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Chennai, May 13 — In a significant policy decision, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has reportedly directed the closure of 717 government-run liquor outlets across the state, marking one of the largest reductions in retail alcohol availability in recent years. According to official sources, the directive has been issued as part of a broader effort to regulate alcohol distribution, address public health concerns, and respond to long-standing demands from various social and community groups seeking stricter control over liquor sales. The move is expected to be implemented in phases, with priority given to outlets located near schools, religious institutions, and densely populated residential areas. The state-run liquor distribution body, TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation), has been instructed to identify the listed outlets and begin closure procedures after completing inventory audits and revenue reconciliation. Authorities have also indicated that employees affected by the shutdown will be reassigned to other functioning outlets where possible. The announcement has sparked mixed reactions across the state. Temperance advocacy groups and health activists have welcomed the decision, calling it a step toward reducing alcohol-related harm. However, sections of the hospitality sector and retail stakeholders have raised concerns about potential revenue loss for the state and the impact on workers dependent on the industry. Political observers note that this move could have wider implications ahead of future electoral cycles, as alcohol policy remains a sensitive and influential issue in Tamil Nadu politics. Further details regarding the timeline and exact locations of the affected shops are expected to be released by the government in the coming days. -- MINUTESMY / SUGAN BALAN

Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay Orders Closure of 717 Liquor Shops Across State in Major Policy Move

Chennai, May 13 — In a significant policy decision, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has reportedly directed the closure of 717 government-run liquor outlets across the state, marking .... read more

JERUSALEM: The Israeli parliament on Monday passed a law to establish a special military court for individuals described by Israel as members of Hamas' "elite forces", Anadolu Agency reported. The bill was first passed in an initial reading in mid-January after being introduced by Knesset members Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zionism party and Yulia Malinovsky of the Yisrael Beiteinu party. The Knesset passed the second and third readings of the bill, thus officially making it law. The law was passed with the support of 93 Knesset members, with no votes against or abstentions. The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the law would provide the legal basis for what it described as "unprecedented trials". Hamas has not yet commented on the law. Israel claims that the Palestinians arrested after the events of 7 Oct 2023 were members of Hamas' "elite forces", although they have not yet been brought to justice. More than 9,600 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, are currently being held in Israeli jails, according to rights groups. Detainees faced torture, starvation and medical neglect, and many of them died. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

Israeli parliament passes law establishing military courts for Hamas ‘elite forces’

JERUSALEM: The Israeli parliament on Monday passed a law to establish a special military court for individuals described by Israel as members of Hamas’ “elite forces”, Anadolu Agency reported. The .... read more

ISTANBUL: A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine proposed by US President Donald Trump ended at 2100 GMT on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported. Trump on Friday said Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to implement a ceasefire from May 9 to 11, as well as a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap, which he described as a potential step toward ending the war. "It is hoped that this will be the beginning of the end of a very long, bloody and intense war." "Negotiations to end this great conflict, the largest since World War II, are still ongoing and we are getting closer to a solution every day," Trump said. The statement was made after US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov in Miami to discuss enhanced diplomatic efforts and coordinate further steps towards peace. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country, but only to finalize a peace agreement to end the more than four-year war. Zelenskyy later said Kyiv had discussed with the United States a possible format for talks with Putin "at the leadership level to end the Russian war" during Umerov's visit to Miami. Before Trump's proposal, Moscow on Monday announced a unilateral ceasefire for May 8-9 to mark the anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II and warned Ukraine of a "massive" missile response if Victory Day celebrations were disrupted. Kyiv later announced that it would abide by the ceasefire starting at midnight on May 6. Both sides subsequently accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.

Three-day Ukraine-Russia ceasefire ends amid peace efforts

ISTANBUL: A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine proposed by US President Donald Trump ended at 2100 GMT on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported. Trump on Friday said Moscow and Kyiv .... read more

Malaysia, May 11 — As Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay officially assumed office on Sunday, one of the most talked-about appointments in his newly formed cabinet was that of 29-year-old S. Keerthana, who has emerged as the youngest and only woman minister in the nine-member cabinet. Keerthana was sworn in alongside eight other ministers during the oath-taking ceremony held at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, marking a significant moment in the state’s political transition under the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government. Representing Sivakasi, widely known as India’s fireworks capital, Keerthana made electoral history by becoming the first woman MLA ever elected from the constituency, ending nearly 70 years of uninterrupted male representation. In the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, she secured victory by defeating Congress candidate Ashokan G with a margin of 11,670 votes. Keerthana has also drawn national attention for her fluency in multiple languages, particularly Hindi, a notable point in Tamil Nadu’s politically sensitive language landscape. Her Hindi speeches during the campaign gained traction online, with Keerthana explaining that she chose to address audiences in Hindi to help people across India better understand and connect with TVK’s political vision. Coming from a middle-class background, Keerthana studied in a Tamil-medium government school before earning a B.Sc. in Mathematics and an M.Sc. in Statistics from Pondicherry University. Before entering electoral politics, she worked as a political consultant and campaign strategist with organisations including Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC) and Showtime Consulting. Supporters have highlighted her academic credentials and ability to speak five languages, including Tamil, English, Hindi and Telugu, as qualities that reflect a new generation of political leadership. Speaking after her appointment, Keerthana said TVK has created opportunities for individuals without political lineage or financial influence, provided they are committed to public service. Her elevation is widely seen as part of Chief Minister Vijay’s effort to project a cabinet focused on youth representation, transparency, women’s safety and social justice as his government begins its first term in office.

