Air travel to Israel takes off again: Air India, other airlines to restart flights

Jerusalem: With the ceasefire holding up in the north and south of Israel, several major international airlines, including Air India, have announced plans to resume flights to Israel expanding connectivity to the war-torn region. According to the source, Its official now. We are resuming flights from March 2, 2025, a representative for Air India in []

Cybercrime police froze 80% of money lost to online fraudstersin Salem in 2024

Two SSIs, four head constables transferred to AR in Salem

Hoax bomb threat to VCRI in Salem

Newlywed woman kidnapped by her relativesin Salem

Repairingof 3,944 houses in Salem district under RBMR Scheme under process, says Collector

Israel to maintain control of Gaza-Egypt crossing

Jerusalem, Jan 22: Israel said it will maintain control of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip during the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas. A statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office on Wednesday denied reports that the Palestinian Authority would control the crossing. It said local Palestinians not affiliated [] The post Israel to maintain control of Gaza-Egypt crossing appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Shutter malfunction at Anaimaduvu dam in Salem district

Limited water supply in Salem city on January 23, 24

Kerala delegation at Davos woos investments from Saudi Arabia, Hitachi

KOCHI: The Kerala delegation led by Industries Minister P Rajeeve attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos on Wednesday held discussions with the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, under the Saudi Arabian government, air conditioner maker Hitachi India, and other officials for possible collaborations, taking advantage of the state's abundant skilled talentand its leadership in sustainable development. We engaged with WEF representatives at WEF2025 in Davos, initiating discussions on potential collaborations across diverse sectors, Rajeeve said. He said WEF representatives appreciated Keralas achievements and optimism about the state's potential in advanced technology-driven industries. These discussions mark the beginning of significant opportunities that will resonate at the upcoming Invest Kerala Global Summit, reinforcing Keralas position as a global destination for innovation and investment, said the minister. The minister along with otherofficials from the state also had a meeting with Khalid Mohammed Al Salem, president of the Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu, Saudi Arabia on extensive investment opportunities between Kerala and Saudi Arabia.The conversation emphasised priority sectors such as petrochemicals and energy industries, which align with the Royal Commission's strategic focus, Rajeeve said. At Davos, the minister also had a meeting with Bharat Kaushal, managing director of Hitachi India. The discussion focused on unlocking significant opportunities for collaboration with Kerala. Initial talks revolved around long-term projects with Hitachi, emphasizing technology and infrastructure development to drive industrial growth. Further discussions will follow to take this forward, Rajeeve said. Meanwhile, the Kerala Pavilion at the WEF 2025, was inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Chirag Paswan, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries. The Union Ministers who visited the pavilion expressed their appreciation for Kerala's dynamic vision for industrial and economic growth. The Kerala Pavilion is hosting key meetings with investors, building momentum for the upcoming Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025, said the minister. The enthusiasm and positive feedback received at this global platform reaffirms Kerala's position as a leading investment destination, he added.

Two held for illegal sex-determination in Salem district

Israel says it will maintain control of Gaza-Egypt crossing

Jerusalem: Israel said it will maintain control of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip during the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas. A statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office on Wednesday denied reports that the Palestinian Authority would control the crossing. It said local Palestinians not affiliated with Hamas []

FIR against Palaniswami: Madras High Court dismisses Opposition leaders revision petition

Justice P. Velmurugan rejects his plea against a Salem judicial magistrates 2023 order to the central crime branch police

EPS rebuts minister, says debt burden and revenue deficit up under DMK government

CHENNAI/COIMBATORE: Joining issue with Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu over the fiscal position and debt burden of the state government, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday said the DMK which came to power with the promise of improving the fiscal management has failed in all economic indicators besides increasing the debt burden as well as revenue deficit. Referring to the statement of Thennarasu that he (Palaniswami) lacked proper understanding about fiscal management of the state, the AIADMK chief said when his party was in power, the DMK MLAs, who are now ministers, had said efficient fiscal management signifies containing the fiscal deficit while removing the revenue deficit totally besides controlling the extent of borrowing and spending the amount borrowed on capital expenditure. Palaniswami said since 2021, the DMK government has hiked the power tariff thrice. But despite this, the government is providing additional funds to the TNEB. This shows that the fiscal management of the TNEB has been destabilised, he said. But during the AIADMK regime, the debt burden stood within 25% of the state GDP but after the DMK government assumed office, this had gone beyond 26%, he said. During the AIADMK regime, despite the reduction in the central share due to finance commission recommendation and by bearing the debt of the TNEB, the revenue deficit was lesser till 2018-19 and it went up only to the loss of revenue due to Covid-19. In the next two financial years, the revenue deficit came down since the revenue receipts increased. This is a quite normal phenomenon. However, the revenue deficit increased during the past two years. The minister should have explained this, Palaniswami added. The AIADMK leader also said the total borrowings during the five years of the DMK government are likely to exceed Rs 5 lakh crore. This is higher than the total borrowings of the state government for the past 73 years after the Independence (till 2020-21). However, not even 50% of this has been spent on capital expenditure but a large portion of the borrowings has been spent on revenue expenditure. When we point out this, the minister says we dont have a proper understanding about the fiscal management, he added. Talking to reporters at Omalur in Salem on Tuesday, Palaniswami said Tasmac revenue under the DMK government has increased to Rs 69,588 crore against Rs 43,489 crore in the AIADMK rule. When asked whether there is a chance of an alliance with the BJP if the partys state unit president K Annamalai is changed, Palaniswami said, There is no need for this question as we have already come out of the alliance. It (BJP) is a national party. We do not have the authority to say whether they will replace him or not.

Skyroot to Invest Rs 500 Cr in Telangana

HYDERABAD: Skyroot Aerospace would invest `500 crore in setting up a private rocket manufacturing, integration and testing unit in Telangana. A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed between the Telangana government and Skyroot Aero Space at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday. Expressing his happiness over the agreement, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said he was proud that a Hyderabad-based company had achieved success in the field of cutting-edge technology. He congratulated the youth of Telangana for showcasing their excellent talent in the world and coming forward to invest in the state. The Chief Minister said that the government's partnership with Skyroot Aerospace would demonstrate its strategic vision in the space sector. Revanth Reddy said that Hyderabad would soon be developed as a hub for private sector space activities. Skyroute Aerospace co-founder Pawan Chandana said they are happy to invest in Telangana and would be a part of achieving the goals of Telangana Rising and Hyderabad Rising under the leadership of Revanth Reddy. Similarly, minister D. Sridhar Babu held detailed discussions with the MTC Group on expanding their hub-and-spoke model to Telangana. The Mitsui Japan group holds 25 per cent equity in the MTC Group. During the discussions, various plans and projects, and efforts will begin soon to identify land for their investments in Telangana. Sridhar Babu also welcomed and met Khalid Mohammed Al-Salem, federal minister, and president of the royal commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, at the Telangana Pavillion on Tuesday. During their meeting, they discussed a variety of issues and scope for working together and the opportunities for investment into the Telangana Rising vision. The Saudi official assured Sridhar Babu that Saudi Arabia was keen to find the best investment opportunities that also align to the values like sustainability, and long-term impact on people and environment.

Head constable placed under suspension in Salem

Rohit's Ranji participation forces MCA to increase seating capacity

Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer will play in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sharad Pawar Academy Ground in BKC. The MCA will increase seating to 500 for fans. Nitin Menon will officiate his 50th T20I in Pune and Anil Dandekar will umpire his 100th First-Class match in Salem.

