Latest news with #south
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Hyderabad real estate market: Are soaring property prices making it harder for young techie buyers to get married?
Once considered an affordable haven for India's aspiring middle class, Hyderabad's real estate market is now pricing out even well-paid tech professionals. Skyrocketing property prices, growing family responsibilities, and intense societal pressure to own a home, especially to improve marriage prospects, are leaving many young men with limited options. This is because there is a glaring disconnect between available inventory and what middle-income buyers can realistically afford. Even non-branded apartments located 40 minutes from Hitech City are now priced at ₹1.2–1.5 crore. At these levels, homeownership isn't just unaffordable, it's becoming unsustainable, say Redditors. For some, the pressure to own property has had personal consequences. One buyer admitted to being rejected by prospective partners due to not owning a home, a growing reflection of how homeownership is increasingly seen as a prerequisite in Indian matchmaking culture. Some young buyers are now turning to plot investments, which are relatively more affordable and allow them to build homes at their own pace. A 28-year-old software engineer working at a product-based company in Hyderabad, earning an annual package of ₹29 lakh, recently shared how owning a home is becoming difficult for him. Despite a respectable income by industry standards, he finds himself unable to purchase a home in the city, a situation many urban professionals now identify with. 'I've been the sole breadwinner since our family split 20 years ago. Nearly half my income goes into supporting my siblings' education and other household expenses,' he wrote. With his younger brother and sister still in college and various insurance and healthcare costs to bear, disposable income for savings or home investment remains tight. Also Read: Here's why south Indian cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad dominate demand for senior living housing Redditors' attempts to explore affordable housing options have hit one roadblock after another. Even in his native tier-3 town, located nearly 100 km from Hyderabad, he found that a modest 1,200 sq ft house was priced at around ₹75 lakh. 'It's disheartening,' he said. 'For that amount, I'd rather buy a plot and build a house myself. At least then, I'll own land, something that might appreciate over time.' He expressed scepticism over investing in apartments, citing long-term depreciation. 'I've seen what 10-year-old apartments look like in places like Narsingi, a town in Telangana, with cracks in the walls, water leakage. The construction quality just doesn't last, and your entire savings go to the builder. That's not an investment, that's a liability.' For now, the buyers' preference is shifting toward purchasing land, even if it means moving further from the city. 'If I'm spending ₹70 lakh anyway, I'd rather own a piece of land and construct at my own pace. I don't have ancestral property or fallback wealth. This feels like the only chance to build something for the future.' He also noted the stark mismatch between available inventory and what most middle-class buyers can actually afford. 'Even non-branded apartments, located 40 minutes from Hitech City, are touching ₹1.2–1.5 crore. At that rate, it's not just unaffordable, it's unsustainable,' reads the post. Also Read: Will Bengaluru real estate market be impacted as tech layoffs impact tenants and buyers? Experts weigh in Another Redditor suggested he book an under-construction flat with a Tier-1 builder, use it to signal financial stability and get married, then flip the apartment and recover the money. 'It will not be easy, but hopefully this should work,' the Redditor commented on the thread. 'You'll save on registration costs as long as it's under construction. The only downside is interest on partial disbursement. But if you find a 20:80 payment plan, you'll avoid even that, assuming you can arrange the 20% down payment.'
