The Government of Karnataka has proposed a Misinformation and Fake News (Prohibition) Act, which will crack down on digital content, making punishable by law, posts that are deemed offensive. What constitutes offense is a varied and possibly contradictory mix: anti-feminist, disrespectful of Sanatan symbols, obscene, promotes superstition and abusive are among the phrases listed in coverage of the proposed Act, which has been in the works for two years. Should it be passed, those found guilty wi

Life is a delicate balance. Work and play, family and friends, south and north, potholes and traffic, biryani and diet plan. What a task indeed, to navigate through them all! For a certain lot, the balance between brilliance and madness is a thin line. Artists easily fall into this category. No surprises there, for the world has already created this stereotypical image of an artist hair ignored, thoughtlessly dressed, bearded (for portrayals are all male), and of course, with eyes bloodshot wit

Away from road diversions, traffic snarls, and construction sites on Anna Salai, is a two-storey building, spread across 5,400 sq ft, in the serene Cenotaph Road. The property is surrounded by large, lush trees and has elegant white walls and bright lights. Believed to have been owned by a family in the 60s, as you step into this art-deco-styled bungalow, it is an antiquarian wonderland you walk on sepia-tinted mosaic-patterned tiles, geometric details on the doors inspired by architect TH Robs

Chennai is home to one of the largest wholesale flower markets in the country, Koyambedu, where the day begins long before sunrise. As early as 3 am, vendors unpack sacks of jasmine, roses, marigold, and many others, readying them for retailers. For decades, its been pookaara annas and akkas selling uthiripoo (flowers before they are stringed together) and katunapoo (stringed flowers) on foot or on cycles, in bustling streets or outside temples. They meet the everyday needs of the city household

Arjun steps out for work and returns home each day like anyone else. But beneath his routine lies a quiet compromise. To keep a roof over his head, Arjun has hidden his truth as a trans man because safety, shelter, and survival have come at the cost of his self. He says that staying closeted made it possible for him to find a place for rent, keep the landlords questions at bay, and quiet the whispers. Recounting similar stories like that of Arjuns, in May, trans persons in Chennai told CE what i

CHENNAI: At the council meeting on Tuesday, Tambaram Corporation commissioner S Balachander announced that a fresh detailed project report (DPR) would be drawn up to extend UGD coverage. This was in response to complaints that deposits for underground drainage (UGD) connections were collected from residents in areas not covered in the existing scope of the project. He added that any deposits collected in areas where UGD work has not started will be refunded. The commissioner also said that ward-

CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to rejuvenate 41 ponds in the North Chennai zones of Thiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, and Tondiarpet at Rs 119.12 crore. The restoration works will include desilting, deepening, strengthening of bunds, and construction of retaining walls. The Manali zone will see the largest share of the work, with 28 ponds set for rejuvenation at Rs 58.43 crore. In Thiruvottiyur, four ponds will be restored at a cost of Rs 28.9 crore. Madhavaram zone also

CHENNAI: A video clip of a police head constable from Tiruvallur district assaulting and yelling at three women, including a pregnant lady, who had come to follow-up on a complaint of sexual harassment attracted strong criticism from the opposition parties on Tuesday. The Tiruvallur SP has suspended head constable Raman and ordered disciplinary proceedings against him. The video of the incident, which occurred on Monday morning, received condemnations from TN BJP president Nainar Nagentthran, an

CHENNAI: The CBI has registered a case against a Chennai-based company trading in coconut products for cheating Bank of Baroda of Rs 7.55 crore with regard to a loan given to them in 2021. The case was registered on June 17 after getting necessary permissions from the state government as Tamil Nadu had withdrawn general consent to the central agency in 2023. The CBI said it received a complaint from the banks Chennai regional head that a partnership firm Monica Co Products, established in 2020 b

CHENNAI: A woman sub-inspector went beyond the call of duty to rescue a 27-year-old woman who was threatening to jump from the fourth floor of an apartment in T Nagar on Monday. Sources in the Greater Chennai Police said SI Meera Jayaram from the Pondy Bazaar police station rushed to the spot after getting information of a woman trying to jump from the apartment. After getting to the spot, she got the mobile number of the woman, spoke to her in a calm manner and won her over. Police sources said

