chennai l monday l september 07, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l late city EDITION U.S. peace envoys make first Kyiv visit eyeing end to Ukraine war Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks in Kyiv on Sunday in their first official visit to Ukraine, hoping to end Russia’s invasion ukraine trip follows meeting with putin Had meaningful discussion, says witkoff Russia has recently been using fast-flying, jet-powered drones, and the recurring wail of air-raid sirens has become part of daily life in Kyiv. The trip by the Americans follows a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday. Washington’s push to end the war has lost momentum, with US focused for the past six months on the Iran war ■ ■ Following two rounds of discussion with the US officials, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the goal was a “just, fair peace” “We’ve had very meaningful discussion,” Witkoff said. A Ukrainian official said anonymously much of the discussion focused on “how to get through the winter and what can be done before then” | P11 1,250km long frontline in ukraine where troops are fighting russians 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 5 dead as 50-yr-old Delhi hostel collapses India backs UN, U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi A 50-year-old five-storey building collapsed in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan area in the vicinity of Delhi University’s south campus on Sunday afternoon, leaving five persons dead and several injured. The structure, which was being used as a paying guest accommodation, collapsed at around 1.30 pm. Officials said 10 people were rescued so far. Local residents claimed 50 people could still be trapped under the debris. Prior to the collapse, repair work was underway in the basement of the structure, police said.Victims were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre where some were in critical condition. According to sources, the building was vacated around a year ago over safety concerns. However, a few months back, ISRO rejects reports of privatisation ISRO has rejected reports claiming that it would be privatised. “ISRO will neither be privatised nor will its importance be diminished,” the space agency said express read Moderate rain likely in Western Ghat dists Chennai: Light to moderate rain with thunderstorms is likely at isolated places over the Western Ghats districts on Tuesday, with moderate rain expected in the region from Wednesday through Saturday, RMC stated | P3 3 TN toll plazas to go barrier-free from Oct Chennai: NHAI has begun trials for barrier-free toll collection system at three toll plazas around Chennai. The system, which will be in effect from the first week of October, will allow vehicles to pass through the three toll points without stopping | P4 Was offered crores, min post, claims MLA Tiruvannamalai: A political controversy erupted after IUML MLA SSB Syed Farooq Basha on Saturday alleged that a party had offered him crores of rupees and a ministerial post after the Assembly elections | P4 Rescue work on near the structure in Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday | parveen negi PG accommodation was started in the building. According to police, a PCR call was received at South Campus police station at 1.34 pm on the collapse of ‘Hostel Daze’ near Nanakpura Gurdwara. Net gains for Satwik and Chirag in China Indian doubles duo displays grit and experience to beat He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in three games to clinch China Masters title in Shenzhen. Hard-fought victory Shot in the arm before Asian games The Indians had finished runners-up on two occasions (2023 and 2025) in the recent years. They finally broke the jinx to get over the line on Sunday. Given that this was just their second tournament since their return from injury, it’s a massive shot in the arm for the doubles pair. Now, they will be looking to build on this performance and defend their crown in the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. 2 This is SatChi’s second title of the season. It feels really special. Going into the Asiad, winning a title is definitely a huge boost. It feels whatever we are working for, we are in the right direction. — Chirag Shetty Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy after their win on Sunday | badminton photo | P13 draws red line on J&K, Ladakh Says proposed world map must depict the 2 UTs in line with India’s official map J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi india has drawn a clear line on the depiction of its territory stressing that Jammu , and Kashmir and Ladakh must be shown in accordance with the country’s official map after it backed a United Nations General Assembly resolution seeking to correct distortions including the relative size of the African continent on commonly used world maps. The External Affairs Ministry on Sunday clarified that India’s vote in favour of the United Nations General Assembly resolution did not amount to an endorsement of any particular map, projection or representation of national boundaries. “Any inaccurate or misleading depiction is unacceptable. Our position on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear, consistent and non-negotiable,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. The clarification assumes significance because the UN initiative has prompted a discussion over how the world is represented on maps, including the relative size of continents and the way territories and boundaries are depicted. India stressed that the resolution does not seek to settle questions of political cartography . “The resolution neither adopts nor authenticates any particular world map, nor does it address political cartography, including international boundaries, disputed territories or place names,” the MEA said. It added that India’s vote “does not constitute endorsement of any specific map, projection, or depiction of national boundaries.” New Delhi’s position follows its explanation of vote at the UN General Assembly earlier, when it supported the broader principle of using equal-area map projections but explicitly distanced itself from endorsing the equal earth projection. Indian diplomat Raghoo Puri said, “The resolution should be understood as supporting the broader use and consideration of equal-area map projections and not as endorsing the Equal Earth projection, or any other specific map projection.” Officials have been given three working days to complete the verification | Express Over 20% hike in power use? EB to now check meter before billing you S G U R U V A N M I K A N AT H A N @ Chennai India’s sovereign territory, including Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, must be depicted in accordance with India’s official map Randhir Jaiswal 164 nations support UN resolution The resolution titled ‘Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of the World’s Regions, Particularly Africa’ was sponsored by Togo and adopted by the UN General Assembly with overwhelming support. A total of 164 countries voted in favour, while the US voted against In a move that will come as relief to consumers across the state, the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) has decided to check meter readings at households recording an unusual spike in electricity consumption before issuing bills. The new mechanism has been initiated after a spate of complaints in recent months over unusually high electricity bills. According to a circular, dated September 5, issued by TNPDCL’s accounts branch and accessed by TNIE, the new system will initially cover domestic consumers who recorded consumption exceeding 500 units in July or August 2026. For these consumers, if the reading recorded in the September or October billing cycle is over 20% higher than that of the previous cycle, the system will stop the bill from being generated automatically TNP. DCL officials will first have to verify the meter reading and consumption before the bill is released. For instance, if a consumer recorded a consumption of 600 units in July/August 2026, their next bill will be held pending verification if the consumption for September/October 2026 is recorded as crossing 720 units. Officials have been given three working days to complete the verification.  