COIMBATORE l friday l june 19, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l LATE CITY EDITION Latest IMD data puts Monsoon rain deficit at whopping 41% With the southwest monsoon stalled over Maharashtra, India is facing a nationwide rainfall deficit of 41% between June 4-18, the IMD said IMD’s five reasons for monsoon deficit kharif crops will bear the brunt There are five main factors behind the monsoon slowdown. First, the current monsoon flow lacks a strong surge from the Arabian Sea. Second, low-level southwesterly winds have weakened over the Arabian Sea. Third, the cross-equatorial flow has weakened. Fourth, cyclonic circulations are absent. Lastly, this is a weak phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation ■ ■ IMD said that “the absence of favourable large-scale meteorological conditions” was the key reason why the southwest monsoon has failed to advance into remaining parts of Maharashtra The southwest monsoon’s slow northward progress, coupled with El Nino, can have significant consequences for kharif crops 4-5 days more wait for maharashtra for rainfall to resume, predicts IMD CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Guv spells out TVK agenda: Fund fight, social justice survey T M u r u g a n a n d h a m @ Chennai The TVK government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday through the custom, ary address of Governor Rajendra Arlekar, outlined an ambitious governance agenda that mirrored the position of for mer Dravidian governments on education and economic sovereignty, while committing itself to transparent administration, economic revival, and eradication of corruption. The new government also promised to conduct a “social justice survey” soon after the Census and form a “special legal committee” to fight for the funds due from the union government. Reforms in education, industry, law and order, environment, tourism, temple administration, and poverty alleviation were the other focal areas of the address. After three years, the governor’s customary address was smooth, starting with the ‘Thamizhthai Vaazhthu’, followed by the National Anthem. The governor hailed the rendition of the National Anthem at both the beginning and end of the Assembly session as the dawn of a new era. The Vijay government, through the governor’s address, conveyed its strong opposition to the National Education Policy 2020, particularly the three-language formula, while promising to introduce structural reforms aimed at providing world-class education to students. It termed as unacceptable the centre’s position that the release of `3,458 crore due to TN under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan was contingent upon the implementation of the three-language policy P7 . Highlights of guv’s address Legal committee to fight for funds due from centre Report on discriminatory financial devolution Formulation of Sustainable Tourism Policy Introduction of Industrial Policy Setting up of TN Investor Promotion Commission Crackdown on illegal mining and tax evasion Structural reforms in HR&CE dept Launch of a poverty-free TN initiative via targeted support for poor families Legal measures over Mullaiperiyar and Mekedatu Governor RV Arlekar delivers customary address to TN Assembly on Thursday | Express TN axes Parandur airport to save farms, waterbodies B ANBUSE LV AN @ Chennai The Tamil Nadu government has decided to shelve the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur in Kancheepuram district. Minister for Energy Resources and Law C T R Nirmal Kumar on Thursday announced that the state government will not proceed with the airport at Parandur and is currently identifying an alternative location. Speaking to reporters at the secretariat, Nirmal Kumar stated that while the government supports development, it cannot permit the destruction of vital waterbodies and fertile agricultural land that yield crops three times a year. “Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s first field protest was launched An aerial view of the proposed airport site in Parandur, Chennai | Express against the airport project. Our stand (against the airport) remains firm and, in consultation with the CM, we will be exploring an alternative site for the project,” he said. Official sources in the revenue department told TNIE, as of June, 1,700 acres of private land had been acquired from 12 villages in the Sriperumbudur and Kancheepuram taluks.  P7 Suspected hospitalised Ebola Case in Kerala, woman A woman who arrived from South Sudan was shifted to Kottayam Medical College after she developed fever | P7 Diaz Kane hero for Colombia sets stage alight Skipper Harry Kane, coming of a record-breaking domestic season with Bayern Munich, sparkled as his brace helped them overcome Croatia 4-2 in a thriller. The striker, who equalled England’s World Cup record of 10 strikes (Gary Linekar), will be key if they are to match the exploits of 1966 when they won it for the only time Luis Diaz, who has gone up a level over the last 12 months, was all-action as his country saw off Uzbekistan 3-1 in Wednesday’s final game in Mexico. The left-winger displayed all his typical traits as he contributed a goal and an assist to help them begin their campaign with a win Three Lions roar with four England got off their campaign to a rousing start while Colombia eased past the challenge of Uzbekistan as the World Cup’s first round comes to an end. A look... Today's matches USA vs Australia l 12:30 AM Scotland vs Morocco l 3:30 AM Brazil vs Haiti l 6AM Turkiye vs Paraguay l 8:30 AM Live on United8 Sports & ZEE5 (All IST Saturday) India-UK free trade pact to kickstart on July 15; bid to energise economy on fast track UK steel deal clears FTA rollout path P u s h p i ta D e y @ New Delhi India has secured additional concessions under the free trade agreement with the United Kingdom, resolving all outstanding issues that had delayed its implementation, setting the stage for its roll out on July 15. The gains include an extension of the social security contribution exemption for Indian professionals working temporarily in the UK from three years to five years and a resolution of concerns over Britain’s proposed steel safeguard measures. The Ministry of Commerce on Thursday said around 85% of India’s steel exports have been kept