Tamil Nadu's Welfare Politics, Cocaine Network Investigation, and More

Today’s news moves between promises and pressure. In Tamil Nadu, Vijay is pushing his political project into sharper focus with welfare announcements and a major policy reversal. In Delhi, investigators are following the trail of an alleged Rs 7,000-crore cocaine network stretching to Dubai. Heavy rain has disrupted life across the NCR, while in Kashmir, fresh threat letters have renewed anxieties among Pandit families. Vijay has announced three free LPG cylinders a year and an expansion of the free travel scheme , sharpening the welfare pitch around his political project. The announcements come alongside another major development: the proposed Parandur airport has been scrapped, fulfilling a promise made after Vijay’s first major political protest. Three free LPG cylinders, expanded free travel: Vijay announces new welfare measures Welfare politics is central to Tamil Nadu’s political culture, and Vijay is now making his own bid to occupy that space. The latest announcements signal an attempt to turn campaign rhetoric into a clearer governing proposition. Parandur airport scrapped, fulfilling a promise Vijay made after his first political protest The proposed airport had become a major flashpoint. Its cancellation gives Vijay a significant political moment — and raises questions about how much the state’s political landscape is already shifting around him. What the political shifts around Stalin tell us about a changing Tamil Nadu The established order is being tested from several directions. This is a closer look at the changes reshaping the state’s political contest. A Delhi politician, Dubai links and an alleged Rs 7,000-crore cocaine network The investigation into one of the country’s biggest alleged cocaine hauls is widening beyond Delhi. Police are tracing a network that, investigators say, connects local players to Dubai and an international supply chain. Heavy rain and thunderstorms put Delhi-NCR on alert The weather system brought intense rain across parts of the region, disrupting traffic and daily life and prompting fresh warnings from the weather department. Gurugram turns to work from home as rain and waterlogging hit the city As roads flooded and traffic slowed to a crawl, offices and companies adjusted. For many residents, the familiar monsoon disruption returned with full force. Mumbai knows where landslide risks are. It still can’t move the people The city has maps, surveys and repeated warnings identifying vulnerable settlements. But relocating families remains an extraordinarily difficult task, leaving thousands exposed every monsoon. Two killed after Ganpati idol collapse in Mumbai A tragic accident in Bhuleshwar once again highlights the risks that can emerge around crowded celebrations and temporary structures. ‘Watching your every move’: Another threat letter targeting Kashmiri Pandits emerges The latest letter contains detailed information about members of the community, deepening concerns about the security of Pandit employees and families in the Valley. Fresh security concerns for Kashmiri Pandit PM package employees The appearance of another threatening poster has brought renewed attention to the demands of employees seeking stronger security arrangements. CJP’s Rajasthan school visit confrontation leads to an FIR A clash during the group’s outreach in Rajasthan has now entered the legal arena, adding another chapter to the political tensions surrounding the movement. CJP announces September 5 Delhi march towards India Gate The group is preparing for its next major mobilisation, with its demands and protests increasingly becoming a political issue beyond the original movement. Why a fish feast in Ayodhya has triggered political fireworks In Uttar Pradesh, food, faith and politics have once again collided — this time around a meal that has become the centre of a larger ideological battle. Yogi Adityanath attacks Rahul Gandhi over Manusmriti remarks The debate over history, tradition and social justice is once again at the heart of a political exchange between the BJP and Congress. Tavleen Singh writes: Am I a Naxal? A column on dissent, political labels and the increasingly fraught question of who gets to define patriotism. Indian Railways’ first high-speed test track to allow trials at 220 kmph A new testing facility in Rajasthan could become central to India’s plans for faster trains, with trials expected to push the limits of existing rail technology. Bengaluru tunnel road: A meeting involving DK Shivakumar and Gautam Adani sparks a BJP row The proposed infrastructure project has acquired a political dimension, with questions over meetings, contracts and the future of Bengaluru ’s traffic solutions. Migrant drivers protest in Mumbai amid warnings over Marathi language enforcement Concerns about harassment and language-based enforcement have brought drivers onto the streets in another episode of Mumbai ’s continuing identity politics. ‘How will she survive for 42 years?’ Jharkhand HC orders Rs 40 lakh alimony A court considers the economics of life after marriage, asking what financial security really means for a woman with decades potentially ahead of her. A man found dead, intestines in an envelope: Inside a brutal Haryana murder investigation A disturbing crime has led investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the death and the allegations now facing the victim’s wife. US September visa bulletin: What changes for Indians waiting for green cards The latest bulletin brings movement in some categories and continued waits in others — important news for thousands navigating the US immigration system. From passports to licences: VFS Global plans a new push into citizen services The company best known for visa processing is preparing to expand into a much wider range of government-linked services. Rejected in 100 auditions, Archana Puran Singh’s son now buys a sea-facing home A story of rejection, persistence and a new career path powered by the changing economics of digital entertainment. PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty withdraw from China Masters India’s badminton contingent faces a reshuffle ahead of the Super 750 event. Trump wants greater economic pressure on Iran. What are his options? Washington has several tools at its disposal, but tightening the squeeze on Iran comes with complicated consequences — for oil markets, allies, sanctions enforcement and an already volatile West Asia. This is a guide to the economic pressure points available to Donald Trump and what using them could mean. The Daily Catch-Up is published Monday to Friday by The Indian Express.