hyderabad l saturday l november 29, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION don vows to freeze migration from third world countries US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to suspend migration a day after an Afghan shot two National Guard soldiers new escalation in anti-migration stance 19 nations already face restrictions Trump’s social media post, which also threatened to reverse “millions” of admissions granted under his predecessor Joe Biden, marks a new escalation in the anti-migration stance. Trump said earlier that Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member deployed in Washington as part of his crackdown on crime, had died from wounds ■ ■ The shooting on Wednesday has brought together three politically explosive issues: Trump’s controversial use of the military at home, immigration, and the legacy of the US war in Afghanistan As per USCIS, 19 countries — including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran and Myanmar — already face US travel curbs under an order | P9 1,16,000 green card holders from afghanistan are in the u.s. 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 Gathering momentum 9.7 10 8 6 6 9.3 9.5 6.9 4.8 Y-o-Y growth rates (%) 8.4 8.2 7.4 7.8 6.5 6.4 5.6 4 2 Q2 Q3 2022-23 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 2023-24 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2024-25 Q1 Q2 2025-26 At 8.2%, GDP grows at fastest pace in six qtrs year and 7% in Q1. Gross fixed capital formation — an indicaINDIA’s economy grew at 8.2% tor of infrastructure and asset in the second quarter of FY26, creation — maintained its rise beating all estimates and mark- at 7.3% versus 6.7% a year ago, ing the fastest pace in six quar- although slightly lower than the ters. This is a big jump from the 7.8% in Q1. 5.6% growth in the same “The confluence of period last fiscal. Most stable inflation, susanalysts had expected tained public capex, and the Q2 growth to be in reform momentum pothe range of 7–7.5%. sitions the economy to The strong performnavigate risks, as reance is attributed to a flected in upward reviboost in manufactursions to FY26 GDP ing, rising rural degrowth projections by mand, and sustained various agencies,” said growth of the services Chief Economic AdviThe 8.2% GDP sector. Manufacturing sor V Anantha Naggrowth is very grew at a robust 9.1% eswaran. He added that encouraging. It reflects the — more than four times India becoming a $4 impact of our the 2.2% recorded a trillion economy “as pro-growth year ago. Economists early as next year” is policies and attribute this partly to not unrealistic. reforms. It also frontloading of exports reflects the hard The government has to the US ahead of the highlighted the role rework and 50% tariff increase. ductions in GST rates enterprise of our people Construction also played in lowering the saw healthy expansion, Narendra Modi, PM cost of goods and servgrowing at 7.2%. The ices, supporting conservices sector continsumption and expandued its positive momentum, ing the tax base. clocking 9.2% growth in Q2 H o w e v e r, e c o n o m i s t s compared to 7.2% a year cautioned that slower nominal earlier. g rowth could pose risks. Private consumption re- Nominal GDP grew 8.7% in Q2, mained strong with 7.9% reaching an estimated `85.25 growth, compared to 6.4% last lakh crore. PUSHPITA D E Y @ New Delhi Putin visit to boost defence ties MAYAN K SINGH @ New Delhi DEFENCE negotiations will be the key agenda of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India from December 4 to 5, which is expected to take the strategic bilateral ties to the next level. Announcing the two-day visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that Putin is coming to hold the annual India-Russia summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit will give an opportunity for the two leaders to review the progress in bilateral relations, set the vision to strengthen the E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad The state government plans to pull out all stops to make the Telangana Rising Global Summit a grand success by inviting over 3,000 guests from across the globe. The summit is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on December 8 and 9 under the slogan “Come, Join the Rise”. The state administration, acting on the directions of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is preparing , for the event and p l a n s t o i nv i t e prominent personalities, industrialists and technology leaders from around the world. Expected attendees include former UK prime minister Tony Blair, Trump Media and Technology Group director Eric Swider, industrialist Anand Mahindra, a member of the UAE royal family and senior executives of multinational companies. Invitations are being issued on behalf of the chief minister. The message accompanying the Another auction, another windfall for HMDA @ Hyderabad Five days after it reaped a windfall of `1,356 crore, the HMDA struck gold once again on Friday, with its latest e-auction earning `1,352 crore for two land parcels in the Neopolis Layout at Kokapet. The bids reached a record `151.25 crore per acre in one plot and `147.75 crore per acre in the other. Plots 15 (4.03 acres) and 16 (5.03 acres), together measuring 9.06 acres in Survey Nos. 239 and 240, brought in a combined `1,352 crore. With this, the three rounds of Neopolis auctions have now realised `2,708 crore. Plot 15 was won by Lakshmi Narayana Gummadi, Karteesh Reddy Madgula, Sharat touching the sky  Plots 15 (4.03 acres) and 16 (5.03 acres) brought in a combined `1,352 crore  With this, the three rounds of Neopolis auctions have now realised `2,708 crore Ventrapragada and Shyam Sunder Reddy Vangala at `151.25 crore per acre, against the upset price of `99 crore. The total bid value was `610 crore. Plot 16 went to Godrej Properties Limited for `147.75 crore per acre, well above the `99 crore upset price, taking the total to `743 crore. Bidding began at 11 am and continued past 6.30 pm. The announcements are likely. “This meeting will focus on the larger defence partnership and resolving delivery delays,” he said. The S-400 played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor as it successfully targeted multiple Pakistani fighters and aircraft deep inside Pakistan. India has already signed contracts for the S-400 systems with Russia, but deliveries have faced delays. Singh confirmed that Russia has promised to deliver the remaining equipment in the financial year 2026-27. 