Southern Mail

Southern Mail
NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY

 Regn. No. TNENG/2015/65752

NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY
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 CHENNAI EDITION  TUESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2024  WHATSAPP No. 90800 52541  ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION J 3285  VOL 10, ISSUE 263  J 9.00  8 PAGES

R.N. Ravi refuses to read Governors address at Tamil

Nadu Assembly, says it would be constitutional travesty
Tamil Nadu Governor R.
N. Ravi said the address, ap-
proved for him by the State
government, contained nu-
merous passages he disagreed
with on “factual and moral
grounds”
Tamil Nadu Governor R.N.
Ravi. The first day of Tamil
Nadu Assembly’s Budget ses-
sion began with the Governor
refusing to read his customary
speech. | Photo Credit: B. Ve-
lankanni Raj
Tamil Nadu Governor R.
N. Ravi on Monday, February
12, 2024 refused to read out
the customary address on the the national anthem and play Vazhga Bharatham.
opening day of the Legislative it at the beginning & end of the Jai Hind, Jai Bharat, Nan-
Assembly session, saying it address has been ignored. This dri.”Following this, Speaker
contained numerous passages address has numerous passag- M. Appavu began reading out
with which he disagreed on es with which I convincingly the Tamil version of the Gov-
factual and moral grounds. disagree ernor’s approved address to
To get today’s top stories The Governor also charged, the House.
from the State in your inbox, that his “repeated request and Last year, the Governor had
subscribe to our Tamil Nadu advice to show due respect to stormed out of the House, af-
Today newsletter“This ad- the national anthem and play ter Chief Minister M K Stalin
dress has numerous passag- it at the beginning and end of moved a resolution urging the
es with which I convincingly the address has been ignored.” Speaker to take on record only
disagree on factual and moral Wishing the House “a pro- the approved text of the Gov-
grounds. ductive and healthy discussion ernor’s address. This was after
I, lending my voice to them, to the House I conclude my bly session, Governor RN Ravi for the good of the people,” he Mr Ravi skipped certain por-
would constitute constitution- address,” he said in his speech says, "My repeated request & concluded his speech with the tions of the address and made
al travesty. Hence with respect At the Tamil Nadu assem- advice to show due respect to slogans, “Vazhga Tamil Nadu, certain extempore remarks.

Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan T.N. Speaker Appavu lowered

resigns from Congress;
Ashok Chavan submitted
his resignation to the Ma-
harashtra Pradesh Congress
Committee chief Nana Pa-
tole.
Former Maharashtra
Chief Minister Ashok Cha-
van on February 12 resigned
from the primary member-
ship of the Congress party,
ending his family’s long-
standing association with
the grand-old party, and is
likely to join the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP.)
Mr. Chavan submitted
his resignation to the Ma-
harashtra Pradesh Congress
Committee chief Nana Pa-
tole. Earlier in the day, the
former Congress leader met
Maharashtra Legislative As-
sembly Speaker Rahul Nar-
wekar and submitted his res-
ignation to the House.
likely to join
Chavan and Mr. Patole like- was made CM twice by the
that the 65-year-old for-
mer Chief Minister will join
the party, bringing along a
group of supporters from
the Marathwada region.
Speculations rife that Mr.
Chavan may secure a Rajya
Sabha berth from the BJP.
When asked about Mr.
Chavan’s potential entry
into the party, BJP leader
and Deputy Chief Minister
BJP the dignity of Chair: Raj Bhavan
The Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker with ic advice, ”To show due respect to the National
ly influenced his choice to
change allegiance, a senior
leader from Congress told
The Hindu. “Mr. Chavan al-
ways expressed dissatisfac-
tion with Mr. Patole’s role
as MPCC chief and consis-
tently held him responsible
for the fall of the Maha Vi-
kas Aghadi government,” he
said.
“Mr. Chavan’s decision
doesn’t come as a surprise.
It has been in the works for
more than five years, and the
high command has been in-
formed about it repeatedly.
Nanded district, Mr. Cha-
van’s hometown, has a signif-
icant Muslim and Dalit pop-
ulation, traditionally strong
supporters of the Congress.
While leaders may change,
our grassroot cadre remains
party, and held several key
portfolios in various gov-
ernments. It’s clear that the
primary concern now seems
to be investigative agencies
and nothing else,” Mr. Patole
added.
Mr. Chavan’s father, Shan-
karrao Bhavrao Chavan, also
served as Maharashtra Chief
Minister twice, first from
1975 to 1977 and then from
March 1986, to June 1988.
“When friends and col-
leagues leave a political par-
ty that has given them much
— perhaps much more they
deserved — it is always a
matter of anguish. But to
those who are vulnerable,
that Washing Machine will
always prove more attractive
than ideological commit-
ment or personal loyalties,”
his “unbecoming conduct lowered the dignity
of his Chair and grace of the House,” the Raj
Bhavan said on Monday, February 12, 2024
hours after the House witnessed dramatic
scenes with Governor R.N. Ravi leaving the
House. The Governor also did not read out his
customary address to the House.
“While the Speaker went on his tirade
against the Governor, the Governor with
due regard to the dignity of his office and the
House left the House,” an official communica-
tion from the Raj Bhavan stated.
When the Speaker concluded the address,
the Governor rose for the national anthem,
as scheduled, it said. “However, the Speaker
instead of following the schedule launched a
tirade against the Governor and called him a
follower of Nathuram Godse and more,” the re-
lease contended.The Raj Bhavan also explained
that the draft Governor’s address was received
at the Raj Bhavan, from the State government
on February 9. The address had numerous pas-
sages with “misleading claims far from truth.”
The Governor returned the file with specif-
Anthem and play it at the beginning and end
of the Governor’s address. In this regard, Gov-
ernor had written letters to the Chief Minister
and the Speaker in the past also.”
The Raj Bhavan said, The Governor’s ad-
dress should reflect Government’s achieve-
ments, policies and programmes and to inform
the house of the “causes of its summons” and
should not be a forum for peddling mislead-
ing statements and venting blatantly partisan
political views.”
“Thereafter, Hon’ble Governor with due
regard to the constitutional proprieties ex-
pressed his inability to read the address as it
contained numerous passages with misleading
claims and facts and reading them would have
amounted to Governor’s address becoming a
constitutional travesty,” it said.
He expressed his respect to the house,
wished the session to be productive for the
good of our people of Tamil Nadu and con-
cluded. Thereafter the Speaker read the Tam-
il version of the address. The Governor sat
through it till the conclusion of address.

Notably, his letterhead,
where he drafted the word
“former” in Marathi with a
pen, now reflects his desig-
nation as “former MLA.”
“Today, I have tendered
my resignation as Mem-
Devendra Fadnavis said: “I
learned about Mr. Chavan
from the media. However,
what I can affirm is that sev-
eral prominent leaders from
Congress are in contact with
the BJP. Leaders associated
intact,” Mr. Patole told The
Hindu.
Further, Mr. Patole said
that the current political bat-
tle revolves less around ide-
ology and more around ap-
prehensions of the ED, CBI,
Southern Mail
said AICC General Secre-
tary (Communications) Jai-
ram Ramesh.
He further added: “These
betrayers don’t realise that
their exit opens up vast
new opportunities to those NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY

ber of Legislative Assembly
(MLA) from 85-Bhokar As-
sembly Constituency to the
Assembly Speaker Rahulji
Narvekar,” Mr. Chavan later
posted on X, formerly Twit-
ter.Speaking to The Hindu, a
senior BJP leader confirmed
with the public are express-
ing dissatisfaction within
the Congress. I am confident
that some prominent figures
will switch to the BJP.”
Not surprising, says
MPCC chief Nana Patole
The discord between Mr.
and Income Tax.
“Mr. Chavan, despite the
party’s historical roles for his
family—his father serving
as chief minister twice and
holding significant positions
like Defence minister— has
opted to leave. He himself
KARNATAKA STATE
whose growth they have al-
ways stunted.”
Mr. Chavan along with a
few Congress MLAs is likely
to join BJP in the presence of BANGALORE EDITION OFFICE
Union Home Minister Amit
Shah and party chief J. P. For NEWS & Advertisement Contact:
Nadda later this week.
Cell: 6363231448, 9080052541,
9483388665, 8147399043
1269/10, 2nd Floor, KHB Colony,
Housing Board Bus Stop, Magadi Main Road,
Bangalore-79, Karnataka State. India.

