Government Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The van driver, identified as Stephen, has been booked under relevant sections of BNS. The Kanagamma Chatram police said the driver was assaulted by public following the accident.
Madras HC permits PVR Inox to continue operations at Chennai airport
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to allow PVR Inox Limited, multiplex theatre operator, to continue its operations in the cinema halls on the multi-level car parking (MLCP) complex on the Chennai Airport premises until the centre takes a policy decision on the issue of cinema halls on airport premises. The order was passed by Justice M Dhandapani on the petitions filed by the multiplex theatre operator seeking to quash a letter issued by the AAI on June 20, 2025 for closing the cinema halls being run on the MLCP complex. Senior counsel P S Raman, assisted by Arva Merchant, appeared for PVR Inox while Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A R L Sundaresan represented the respondent authorities including the AAI. The matter pertains to the recent decision of AAI to close down the cinema halls by prematurely terminating the lease granted to Meenambakkam Realty Private Limited, an SPV launched by Olympia Techpark Limited, to develop and run the Aero Hub on the airport premises. PVR Inox had entered into a sub-licensing agreement with the SPV for 13 years.
Plastic waste, garbage choke Ekangipuram canal in Chennai
CHENNAI: Residents of Perambur have raised an alarm over the deteriorating condition of the Ekangipuram canal, particularly the stretch beneath the Murasoli Maran flyover, where mounds of plastic waste and garbage have choked the waterway and obstructed its flow. The canal served as a primary waterway for discharging rainwater from Villivakkam, ICF, Ayanavaram and Perambur. It drains into the Otteri Nullah via the Captain Cotton Canal. However, the canal has now been blocked with plastic and other waste, often dumped by nearby residents. A resident of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, located near the canal, said on condition of anonymity, Earlier, sanitary workers would come with BOVs to collect the daily waste. After the private contractor took over the operations and new workers deployed, they stopped covering this stretch, forcing other residents to dump the garbage inside the canal. On both sides, portions of the canal walls have collapsed, and discoloured water continues to flow in. Raghukumar Choodamani, social activist and convener of the Perambur Neighbourhood Development Forum, said raw sewage is often let into the canal, further contaminating it. Lakshmi P, a 56-year-old resident, said, Despite ministers inspecting the canal, it is only cleaned once in every six months, even though the garbage, including plastic waste, remain floating round the clock. Because of this, mosquito breeding has increased, posing serious health risks to us. Corporation officials did not offer a comment when TNIE reached out.
Car driver runs over cop in bid to escape vehicle check in Chennai, held
CHENNAI: A midnight vehicle check near Madipakkam turned fatal when a speeding car knocked down a 33-year-old traffic constable on the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road on Monday. Police are probing whether the driver fled the checkpoint fearing a breathalyzer test. After noticing a car suddenly reversing and speeding away near the checkpoint, Meganathan, of the Traffic Enforcement Wing, pursued the vehicle on his two-wheeler without wearing a helmet, said a police source. Near Kamakshi Hospital, he managed to pull alongside the car and signalled the driver to stop. Instead, the vehicle allegedly hit his bike, throwing the cop on the road and sped away. Meganathan was working as the driver of a traffic inspector. Though it was his scheduled rest as per the duty roster, Meganathan had come to assist the traffic inspector during the vehicle check, sources said. In the early hours of Tuesday, the city police control room received a call from a man admitting that his car had hit the constable. The Pallikaranai Traffic Investigation Wing traced the call to Sairam (32) of Madipakkam, originally from Rajasthan, and seized the vehicle. He was taken into custody for inquiry. Sairam, who runs a jewellery and pawn shop, was returning home with his family after a function when the incident occurred. A case of causing death due to negligence has been registered, and drunk-driving charges will be added if medical reports confirm alcohol use, police said. DCP (Tambaram) Samay Singh Meena said investigators are verifying Sairams claim that he was not intoxicated and are reconstructing the sequence of events to determine whether the constable was hit accidentally or deliberately when the driver attempted to evade interception. Meganathans body was sent to the Government Hospital, Tambaram, for postmortem.