In a world created by Krishnakumar Balasubramanian (KK), an emergency has arisen. The fate of the world is hidden in a secret recipe. Hence, five cooks, with their bright red clown noses, spatulas, flying pans and magical flavours with a pinch of music set out to save the world. This imaginative world will unfold in front of a live audience at the 14th edition of The Little Festival, to be held in the city. This action comedy theatre show, Kooks (Sunny Side Up) by The Little Theatre, will be the

In an era where lifestyle related illnesses are on the rise, the integration of physical activity and balanced nutrition has emerged as a cornerstone of preventive health. Scientific research consistently underscores that the relationship between physical activity and dietary habits plays a critical role in enhancing metabolic efficiency, preventing chronic ailments, and promoting long-term well-being. When harmonised, these lifestyle components contribute not only to physical and musculoskeleta

James Beard Award for The Best Chef in New York! For Vijay Kumar, whose roots and heart lie in the land of his hometown Natham, in Dindigul district, and the green expanse of the paddy fields of his grandparents place, Arukkampatti, a village in Madurai district, the win feels beyond incredible. Its an honour to the food he grew up eating, a tribute to his grandmothers hyperlocal dishes, his mothers kitchen tips and hacks; an award to his identity, to his unapologetic cooking. Wearing a powder b

Tamil Nadu has made its mark as a hub for producing chess greats as young as 14 years old. But now in cue sports too, children, who are barely into their teens, are grandly displaying their talent. A few days back, 14-year-old Rahul Williams (CDBSA) from Coimbatore outsmarted seasoned player Freddy (MRC) by 4-1 in the best-of-7 final of the Chandrasekar and S Magesh Memorial Non-Ranking Snooker Championship held at Chennai. Rahul, a class 8 student of Elango Metric school, Coimbatore, was inspir

CHENNAI: Popular actor Srikanth, who was interrogated by the police for nearly eight hours in connection with a drug case , has been remanded to judicial custody till July 7, police said on Tuesday. The actor was questioned at the Nungambakkam police station here on Monday following the detention of former AIADMK functionary T Prasad, whom the police suspect has supplied cocaine to Srikanth, 46, and another actor. Srikanth's blood samples were collected for medical examination at the Kilpauk Med

CHENNAI: Flight operations at Chennai International Airport were thrown into disarray overnight after an attack on the US air base at Al Udeid in Qatar forced abrupt airspace restrictions, triggering a wave of cancellations and diversions that extended into the early hours of Tuesday, Chennai Airport sources stated. Several international services found themselves rerouted or grounded as the regional aviation network struggled to absorb the shock. Three Qatar Airways flights en route to Doha QR0

CHENNAI: A day after falling from the terrace of a two-storey building and sustaining injuries, a 10-year-old boy died here at Kilpauk Medical College on Monday. The deceased R Karthik, a class 6 student of a private school, is the son of auto driver Rajkumar and Emiliammal, residents of Ramalingapuram in Avadi. The police said the incident happened when Karthik was trying to retrieve a kite that got stuck in a nearby tree. They said he was playing with some of his friends on the terrace of a pr

CHENNAI: The city corporation has floated tenders allegedly for an already-constructed parking shed for battery-operated shuttle service vehicles at the Marina beach. The service was recently inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. As per the tender notice accessed by TNIE , tenders have been floated for the construction of a parking shed for two 11-seater battery-operated vehicles (BOVs) deployed on the Marina service road, at a cost of Rs 8.3 lakh. The tenders were floated on

CHENNAI: Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday inaugurated works completed at a total cost of Rs 8.13 crore and laid the foundation for new works to be carried out at an estimated cost of Rs 9.68 crore in his Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency. The completed works include a roadside sewage pumping station with an H2S gas control system of 6.25 MLD capacity (Rs 3.01 crore) on First Street, CIT Colony, which will benefit 50,000 residents living across 113 streets. At Dr Besant Road in Ward 116 o