For your esteemed

Contribution

12
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f Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu addresses during the first day of TN Assembly session, in Chennai, on February 12, 2024. Tamil by Mr. Mohammed Zakir Hussain - Abu Dhabi - UAE. 9043862679@paytm
Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi is also seen
Southern Mail NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY
02
HMA Agro Industries Ltd
Reports Stellar Earnings for Q3FY24,
PAT Jumps 772% QoQ
Chennai: HMA Agro Industries Ltd. a lead-
er in handled foods and agro products, in its
board meeting held on February 08, 2024 has
approved the unaudited Financial Results of
the Company for the quarter and nine months
ended on 31 December 2023. For the quarter
ended 31 December 2023, the Revenue from
Operations stood at Rs. 12517.23 Mn, recording
a growth of 63% YoY and 4% QoQ. The EBIT-
DA was reported at Rs. 759.50 Mn, showing a
growth of 84% YoY, and 173% YoY. PAT stood
at Rs. 491.01 Mn, growing 75% YoY and 772%
QoQ. Commenting on the Q3 & 9M FY24 per-
formance, Mr. Gulzeb Ahmed, Chief Financial
Officer – HMA Agro Industries said, “We wit-
nessed an exceptional quarter amidst the back-
drop of the robust Indian economy. Accom-
plishing the highest quarterly revenue at INR
12,517.23 million is a testament to our resilience
and strategic foresight. Surpassing the figures of
FY23 in both revenue and PAT metrics reflects
our progression towards our 5x vision.”
'Lille by Challani' a new branch of the
traditional Challani Jewellery, inaugurated
by Actress Andrea Jeremiah at VR Mall.
Chennai: Celebrating the women of today and
every woman deserves nothing less than a Gold
& diamond Jewellery, Presenting “Lille By Chal-
lani” an exclusive store from the House of Chal-
lani Jewellery Mart with enchanting collection of
mesmerizing Gold & Diamond Jewellery for the
modern woman in the age group of 16 -24 & 25
-34 who yearn for a change and who wish to cre-
ate the change. To commemorate the occasion we
offer Rs.5000/- per carat for Diamonds and all the
purchasers will get a Surprise Gift in Silver. This is
offer is valid only for inaugural Day. Actress An-
drea, inaugurated the “Lille By Challani” Store by
cutting the ribbon and lighting candles, said that
she did not come here as a famous celebrity, but as
a customer. She said that she has known Challani
for a long time and that their traditional jewellery
is famous. She said that now Lille by Challani jew-
ellery is available in various designs to suit all kinds
of trendy outfits. Andrea appreciated this unique
and innovative jewellery design by the Challani
group saying that they can be worn anywhere
without fear. Located at Ground Floor, Opp: West-
side of VR Chennai, Anna Nagar, Lille By Challani
is the best pal of everyone in the family.
f Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with NDA MLAs arrives at Bihar Legislative Assembly for the floor test of
his government, at Vidhan Bhawan in Patna,
City
TUESDAY 13-02-2024
Lords Mark Industries Ltd Files Patent
for its bio-chemistry reagents and
targets a revenue of 200 crore
Chennai: LordsMed,
the global healthcare
division of Lord’s Mark
Industries Ltd, has
launched a set of 10
world-class re-agent
and diagnostic testing
kits for Triglycerides,
Uric Acid, Alkaline
Phosphatase, Bilirubin,
Calcium (Arsenazo
III), Creatinine, Glu-
cose, Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transami-
nase (SGOT)/Aspartate Aminotransferas, Se-
rum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT),
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Total
Protein. These re-agent and diagnostic test kits
come with 99.7 percent accuracy, the highest
level of sensitivity, a shelf-life of 24 months,
unique packaging and competitive price-
points. The company has filed India patents for
these kits which will strengthen the preventive
healthcare mechanism for critical diseases.
Commenting on the launch, Sachidanand Upa-
dhyay, MD & CEO, Lord's Mark Industries Ltd.
said, “The demand for affordable and quality
re-agent and diagnostic kits in India is growing
steadily on the back of prevalence of chronic
and infectious diseases, growing awareness of
importance of diagnostic intervention and the
benefits of preventive healthcare. Our re-agent
or diagnostic testing kits with unparalleled ac-
curacy, sensitivity and shelf life will redefine the
pre-emptive diagnostic interventions frame-
work for critical diseases. As Indian patents are
recognised globally, we have filed India patents
for our kits to get easy acceptance in global mar-
kets. With our robust manufacturing capacity
and domestic and global distribution network,
we are working towards meeting the growing
demand for quality diagnostic kits across re-
gions.”
De Beers Forevermark Presents the
Forevermark Icon Collection
Chennai: Cele-
brating meaningful
relationships and
everlasting love, De
Beers Forevermark
showcases the classic
Forevermark Icon Collection, encapsulating
the moment of forever with natural, beautiful
diamonds this Valentine’s Day. Designed to rep-
resent the brilliance of the stars in night sky, the
Forevermark Icon collection is perfect for part-
ners who seek to celebrate their unique journey
or for those who want to capture a significant
moment from their time together. "The Forev-
ermark Icon Collection embodies the essence
of everlasting love and cherished commitments.
Crafted with the modern consumer in mind,
these timeless designs blend classic simplicity
with elegant sophistication. Perfect for every-
day wear, they serve as a cherished reminder of
those unforgettable moments. This Valentine's
Day, we invite couples to explore the iconic
pieces within our collection, each meticulous-
ly crafted to symbolize the enduring nature of
their relationships." Stated Amit Pratihari, Vice
President at De Beers Forevermark.
Mukti M.S. Dadha Foundation is proud
to announce the successful conclusion of
its inaugural Inclusive Sports Meet
Chennai: M.S. Dadha Foundation is proud
to announce the successful conclusion of its
inaugural Inclusive Sports Meet, a pioneering
event designed to empower and honor the abil-
ities of physically challenged individuals held at
A.M. Jain College ground in Meenambakkam,
the Sports Meet brought together participants
from diverse backgrounds, fostering a spirit of
unity, resilience, and inclusivity. The event was
started with the welcome speech by Mr. Ma-
hendra Dadha (Co-founder & trustee of Mukti:
M.S. Dadha Foundation). Dr. J. Radhakrishnan
(Commissioner of GCC), Mr. K.M. Srikkanth
(Former captain of the Indian cricket team), Mr.
Mohan Goenka (Founder & Trustee of Mohan
Goenka Foundation) were the main dignitaries
during the inaugural event. Smt. Meena Dadha,
Founder and Managing Trustee of Mukti. (M.S.
Dadha foundation) highlighted that Mukti has
completed 38 years and more than 4 lakh ampu-
tees and polio-affected people have been helped
so far across the globe. During this event Dr.
Radhakrishnan highlighted the schemes being
implemented by Tamil Nadu Government for
the disabled and gave special thanks to the team
of Mukti. Former captain Mr. Srikkanth inspired
everyone to participate in national level compe-
titions. Ms. Meena Dadha, Managing Trustee of
Mukti (M.S. Dadha Foundation), said “We are
thrilled to have hosted such a meaningful event.
The Inclusive Sports Meet not only provided a
platform for individuals with physical challeng-
es to showcase their abilities but also promoted
a sense of belonging and community support.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all partic-
ipants, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters
who contributed to the success of this event."
Mr. Shiv Kumar Goenka played a vital role in
this event. Mr. Ajay Nahar and Mr. Maruti were
thanked for organizing the program to make
it a grand success. New clothes were also dis-
tributed by Rajasthan Cosmo Club Foundation
during the event.
Former DGP Rajesh Das case | Madras
High Court refuses to stay appellate
court verdict upholding his conviction
Justice M. Nirmal Kumar refrained from
passing any interim order; the Villupuram Prin-
cipal Sessions Court upheld the verdict of a low-
er court that convicted the former top cop to
three years of imprisonment and a fine, in a case
of sexual harassment of a woman IPS officer
The Madras High Court on Monday, Febru-
ary 12, 2024, refused to stay the operation of a
judgement passed by the Villupuram Principal
Sessions Court earlier during the day, uphold-
ing the conviction and three-year sentence im-
posed on former special Director General of
Police (DGP) Rajesh Das in a case relating to
the sexual harassment of a woman Superinten-
dent of Police (SP), while on duty, in February
2021.The sexual harassment incident took place
Mr. Das and the woman officer were part of se-
curity arrangements for then Chief Minister,
Edappadi K. Palaniswami, during an election
campaign.
The Villupuram Principal Sessions Court
had confirmed the three-year sentence imposed
by a lower court on Das in the case. The Prin-
cipal District Judge R. Poornima passed the
verdict while dismissing the appeal filed by Mr.
Das.
Justice M. Nirmal Kumar of the High Court
pointed out that the verdict could be stayed only
if the convict challenged the Sessions Court ver-
dict, not through a criminal revision petition in
which he had insisted on transferring his crim-
inal appeal to the newly-inaugurated Principal
Sessions Court in Kallakurichi district.
EDITORIAL
G.S.
EDITOR
Southern Mail
NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY
TUESDAY 13-02-2024
Mint Street musings: On the interim
Budget and the RBI
The latest bi-monthly meeting of the
Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy
Committee (MPC), whose outcomes will
be revealed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta
Das on February 8, is widely expected to
result in a status quo on interest rates yet
again. At its last review in early December,
five of the six MPC members had voted to
persist with the ‘withdrawal of accommo-
dation’ stance and the panel had raised its
GDP growth forecast for the year to 7%
from 6.5%.
Hopes of a stance shift to ‘neutral’ are
slim, but it would be instructive to see if
the growth estimate is revisited in light of
the National Statistical Office projection of
a 7.3% uptick in 2023-24. The U.S. Federal
Reserve held interest rates for the fourth
straight review last week, and chairman Je-
rome Powell was vague about the proxim-
ity of much-anticipated rate cuts this year,
seeking more data to establish that infla-
tion had been reined in sustainably.
India’s policymakers may not take a di-
rect cue from the U.S. Fed, but the concerns
are similar as Governor Das had articulat-
ed in December.
The 4% inflation target remains elusive
for now — December’s inflation rate hit a
four-month high of 5.7%. The RBI expects
inflation to average 5.2% in this quarter,
which it only expects it to cool to 4% in the
July-September phase, providing a window
for a rate cut consideration if the monsoon
is normal.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s
interim Budget for 2024-25, however, could
give the central bank some more room to
ease liquidity constraints in the economy.
While the government did not provide a
prop for weak consumption trends, it is
also not adding to inflation pressures.
A stronger than expected pursuit of fis-
cal consolidation in this year and the next,
and a promise to lower gross market bor-
rowings from ₹15.4 lakh crore this year to a
tad over ₹14 lakh crore in 2024-25, should
help. The Minister asserted that this will
free up more credit for the private sector
now that industry is beginning to invest ‘at
scale’.
Gross market borrowings as a share of
the fiscal deficit will also drop below 84%
from 89% this year. With foreign capital in-
flows into Indian government bonds likely
to spike following their inclusion in glob-
al bond indices, banks which are the ma-
jor holders of these securities and are fac-
ing elevated credit to deposit ratio growth
rates, should get more space to lend.
Economists expect this to help lower
borrowing costs for the entire economy.
Yields on government bonds have already
dropped from 7.14% ahead of the Budget
to about 7.05% and could drop further,
even as systemic liquidity has improved a
tad. For Mint Street hawks, that is no small
comfort.
Southern Mail NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY
City
03 TUESDAY 13-02-2024
Gear up for First edition of Chennai A Tech-Savvy Guide for Valentine’s Day
Comic Con 2024 on the Chennai : Today's digital world is reshaping
the way we connect with our loved ones. Tra-

