tirupati l wednesday l april 22, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, transition to executive chairman After 15 years at the helm, Apple CEO Tim Cook will leave the job he inherited from late Steve Jobs and assume the role of executive chairman on Sept 1 Hardware boss John Ternus to be new CEO Levinson to quit non-executive chair role Cook, 65, will turn the CEO duties to 51-year-old John Ternus, Apple’s head of hardware engineering. Ternus is taking over at a challenging time when AI is disrupting traditional markets and US-China trade tensions remain a threat to business. Cook will work Ternus to help him with “certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world” ■ ■ To allow Cook to assume his new job, Arthur Levinson will relinquish his role as non-executive chairman while remaining on Apple board Cook’s stepping down as chief executive and taking over as executive chairman is similar to the transitions made by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Netflix’s Reed Hastings after they ended their successful tenures $350 mn Apple’s valuation When Tim Cook took over as ceo in 2011; It’s $4 trillion today 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 Spectre of war TN can regain its past glory again as peace only under NDA rule: Naidu talks elusive E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada Trump says he would rather go to war than extend the ceasefire; Iran refuses to relent A g en c i e s @ Washington/Tehran/Islamabad After a brief lull, Gulf countries are bracing for renewed airstrikes as the twoweek ceasefire between Iran and the US is set to expire on Wednesday and the suspense over the proposed second round of peace talks continues. Pakistan’s information minister Attaullah Tarar said as of Tuesday evening, Iran was yet to send a formal response regarding its participation in the peace talks, to be held in Islamabad. A US team led by Vice President J D Vance was scheduled to leave for Pakistan on Tuesday morning, but delayed the departure following Iran’s public comments that it was not interested in holding any more talks with the US, accusing Washington of breaking the promises it made in the first round of talks. President Donald Trump, who announced the second round of day peace talks, on Tuesday warned that he would rather go back to war than extend the ceasefire, which ends at 4.50 am PST Wednesday . Iran also hardened its stance with parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf saying Tehran cannot enter negotiations “under the shadow of threats”. He also claimed that if the war resumes, then Iran will deploy some new, surprise weapons. Islamabad, the proposed venue of the peace talks, is under tight security cover. Over 10,000 personnel have been deployed for protecting foreign delegates. Some reports said security teams from both the US and Iran are already in the Pakistani capital to oversee preparations. Meanwhile, Trump dropped hints that he may accommodate some of Iran’s demands. “They have to negotiate... If they make a deal, they can make themselves into a strong nation again, a wonderful nation again,” he told CNBC. 53 Free 8 women on death row, Don tells Iran Trump on Tuesday requested Iran to release the eight women awaiting execution, ahead of the proposed peace talks. “Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!” he wrote on Social Truth, taking a remarkably softer tone than in his usual posts Trump misled by fake news, says Iran Iran denied that the eight women face execution. “Trump was misled by fake news,” Iranian judiciary’s official Mizan Online website said. “Some of the women have been released. Others face charges that, if convictions are upheld, would at most result in imprisonment.” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu has said Tamil Nadu can regain its past glory only under the NDA rule. As part of his two-day election campaign in Tamil Nadu, Naidu, along with Union Minister Piyush Goyal, addressed a press conference in Chennai on Tuesday . He emphasised that development, employment generation and welfare are possible only under the NDA governance. He highlighted the longstanding relationship between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and elaborated on the latter’s historical prominence. The AP Chief Minister noted ECI cracks whip on foul play MUK E SH R A N J A N @ New Delhi Ahead of polling in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the Election Commission of India read the riot act to all poll officials to ensure the process is free and fair. Since the entire exercise would be monitored through webcasting, even a brief disruption, such as a camera going offline for a few seconds or a technical glitch, could lead to repoll being ordered, the panel warned. “To prevent irregularities and violence, several measures have been implemented, including the large-scale deployment of paramilitary forces,” a senior ECI official said. The commission is also on high alert to curb booth capturing and fake voting, the officials said, adding that during webcasting, even a brief disruption, such as a camera going offline for a second or any technical glitch could lead to a re-poll being ordered by the authorities. “If the ECI still finds that malpractice has not been effectively controlled, it may even withhold the results for the entire legislative assembly another ECI