GRT Hotels and Resorts launches travel package and green initiatives
In order to acknowledge Puducherry's inclusion in Lonely Planet's top destinations to travel in 2025, Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay has announced the launch of 'Experience Pondicherry-Lonely Planet's Pick' travel package and GReat Green Meetings initiative.
The hospitality major made the announcement at a special Green Press Conference held in Chennai on Thursday in the presence of Tourism Minister K. Lakshminarayanan and the CEO of GRT Hotels and Resorts Vikram Cotah.
The Experience Pondicherry package offers guests a curated itinerary, including a sunshine buffet breakfast, welcome amenities, a half-day city tour, a Franco-Tamil dining experience at Bay Bristo and discounts on F&B.
The GReat Green Meeting empowers corporate guests to host eco-friendly MICE events such as carbon footprint tracking, tree planting offsets and other green practices, the group said in a release.
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Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Inside the Maran family feud: Will the fight over Sun TV empire singe DMK?
One of Tamil Nadu's most powerful political and business dynasties, the Maran family is now at the centre of a rare, public rupture that threatens not only its reputation but also the image of the DMK, the party it has long been tethered to. At the heart of the rift is a legal notice that DMK MP and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran has issued to his elder brother and media baron Kalanithi, accusing him of fraudulent share allotments and corporate misgovernance in their flagship company Sun TV Network Limited. Sun TV Friday responded to media reports stemming from the notice. In a filing to the stock exchanges under SEBI Regulation 30, the company stated, 'The alleged matter dates back to 22 years, when the company was a closely held private limited Company. The statements allegedly made in the articles are incorrect, misleading, speculative, defamatory and not supported by facts or law. We wish to inform you that all acts have been done in accordance with legal obligations and the same had been duly vetted by concerned intermediaries before the public issue of the Company.' The company said the dispute 'does not have any bearing on the business of the Company or its day-to-day functioning' and emphasised it was a personal matter between members of the promoter family. Still, the damage may already be done. A senior DMK functionary called the dispute 'deeply embarrassing not only for the Marans, but for the party as well'. According to top party sources, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin attempted to mediate between the Maran brothers on at least two occasions in the past three months. 'Even their sister Anbukkarasi was ready for a compromise as Stalin suggested. Kalanithi was also open. But Dayanidhi refused to listen. He took the legal route, ignoring the larger political consequences. When brothers fight over thousands of crores, people will begin asking how they made this much money, eventually putting DMK at the receiving end,' said a DMK source. The roots of the family's influence lie in the life and career of Murasoli Maran (1934-2003), the trusted nephew of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi. Maran was a key architect of the DMK's outreach to the national political stage, serving as its voice in New Delhi for decades. Fluent in both Tamil and English, he was widely respected as the party's strategist and troubleshooter in coalition-era politics. From his early days of helping Karunanidhi in film productions, writing, and as the editor of Murasoli, the party's Tamil daily, to his later role as Union Minister in multiple Central governments, Maran left an imprint that extended far beyond Tamil Nadu. He served as the Minister for Commerce and Industry from 1999 to 2003 in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government. He was also known for his accessibility, and for those who could not directly reach Karunanidhi, he was the gateway. Kalanithi, his elder son, began with a small video business called Poomalai, producing and selling private programs on VHS cassettes. In 1993, he launched Sun TV, which initially broadcast from Singapore. The timing was impeccable as, at the time, India was transitioning from the Doordarshan monopoly to the cable revolution. Sun TV quickly became synonymous with Tamil entertainment, and 'taking a Sun TV connection' became a household phrase. With the backing of the DMK and a knack for market instincts, Kalanithi built the Sun Group into one of India's largest regional media empires, spanning television, radio, print, sports, cinema, and aviation. His Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV) network also drew attention when the Karunanidhi regime introduced free colour televisions, a move seen by critics as beneficial to the company. Yet, Kalanithi's political neutrality served him well. 