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The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Chaos marks Madurai Corporation council meeting
It was a free-for-all during the first 10 to 15 minutes of the council meeting at Madurai Corporation on Tuesday. Soon after Mayor Indrani Pon Vasanth began the session by reading out a Thirukkural couplet—a customary practice before council proceedings — AIADMK members, led by their floor leader Solai Raja, rose from their seats and shouted slogans demanding her resignation. Dressed in black shirts and sarees as a sign of protest, the AIADMK councillors alleged that the public was outraged by a 'mega scam' (related to property tax computation and collection) allegedly orchestrated by the ruling DMK. They claimed that the Mayor had no moral right to continue in office, as her personal assistant was implicated in the scandal. Rejecting the allegations as baseless, Ms. Indrani instructed the police to remove the protesting AIADMK councillors from the hall and urged DMK members to remain calm. A brief commotion ensued, and after police intervention the AIADMK councillors walked out, raising slogans. Mayor responds strongly Responding to the allegations, the Mayor explained the matter — the alleged property tax scam — was already before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, and a senior police officer of DIG rank was conducting the investigation. She contended it would be inappropriate to discuss the issue during the council meeting. She further pointed out Chief Minister M. K. Stalin had already directed all five zonal chairpersons and two standing committee members involved to step down. She urged the AIADMK to refrain from creating disturbances. Escalating the counterattack, the Mayor questioned the AIADMK's moral standing, citing the case of several crores of rupees allegedly missing from the house of former minister Sellur K. Raju. She also referred to allegations of fund misappropriation during the AIADMK regime in projects such as the Smart City and Underground Drainage (UGD) schemes, demanding an investigation into those cases as well. DMK-CPI (M) clash Soon after calm appeared to return, the meeting again descended into chaos — this time over remarks made by DMK councillor Jayaraman about Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan. Mr. Jayaraman criticised the MP for his recent comments that Madurai city was unclean and that the Chief Minister should intervene. He said such public criticism was uncalled for, especially after the DMK had supported the MP's Lok Sabha candidacy twice. His remarks led to a verbal clash with Deputy Mayor T. Nagarajan of CPI(M) and two CPI(M) councillors. The Deputy Mayor defended the MP, saying it was due to his efforts that the Union Government had sanctioned funds for Madurai. Mr. Jayaraman retorted that as an ally, the MP should not publicly criticise the DMK dispensation. The CPI(M) councillors, in turn, told the DMK member to moderate his tone, especially with Assembly elections approaching. This triggered another round of shouting before order was restored after appeals from both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Background In 2024, then Madurai Corporation Commissioner Dinesh Kumar had filed a complaint with Madurai City Police alleging irregularities in property tax collection. After about seven months, police registered a case and arrested several officials including a retired Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) and Bill Collectors. An AIADMK councillor subsequently filed a writ petition in the High Court, which directed the police to form a special panel and submit a report.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UKIBC recommends ways and means for UK to deepen defence cooperation with India
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) has released a report, putting out a slew of recommendations to deepen bilateral defence cooperation between the UK and India. Through the report, UKIBC offered suggestions to the UK government to strengthen commercial ties and align strategic priorities with India, including strengthening G2G ties, strategic communication, and industry is a policy advocacy and strategic consulting not-for-profit, with a mission to grow the UK-India trade and also suggested establishing a UK-India defence MSME it suggested that the UK foster co-development, co-production, and custom solutions, besides enhancing technology transfer, co-creating IP and defence R&D collaboration with detailed report, derived from academic case studies, government reports, industry insights and expert interviews, aims to identify opportunity gaps that are hindering UK firms in close this gap, the report provides recommendations for business, government and industry organisations to increase UK engagement in aerospace and defence in India continues to prioritise self-reliance in defence through Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, the report identifies concrete steps for the UK defence firms to become meaningful partners in India's defence modernisation agenda It also provided insights into how the UK government policymaking can continue to unlock bilateral trade and innovation in this strategic part of its recommendations, UKIBC encouraged UK firms to be more adaptable to Indian defence procurement systems , while at the same time making recommendations to India's Minister of Defence for further refining the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP).It