Pritam Kotal set to make Chennaiyin FC debut

CHENNAI: Chennaiyin FC will face league leaders Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday for a high-stakes Indian Super League clash. The match will present the first opportunity for the Chennaiyin fans to see new signing Pritam Kotal in action after the defender joined from Kerala Blasters FC. Should he make an appearance, Kotal will face his former side Mohun Bagan and assistant coach Noel Wilson is hoping for a quick impact from the Indian defender. Most of this season we have not had a settled defence. We have been forced into changes due to injuries or suspensions. Owen (Coyle) knows better but Pritam (Kotal) coming in will help us better in defence. I am sure Pritam will make our defence stronger, said Noel Wilson on Monday. Anirudh shines All round display by P Anirudh (3/11, 44 n.o) propelled SBOA (Anna Nagar) to beat Ebenezer MHSS (Korattur) by nine wickets in the final of the CSK-Thiruvallur DCA U-15 inter-school cricket tournament. Brief scores: Final: Ebenezer MHSS (Korattur) 119 in 29.5 ovs (K Krish 34, P Anirudh 3/11) lost to SBOA (Anna Nagar) 120/1 in 26.2 ovs (P Anirudh 44 n.o). Sriram stars in Jayendra win Riding on A Srirams 58, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Vidyalaya, Kovai defeated Holy Saint, Bengaluru by two runs in a thrilling match of the Junior Super Kings inter-school T20 championship played at ICL grounds, Sankar Nagar, Tirunelveli. Brief scores: Shree Ram Vidya Mandir, Colvale, Goa 49/9 in 15 ovs (N Karthik Verma 4/ 8) lost to ACA School, Andhra 50 for no loss in 6.2 ovs; St Bedes, Chennai 193/6 in 15 ovs (Josh Shane Francis 66, M Saravana Sangeeth Rajan 3/ 29) bt Sri Jayendra SGJ, Tirunelveli 78/8 in 15 ovs (M Saravana Sangeeth Rajan 29); Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Vidyalaya, Kovai 111/6 in 15 ovs (A Sriram 58, Krushna V Rao 3/13) bt Holy Saint, Bengaluru 109/5 in15 ovs (K Vedaraj 35); MS Dhoni Global, Hosur 87/3 in 12 ovs (Lalit Arjun 41 n.o) lost to Nellai Nadar, Chennai 91/4 in 10.1 ovs. CFC & Norwich City FC inter-school championship Chennaiyin FC, partnering with Norwich City FC will organise the CFC-NCFC inter-school football championship to be held at MCC School (Chetpet) from Friday, Jan 24, 2025. About 64 teams will be competing in the Under-12 and Under-14 categories. The initiative is to promote football at the grassroots level in Tamil Nadu. The tournament provides the players a platform to showcase their skills to the club (CFC) academy scouts. With the additional support of the Reliance Foundation, the tournament is part of a wider partnership initiated in April 2024 between Chennaiyin FC and Norwich City FC, focused on talent cultivation, promoting a vibrant football culture in the area, and enhancing the grassroots development of the sport. In the future, we aim to expand this initiative beyond Chennai to other districts such as Coimbatore, Trichy, and Salem. Gradually we envision making this a Tamil Nadu-wide championship, uniting young footballers from across the state, said CFCs Head of Marketing, Neel Jayaram, on Monday.

Curb overcharging by private harvesters, demand Tiruchy farmers

TIRUCHY: With samba harvesting having commenced, farmers in the district express concerns over the inadequate number of harvesters with the agricultural engineering department. The department has three machines, though samba paddy cultivation has been carried out on over 1.25 lakh acres in the district. This has left many farmers reliant on private operators, who they say often charge exorbitant rates. Farmers hence want the government to increase the number of harvesters, to ensure timely harvest. Harvester operators increase the rent for their machines indiscriminately due to heavy demand for the equipment when the samba paddy harvest commences, alleged the farmers. The hourly rent for the harvester owned by the agricultural engineering department department is Rs 1,160 for tyre-type harvester and Rs 1,880 for chain-type harvester. The department has also fixed Rs 1,600 and Rs 2,400 for these categories, respectively, for private operators. They, however, demand Rs 4,000 and Rs 3,500, complain farmers. A large number of paddy-harvesting machines would arrive in the Cauvery delta region from various parts of the state, particularly from Athur, Salem, Madurai and Namakkal and even from Karnataka. Utilising the demand, operators increase the rent on their own, said N Veerasekaran, the state spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh. Samba harvesting has already commenced in many parts of the district. As farmers are rushing the process due to rain, harvester operators collect rent which is twice that fixed by the district administration. Small and marginal farmers find it hard to pay such exorbitant amount. The district collector should convene a meeting to fix the rent and also should nominate officials to check if the operators follow instructions, he added. The government should provide the required number of harvesters commensurate with the quantum of crop acreage in a district, he further said.

Woman dies after being run over by car in Salem

Vijay targets DMK even while opposing new airport

Chennai: Launching his maiden field work in politics by throwing his weight behind the people opposing the new greenfield airport Parandur in Kanchipuram district on Monday, founder president of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) Vijay made a scathing attack on the DMK government while addressing villagers whose lands are likely to be taken away for the airport. Delivering his over 11 minute speech from atop his open van, he told the crowds from the 13 villages that had gathered at a marriage hall in a place called Podavur that he wanted to launch his field work by pledging his support to the farmers who had been on a warpath for 910 days protesting the selection of Parandur as the site for the second airport for Chennai. Though Vijay was earlier scheduled to address the villagers at Eganapuram, the prime venue of the protest where people normally hold meetings and agitations, and a five acre land was also levelled for the purpose, rains in Kanchipuram districts wreaked havoc, turning the ground slushy. Pointing the unsuitable ground as reason, police shifted Vijays meeting venue to the marriage hall. In the negotiations carried out with the police till late Sunday night, the proctors reluctantly agreed for Podavur with the condition that Vijay would address the crowd in an open space and not inside the hall. Anyway, the surging crowd let the police allow Vijay speak from atop his open van, on which he drove into Parandur and drove away without setting foot on the ground. Expressing concern over global warming, which was leading to adverse climate change that made itself evident every year through the heavy floods in Chennai, Vijay said the government that decided on constructing the airport at Parandur by destroying 90 percent of the water bodies and 90 percent of agricultural land was definitely anti-people. When the State government could pass a resolution against the setting up of the tungsten mining project at Arittapatti, which he himself supported wholeheartedly, why did not take the same stand against the airport at Parandur, Vijay asked. People of Paranthur were also our own as those of Aritra Patti, he said. Why the State government did not opposed the airport project was it stood to gain in some way, which the people had understood well, he said, pointing out why the government failed to treat Paranthur in the manner in which it looked at the Salem 8-way road scheme and the Kattupalli harbor project. Calling for the reconsideration of the Parandur airport project, he demanded the selection of a site where no agricultural land would be affected as development was important though destruction in the name of development could be detrimental to all.

CS-CID officials in Salem told to crack down on PDS rice smugglers

Kerala youth dies in accident in Salem

Actor Vijay opposes proposed Parandur airport, stands in solidarity with protesting farmers

KANCHEEPURAM: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay met with the villagers of Ekanapuram in Kancheepuram district on Monday, who have been opposing the proposal to establish a greenfield airport at Parandur. Expressing solidarity with the protesting villagers, Vijay alleged that there might be hidden benefits for those in power beyond the airport's establishment at Parandur. He urged both the Union and state governments to review the proposal and demanded that the airport be built in a location where it would cause minimal damage to agricultural land. Hundreds of villagers, including those from Ekanapuram and nearby areas, have been opposing the land acquisition for the project for 908 days, as it threatens to destroy their agricultural farmlands. Speaking at Ekanapuram in Kancheepuram district, Vijay said, During the ideological declarations of TVK at the Vikravandi conference held last October, I had already opposed this project. We will initiate our legal battle, and I stand firmly with you. He emphasised an important message for both the state and central governments: I am not against the idea of an airport, but I strongly believe it should not be constructed in this particular area (Ekanapuram and Parandur). Global warming poses a serious threat, and the destruction of marshlands in Chennai and its surrounding districts has been causing frequent floods. Airport project has hidden benefits, alleges TVK chief Vijay Noting that any government proposing an airport project that destroys 90 per cent of farmers' livelihoods and 90 per cent of water bodies is anti-people, he added, I welcome the state governments decision to oppose tungsten mining in Arittapatti. However, the same stance should have been taken for the people of Parandur, as they also belong to us. The state government should have opposed the project. For them, the airport project may have hidden benefits beyond its establishment, but the people are fully aware of this. Taking a dig at the DMK, Vijay said, When you were in opposition, you strongly opposed projects like the Salem Eight-Lane Highway and the Kattupalli Port. Why dont you take the same stand now that you are in power? Why do you support farmers only when you are in opposition, but go against them when in government? Calling out the governments double standards as incomprehensible, Vijay remarked, People will not remain silent in the face of your theatrics. You may excel at staging political dramas, but the people are wise and observant. He demanded that the location of the proposed airport be reviewed and that it should be built in a place where the damage to farmers and natural resources is minimal. Vijay further said, I have heard that you, the villagers, deeply respect and worship your village deities (Grama Devathai) and Ellaiyamman. Please keep your faith in these deities strong. As a member of your family, I, along with our party cadre, will always stand with you. He added, I wanted to meet the Ekanapuram villagers at the ground, but I do not understand why I was denied entry into your village. I was also not allowed to distribute pamphlets. Earlier, Vijay mentioned that he decided to begin his political journey by seeking the blessings of farmers. As a member of your family, I feel this is the right place to start my political career, he said. Strict surveillance In anticipation of large crowds at the meeting, the police conducted intensive checks at the Parandur-Kancheepuram junction. Sources said that the police verified the attendees' Aadhar card to ensure only residents of the impacted villages were permitted entry. Airport indispensable for state's growth, says TN Finance Minister Speaking to reporters in Mallankinaru on Saturday, TN Finance Minister said that the proposed airport at Parandur is indispensable for the state's economic and industrial growth. He noted that due to heavy urbanisation around the present Chennai airport at Meenambakkam, land acquisition and airport expansion within city boundaries is not possible. He added that the new airport will be equipped to handle more than eight crore passengers by the next decade. On TVK leader Vijays plan to meet protesters at Parandur on Monday, Thennarasu said anybody can meet them. He said that Vijay can communicate the locals' concerns to the state and that the state will look into it. Tamil Nadu's debt is within limit, spending funds for union govt schemes: Min Thangam Thennarasu