'He maintained a corporate image and stayed away from party politics, even though Sun News editorially leans toward Dravidian ideology,' said a media industry insider. That approach helped him avoid regulatory entanglements and expand operations across southern India. In contrast, Dayanidhi entered politics through his father's legacy. Educated at Loyola College, he was seen as a modern, business-savvy face in the DMK. As Telecom Minister (2004–2007), he pushed for lower call rates and foreign investments. But his tenure was later mired in allegations: first in the 2G spectrum case, then the Aircel-Maxis deal, and finally the telephone exchange scandal. Though acquitted in several instances, his political capital steadily declined. In 2007, the Marans' newspaper Dinakaran published a survey asking readers who should succeed Karunanidhi. Stalin topped the poll, Dayanidhi came second, and M K Alagiri, Stalin's elder brother, came third. Furious at the result, Alagiri's supporters attacked the Dinakaran office in Madurai. Three employees of the newspaper died in the violence, marking one of the lowest points in the DMK's history. Karunanidhi was in the Assembly when he was informed of the attack, with a state intelligence officer passing on the message in a half-page handwritten note in Tamil. The CM reportedly began correcting spelling mistakes in the note, with the reaction read by many as his cold detachment. With Kalanithi backing Dayanidhi, who was widely blamed for the poll, the incident created a long rift between the Maran brothers and DMK's first family. The legal notice by Dayanidhi alleges Kalanithi allotted himself 12 lakh equity shares in Sun TV in 2003 at a face value of Rs 10 each, without proper approval and at a time when their father was in a coma. The move, the DMK MP alleges, gave Kalanithi a 60% stake and reduced the holdings of the Maran and Karunanidhi families from 50% each to 20%. 'Karunanidhi would have settled this. Stalin isn't that type,' said a DMK minister. The notice also claims that the shares, worth over Rs 3,500 crore at fair market value, were acquired for just Rs 1.2 crore, and Kalanithi later misused company resources to enrich himself. It lists possible violations under corporate law, the Indian Penal Code, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Sun TV pushed back firmly Friday, calling the accusations 'defamatory' and stating that 'all acts have been done in accordance with legal obligations … duly vetted before the public issue of the company'. DMK insiders see Dayanidhi's move as a political gamble with little upside. 'He is isolated now. Udhayanidhi Stalin (the CM's son) is his only link to the leadership now. And even that window may be closing soon,' said a party insider.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Camera lens behind Israel–Iran conflict: How Iran's missiles are finding their mark
Israeli footage blacked out, Iran turns to hacked cameras Live Events Farmers, homes and streets: Cameras become blind spots A global trend with local consequences Cheap cameras, expensive mistakes Experts push for better standards (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Iranian hackers are actively targeting internet-connected security cameras across Israel to track where their ballistic missiles have landed, Israeli officials have confirmed. These live breaches, now playing out in real time, are helping Iran improve the precision of its strikes as the Israel–Iran conflict Monday, Refael Franco, former deputy director general of Israel's National Cyber Directorate, issued a stark public warning: 'We know that in the past two or three days, the Iranians have been trying to connect to cameras to understand what happened and where their missiles hit to improve their precision.' Franco now leads the cyber crisis firm Code development comes after Israel's recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and Iran's retaliation with over 300 drones and missiles, according to Israeli defence sources. Iran's government reports over 200 deaths from Israeli attacks. In Israel, 24 people have died, and more than 800 have been Israel enforces a media blackout on the damage caused by Iranian missile strikes, Tehran appears to be filling the information gap through hacked footage from homes, traffic cameras, and business premises. A spokesperson for Israel's cyber directorate confirmed the targeting of