17th-18th February 2024 ditional courtship rituals have evolved, making

Chennai: Comic Con India, the largest pop
culture celebration, prepares to immerse fans in
a realm where fantasy meets reality unlike ever
before, with its first ever edition of the conven-
tion in the vibrant city. The thrilling weekend
promises a never before experience for our co-
splay & anime lovers with a plethora of inter-
national and Indian comic creators, renowned
artists, and popular industry names showcas-
ing their best of work on display. Gear up for
a weekend full of comics, cosplays & fun with
the first edition of Chennai Comic Con 2024 on
the 17th-18th February 2024! Speaking about
the thrilling weekend celebration, Jatin Varma,
Founder, Comic Con India,said, “Comic Con
isn't just an event, it's a remarkable gathering
where the audience's story, imagination and
creativity reaches its peak. It has been celebrat-
ed and attended by Lakhs of enthusiasts all over
room for virtual meetups, personalized digital
gestures, and innovative ways to nurture rela-
tionships. Join us as we explore how Valentine's
Day has adapted to changing times with the
help of technology, making it easier than ever to
connect and create meaningful memories with
your partner.Embrace the fusion of technology
and romance, creating a celebration that reflects
the innovation and connection of the digital era.
Intelligent Oven to enhance your special
celebration:As you prepare and relish an inti-
mate Valentine's Day dinner with your loved
one, consider using the Siemens IQ 700 oven
which comes with an AI voice assistant. The
cutting-edge technology allows you to control
the oven remotely using your smartphone. With
just a few simple instructions you can ensure
that a perfect dish is ready to impress your loved
ones before time. This will allow you to spend
less time in the kitchen and more time creating
unforgettable memories with your partner. Bid
adieu to the traditional cooking methods and
embrace the convenience and efficiency of in-
telligent devices.
Vedantu Embarks on Extensive
Expansion in Tamil Nadu with
Introduction of Offline Learning Centres
Coimbatore: Vedantu, a pioneering force in the
Ed-tech sector, is making significant strides in of-

About the book

India in so many different cities, and Chennai
being the epicenter of art and creativity has us
super excited to bring our special celebration
to the passionate people here. I am confident
that everyone in this beautiful vivacious city
will have the best time at this first Comic Con
in Chennai and I can't wait to see how this un-
folds.”
Shark Tank featured company,
upliance.ai raises 34 crores led by
OpenAI’s first venture investor
Chennai: Khosla Ventures has been invest- comfort of their homes.
fline education with the inauguration of Vedantu Each partner has a unique his- by psychological concepts and
Learning Centres across Tamil Nadu. Today marks tory that makes relationships exercises can provide, slowly
the unveiling of these centres, representing Ve- complex at different stages. chip away all the walls that had
dantu's commitment to transforming traditional We all carry our insecuri- developed in relationship. The
coaching methods. My new book, "I Thought, I ties, past hurts, expectations, process required a consensual
In a strategic move, Vedantu Learning Centres Did - Information to Transfor- and changing needs into our decision from two individuals
have already been successfully established in Trichy mation”, provides an intimate most intimate partnerships, who wanted to be together and
on January 21, 2024, and Madurai on January 28, ride into the ups and downs of hoping for an instant fix or es- work on their relationship,
2024. Building on this momentum, Vedantu opened relationships. The plot focuses cape. However, it leads to
its doors in Anna Nagar, Chennai, on February 4, on a couples (Fictional Char-
taking every chance possi-
confusion, unrealistic ex- ble to mend things. They both
2024, and in Coimbatore on February 11, 2024, re- acters for the Book) pectations, sadness, and even should agree with each other,
inforcing Vedantu's dedication to extending quality The couple's journey de- betrayal, leaving considerable and that's how the name of the
education accessibility to diverse regions, particu- scribes how even the strongest strain. Still, there is a ray of book “ I Thought I Did. “
larly for students preparing for JEE/NEET exams. bonds formed after years of hope of getting back to each The story inspire us with
Vedantu Learning Centres introduce an inno- trust and support are deeply other that requires work, time tangible tools for this pur-
vative approach to personalised learning, metic- strained when problems arise. and effort from both partners pose, from knowledge about
ulously designed for JEE, NEET, and Foundation But, it also shows there is hope who want to do the hard work. relationships, emotions, and
courses. Leveraging a decade of technological in- when both partners commit to It is necessary , if you find effective communication to
novation, Vedantu ensures tailored learning expe- improving their understand- yourself on the cross roads in needs, conflict resolution, and
riences both in physical classrooms and through its ing and encouraging commu- your journey of life give ther- more.With compassion, cour-
advanced online platforms. Master teachers, doubt nication and growth. apy a chance in a bid to have age, commitment, and some
experts, and academic mentors provide person- Relationships are compli- clarity and confidence in their help, we all have the power to
alised attention and employ customised teaching cated, particularly in the mod- plans. create healthy, mutually fulfill-
methods in the centres, while Vedantu's technolog- ern world of distractions and Through counselling ses- ing relationships that can bear
ical infrastructure caters to students' needs in the increased mental isolation. sions and conversations guided life's inevitable challenges.