outside the UK’s new import restrictions. “The key issue which was holding us back was the new steel measures. Around 85% of our exports to the UK are outside the steel measures,” an official said. The UK had announced a 60% reduction in tariff-free steel import quotas from June and imposed a 50% duty on shipments exceeding those quotas to protect its domestic steel industry In its pushback, India had warned that it could . revisit the concessions under the FTA if the issue remained unresolved. Of India’s nearly $900 million steel exports to the UK, only about $137 million will now be subject to the new safeguard measures. Sources said both countries spent the last two months negotiating the outstanding issues. Under the revised agreement, Indian professionals employed by Indian companies in the UK, as well as employees transferred to subsidiaries or affiliated entities, will be exempt from making social security contributions in the UK for up to five years, provided they continue contributing to India’s social security system and obtain a Certificate of Coverage (CoC). Earlier, the exemption was limited to three years. Multiple areas have been negotiated. Course corrections in multiple areas have been discussed and finalised. We have resolved all issues Union commerce ministry official Deft balancing “Balancing has been done in a manner that does not impact FTA. Also, the proportionate benefits and market access to both sides under Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement have been preserved,” the official said Final FTA text by July 1 PMs Modi and Starmer announced that CETA will come into force on July 15. The final text and details of the pact are expected by July 1 PM meets French CEOs Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met Benoit Bazin, Chairman and CEO of SaintGobain, Martin Sion, CEO of Alstom, and Arthur Mensch, co-founder and CEO of Mistral AI Modi call to democratise technology J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday positioned India as a global hub for inclusive technology and innovation, telling business leaders and entrepreneurs at the VivaTech Summit 2026 in Paris that technology can drive progress only when it is accessible to everyone. He also met top French CEOs to discuss fresh investments and expansion plans across sectors including artificial intelligence, shipping, logistics, railways and construction. Speaking at VivaTech, Europe’s largest technology and startup event, where India is the Country Partner and has set up the largest national pavilion, Modi highlighted India’s technologyled transfor mation over the past decade and presented a vision of AI that prioritises inclusion and broadbased growth. “When it comes to technology , along with innovation, what matters is access. Technology can lead to progress only when it is democratised. India believes that in this era of disruption, technology must deliver for all,” Modi said. His comments assume significance amid growing global debates over access to advanced AI technologies and recent restrictions by the United States on the use of certain cutting-edge AI models by foreign nationals. Using a phrase that drew applause from the audience, Modi said: “For India, AI means ‘All Inclusive’.” He said artificial intelligence should be leveraged to improve lives, expand access to services, accelerate economic growth and support sustainability goals. According to the MEA, the PM’s discussions focused on strengthening ties across shipping, logistics, railways, construction and AI. Prominent among the key meetings was the one with Rodolphe Saade, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut during a press meet in New Delhi on Thursday | PTI Uddhav Sena on the verge of a split, again PREETHA NA I R @ New Delhi As the Shiv Sena (UBT) appears to be headed for a second major split, six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs skipped the parliamentary party meeting on Thursday signalling that a for, mal crossover to the ruling Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is imminent. The MPs who skipped the meeting are Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, and Bhausaheb Wakchaure. The party issued a show cause notice to them to explain their absence within seven days. Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje attended the meeting, along with Sanjay Raut, the party’s lone Rajya Sabha MP. Raut said the MPs’ no-show will be considered a violation of the party whip and legal action will be initiated to disqualify them. He also claimed the rebel MPs had been given an additional `10 crore, over and above the `15 crore paid earlier, and moved to a safe location in Rajasthan. He warned the party would launch ‘Operation Tudwa’ (bash up) against them. Sources said all six rebel MPs have signed a letter seeking a merger with the Shinde-led Sena and gave it to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Delhi High Court poser on proportionality of Telegram ban u d aya n k i s h o r e @ New Delhi SOCIAL media App Telegram was banned “temporarily” to prevent misleading crores of students so that they do not come on the streets, the Centre told the Delhi High Court on Thursday claiming that the app was the most preferred platform for terror activities. The Centre made the submission after Justice Tejas Karia questioned how can the rights of 150 million people just be stopped because one set of citizen are appearing in examinations. The judge reserved verd i c t o n Te l e g r a m ’s p l e a challenging the government order banning the platform till June 22. Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, said Telegram, because of its architecture, was a “Frankenstein”. “If a country like ours cannot take preventive action, where do we go?” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the government, said Telegram operates through cloud, “even if we block something and someone does a mischief, law enforcement agency can’t reach the person... This is the most pre- ferred platform for terrorist activities,” the SG submitted. To this, the bench asked, “How can we stop rights of 150 million people?” The law has been laid down in the Anuradha Bhasin judgement of the SC, the bench said.The Centre’s counsel said the Supreme Court judgement in Bhasin does not prohibit blocking.