The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Donald Trump's exact words as he pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley revealed as daughter reveals his true feelings
DONALD Trump has defended his controversial plan to pardon multimillionaire fraudsters Todd and Julie Chrisley. The reality TV stars' doting daughter, Savannah Chrisley, has now revealed what the president said in a private phone call ahead of their release. 2 Savannah Chrisley spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where she met Donald Trump Credit: Facebook / Savannah Chrisley 2 TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, famous for Chrisley Knows Best, a reality show, were both jailed for fraud and tax evasion Credit: Getty Trump has today pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022 and have spent the past two years in prison. The couple are famous for Chrisley Knows Best, a reality show that followed their tight-knit family and extravagant lifestyle. An anonymous White House official has this afternoon confirmed to An "excited" Savannah Chrisley spoke to cable network READ MORE US NEWS She met Trump after speaking at last July's Republican National Convention, where she was pictured alongside him in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The network asked her to confirm whether the president had called her while she was walking into a Sam's Club, to reveal he was to set them free. She laughed and replied, 'Yes, the president called me as I was walking and so… I didn't know what to do; I just ran back to my car at that point.' The presenter then asked for details of her "pitch to President Trump about why your parents deserved a pardon and what you think finally got through to him?" Most read in The US Sun Savannah explained, "I have fought for the past two-and-a-half years, for my parents to come home and I've been fighting for their freedom." The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents. Trump to pardon jailed reality TV stars Todd & Julie Chrisley after pair were imprisoned for fraud & tax-evasion They were also found guilty of tax evasion, obscuring their earnings while showcasing a luxurious way of living that authorities said included high-priced cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel. Julie Chrisley, 52, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, and Todd Chrisley, 56, got 12 years behind bars. The couple was also ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution. TRUMPS OF THE SOUTH But, Savannah maintained, "I have said from the beginning I believe in law and order, and if I believed my parents were guilty of what they did, then yes, they should have gone to prison. "Even if they were guilty, the time they got was absolutely insane. "But I brought up in our case the huge Fourth Amendment violations, the illegal seizures, the fact that they had my father's face on a dartboard, the IRS agent lying on the stand and referring to us as the 'Trumps of the south'. "And also accusing my family of terrorism just so they could run a financial report.' NOT TERRORISTS When pressed on what in particular had resonated with Trump, she added, "He did say, he was like, 'you know, you guys don't look like terrorists to me'. Those were his exact words - which was pretty funny. "But he just said that their sentences were 'outrageous' and they were 'treated unfairly' from everyone he has spoken to. "And that he 'wanted to bring my parents home' and not just grant them a commutation but he wanted to give them a 'full pardon.'' Who has Donald Trump pardoned so far? The Republican has already pardoned hundreds of people during his second presidential term, including: January: Trump pardoned about 1,500 of his supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol four years ago Officer Terence Sutton and Lieutenant Andrew Zabavsky were reinstated to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) following their pardons after the cops were previously convicted and sentenced for their roles in a fatal crash that resulted in the death of 20-year-old black man, Karon Hylton-Brown February: Trump pardoned Rod Blagojevich, the Democratic former governor of Illinois, whose sentence he had commuted in 2020, after he was convicted on corruption charges related to bribery March: He pardoned Republican former Tennessee state Sen. Brian Kelsey just over two weeks into a 21-month sentence over a campaign finance-related fraud conviction Trump pardoned the three co-founders of cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, Benjamin Delo, Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed, who had pleaded guilty in 2022 for failing to implement a Bank Secrecy Act-compliant anti-money laundering program April: He pardoned Paul Walczak, a former nursing home executive who was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $4 million in restitution for tax crimes Trump pardoned Republican former Las Vegas City Council member Michele Fiore, who had been set to be sentenced after she was convicted on conspiracy and wire fraud charges related to misused fundraising May: Trump issued a pardon for a MAGA-aligned former Virginia sheriff, Scott Jenkins, who was convicted last year of federal bribery charges The president also pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley, the former stars of USA Network's Chrisley Knows Best, who had been found guilty of fraud and tax evasion Savannah became the legal guardian of her younger