connected surveillance systems: 'We've seen attempts throughout the war, and those attempts are being renewed now.'Iran is not alone in this playbook. In October 2023, Hamas used similar methods to gather intelligence for its surprise invasion. Gaby Portnoy, who served as Israel's top cybersecurity official until recently, revealed: 'The intelligence gathering that Hamas did from private cameras in the Gaza periphery was a disaster. Thousands of cameras were hacked over the years, both public and private, and were used to collect intelligence.'Many of the hacked devices were never designed with war in mind. Farmers installed them to prevent theft. Families placed them outside homes and kindergartens for safety. But the same cameras ended up broadcasting military activity near the Gaza fence. 'You try to protect yourself and meanwhile you are exposing yourself,' Franco the Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and saw 250 abducted, Israel was granted legal authority to disable private and traffic-facing cameras showing sensitive areas. Yet according to Portnoy, 66,000 personal cameras still used default passwords in 2022 — a number that may have barely changed isn't just an Israeli problem. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Moscow 'likely used access to private cameras at key locations, such as near border crossings, military installations, and rail stations,' according to a joint advisory by the US National Security Agency and its allies. Ukraine responded by banning public webcams in 2022 and urging owners to stop broadcasting online. 'Russia is exploiting vulnerability of modern webcams to launch missile attack at Ukraine and adjust them in real time,' a government statement the US, the Federal Communications Commission banned Chinese-made cameras from several vendors that same year, citing security private surveillance market is expected to grow from $54 billion in 2024 to $89 billion by 2030, according to MarketsandMarkets Research. But many of these systems are weakly secured. Some cameras still stream footage live online by default. Many retain factory-set passwords like '1234'. A study by BitSight Technologies this month found that 40,000 security cameras worldwide were exposed on the internet — 14,000 of them in the US.'Most people don't look at the security features of the device they're buying. So for the vendor there is no incentive to beef up security of such systems,' said Peleg Wasserman, a cybersecurity architect at a global energy added: 'Consumers need to remember that they're not the only ones who may have access to this camera. I've seen people that put a camera outside the home without knowing that they're also filming their neighbours, or a sensitive object, or even giving a panoramic view of a city which may be useful for targeting.'Cybersecurity professionals stress that higher-end systems with regular firmware updates and strong configuration settings are crucial. 'Higher-grade security camera systems from vendors that take cybersecurity seriously will offer extensive configuration settings allowing for more device and communications customisation,' said Geoff Kohl of the Security Industry Association, as reported by the same time, he warned users to assume their cameras may be attacked: 'Presume your security video systems could be targeted.'Despite numerous red flags and official advisories, many users continue to favour cost over security. And in war, that choice has digital dimension of the Israel–Iran conflict is intensifying. Pro-Israel hacking group Predatory Sparrow has claimed responsibility for recent cyberattacks on Iranian financial institutions, including a major bank and a crypto exchange. In turn, Iran's state media reported that Israeli forces launched a broad cyberattack against Iran's the missile war makes headlines, the cyberwar runs quietly — embedded in homes, farms, shops, and streets. Unsecured cameras, once intended for peace of mind, are now part of the people living in conflict zones — or anywhere with vulnerable tech — the message is blunt but clear: update your passwords, lock your devices, or risk turning your camera into someone else's eyes.(With inputs from Bloomberg)
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Pune on My Plate: How Tamil restaurants in city keep their signature flavours, traditions alive