4,19,660 public have used the Madurai Kalaignar

ing in bold, impactful and early innovative start-
ups for over 20 years. Their portfolio comprises
some of Silicon Valley’s biggest success stories PUBLIC NOTICE
including Doordash, Block, Instacart, Gitlab
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purchase the Vacant site bearing Plot No.334A, to an extent of

average of 2,098 people use the library daily.

ture fund investor in OpenAI, the creators of 2409 Sq.Ft Kubera Nagar Extension 11th Street, Madipakkam
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management, the fund invests across a range of provided daily to students preparing No.134/3 and 139 Patta No.2225, as per Patta Survey
sectors including AI, sustainability, enterprise, No.134/3A1A within Chennai Corporation Limits and with-
for various competitive examinations. in the Registration District of South Chennai and Sub
consumer, health and frontier technologies. Mr Srikanth, a disabled person, from Registration District of Velachery bounded on the
Up⤴️AI removes the difficulties associated with Palanganatham, in Madurai, who stud- North by: Land belongs to Dr.Parthasarathy
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ied for the competitive examination in East by: Plot No.335
"Using the upliance feels like talking to a chef this library since from open day, now West by: Plot No.334B
who wants to learn from you and cook to your got selected for the bank job shared If anybody has any objection, claims, request, dispute or in-
taste." his experience that, " I am a visually terest regarding the property as mentioned earlier for sale,
explains Mohit Sharma, co-founder & CTO. he may submit his claims, objections, dispute or interest to
impaired person. I had completed my the undersigned within 15 days from the date of publishing
Quote by Mahek Mody, co-founder & CEO “We higher education and was studying for the notice along with the proof. If not such an objection or
are extremely excited about having Khosla Ven- government exams. It was difficult for claim is received within the above mentioned period, the
tures as partners. Their investment is a valida- property would be sold to my client.
me to sit at home and study for com- K.VENKATESAN
tion of both the potential of upliance.ai and the petitive exams as there was not enough (Advocate)
traction we have seen in the market. space at home. Facilities have been es- 100/2, Kannan Nagar 2 Main Road,
The Indian Government has been working tablished here for the visually impaired
Near Brilliant Mat.Hr.Sec. School Madipakkam,
Chennai - 600 091. 9445991495/9566148529
extensively to support deep tech and hardware Madurai: Kalaignar Centenary thousand books in the English section, to read through audio. Also, more
startups and we are proud to be a part of this Library has been set up in Madurai 34 thousand books in the competitive than 1500 Braille books were featured.
nascent sunrise sector in India. We believe that at a cost of Rs 218.19 crore in memo- examination section, 1 lakh 28 thou- Since I can't read by looking at books,
upliance.ai can level Up⤴️ young Indian homes ry of Former Chief minister of Tamil sand books of English reference books I found it much easier to read through ORIGINAL LAND/PROPERTY DOCUMENTS LOST
and make a difference in a meaningful way to Nadu, Kalaignar Karunanidhi The li- and a total of 3 lakh 62 thousand books. audio and using Braille books. Also, I, D.M.Shenbagavalli w/o R.Dakshinamurthy, (Aadhar Card
daily lives. brary serves as an intellectual beacon So far, 4,19,660 people have used the audio listening and reading through No.3482 7707 2394) aged about 56 years, residing at
Rajesh Swaminathan, Partner at Khosla Ven- of South Tamil Nadu and serves as a library till 06.02.2024. That is, an aver- NVDA software is optional. It was also No.1/26, Barathiyar Street, Abith Colony, Saidapet, Chen-
nai 600 015 do hereby inform to the General Public that I
tures added, “At Khosla Ventures, we invest ear- center of learning for the benefit of the age of 2,098 people used the library per easy to download and read books. I am have lost the Original land document and other documents
ly in bold and impactful ideas. Mahek and his entire society, containing a wide range day. As on 06.02.2024, Atleast 67,172 currently selected in a Govt bank. Only pertaining to our property registered in document No.
team have built a product that early consum- of information resources in the fields students from 782 schools and 14,034 because of, keep going to the library 1070/1989 dt. 26.04.1989 registered at Joint II Sub Registrar
ers love and has the potential to significantly of art, culture, science and technolo- college students from 205 colleges have and studying for competitive exams, Office, Chengalpattu. If anyone finds the said documents
please contact me over my mobile phone no. (9840071523)
change people’s daily eating routines. gy. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin also visited. Ground floor to sixth floor Now I am very happy "I express my or at the following residential address.
We are also excited about the health bene- opened it for public use on July 15th (all floors) is open for use by readers. heartfelt gratitude to Tamil Nadu Chief MRS.D.M.SHENBAGAVALLI
W/o R.Dakshinamurthy
fits and AI integration capabilities possible with in 2023. This library has 30 thousand Editorials from front runners National Minister M K Stalin for establishing No.1/26, Barathiyar Street,
upliance.ai. These are the bold bets we like to books in the children section, 90 thou- and International Daily English News- and opening the Kalaignar centenary Abith Colony, Saidapet,
take.” sand books in the Tamil section, 80 papers are translated into Tamil and library," he added. Chennai 600 015 Mobil: 9840071523
Southern Mail
04
NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY
Mahindra continues its commitment District Collector D. Bhaskara Pandian
to empowering the daughters of truck flagged off the massive private sector
drivers through 10,000 SAARTHI employment camp awareness vehicle.
ABHIYAAN Scholarships
Cuddalore: Mahindra Truck and Bus Divi-
sion (MTBD), a part of the Mahindra Group,-
continued its commitment to empowering the
daughters of truck drivers through the Mahin-
dra SAARTHI ABHIYAAN Scholarships, an
initiative to make a small contribution towards
transforming the lives of the girls by supporting
their right to higher education.
The scholarships were awarded through di-
rect account transfer during the event held in
Namakkal, Tamilnadu in the presence of Mr. Ja-
laj Gupta, Business Head, Commercial Vehicles,
Mahindra & Mahindra.This endeavour marks a
significant milestone in Mahindra Truck and
Bus Division's ongoing commitment to the
Truck driver community,
which was initiated with the Mahindra
Saarthi Abhiyaan in 2014.The reach out pro-
gram for this has covered 75+ transport hubs
pan India and well defined, transparent, and
independent process.Speaking on the indus-
try-first milestone, Jalaj Gupta, Business Head
– Commercial Vehicles, Mahindra & Mahindra
Ltd., said, “We are at the forefront of empower-
ing communities and creating sustainable social
impact.
This uniqueinitiative reached the remote
interiors of the country, reflecting our unwav-
ering commitment to fostering positive change
and empowering young girlswith a platform
to pursue their aspirations.Mahindra Saarthi
Abhiyaanis our way of thanking the truck driv-
er community and showing a sense of gratitude
for the exemplary effortshown in educating
their daughters.”
Nation
TUESDAY 13-02-2024
The District Collector ordered
that petitions should be written to
the general public with
government departmental employees
Thiruvan-
namalai: A
weekly public
grievance re-
dressal meet-
ing is held
every Monday
at the Tiru-
vannamalai
Thiruvannamalai: Thiruvannamalai District Collector District Col-
inaugurated a huge private employment camp on behalf of lectorate. For
employment and training department yesterday.D. Bhaska- this meeting,
ra Pandian flagged off and distributed pamphlets. Last year, people from
on behalf of Employment and Training Department, 253 various areas
job seekers were selected and approved for employment including Ti-
in the employment camp organized by District Adminis- ruvannamalai,
tration, District Employment and Vocational Guidance Kilpinnathur,
Center, Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Movement on Sengam, Bol-
the occasion of the centenary anniversary of Dr. Kalain- war, Arani are writing peti- to the public who come to sub- tri's scheme to provide hous-
ar in Arunai Engineering College campus, and 4 persons tions and presenting them to mit petitions. ing for all, agriculture sector
with disabilities were granted permission for employment. the district collector for basic Apart from this, it was ob- crop loans, new 585 petitions
Order was issued. Also, 102 companies participated in the facilities. In this case, the poor served that the people who containing various demands
employment camp held at Seyyar Government College of people from various villages came to file petitions were including construction of wa-
Technology. Out of which 549 persons were given appoint- are sitting alone in the district standing for a long time in the ter storage tank, loan from
ment orders. Also, a Private Employment Camp is going to collector's office premises and past several years. But after TADCO, crop loans in co-op-
be held on 17.02.2024 on Saturday from 9.00 AM at Kalain writing their grievances in Bhaskara Pandian, who took erative societies were received.
Karunanidhi Government Art College, Tiruvannamalai. petitions by paying money to charge as the new Tiruvan- According to the instructions
More than 100 leading private sector companies will par- the petition writers. A woman namalai District Collector, in- of the District Collector, 64
ticipate in this camp and interviews will be conducted for came to file a petition in the structed that 500 chairs should petitions were received in the
more than five thousand vacancies. Registration Guidelines grievance redressal meeting be brought every week and the People's Grievance Day meet-
for Foreign Employment Agency, Registration for Free Skill at the district collector's office public should be seated and ing held at cheyyar Char Col-
Development Training will be held. Both male and female yesterday. Then the district receive petitions, yesterday the lector's office yesterday and
can participate. Educational qualification for this is 8th collector who bought the peti- event took place by setting up 41 petitions were received in
class pass, 10th class pass or fail, ITI, diploma, twelfth class, tion asked who wrote this peti- chairs for the public coming to the People's Grievance Day
graduation, post graduation and advised everyone to at- tion to you by mistake. submit petitions and receiving meeting held at Arani Reve-
tend. The woman told the dis- petitions by sitting the public. nue Commissioner's office and
Candidates interested in attending the placement camp trict collector that the district The event was well received handed over to the concerned
can register by scanning the QR code or attend in person collector had written a peti- by the general public and they department officers for action.
with photo, educational certificates, Aadhaar card and per- tion through persons outside thanked the District Collector. In this meeting District Reve-
sonal details. You can register your details on the website the campus. Following this, In the People's Grievance Day nue Officer Dr. M. Priyadarsh-
https://www.tnprivatejobs.tn.gov.in to know about jobs in the district collector called the meeting, educational assis- ini, Women Program Officer
private companies. For more details, contact the District district revenue officer and tance, bank loans, old age assis- Saranya Devi, Special Deputy
Employment and Vocational Guidance Centre, telephone ordered that the government tance, house land, caste certif- Collector (S.P.D.) Deepasitra,
number 04175233381, said District Collector D. Bhaskara employees working in that icate, job opportunity, widow District Social Welfare Officer
Pandian. On this occasion, District Revenue Officer Dr. M. department should sit outside assistance, assistance for dis- Meenambikai, Pioneer Bank
Priyadarshini, District Job Opportunity Officer Yogalaksh- every week on Monday and abled persons and equipment, Manager Gowri and all depart-
mi and Departmental Officers attended write petitions free of charge road facilities, Pradhan Man- mental officers were present.

