tirupati l saturday l january 24, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Florida may freeze new H-1B visa hires at Universities for a year VISA Florida’s university system is proposing one-year bar on new hires using H-1B visas, following a directive from Governor Ron DeSantis florida governor behind the move The Florida Board of Governors is scheduled to review and potentially introduce the policy change on January 29, Politico reported. If approved by the full board, it would enter a 14-day public comment period before final implementation. This stems from an October 2025 directive by Governor Ron DeSantis, who wanted a halt on “H-1B abuse” ■ 600 proposal won’t affect existing H-1bs ■ The freeze applies across the entire State University System of Florida, covering major institutions such as the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida, and others The policy would not affect existing H-1B visa holders already employed at these universities, it only blocks new recruitment employees of Florida’s public universities are on h-1b visa 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 Left point on Sonia in Sabarimala gold row upsets Rahul Gandhi Pree t ha N a i r @ New Delhi PM Narendra Modi with NDA alliance partners, including AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, at a poll rally at Maduranthakam on Friday | Shiba Prasad Sahu TN will have ‘double engine’ NDA govt after polls, says PM Says TN got `3L cr from Centre in 11 yrs, huge crowd shows state is ready for change S u b ash i n i V i j ayakumar @ Chennai Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday kicked off the NDA’s campaign for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections at Maduranthakam, urging voters to opt for a “double-engine government” and asserting that coordination between the state and the Centre was essential to attract investments and accelerate development. “Bharat is becoming a destination for investors and is signing big deals. At this time, it is essential to have an NDA double-engine government — one that is cordial with the Central government. Only then will it become easier for investments to reach the state,” Modi said. Even as AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has been stressing that his party will win majority on its own and there won’t be any need to share power with allies in the government, Modi repeatedly referred to the prospect of an “NDA government” or “NDA-BJP government” assuming power in the state after the polls during his speech at the event. The rally effectively pushed Tamil Nadu into election mode, with senior NDA leaders sharing the stage and projecting unity ahead of the polls. Among them was T T V Dhinakaran, leader of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, who shook hands with Palaniswami, indicating that their focus now was to unseat the ruling DMK from power. Addressing the gathering, Dhinakaran said he had joined the NDA without hesitation. “We want to remove corrupt family rule and restore the governance ideals of Puratchi Thalaivar MGR and Amma. AMMK cadres will work for NDA’s victory,” he assured Modi and Palaniswami who were on the stage. Edappadi K Palaniswami also addressed Dhinakaran as “brother” during his speech. Stating that the countdown to “send the DMK government home” had begun, Prime Minister Modi said senior NDA leaders had P5 gathered with that single resolve.  The people of TN are now referring to the DMK as a CMC (Corruption, Mafia and Crime government). The DMK government is functioning for the benefit of a single family Narendra Modi, PM ‘DMK, allies insulted HC’ Speaking on Thiruparankundram issue, Modi said BJP leaders had stood up for the rights of devotees, but the DMK and its allies have insulted the HC to protect their vote-bank. “They (DMK) are against TN’s culture,” the PM said ‘Only BJP can develop state’ Corruption by the successive CPM and Congress governments in Kerala has stifled the state’s growth; only the BJP can bring development but it needs a decisive mandate, Modi said Draws Ahmedabad parallel to rev up BJP’s Kerala cadre E XP R E S S N E W S S E R VIC E @ T’Puram Recalling that the BJP’s 1987 victory in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation paved the way for decades of its rule in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the party’s win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation would trigger a similar “transformation” in Kerala, reflecting public trust in the BJP’s development and governance model. Virtually kick-starting the NDA’s assembly poll campaign in Kerala with a rally in Thiruvananthapuram, Modi said the BJP was a marginal force in the 1980s. “In 1987, we won the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for the first time. Our journey began in one city Similarly in Kerala, our begin. , nings have started with Thiruvananthapuram,” he said. Modi launched a scathing attack on both the ruling CPM-led LDF and the opposition Congress-led UDF, accusing them of ruining the state in collusion with each other for the past many decades. Alleging an unholy alliance between both fronts, he said it was time to break the nexus by electing an NDA government, which would be “pro-people” and “prodevelopment.” Accusing the LDF of harming the customs and traditions of the Sabarimala temple, Modi said if the BJP assumes power in the state, then all the culprits would be put