1. DMK, MDMK Reach Agreement on Sharing of Seats
The seat sharing talks between the DMK and the MDMK for the Lok Sabha election have reached finality, and a formal announcement and inking of the pact is expected by Tuesday. The DMK has invited potential allies for a second round of talks on Monday, but sources said numbers remained a hitch to the finalisation of a deal with parties other than the MDMK.
DMK sources, however, said they were confident of wrapping up the seat-sharing talks with the CPI and the CPI(M) on Monday. “The MDMK will get two seats. We had offered one seat each to the CPI and the CPI(M), but they are unlikely to agree. Eventually, they are also likely to be given two seats each,” a source explained.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Water Can Prices Shoot Up as Borewells Dry Up
For Peter, owner of a small food stall near Chepauk, buying drinking water is a major expense. He shells out around Rs 1,500 on 40 water cans every day. Though this is heavy on his pocket, he cannot limit this expense because a reduction in the quantity of water used in cooking food would mean a drop in quality. Now, Peter is spending sleepless nights because water can prices are likely to go up by Rs 2- Rs 3 in the coming months.
With most borewells in neighbouring districts going dry, water can manufacturers said the price per can is most likely to increase by a maximum of Rs 3. Though the hike looks like a small amount to pay for water, almost all small-scale businesses like Peter’s and other medium-scale eateries in Chennai, which are heavily dependent on water cans will face a severe backlash.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. Vijay Sethupathi Adopts Two Tigers at Vandalur Zoo
Actor Vijay Sethupathi adopted two tigers at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park on Sunday. On the occasion of the World Wildlife Day, he visited the zoo and paid Rs 5 lakh for the maintenance of the two tigers for a period of six months.
The tigers — Adhithya, born on March 23, 2014, and Arthi, born on November 7, 2012 — were adopted by the actor under the animal adoption programme introduced by the zoo in 2010. Till date, around 159 individuals, private companies and government undertakings and banks have adopted animals. Between 2009 and 2018, the zoo received nearly Rs. 72 lakh from the adoption programme. Based on the amount contributed, adopters are categorized as diamond, gold, silver and bronze.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. 993 Deaths Due to Road Accidents in January
Is there a flip side to developing wider, bigger roads? Yes, if adequate safety features are not provided, considering that motorists tend to travel at greater speeds on wider roads. Recent data on road accidents in Tamil Nadu in the month of January shows that fatalities due to road accidents is less on narrow roads compared to wider ones.
Over 70 per cent of accidental deaths in the State, between January 1 and 31 occurred on State and National highways. According to official records of State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), a total of 993 persons died in 5,173 road accidents in January 2019. The fatalities for the corresponding period last year was much higher at 1,189. Of this, 360 deaths happened on National Highways and 332 were on State Highways -- 36.25 per cent and 33.43 per cent respectively.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Newly-Wed Booked Under POCSO
The police on Saturday arrested a 22-year-old man, who got married about a fortnight ago, for reportedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting his 13-year-old sister-in-law under Arani police station limits a few days ago. According to the police, the man from Gummidipoondi, got married to a relative from a village under the Arani police station limits, a fortnight ago. He was staying in his father-in-law’s house after the marriage.
The police said he befriended his 13-year-old sister-in-law even before the wedding. “From February 28, the accused and the 13-year-old girl went missing. The girl’s parents lodged a complaint in the Arani police station,” said a senior police officer. On Saturday, the police nabbed the two and brought them back. “He had taken the girl to Andhra Pradesh and sexually assaulted her,” added the officer. He has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
(Source: The Hindu)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)