Second phase of 616-km Kovalam-

Bekal waterway project to be
completed by 2025: CM
In third phase, 61 km of ca-
nals, including Kozhikode canal
city project, will be completed,
along with terminal construc-
tion and development of feeder
canals, says Pinarayi Vijayan
In the second phase, dredg-
ing and development of canals,
including the Vadakara-Ma-
he canal, will be taken up for a
distance of 85 km, says Kerala
Chief Minister.The second phase
of works on the 616-km Kova-
lam-Bekal West Coast Canal
is expected to be completed by
2025, Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan told the Kerala Assem-
bly on February 12 (Monday).
Replying to questions on the
progress of the ambitious proj-
ect aimed at facilitating seamless
transport through waterways
along the entire stretch of Ker-
ala, Mr. Vijayan said the second
phase of the three-phase project
is progressing.
In the second phase, dredging
and development of canals, including
the Vadakara-Mahe canal, will be tak-
en up for a distance of 85 km. Bridges
will be reconstructed at whichever
locations required. Land will be ac-
quired for the dredging of new canals nals, including the Kozhikode canal
in the Mahe-Valapattanam and Nee- city project, will be completed, along lam-Kottappuram stretch is navi- tunities studies, with studies for six
leswaram-Bekal stretches, he said.
ment has taken over the 160-km
stretch from Kottappuram to
Kallayi to develop it as a national
waterway, works have not started
as it has not allocated any funds,
said Mr. Vijayan.
In the 74.18-km Kova-
lam-Ashtamudi stretch, 51 km is
currently navigable. Proceedings
for rehabilitation of 1,480 fam-
ilies living along the canal pur-
amboke in the Kovalam-Varkala
stretch are ongoing. Out of these,
512 families have already been
rehabilitated. The construction
of a new navigational lock-cum-
bridge at Thrikkunnapuzha in
Alappuzha district for safe tran-
sit of barges is progressing.
Mr. Vijayan said the entire
stretch will be divided into 13
reaches and master plans pre-
pared for each reach, focussing
on tourism and economic devel-
opment. The Kerala Infrastruc-
ture Investment Fund Board
(KIIFB) is funding transit-ori-
In the third phase, 61 km of ca- velopment of feeder canals. ented development and assessment
Currently, the 168-km Kol- of economic development oppor-
with terminal construction and de- gable. Though the Union govern- reaches already completed.
Southern Mail NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY
05
Holy Mary High School shines in the
Platinum Jubilee alum extravaganza
In its Platinum Jubilee year, city-
based Holy Mary High School hosted
an endearing alum reunion, provid-
ing a platform for former students to
reconnect and reminisce about their
shared history
Dr. Kola Sashikala and actor Sabita
Bhamidipati of Saptapadi fame with
their former teacher and co-alumnae
at Holy Mary High School, Saifabad
When Prabha Nair, a 1976 alum-
na of Holy Mary School, was just 13
years old, she approached one of the
nuns at her school with a request. She
asked Sister Clarissa, known for her
strict demeanour, to add Mills and
Boon books to the school library.
Surprisingly, Sister Clarissa ensured
that the popular romance novels
found a place on the library shelves.
Recalling this incident with a laugh,
Prabha reminisces about the cour-
age displayed by the students and
the openness exhibited by the school
management. She says the school was
more than an educational institution
for her and her peers. “It was a home
away from home, where teachers and
nuns were friends and like surrogate
parents.
The Holy Mary High School cam-
pus is a home away from home for
many students
Nestled in the bylanes of AC
guards near Masab Tank, Holy Mary
High School recently marked its Plat-
inum Jubilee. The annual alumni
meeting on January 26 became spe-
cial occasions for former students
who travelled from various locations
to attend it.
Amidst the joyous reunion of
classmates after decades, Manoran-
jani, a 1981 alumna, approaches Mrs
Kasturi, the beloved ‘games teacher’
from their school days. She touches
her feet and playfully reminds her of
being reprimanded for being unpun-
ctual. “I’ll assure you, I’ve become
very punctual now,” Manoranjani de-
clares with a mischievous smile. The
PET teacher laughs it off.
Upon entering the campus, Dr
Kola Sashikala, the renowned gynae-
cologist, finds herself surrounded by
eager juniors. Reflecting on her school
days, she shares that she enrolled in
the 7th class, and the remaining four
years were transformative. “My career
choice was predetermined as both my
parents were doctors. But my outlook
on life changed here; because of my
teachers, I was made aware of the in-
equalities existing in our society and
that I should work towards eliminat-
NExT should be brought in after meticulous due diligence: parliamentary panel
Keep in mind that the first NExT
batch will come from diverse bak-
grounds, says panel; adds that eval-
uation criteria should be moderate
for the first round; mentor institutes
like AIIMS needed in each zone
The Parliamentary Standing
Committee on Health and Family
Welfare advocated for the standard-
isation of undergraduate and post-
graduate medical education.
The Parliamentary Standing
Committee on Health and Family
Welfare advocated for the standard-
isation of undergraduate and post-
graduate medical education.
The National Exit Test (NExT)
should be brought in only after
meticulous due diligence, keeping
in mind the diverse background of
medical colleges from which the first
batch of NExT aspirants will come,
The Parliamentary Standing Com-
TUESDAY 13-02-2024
ing them,” she says.
School was a stage
The 1977 alumna Sabita Bhamidi-
pati’s journey from a talented classical
dancer regularly performing on the
school stage to becoming the lead-
ing lady in K Viswanath’s film Sapta-
padi is a validation of the influence
of her alma mater on her success.
Sabita attributes her ability to reach
great heights in classical dance to the
foundation laid during her formative
years at school. “The annual cultural
festivals were a stage to present my
talent. Subsequently, that boosted my
confidence in achieving great heights
in classical dance,” she says, adding,
“I hold very dear forever the support,
love and warmth of my teachers —
Seethalakshmi, Sr. Natalia to name a
few — and the affection from class-
mittee on Health and Family Wel-
fare said in its report on the quality
of medical education in India, which
was presented in Parliament earlier
this week.
The Committee, under the chair-
manship of Bhubaneswar Kalita, ex-
plained that presently, it is medical
colleges which conduct final-year
MBBS examinations.
At the same time, the respon-
sibility for NEET PG and FMGE
— which are licensing and qual-
ifying examinations for those who
have completed their undergraduate
medical degrees — falls under the
purview of the National Board of
Examinations (NBE), overseen by
the Director-General of Health Ser-
vices within the Health Ministry.
The National Medical Commis-
sion Act now provides for the NExT
to enhance the competence of grad-
India
mates.”
Fatima Sidotam, a 1977 alumna,
is grateful to Mrs. Seethalakshmi for
cultivating her interest in current af-
fairs and the world through interac-
tive and engaging classes. Similarly,
Sr. Natalia’s unique teaching style in
English classes left a lasting impact
on her. “Inspired by their dedication,
I decided to pursue a career in teach-
ing, and I am now proud to be one,”
she says.Dr Sashikala recalls having
enacted a Burra Katha on Indian In-
dependence, on its Silver Jubilee in
1972, written by Mrs Seethalaksh-
mi, who passed away on January 15,
2024, in her 100th year. “We had ex-
cellent teachers who not only taught
us academics but also life skills.”
Uma Damodar Sridhar, an Asso-
ciate Professor, Dept of French and
uating MBBS students who obtain
licenses to practice annually. This
initiative addresses the current em-
phasis on clearing the NEET-PG,
which is predominantly theoretical
and necessitates rote memorisation.
“In June 2023, the National Med-
ical Commission developed the
NMC Exit Test Regulations 2023
(NEXT Regulations, 2023). The test
was to replace the final MBBS ex-
amination, act as a licentiate exam
for grant of registration to practice
medicine, and provide a basis for en-
try to postgraduate courses instead
of NEET PG. The NExT would be
a medical licensing exam that is de-
signed to assess the competency of
medical graduates. However, in July
2023, NMC has vide notice stating
that ‘the National Exit Test (NExT)
examination is deferred on the ad-
vice of the Ministry till further di-
Francophone Studies at the English
and Foreign Languages University
(EFLU), credits the confidence and
strong work ethic acquired during
her time in school for her accom-
plishments in her career. A 1983
alumna, Uma recalls being associated
with the Girl Guides in school. “We
sang songs, learned the Morse code,
tied knots, splints, and bandages, and
went on camps, my first time away
from home by myself! These were
adventurous, exciting experiences,
and we were all the richer for the
life skills imparted to us.” The 1981
alumna Krishna Kumari believes the
school played a crucial role in shap-
ing her into a good individual with a
strong foundation in values. She says,
“This upbringing has contributed to
my happy and fulfilling family life.
rections’,” the parliamentary panel’s
report said.
The Committee also recommend-
ed that the evaluation criteria should
be moderate for the first round, stat-
ing that it was imperative to ensure
that no group of graduates faces any
undue advantage or disadvantage in
the examination. Striking a fair and
equitable balance in the evaluation
process will be pivotal to ensure the
success and fairness of the NExT
exam.
“Moreover, the Committee be-
lieves in addition to standardised
final assessment of graduates, there
is an urgent need to universalise or
standardise undergraduate and post-
graduate education,” it added.
Mentor institutes
It noted that reputed institutes
such as AIIMS impart a different
quality of medical education in
Additionally, I see myself as the first
teacher or guru for my children and
pass on the values acquired during
my schooling.”
Vijaya Lakshmi of the 1980 batch
recalls with nostalgia the Moral Sci-
ence classes she looked forward in
school. “Our Catholic classmates
attended Catechism classes, and we
would be in Moral Science classes. I
loved those classes because the nuns
would tell us captivating stories to
drive home moral points. The stories
became our guiding principles, shap-
ing our approach to live with integri-
ty and honesty.”
Prabha notes that many girls from
the school have achieved significant
success. Although it wasn’t explicit-
ly communicated, she believes that
a valuable lesson for contemporary
times was subtly imparted to the stu-
dents. According to her, the short
stories in Moral Science classes guid-
ed them towards independence, hard
work, career pursuits, and self-suffi-
ciency.
She emphasises that the Platinum
Jubilee is more than just a numer-