Bengaluru second in rooftop solar installations
BENGALURU: Bengaluru Urban was ranked second compared to other Indian metropolis in the installation of rooftop solar panels and the number of household benefiting from it, according to a report from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). But the state government officials say that Karnataka lags behind the target set by the central government for the installation of solar rooftop panels under the Pradhan Mantri-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana scheme. The ministry in its response to Bangalore South MP Tejavi Suryas question in Lok Sabha stated that there are 4,984 solar roof top installations in Bengaluru Urban and 386 in Bengaluru Rural, making it a total of 5,370 installations in BESCOM limits. The MNRE also said that 11,854 households in Bengaluru Urban and 386 households in Bengaluru Rural have benefited from the scheme. Bengaluru Urban lagged behind Mumbai covering 18,223 households under the scheme with 428 installations in Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban. As per the report there are a total of 18,99,494 installations benefiting 23,79,580 households, as on November 30, 2025 in India. Of which 13,176 installations are in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, benefiting 41,955 households. The central government has set a target for each state to achieve in terms of number of installations and households availing the scheme. In case of Karnataka, it is 1.02 lakh consumers by March 2027. So far, around 13,000 installations have been done in Karnataka. We are trying to meet the target. Under the scheme, the Centre gives around Rs 78,000 subsidy for installation of 3 kilowatt solar rooftop panel. To boost the scheme, many state governments are giving an additional top-up subsidy like an additional Rs 10,000 per kilo watt during installation. Karnataka offers no additional top-up as money is invested in the Gruha Jyothi scheme, sources in the energy department said. Under the scheme, individual houses can install even a 1MW rooftop panel, but the maximum limit an apartment block can install is 500 kilowatt. In Bengaluru apartments which are usually installing panels utilise the power generated for common area lighting, BESCOM officials said.
107 MPs submit notice to impeach Madras HC judge
NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: As many as 107 INDIA bloc MPs, led by DMK, submitted a notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday, seeking impeachment of Madras High Court judge G R Swaminathan for his order of December 1 and 3 directing Subramaniya Swamy temple authorities at Thirupparankundram to allow lighting lamps on a pillar (deepathoon) near a dargah on the hill. The impeachment notice accused Justice G R Swaminathan of the Madurai bench of Madras HC of conduct that raises serious questions regarding impartiality, transparency, and the secular functioning of the judiciary. It alleged undue favouritism towards senior advocate M Sricharan Ranganathan and lawyers from a particular community, besides deciding cases on particular political ideology against the constitutional principle of secularism. Copies of the notice were also sent to President Droupadi Murmu and CJI Sanjiv Khanna. The delegation included Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, T R Baalu, Kanimozhi, Supriya Sule and others. On December 3, Justice Swaminathan had allowed a group of petitioners to light the lamp on the pillar near the dargah, and directed CISF protection to them. Police stopped the group from lighting the lamp, leading to a furore, prompting the Tamil Nadu government to move the Supreme Court, which admitted TNs plea.
Tamil Karkalam to take language to 1.5K north students
VARANASI: Continuing its efforts to counter the long-standing charge that the BJP promotes Hindi cultural dominance, the BJP-led union government has initiated numerous efforts to teach Tamil through multiple languages of the country, particularly through Hindi. It is evident from the theme of the Kashi Tamil Sangamams fourth edition (KTS 4.0) going on from December 2 to 17 Tamil Karkalam (Let us learn Tamil), the event is aimed at teaching Tamil to Hindi-speaking students. The roads of Varanasi are filled with flex banners showing the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the words Tamil Karkalam along with its Hindi transliteration. Under this programme, 300 college students from Uttar Pradesh will visit Tamil Nadu in 10 batches to learn Tamil. They will attend an orientation at the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) Chennai, followed by Tamil language classes and cultural sessions conducted at leading institutions across the state, including IIT Madras; Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan; Shastra University, Thanjavur; Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore and Ganapathi Tulsis Jain Engineering College, Vellore. The programme ensures that young learners from North India gain direct exposure to Tamil language, heritage and contemporary cultural practices. In Varanasi, 50 Hindi-speaking teachers from Chennai trained by the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prasar Sabha, using the textbooks prepared by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), are teaching Tamil to Hindi-speaking students in 50 schools in Varanasi. In total, 1,500 students will learn introductory Tamil through this initiative. The classes last for a period of 15 days. In just one week, the students of PM Shri Government Queens College were able to learn how to address and greet people in Tamil. Some of them explained how they loved learning Tamil. At Namo Ghat in Varanasi, where KTS 4.0 events are going on, CICT director Dr R Chandrasekaran said that within a month or two, the institute will launch a free online course for learning Tamil through Hindi. The CICT has published a series of books for learning Tamil through Hindi, including a handbook for practising Tamil grammar, a handbook for writing Tamil letters, a glossary of Tamil equivalents for Hindi words used in day-to-day life and a book of simple conversations in Tamil.