Marappalam rail subway widening work to start soon

COIMBATORE: After a long delay, the district administration is all set to begin land acquisition to widen the Marappalam railway underpass located at Madukkarai on the Coimbatore-Palakkad main road at Madukkarai. The plan is to widen the underpass into a four-lane stretch to manage traffic in a better way on the interstate route. The Marappalam underpass, which was originally a wooden railway bridge, is located 2 kilometres from the Kochi-Salem National Highway. It is the only easy access point to the road connecting Kerala and Coimbatore and does not have toll plazas up to the border. The two-lane underpass was constructed by the British. Following renovation a few years ago, it was modified into a single-lane subway. As it can only accommodate one heavy vehicle alongside a bike, this creates a bottleneck, forcing other vehicles to wait in queues on both sides. Heeding to public demand, the Coimbatore district administration has initiated the widening work. Explaining the development, collector Kranthi Kumar Pati told TNIE that the Marappalam Road Under Bridge (RUB) is proposed to be dismantled and reconstructed as a four-lane carriageway with a railway box length of 82.70 metres and a width of 21.90m. The approved General Arrangement Drawing (GAD) with all necessary modifications was obtained from the Chief Bridge Engineer of Southern Railways in Chennai on December 31, 2024. Based on it diversion of traffic was requested from the Palakkad Railway Division on January 6, 2025. The Land Planning Schedule (LPS) for land acquisition is under preparation and it has to be sent to the government for approval the collector said. Meanwhile, local people have urged the district administration to renovate an abandoned underpass, which is located nearby. They suggest light vehicles be allowed through it. Narrow Marappalam underpass in TN chokes traffic

People throng bus stands in Salem, Namakkal as Pongal holidays end

Israel army leaves city of Rafah in Gaza Strip Reports

JERUSALEM, Jan 19: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began to withdraw troops and equipment from the center of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reported, citing its correspondent. According to the channel, the Israeli military is retreating to the Philadelphi Corridor, which is located on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that, contrary to media reports about the alleged withdrawal of Israeli forces from the [] The post Israel army leaves city of Rafah in Gaza Strip Reports appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Israel Hamas ceasefire: 735 Palestinian prisoners to be released in 1st phase

Jerusalem: Israel is set to release 735 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of the Isreal Hamas ceasefire deal, the Israeli Ministry of Justice announced on Saturday, January 18 This initial phase, set to commence on Sunday, January 19 and span 42 days, will see Israel gradually release the prisoners as well as 1,167 residents Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Man set fire to door of ex-wifes house in Salem

Burglaries reported at four shops in Salem

Israel approves Gaza ceasefire-for-hostage deal

Jerusalem, Jan 18: The Israeli government on Saturday approved a ceasefire agreement aimed at the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, following a lengthy cabinet meeting, the Prime Ministers Office said. The Government has approved the framework for the return of the hostages. The framework for the hostages release will come into effect [] The post Israel approves Gaza ceasefire-for-hostage deal appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Watch tower to be built at Nagamarai to boost tourism

DHARMAPURI: The district tourism department is taking steps to improve tourism in Nagamarai of Pennagaram taluk by establishing a watch tower to set up a viewpoint. Officials stated that a proposal has been sent to the state government for funds and tenders would be issued soon. Nagamarai is a quaint village on the banks of Cauvery river. The village is located behind Mettur dam and residents have long urged the district administration to improve tourism activities to take advantage of the scenic beauty of the area. Heeding to this request and after studying the potential of the area, the tourism department has sent a proposal to the state government to set up a a watch tower here. S Manganadan, a Nagamarai resident, said, Nagamarai was formed about a hundred years ago, when people migrated during construction of the Mettur dam. A large number of residents here have taken up cultivation and fishing as a primary occupation following this. Tourists visit the village during holidays to enjoy the picturesque Cauvery and indulge in the local cuisine. Further, we also have a coracle and boating service, which will boost tourism. We hope the administration will make further efforts to improve tourism. Another resident K Rajendiran said, Our village lies behind the Mettur dam and lies only some kilometres away from the dam through. Therefore, establishing a viewpoint here would attract tourists. Further, there is also a pending demand to construct a bridge over Cauvery, which would allow easy access to Salem. Meanwhile, Assistant Tourism Development officer, A Kadiresan said, A proposal has been sent to the state government for Rs 10 crore to establish a watch tower. It is currently under process and soon tenders will be invited.

Study reveals low helmet compliance among adult motorists in Tamil Nadu, with only 1 in 4 wearing helmets

CHENNAI: Only one in four adult motorists riding two-wheelers in seven districts of Tamil Nadu, including Madurai and Tiruchy, wears a helmet, a study has found. Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvarur and Tiruvannamalai are the other five districts where helmet compliance among adults is below 25%, according to the study conducted by Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG). The highest compliance of around 75% was observed in Coimbatore and Tirunelveli, while in Chennai and Salem, the compliance rate was above 50%. The highest rate of compliance among children was observed in Salem and Tirunelveli districts, the report said. According to the study, the overwhelming belief by the riders on their ability to avoid road accidents and the general perception that helmets were unnecessary for short trips are the major reasons for the non-use of helmets. Parents transporting children to schools displayed the lowest compliance, the report said. The CAG carried out the study at two traffic intersections each in 11 districts of Tamil Nadu in November 2024. In absolute numbers, 1,729 adults were observed in Chennai, of them, 1,023 were found wearing helmets. In Coimbatore, 2,565 of the 3,320 observed adults wore helmets. However, the numbers were drastically low in districts like Madurai where only 242 of 2,034 observed adults wore helmets. Besides Madurai, compliance was also lower in Kancheepuram and Tiruvannamalai districts. The low compliance among adults directly influences the low or nearly non-existent helmet use among children, the study said. The compliance among children was negligible in Tiruchy, Madurai, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram districts. In Chennai, too, it is below 25%, said the report. Only 63% pillion riders follow regulations Contradicting the Greater Chennai Traffic Police reports of substantial helmet compliance rate among motorists, the study mentioned that only 63% of the people riding pillion adhere to the regulations. Though Chennai recorded 3,654 road accidents involving two-wheelers in 2024, the fatalities due to non-usage of helmets was only nine of the 504 deaths, said the report. The highest fatalities due to non-use of helmets was reported from Cuddalore (84), followed by Kancheepuram (31), Chengalpattu (15) and Coimbatore (15), it added. Enforcement of regulations, coupled with educational initiatives significantly enhances the effectiveness. Conducting joint campaigns was found to be eight times more effective than enforcement and 12 times more effective than education, CAG said. The report suggested that the state must ensure standard helmets are widely available and affordable, especially in rural and low-income areas. Likewise, standards must be developed for lightweight and climate-appropriate helmets that can address common complaints about discomfort, it added. Strategies to overcome resistance to helmet use in India include promoting helmet designs suitable for Indian weather conditions, the report added. Fact file TN witnessed a daily average of 50 fatalities due to road accidents. Two-wheelers accounted for 44.22% of all road accident fatalities. A total of 29.9% of such fatalities involved individuals not wearing helmets. Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Salem and Chennai districts have the highest helmet compliance levels among adults. Salem and Tirunelveli districts have the highest helmet compliance levels among children.

Israeli Cabinet approves deal for ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages

Jerusalem: Israels Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages held there and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever. Mediators Qatar and the US announced the ceasefire Wednesday, but the deal Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

One dies in bull-chasing event in Salem

A construction worker, Vediappan (35), a resident of Senaigoundanur, who watched the event, was gored by a bull and was admitted to a private hospital. He succumbed to the injuries later.