ical milestone; it signifies a legacy.
“Despite the emergence of numer-
ous schools with different teaching
methods, Holy Mary stands tall.
The school’s stature underscores the
school’s enduring reputation that can
be attributed to the values instilled in
us, which I am proud of.”
Service as the motto
The Congregation of the Sisters
of Charity was founded in Italy in
1832 by a young woman, Bartolomea
Capitanio, with her friend, Catherine
Gerosa. She died eight months after
launching her mission of Charity at
age 26.Catherine Vincenza Gerosa
accepted her inheritance and contin-
ued to nurture and guide the new-
born Institute.
Bartolomea’s vision of charity
grew into a legacy of service span-
ning the globe, with countless dedi-
cated young women committing to
work for educational and healthcare
centres.The Sisters of Charity have
founded homes for abandoned chil-
dren, the elderly, the disabled, and
the needy. In 1860, the sisters of Bar-
tolomea received an invitation to ex-
tend their services to Bengal.
Subsequently, their mission ex-
panded to various regions across
the country. In 1948, the congrega-
tion established a branch in Hyder-
abad named Capitanio, which later
evolved into Holy Mary High School.
comparison to newly opened med-
ical institutes. Keeping this in mind,
the Committee recommended that
the government divide India into
zones, with reputed institutes such
as AIIMS to function as mentor in-
stitutes for all the other medical col-
leges in that zone. Mentor institutes
shall play a significant role in moni-
toring the standard of education and
the classes in the newer medical col-
leges as well as private institutions.
The Committee further recom-
mended that the government allo-
cate ample time for thorough prepa-
ration, and provide an early release
of the exam schedule, along with
other relevant details regarding the
examination. “This will enable the
first batch of candidates to prepare
adequately and smoothly transition
to the new examination format,” it
said.
Southern Mail NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY
06
Pope canonises first female Argentine
saint before meeting with Milei
Argentina’s President Javier Milei
and Argentine Foreign Minister Di-
ana Mondino meet with Pope Francis
at the Vatican
Pope Francis elevated to saint-
hood the first female saint from his
native Argentina on February 11, an
event that brought to the Vatican his
former vocal critic, Argentine Presi-
dent Javier Milei.
Mr. Milei, a right-wing libertari-
an, called Pope Francis an “imbecile”
and accused him of “preaching com-
munism” before he ran for president,
but has softened his tone since taking
office in December.
The Pope, for his part, has said he
did not pay too much attention to the
insults, telling Mexican broadcaster
N+ that what matters is what politi-
cians do in office, rather than on the
campaign trail.
Pope Francis led a canonisation
Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for Ma-
ria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, better
known as "Mama Antula", an 18th
century consecrated lay woman who
renounced her family's riches to fo-
cus on charity and Jesuit spiritual ex-
ercises.
The ceremony came as Argenti-
Finland votes for a new President who
will guide policy for the new NATO
member and neighbour of Russia
People wait in a line to cast their
ballots at a polling station during the
second round of the presidential elec-
tion, Helsinki, Finland,
Voters in Finland are choosing on
February 11 between two experienced
politicians to be their next President,
whose main task will be to steer the
Nordic country’s foreign and securi-
ty policy now that it is a member of
NATO, following Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine.
Former Prime Minister Alexander
Stubb, 55, on the center right, and for-
mer Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto,
65, from the green left, largely agree on
Finland’s foreign policy and security
priorities.
These include maintaining a hard
line toward Moscow and Russia’s cur-
rent leadership, strengthening security
ties with Washington, and the need to
help Ukraine both militarily and at a
civilian level. Finland shares a 1,340-ki-
lometer (832-mile) border with Russia.
Unlike in most European countries,
the president of Finland holds execu-
tive power in formulating foreign and
security policy together with the gov-
ernment, especially concerning coun-
tries outside the European Union such
as the United States, Russia and China.
The head of state also commands
the military — particularly import-
World
TUESDAY 13-02-2024
na faces its worst economic crisis in the service, and at the end of it, ex- op of Buenos Aires who has angered
decades, with inflation at more than changed a few words with the pope, some of his compatriots by never vis- long overseas tour that took him to
200%, and after the country’s parlia- as they shook hands and hugged. The iting his homeland since becoming Israel before Italy and the Vatican,
ment rejected Mr. Milei’s major re- President is due to have a private au- the Pope in 2013, has said he may fi- Mr. Milei is also due to meet Ita-
form package. dience with the Pope on Feb. 12.
Mr. Milei had a front row seat for
ant in Europe’s current security envi-
ronment and the changed geopoliti-
cal situation of Finland, which joined
NATO in April 2023 in the aftermath
of Russia’s attack on Ukraine a year
earlier.
A politician with the conservative
National Coalition Party who led the
government in 2014-2015 and earlier
held several other Cabinet posts, Stubb
took the top spot in the first round of
the election on Jan. 28 with 27.2% per-
cent of the votes and is the favorite to
win the presidency.
Mr. Haavisto, the runnerup in the
first round, was Finland’s top diplomat
in 2019-2023 and the main negotiator
of its entry into NATO. A former con-
flict mediator with the United Nations
and a devout environmentalist, Mr.
Haavisto took 25.8% of the votes in the
first round. This is his third bid for the
presidency. He is running as an inde-
pendent although he is a former leader
of the Green League.
In the last days of campaigning tiny
differences in style and approach be-
tween the candidates have emerged.
Mr. Stubb and Mr. Haavisto differ in
their stance on the hypothetical ques-
tion of whether Finland would allow
the transportation of the alliance’s nu-
clear weapons through its territory.
“Nuclear weapons are a strong el-
nally make the trip in the second half ly's President Sergio Mattarella and
Pope Francis, a former archbish- of this year.
ement of our deter-
rence and our secu-
rity. We signed our
NATO agreement
without any kind of
limits,” Stubb told
The Associated Press
during a campaign
event just outside
the capital, Helsinki,
on Saturday. But “we
(Stubb and Haavisto)
also agree that no one
is offering us nuclear
weapons ... we don’t
want any nuclear
weapons.”
Mr. Haavisto said
Saturday that he does
not favor nuclear
arms being trans-
ported via Finland in a crisis situation.
His country of 5.6 million makes up a
substantial part of NATO’s northeast-
ern flank and is the European Union’s
external border in the north.
“I think there hasn’t been any need
to transport nuclear weapons to Fin-
land or over Finland.
As I’ve seen during NATO negoti-
ations, the current nuclear policies of
NATO are well-established and there is
no need of changing them,” he said.
In November, Helsinki closed all
eight official border crossings with its
eastern neighbor, alleging that Mos-
cow was using migrants to destabilize
Finland in an alleged act of “hybrid
warfare.” Both Stubb and Haavisto sup-
port the measure by the center-right
government of Prime Minister Petteri
Orpo.
A runoff was required because none
of the candidates got more than half of
the votes in Jan. 28's first round.
More than 4 million people are eli-
gible to vote. The winner will succeed
highly popular President Sauli Ni-
inistö, whose second six-year term ex-
pires in March. Niinistö is not eligible
for reelection.
The Finnish head of state is expect-
ed to remain above the fray of day-to-
day politics and largely to stay out of
domestic political disputes.
‘Great injustice’ of ignoring the
weakMama Antula was the daugh-
ter of a wealthy landholder and slave
owner. She promoted spiritual exer-
cises, including prayers and medita-
tion, walking thousands of kilome-
tres barefoot and involving the rich
and poor in these endeavours, de-
spite the Jesuits being banished at the
time from Latin America.
Pope Francis, himself a Jesuit, de-
scribed her on Friday as a "gift to the
Argentine people and also to the en-
tire Church."
Quoting from his past writings, he
condemned the "radical individual-
ism" that permeates society as a "vi-
rus", in words that may jar with Mr.
Milei's radical free-market instincts.
In his homily on Sunday, he re-
turned to the issue of caring for the
poor and outcasts, saying "fear, prej-
udice and false religiosity" led people
to the "great injustice" of ignoring the
plight of the weak.
On Jan. 12, wrapping up a week-
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
In bid to curb immigration,
France to scrap birthright
citizenship in Mayotte
The reform, which Mr. Darm- en by gang violence and social
anin said was the idea of French unrest for decades. The situation
President Emmanuel Macron, has recently worsened amid a wa-
will require a change of the Con- ter shortage.
stitution Since January, island residents
Children of immigrants born have been staging strikes and
in Mayotte, the French overseas erecting roadblocks to protest
territory situated between Mad- against what they say are unac-
agascar and the African main- ceptable living conditions, para-
land, will no longer automatically lysing large parts of local infra-
become French citizens, Interior structure.
Minister Gerald Darmanin said The reform, which Mr. Darm-
late anin said was the idea of French
"It will no longer be possible to President Emmanuel Macron,
become French if one is not the will require a change of the Con-
child of French parents", Mr. Dar- stitution.
manin told journalists upon his It comes less than three weeks
arrival on the island, announcing after France's highest court
the scrapping of birthright citi- scrapped large parts of a new im-
zenship there — a first in recent migration law designed to tough-
French history. en access to welfare benefits for
Located close to the impover- foreigners and curb the number
ished Comoro islands off the East of new arrivals into the country.
African coast, the former French Immigration is a hot-button
colony has become the centre of issue in France, one of Europe's
fierce social unrest, with many strongholds for far right anti-im-
residents blaming undocument- migration parties.
ed immigration for the deterio- Mr. Darmanin said, however,
rating conditions. that "there is no question of do-
Much poorer than mainland ing this for other territories of the
France, Mayotte has been shak- Republic."
Southern Mail NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY
Sports
07 TUESDAY 13-02-2024