Davies Kollannur, a beacon of hope for transplant patients, dies at 57
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Davies Kollannur, who courageously altered the course of his life three times, has now sailed beyond the horizon for the final time. Davies who survived three life threatening ordeals- two kidney transplants and a battle with leukemia disease- stood as asymbol of resilience and hopefor thousands oftransplantpatients in Kerala. The man who lived with extraordinary courage, quietly slipped away on Monday night in Thrissur, following a sudden respiratory distress at 57. He left behind a legacy that still refuses to fade. A decorated transplant sportsman, Davies won a silver medal for India at the 2011 Sweden International Transplant Games in Badminton, followed by a bronze in singles and silver in doubles at the Durban International in South Africa in 2013. He was also a two time (2003, 2006) national championin Badminton in National Transplant Games.For thousands of transplant patients inKerala, Davies was not merely a survivor, he was proof that a broken body could still carry an unbroken will. His death arrived abruptly without warning as if knowing that any hint of danger would awaken his instinct to fight. He was active even on his last day. He spoke to me around 8 pm about how his day went, said his kindred soul Jayasree CG. After that the next thing I heard was that he was gone, she said.Davies was working as a transplant coordinator at Daya General Hospital in Thrissur. Born and raised in Villadom, Kolannur Veedu, Thrissur, Davies gow up with the cultural beat of the city, Pooram procession, decorated Elephants and temple- Church grounds. After graduation, he worked as an Assistant Manager in an Italian hotel in Pune for three years. Like many young Keralites, he later moved to Saudi Arabia, workIng as a Chief Cashier in a fashion retail outlet until the first tragedy struck him at the age 30 years,when his both kidneys failed. He was forced to return home and begin dialysis. Hemet Dr TT Paul, nephrologist at West Fort hospital in Thrissur who changed his course of life later. In the late 1990s dialysis facilities were scarce in Thrissur or Ernakulam, forcing patients to travel to Coimbatore or Chennai. Davies underwent nearly 300 dialysis sessions before receiving his transplant under Dr. TT Paul on August 25, 2001. At that time transplant recipients were advised to avoid physical exertion and lead a quiet life. As Davis began gaining weight, Dr. Paul urged him to resume exercise, rekindling his lost love for badminton. Doctor reassured him that he attached kidney will not fall off, if you play badminton. Davies took up the racket and never looked back. After winning gold medals at the National TransplantGames in 2003 and 2006, he stepped onto the international stage and brought home several medals in 2011 and 2013. Impressed by his spirit, Dr. Paul and the hospital authorities invited Davies to join the West Fort hospital as a transplant coordinator in 2003, using Davies and his positive energy to utilise. Life tested him again in 2014, when he was diagnosed with leukemia. He underwent chemotherapy at CMC Vellore and Amritha Hospital in Ernakulam without taking a single day leave, determined not to abandon the kidney patients who relied on him. Later an infection left him unconscious for 15 days in West Fort Hospital. On those nights Dr. Paul, who considered Davies a son, sat by bedside readingO Henry's 'Last Leaf'. He later told Davies's friends that perhaps words might succeedwhere medicine hadfaltered. In the short story, 'Last Leaf', when a young artist falls ill and thinks that she would die when the last leaf falls from anivy vine outside her window. Then to save her and from losing hope, her neighbour, a failed artist painted a realistic leaf on the wall. Though Davies came back to life, cancer and the treatment had caused him dearly as his body rejected the transplanted kidney. On 12 January, 2016 the second time surgery took place for organ transplantation. After his discharge from hospital he rejoined for work and resumed badminton. Davies and Dr. Paul had then started workingat Daya General Hospital. On December 8, 2025 he was active. still speaking to those who needed him. Hours later, he was gone, after a sudden collapse from respiratorydistress.If he had received even the faintest warning, Davies would have survived it, Jayasree said, her voice steady but heavy. He always fought back. On Tuesday, Dr. Paul sat alone in the St. Mary's Church, Ponganamkad waiting as he had done countless times in his homesforDavies with his gentle smile and humour. But for thousands whose lives he touched, Davies hasn't vanished.