400 Bulls, 300 Tamers Participate In The First Jallikattu Of Season In Salem District

K.C. Singh | Gaza ceasefire can let US focus on China & Russia

The ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip comes as a surprise as historically outgoing US Presidents lack the diplomatic muscle to achieve crisis breakthroughs. US President Bill Clintons Camp David summit between PLO chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak failed in July 2000. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ignored the repeated American calls for a ceasefire since last May, when already the cost of civilian casualties had far exceeded tangible military gains. A number of factors coalesced for this outcome. First, Israel has managed to optimise its security by decapitating the top leadership of both Hamas and Hezbollah, demoralising the latters cadres through exploding pagers and thus creating a security vacuum in Syria that allowed a fringe Islamist Sunni group, Hayat Tahreer al-Sham (HTS), to seize power by overthrowing the regime headed by Bashar al-Assad, that had ruled for decades. In direct military confrontation with Iran, involving mutual missile attacks, Israel destroyed Iranian air defences and missile production plants. Thus, Israel had re-gained regional military dominance, including restoration of deterrence against foes. Prime Minister Netanyahu suspects that President Donald Trump, in his second term beginning Monday, may indulge Israel less than during his previous incarnation, when he unconditionally shifted the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognised Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights and cut aid to the Palestinians. Mr Trump resented Mr Netanyahu immediately congratulating President Joe Biden following his 2020 election victory, while Mr Trump was busy questioning it and inciting mobs to raid the US Capitol complex. Furthermore, the Trumps have cosy business and financial ties with Gulf rulers, especially the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps designated Middle East envoy, had some of these sovereign funds bail him out of a tangled Park Lane hotel deal in New York. Finally, Mr Trump sponsored the Abraham Accords, signed on September 15, 2020, which normalised relations between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain. The Saudis resisted joining and sensibly held back until Israel presented a solution to the Palestinian problem. Three years later, the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, followed by 15 months of Israeli massacre of civilians in Gaza, West Bank and Lebanon, have undermined those accords. Mr Netanyahu knows that President Trump may resurrect them to emulate President Jimmy Carters 1979 Camp David Accords. A Nobel Prize could somewhat wash away the stains of indictment by a New York court and the leaked report about Mr Trumps culpability for the January 6, 2021 insurrection to stymie the peaceful transfer of power. As the saying goes, success has many fathers. President-elect Trump claimed first that it was his success. In a tweet he called it a voice for PEACE. President Joe Biden sarcastically asked, when questioned about others seeking the credit: Is it a joke?. More generously he said the representatives of both leaders were speaking as one team. Hamas called it the achievement of our people. According to Al Jazeera, while Hamas in its attack on Israel killed 1,100 and took 240 captive, the Palestinians killed exceeded 46, 700, including 18,000 children. In Gaza, casualties amount to one out of every 50 people. Tragically, even as the ceasefire news broke, Israel conducted another 50 raids, killing more Palestinians. The ceasefire deal has three phases. Hamas will release 33 hostages, out of the remaining 98, many perhaps dead. Israel will release multiple-times more Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli defence forces will retreat east of Gaza, allowing hugely scaled-up humanitarian assistance. It is still unclear if Israel will also vacate the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates Gaza from Egypt. Israeli sceptics allege this could enable Hamas to rearm and rotate fighters. Interestingly, despite the bloodshed and huge civilian toll, Hamas, though greatly weakened, is neither routed nor eliminated, which was Mr Netanyahus stated aim. In Gaza it is now led by Muhammad Sinwar, the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the October 7 attack and leader of Hamas fight-back. Clearly military pressure, however extreme, cannot kill a political movement as new recruits are generated in direct proportion to the violence against civilians. The current deal constitutes a 42-day truce. The exchange of hostages for prisoners and entry of 600 trucks carrying humanitarian assistance must occur in that constrained time-frame. The Israeli Cabinets delayed meeting reflects expected resistance from the governing coalitions far-right partners, especially finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and national security adviser Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called the deal a surrender to Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus image, which shattered after the October 7 Hamas attack, has recovered considerably after the Israeli success in decapitating the leadership of both Hamas and Hezbollah. The Assad regimes ouster in Syria and weakened Iranian influence and diminished support for Shia militias, across West Asia, has enhanced his political standing. Mr Netanyahu must decide whether to side with his far-right coalition allies and reject the ceasefire or ignore them and endanger his government, resulting possibly in a fresh election. If the ceasefire holds and even gets extended, with more if not all hostages released or their bodies transferred, then a new dawn is possible. But it is still an arduous journey to normalcy and a two-nation solution. Gaza also needs massive relief, rehabilitation and rebuilding of infrastructure and houses. President Trump would expect others to pay, especially the Gulf rulers with trillion-dollar sovereign funds. But Israel also needs to check or even roll back its expansion of the settlements in the occupied territories. Mr Netanyahu has always resisted a two-nation solution. Perhaps an Israeli election is necessary to gauge the publics opinion on these issues. These developments are important for India. The India-Middle East-Europe Corridor hinges on normalcy in West Asia. The nine-million strong Indian diaspora in the Gulf and Indian exports to the region as well as Indias energy dependence on it makes peace and security in the Gulf and West Asia vital for India. After an initial pro-Israel stance, due to Hamas terror attack, India reverted to its traditional stance demanding a ceasefire, talks and a two-nation solution to the Palestinian issue. Iran remains an unpredictable factor, unless Mr Trump engages it. Russia and China would also monitor the US moves as the Gaza ceasefire relieves America from a major strategic distraction. Without that, the US can revert full attention to handling Russia in Ukraine and China in the Indo-Pacific. This indicates the high stakes in the success or failure of the move to end the Gaza war and resolve the Israel-Palestine standoff.

Israels security cabinet okays Gaza ceasefire-for-hostage deal

Jerusalem, Jan. 17: Israels restricted security cabinet voted on Friday in favour of the Gaza ceasefire-for-hostage agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office announced in a statement. The office noted that the full cabinet is expected to convene later Friday for final approval of the agreement, which Qatar first announced on Wednesday. Israels acceptance of the [] The post Israels security cabinet okays Gaza ceasefire-for-hostage deal appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Israels security Cabinet recommends approval of ceasefire in Gaza; deal goes to full Cabinet for final sign-off

Jerusalem: Israels security Cabinet Friday recommended approval of a ceasefire deal after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed an agreement had been reached that would pause the 15-month war with Hamas in Gaza and release dozens of hostages held by militants there. Mediators Qatar and the US announced the ceasefire Wednesday, but the deal hung in []

Ancient Pagan Temple Linked To Jesus' Ancestors Found Under Jerusalem

As per archaeologists, the complex was likely constructed in the Middle Bronze Age, with its final stage in Iron Age IIB.

Woman gives birth to girl child at Salem Railway Station

Israel PM Netanyahu chairs cabinet meet to approve Gaza hostage deal

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently chairing the political-security cabinet discussion that began in Jerusalem Friday afternoon, hours after his office confirmed that a deal has been reached to release hostages held in Gaza and to implement a ceasefire following intense negotiations between Israeli and Hamas teams in Qatar. The political-security cabinet discussion Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Satellite photos show Gaza Strip before, after devastation of Israel-Hamas war

Dubai: The Israel-Hamas war, now nearing a potential ceasefire, has devastated the Gaza Strip. Satellite photos offer some sense of the destruction in the territory, which has been largely sealed off to journalists and others. Some of the images have illustrated a likely buffer zone, wanted by Israel despite international objections, which would take some 60 square kilometers (23 square miles) out of the enclave. In all, the strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea is about 360 square kilometers (139 square miles), and Palestinians hope it will be part of a future state, along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC shows Gaza City, Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2023, and Jan. 3, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP) Other images tell the story of how Palestinians lives have changed during the war. Gaza City, the dense major city in the strip, has been decimated, with buildings destroyed and roads filled with rubble. As the war progressed, Israel ordered people to move farther south. Today, the result of that movement can be seen in images of Muwasi, just north of the strips southern border with Egypt. There, the sandy coast and surrounding farmland have been overtaken by thousands of tents, all visible from space. The images have also helped relief agencies and experts make estimates regarding the extent of the damage. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC shows Muwasi, Gaza Strip, on May 17, 2023, and on Jan 3, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP) Corey Scher of the City University of New York and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University have been studying Gaza since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023, after Hamas entered Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. Their latest assessment, published Thursday, estimates that 59.8 per cent of all buildings in Gaza likely have been damaged in the war. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC shows Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2023, and on Jan 3, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP) That's slightly lower than a December analysis from the United Nations Satellite Center. It is estimated that 69 per cent of all structures in Gaza have been damaged in the fighting, which has killed over 46,000 people, according to local health authorities. They do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those kSatellite images from Planet Labs PBC shows Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2023, and on Jan 3, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)illed.