Party begins as Ivory Coast rallies to beat

Nigeria 2-1 and win Africa Cup of Nations
Sébastien Haller scored late to lead
host nation Ivory Coast to a remark-
able Africa Cup of Nations title with
a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final
Ivory Coast ‘s Franck Kessie cele-
brates after scoring his side’s first goal
during the African Cup of Nations
final soccer match between Ivory
Coast and Nigeria, at the Olympic
Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory
Coast,
Ivory Coast ‘s Franck Kessie cel-
ebrates after scoring his side’s first
goal during the African Cup of Na-
tions final soccer match between Ivo-
ry Coast and Nigeria, at the Olympic
Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory
Coast,
Sébastien Haller scored late to lead
host nation Ivory Coast to a remark-
able Africa Cup of Nations title with
a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final
on Sunday, February 11, 2024.
Haller fired in from close range in
the 81st minute to complete the turn-
around after Franck Kessié drew the
Elephants level in the 62nd.
It was Ivory Coast's third title after
wins in 1992 and 2015, both won on
penalties.
Veteran Ivory Coast midfielder
Max Gradel, now 36, was part of the
2015 championship team.
“Representing the national team is
everything, and to have brought joy
to all Ivorians with what I've done is
even more incredible,” Gradel said
Sunday. "Perhaps I don't realize ev-
erything that happened today yet,
there are too many things in my
head, but I think I'll take some time
to realize it.
“The most important thing is that
Ivorians are proud of the team and I
think they are that tonight. Winning
the Africa Cup this evening, there is
nothing better, nothing better.”
Haller's second goal in as many
games after recovering from an an-
kle injury that kept him out of the
group stage completed a personal
triumph for the player, just over a
year since he returned from cancer
treatment.
Nigeria captain William Troost-
Ekong had scored in the 38th against
the run of play with a header to a
corner. The Super Eagles had been
outplayed in the first half and really
only threatened again in a desperate
attempt to equalize after Haller's goal.
Troost-Ekong also scored when
the teams last met in the group stage
for Nigeria's 1-0 win. That match had
been just the start of the Elephants'
troubles as Ivory Coast was almost
eliminated in its next game. It fired
its coach but recorded late comeback
wins over defending champion Sen-
egal and Mali in the knockout stage,
before Haller fired the team into the
final with the winning goal against
Congo in the semifinals.
Ivory Coast's unlikely progression
through the knockout stage as it over-
came setback after setback convinced
many devout Ivorians that God was
on the team's side.
“It was an extraordinary tourna-
ment,” said interim coach Emerse
Faé, the previous assistant who took
over on his 40th birthday.
Nigeria conceded as many goals in
the final as it had in all its previous
games in the tournament. Coach José
Peseiro had banked on a mean de-
fense to earn what would have been
the Super Eagles' fourth title.
“We played a fantastic tourna-
ment, but today Côte d'Ivoire was
better,” Peseiro said. The Portuguese
coach said the pressure got to his
players and commended the home
team for showing none.
Kessié's header
In the final, Ivory Coast's pressure
finally paid off when Kessié's header
to Adingra's corner set off a tumult
of joy in the 60,000-capacity Alas-
sane Ouattara Stadium. Kessié ran
to the corner and raised his hand to
his forehead in salute as the sea of or-
ange-clad fans rippled in delight.
A small pocket of green-and-
white clad Nigeria fans behind one
of the goals had struggled to make an
impact.
Haller's winner set off celebrations
that will last long through the night in
Abidjan and in the rest of the country
of 27.5 million people.
Excitement had been building for
days with streets turned into view-
ing areas with plastic tables and
chairs set in front of TV screens in
the district of Adjamé, and fan zones
around the city also showed the
game.
Traffic was brought to a crawl for
miles around the stadium hours be-
fore kickoff, providing street vendors
with a captive customer base to sell
chilled bottles of water, fruit, snacks,
Ivory Coast flags, hats, wigs and tow-
els, replica jerseys for both teams,
and more.
But it caused problems for the Ni-
geria team bus getting to the game.
Armed soldiers frantically urged mo-
torists stuck in gridlock outside the
stadium to pull over for the bus and
security detail to make it through.
Fans had to abandon stationary
commuter buses to walk to the match.

India fights back to draw Rybakina cruises past Kasatkina

with the Netherlands, wins
a bonus point in shootout
A brilliant first half followed
by a clumsy, chaotic second before
regaining control was the story of
Indian men’s clash against Neth-
erlands in their second FIH Pro
League match here on Sunday and
the final result, a 2-2 draw, was a
reflection of the performance on
field. The mandatory shootout saw
India take a bonus point and its
second win on the trot.
The World No. 1 side was al-
ways expected to be much tough-
er but to its credit, the host held
their structure for the first two
quarters. Sitting deep in defence
and accelerating on counter-at-
tacks, the Indians kept the oppo-
sition at bay, not yielding space or
pace.
The Dutch used long balls both
on ground and in the air to by-
pass the midfield crowd but were
unable to get past the resolute In-
dian defence. At the other end,
India managed a couple of PCs in
the 12th minute but couldn’t make
them count.
Till Hardik Singh decided to
step up and break the deadlock a
minute later. Running along the
middle on a counter, Hardik found
Sukhjeet on the right, got it back
on reverse and shot into the goal
through the smallest of gaps be-
tween the goalkeeper’s pad and
post.
Manpreet’s desperately diving
clearance in the final minute be-
fore break was deemed deliberate
to concede Netherlands’ 2nd PC,
Jip Janssen making no mistake to
level.
Whether it was the reason or
the Dutch switching gears, the In-
dians seemed to lose their struc-
ture and control on themselves and
the game in the second half.
Suddenly, the Dutch seemed to
a lot more threatening even as the
Indians began getting wayward.
Dutch dominance
The 3rd Quarter was all about
Dutch dominance and they unsur-
prisingly went ahead, Koen Bijen
slapping home a sharp rebound off
a PC in the 39th.
India finally brought back a
semblance of control in the 4th
and had a couple of open chances
till Harmanpreet got the equaliser,
two minutes from time.
In the day’s other match, Aus-
tralia looked set for an easy win af-
ter taking a 3-1 lead against Spain
before the latter fought back in the
3rd Quarter, getting two goals in as
many minutes to level scores be-
fore Lachlan Sharp got his second
and the team’s fourth to ensure full
points for Australia.
The results:
Australia 4 (Lachlan Sharp 9 &
52, Jake Whetton 19, Blake Govers
25) bt Spain 3 (Marc Miralles 29,
Nicolas Alvarez 36, Verdielle Pol
Cabre 37); India 2 (Hardik Singh
13, Harmanpreet Singh 58) drew
with Netherlands 2 (Jip Janssen 30,
Koen Bijen 39).
to claim Abu Dhabi title
Both players will set to face Anastasia
now head to Doha for Pavlyuchenkova in her
the Qatar Open, with opener on Monday
Kasatkina set to face while Rybakina has
Anastasia Pavlyuchen- a bye into the second
kova in her opener on round.
Monday while Rybakina "A tough week, es-
has a bye into the sec- pecially the last match-
ond round es, and tomorrow is al-
Elena Rybakina of ready a match in Doha
Kazakhstan holds the (for Kasatkina)," Ry-
trophy after winning bakina said.
against Daria Kasatki- "Hopefully we both
na in the women’s sin- recover and do well
gles final match of the there and maybe play
Mubadala Abu Dhabi final there.
Open tennis tourna- "I want to thank all
ment, in Abu Dhabi. the fans who came to
Top seed Elena Ry- support us. It's been an
bakina powered to a 6-1 amazing atmosphere
6-4 win over Russian and especially to see
Daria Kasatkina in the the flags from Kazakh-
final of the Abu Dhabi stan it really means a
Open on Sunday to lift lot."
her second trophy of Kasatkina, who
the season and seventh came through a gruel-
overall. ling semi-final against
The 2022 Wimble- Beatriz Haddad Maia
don champion began on Saturday that last-
the contest on Stadium ed nearly three hours,
Court in typically dom- was disappointed with
inant fashion to grab an the loss but remained
early break, but seventh seed Kasatkina hardcourts - and Adelaide runner-up upbeat about her form early in the
struck back with one of her own only Kasatkina showed plenty of fight to season.
to fall behind again in blustery condi- pull two breaks back in the next set "Did I have enough in the tank for
tions. with relentless baseline hitting and the final? I squeezed everything that I
Rybakina regained composure to stunning winners. had left and it wasn't enough against a
go 5-1 up on the back of big serving Level at 4-4, Rybakina turned the player like Elena ... you have to be at
as Kasatkina struggled for consistency heat up to break the 26-year-old Kasat- your best to have a chance to beat her,"
and the 24-year-old Brisbane champi- kina with a crosscourt scorcher and the Kasatkina said.
on wrapped up the opening set in 25 Moscow-born Kazakh returned after a "Unfortunate that the tournament
minutes when her opponent sent a brief rain delay to secure the victory on ended this way but there's a lot of posi-
forehand wide. serve. tives in the week. There's nothing to be
The pair had come into the contest Both players will now head to Doha sad about but of course it's always dis-
having split their four meetings - all on for the Qatar Open, with Kasatkina appointing to lose in a final."
Southern Mail
08
NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY
Cinema
TUESDAY 13-02-2024

From minimalism to maximalism

As we bid farewell to another year, it’s time to reflect on the design trends that have shaped our living spaces. This year, the
interior design scene witnessed a fascinating tug-of-war between two extremes: minimalism and maximalism. Both styles,
with their contrasting aesthetics, have not only dominated homes but have also inspired designers to push boundaries and
create spaces that are both unique and deeply personal.
Minimalism, characterised by simplicity and functionality, has been a reigning trend for quite some time. Home-
owners and designers continued to embrace the “less is more” philosophy, creating spaces that exude calm and
sophistication.
The cornerstone of minimalism is decluttering. Homeowners have increasingly focused on keeping only the
essentials, eliminating unnecessary items that can disrupt the visual harmony of a space. As we enter a new
year, consider decluttering your living spaces to create a serene and stress-free environment.
Minimalism often favours neutral colour palettes, such as whites, greys, and earth tones. These hues cre-
ate a timeless and soothing atmosphere. If you’re looking to adopt a minimalist approach, opt for a neutral
colour scheme and let a few carefully chosen accent pieces add interest to the space.
For an uncluttered look of minimalist spaces, clean lines in furniture and architecture contribute a big
deal. Choose furniture with simple shapes and straight lines. Additionally, maintain neat and clean floor-
ing — whether it’s hardwood, tiles, or concrete — to enhance the overall minimalist aesthetic.
On the flip side, maximalism emerged as a powerful counter-trend, encouraging individuals to em-
brace boldness, colour, and eclectic combinations. This design philosophy is all about celebrating indi-
viduality and creating spaces that tell a rich, vibrant story.
Maximalism is not afraid to make a statement with colour. Go beyond the neutrals and introduce
vibrant hues into your decor. Whether it’s a bold red accent wall, jewel-toned furniture, or vibrant
accessories, let your personality shine through bold colour choices.
Maximalism encourages the incorporation of vintage finds and family heirlooms. Hunt for
unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that add character to your space. Mixing old and new creates a rich
tapestry of memories and stories.
Transform your walls into a canvas of expression. Maximalist spaces often feature gallery
walls filled with an eclectic mix of artwork and colourful wallpapers that add depth and inter-
est. Don’t be afraid to experiment with patterns and textures to create a visually stimulating
environment.
Bring the outdoors in with an abundance of plants. Maximalist spaces often feature lush
greenery that adds life and vitality. Additionally, invest in statement pieces that become focal
points in a room, expressing your unique style.
Unlike minimalism, maximalism is about showcasing everything you love. It’s an opportu-
nity to display your collection of art, books, and unique finds. Embrace the idea of organised
chaos, where every piece tells a story and contributes to the overall narrative of your space.
Both minimalism and maximalism are different approaches to interiors and are a mirror to
the diversity of design preferences.
Whether you’re leaning towards minimalism or maximalism, finding a balance is crucial.
Minimalist spaces can benefit from a carefully chosen statement piece, while maximalist
spaces can benefit from moments of simplicity to avoid overwhelming the senses.
Regardless of the design extreme you choose, make sure your space reflects your per-
sonality and interests. Incorporate elements that hold sentimental value, ensuring that your
home is a true reflection of who you are.
While aesthetics is important, don’t compromise on functionality. Ensure that your
space is practical and serves your needs, whether it’s creating a serene minimalist retreat
or a vibrant and lively maximalist haven.

Luxury serviced apartments

come calling
The trend of serviced apartments that started more than a de-
cade-and-a-half ago in Chennai has been growing at 10-15% each
year. Business executives who come from around the world on
short-term assignments, tourists visiting hospitals for long-term
procedures along with family, NRIs coming during year-end for
the music festival season, and students from foreign universities
on field visits — serviced apartments cater to them all. Looking
at the growing demand, players in this industry are now offering
what they call ‘luxury serviced apartments’ with premium facil-
ities. Some of these apartments even offer space for mini con-
ferences and are pet-friendly considering most hotels don’t
accommodate pets.
Though this specific category has no data pertaining to
the number of players, real estate developers point out that
luxury serviced apartments yield good returns. Instead of
keeping high-end apartments idle and unsold, many are
giving a few rooms to online aggregators and brokers
who let these out for a period varying from a few days
up to some months. When given on rent, the same room
(roughly 900 sq.ft. and above) will fetch a rent of ₹25,000-
₹30,000 a month. This depends on the location, whereas a
luxury serviced apartment would easily fetch ₹5,000-₹6,000
Actress Meera Anil
a day. Currently, a high-end hotel room in the city would cost any-
where between ₹8,000 and ₹13,000 per day.

SOUTHERN MAIL - ENGLISH DAILY Owned, Edited and Published by G. Sathiyanarayanan from No.13, North Wall Road, Mint Terminus, Kondithopu, Chennai - 600 079. Printed
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