Have you ever seen saint-poet Andal without any facial features? Andal, without the tilakam , the mesmerising eyes, the dawn breaking smile, it is far beyond our imagination. But a city-based artist Sujatha Narayanan poses a question, Who can draw a soul? She adds, We can only draw the form that carries the soul. For statues in temples, it is the face that the sculptor gives. Challenging the visual clich, Sujatha has created an art collection, The Andal Series, displayed at the Focus Art Gallery

Maximalism in the school of design principles, is the opposite of minimalism. It is the absolute celebration of bold colours, textures, and patterns in spaces. It has been around since the 1980s, but regained the spotlight recently. While minimalism is about living simply, maximalism is about living boldly. Personally, Im always about living in spaces that bring me joy.. This trend has been regaining recognition due to an increased need for self-expression and uniqueness. It allows people to be

CHENNAI: In a major step towards augmenting clean and reliable power supply in Tamil Nadu, a first-of its-kind contract for setting up 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) has been awarded to NLC India Renewables Limited (NIRL). The project awarded by Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) is the first large-scale battery storage system to come up in Tamil Nadu after the state came up with an exclusive policy for energy storage systems. Under the central governments Viabili

CHENNAI: The state government has identified 6.5 acres of land at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research in Guindy for setting up a super speciality hospital exclusively meant for children. The construction will begin in September and the work will be completed in two years, health minister Ma Subramanian said. Subramanian along with health secretary P Senthilkumar and Dr MGR Medical University vice-chancellor Dr K Narayanasamy inspected the site on Sunday. Speaking to reporters,

CHENNAI: Field workers engaged in clearing construction and demolition (C&D) waste on city roads are being deployed without basic safety gear or high-visibility uniforms, raising serious concerns over worker safety. This comes at a time when the civic body has intensified streamlining of C&D waste disposal across the city. The Premier Precision Company is responsible for clearing debris from primary sites and moving it to secondary collection centres. It is then sent to Kodungaiyur (zones 1-8) o

CHENNAI: Nearly a month after an IT professional was grievously injured after falling from a moving EMU train while trying to prevent a phone theft near Paranur station, the Government Railway Police (GRP) have arrested Amin Ali (18), hailing from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the theft. The incident occurred on May 26, when V Divesh of Kancheepuram and employee of an IT firm in Guduvanchery, was on his way home after celebrating his mothers birthday. He had boarded the EMU train

Men in tucked-in shirts under high-waisted pants and women in yellow sari and salwar kameez climbed the stage one after the other. They received their awards, posed for the camera, and moved away from the spotlight to click selfies with their family members and update their social media status. Completed more than two decades of service at Rajan Eye Care Hospital Pvt Ltd, read the photo caption. Beaming with pride wide smiles and shining eyes the hospital employees, referred to as family, were

Play, especially traditional play, takes many guises. While some play the more structured games, in many other cases, play takes on a less structured form but nevertheless, has a strong element of fun. I would begin with a story. Once upon a time, there lived a woodcutter named Subha Datta. He lived happily with his wife and five children. Every day, the father went into the forest to cut wood, which he sold to his neighbours to make money. Sometimes, he would take his three boys with him, and n

In October 2024, Chennais glowing sea drew thousands to the shore. For two nights, bioluminescence lit up the waves and the citys imagination. Those brief, shining nights were a reminder of how stunning nature can be and how little of it we get to witness anymore. But not long ago, our parents saw bioluminescence often, as it flickered in the air, emitted by fireflies. Headlines recently warned: This could be the last generation to see fireflies. But is the situation truly as alarming as it seem

Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival (CTF) has become the most sought after event even for the established Carnatic musicians outside of India. The festival has been tirelessly engaging the Indian community across the American continent for an annual coming together that celebrates Carnatic as a tradition. This year, visiting the Cleveland festival for the eighth consecutive year is a Chennai-based music institution, Sishyakulam that has reimagined Carnatic traditions presentation format. Its managing

CHENNAI: Commuters and residents in Ennore have raised concerns over the presence of a Tasmac liquor outlet on Kathivakkam High School Road, opposite Ennore bus depot. With several schools situated along the stretch and the bus terminus witnessing heavy pedestrian traffic, particularly during peak hours, the public are urging the government to relocate the outlet elsewhere. When TNIE visited the spot, the Ennore bus depot was undergoing renovation work, forcing several buses to be parked on the

CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Police on Friday arrested six people including three juveniles for trying to rob a 21-year-old man who got out of his car to inspect its underbelly after driving over a speed breaker. Police said that the gang allegedly threatened the complainant, identified as Aditya of Perungudi, and tried to snatch his mobile phone and car keys. The incident happened on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) near the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) signal on June 15. Adi

CHENNAI: A delivery executive was arrested on Thursday for entering a womans house in Madipakkam under the pretext of charging his phone and allegedly trying to sexually harass her. The suspect has been identified as Gopinath (28) from Mayiladuthurai district. He was sent in judicial custody. The police said the incident happened on May 13, and they received a sexual harassment complaint from a 27-year-old woman techie. The woman said the executive assigned to deliver the food she had ordered th

CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), in collaboration with the Madras School of Social Work, recently released the final report of a city-wide homelessness survey titled Data for Dignity. While the survey identified around 13,529 homeless individuals across 2,837 locations in Chennai, the report recommends strengthening housing policies, enhancing social protection systems, addressing structural discrimination, and fostering community engagement. The report, calling for coordinated in

CHENNAI: A migrant worker, taken in for questioning by the Velachery police, is undergoing treatment in a government hospital after he allegedly tried to escape by jumping off the terrace of a building on Wednesday. The worker, Raja (30), a native of Uttar Pradesh, was picked up by a police patrol team near Vijayanagar in Velachery on Wednesday after they received a complaint about a person roaming in the locality with a piece of cloth wrapped around his face. Police said he was questioned in th

On a regular weekend evening, amid the honking autos and the tossing sounds of roadside kadalai , guitar strings cut through the noise on the citys pathways. Heads turn. Feet tap. The band plays on determined to turn every street corner in Chennai into a stage. The city-based musicians community, On The Streets of Chennai, is marching ahead to take their music played on the citys wide, narrow, busy, and quiet streets, beaches, and metro stations to garner global attention. Today, on World Mus

At 5.30 every morning, as temple bells ring and newspapers land on doorsteps, a quiet community comes into view. No playlists, no mats, no matching leggings, just elders over 60, gathering to stretch and breathe. On International Day of Yoga, as social media fills with that-girl routines and endorsements, their practice offers something quieter, steadier and shared. R Padma, 61, has been a regular at the local volunteer-led class held under the gaze of a temple gopuram . Kandippa yogavudan thod

CHENNAI: In line with Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedis vision to equip every soldier with a drone, the Dakshin Bharat Area has set up a dedicated drone MRO lab at the Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington, in partnership with Chennai-based Zuppa. The initiative marks a strategic shift in the militarys approach to unmanned aerial systems (UAS), placing greater emphasis not only on frontline drone deployment but also on in-theatre repair, diagnostics, and self-reliance. The effort follows lessons dr

CHENNAI: Larsen & Toubro has been fined 1 crore after an internal inquiry by Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) found the company responsible for the collapse of two I-girders near its Manapakkam headquarters, which resulted in the death of a motorcyclist. A senior CMRL official confirmed that the inquiry report held both the contractor (L&T) and the General Consultant (GC) primarily responsible for the incident. Following this, L&T was penalised 1 crore. Two key L&T personnel the Chief Safety Manager (

When trans individuals in Chennai emerge from gender-affirming surgeries, they are often left to recover alone. For many, the difference between isolation and healing was a woman named Dayamma Ramya. She used to stay with them, 45 days, one month, two months, until they fully recover, says Srijith Sundaram, a theatre artiste and director of Kattiyakkari. Even when someone passes away, she takes responsibility for the funeral rites. Everyone knows Dayamma will take care of everything. A revered t

For weeks now, large sections of Indian society have been obsessed with the murder of a newlywed man by his spouse and accomplices of hers, including her alleged romantic partner. The murder appears to be premeditated, and is indeed shocking: Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam Raghuvanshi were married in Indore on May 11, went on their honeymoon to Meghalaya, and a staged disappearance occurred on May 23. His body was found in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls on June 2; police investigations have so far re