Six die in bull sports across Tamil Nadu on Pongals last day

MADURAI/TIRUCHY/SIVAGANGA/PUDUKKOTTAI: At least six people five spectators and a bull owner and two bulls died at jallikattu and manjuvirattu events held across TN on the last day of the three-day Pongal festivities on Thursday. While a 55-year-old spectator was gored to death by a bull at Alanganallur, a spectator, bull owner, and a bull died at Siravayal manjuvirattu in Sivaganga. In four separate jallikattu events in Tiruchy, Karur, and Pudukottai districts, two spectators were gored to death, and 148 individuals, including bull tamers, bull owners, and spectators, sustained injuries. One bull also died during the event inPudukkottai, police said. As many as 500 tamers demonstrated their valour as 989 bulls kicked up a storm at the prestigious Alanganallur jallikattu held in Madurai. As the ferocious bulls released from vaadi vasal over nine rounds raced past frenzied tamers, some youngsters had to make a hasty retreat briefly or climb on fencing poles to escape the wrath of the attacking bulls. More than 70 people, including spectators, sustained injuries. Bulls owned by former governor of Sri Lankas eastern province Senthil Thondaiman, actor Soori, and jallikattu peravai president P R Rajasekar were among the notable ones that demonstrated their might at the event. Abichithar of Poovandhi, who tamed 20 bulls, stood first and was awarded the first prize of car and a native breed cow. Also, Salem Bahubali bull was selected as the best bull and owner of the bull was given a tractor and a native breed of cow as prize. Senthil Thondaimans bull secured fourth place in the event. Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin flagged off the event that started at 8am and concluded by 6.15pm. Tourism officials said that as part of Pongal celebrations nearly 100 foreign tourists were brought to Alanganallur to witness the spectacle. Special gallery was erected for them to have a ringside view of the event. According to police sources, P Periyasamy (55) of Mettupatti village near Vadipatti who came to see the Alanganallur event, was attacked by a bull in which he sustained injuries to his neck. He was rushed to the Madurai GRH, but was declared brought dead. In Sivaganga, during the Siravayal manjuvirattu, Subbaiah of Devakottai got gored by a bull and was rushed to Karaikudi GH, but he died at the hospital. Thaineesh Raja (42) of Naduvikottai Keela Aavandhipatti village who brought his bull to take part in the manjuvirattu, died along with his bull after the animal ran off and fell into a farm well at Kambanur. Raja also jumped into the tank to catch the bull, but both the man and the bull drowned. Nearly 250 bulls and 150 baiters took part in the manjuvirattu in which 130 people including bull owners, spectators and participants suffered injuries. In Tiruchy, two spectators were gored to death, and 148 individuals, including bull tamers, bull owners, and spectators, sustained injuries at four separate jallikattu events held in Tiruchy, Karur, and Pudukkottai districts. One bull also died during the event in Pudukkottai, police said. A total of 590 bulls were unleashed at the jallikattu event held at Aravankadu in Tiruchy district in which 237 tamers took part. During the event, 56 people, including 25 spectators, were injured. In the jallikattu at RT Malai in Karur district, which was flagged off by power minister V Senthil Balaji, 729 bulls and tamers took part. A 60-year-old spectator, Kulanthaivelu of Samuthram near Kuzhumani in the district, was gored to death, police said. In Mahadevanpatti jallikattu in Pudukkottai, 607 bulls and 300 tamers participated. 10 tamers and spectators were injured. A 70-year-old spectator, C Perumal of Odugampatti near Keeranur, was gored to death. He was given first aid on the spot but later died atPudukkottai Government Medical College Hospital, police said. In Vanniyan Viduthi jallikattu in Pudukkottai, 280 tamers took on 280 bulls. A total of 19 people were injured there, police said. Chair issue goes viral During Alanganallur Jallikattu, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalins son Inbanidhi accompanied his father to the venue. A video of Collector MS Sangeetha, seated near Udhayanidhi, giving her seat to the friends Inbanidhi. BJP state president K Annamalai, commented on it stating the collector was made to stand up. Meanwhile, Sangeetha said no one gas made her to get up, and she did so as per protocol. Irish national not allowed to participate In a first, a 53-year-old Ireland national, at present in Chennai, has registered for taking part in the Alanganallur Jallikattu. But during the medical test, he was not allowed to participate in the event by the authorities citing various issues including his age. The Irish man, Con Anthony Conlon (53), is the managing director of an IT firm, and is residing in Chennai for the past 15 years. Speaking to TNIE, Con Anthony, said, I have seen the Jallikattu event in Dindigul and Madurai for consecutive years. Thats when I grew interest towards participating in the event. So I registered through the online process and came to Alanganallur today. But during the medical test, I was not allowed to participate due to my age. I have participated in Running of the Bulls in Pamplona Spain twice, as there is no age limit. If your fit enough to run, then you can run. And, I have recently participated in a full marathon and half marathons. So, Im fit enough, I think. He added, Though I was not able to participate in this event, Ill keep trying to take part in the Jallikattu in the future.

Deal to release hostages reached: Israel PM office

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Ronen Zvulun/Pool via AP) Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Ronen Zvulun/Pool via AP) Jerusalem: The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that a deal to release the hostages had been reached and that he had ordered the political-security cabinet to convene later in the day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed by the negotiating team that agreements have been reached on a deal to release the hostages, his office said in a statement. His office had accused Hamas on Thursday of reneging on key parts of the agreement to extort last-minute concessions -- an allegation Hamas denied. The Prime Minister ordered the political-security cabinet to convene tomorrow (Friday). The government will then convene to approve the deal, Netanyahu's office said. It added that the families of the hostages had been informed and that preparations were being made to receive them upon their return. If approved by Israel's cabinet, the truce agreement would begin on Sunday and involve the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war would be finalised. It was announced by mediators Qatar and the United States on Wednesday.

Botched home birth kills 31-year-old woman, female infant in Ranipet

RANIPET: A 31-year-old pregnant woman and her fourth child a female infant died on Thursday morning after an attempted home delivery at her mothers residence in Arcot, Ranipet district. According to sources, the woman had previously delivered her third child in a such manner at her home in Salem. The deceased has been identified as T Jothi, police said. Jothis husband, S Tamilselvan (31), is a carpenter from Salem. The couple, married for nine years, already has three children two daughters and a son, they added. During her pregnancy, Jothi had moved to her mother Vallis house on Thirunavukarasu Street in Arcot, while her husband remained in Salem. According to police, Jothi went into labour early Thursday morning and experienced severe pain and significant blood loss. Faced with an emergency, Jothi and her mother attempted a home delivery. Sources said that complications arose while Valli attempt to cut the umbilical cord. The infant died immediately, and Jothi lost consciousness. Her brother rushed her to the Arcot Government Hospital, but doctors declared her dead on arrival, they added. When she arrived at the hospital around 8 am, she was already dead. The umbilical cord was injured, and it appeared to be a full-term pregnancy, said a doctor from the hospital. Following the incident, police registered an FIR. Bodies of the woman and infant have been sent to the Vellore Government Medical College and Hospital for autopsy. Ranipet health officials confirmed that the infant had weighed 2.8kg and the pregnancy had not been registered under the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme in Salem. Further investigation into the matter is currently under way, as police are yet to ascertain the exact cause of death. In light of the incident, health authorities in Ranipet have reiterated that the public should not attempt home deliveries and must seek immediate medical attention during emergencies. Deceased Pregnancy lady Jothi in Ranipet district

Silver anklet manufacturers in Salem witness meagre orders for Pongal festival season

Forest Department increases patrol to prevent vanga fox jallikattu in Salem

Israeli PMs office denies reports of Hamas approval for ceasefire deal

Jerusalem, Jan 15: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office denied on Wednesday media reports claiming that Hamas had given final approval to a ceasefire-for-hostage deal. Hamas hasnt yet replied to the deal, the office said in a statement. Earlier on Wednesday, Israels state-owned Kan TV news reported that Hamas had provided a positive response to [] The post Israeli PMs office denies reports of Hamas approval for ceasefire deal appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Israel intensifies strikes in Gaza amid ceasefire talks

Jerusalem: Israeli forces intensified their assault on Gaza, striking approximately 50 sites since early Wednesday, Israeli authorities said. In a joint statement, the Israeli Shin Bet domestic security agency and the military reported that the airstrikes targeted militants, weapons storage facilities, underground infrastructure, anti-tank fire positions, and Hamas military structures. Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Two children drown in lakein Salem

Houthis fire missile at Israel

Jerusalem: Yemens Houthi forces fired a missile at Israel early Tuesday, triggering sirens in wide areas, including Tel Aviv and some Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to an Israeli military statement. Several attempts were made to intercept the missile, the military said, adding, It was likely intercepted. No injuries were reported, but []

