tirunelveli l sunday l september 29, 2024 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l city EDITION southwest monsoon rainfall in June-Sept period above normal India received as much as 927.3 mm of rainfall against the normal seasonal rainfall of 861.3 mm despite the absence of the La Nina factor Delayed Retreat of monson rains SKYMET blames it on Climate change IMD had earlier predicted that the La Nina factor would come into play during the second half of the monsoon. But there was no show. A scientist said they are yet to figure out the reasons for the bountiful rains. Curiously, the Gangetic plains had deficient rainfall while arid regions received excess rainfall. Monsoon retreat began on Sept 23 as against the Sept 17 normal ■ Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar recorded deficient rains. Arid regions such as West Rajasthan, Saurashtra and Kutch received excess rainfall during the season ■ Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather says, “It is a clear sign of the impact of climate change which has been shifting the rainfall trend” 8% More rainfall recorded in the entire country during the season 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 Another son-rise in DMK, Udhaya named Deputy CM Hassan Nasrallah Lebanon Beirut Israel West Bank An orange ball of flame rises up in the air after an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut | AP Hezbollah head Nasrallah killed, Khamenei shifted to safe place Agencies Hezbollah on Saturday confirmed the death of its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli strike, which dealt a body blow to the Iran-backed terror outfit. Israel had bombarded Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut below residential buildings on Friday where Nasrallah was holed up, but took 24 hours to confirm the hit. Nasrallah has joined his fellow martyrs, a statement from Hezbollah said adding it would continue its war against Israel for Palestine. Following his death, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is said to have been shifted to a secure location inside his country amid high security Reuters report, ed. Khamenei declared five days of mourning for Nasrallah. “I… offer my condolences for the martyrdom of the great Nasrallah and his martyred companions and announce five days of public mourning in Islamic Iran,” he said in a statement. Israel said it carried out the precise airstrike on Friday when the Hezbollah leadership were at their headquarters south of Beirut. Lebanese Health Ministry said six persons were killed and 91 injured in Israeli strike on its HQ. Besides Nasrallah, Abbas Nilforushan, a prominent general of Revolutionary Guard, died in the same airstrike, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency . Hashem Safieddine, a cousin of Nasrallah, could be the “most likely” successor to Hezbollah, AFP reported. Both the US and Saudi Arabia have put Safieddine, a senior member of Hezbollah’s powerful decision-making Shura Council, on their respective lists as designated “terrorists” in 2017. Meanwhile, the UN refugee chief said on Saturday that 50,000 people fled to Syria amid escalating Israeli air strikes on Lebanon. “More than 50,000 Lebanese and Syrians living in Lebanon have now crossed into Syria fleeing Israeli air strikes,” Filippo Grandi said on X, adding that “well over 200,000 people are displaced inside Lebanon”. Israelis welcomed Nasrallah’s elimination. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel one day after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel last October 7, which triggered Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza with Hamas. Hezbollah said it was acting in support of Hamas. P9 Only issue left is vacating PoK: Jaishankar to Pak Y e s h i S e l i @ New Delhi External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday lit into Pakistan for making cross-border terror part of its state policy and said the only issue left to be resolved is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan. “Countries get left behind due to circumstances beyond their control but some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences a premier example is our neighbour Pakistan,’’ said Jaishankar while addressing the UN General Assembly in New York. Jaishankar said that the misdeeds of countries like Pakistan affect others as well, especially the neighbourhood when its policy instills such fanaticism among its people that its GDP can only be measured in terms of radicalisation and its exports in the form of terrorism. “Today we see the ills it sought to visit on others consume its own society It can’t blame it on the world; . this is one karma,’’ he quipped. A dysfunctional nation (Pakistan) on coveting the lands of others must be exposed and must be countered. “I heard some bizarre assertions at this very forum yesterday so let me make India’s position perfectly clear. Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism policy will never succeed and it can have no expectation of impunity On the contrary actions . will certainly have consequences. The issue to be resolved between us now is only the vacation of the illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan and of course the abandonment of Pakistan’s long standing attachment to terrorism,’’ Jaishankar said. He also spoke about the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and reforms in the UN, which began with 51 members and now has 193. Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran presenting a framed photograph of late chief minister M Karunanidhi with J R D Tata to CM Stalin at Panappakkam, Ranipet, on Saturday | dinesh s Tata Motors breaks ground, TN plant to make JLR cars ing Ranipet district for the project, which is expected to generate 5,000 Six months after signing of memo- jobs, the CM urged Tata Sons Chairrandum of understanding with man N Chandrasekaran to expedite Tata Motors, Chief Minister M K the project work and also take part Stalin on Saturday laid the founda- in its opening ceremony . tion stone for the company’s `9,000“The MoU for the project was crore green production fasigned in March this year, cility for next-generation and the foundation cerevehicles for Tata Motors mony is taking place just and Jaguar Land Rover at six months later. This demTN is a leading Panapakkam in Ranipet onstrates the Dravidian industrial state district. model government’s comwith progressive T he inter nationally mitment to Tamil Nadu’s policies and an benchmarked plant will cagrowth and the upliftment established ter to the requirements of of TN youth,” Stalin said. automotive hub both domestic and internaHe also urged Tata Mowith a qualified, tional markets. talented workforce tors to invest more in the The facility has been destate. “This is not my state N Chandrasekaran, signed for an annual proor yours, it is our state,” duction capacity of over chairman, Tata Sons the CM said while high2,50,000 vehicles. Produclighting the roots of the tion will begin in a phased manner Tata Sons chairman, who hails and progressively increase to reach from Namakkal district. its full capacity over the next 5-7 During his address, Chandrasekayears. The plant will manufacture ran said, “We are pleased to make for three brands: Jaguar Land Rov- Panapakkam as the home of our er, Tata Motors, and Tata EV . next-gen cars and SUVs, including Thanking Tata Motors for select- electric and luxury vehicles.”  P5 E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai Lebanon announced three days of mourning for Nasrallah’s death. Flags to fly at halfmast on public buildings. His cousin Hashem Safieddine could be the most likely successor to lead Hezbollah Ayatollah Khamenei Senthil Balaji & Nasar get back cabinet berths along with two new faces; 3 ministers dropped E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai The much-anticipated elevation of DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin as Deputy Chief Minister and the cabinet reshuffle was announced on Saturday night. Apart from being the Deputy Chief Minister, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi will additionally handle the portfolios of Plann i n g a n d Development. As part of the Cabinet reshuffle, former ministers V Senthil Balaji, who recently got bail after prolonged incarceration in a money laundering case, and S M Nasar, who was dropped from the cabinet last year, are being reinducted. Govi Chezhian, the MLA of Thiruvidaimarudur reserved constituency, who is also the chief government whip in the Assembly, and R Rajendran, who is the Salem North MLA, h av e b e e n n a m e d n e w ministers. They two are being inducted after dropping Milk and Dairy Development Minister Mano Thangaraj, Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Minister Gingee K S Masthan, and Minister for Tourism K Ramachandran from the cabinet. A release from the Raj Bhavan said that the Governor has accepted the recommendations of Chief Minister M K Stalin regarding the cabinet changes. The swearing-in ceremony of the four minister-designates will happen on Sunday at 3.30 pm, the release said. The reshuffle also involved major portfolio changes. The portfolio of Higher Education has been taken away from K Ponmudy  . P5 WITH THIS ISSUE Gen Z-Kashmir A New Tide PLUS 12 PAGES