siblings Chloe, 12, and Grayson, 19, following their parents' imprisonment. It's going to be hard... I don't think I'm mentally or emotionally prepared to see my parents see each other for the first time. Savannah Chrisley She explained that Grayson was with her at the time Trump called out of the blue. Savannah said, "He was in the car when [Trump] called, and actually spoke to the president himself." Grayson studies at the University of Alabama, so they spoke about the president previously speaking at the institution, and her brother thanked the president for bringing his parents home. IN SHOCK "Chloe is still in shock and she doesn't want to get her hopes up because she feels like something bad is gonna happen. "But I'm excited about going to get my dad and bringing him home to her," said Savannah. She also said she expected her father to be a free man by tomorrow at the latest. 'If they don't release him tonight then it'll be tomorrow, so… we will get them acclimated back to normal life," Savannah added. "It's going to be hard... I don't think I'm mentally or emotionally prepared to see my parents see each other for the first time, or hear each other's voice for the first time. "Their 29th wedding anniversary was on May 25th, so they'll have a late wedding anniversary." LARA TRUMP'S HELP She also thanked Trump and his team profusely for their intervention, along with Fox News host Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump. Savannah said her family was "eternally grateful to President Trump and the administration. "I went on the Lara Trump show, and I believe that helped to put things over because he watches every episode of her show. "She is doing a great job on Fox and I think that episode of the show reminded the president of my family's story.' But, Trump's pardon of her mom and dad has proved contentious. NO REMORSE U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross had criticized their lack of remorse, saying during their sentencing, 'I cannot ignore the greed and flamboyance in this case.' Such pardons "aren't the only evidence of a Justice Department de-emphasizing public corruption cases," wrote 'It's clear that this administration doesn't believe that tamping down on public corruption is a priority,' warned Stacey Young, a former Justice Department official who founded Justice Connection, a network of Justice Department alumni. It follows the pardoning of the three co-founders of cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX; the pardoning of about 1,500 of his supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol four years ago; and a pardon for a former Virginia sheriff who was convicted last year of federal bribery charges. KIDNAP PLOT Trump revealed today that he is also considering pardons for the people involved in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Deputy White House press secretary, Harrison Fields, said in a statement on Tuesday that the Chrisleys' sentences 'were far too harsh.' 'The President is always pleased to give well-deserving Americans a second chance, especially those who have been unfairly targeted and overly prosecuted by an unjust justice system,' he added.
Mint
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Kamal Haasan tells fans in Kerala to learn Tamil first before talking about Hindi: ‘All of us are Dravidians'
Kamal Haasan reached Kochi to promote his upcoming film, Thug Life. He was at the PVR Forum Mall where he commented on the Hindi language row. Speaking in Tamil, he urged the people of Kerala to learn the languages of their neighbouring south Indian states before Hindi. At the event, Kamal talked about Dravidian unity. He told Kerala fans, 'First, you learn the language of the state next to you, then we'll talk about learning Hindi. All of us are Dravidians, one family. You can speak in Malayalam in Tamil Nadu, but if you speak for a very long time, it'll be difficult to understand. But if you speak Tamil in Kerala, people will understand it.' Kamal Haasan went on to admit that it takes courage for someone to make a statement like his in public. 'It is our responsibility to ensure that our language doesn't disappear. Do you know how much dil (courage) it takes to make such a statement in this state? All of us are Dravidians. With that pride, we offer our family Thug Life. Namaskaram," he added. Thug Life reunites Kamal with filmmaker Mani Ratnam after almost four decades. He last worked together in the 1987 film Nayagan. The script is co-written by Kamal and Mani, while directed by the latter. Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf and Babura are also a part of the film. Thug Life is backed by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies and Red Giant Movies. It explores the story of a man who raises a young boy as his own but gets backstabbed by him later in life. Thug Life will see an extended gap of 8 weeks between its theatrical and OTT release. Talking about this new approach, Kamal told the media that it was a pragmatic thing to do. Hoping his approach will inspire others, he confirmed that Thug Life will make its OTT debut on Netflix India. He said, "It is not even an experiment, it's a pragmatic thing to do. I'm glad that the OTT (Netflix) agreed. It's a plan that maybe others could follow. 'It will make the industry healthy and we are glad that we were the first to be there to avail of that opportunity.' Usually, films follow a four-week window gap between its theatrical and digital release.