Israeli strikes kill 18 in Gaza, including women and children

Jerusalem: Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 18 people overnight, including women and children, health officials said on Tuesday, as Israel and Hamas appeared to be narrowing in on a ceasefire deal to end the 15-month war and release dozens of hostages. Officials have expressed mounting optimism that they can conclude an agreement in the coming days after more than a year of talks that have repeatedly stalled. Two strikes in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah killed two women and their four children, who ranged in age from 1 month to 9 years old. One of the women was pregnant and the baby did not survive, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies. Another 12 people were killed in two strikes on the southern city of Khan Younis, according to the European Hospital. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel says it only targets militants and accuses them of hiding among civilians in shelters and tent camps for the displaced. Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, when militants stormed into southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people and abducted around 250. A third of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be dead. The Israel Hamas-war has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health authorities there. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but says women and children make up more than half the fatalities. Trump says a possible ceasefire deal for Gaza is very close' President-elect Donald Trump has described a possible ceasefire as being very close. I understand ... there's been a handshake and they are getting it finished -- and maybe by the end of the week, Trump told the American cable channel Newsmax Monday night. He added that part of the deal would see bodies brought out of the Gaza Strip, without elaborating. Israel and Hamas are under renewed pressure to halt the conflict in the lead-up to Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. The phased deal would be based on a framework laid out by President Joe Biden in May and endorsed by the UN Security Council. A missile fired by Houthi rebels targets central Israel A missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted central Israel early Tuesday, causing sirens to blare and people to flee into bomb shelters. Several Israeli strikes also hit the Gaza Strip overnight and early on Tuesday. The Israeli military said it made several attempts to intercept a missile launched from Yemen and the missile was likely intercepted. The Magen David Adom emergency service in Israel said there were no injuries from the missile or falling debris, but some people suffered injuries when running to shelters. Israeli police said several homes outside Jerusalem were damaged by fallen debris and released a photo of what appeared to be a missile casing on the roof of a house.Israel's military also said an earlier missile was intercepted before it entered Israeli territory. Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have held Yemen's capital, Sanaa, since 2014, have launched direct attacks on Israel and some 100 commercial ships as part of their campaign over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Houthis acknowledged the attack early Tuesday.

Traditional artforms get a rebirth as Chennai Sangamam kicks off

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday inaugurated the annual Chennai Sangamam - Namma Ooru Thiruvizha in Chennai. The festival will go on in 18 locations in Chennai till January 17. As many as 1,300 artistes from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra will be performing in the events. After January 17, the festival will be held in Madurai, Tiruchy, Salem, Thanjavur, Tirunelveli, Kancheepuram, Vellore and Coimbatore. The festival is aimed at rehabilitating the folk artistes. In all, more than 50 folkart forms - including Naiyaandi Melam, Karakattam, Kavadiyaattam, Thevarattam, Silambattam, Villupattu, Mallar Kambam, Kaniyan Koothu, Paavaikoothu, etc - will be performed by the artistes. Along with the festival, food festivals will also be organised. Also, handicraft items produced by the Poompuhar are available for sale. After inaugurating the festival, Stalin witnessed cultural events performed for more than one hour. At the event, musician-activist TM Krishna rendered a song on Periyar EV Ramasamy, comparing him to Rabindranath Tagore. A lungi-clad Krishna, wearing a black shirt, said, You (the audience) should identify who Im singing about. The gathering got it right in the first try.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurates research institute for veterinary sciences in Salem district

He also virtually inaugurated new buildings constructed for the Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department

Man hit by bus, dies in Salem

Minister participates in Pongal celebrations in Salem

Boy drowns in river in Salem

Man kills son during drunken brawl in Salem

Israeli PM Netanyahu, US Prez Biden discuss Gaza hostage deal

Israeli PM Netanyahu, US Prez Biden discuss Gaza hostage deal Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden discussed over phone progress in negotiations aimed at securing the release of hostages in Gaza, Netanyahus office said. Netanyahu briefed Biden on a mandate given to negotiators in Qatar to advance efforts for the [] The post Israeli PM Netanyahu, US Prez Biden discuss Gaza hostage deal appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Salem Corporation to set up Bio-CNG plant at 50 crore

Salem New Bus Stand witnesses huge crowd ahead of Pongal festival

CM Stalin Allocates Rs 3,750 Cr for New Roads in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Declaring Tamil Nadu as the safest State, Chief Minister M K Stalin said that he was happy to see the opposition members turning up in black shirts to the House but wondered why they did not protest against the Governor, who insulted the Tamil anthem, or against the Union Government that was seeking to destroy school education through the New Education Policy and college education through the UGC. In his reply to the debate over the resolution on the Governors Address in the State Assembly on Saturday, he announced the opening of 7 new courts in the State to hear cases relating to crimes against women for speedy trial in Madurai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy, Chennai and suburban Chennai and the appointment of special DSPs to investigate crimes against women. Allocating Rs 3,750 crore for the laying of new roads in the recently urbanized areas of the State, he said 3000 new buses would be purchased in the coming year for the State transport corporations and that one lakh house pattas would be distributed to persons belonging to the SC communities. Telling the AIADMK members that they had stood by the BJP since the days they were in power, he said that those who play dark politics had no right to wear black shirts. Referring to the Union Government reneging in its release of funds for providing relief to the State that suffered a succession of cyclones and heavy rains, he said that the amount of Rs 276 crore that was finally given was not even one per cent of the Rs 37,906 crore asked for. Explaining to the members of the House the constraints due to lack of funds, caused by the Union Governments neglect of the State, he said that it was the reason behind the DMK government not honouring some of the promises given to the people during the elections. Otherwise most of the promises had been fulfilled, he said, in reply to the AIADMK charge during the debate. Urging the AIADMK not to raise the tungsten exploration issue needlessly and create panic in Madurai area, he reiterated that as long as he was the Chief Minister the project would not come and if that happens he would not remain in the post. Accusing the AIADMK of paving the way for the State losing its rights on the auctioning of mines, he said he had records to prove that it was the AIADMK member Thambidurai who supported the move of the Union that was vehemently opposed by the DMK since the beginning. Crimes had come down in the State, the Chief Minister said. Those that were being reported related to family disputes, love affairs, money transactions, personal enmity and fights and not for political reasons, caste and communal difference, due to rowdy violence, which had all been nipped in the bud by the DMK government, he said. Those who indulged in crimes were caught immediately with nobody interfering in the investigations to save the arrested persons and efforts were made to get maximum punishment for the accused with no one getting any concessions, he said. Giving a long list of pending funds from the Union Government, he said that it was first a herculean task before the government to pull out the State from the abyss that it was pushed into by the 10 years of AIADMK rule between 2011 and 2021 and then the refusal to pay the State its dues aggravated the situation.

Two die in accident in Salem

Ten child labourers rescuedin 2024 in Salem

Headmaster held for misbehaving with students in Salem

Seven special courts to hear sexual assault cases in T.N., says CM Stalin

These courts will be set up in Madurai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchi, and Chennai

Filing of nomination for Erode East by-poll commences, three file papers

ERODE: Three independents submitted applications to contest in the bypoll for the Erode East Assembly constituency as filing of nomination papers began on Friday. K Padmarajan (64), from Mettur in Salem, known as the Election King, was the first to file a nomination. He has so far contested in 246 elections and lost in all of them. My only intention is to contest in the elections for a record, said Padmarajan, who has been featured in Gthe uinness Book of Records for most elections contested. He first contested in an election in 1988 from Mettur. A Noor Mohammed, (67) of Sundarapuram in Coimbatore, who is contesting election for the 47th time and K Madurai Vinayagam, (51), a retired army ma of Uratchi Seiyur in Chengalpattu district, also filed nominations. Returning Officer and Corporation Commissioner Manish Narnaware received nomination papers. Speaking to reporters, he reminded contestants that nominations can be filed only on January 13 and 17. So far, 42 election related complaints have been received and Rs 2.8 lakh unaccounted cash has been seized from general public, he added. Uncertainty ends, DMK to contest Erode (East) bypoll

Devotees throng Perumal temples in Salem and Namakkal for Vaikunta Ekadasi

Cases registered against NTK leader Seeman at four police stations in Salem

Youth held for attacking AIADMK functionary in Salem

Amnesty International supends Israel branch over anti-Palestinian racism

In an unprecedented decision, Amnesty International (AI) has suspended its Israel branch for two years, citing anti-Palestinian racism. AI interim chair Tiumalu Lauvale Peter Faafiu, quoted by The Jerusalem Post, said, We take this action in response to evidence of endemic anti-Palestinian racism within AI Israel, which violates core human rights principles and Amnesty values, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Tirupati stampede: 32 injured devotees discharged from Ruia hospital

