1. Assembly Session Starts Today
Against the backdrop of the ongoing transport workers’ strike, the DMK’s opposition to the review meetings conducted by the Governor and the relief operations in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi, to name a few, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly session is set to commence on Monday, 8 January, with the customary Governor’s address at Fort St George.
This would be the first time that Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who assumed office last October, would be addressing the House. As per tradition, Speaker P Dhanapal called on the Governor last week and invited him to address the House at 10 am on Monday. Incidentally, the DMK, the principal opposition party, has boycotted the customary Governor’s address for the past three years, citing various issues.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Palaniswami Appeals to Transport Workers on Strike
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar on Sunday separately appealed to the striking transport workers to resume duty heeding the Madras High Court’s direction as two persons were killed in separate accidents involving buses reportedly driven by drivers hired on a casual basis in Cuddalore and Chennai districts.
However, the unions said they would continue the strike and justify their stand in the court on Monday.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. One Lakh and Counting
Less than a week after its launch, the ‘Rajini Mandram’ mobile app, launched by Tamil film actor Rajinikanth to kick-start his political career has been downloaded by over a lakh users. This is in contrast to the apps launched by senior politicians such as DMK leaders M Karunanidhi and MK Stalin, PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss and DMDK founder Vijayakant.
While Anbumani’s For Change app, which he launched when he projected himself as the Chief Ministerial candidate in 2016, has been downloaded by about 50,000 users, most other apps of politicians have found acceptance among 10,000 or fewer mobile phone users. ASK, an app launched recently by actor-politician R Sarathkumar, who is also keen on projecting himself as an alternative leader, has seen about a thousand downloads.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Two Elderly Women Killed over Property Dispute
Two elderly women were allegedly murdered in their house at nearby Thiruverkadu on Sunday, 7 January, over a property dispute and one person arrested in this connection, police said. The incident came to light when Saravanan, son of Krishnaveni (70), one of the victims, came to the house early this morning, they said.
Krishnaveni and her elder sister Ranganayaki (80) were found murdered with their throats slit, police said.
(Source: Business Standard)
5. Airport's Phase II Expansion Set to Take Off
In a few months, a new expansion project will begin at the Chennai airport. This is just five years after Phase I of the modernisation drive was completed at the facility. Airport officials said AECOM, the consultant for Phase II of the project, has suggested designs with facilities similar to Singapore’s Changi airport.
“This new integrated terminal will showcase themes based on the culture of Tamil Nadu with paintings, murals and statues. These themes will include Bharatnatyam, folk art and Tanjore paintings. The idea is to blend international facilities and an indigenous touch,” an official said.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. Thousands Run, Cycle at Dawn to Dusk Marathon
Over 4,000 people took part in the Dawn To Dusk Marathon 2018 that was held in the city on Sunday. The event, whose proceeds will go to the Adyar Cancer Institute, was organised by Neville Endeavours Foundation and flagged off by actor Arvind Swami at the Anna University campus.
The primary objective of the D2D marathons is to create awareness of keeping good health through running and cycling. Through the earlier five editions of D2D, ₹2.12 crore was raised and donated for the care of cerebral palsy-affected children and for building classrooms and toilets for school students, Neville Billimoria, the organiser, said.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. Temple Under Scanner over Missing Gold
The Idol Wing of the Crime Branch CID has asked the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) officials at the Ekambaranathar temple in Kancheepuram to provide details on more than 100 kg of gold collected from the public for the consecration of the Somaskandar idols.
The preliminary investigation is being conducted by the special wing led by Inspector General of Police AG Ponn Manickavel. The police had sent a communication to the temple authorities asking them to tender an explanation on the 100 kg of gold collected from the public for the consecration of the new Somaskandar idols – a combination of Siva, Parvathi and Murugan (Skandar).
(Source: The Hindu)
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