In the lanes of Pune, a quiet cultural revolution is simmering — in the form of piping hot sambar, crispy dosas, soft pongal, and filter coffee. Tamil food, with its regional diversity and deep-rooted cultural significance, has a loyal fanbase in the city. From temple-style meals to spicy street food, restaurants across Pune are offering a taste of Tamil Nadu to the people. 'We don't just serve food, we serve memories of home,' says Aravindh Subramanian, 47, manager of Akshayapatram Restaurant in Pimpri. 'Most of our customers are working professionals or families from Tamil Nadu who miss the taste of traditional meals. Our core strength lies in serving full Tamil-style vegetarian meals — what we call 'Virundhu Sappadu'. It includes rice, sambar, rasam, poriyal, kootu, appalam, pickle, and payasam — all served on banana leaves, just like it is done back home,' he says. On maintaining the authenticity of Tamil food, Subramanian says, 'We source our ingredients like sundakkai, manathakkali, and even our nalla ennai (gingelly oil) from suppliers in Tamil Nadu to retain the same taste. The preparation of our sambar is still done using the stone-ground masala we make fresh every morning — no shortcuts. The rasam here is made with crushed garlic, jeera, pepper, and real tamarind pulp — not readymade powders.' The most popular item on their menu is the Special Mini Tiffin. 'It's a combo of idli, medu vada, pongal, masala dosa, kesari and filter coffee. It costs just Rs 150 and gives a complete breakfast feel. On weekends, we serve over 700 thalis and 900+ tiffin plates,' Subramanian says. 'During Pongal, we serve sakkarai pongal, ven pongal, thalagam kuzhambu, and aviyal — all prepared using temple-style recipes. Customers queue up from 8 am on Thai Pongal day. For us, it is not just business, it is a way to bring Tamil culture alive in Pune.' 'Tamil food is also spiritual food — made with intention, devotion, and love,' says Suresh Kannan, 35, the store manager of Ayyappa Center in Pimple Nilakh. Kannan adds, 'The Ayyappa Center started as a small prasadam counter during Ayyappan puja gatherings, and now it has grown into a must-visit for Tamil folks in Pune. We are famous for our authentic Kanchipuram idli, puli aval, and nei appam — all made using traditional techniques, with no compromise.' Their Kanchipuram idli is a favourite for many. He says, 'It is steamed in lotus leaves and has pepper, jeera, ginger, and curry leaves — just like it is made at temples in Tamil Nadu.' The highlight is their Ayyappan Prasadam Combo, which includes lemon rice, tamarind rice, curd rice, sakkarai pongal, sundal and appalam — all for Rs 90. 'We keep the prices low because our goal is to serve people, not profit,' he adds. During the grand Ayyappa Swamy Makara Jyothi celebration, 'we serve ellu sadam, chakkarai pongal, and kadalai paruppu sundal to over 2,000 devotees who gather from all over Pune. Volunteers help us serve meals continuously for six to seven hours.' Deepa Rajalakshmi, head of Aph Aparna Hotel in Baner, 76, says, 'We bring that ooru (village) feel — whether it is in our Madurai kari dosa, Chettinad chicken curry, or nethili fry. Here at Aph Aparna Hotel, we specialise in street-style Tamil food that you would find in towns like Madurai, Thanjavur, and Trichy. Everything is made with freshly ground masalas, and we don't use frozen meat or canned gravies.' On the dish that is most in demand at their store, she says it is 'our Madurai bun parotta with mutton salna — a soft, layered parotta soaked in spicy gravy. Priced at Rs 210, it sells out every night by 9 pm.' Other crowd favourites include meen kuzhambu and Thalappakatti biryani, besides grand festival menus. 'During Deepavali and the Tamil New Year, we go all out with a 20+ item saapadu, including thengai sadam, inji puli, kari kola urundai, and boondi laddu. We also prepare adhirasam and Mysore Pak in-house — just like our grandmothers used to,' says Rajalakshmi. 'Our sales peak during the Tamil New Year and Pongal. We do 2,500+ parcels a day during those festivals. Tamil food is about diversity, tradition, and bold flavours, and we celebrate that in every dish.' Mr and Mrs Iyer's Kitchen, a humble home-style eatery in Ghorpadi, focuses on sadhya-style meals served on banana leaves. 'It is essential to understand the originality of the authentic Tamil experience. The most famous dishes are part of the sadhya — sambhar, rasam, payasam, avial. Meals are something special during sadhya servings,' says Iyer. They also serve fast-moving items on regular days. 'The Tamil variant of ghee podi dosa is very famous. Ghee podi, sponge onion uttapam, and pongal are fast-moving items. Chakkarai pongal, arisi payasam, chana dal payasam, kesari, yellni payasam, and coconut water payasam are other popular items,' he says, adding, 'It is essential to understand the originality of the authentic Tamil experience through which we forge a deeper sense of culture and belonging in the Indian subcontinent.' Alister Augustine is an intern with The Indian Express. With inputs from Tanay Iyer