TIRUPATI: In all, 32 devotees injured in the stampede at the Vaikunta Dwara Sarva Darshan token distribution centre at Bairagipatteda in Tirupati, were discharged from SVR Ruia Government General Hospital on Thursday. It may be noted here that six devotees were killed in the stampede. The victims were identified as B Naidubabu (51) from Narsipatnam, Rajini (47), Lavanya (40), and Santhi (34) from Visakhapatnam, and Nirmala (50) from Ballari, Karnataka and Malliga (49) from Salem region of Tamil Nadu. Post-mortem was conducted on the bodies at Ruia Hospital. All arrangements were made to transport the bodies to their respective hometowns. A ministerial team, acting on the instructions from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, visited Ruia Hospital to console the bereaved families, and assured them of the governments support. The team, including V Anitha (Home), Anagani Satya Prasad (Revenue and District Incharge), Anam Ramanarayana Reddy (Endowments), Kolusu Parthasarathy (Housing), and Nimmala Rama Naidu (Water Resources), along with District Collector S Venkateswar and Chandragiri MLA Pulivarthi Nani, reviewed the situation, and gathered details from the bereaved families. The TTD had made arrangements to provide Vaikunta Dwara Darshan to over 7 lakh pilgrims from January 10 to 19. Eight centres with 90 counters in Tirupati, and one centre with four counters in Tirumala, were set up to issue Sarva Darshan tokens. All privileged darshans, including those for senior citizens, disabled persons, and NRIs, were cancelled to accommodate more number of common devotees. Over 3,000 policemen and 1,550 TTD personnel were deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of event. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Chairman BR Naidu termed the incident unfortunate, and expressed anger over administrative lapses, which led to the stampede. The stampede occurred due to the opening of the gates at the token distribution centre by a DSP prior to the scheduled time, which resulted in chaos. Investigation revealed the lack of barricades and inadequate crowd management arrangements at the centre in Bairagipatteda, led to the stampede. Lapses in crowd management by police and TTD officials at the token distribution centres were exposed with the stampede. Sources revealed that TTD officials were advised not to allow large crowds at the token distribution centres to thwart any untoward incidents in view of the heavy rush.

Salem woman dies in Tirupathi stampede

Smuggling of ration rice: 387 people arrested, 1.11 lakh kg seized in Salem in 2024

Stalin announces solatium of 2 lakh to kin of woman from Salem killed in Tirupati stampede

He has instructed officials to make arrangements to bring the mortal remains to her native

DVK, DK lodge complaint against Seeman in Salem, Namakkal

Collectors inaugurate distribution of Pongal gift hampers in Salem, Namakkal

Tirupati stampede: CM Naidu to visit injured in hospitals

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will leave for Tirupati on Thursday to visit those injured in a stampede, sources said. Six devotees died and over 40 were injured in the stampede on Wednesday night as hundreds of them jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills. Naidu will be visiting SVR Ruia Government General Hospital and SVIMS Hospital between noon and 3 pm, where the injured are being treated, sources said. The CM will also conduct a review meeting with the Executive Officer and others over the incident. Tirupati district collector S Venkateswar on Wednesday told reporters that out of the six deceased devotees, five were women and a man. One deceased person came from Salem in Tamil Nadu and another from Narsipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, he said. According to the collector, the incident occurred at Bairagi Patteda near MGM School in the temple town. Hundreds of devotees turned up from across the country for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam commencing from January 10. A few devotees dying in a stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati while trying for Vaikuna Dwara Darsanam has grieved me intensely, Chandrababu Naidu had said in a post on 'X'. Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday night expressed deep shock over the death of devotees in the stampede that took place in Tirupati. Reddy expressed his condolences to the bereaved family members and urged the Andhra Pradesh government to provide better medical treatment to the injured.

TTD chairman BR Naidu vows to prevent future incidents after stampede tragedy

TIRUPATI: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman, BR Naidu, expressed his deep sorrow over the stampede that claimed six lives at the token distribution center for Vaikuntha Dwara Sarvadarshan in Tirupati on Wednesday. Terming it an unfortunate incident, Naidu said that during review meetings, he had instructed TTD officials to be extra cautious to prevent such untoward events. He informed that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had contacted him by phone to inquire about the situation and expressed concern over TTDs mismanagement of the event. It is clear that this unfortunate incident took place due to the miserable failure of the TTD officials, he stated. Speaking to the media, the TTD Chairman said that, according to the primary inquiry, the stampede occurred when a DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) opened the gate. I had doubts that there might be some trouble, so I had alerted both TTD officials and the police machinery in this regard. We will certainly take measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen again, he added. Naidu revealed that the Chief Minister was unhappy with the way TTD had managed the arrangements for Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan and directed them to ensure smooth token distribution going forward. Addressing the rumors circulating on social media, Naidu clarified that devotees are allowed to visit Tirumala during Vaikuntha Ekadasi, but only those with tokens would be permitted for darshan. Death Toll: 7 Four were brought dead to SVR Ruia Government General Hospital, and one succumbed to injuries. Two were brought dead to SVIMS Hospital. 20 are undergoing treatment at SVR Ruia GGH. Nine are undergoing treatment at SVIMS. Names of Victims: Malika (49) from Salem, Tamil Nadu Rajini (47) from Vizag Shanti (40) from Vizag Naidubabu (51) from Narsipatnam Rajeswari (47) Alaga Rani (42) Unknown woman

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin condoles deaths in Tirupati stampede

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, which claimed six lives, including one from Tamil Nadu's Salem, and left over 40 injured. The incident occurred on Wednesday night as devotees scrambled for tickets to the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills. According to Tirupati District Collector S. Venkateswar, hundreds of pilgrims had gathered when the chaos unfolded. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Stalin said, Deeply saddened by the tragic #stampede at #Tirupati, which has claimed innocent lives, including those from Tamil Nadu. My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. Wishing the injured a swift recovery. #TirupatiStampede. Deeply saddened by the tragic #stampede at #Tirupati , which has claimed innocent lives, including those from Tamil Nadu. My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. Wishing the injured a swift recovery. #TirupatiStampede M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) January 9, 2025 Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident while steps are being taken to prevent such tragedies in the future. The injured are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, with officials monitoring their recovery closely.

Israeli forces find body of October 7 hostage in Gaza

Israeli forces find body of October 7 hostage in Gaza Jerusalem: Israeli forces have recovered the body of Yussef Ziyadne, an Israeli-Bedouin hostage kidnapped by Hamas during its October 7 attack, from a tunnel in Gazas Rafah area, the military said. Ziyadne, 53, was confirmed dead at Israels National Institute of Forensic Medicine after his [] The post Israeli forces find body of October 7 hostage in Gaza appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

800 special buses to be operated from Tiruppur, Erode for Pongal festival

TIRUPPUR/ERODE: TNSTC officials have decided to operate 800 special buses from Tiruppur and Erode starting January 10 to accommodate the Pongal rush. Based on this, Police Commissioner, S Rajendran also inspected the precautionary measures taken at theTiruppur bus stand on Wednesday. Tiruppur TNSTC department officials said that as Pongal begins on January 13 for four days with bhogi pongal, most people travel home using public transportation facilities, and 500 special buses were introduced to accommodate such passengers. These buses will operate from Tiruppur central bus stand to Erode, Salem, and Tiruvannamalai districts from January 10 to 13. These buses will also operate from Tiruppurs new bus stand to Karur, Trichy, Thanjavur, and Kumbakonam via Kovil Vazhi Bus Stand to Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Tirunelveli, Sengottai, Nagercoil and Tiruchendur. Officials added, Additional buses will be operated as per passenger demand. Officers have been assigned round-the-clock duty to monitor traffic at all bus stations. Meanwhile, around 300 special buses will be operating for Pongal in Erode. Officials from TNSTC Erode, said, Many out-of-district workers from Erode will go to their hometown during Pongal. Because of this, special buses will be operating from January 10 to 14. Special buses will be operated from Erode to Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchendur, Rameshwaram, Tirunelveli, Trichy, Pazhani, Nagercoil, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Sathyamangalam, Mysore etc.

AP: Four dead, four injured in Tirupathi stampede

Amaravathi: Four devotees died and four more were reportedly injured in the stampede caused during the distribution of tokens for Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan in Tirupathi on Wednesday evening. The deceased were known to have come from Salem in Tamil Nadu. The Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) Board has established three centers for issuing tokens to devotees Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

