South Africa players celebrate the wicket of India’s Tilak Varma on Sunday. The Proteas beat India by 76 runs to hand them their first loss of the T20 WC | AfP vijayawada l monday l february 23, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION 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 India delays negotiators’ US Modi lashes at Cong visit amid tariff uncertainty over shirtless protest India, US trade negotiating teams were to begin talks in Washington on Monday P U S H P I TA D E Y @ New Delhi THE scheduled visit of India’s trade negotiating team to the US this week has been postponed in the wake of the US Supreme Court striking down the sweeping tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on various countries, said an official with the Ministry of Commerce. The Indian delegation, led by Commerce Ministry Joint Secretary Darpan Jain, was supposed to depart for Washington on Sunday and the three-day talks were to begin on Monday. After final negotiations, both sides were expected to conclude the text of the interim trade agreement. According to the commerce ministry the , decision to reschedule the visit of the Indian team was taken by both sides after assessing the latest developments and their implications for the negotiations. “The next date of the visit to the US is yet to be decided,” said an official. On Friday in a major setback to US Presi, dent Donald Trump, the US Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs imposed by Trump on nations around the world were illegal and that the president had exceeded his authority when he imposed the sweeping levies by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. Hours after the adverse verdict, Trump announced a 10% tariff on imports from all countries, including India, effective February 24 for 150 days. A day later, he increased the across-the-board tariff to 15%. The US had imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on India in August 2025. Later, an additional 25% duty was slapped for buying Russian crude oil, taking the total tariffs on India to 50%. Earlier this month, India and the US agreed on a framework to finalise an interim trade deal, under which Washington would cut down the reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 18%. The additional 25% penal duty was also removed. Under this plan, the US was to bring down tariff to 18% on Indian exports. However, in light of the Supreme Court verdict, there is a question mark on the effective rate. Trump’s remark that “nothing changes for India” added to the confusion. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had previously said that the interim trade agreement between India and the US was expected to be signed in March and implemented in April. E x p r e s s Re a d Food lab at Tirumala to start ops next month Vijayawada: The State is set to inaugurate a cutting-edge food laboratory at Tirumala, aimed at ensuring the highest quality standards for prasadam and food served to devotees. Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav said the lab facility taken up at a cost of `25 crore, is nearing completion, and operations are expected to begin in March | P3 AP signs MoC for BharatNet Project Vijayawada: The AP government has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the Centre for Amended BharatNet Project (ABNP). Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said AP is preparing to become a national test bed for telecom and emerging technologies, while ensuring internet connectivity to every house in 18 months | P4 Annamayya becomes water surplus now Tirupati: In a remarkable transformation, once considered the second most drought-prone district in the State, Annamayya has emerged as a model of sustainable water security under the district administration’s flagship initiative, Project Jaladhara. Now, the district has climbed to second place in groundwater availability | P4 Today’s Match 7pm: Zimbabwe vs West Indies (Mumbai) 1 New date after evaluation Sources said the visit has been put off to give both sides time to evaluate the latest developments and their implications. The meeting will be rescheduled at a mutually convenient date 2 Confusion over rate Trump’s remark that ‘nothing changes for India’ after the US Supreme Court verdict added to the confusion among Indian exporters about the effective tariff rate 3 ‘Negotiating blocs needed’ Countries affected by US tariffs should form ‘negotiating blocs’ instead of negotiating with Trump, said Brazil’s President Lula da Silva, suggesting ‘unionisation’ of those suffering from US tariffs US must treat all countries equally: Lula E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday urged the US not to spark a ‘new Cold War’ and called for all countries to be treated equally signalling a desire to reset , relations ahead of his planned visit to Washington next month. “I want to tell US President Donald Trump that we don’t want a new Cold War. We don’t want interference in any other country We want all countries to be treated . equally Lula said at a press conference in ,” New Delhi, where he wrapped up a threeday visit to India. Lula said his agenda would focus on trade, immigration, investment, and academic ties. Relations between Brasília and Wa s h i n g t o n h ave Brazil President Luiz been tense in recent Inácio Lula da Silva months, with disputes ranging from tariffs on Brazilian exports to disagreements on foreign policy . The Brazilian leader, known for his Leftist positions and has often clashed with Trump on trade and foreign policy stressed , dialogue over confrontation. “We don’t want to interfere in any country; we want all nations to be treated fairly he said. ,” In recent months, the Trump administration eased some tensions, exempting key Brazilian exports from a 40% tariff imposed last year. Lula described the thaw in relations as a step toward global stability . Lula’s visit to India also focused on strategic partnerships, with both countries agreeing to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals and rare earths. The two nations signed a series of agreements covering trade, technology, and innovation during the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. r a j e s h k u m a r tha k u r @ New Delhi They can’t perform in Parliament and do not allow their allies to speak. By not allowing Parliament to function, it is their allies who suffer Narendra Modi Thanks INDIA allies The PM thanked other INDIA bloc allies for criticising the Congress over the Delhi protest. “The allied parties have shown courage to criticise Congress.” PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Indian National Congress, days after a shirtless protest was staged by Congress workers at the AI impact Summit. Addressing a rally in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, which faces Assembly elections next year, Modi accused the Congress of misconduct and said its “unbridled leadership was bent on d a m a g i n g t h e c o u n t r y ’s interests.” Breaking his silence over the shirtless protest for the first time, Modi said, “The sarfira (crazy) and be-lagaam (reckless) leader of Congress is hellbent on destroying the country . I ask Congress leaders that the nation already knows your true form, what was the need to strip further?” He accused the Congress of turning a global event into a platform for dirty politics. He said the party had disrespected a forum meant to showcase India’s technological prowess. Describing the protest as a PM Narendra Modi talks to a passenger during a metro ride in Meerut; UP CM Yogi Adityanath is also seen | PTI sign of ideological bankruptcy , Modi sought to draw a distinction between the Congress and its partners in the opposition INDIA bloc. He said no other opposition parties, including the All India Trinamool Congress, the BSP and the DMK had acted in a similar manner. In an apparent reference to a top Congress leader, Modi said: “If you want to sit in the Prime Minister’s chair, first of all you have to win the hearts of the people of this country By send. ing women MPs and capturing seats, you cannot become the Prime Minister.” Sky Sting Israel missile part of pm’s visit agenda India is likely to advance discussions on procuring the Israeli-origin ‘Sky-sting’ beyond-visual-range-air-to-air missile during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel | P7 J&K encounter JeM topgun among three terrorists killed Faya z Wan i @ Srinagar SECURITY forces on Sunday dealt a major blow to militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad by killing three of its Pakistani militants in encounters in the dense forests of Chatroo in Kishtwar of J&K. The gunfight broke out in the Passerkut area of Chatroo forest after a joint operation by army, police and CRPF acting on intelligence under Operation Trashi-I. Preliminary assessments by security forces suggest that one of the deceased is Saifullah, a notorious JeM commander. He had infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir nearly five years ago and had masterminded a flurry of deadly attacks on security forces, including one in July 2024 that left four soldiers dead. Saifullah had escaped a number of encounters in the past. “Troops of CIF Delta in close coordination with J&K police, and CRPF re-engaged militants at approximately 11 am in challenging terrain,” an Army spokesperson said. Two AK-47 rifles and other war-like stores were recovered from the encounter site. Sources said militants were hiding inside a mud house located on the foothills. A trained K9 canine ‘Tyson’ from 2 Parachute regiment (Special Forces) played a key role in locating the militants. Troops launched a decisive assault on militant positions in the mud house, leading to the encounters.