behind bars. “This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said. He also targeted opposition UDF, referring to its main constituent Congress as ‘MMC’ or ‘Muslim League Maoist Congress’. Prakash admits he met Potty UDF convenor and Congress MP Adoor Prakash admitted that he met Potty on multiple occasions, but dismissed allegations linking him to the gold case Was UDF’s major poll plank The alleged gold heist was the UDF’s principal campaign plank during the recent panchayat elections, a strategy that appeared to favour the Cong-led front Satheesan raised it The issue was initially raised in the assembly by V D Satheesan, who questioned the loss of gold from the Sabarimala With the controversy over the alleged ‘Sabarimala gold theft’ intensifying, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is learnt to be ‘deeply upset’ with the party’s Kerala leaders over the manner in which the issue was handled, particularly after Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson and his mother Sonia Gandhi’s name figured in the political sparring. According to sources, Rahul felt that sections of the state Congress leadership adopted a short-sighted approach in pursuing the controversy, allowing the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF to drag his mother’s name and sharpen its counter-offensive. The political slugfest intensified after photographs surfaced purportedly showing Unnikrishnan Potty the prime , accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, along with Sonia Gandhi and Congress MPs Adoor Prakash and Anto Antony The CPI(M) and the Kerala government seized on the . images to allege links between the Congress leadership and the accused, a charge the Congress dismissed it as a smear campaign. Sources said Rahul believed that the Congress’s aggressive campaign strategy forced the Left to intensify the issue and turn it into a larger political confrontation. The Sabarimala gold loss cases relate to the alleged misappropriation of the precious metal from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and sanctum sanctorum door frames at the Lord Ayyappa temple. A Special Investigation Team probing the cases has arrested 12 people, including Potty and two former presidents of the Travancore Devaswom Board in connection with the matter. The issue dominated proceedings in the Kerala assembly this week, triggering heated exchanges with ministers, including V Sivankutty and M B Rajesh. While referring to the photograph appearing to show the accused with Sonia Gandhi, Rajesh said that the photo showed “the thief and the person who pocketed the loot” together. While Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan wrote to Speaker A N Shamseer demanding that the remarks be expunged, Congress insiders say it has done a huge damage to the party . Sources said the Congress leadership has so far failed to offer a convincing explanation regarding the photograph, allowing the CPI(M) to weaponise it. The Congress’s use of the song Pottiye Kettiyatharappa during protests and campaign events linked to the alleged gold theft case also drew criticism that it was ill-advised and led to deepening animosity between the UDF and the LDF. Sources in the Left said it felt compelled to launch a counter-offensive after sustained attacks by the Congress, both at the national level and outside Parliament. Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday launched a sharp political attack on the BJPled National Democratic Alliance (NDA), rejecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “double engine” pitch and reiterated a list of long-pending demands of the state which he said the centre continues to ignore. Responding on ‘X’ to Modi’s remarks at the rally in Maduranthakam, Stalin said the “double-engine government” concept would not work in the state. “The so-called ‘double engine’ will not run in Tamil Nadu. That ‘duppa engine’ (waste engine) will not work here,” he said. Resolution on VB-G-RAM-G TN Assembly passed a resolution, urging the centre to alter VB-G-RAM-G & continue with the MGNREGA Two job racketeers held for using CM’s fake audio clip E x p ress N e w s S er v i c e @ Visakhapatnam Anakapalli police have busted a job scam by arresting two persons, who cheated unemployed youth. Disclosing this to mediapersons on Friday District Superin, tendent of Police Tuhin Sinha said the scamsters were identified as Eragorla Srinu of Prakasam district, and Shaik Saleem of Vijayawada. The duo falsely claimed to have high level connections in the Chief Minister’s Office. Believing their claims, a woman from Rolugunta, a DSC aspirant, approached them. The duo promised to get her a Secondary Grade Teacher post if `15 lakh was paid to them. To gain the victim’s trust, Srinu befriended her husband, and sent them a fake audio clip of conversation with the Chief Minister, P4 the SP said.  