A Sri Lankan court on Monday ordered the release of nine out of ten Indian fishermen who were arrested for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) on January 8. The boat driver, however, was sentenced to six months in prison.The fishermen, who had set sail from Karaikal fishing harbour on January 7 in a mechanized boat named PS Rajiv Gandhi, were apprehended southeast of Kodiyakarai (Point Calimere) by the Sri Lankan Navy. The crew consisted of members from Vanagiri, Perumalpettai, Vellakoil, Keezhakasakudimedu, Karaikalmedu, and Samanthanpettai in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal districts.Initially placed in judicial custody until February 3, the
Actor-turned-politician Vijay, the chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), marked the party's first anniversary with a rallying call for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Addressing party workers at TVK’s headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, Vijay emphasized the importance of grassroots engagement and welfare activities to build a strong political foundation.He reflected on historic political shifts in Tamil Nadu, citing the landmark elections of 1967 and 1977 as inspirations for TVK’s journey. Vijay urged his supporters to channel their energy into mobilizing public support and proving the strength of "people power" in the upcoming elections.The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will
In a major crackdown, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted surprise searches at 20 locations across Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, leading to the seizure of several digital materials and the arrest of a man accused of radicalizing youth to join the ISIS terrorist organization. The arrested individual, identified as 32-year-old Al-Fasid, worked as an ambulance driver in Chennai but is a native of Thirumullaivasal village in Mayiladuthurai district.The NIA carried out raids at five locations in Chennai, while the remaining searches took place in areas including Sirkazhi, Thirumullaivasal, and other places in Mayiladuthurai district. An official press release stated that
Tamil Nadu marked the 76th Republic Day with a grand celebration, showcasing unity, cultural diversity, and the ideals of the Indian Constitution. Governor R.N. Ravi unfurled the national flag at a ceremonial event in Chennai, held near the Marina beachfront and close to the Tamil Nadu Secretariat. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and other dignitaries were present, emphasizing the harmony between the state's executive and administrative arms.The celebrations began with Governor Ravi being welcomed by Chief Minister Stalin, who presented him with a bouquet. Following protocol, the Chief Minister introduced senior officers of the armed forces and the state police to
Tamil Nadu has taken a significant step in making passport services more accessible to people in remote and underserved areas with the launch of its first mobile Passport Seva Van in Coimbatore. Inaugurated by K J Srinivasa, Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer from the Union Ministry of External Affairs, this state-of-the-art van is designed to simplify and streamline the passport application process for residents across six districts—Coimbatore, Tirupur, the Nilgiris, Erode, Namakkal, and Salem.Equipped with modern facilities such as fingerprint scanners, photo capturing devices, a UPS, a generator, and a wheelchair-accessible ramp, the van is set to bring crucial
Authorities in Tamil Nadu arrested a 37-year-old man and his broker for operating an illegal scan centre in Kallakurichi, performing sex determination tests, and facilitating the termination of female foetuses. The accused, M Ranjith Kumar from Kallakurichi, and his broker, 33-year-old R Vanitha, were caught red-handed during a surprise raid. Both have been remanded in judicial custody.Investigations revealed that Kumar was a repeat offender who had been arrested on similar charges in Dharmapuri just four months ago. Following his release on bail, Kumar resumed his illicit operations by establishing illegal scan centres in Salem and Kallakurichi. According to Senthil Menon,
Astronomy enthusiasts are in for a treat starting Tuesday as six planets line up in a celestial parade visible from Earth. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars can be seen with the naked eye, while Neptune and Uranus require a powerful telescope for observation. While planetary alignments along a line are common, viewing multiple planets together is a rare phenomenon.To celebrate this event, the Tamilnadu Science and Technology Centre (TNSTC) is organizing a special night sky observation session at the Periyar Science and Technology Centre in Kotturpuram, Chennai, from January 22 to 25, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. I.K. Lenin
Muthukumaran has emerged as the winner of Bigg Boss Tamil 8 after an exciting season filled with drama, emotions, and thrilling gameplay. Hosted by Vijay Sethupathi, the finale witnessed Muthukumaran defeating strong finalists, including Soundariya, Raayan, Vishal, and Pavithra, to claim the trophy and a grand prize of Rs 40,50,000.Known for his strategic gameplay and impressive oratory skills, Muthukumaran captured the audience's hearts from day one. Born on November 26, 1997, in Karaikudi, he rose to fame through his YouTube channel, Naan Muthu Kumaran, where he shared personal blogs, movie reviews, and celebrated Tamil culture. His thoughtful approach to the
Chennai has seen a significant reduction in road fatalities among two-wheeler riders without helmets, dropping from around 50 annually to just 9 in 2023 and 10 in 2024. This progress reflects increased awareness and enforcement, but a study by the Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG) highlights gaps, especially regarding child safety.A major concern is the low helmet compliance for children. In a November 2024 survey across 11 accident-prone districts, compliance was found to be zero in areas like Trichy, Madurai, Chengalpet, and Kanchipuram. Even in Chennai, the rate was below 25%, contrasting sharply with Tirunelveli and Salem, where