Mint
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Kamal Haasan tells Kerala people to learn Tamil first before talking about Hindi: ‘All of us are Dravidians'
Kamal Haasan reached Kochi to promote his upcoming film, Thug Life. He was at the PVR Forum Mall where he commented on the Hindi language row. Speaking in Tamil, he urged the people of Kerala to learn the languages of their neighbouring south Indian states before Hindi. At the event, Kamal talked about Dravidian unity. He told Kerala fans, 'First, you learn the language of the state next to you, then we'll talk about learning Hindi. All of us are Dravidians, one family. You can speak in Malayalam in Tamil Nadu, but if you speak for a very long time, it'll be difficult to understand. But if you speak Tamil in Kerala, people will understand it.' Kamal Haasan went on to admit that it takes courage for someone to make a statement like his in public. 'It is our responsibility to ensure that our language doesn't disappear. Do you know how much dil (courage) it takes to make such a statement in this state? All of us are Dravidians. With that pride, we offer our family Thug Life. Namaskaram," he added. Thug Life reunites Kamal with filmmaker Mani Ratnam after almost four decades. He last worked together in the 1987 film Nayagan. The script is co-written by Kamal and Mani, while directed by the latter. Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf and Babura are also a part of the film. Thug Life is backed by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies and Red Giant Movies. It explores the story of a man who raises a young boy as his own but gets backstabbed by him later in life. Thug Life will see an extended gap of 8 weeks between its theatrical and OTT release. Talking about this new approach, Kamal told the media that it was a pragmatic thing to do. Hoping his approach will inspire others, he confirmed that Thug Life will make its OTT debut on Netflix India. He said, "It is not even an experiment, it's a pragmatic thing to do. I'm glad that the OTT (Netflix) agreed. It's a plan that maybe others could follow. 'It will make the industry healthy and we are glad that we were the first to be there to avail of that opportunity.' Usually, films follow a four-week window gap between its theatrical and digital release. Meanwhile, Thug Life will release on June 5.
India.com
22-05-2025
- India.com
Best 5 Camping Places Close To Coimbatore City For Nature Lovers
Coimbatore, located at the foothills of the Western Ghats, is a dynamic city in Tamil Nadu that acts as the entry point to some of the scenic wonders of South India. The best part is that it is offer great base for nature lover as warm temperature combined with lush greenery and soothing hills, forests, waterfalls and many more. While, if we talk about camping, there are many spots close to Coimbatore where campers can immerse themselves in untouched nature, and have the time of their life. This article aims to focus on the riverside camping around Coimbatore and their particular aspects, noting how accessible they are and the outdoorsy aspects we can offer. 1. Valparai Valparai is located 100 km far from Coimbatore, and it is one of the most popular places for camping and trekking. Surrounded by tea gardens, thick rainforests, gushing waterfalls, Valparai is beautiful beyond words. The region is very cool and therefore it is the best for tent pitching and other activities. 2. Siruvani Waterfalls Approximately 37 kilometers from coimbatore is the other hidden waterfall of Siruvani Falls. With its stunning views fed by the Siruvani River known for having some of the purest drinking water in the world, it is not difficult to see why its a paradise for camping enthusiasts. 3. Topslip Another great camping site near Coimbatore is Topslip located approximately 90 kilometers from the city at the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. Mixed with adventure and tranquil nature, Topslip provides a variety of flora and fauna and is a favorite among wildlife lovers all year round. 4. Bhavani Sagar Dam Bhawani Sagar Dam, which is roughly 80 kilometers away from Coimbatore, is a great site for those looking for camping spots by the lake. The calm nature of the dam along with its wide expanse, works as a perfect escape in nature. 5. Velliangiri Hills Known as the 'Kailash of the South,' Velliangiri Hills holds an equally stunning natural beauty along with it's immense spiritual significance. Velliangiri Vicinity is Located 60 kilometers from Coimbatore, which is a well known city in the southern region of India. Around these hills are frequented by south Indian pilgrims and adventure and breathtaking trekkers. Conclusion Coimbatore is strategically located amidst the Western Ghats, which serves as a boon to nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. Whether it is the misty hills of Valparai, roaring Bogat waterfalls, or quiet backwater of Bhavani Sagar Dam, there is no shortage of exquisite camping sites. Every region has its own special natural beauty, rich culture, and abundance of activities which ensures that every trip is memorable. So before going for the camping, remember to plan well in advance, pack your things appropriately, and observe Concertful approaches so that these beautiful regions remain unspoiled for the posterity. For camping and interacting with nature, Coimbatore is surely the most appropriate place. Pack your bags, call your friends, and head out to experience the enchanting beauty that lies beyond the city's borders!