Stating that Tamil Nadu had recorded historic growth despite what he described as obstacles created by the BJP-led union government, Stalin urged Modi to compare development indicators. “When compared to your ‘double-engine’ states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, it is the states where your ‘duppa engine’ has not entered — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka and West Bengal — that are soaring in development,” he said. He alleged that the BJP’s “betrayal” of the Tamil language and Tamil Nadu would not be forgotten, asserting that the state would never bow to what he termed “arrogance of Delhi”. E X p ress ne w s ser v i c e @ New Delhi INDIA’s largest steel companies —Tata Steel, JSW Steel and state-run SAIL and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) — disclosed their pricing plans to rivals and coordinated production cuts to reduce supplies, according to a confidential antitrust investigation report seen by Reuters. It was earlier reported that CCI found 28 firms colluded on steel prices, meaning they could face hefty fines. The investigation report by the Competition Commission of India into the four major companies that has not been made public, shows the ‌ omc mission reviewed dozens of WhatsApp ‌ hats, including c from groups named “Friends of Steel”, “Tycoons” and “Steel Live Market” that were seized during 2022 industry raids. It analysed pricing changes, sales and production patterns. Tata Steel, JSW Steel and state-run Steel Authority of India Limited (‌ AIL), and RINL S colluded during 2018-2023, the report says. “There is enough circumstantial evidence ... of concerted efforts by SAIL, RINL, JSW and Tata Steel,” the commission report, drafted in April 2025, said, as per Reuters. The four companies “were influencing the market with the sensitive price information in advance,” it said. Consultancy BigMint estimates the companies account for 44.4% of India’s steel market. Tata Steel said it “denies any wrongdoing”, and that it determines its prices independently based on market conditions and other factors. while JSW, SAIL and RINL did not respond to queries from Reuters. Support MSME sector to promote rapid economic development: CM to bankers E x p ress N e w s S er v i c e @ Vijayawada ‘Duppa engine’ will not run in TN, says Stalin e x p ress ne w s ser v i c e @ Chennai Steel sector cartelisation under CCI lens On his return from Davos, CM Chandrababu Naidu being welcomed by Chief Secretary Vijayanand | Express Soon after returning to the State from Davos on Friday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directly went to the Secretariat, and chaired the 233rd and 234th State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) meetings. He reviewed the implementation of the Annual Credit Plan for 2025-26. The Chief Minister urged the bankers to extend financial support to MSMEs, especially those belonging to BC, SC and ST communities. The bankers informed him that loans amounting to `2.96 lakh crore have been extended to agriculture and allied sectors under the Annual Credit Plan so far. Loans worth `1,490 crore have been provided to tenant farmers, and `95,714 crore loans have been sanctioned for MSMEs. Naidu said loans worth `2 lakh crore in the State could be rescheduled, and so far loans worth `49,000 crore have been rescheduled, resulting in savings of `1,108 crore. He sought the support of bankers to expand natural farming. “The cooperation of bankers is essential for the development of MSME and other key sectors. Priority should be given to MSMEs that support weaker sections in business. If MSMEs are encouraged, not only the primary sector but also the industrial and service sectors will grow, leading to allround development of the State,” he observed. The Chief Minister said the State government is moving forward with the ‘One Family - One Entrepreneur’ policy and , preparing plans to strengthen the service sector. No one in the State should be forced to take loans from private individuals, P4 he asserted.  Tiger claw seized during census, 2 nabbed in Nallamala forest K M A D H U S U D H A K A R @ Kurnool The claw of a tiger seized by Atmakur division forest officials in the Nallamala | Express During the ongoing tiger population estimation exercise, forest officials of the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), Atmakur division in Nandyal district, have nabbed two persons, and seized a tiger claw from them in the Nallamala forest, highlighting the threat to wildlife in protected areas. NSTR Deputy Director of Atmakur Division Vignesh Appavu said acting on credible intelligence, Project Tiger officials conducted a special operation, and apprehended Murali of Kothapalli mandal. During the search, the officials seized a tiger claw from him. When questioned, Murali revealed the involvement of another in it, leading to the arrest of Vishnu of Kothapalli. Based on the information collected so far, the officials believe that the duo might have illegally collected the claw from a tiger carcass found in the forest in Atmakur division. The circumstances surrounding the death of the tiger, and the possibility of links to organised wildlife crime network are being probed. The arrest of duo assumes significance as the tiger claw surfaced during the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE- 2026), which has been underway since December 2025. As part of the survey forest , staff are intensively monitoring pugmarks, scats, claw marks, vegetation health and human disturbances. It may be mentioned here that seven persons were arrested recently in the Mahanandi forest limits for selling pendants crafted from leopard claws. The incident exposed the illegal trade in animal body parts, driven partly by social media trends and superstitious beliefs. The officials said this kind of incidents underline the importance of strict vigil in the NSTR, which spreads across 5,360.22 sq km, making it the largest P4 tiger reserve in India.