Chennai weather update: After receiving heavy rainfall for the past few days, Chennai is likely to receive light to moderate rainfall today, the IMD has predicted. The weather agency has warned of light to moderate rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal too. The minimum and maximum temperature in Chennai is likely to hover around 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
Music, mastery and magic this Margazhi at Asian College of Journalism
At the MS Subbulakshmi Arangam, a music performance doesnt need a microphone to reach every listener. The steady rhythm of the mridangam, the smooth flow of the violin, and the singers expressive voice can all travel clearly through the space, carried by balanced acoustics. The walls and ceilings are shaped to guide the music, letting every sound be heard in every corner. Soft notes, pauses, and crescendos, all remain equally warm and clear. In such an arangam , the audience doesnt just listen to Carnatic music. They are surrounded by it, feeling each moment as if its meant personally for them. And when Margazhi arrives, this auditorium feels destined for it, just as the music and the space complete each other. Driving this destiny home is Soulfest 2025, a four-and-a-half-day Margazhi festival, from December 24, featuring musicians and instrumentalists, curated by Gowri Ramnarayan, writer, journalist, and playwright. The festival starts on the first day with two solo concerts by vocalists, Vignesh Ishwar and Sikkil Gurucharan. N Vijay Siva On the second day, N Vijay Siva will be putting together a special concert. One simply has to pay tribute to Muthuswami Dikshitar in this years programme, and who better to bring his genius alive than Vijay Siva, whose guru was DK Jayaraman, DK Pattammals brother, she says. The stalwart siblings spread awareness of Dikshitars magnificence, Gowri adds. But before the special concert, Amritha Murali and Nisha Rajagopalan will be performing songs of Dikshitars disciples. This way we pay tribute to Dikshitar but also acknowledge and celebrate the songs of his disciples because he has inspired his disciples to not just remain as musicians but to compose music too. Between the two concerts, vocalist Aishwarya Vidhya Raghunath will take the stage too. Archana and Aarathi A thematic concert leads day three. Archana and Aarathi have called their concert Basha and are determined to sing in as many languages as possible. Singer Bharat Sundar will follow the duo on stage. Gowris picks this year also include two instrumental solos. One of them will be led by violinist RK Shriramkumar, the Sangita Kalanidhi designate this year, and a flautist Sruthi Sagar, both of whom will be performing in the evening and morning slots respectively, on December 27. Between the two performances, representing the Musiri school on the 125th birth anniversary of Musiri Subramania Iyer, is Brinda Manickavasakan. The festival will conclude with a performance by TM Krishna on the final day. TM Krishna What truly binds the performers for Soulfest 2025 is not just the love for music. It is the auditorium, Gowri says, concluding that almost every artiste agreed to perform because they love returning to the acoustic haven located inside the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. Tickets are available at theticket9.com https://www.theticket9.com/e/ms-subbulakshmi-voice-rang
Surf's up for Indian paddler as he gears to officiate international events
There is something about the ocean salt. It clings to the skin long after you leave the water. It settles into the lines of your palm, onto your clothes, and gets etched into your memory. And for those who grow up by the sea, the salt shapes their spirit and spine. For A Sathish Kumar, a fisherman who spends most of his waking hours by the Marina beach, salt has been his anchor and compass. It pulled him into the ocean with a board nearly 20 years ago. It invited him to national championships. It carried him across continents as Indias first representative at the World Championships and the World Cup. And in November 2025, it carried him all the way to Hong Kong. Here, he completed the Standup Paddling (SUP) International Technical Official examination at the 2025 ACC SUP Asian Championships. After acing it, he is now recognised as an International Technical Official in Standup Paddling