also suggested that the UK invest in India-based R&D and manufacturing, positioning itself for co-development and IP sharing, forming joint ventures with Indian enterprises, building local value chains, accessing procurement pipelines, and embedding India in UK and global supply it suggested that the UK's strengths in AI, cyber and aerospace tech can be leveraged, aligning with India's strategic Jayaraman, OBE, India Chair, UK-India Business Council, said, "India's ambition to become a leading defence manufacturing and innovation hub presents a timely and strategic opportunity for the UK. As trusted, like-minded partners with shared values and a strong history of cooperation, the UK and India are uniquely placed to co-create the next generation of defence and aerospace technologies.""Through this report, UKIBC aims to provide both strategic insight and practical guidance for UK firms seeking to navigate India's evolving defence ecosystem. The message is clear -- those who invest in long-term partnerships, local capability, and joint innovation will be best placed to succeed," said Kishore is investing heavily in defence and aerospace manufacturing, with several defence hubs being set up. Notably, many global companies have either shared or shown intent to share critical defence and aerospace knowledge with the government's thrust on the Make in India initiative , defence production has surged to historic highs. This rise in defence manufacturing has also led to substantial returns for investors in major defence manufacturing PSUs over the past years.A wide range of items, including ammunition, arms, subsystems/systems, and parts and components, were exported to around 80 countries in the just-concluded financial year, according to the Ministry of Defence Indian government is now aiming for annual exports worth Rs 50,000 crore by 2029, thus strengthening its global footprint. In 2024-25, the defence exports were to the tune of Rs 23,622 crore.
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Work on culverts to prevent flooding on GST Road in Pallavaram and Chromepet to begin soon
As part of flood mitigation measures on Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road in Pallavaram and Chromepet, work to build culverts with wider vents under railway tracks will commence soon. Sources in the Highways Department said tenders for the project had been called for by the railways. 'A total of five projects to construct culverts with wide vents were proposed. Of these, two on Poonamallee High Road have been completed. While the works below the tracks will be carried out by the railways, the lead drains will be built by the Highways Department,' an official source said. Jayaraman of Chromepet said flooding during rain had become an annual affair on GST Road, and heavy rain only worsened the situation. 'Small vehicles struggle to navigate the waterlogged portions,' he added. Activist David Manohar said he had been demanding broader vents and more culverts to increase the volume of water drained during rain. 'You can see water stagnation for over two hours and traffic jams running to a few kilometres on either side of the road. Encroachments in a Water Resources Department-managed canal have to be removed in Pallavaram near Ponds Company to ensure free flow of water. It used to be 80 feet wide. Now it is hardly a few feet wide. In Chromepet near Vetri Theatre, a culvert has been narrowed owing to water mains and and electricity cables running through it,' he added. Highways sources said the general area drawing for both the locations had been approved. 'A total of ₹7.5 crore has been deposited with the railways for all the works. We hope to complete the construction before the monsoon,' the official said.
Eater
01-07-2025
- Business
- Eater
Chicago Mayor and Restaurant Lobby Once Again Spar Over the Tipping
Gale Street Inn, an institution on the Northwest Side that closed in late June after 62 years, isn't being remembered for its ribs. Over the last two weeks, critics of Mayor Brandon Johnson have latched onto the closing of the Jefferson Park restaurant as proof that getting rid of the tipped minimum wage is bad news for the restaurant industry. The Tribune 's coverage of the May closure included comments from Illinois Restaurant Association CEO Sam Toia, who shared concerns about how escalating costs could lead to more closures. That led to the weekend when the Tribune 's editorial board followed with a provocative headline above a photo of the Gale Street: 'Why Chicago Has a Restaurant Crisis.' The editorial warned of a future firestorm of restaurant closures. A May piece in the Sun-Times also spun a tale of impending doom. The restaurant association launched this campaign before Memorial Day, as 44th Ward Ald. Bennett Lawson introduced a proposal to repeal the ban. All of this happened as One Fair Wage battles Springfield to ban the tipped minimum wage across the state. One Fair Wage co-founder Saru Jayaraman, whose organization has kept busy pushing similar legislation across the country, is unfazed. She tells Eater that it's just part of a standard playbook. With federal policies taking aim at the most vulnerable when it comes to cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, Jayaraman is more focused than ever on rooting out what she views as a practice that fosters inequity in the restaurant industry. OFW has launched Solidarity Restaurants, an initiative to protect immigrant workers from ICE raids, and the group is currently working on banning the tipped minimum wage in New York. 