THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l thursday l march 13, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION Trump’s 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports kick in The US increased tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to 25% on Wednesday, saying this will create more factory jobs in the US Canada lines up $20bn retaliatory tariffs EU to target U.S. goods worth $28 billion President Trump says new tariffs will help steel and aluminium makers in the US. However, economists warn they will raise the cost for US manufacturers that use these metals as raw materials. Canada, the largest supplier of steel and aluminium to the US, called the measures “completely unjustified” and has lined up $20.7 bn in retaliatory tariffs ■ ■ The European Union, which will also be hit hard by Trump’s policy, announced its countermeasures targeting US goods worth $28 bn including textiles, home appliances and agriculture products Both Australia and Mexico expressed their displeasure, but said they would not announce any retaliatory measures for now 26.4 million tonnes of steel imported by the United states in 2023 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 Retail inflation slips below RBI’s target of 4% Guv bypasses protocol, joins CM to meet FM E X PRESS NEWS SER V ICE @Kochi Sharp decline raises prospects for another rate cut by the central bank on April 9 IIP picks up PTI @New Delhi Subdued food prices in February pulled down retail inflation below the Reserve Bank’s median target of 4 per cent while the country’s manufacturing sector pushed the key factory output index to 5 per cent in January, showed data released by the government on Wednesday . The sharp decline in inflation has raised the prospects for another rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on April 9. If RBI reduces rate next month, it will be the second rate cut within two months. Consumer Price Index (CPI)based retail inflation slipped to seven-month low of 3.61 per cent in February mainly due to easing prices of vegetables, eggs, and other protein-rich items, creating space for the RBI to go for another cut in interest rate next month. The headline inflation was at 4.26 per cent in January and 5.09 per cent in February 2024. The previous low was witnessed in July. The CPI has been in the comfort zone of the RBI since November 2024. A significant decline in headline inflation and food inflation during February has been mainly attributed to decline in inflation of vegetables, egg, meat and fish, pulses and products, and milk and products. ICRA Chief Economist Aditi 9 Index of Industrial Production (IIP), a measure of performance of industries, accelerated to 5% in January 2025 December 2024 industrial output figure revised to 3.5% from provisional estimate of 3.2% released in previous month. IIP expansion was at 4.2% in January 2024 In the April-January period this fiscal, IIP grew 4.2%, slower than 6% recorded in the year-ago period Manufacturing sector’s output grew 5.5% in January 2025 Mining production growth declined to 4.4%, while power output growth slowed to 2.4% in January 2025 Nayar said the CPI inflation declined sharper than expected to a seven-month low, appreciably below the mid-point of the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee’s medium-term target range, led by a welcome cooling in food inflation. “However, we believe the sequential uptick in vegetables inflation in March 2025 is likely to prevent a further softening in the food and beverages inflation print in the month, after the substantial cooling seen over the past four months,” she said. Indian institutions in world’s top 50 IIT Bombay, Kharagpur at 28th and 45th spot for Engineering-Mineral and Mining, rankings drop Arlekar bats for The constitutional ‘Team Kerala’ obligations of the At a time when Centregovernor do not include Kerala relations have hit a attending these meetings. What low, Governor Arlekar has Arlekar has done is the true spirit initiated steps to help of federalism — Sebastian Paul, ex-MLA them reconnect | P4 Train attack ends; 21 pax, 4 soldiers killed, says Pak Army gen P T I @Karachi/Islamabad Q S su b j e c t - w i s e r a n k i n g s Nine Indian universities and institutions are among world’s top 50 in the 15th edition of the World University Rankings by Subject announced by Londonbased Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) on Wednesday Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Rajendra Arlekar in New Delhi on Wednesday Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, ranked 20th globally for EngineeringMineral and Mining, making it the country’s highestperforming subject area IIT Delhi, Bombay rank 26 and 28 for Engineering and Technology IIM Ahmedabad and Bangalore still among world’s top 50 for Business and Management Studies but ranking drop. IIT Madras (Petroleum Engineering) and JNU (Development Studies) also in top 50 but see slight decline in ranking Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif told Dunya News TV that security forces killed all 33 militants present at the scene. “The armed forces successfully concluded the operation in the (Wednesday) evening by killing all terrorists and rescuing all passengers safely ,’ Lt Gen Sharif said. He said that 21 passengers were killed by the terrorists when they attacked the train on Tuesday. He added that four paramilitary Frontier Corps soldiers were also killed in the incident. The Jaffar Express, carrying 440 passengers in nine coaches, was going from Quetta to Peshawar when militants derailed it using explosives and hijacked it near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri in a tunnel 160 kilometres from Quetta. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday when they said they killed six soldiers. Lt Gen Sharif said that on March 11, around 1 PM, terrorists blew up a railway track in the Bolan Pass area of Osi Pur. He described the area as difficult terrain, where the terrorists initially used hostages, including women and children, as human shields. “The rescue operation began immediately with participation from the Army Air , , Force, Frontier Corps, and Special Services Group commandos,” he said. express read KSRTC’s men-only tour sparks outrage Kozhikode: The KSRTC’s Ramadan Ziyarat Yatra, launched as part of its budget tourism initiative, has sparked a controversy over its exclusivity. The pilgrimage, which began from the Malappuram depot, is open only to men, drawing strong opposition from various quarters 16 pages, including 4 pages of THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Express PM Modi unveils ‘MAHASAGAR’ vision P T I @Port Louis India and Mauritius on Wednesday elevated their ties to ‘enhanced strategic partnership’ and inked eight pacts to boost ties in several sectors, including maritime security and , promote trade in local currencies, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled an ambitious vision for growth and security of the Global South. On the second and final day of his two-day trip to Mauritius, Modi graced the national day celebrations of the island nation as the chief guest and announced a raft of development projects for the strategically-located country . Following talks with his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Modi announced India’s new vision for Global South and named it ‘MAHASAGAR’ or ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Secu- rity and Growth Across Regions’, a policy approach that came against the backdrop of China’s relentless attempts to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean. “We are committed to extend full cooperation in the security of Mauritius’ Exclusive Economic Zone,” Modi said. He said a free, open, secure, and safe Indian Ocean is the common priority of India and Mauritius. The approach will focus on the spirit of trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, and mutual security. Cooperation will be ensured via tech sharing, concessional loans and grants Narendra Modi Bypassing protocols, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar joined Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for an informal meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Delhi’s Kerala House on Wednesday to raise the state’s pressing demands, including the release of central funds and a special financial package for landslide-hit Wayanad. Gover nor Arlekar’s participation assumes significance as he had hosted a dinner for Kerala MPs and Pinarayi on Tuesday evening, where he told the parliamentarians to “stand united” for the cause of the state, sources said. Going a step further, Arlekar also attended a closed door meeting where Kerala additional chief secretary Dr A Jayathilak, who is in charge of finance, briefed Sitharaman on the financial distress caused to the state due to the absence of GST compensation and reduced central grants. The meeting was also attended by Pinarayi and K V Thomas, the special representative of the Kerala government in Delhi. The unprecedented act by the governor surprised political analysts who said Arlekar’s move looks glaring as it comes after the hostile stance adopted by his predecessor Arif Mohammed Khan. “The constitutional obligations of the governor do not include attending these meetings. But, what he (Arlekar) has done is the true spirit of federalism,” said political observer and Smart former legislator Sebastian Paul. “We were used to the hostile stance and public criticisms of Arif Mohammed Khan. That’s why Governor Arlekar’s moves look very glaring,” he said. Prof Thomas told TNIE that the two back-to-back meetings (dinner with Kerala MPs and Wednesday’s breakfast meeting) attended by the governor have helped project an image that the state is united for the cause of its people. “The governor, in fact, told the MPs that they should not address him as ‘His Excellency’, and asked them to consider him as one of them. That he took the pains to host the meeting itself is unprecedented. I don’t think any other previous governors have gone to such lengths to help the state,” Tho● More on P4 mas said.