PIC: NASA chennai l wednesday l august 12, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 20 l late city EDITION NASA invites India to be part of its Moon Base mission The ambitious Moon base mission is a programme to build humanity’s first lunar outpost near the Moon’s South Pole invite follows u.s.-india space group meet According to the US space agency, the project aims to unlock scientific discoveries, and prepare for future deep space exploration. India and US explored expanding space cooperation at a meeting of their Civil Space Joint Working Group held in Bengaluru last week. The two sides agreed to advance discussions for cooperation on open scientific data sharing ■ 9th step-by-step approach to Build base ■ The Moon base will be built in phases, says NASA. It will begin with robotic missions to test new tech, then build systems & infrastructure needed to establish humanity’s first long-term presence on the Moon The first phase will focus on gaining reliable access to the lunar surface and building a deeper understanding of the environment meet of india-u.s. space joint working group was held last week 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 TN stares at `4,400 crore loss Mining Bill to strip Phuket flight captain fails states of tax power second dope test: Sources Tests positive for marijuana in the confirmatory screening test B A N BU S E LVA N @ Chennai Tamil Nadu could lose its power to levy taxes, cess, royalty and other charges on mineral extraction with the union government proposing amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act. If enacted, the MMDR Bill 2026 tabled in the Parliament on Monday is expected to cause significant revenue , loss to the state. In 2025-26, TN earned around `4,400 crore from the mining sector through the regulation of mining and minerals, and the state has set a target of increasing the revenue to around `11,000 crore in 2026-27. However, the proposed amendments seek to restrict the power of states to levy taxthe exe x c l u s i v e es and other charges onand mitraction of both major nor minerals within their territories. It allows states to impose tax or cess on minerals only in accordance with the conditions or restrictions prescribed by the centre. The state’s revenue from the mining sector includes `3,000 crore collected as mineral-bearing land tax and `1,100 crore through fees for mining and quarrying concessions granted for the extraction of major and minor minerals. Additionally the state earns revenue through mineral roy, alties, green fund and contributions to the district mineral foundation trust from lessees. The amendments seek to waive existing taxes, cess and other charges imposed by the state government on mineral extraction but remaining unpaid by mining operators from the date on which the amended MMDR Act comes into force.  P7 S L a l i t h a @ New Delhi The state government will have to approach the Supreme Court if the Bill is passed in the Parliament Retired official What’s in the Bill? The state government can levy taxes, cess, royalty and other charges on both minor and major minerals only on the basis of the conditions and restrictions imposed by the union government IN a new twist to last week’s mid-air incident involving Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight that experienced a sudden altitude loss, the captain of the flight has reportedly tested positive for marijuana in the confirmatory screening test. “The Pilot-in-Command has tested positive in the second dope test too with marijuana found in the samples taken from him,” a source told this newspaper on Tuesday . Another source, a pilot, too confirmed the development, adding that the captain, in his late 30s, could be terminated. The civil aviation ministry, which had earlier insisted that the result of the confirmatory test must be awaited before drawing any conclusions, on Tuesday issued a detailed statement on the probe into the incident. However, there was no mention of dope test. Air India declined to comment on the drug screening. Earlier in the day Union civil , aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu said strong action would File pic CEO summoned Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday summoned the outgoing CEO of Air India, Campbell Wilson. In the meeting, also attended by top officials, the minister demanded an explanation be taken if the pilot was found to have indulged in any substance abuse. “If there needs to be any tweaking of the existing legislation, we will do that also,” he told reporters. According to the civil aviation ministry’s statement, flight AI 2379, an Airbus A320 aircraft with 145 people on board, suffered a mid-air altitude drop of 300 feet on August 4 resulting in injuries to 20 passengers and four cabin crew members. Under existing DGCA norms, if a pilot tests positive for drugs, the person is referred for a rehabilitation programme. He needs to go for treatment at a de-addiction centre and can return to duty only after producing a negative confirmatory test and a fitness certificate from the airline’s medical in-charge. This could take up to eight months. If the same person tests positive again, the licence is suspended for three years. If the violation happens for the third time, the licence is cancelled. Following the August 4 incident, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau asked airport authorities in Delhi to conduct two different tests. “After the arrival of the plane in Delhi, both pilots were subjected to a breathalyser test for alcohol content, which turned out to be negative. Then, blood and urine tests were done to trace psychotropic substances. This was positive for the Pilotin-Command,” a source said. Earlier, sources said the flight might have experienced multiple technical glitches including hydraulic failures. Battle lines drawn for possible Shah show in LS today P R E E THA N AI R @ New Delhi In this videograb, Abhishek Porel being taken away by police on Tuesday | X IPL star Porel arrested for blackmail, rape of woman THE stalemate in Parliament continued on Tuesday over the Opposition’s demand for accountability from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the student protests, despite the government offering a discussion on “student and youth agitations” and a reply by Shah, including on the alleged police action. Amid speculation that Shah may make a statement in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday the Opposi, tion signalled that it was not ready to relent. At a meeting of INDIA bloc parties chaired by Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, leaders decided to continue their protests and maintained that Shah could not be allowed to make a unilateral statement in the House. The gover nment had placed the condition that it was willing to have Shah respond on the student protests, provided the Opposition did not disrupt his reply . Keralam bill passed The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the bill seeking to rename Kerala as Keralam without debate, as Opposition members continued their protests demanding Home Minister Amit Shah’s presence in the House Sources said the INDIA bloc would take a final call on its floor strategy at the meeting on Wednesday morning. There was broad agreement E X P R E S S N E W S S E R VIC E @ Chennai All parties in the Tamil Nadu Assembly — barring the BJP — on Tuesday voted to adopt resolutions urging the centre to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and transfer education to the State List, and to withdraw the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 in its present form. Moving the resolution against NEET, BJP MLA Health Minister Dr KG Arunraj said TN walks out had long championed social justice and questioned how a single day’s examinaThe lone tion could judge students who had studBJP MLA, ied for years. He noted that NEET has M Bhojarajan, only helped private coaching centres opposed the flourish and expressed concerns over resolution the deaths by suicides of students who against NEET could not secure MBBS admissions. and walked out. Arunraj also pointed to the NEET paHowever, when per leak this year and the protests that the resolution followed, which forced the resignation against FCRA of the union education minister. was moved, he Later, School Education Minister A raised his views Rajmohan moved the resolution urging and remained the union government to withdraw the silent during FCRA Bill, 2026, in its present form. He the voting expressed concern over provisions that could allow the centre to take control of assets of charitable and other organisations run by minorities, particularly those involved in education, healthcare and social welfare. He said the state government supports national security and transparency in the use of foreign funds, but such regulations should not infringe upon lawful property rights, natural justice, or the federal structure.  P7 Cauvery row: K’taka told to release 1 tmcft daily to TN s u b h en d u m a i t i @ Kolkata WEST Bengal and Delhi Capitals cricketer Abhishek Porel was arrested late Monday night by Hooghly police on allegations of rape and blackmail. He was produced before the Chinsurah court on Tuesday . A 24-year-old undergraduate medical student from Karnataka lodged a complaint at Mogra police station in Hooghly on June 24, alleging a threeyear relationship during which the pair travelled abroad together. Porel, a Chandannagar resident and wicketkeeperbatsman who performed well for Delhi Capitals this IPL season, allegedly had sexual relations with her on the pretext of marriage. The complainant said Porel later refused to marry her despite repeated requests, and blackmailed her using her obscene photographs. Police registered nine nonbailable cases under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act covering rape, assault, cheating and other offences. Porel has denied all charges, stating that the complaint was an “attempt to tarnish his image amid strong IPL performances.” After the season ended he returned home. The complainant moved the Calcutta High Court alleging police inaction. The court ordered his immediate arrest and seizure of digital devices, including his mobile phone. Hooghly (Rural) Superintendent of Police Kunar Bhushan Singh said a court order led to Porel’s arrest. with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s position that a general response from Shah would not be enough and that the Home Minister must specifically address the circumstances surrounding the alleged use of pellet guns against student protesters on July 20, said a senior leader. The Congress has also maintained that a discussion on the alleged theft of funds related to the Ram temple in Ayodhya is ‘non-negotiable’ and has demanded an apology from Prime Minister Modi. TN Assembly adopts resolutions against NEET & FCRA Bill E X P R E S S N E W S S E R VIC E @ Chennai big salute Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay being greeted by a child wearing a police uniform at the state-level mass pledge-taking ceremony held under the ‘Drug-Free Tamil Nadu’ campaign, at the Presidency College auditorium in Chennai on Tuesday | P Ravikumar The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), chaired by SK Haldar, on Tuesday directed Karnataka to release 1 tmcft (around 12,000 cusecs) of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from Wednesday. The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) had recommended the release of water earlier in the day . The CWMA direction comes amid Tamil Nadu’s allegation that Karnataka had failed to comply with an earlier order to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to the state. The CWRC, had on July 28, directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu for 15 days from July 29. The direction was later upheld by the CWMA. However, Tamil Nadu told the authorities that the actual flow recorded at Biligundlu was only between 158 cusecs and 550 cusecs from July 29 to August 2, much below the stipulated 3,500 cusecs.  P7 Trump slinked out When Air Force One became decoy amid Iran attack threat a g en c i es @ Washington PRESIDENT Donald Trump secretly flew out of last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey on an unheralded military , aircraft while the White House made it appear that he was flying on Air Force One, according to a report published by The Washington Post. The Post said Monday the operation was prompted by an Iranian assassination threat against Trump. The ruse was carried out as journalists and some White House staff mem- bers were led to believe they were on the same plane as the president as he began his journey back to Washington from the annual gathering of NATO country leaders. Trump had flown to the summit in a new Qatari-gifted and retrofitted red, white and navy blue jet. But ahead of departing Turkey he , said he would fly partway home on an oldermodel baby blue Air Force One plane instead. The president at A file photograph of the legacy Air Force One | AP the time said the new luxury jet was being flown out ahead of his departure from Ankara to give some US troops based in eastern England a chance to check out the new Air Force One. In Ankara, Trump boarded the old Air Force One in view of television cameras ahead of the plane flying to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. However, according to the Post report, after boarding the legacy Air Force One, he was secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller plane — an Air Force C-32A — via an airport catering truck. Trump flew to Mildenhall on that smaller jet. Security experts alleged the press pool aboard the legacy Air Force One was turned into “sitting ducks”. Express Read Youth hacks wife, mom-in-law to death Tiruppur: A 22-year-old youth allegedly hacked his 21-year-old wife and mother-in-law to death on Tuesday, following a dispute over their relationship, at Pachapalayam in Tiruppur. The accused, M Akshayan of Dindigul, has been arrested and probe is under way | P4 Boy electrocuted at Erode govt school Erode: A Class 6 student, E Yogesh (11) of Bhavani, died of electrocution after stepping into a puddle with a snapped live wire at a government high school in Erode on Tuesday. Sources said the wire is suspected to have snapped during rain and fallen into the puddle | P2 Engg student beaten to death, 5 arrested Coimbatore: A 19-year-old private engineering college student was beaten to death near Coimbatore in a clash allegedly linked to a mobile phone snatching incident. Police arrested five other students on Tuesday in connection with the murder | P7