Fake Cancer Drug Ring: Mastermind Nabbed From Azerbaijan, SIT Probe Intensifies

Tamil Nadu has rolled out the Thai Maaman Thanga Mothiram scheme, providing a one-gram 22-carat gold ring to eligible newborns delivered in government hospitals across the state. The initiative, launched at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, is effective retrospectively from 22 June 2026. The programme carries an annual allocation of over 755 crore rupees, with 1.28 lakh rings prepared for the initial phase to encourage institutional deliveries and bolster confidence in public healthcare facilities. Alongside this rollout, the state government has introduced various welfare measures, including free breakfast, wedding assistance, bus travel concessions, and educational aids. Meanwhile, a political confrontation has emerged between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam over the Veeramani case investigation. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has raised questions regarding delays between the closure report submission and court verification, the timeline of forming the Special Investigation Team, and the delay in arresting Veeramani.

A fierce political clash has erupted in Tamil Nadu between the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK. TVK Minister Adhav launched a direct attack on Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, accusing him of working to destroy the DMK. Questioning whether the DMK would retain its deposit, Adhav laid down an open challenge regarding the contest in Maduraithurai, daring Udhayanidhi to resign from his party posts if the TVK secures more votes. Reporter Pramod Madhav provides insights on the escalating personal attacks between both sides.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is set to skip the crucial September 30 meeting of the INDIA bloc, citing prior engagements and upcoming political commitments in Uttar Pradesh. While senior Samajwadi Party leaders are scheduled to attend the session in his place, internal friction over seat sharing between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party has surfaced. The Congress has reportedly sought between 105 and 115 seats, a demand contested by the regional party, which insists on reviewing candidate lists and regional equations before finalising any alliance. The opposition gathering is also slated to discuss united strategy regarding the Chief Election Commissioner.

Indian equity markets opened the week on a sharp negative note, with the Nifty breaching the crucial 23,000 mark and tumbling over 225 points amid fears of a potential Reserve Bank of India repo rate hike, rising crude prices, and sustained foreign institutional investor selling. The rupee weakened to 95.88 per US dollar, while MCX gold and silver also logged notable declines. Amid broad market weakness, banking and financial shares suffered significant cuts, while India VIX rallied over 11 percent, underscoring elevated market volatility. Separately, attention remained focused on Tata Sons as uncertainty continues regarding the schedule of its annual general meeting alongside decisions regarding the reappointment of N. Chandrasekaran and a potential listing. Additionally, scrutiny over the US H-1B visa program under the Trump administration presents emerging challenges for the domestic information technology sector.