Homebound in Oscar shortlist for best international feature kochi l thursday l December 18, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION The much acclaimed Bollywood drama by Neeraj Ghaywan is among 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars Mar 15, 2026 when the award ceremony will be held at the Dolby Theatre in L.A. 4th Indian Film to Compete in This Category The film will compete alongside Argentina’s Bel’n, Brazil’s The Secret Agent and French drama It Was Just an Accident. It stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor. 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 Lok Sabha clears nuclear bill amid Oppn walkout PR E E THA N AIR @ New Delhi THE Lok Sabha on Wednesday cleared the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill to open up the nuclear sector for private players. The bill was passed by voice vote amid a walkout by the Opposition members, who raised the issues of public safety and liability in case of a nuclear disaster. Dramatic scenes are likely on Thursday as well, when the contentious VB-G RAM G Bill is expected to be taken up for passage in the House. The SHANTI Bill was passed after a four-hour debate, setting the stage for opening up the tightly controlled civil nuclear sector for private participation. Opposition MPs, barring those from the Trinamool Congress, staged a walkout after the government refused to refer the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee or a Standing Committee. Replying to the discussion on SHANTI Bill, Union minister Jitendra Singh said the tough provisions of India’s nuclear liability laws led to “silent phobia” in the industry, prompting the government to bring a new comprehensive bill. Congress MP Manish Tewari said by removing nuclear equipment suppliers’ liability the govern, ment was putting citizens in harm’s way . “The government will deal only with the operator; it is upon the operator to deal with the supplier,” said Singh, Minister of State in the PMO, who oversees the Department of Atomic Energy . Meanwhile, a heated midnight debate set the stage for the passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill on Thursday Moving the bill on Wednesday Union . , Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said it will ensure all-around development of villages and make them poverty-free. Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh said the new bill will break the back of states like Kerala.  P7 Security oversight Safety norms, security controls over fissile material, spent fuel and heavy water, and inspections will remain under govt oversight, Centre said Misstep, says Cong Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the bill is a “dangerous leap into privatised nuclear expansion” Insurance FDI 100% The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to raise FDI in insurance to 100% from 74%. 173/lakh: Kerala’s cancer burden highest in South Unn i k r i s h n a n S @T’Puram It’s alarming. Kerala has witnessed a steep rise in cancer cases over the past decade, with annual incidence climbing by 54%, from 39,672 cases in 2015 to 61,175 in 2024. More worryingly the state’s , per capita cancer incidence— cases per 1 lakh population— rose to 173 in 2024 from 114 a decade ago, according to figures from the ICMR-National Cancer Registry Programme. The data was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Union Health Minister J P Nadda in response to a question from DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi. The surge in Kerala’s cancer cases was particularly pronounced after 2018, with a sharp jump recorded in 2019 followed by a steady increase of about 1,000 cases in subsequent years, the figures revealed. Experts felt the number reflected both a genuine rise in disease burden and improved detection through expanded Munir in pickle as Don wants Pak troops in Gaza E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @New Delhi Pakistan’s most powerful military chief in decades is facing a critical test of his newly consolidated authority as the US is pressing it to contribute troops to a proposed international stabilisation force in Gaza, a move analysts say could trigger strong domestic backlash, Reuters reported. Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to travel to Washington in the coming weeks to meet US President Donald Trump, Reuters said. The meeting would be his third in six months and is likely to centre on Washington’s push for Pakistan’s participation in the Gaza force. The proposed deployment is a key pillar of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan. Under its first phase, a fragile ceasefire took effect on October 10, with Hamas releasing hostages and Israel freeing detained Palestinians. The US officials view the stabilisation force as central to moving the plan into its next phase. For Munir, analysts say the , decision carries political risks. Any deployment of troops to Gaza could provoke public uprising in a country where support for Palestinians is strong. “Not contributing could annoy Trump, which is no small matter for a Pakistani state that appears quite keen to remain in his good graces — in great part to secure US investment,” said Michael Kugelman, senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council. n at i o n a l s c re e n i n g p ro grammes and strengthened healthcare delivery . Among souther n states, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka rep o r t e d a h i g h e r a n nu a l caseload, but were behind Kerala in per capita cancer incidence. With a population of about 3.5 crore, Kerala’s incidence of 173 cases per 1 lakh people in 2024 was significantly higher than Tamil Nadu (137), Karnataka (139) and Andhra Pradesh ● More on P4 (144).  EXPRESS READ Mid-2026 target for NH-66 completion Kochi: The long-drawn-out widening of NH 66 in Kerala is now targeted for a phased completion between March and August 2026. Revised timelines released by the Centre indicate the bulk of the work will be completed only by mid-2026 | P5 Cops register case against poll parody T’Puram: The police have booked those behind Swarnam kattavar aarappa, sakhakkal aane Ayyappa, a poll parody of a devotional song, which was used by opposition parties to take on the government over the Sabarimala gold theft case. The complainant alleged the parody hurt religious sentiments | P5 16 pages, including 4 pages of KOCHI Express Disturbing stats State Population Cancer Cases per in 2024 cases 1 lakh (approx) (2024) population Kerala 3.5 crore 61,175 173 Tamil Nadu 7.2 crore 98,386 137 Karnataka 6.8 crore 94,832 139 Andhra Pradesh 5.3 crore 76,708 144 146 crore 14,13,316 98.5 India Cancer cases in state saw sharp jump in 2019 and steadily rose by about 1,000 cases a year Estimated incidence of cancer cases in Kerala VB-G RAM G Bill today 2015 39,672 2016 42,004 2017 44,566 2018 47,382 2019 56,148 2020 57,155 2021 58,139 2022 59,143 2023 60,162 2024 61,175 B’desh envoy summoned amid worry over security ing certain recent events in Bangladesh”. Hamidullah was India on Wednesday summoned summoned by B Shyam, Joint Bangladesh’s High Commission- Secretary in charge of the er Riaz Hamidullah and lodged a Bangladesh-Myanmar division protest over what it described as at the MEA, and was apprised plans by extremist elements to of concerns over threats to Increate a security situation dian diplomatic premises. around the Indian High Commis“His attention was drawn to sion in Dhaka. the activities of some exHamidullah was called tremist elements who to the Ministry of Exterhave announced plans to nal Affairs (MEA) and create a security situaserved a for mal de- India expects tion around the Indian marche expressing In- interim govt Mission in Dhaka,” to ensure dia’s “serious concerns” the MEA said. safety of over the deteriorating sePeople familiar with missions curity environment in the developments said — MEA Bangladesh. It came afone trigger for the sumter certain groups anmons was a controvernounced plans to stage protests sial speech earlier this week by near the Indian mission in the National Citizen Party leader Bangladesh capital. In a state- Hasnat Abdullah, who claimed ment, the MEA said India Bangladesh could shelter sepa“completely rejects the false ratist forces from India and ponarrative sought to be created tentially sever its seven northby extremist elements regard- eastern states. J aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi