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Off-limits to others: Veera Kovil, the 4.97-hectare sacred grove, is located more than a kilometre away from Kasampatty in Dindigul district. Only men from a certain family can enter the sacred grove and perform rituals. | Photo Credit: G. KARTHIKEYAN The sun is scorching and the newly laid road from Kasampatty village to Melur sizzles. But Manian walks … Read more

Trump and tariffs The U.S.’s move to single out China by slapping an unprecedented 125% tariff on it while pausing tariffs for most other countries shows that the escalations begun by the U.S. are fuelled by political motives. It seems to be part of a broader American strategy to contain China on the global stage. … Read more

Born out of erosion: The Bommayapalayam Canyon is known in local parlance as ‘Semmanodai’ (a red rivulet) in Vanur taluk. The ravine, a narrow, deep valley with steep sides, has an average height of 7 metres, a width of 30 metres. | Photo Credit: S.S. KUMAR As nature changes the colour palette, the landscape transforms from interspersed … Read more

Parkinson’s disease, often viewed as an ailment of the elderly, is manifesting with alarming frequency among younger individuals in India. This shift not only challenges existing clinical perceptions of the disease but also poses significant socio-economic and public healthcare implications for the nation. The tremors, stiffness, and slow movement commonly associated with the disease in … Read more

Delimitation, enshrined in Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution of India, has stirred unprecedented passions that have taken shape in both serious and ludicrous ways. The serious ones stem from what the Constitution provides and its possible implications if implemented as provided. The ludicrous ones include calls by some who are asking people to … Read more

“Shot,” the unmistakable voice to one’s immediate right thundered. We were in the press box at the Adelaide Oval last December, on day two of India’s pink-ball Test against Australia, who were flying high on another masterclass from the irrepressible Travis Head. The second new ball was just eight deliveries young when the left-hander picked … Read more

‘Relying on a piecemeal approach can fail to account for the precarious nature of all informal work’  | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto India’s efforts to establish social security for online (app-based) gig workers are gaining momentum, with the central scheme awaiting Cabinet approval. Benefits announced include health coverage under Ayushman Bharat, registration on the eShram … Read more

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi. | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Supreme Court’s deadlines for Governors to decide the fate of Bills sent to them for assent is a bid to plug a “Constitutional silence”. The text of the Constitution does not specify any time limits for Governors. This had led Governors in multiple Opposition-ruled … Read more

Aneesh, 40, a resident of Alappuzha district, underwent major surgery in August 2024 to treat three blockages in his coronary arteries. He came across a social media advertisement in November seeking call centre executives in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, with a monthly salary of 6,000 Chinese yuan (around ₹72,000) during the days of his … Read more

The current study highlights that any timely treatment to restore blood flow is lifesaving, even if limited to fibrinolysis.  Can telemedicine guidance on a messaging platform like WhatsApp help doctors improve treatment outcomes in patients presenting with major heart attacks? The Tamil Nadu Government Heart Attack Management Programme – operationalised in a hub-and-spoke model networking … Read more