by the International Canoe Federation (ICF). Even two weeks after the win, his smile exudes a mix of pride and gratitude. I can now officiate at the World Championship, World Cup, all international events, including the Olympics, he says. To reach this milestone, a story lies behind the scenes; one of grit, improvisation, and gathering knowledge. Like the waves hungry for the shore, he was aching to learn and achieve. Sathish learned the sports rules on racing grounds around the world. Wherever I went, I learnt the rules and regulations, he shares. His years of practice, dedication, and winning medals brought him here. The Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association recommended Sathish for the role. Parallely, he was also under the radar of ICF for his achievements. The test With the skills and knowledge he acquired, Sathish appeared for two theoretical papers on reaching Hong Kong. It covered the various nations national and international laws and regulations. He scored 100 and 92 in the theory papers, which required 80 marks for clearance. This was followed by practical sessions for two days, and on the final day, he appeared for what he calls a viva of sorts. Just like how in the IAS exam, you are asked a single question in three different ways and each of your answers is required to be distinct...this viva was like that, he says. While language was not a hurdle, the accent was difficult to follow. Sathish quips, The Chinese, Hungarian, or Hong Kong officials cut half the words. They speak English mixed with their native languages. Similar to navigating swells in the ocean, Sathish got through the exam. He says, India is slowly growing and winning medals on the world stage. Im very happy and proud that I can represent my country on such a big platform. This is one of the biggest wins for him, because, Indians are usually neglected and are not given respect. We have to fight for our roles. So, we have to be fully prepared, otherwise a lot of stories are made up to reject us or not include us. He now eyes the Olympics. But before the dream of officiating could be fulfilled, the sport had to be included in the list of events held. Sathish hopes for SUP to be included in the 2028 Olympics, as it narrowly missed inclusion in 2024, losing the only available slot to surfing. Waves of wins and wishes Standup Paddling is the worlds fastest-growing water sport in terms of accessibility, low barriers, open to all ages, and thrilling without being intimidating. You dont need to know how to swim. You dont need extreme fitness. You just need balance and have the willingness to try, Sathish says. Nationally, though, the sport has been an afterthought. The government didnt know about this sport, he points out. It was only in 2023, after Sathish met the Sports Secretary of India and explained the game, that sufficient knowledge of the game was spread. He rues, In India, only the popular sports will be pushed. Meanwhile, the state government has been encouraging the sport, but only when the participants win any medals. Tamil Nadu swept nearly 49 medals at a national competition held in 2023, securing the overall championship and cash awards that helped athletes buy their own equipment, which is the sports biggest hurdle. Most Indian paddlers majorly from the fishing communities train on second-hand boards that Sathish brings back from competitions abroad. Through his club, SUP Marina, he trains 35 youngsters on donated and refurbished boards. I started this to grow the sport. Otherwise, our children will be left behind. Excelling in the sport will help them secure higher education and jobs after, says the coach of the Indian SUP team. The sea once took Sathish to the shores of many countries. He hopes the waves now take his students, too. The sea teaches you to balance first and respond later, but never to break or resist. SUP is like this. You are in the ocean, and suddenly the wind changes, and so does the course. But the sport makes you courageous enough to face all the situations and come back to the shore as a strong person, notes Sathish, who is trying for standup paddling to be included in Khelo India, university sports, school sports, and national games. Some waters wash off. Some waters stay. And for Sathish, they didnt let him stay put; it carried him to the world and continues to do so.