official said. ,” AP Ministers begin study tour in Singapore E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada The Andhra Pradesh ministerial delegation’s study tour to Singapore began on a successful note on Tuesday with a fullday of engagements focused on citizen participation and social cohesion. The delegation comprises P Narayana (Municipal Administration and Urban Development), Vangalapudi Anitha (Home), Kinjarapu Atchannaidu (Agriculture), Anagani Satya Prasad (Revenue), B C Janardhan Reddy (Roads & Buildings), and Y Satya Kumar Yadav (Health), Planning Secretary Anant Shankar, and APSDPS Executive Director Alaparthi Venkateswara Rao. Upon arrival, the delegation attended an official luncheon hosted by Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where Minister-level repre- sentative Gan Sio Huang discussed investment opportunities and infrastructure development. Later, at Our Tampines Hub, Francis Chung delivered opening remarks, followed by former Deputy Secretary Ang Hak Seng, who explained Singapore’s social compact, citizen participation, and collaborative service delivery models. The AP Ministers visited facilities at Our Tampines Hub, Singapore’s largest lifestyle centre, including sports arenas, swimming pools, libraries, malls, and the Festive Arts Theatre. Association representatives briefed them on how public services are implemented transparently and efficiently . In the evening, the delega- On the first day of its study tour to Singapore, the AP ministerial delegation focuses on citizen engagement and social cohesion | Express tion attended a Meet-the-People Session, witnessing firsthand how elected representatives interact directly with citizens to resolve issues. Gan Sio Huang also joined this session. The AP Ministers stated that the visit provided valuable insights into Singapore’s approaches to transparency, inclusivity, and participatory governance, which could be replicated to strengthen citizen engagement in AP . They emphasised that such experiences would help make government services more people-centric. As part of the tour, the delegation also paid a courtesy call on the High Commissioner of India in Singapore. The first day of the tour highlighted Singapore’s model of social integration and participatory governance, offering AP delegation practical lessons for future implementation.  13 dead in KL firecracker unit explosion NITI Aayog highlights AP potential in ‘Divya Bharat’ E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Thrissur E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada In a major endorsement for Andhra Pradesh’s growing tourism sector, NITI Aayog has spotlighted the State as one of India’s most compelling travel destinations in its flagship report ‘Divya Bharat - A Window to the Soul of India,’ underscoring its rich natural landscapes, cultural depth, and policy-driven development as key drivers of its rising national prominence. The comprehensive 13-page report, along with a short promotional video, presents Andhra Pradesh as a vibrant tourism hub offering a unique blend of nature, heritage, spirituality , and cuisine. It notes that the State has made significant strides in promoting tourism under the leadership of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh. Their combined vision and governance, the report says, have helped position Andhra Pradesh prominently on the national tourism map. Highlighting the State’s geographical diversity, the report recommends October to February as the best time to visit AP , and offers insights into seasonP4 al travel across regions.  that Tamil Nadu, once a leading hub of South India, is now facing stiff competition from cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad. He urged Tamil Nadu voters to think progressively and support parties that promote economic development. Naidu criticised parties like the DMK and the Congress, alleging that their opposition to key bills has harmed women and especially southern states. Speaking on the issue of delimitation, the TDP supremo said the Centre’s proposal to increase constituencies by 50 per cent irrespective of population would not har m souther n States. Instead, it would ensure 33 per cent reservation for women, which is a better formula, he said. Naidu recalled that during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister in 2001, he opposed delimitation based purely on population to protect southern states’ interests. He expressed concern that development in Tamil Nadu has slowed down with increasing migration from cities like P4 Chennai.  Disruption in webcasting On the boil Security personnel fire tear gas shells to disperse a mob advancing towards the BDO office in Thoubal district of Manipur on Tuesday, where Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh’s event was scheduled. One person sustained bullet wounds in the firing | PTI at least 13 workers were killed and over 40 injured — five of them critically — after a powerful explosion ripped through a firecracker-manufacturing unit set up in a paddy field at Mundathicode in Thrissur district on Tuesday . The facility was engaged in preparing firecrackers for Thiruvambady devaswom ahead of the Thrissur Pooram scheduled this Sunday . The unit, comprising makeshift sheds, was flattened in the blast, leaving behind widespread devastation across the dry fields where temporary Injured being taken to hospital | Express structures were erected as part of festival preparations. Nearly 70 labourers were present at the unit when the explosion occurred around 3 pm. The impact was so intense that nearby residents initially mistook it for an earthquake. Sources said nearly 2,000 kg of explosive materials were stored at the facility The initial . blast triggered a series of secondary explosions, sending unexploded firecrackers flying into surrounding fields and hampering rescue efforts. Fire and rescue personnel were forced to operate from a distance for hours as intermittent explosions continued. Unable to immediately access the site, they sprayed water while waiting for the blasts to subside before moving in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of `2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and `50,000 for the injured. Address to the nation draws privilege notice P r ee t h a N a i r @ New Delhi Amid an escalating tussle over the women’s quota bill and delimitation, the Congress on Tuesday submitted a privilege notice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging that the prime minister committed a breach of privilege during his address to the nation last week by “casting aspersions” on members of the Lower House. In the notice submitted under Rule 222, Congress MP K C Venugopal urged the Speaker to take immediate and decisive steps to uphold the sanctity of Parliament and the constitutional protections afforded to its members. He said on April 18, the prime minister addressed the nation on TV following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. 2026 in the Lok Sabha on April 17, which failed to secure the required two-thirds majority . In the 29-minute speech, Modi criticised the blocking of the bill, made direct reflections on the voting pattern of members of the Opposition and attributed motives to them, he said. It is well established that casting reflections, aspersions, and imputing motives to MPs regarding speeches in Parliament is tantamount to gross breach of privilege and contempt of the House, he added. “Addressing the nation by the PM on the government not being able to muster the requisite majority in Parliament for criticizing the Opposition parties is unprecedented, which is unethical and a blatant abuse of power,” Venugopal alleged in his notice. forward training node Army’s skill lab where soldiers learn how to win the drone war J a v a r i a Rana @ Bhuj Computer screens display simulated terrain, moving targets and live telemetry as young soldiers pilot virtual drones through obstacle-heavy scenarios that resemble a video game, but are configured to replicate combat conditions. This newspaper visited one such forward training node on the western front, part of the Army’s post-Operation Sindoor push to build its next generation of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators. Drones, once limited to intelligence, surveillance and re- connaissance (ISR) roles, are now central to battlefield operations, delivering low-cost surveillance and precision strikes while compressing decision timelines. During Operation Sindoor, Army units deployed UAVs for surveillance, targeting and loitering munition strikes, allowing tactical formations to generate a real-time battlefield picture with reduced dependence on higher headquarters. The Army began setting up these labs about two years ago across infantry formations and independent brigades to standardise training and build a Soldiers operate an FPV drone through an obstacle course during training at an Army drone lab | Javaria Rana steady pipeline of operators. “We follow the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGQA) protocols and train in phases, starting on simulators before moving to live systems,” a Colonel overseeing the node told this newspaper. Training begins on simulators using homegrown software to familiarise personnel with controls, mission scenarios and emergency handling, before they transition to live platforms. “It may look like a video game, but the focus is on building muscle memory and decision-making under pressure,” the officer said. After completing the required flying hours, soldiers undergo structured training followed by hands-on exposure across a spectrum of systems, from micro UAVs used for close reconnaissance to first-person view (FPV) drones and loitering munitions. The modules cover mission planning, payload integration and operations in contested environments, including scenarios involving signal disruption and electronic interference. In the next stage, obstacle courses are used to rigorously test control, manoeuvrability and responsiveness in constrained, high-pressure settings. Those who perform well are taken on for advanced pilot and instructor roles. Each lab can run up to 40 courses annually and, when required, also trains Border Security Force (BSF) personnel as part of inter-agency coordination to counter crossborder drone activity . The training pipeline now feeds directly into operational units. In the infantry each unit , is being equipped with ‘Ashni’ platoons carrying surveillance UAVs and loitering munitions for tactical ISR and strike roles. In artillery ‘Divyastra’ batteries , integrate UAV-based targeting with guns, while ‘Shaktibaan’ regiments are tasked with longrange precision strikes using swarm drones and remotely piloted aircraft systems.