29-Year-Old S. Keerthana Becomes Tamil Nadu’s Youngest Woman Minister in Vijay’s First Cabinet

Malaysia, May 11 — As Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay officially assumed office on Sunday, one of the most talked-about appointments in his newly formed cabinet was that of 29-year-old .... read more

TVK chief Joseph Vijay starts a historic journey as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

CHENNAI | May 10, 2026 | 2:00 PM–C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday at a grand ceremony held at the Jawaharlal .... read more

Hantavirus-Hit Ship Expected In Canaries On Sunday: Spanish Health Minister

MADRID, May 9 2026 – Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia said on Saturday that the cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to arrive at the port of Granadilla on the .... read more

Singer Bonnie Tyler In Induced Coma After Emergency Surgery

BARCELONA, May 9 2026 — British singer Bonnie Tyler is in an induced coma as she recovers from emergency surgery for a perforated intestine in Portugal, reported German news agency .... read more

LONDON: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday said its air defense system was responding to a "missile threat", Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. "Air defense systems are currently responding to the missile threat," the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said via X. NCEMA urged residents to "remain in safe locations and follow official channels for the latest updates." The notice was issued a few hours after the exchange of fire between the United States (US) and Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz.

UAE air defenses respond to ‘missile threat’

LONDON: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday said its air defense system was responding to a “missile threat”, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. “Air defense systems are currently responding to .... read more

LONDON: United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Friday that his official visit to Beijing would go ahead as planned, expecting a "great" meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said China had provided his administration with great economic benefits. "We will have a meeting with President Xi. "I think it will be a pretty great meeting. He's my friend. I've had a really good relationship with him for a long time," he said. Trump is scheduled to visit China on May 14-15 to attend a summit with Xi, following the two leaders' meeting in South Korea last year.

China visit continues as planned, Trump expects ‘great’ meeting with Xi

LONDON: United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Friday that his official visit to Beijing would go ahead as planned, expecting a “great” meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi .... read more

HYDERABAD: Although Malaysia has secured the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football fans in India and China are still unsure when a deal will be signed to allow them to watch the tournament. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the World Cup is just over a month away, but broadcasting deals have yet to be finalized in the world's two most populous countries. The tournament will begin with Mexico's match against South Africa on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium while the first match in the United States will take place in Inglewood on June 12. Indian online video streaming platform JioHotstar is reportedly in further negotiations to secure broadcasting rights with world football's governing body, FIFA, after two meetings were held last week, according to Indian media reports. FIFA is reportedly keen to seal a deal this week for around US$20 million after significantly reducing the original asking price as time for negotiations is running out. The Malaysian government allocated RM24 million for the World Cup broadcasting rights deal. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and Unifi TV will be the official broadcasters of the World Cup in Malaysia. FIFA had previously wanted to sell broadcasting rights in India for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups for US$100 million but lowered the price to US$35 million after failing to find a buyer, the report said. Viacom18, which became part of JioStar after the merger in 2024, reportedly paid around US$60 million for the broadcast rights to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The match time, which takes place after midnight in India, makes the tournament in North America less commercially profitable for Indian bidders and advertisers. Potential advertising revenue for broadcast rights holders in India may also be affected by conflicts in West Asia. In China, FIFA is negotiating with China Central Television (CCTV) for a broadcasting agreement. FIFA initially requested between US$250 million and US$300 million from CCTV, while CCTV's budget was only around US$60 million to US$80 million, according to Chinese media reports. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is optimistic that the stalemate in India will end soon, according to a report on the India Today website on Thursday. "Either FIFA needs to lower the price a little more, or the bidding broadcasters need to raise their bids a little. I don't think anyone will ignore a big market like India," said AIFF Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayan. A total of 48 teams will compete in next month's tournament compared to 32 teams in the edition in Qatar. The total number of matches to be played is 104 compared to 64 matches in the previous tournament.

Malaysia gets FIFA World Cup broadcast rights, TV access in India and China is still uncertain

HYDERABAD: Although Malaysia has secured the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football fans in India and China are still unsure when a deal will be signed to .... read more

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