In a world where performance spaces are often dominated by younger crowd, there is a quiet shift taking place. This weekend, the city is set to witness the first step towards the inclusion of seniors into performance at a one-of-a-kind open mic curated exclusively for senior citizens. Because talent and passion never retire. On May 18, a showcase was held in Mumbai, where twenty seniors performed. I was happy that at least they have organised something for seniors, says 68-year-old Jashodhara Pu

Say, an average human being only has about 7,00,000 hours in their lifetime. Why then do we work so long and so hard? Rewind to a hundred years ago. Madras witnessed one of the fiercest strikes in its history of the region, by the workers of the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills, which has had a lasting impact along caste and class lines. In the meantime, workers in Tamil Nadu and around the world are predominantly facing severe setbacks, with regard to their ability to effectively strike and negoti

As an actor, Poovai Dhayanidhi feels accomplished. When this contentment took over him fully, Dhaya, as he is fondly known, felt that he had a lot to contribute as a writer. The writing bug had already bitten him when he used to assist his father, Poovai Senguttuvan, who had penned scores of books in all forms, besides being a movie lyricist, known for his catchy lines in scores of MGR hits. Around 700 stage shows in Tamil theatre are an apt reflection of the sway Dhaya had on his admirers as an

Aircraft have been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. The horrific crash of Air Indias AI-171 in Ahmedabad is one of the rarest aviation disasters in the nations history. While we are still trying to make sense of it all, sifting through the rubble, heres a look at how aircraft have played a part in art. Aviation art is a genre that tries to portray all aspects of flying, from the aesthetics of the aircraft to the historical events connected with some of them, although the styles may

Clean air and thermally comfortable hours are a rare occurrence for residents of Delhi and Chennai, a recent study revealed. The study conducted by CEPT University in collaboration with climate tech startupRespirer Living Sciences (RLS), revealed that only 3% of the total yearly hours in the national capital feature both clean air and comfortable temperatures. In contrast, the study highlights that residents of Bengaluru enjoy these conditions for the majority of hours throughout the year. The s

CHENNAI: Thoothukudi corporation opposition leader S Raja (35) was arrested at Chennai airport on June 10 while attempting to flee to Malaysia on charges of cheating his sister of `17 crore. Acting on a Look Out Circular, a special team intercepted the AIADMK councillor and produced him before the CCB & CBCID Court, which remanded him in judicial custody. According to the police, the AIADMK leader was arrested following a complaint by A Ponnarasi, who is the daughter of former AIADMK minister SP

CHENNAI: A 35-year-old man who was employed at a church in Kolathur has been arrested under the Pocso Act on charges of sexually assaulting three minor boys, aged between 14 and 15, for the past six months. The three boys were students at the Sunday school classes conducted by the church. According to the Ambattur All Women Police (AWPS), the arrested man was identified as Yesudasan. He was employed as an assistant to a pastor in the church. The boys would go to the church on Sundays to attend t

CHENNAI: Six bonded labourers and a three-year-old child were rescued on Monday from a brick kiln in Sivanvoyal village in Tiruvallur district. According to officials, more than 70 labourers had been working at the kiln under harsh conditions, toiling 12 to 13 hours a day for nearly six months without access to water, electricity, proper food or adequate pay. Despite these conditions, many of the workers repaid more than half of the Rs 35,000 advance they had received from the owner and returned

CHENNAI: The connectivity to key locations such as hospitals, metro, railway stations, and important junctions is expected to improve in the coming days as private operators launched services on 10 routes on Monday and Tuesday. The new routes include Adambakkam railway station-Echangadu junction (6 km), Echangadu-Madipakkam bus stop (6 km), Kaiveli Bridge-Madipakkam Koot Road (7 km), Karapakkam (OMR)-Thuraipakkam 200ft road (9.3 km), Kovilambakkam-Meenakshi Hospital (5.3 km), Ambattur Dunlop-Pam

CHENNAI: The Tambaram corporation has launched a comprehensive revamp of its schools under multiple funding schemes at an estimated project cost of Rs 31.38 crore for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The civic body is upgrading 24 schools spread across its five zones by building additional classrooms, repairing old structures, installing smart classrooms, improving toilets, setting up RO water systems, and deploying surveillance and audio systems. Under the state finance commissions School Improvement