Persimmon: The nutrient-dense fruit behind the latest health hype
Persimmon, a fleshy and fibrous fruit belonging to the Ebenaceae family, has recently attracted global attention for its impressive nutritional profile and wide range of therapeutic benefits. Although traditionally consumed in countries like China, Korea, Japan, Brazil, Turkey, and Italy, persimmon cultivation is also widespread in India, especially in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Tamil Nadu, where it is locally known as Japani phal . For many years, persimmon remained underrated in several parts of the world, particularly in European regions where awareness was limited. But with rising consumer interest in functional foods and natural antioxidants, persimmon is now experiencing a surge in popularity. Asian cultures have long valued this fruit for its medicinal properties, and modern research is beginning to validate these traditional beliefs. A rich repository of nutrients and bioactive compounds The commercial variety, Diospyros kaki, is a seasonal fruit available from October to December. Despite its short availability window, it packs an impressive concentration of nutrients. Persimmon contains carbohydrates, dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, phenolic compounds (such as ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, and gallic acid), and carotenoids, including beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein. Its peel is particularly nutrient-dense, offering higher concentrations of minerals like manganese, iron, zinc, potassium, copper, calcium, and magnesium compared to the pulp. Persimmon is also rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), polyphenols, and tannins key contributors to its antioxidant capacity. These compounds have been linked to benefits in cardiovascular health, cholesterol management, and diabetes prevention. Carbohydrate levels vary among cultivars such as Japanese, Fuyu, Chocolate, and Japones, typically ranging between 17-19 g per 100 g of fruit. In processed forms, like peeled pulp, carbohydrate concentration can increase significantly, with glucose and fructose making up around 90% of total sugars. Protein content, though modest, also varies widely across cultivars, reported between 0.64-6 g per 100 g. Organic acids like malic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid influence the fruits flavour profile. The balance of these acids contributes to the characteristic sweetness of ripe persimmons and the astringency found in certain varieties. Why persimmon is gaining hype? As consumers gravitate toward natural, antioxidant-rich foods, persimmon stands out for its potent phytochemistry. Its bioactive compounds have opened new research avenues in diet-based strategies for managing lifestyle diseases. Although fresh persimmon is seasonal, its potential extends far beyond direct consumption. In India and worldwide, persimmon pulp, ready-to-serve beverages, ice creams, and even persimmon wine are emerging as innovative products that help retain nutrients while extending shelf life. However, despite its versatility and strong health credentials, persimmon remains underutilised, a gap that the current wave of interest may soon close. Health benefits Cardiovascular protection: Persimmons fibre, antioxidants, and tannins support heart health by reducing LDL cholesterol, improving lipid profiles, and preventing arterial stiffness. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects: Its polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids combat oxidative stress and inflammation, reducing the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease and neurodegeneration. Digestive wellness: High fibre content aids digestion, enhances bowel regularity, and contributes to better blood sugar and cholesterol regulation. Eye and skin health: Beta-carotene, lutein, and vitamin A promote eye health, while antioxidants help protect skin from aging and environmental stress. Improved metabolic health: Persimmon compounds show potential in moderating blood sugar responses and reducing risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Potential cancer and neuroprotective effects: Its rich antioxidant matrix may offer protection against certain cancers and cognitive decline, though more human research is needed. Persimmons rich nutrients and antioxidants make it a powerful, underused fruit with growing popularity for supporting health, wellness, and disease prevention.
Gemini Ganesan-starrer Avvaiyar brings alive temple at Thirumullaivoyal
I could not help reflecting on how much of a valuable record cinema is when it comes to capturing heritage for posterity. And at the same time, it also highlights what we have lost
T.N. School Education Minister unveils logo for CIBF 2026
The fourth edition of CIBF will be held from January 16 to January 18, 2026 at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai
Young hearts at risk: Post-Covid inflammation behind rise in cases
MTCs small buses fleecing you big time
T.N.s diabetes registry enrols over 5,000 children, specialised care centres being expanded
Guvs move to send Siddha Univ bill to President is disappointing
Mans legs crushed as bus rams bike
TN received only 17% of funds sought over 10 years
My father is a child, those with him are venomous: Anbumani
