Closely-watched: Trump begins 3-day China visit US President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are expected to discuss US-China trade tensions and the war with Iran. The trade war between the two countries will be on top of the agenda. Trump will have a bilateral meeting with Xi on Thursday. The two will meet again on Friday for a bilateral tea and working lunch. They are set to discuss extending the one-year tariff truce. China’s controls on rare earth exports are also likely to be on the menu| P12 bengaluru l Thursday l may 14, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 20 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 PM’s high-stakes stopover in Abu Dhabi to focus on energy security UAE pacts on oil strategic reserve, LNG on the cards J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Energy security will emerge as the centrepiece of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-stakes stopover in Abu Dhabi on May 15 for talks with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, amid escalating tensions in West Asia and shifting global oil equations. During the three-hour visit to the UAE, en route to his fournation Europe tour covering the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy India and the UAE are , expected to sign two key memoranda of understanding on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplies and strategic petroleum reserves, further deepening a partnership critical to India’s energy needs, sources familiar with the development said. The visit comes at a time of heightened volatility in global energy markets and renewed focus on supply diversification. Sources said the proposed agreements are aimed at strengthening longterm energy stability for India while expanding the UAE’s role as one of New Delhi’s most trusted energy partners. The UAE currently meets nearly 40% of India’s LPG requirements, making it the country’s largest supplier. It was also India’s fourth-largest source of crude oil last year, ac- counting for nearly 11% of total imports, while ranking as the third-largest supplier of LNG. Indian companies and ADNOC Gas have signed longterm agreements for cumulative LNG supplies of 4.5 MMTPA, making India the largest buyer of UAE-origin LNG. The two sides are also expected to review cooperation on India’s strategic petroleum reserves. In 2018, the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed an agreement allowing the UAE to store more than five million barrels of crude oil at the Mangaluru reserve facility , the first such arrangement with any country . Energy ties have evolved into a broader strategic partnership involving upstream investments and clean energy collaboration. In 2018, a consortium of Indian firms, OVL, BPRL and IOCL acquired 10% stake in Abu Dhabi’s Lower Zakum offshore block. A year later, Urja Bharat Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between BPRL and IOCL, secured a stake in Abu Dhabi Onshore Block-1. Both sides are also enhancing renewable energy ties. UAE’s Masdar signed an agreement with the Rajasthan government in 2024 to develop 60 GW of renewable energy capacity . 12.88% 15% 15% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 10.75% Gold import duty over the years 6% JAN MAR JAN JUNE AUG JULY FEB JULY JULY MAY 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2019 2021 2022 2024 2026 Gold, silver import duty hiked to 15% P u s h p i ta D e y @ New Delhi Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce the purchase of gold, the government on Wednesday increased the import duty on gold and silver from 6% to 15% to curb demand and ease foreign exchange pressures. Likewise, the import duty on platinum has been increased from 6.4% to 15.4%. This newspaper had previously reported that the government was considering various measures, including import restrictions on precious metals. As a large importer of crude oil, India remains vulnerable to elevated energy prices and supply-side disruptions. This could increase the import bill and exert pressure on inflation and the current account deficit. According to officials, the government aims to prioritise essential imports such as crude oil, fertilisers, industrial raw materials, defence requirements, critical technologies and capital goods. Three Kuki church leaders killed in suspected militant attack in Manipur P r a s a n ta M a z u md a r @ Guwahati Three Kuki Baptist church leaders were killed and four others injured in an ambush by suspected militants in Manipur’s Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district on Wednesday . Members of the Thadou Baptist Association India (TBAI) and the United Baptist Council were travelling from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi for an inter-association ecclesiastical meeting when they came under attack. TBAI president Rev Dr Vumthang Sitlhou, finance secretary Rev Kaigoulun Lhouvum, and Pastor Paogoulen (From left) Rev Dr Vumthang Sitlhouh, Rev Kaigoulun Lhouvum and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou Sitlhou were shot dead. Rev Sitlhou was leading the team. Thadou organisations announced a “total shutdown” of Sadar Hills in the district in response to the attack. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the “dastardly terror act”. Along with Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho and Home Janivara, hijab to be allowed in state schools, PU colleges Express News Service @ Bengaluru The Karnataka government on Wednesday issued orders, allowing students to wear ‘limited’ religious and traditional symbols along with prescribed uniforms, withdrawing its February 5, 2022 order, empowering educational institutions to enforce uniforms and effectively bar attire, considered disruptive to equality, discipline and public order in classrooms. The earlier order was issued by the then BJP government following controversies over students attending classes wearing hijab. The new order, issued under the Karnataka Education Act, 1983, stated that students in government, aided and private schools and pre-university colleges can wear symbols such as hijab/headscarf, turban, janivara, rudraksha and similar attire, provided they complement the prescribed uniform and do not affect discipline, safety or identification. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa said the order has been issued following the April 24 incident where three students were asked to remove janivara at a college before the CET. P4 Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh called the violence deeply troubling. “Actions that undermine this collective effort of our people to restore normalcy are unacceptable,” he said Minister Govindas Konthoujam, he visited the injured, who are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Imphal. The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) pointed fingers at the IsakMuivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim and insurgent group Zeliangrong United Front. e x p r e s s r ea d 7L B-khata owners get OTS option for A-khata Bengaluru: Ahead of elections to the Greater Bengaluru Authority, the state government is offering a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for seven lakh B-khata property holders in Bengaluru to convert their real estate assets into A-khata properties. The scheme will be open for 100 days | P2 Sood gets one-year extension as CBI chief New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday extended CBI chief Praveen Sood’s tenure by one more year. Sood took over as the CBI director on May 25, 2023. This is his second extension in office | P9 Cong legislature party meeting to decide on Kerala CM today P r e e t h a n a i r @ New Delhi ENDING days of suspense and an intense inter nal power struggle, the Congress is set to announce its Kerala Chief Ministerial pick on Thursday at a legislature party meeting at the KPCC headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. The meeting, scheduled at 1 pm, will be attended by AICC state in-charge Deepa Das Munshi, along with observers Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik and others. The day witnessed dramatic twists and turns as the announcement of the CM candidate was widely anticipated following a crucial meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter’s residence. However, after the meeting, which lasted over 40 minutes, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh told the media that the decision will be announced on Thursday  . P7