A paid holiday

The air decidedly had a feel of holiday. Though it went in the name of strike. There was no show of any protest and, barring stray incidents of violence in a couple of places, the strike by the ruling DPA, to protest the Supreme Court's stay on the implementation of the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in premier Central institutions, passed off peacefully. NT Bureau has more details

Minister escapes unhurt in mishap

Puducherry Education Minister Shahjahan had a narrow escape this morning when the car in which he was travelling met with an accident near Karaikal.

Mahaveer Jayanthi fete tomorrow

Mahaveer Jayanthi, scheduled to be celebrated today, has been postponed tomorrow following the announcement of the bandh in Tamilnadu. 

Four killed as wall collapses

Four people who were sleeping in a makeshift house next to a brickkiln near Usalampatti were crushed to death when a wall collapsed in the wee hours of today.

Child run over by tipper lorry

A two-year-old child was run over by a tipper lorry at Anakapathur near Pallavaram this morning.

Fire at timber mart

A fire broke out at a timber mart in Basin Bridge last night in which logs kept for sale were charred.

Rama's extended exile

Rama and Ramarajya are the ideals that an individual and a society should aspire for. Today, he left in the lurch by his own impotent subjects, Rama's plight is poignant. Editor T R Jawahar finds out why?

Tales of travel travails

Even those who don't have to face the wrath of in-laws are upping and going with bag, baggage and bagatelles. Where to? It could be Singapore or Singampunari, Palladam or Paris, Kabul or Kallupatti. But go they have to. Associate Editor K Balakumar writes on the travel bug that seems to have bitten all.

Deadly enemies of merit and excellence - II

When the Constitution of India was drawn up after independence, it provided for Fundamental RIGHTS. It also provided for hereditary Funda-Mendel Rights to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes based on the well-known Mendel's Law of Inheritance in the field of biology, says V Sundaram in the second part of his series on 'Deadly enemies of merit and excellence'.

Bookies stumped by lawmen

The recent  arrest of three bookies for alleged betting activity during the World Cup matches recently underlines the fact that cricket betting operates in a more wider ambit than was expected previously, writes K Vivek Prasad.