400kg gutkha seized in Salem

Polar vortex brings its bitter cold to the Southern US

NORFOLK: The plunging polar vortex brought subfreezing temperatures Tuesday to some of the southernmost points of the U.S., threatening to dump snow on parts of Texas and Oklahoma in coming days and contributing to a power outage in Virginia's capital that made the water unsafe to drink. The arctic blast that descended on much of the U.S. east of the Rockies over the weekend has caused hundreds of car accidents , thousands of flight cancellations and delays , and led communities to set up warming shelters , including one at a roller rink and another in the Providence, Rhode Island City Council chambers. As the cold front moved southward, it prompted a cold weather advisory for the Gulf Coast and pushed the low temperature in El Paso, along Texas' border with Mexico, to 31 degrees (minus 0.5 Celsius), with an expected wind chill factor ranging from 0 to 15 degrees (minus 18 to minus 9 Celsius) early Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Road crews in the Kansas City area, which received about 11 inches (28 centimeters) of snow in recent days, have struggled to keep up with clearing streets and highways. I dont know what super powers some think snow removal teams have but 2 days of straight snow & ice isnt going to disappear overnight, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, wrote Monday on Facebook. In frigid northern Virginia, Carol Grayson said Monday that she wished she had a metal shovel not her plastic one while trying to carve a path for her beagle, Rudy, and sheltie, Emma. The great-grandmother, who declined to give her age, said shoveling through nearly frozen snow up to her knees was like climbing Mount Everest. Her neighborhood in Alexandria was once populated with teenagers whod offer to help. But theyve all grown up and moved away. Were not used to it here, and were just not prepared, Grayson said. The polar vortex of ultra-cold air usually spins around the North Pole, but it sometimes plunges south into the U.S., Europe and Asia. Some experts say such cold air outbreaks are happening more frequently, paradoxically, because of a warming world . Southern discomfort As points north and east dug out of snow and ice Tuesday, communities in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas were preparing for their own helping. A low-pressure system was expected to form as soon as Wednesday near South Texas, and could dump several inches of snow in the Dallas area and lower Mississippi Valley, the weather service said. In Texas, crews treated the roads in the Dallas area amid forecasts of 1 to 3 inches (about 3 to 8 centimeters) of snow on Thursday, along with sleet and rain, said National Weather Service meteorologist Sam Shamburger. He said up to 5 inches (13 centimeters) of snow was expected farther north near the Oklahoma line. Kevin Oden, Dallas director of emergency management and crisis response, said Tuesday that our city is in a preparedness phase. The storm is expected to make for slick roads Friday as 75,000 fans head to AT&T Stadium in Arlington to see Texas play Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. Arlington spokeswoman Susan Shrock said crews are ready Friday to address any hazardous road conditions around the stadium. Theyre going to have the salt brine, theyll have sand and theyll have equipment on standby, she said. Parts of southeastern Georgia and northern Florida endured unusually frigid temperatures overnight into Tuesday and were under freeze warnings into Wednesday. In northern Florida, with Valentine's Day just a month away, the main concern for growers fearful of cold weather is the fern crop used for floral arrangements. Major damage to citrus trees, which typically occurs when temperatures drop to 28 degrees (minus 2 degrees Celsius) or below for several hours, was less likely. Floridas commercial citrus groves are primarily south of the central part of the peninsula. Transportation has been tricky An area stretching from the central Plains through the Ohio Valley into the mid-Atlantic region is likely to receive more snow and ice for a few days, which could cause the ground covering to melt and refreeze to form treacherous black ice on roadways, according to forecasters. A Kentucky truck stop was jammed Monday with big rigs that had been forced off of snow-covered Interstate 75 just outside Cincinnati. Michael Taylor, a long-haul driver from Los Angeles carrying a load of rugs to Georgia, said he saw numerous cars and trucks in ditches and was dealing with icy windshield wipers before he pulled off the interstate. It was too dangerous. I didnt want to kill myself or anyone else, he said. Hundreds of car accidents were reported in Virginia, Indiana, Kansas and Kentucky, where a state trooper was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after his patrol car was hit. Virginia State Police responded to 650 crashes, some likely storm-related, between Sunday afternoon and Monday night, that resulted in three deaths. Police said other weather-related fatal accidents occurred Sunday near Charleston, West Virginia, and Monday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Kansas had two deadly weekend crashes. More than 1,000 flights into or out of the U.S. had been delayed as of Tuesday morning, according to tracking platform FlightAware. On Monday, more than 2,300 flights were canceled and at least 9,100 more were delayed. Tens of thousands are without power Many were in the dark as temperatures plunged. About 200,000 customers were without power Tuesday across Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois and Missouri, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us. In Virginias capital, Richmond, a weather-related power outage caused a temporary malfunction in the water system, officials said Monday. The city issued a boil-water advisory to its more than 200,000 residents and promised to get the system back online as quickly as possible. Mayor Danny Avula said the advisory could be lifted as soon as Wednesday. The malfunction forced Virginias Capitol and General Assembly buildings to close Tuesday, a day before the start of the legislative session. G. Paul Nardo, clerk for the House of Delegates, told lawmakers and staff in an email to vacate the buildings or go elsewhere if they were headed to the capital. The water pressure has gone kaput, he wrote.

Israel signs deals to boost domestic weapons production

Israel signs deals to boost domestic weapons production Jerusalem: Israels defence ministry announced on Tuesday it has signed deals worth about 1 billion shekels (276 million US dollars) with defence contractor Elbit Systems to boost domestic arms production amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The agreements include the supply of thousands [] The post Israel signs deals to boost domestic weapons production appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Could HMPV become another health crisis in India?

On Tuesday (January 7), the central government advised state governments to remain alert and bolster preparations for handling emergenciesthough unlikelyrelated to Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), following a rise in reported cases across the country. This has fueled growing concern that HMPV could potentially escalate into another health crisis, reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic. Following advice from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the states have issued public alerts and convened health department meetings to prepare systems for any emergency, if needed. West Bengal's Chief Secretary, Manoj Pant, convened a meeting on Tuesday with state health officials and district magistrates. He urged them to ensure that all beds and infrastructure are prepared as cases of the HMPV virus are on the rise. The Chief Secretary also instructed officials to manage HMPV cases with patience and avoid creating panic among the public. In Tamil Nadu, Additional Chief Secretary for Health, Supriya Sahu, urged the public not to panic following the detection of HMPV cases in the state. She emphasized that the virus is not new, as it has been circulating since 2001. As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, we have two cases, and both are stable, Sahu said. While noting that seasonal surges in such viral infections are routine and not a cause for alarm, she did offer a word of caution: The key message is to stay vigilant. People with severe lung infections should seek treatment immediately. These are the individuals who need attention, but overall, it remains a viral infection. Two cases of HMPV have been reported in Tamil Naduone in Chennai and another in Salem. The state health department also stated that there has been no significant surge in common respiratory viral pathogens detected in Tamil Nadu. In total, at least five HMPV cases have been reported in India so farthree in Gujarat and two in Tamil Nadu in the past two days. Although two suspected cases of HMPV infection were reported in Nagpur, Maharashtra, an ICMR-associated laboratory ruled out HMPV as the cause. In Kerala, a high-level meeting convened by the states Health Department, where 20 HMPV cases were reported last year, concluded that the virus does not pose a public threat. However, doctors at the meeting warned that vulnerable groupssuch as the elderly, pregnant women, cancer patients, diabetics, and others with underlying conditionsshould remain alert. How the Virus Spreads Doctors explained that HMPV is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets, such as when an infected person coughs. At room temperature, the virus can survive for up to six hours, and in colder conditions, such as 4C, it can survive longer. The virus can also spread through fomitesnon-living objects like tables, chairs, books, or door handleswhen an infected person touches them and others come into contact with those surfaces. No surge in HMPV cases in India: Health Ministry Vulnerable groups, including the elderly, those with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, or those undergoing cancer treatment, should avoid crowded places. Similarly, people with viral illnesses like cough, cold, sore throat, or runny nose should wear a mask. There is no need for panic. This is not the same situation as the COVID-19 Delta wave, when people were hoarding oxygen cylinders. Being cautious is always beneficial; it costs nothing, and the Health Ministry of India will take appropriate steps to track cases, said a senior health ministry official. Primary Symptoms and Medical Observation The symptoms of HMPV are similar to those of a typical viral infection. They include fever (often the first symptom), headache, muscle pain, general malaise, and respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and runny nose. In some cases, HMPV can lead to more serious conditions like pneumonia or bronchiolitis, especially in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Despite concerns about rising HMPV cases in India, experts at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh have clarified that the virus has not caused a surge in influenza-like illnesses (ILI) or hospitalizations. PGIMER medical professionals have reassured the public that there has been no alarming increase in cases at their facility. Key facts about HMPV This respiratory virus, which can cause mild to severe illnesses depending on the age and other health conditions, in the lungs and respiratory system, was first identified in 2001. The HMPV, a member of the Metapneumovirus genus and the Paramyxoviridae family of viruses, is similar to other viruses in the same family, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Transmission: Like many respiratory viruses, HMPV spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching the face. Risk Groups: People at higher risk for severe infection include infants, young children, elderly adults, and those with underlying health conditions such as asthma, heart disease, or weakened immune systems. Seasonality: HMPV infections are most common in the late winter and early spring, although it can occur year-round in some regions. Diagnosis: Diagnosis is typically made through laboratory tests, such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction), which detects the genetic material of the virus. Rapid antigen tests or viral cultures may also be used. Treatment: There is no specific antiviral treatment for HMPV. Supportive care, such as rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications for fever and pain, is commonly used to manage symptoms. In severe cases, especially those requiring hospitalization, oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation may be needed. While HMPV infections are often mild, they can occasionally lead to serious complications, particularly in high-risk individuals.

Burglars decamp with silver and cash in Salem

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