'The [National] Restaurant Association knows that if they let it happen in New York, a lot of other states on the East Coast will follow — in the Northeast, in particular,' Jayaraman says. In Chicago, after heated deliberations between Johnson's camp and the restaurant lobby, the City Council agreed in 2023 to gradually rid the city of the subsidy used by restaurants over five years; in practice, this means the tipped minimum wage will increase annually by 8 percent every July through 2028. This year, the jump brings the rate for employers with four or more workers to $12.62 per hour. The standard minimum wage has also jumped to $16.60 per hour. However, critics continue to debate whether tipped workers will earn more money, arguing inflation and spiking costs are forcing customers to tip less. That's where solutions like service fees enter the fray. Talking about service fees is a good way to start an argument online. There's an uneasiness for restaurant owners, particularly independent operators who face everyday operational challenges without the benefit of deep-pocketed investors. Even Thattu, heralded for embracing a no-tip and no service fee model, has brought back tipping as means to retain workers. The plight of the indepedenent restaurant is front of mind nationwide. New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has pledged to create a department dedicated in supporting 'mom and pop' businesses if he's elected to office. Waiting for licensing or responses for the right city department can crush a business. As lobbyists and lawmakers battle, restaurant workers and owners remain in limbo, confused on a variety of topics, including whether it's legal to pool tips, sharing them with the front and back of the house. That's a point that One Fair Wage's Neela Caicedo-Rosario clarifies, saying sharing is permitted. Chicagoans have been bombarded with data points as the restaurant association and One Fair Wage justify their stances. Both kept a close eye on Washington, D.C., where in 2022 voters approved a gradual elimination of the tipped minimum wage, but have since hit pause. A Washington Post editorial called the city's move to rid the tipped minimum wage a 'disaster,' much in the same way the Trib read the tea leaves in Chicago. Johnson made the tipped minimum wage a key part of his election platform, to cede power back to workers. And while his camp says that 10,000 jobs have been created since the ordinance went into effect in July 2024, the restaurant lobby claims that 5,200 jobs were lost between July 2024 and December 2024. There are also conflicting figures about the number of restaurant closings and openings, as well how much the city has lost in terms of sales tax revenue. Last week at an appearance on the West Side in collaboration with One Fair Wage, Johnson heralded the Chicago ordinance. 'There is no place for an antiquated system such as this, particularly in a great global city,' Johnson said at the press conference. 'And so the One Fair Wage became a matter of justice, economic justice.' One of Johnson's progressive allies, 26th Ward Ald. Jesse Fuentes, played a key role in brokering a compromise between Johnson's camp and the Illinois Restaurant Association in convincing key stakeholders to lend their voices to the discussion as the sides went back and forth two years ago. 'Some individuals are going to do the minimum wage and keep tips, some individuals are going to do the minimum wage and have a service charge, so the service charge goes to the front of the house and the back of the house,' Fuentes tells Eater. 'It really depends on the model.' With July's arrival, the city enters the ordinance's second year of five years of annual wage increases. Arguing about the future of Chicago's restaurant industry is looking to be a regular summer occurrence as America enters a bizarre political time full of economic uncertainty. 'We are a diverse city with many different forms of business models,' Fuentes adds. 'No restaurant is the same — it's not a monolithic industry, right? And so that means there's going to be different challenges depending on the business model, and we have to target one sort of restaurant at a time.' See More:
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Time of India
VAO arrested for accepting bribe of 4,500 in Krishnagiri
Krishnagiri: A village administrative officer (VAO) was arrested for accepting a bribe of Rs4,500 from a farmer seeking a succession certificate near Hosur here on Saturday. According to an official attached to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), M Jayaraman, a farmer from Mariamman Kovil Street at Anchetty, approached Salivaram village administrative officer Lakshmikanthan on June 24 to obtain a succession certificate, as his father had passed away in 1999. "He submitted an application in this regard and visited the VAO again on Friday. The VAO asked him to pay Rs6,000 for issuing the succession certificate. Jayaraman paid him Rs1,500 and told him that the remaining amount would be paid after receiving the certificate," the official said. The same evening, Jayaraman lodged a complaint with the DVAC sleuths, who gave him chemical coated currency notes, asking him to hand over the same to the VAO the next day. "We caught the VAO today (Saturday) while accepting the bribe. We have registered a case against the VAO and further inquiry is on," the official said.