P6 `11,639 cr push to develop 2,616 border villages RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR & S U M I T K U M A R S I N G H @ New Delhi ONCE known for being neglected and cut off from the rest of the country India’s border vil, lages are fast turning into thriving hubs of economic activity . One of the major drivers of the change is the Centre’s decision to tur n paramilitary outposts along international borders into buyers of local produce. The move is part of a `11,639 crore push to keep villages populated along sensitive frontiers under the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP). an and Shastri Nagar inspector (L&O) Rohini were transferred to vacancy reserve on Sunday A 45-year-old Tamilaga Vettri evening. Kazhagam (TVK) functionary The deceased, S Kannan of was chased and hacked to Shastri Nagar, was a Bdeath by a motorcyclecategory historyborne gang at Vannansheeter with at least durai in Besant Nagar three criminal cases on Saturday night. Poagainst him. He had lice arrested five men, served as AIADMK all aged around 20, on Ward 174 (South) secreS Kannan Sunday in connection with tary before quitting the the killing that they suspect party and joining the TVK folwas in retaliation to a 2009 mur- lowing the Assembly election. der. While visuals of the brutal He also ran a travel business attack went viral, Adyar depu- which also supplied cabs to IT ty commissioner AC Karthikey- companies, police said.  P6 @ Chennai Third time is the charm Like their previous three ties in the competition, the World No 5 pair was thoroughly tested but they kept their calm in key moments to come out on top. When the score was 17-17 in the final game, the Indians reeled off five straight points to seal the deal. TVK functionary hacked to death in Chennai, 5 held E XP R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E “This was a 40- or 50-year-old building, comprising a basement and five upper floors, and it was used as a PG accommodation,” a police official said. Locals claimed that the collection of water over days of rain in the basement had weakened the building’s foundation, leading to its eventual collapse. Densely packed buildings, marked by heavy student presence and narrow, congested bylanes, lined with eateries and PG accommodations, often leave the area with little room for movement. Eight fire tenders and multiple rescue teams from various departments were rushed to the spot, officials said. No immediate official confirmation has been provided regarding the total number of people trapped, rescued, or injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah expressed condolences and shock at the tragedy. saying, “The collapse of a building at Satya Niketan is distressing. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.” A high-level probe has been ordered. Overall, 2,616 villages situated along the international borders are covered under VVP , in two phases. These include 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh, 75 in HP 51 in Uttara, khand, 46 in Sikkim, and 35 in Ladakh. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, which guards the Himalayan frontier with China, has been directed to procure all daily need items from these model villages. Be it procuring milk, vegetables, eggs and grains, they have to buy directly from the villages. The government’s aim it to make border posts of army and Two-phase project The village scheme is run in two phases. The first, launched in April 2023, carries an outlay of `4,800 cr for 2022-23 to 2026-27. The second, launched in February this year, carries an outlay of `6,839 cr through 2028-29 paramilitary a local market wherein the troops deployed will buy every day essentials for local farms and reduce the economic isolation that has driven migration away from frontier areas. The paramilitary forces have started the process, the Centre stated on Sunday The Border . Security Force has also started the process. The Centre is now looking for other forces taking similar steps. According to sources, the move has had a positive impact with residents returning to villages they had earlier left in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kurung Kumey Dibang Valley and Shi, Yomi districts. The Centre is now planning to revamp schools in these villages and also setting up hospitals and colleges in these clusters, said a senior government official adding that it will be taken in later phase. Festive fervour Massive idols of Lord Ganesha being transported ahead of ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ festival in Mumbai on Sunday. The festival begins from September 14 | PTI ed probe Paying cash at toll booths? You could be funding a scam Lens on toll collection entities India S umit K umar S ingh @ New Delhi IF your FASTag fails to scan and you pay cash at a highway toll plaza, that money may never reach the National Highways Authority of India. The Enforcement Directorate has found it can disappear into a parallel network of fake receipts and private accounts. On Sunday the ED said toll op, erators used unauthorised mobile apps, including “Mobdata” and “Any to generate counter,” feit receipts for cash-paying vehicles. The collections never entered NHAI’s official books. The ED probe began after a complaint from Lucknow related to largescale fraudulent toll collection at Atraila Toll Plaza, Mirzapur, and various other toll plazas across the nation. ED officials found that illegal apps used to generate fake receipts and conceal collections from NHAI’s official system. The probe found involvement of intermediaries and toll collection entities, entrusted by NHAI, in the scam The practice, investigators found, was systematic across plazas in several states.The scam largely hits drivers of older vehicles, trucks and commercial fleets yet to shift fully to FASTag. Even motorists with valid tags are sometimes forced to pay cash when barri- ers or scanners fail, with the cash diverted. ED teams raided locations in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan on September 2 as part of a money-laundering probe. The case began with a complaint from Lucknow and an FIR dated January 1, 2025. An Enforcement Case Information Report followed on May 19 last year. The investigation centres on large-scale fraudulent collection at Atraila toll plaza in Mirzapur and other plazas nationwide. In January 2025, Uttar Pradesh Police had already exposed the use of an illegal app at the Atraila Shiv Gulam plaza to collect tolls from vehicles without sufficient FASTag balance and conceal the money from NHAI. Forensic examination of seized devices showed the unauthorised apps were deployed at around 100 plazas. Digital records pointed to unauthorised receipts running into crores. Intermediaries and some NHAI-entrusted toll operators are under the scanner. Searches have so far recovered about ` 1.03 crore in cash.