3,000 world leaders for Telangana Rising summit higher & higher S B a c h a n J ee t S i n g h ‘special and privileged strategic partnership’ and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the MEA said. Terming it a “visit of great importance”, the Kremlin said the current geopolitical issues will also come up in talks. The focus of the summit will be “broader elements of cooperation on defence”, said Defence Secretary R K Singh said while speaking at an event in Delhi on Friday. He said the strategic S-400 air defence systems may be on the table though no process was conducted through MSTC Limited. Officials said the response shows steady interest in Kokapet Neopolis. The average price has now moved to `142.83 crore per acre. On November 24, plots 17 (4.59 acres) and 18 (5.31 acres) fetched `1,356 crore. Plot 18 drew `137.25 crore per acre from MSN Urban Ventures LLP, while Plot 17 drew `136.50 crore per acre from Vajra Housing Projects LLP . Two more plots — 19 (4 acres) and 20 (4.04 acres), totalling 8.04 acres — will be auctioned on December 3. The HMDA will also auction a 1.98-acre plot in the Golden Mile layout on December 5 and two plots in Moosapet, totalling 14.66 acres, later the same day  continued on p2 . invitation reads: “The Telangana government has prepared the Telangana Rising-2047 Vision Document with the aim of achieving the growth rate set under the Viksit Bharat-2047 target. Telangana has prepared the roadmap to achieve balanced growth, empowerment and welfare of all sections of people, and progress across sectors. These plans and targets will be presented at the Telangana Rising Global Summit. Please attend.” Gover nment sources said several invitees have already confir med participation. Officials expect the summit to provide a platform to outline the state’s development and welfare initiatives and highlight Telangana’s position in global innovation. The government aims to draw investment from international companies during the event. The chief minister will release the Telangana Rising-2047 Vision Document on December 9. Lionel Messi is expected to arrive on December 13. Invitation confirmed price of memories Those confirmed to attend include Sheikh Tariq Al Qassimi of the Ras Al Khaimah royal family, Deutsche Börse Group head Ludwig Heinzelmann, Enrission founder-partner W Winston, Mandai Wildlife Group CEO Bennett Neo and founders of various startups. Messi set to appear at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, on December 13. The programme includes a 7v7 celebrity football match, a masterclass led by Messi for selected young players and a penalty shootout showcase. Tickets, priced at `1,750 and above on district.in, a sub-brand of Zomato, were selling like hot cakes. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy plays football in this file photograph Messi vs CM in dream finale for fest E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad Talk of one of football’s finestever players taking the pitch opposite a side led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has set Hyderabad buzzing ahead of Lionel Andrés Messi’s scheduled visit on December 13 as part of the G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025. TNIE had first reported the likelihood of an exhibition match featuring Messi and Revanth after TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud made a similar suggestion. The Telangana Rising Global Summit’s official X handle pushed the excitement further E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad The State Backward Classes Commission on Friday questioned the reduction in Backward Classes reservations for the coming panchayat elections and urged the state to halt the poll process until the issue is reviewed. In a statement here, the Commission said the quota for Backward Classes had fallen because of an error in the reservationdetermination exercise. “Backward Classes reservations have dropped from the earlier levels and this needs correction before the elections. Otherwise, BCs will face injustice,” it said. The Commission noted that Backward Classes secured 22.78% reservations in the 2019 panchayat elections. The current figure stands at 21.39%, a fall of 1.39%. It said the drop was unexpected, especially since the recent household survey placed the Backward Classes population at 56.33%. The panel said a high-level committee should be formed to examine and rectify the errors before the elections are held. Earlier in the day, floral tributes were offered to a portrait of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his 135th death anniversary at the Telangana BC Commission office. BC Commission chairman G Niranjan, members Rapolu Jayaprakash, Tirumalagiri Surender, Balalakshmi Rangu, assistant secretary K Manohar Rao, deputy director Srinivasa Rao, section officer Satish Kumar and other staff attended the programme. Elderly couple clings to life on a road @ Karimnagar Kandukur Srinivas and Padma in their makeshift hut in Karimnagar The plastic sheets that form the only walls of Kandukur Srinivas and Padma’s makeshift hut are simply not enough to keep the winter wind at bay . For six months, a stretch of pavement beside the Income Tax office, part of the Smart City project, has been the closest thing they have had to a home. Srinivas, now in his eighties, share that Hyderabad has been added to my visits to Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. See you soon, India,” he posted. The chief minister responded with his own message on X, saying he looked forward to welcoming Messi and that Hyderabad was ready to host him with warmth and pride. Across Telangana, football followers have already slipped into match-day mode, with preparations under way for the arrival of one of the sport’s most recognisable names. Whether the friendly fixture materialises or not, anticipation in the city has already moved well past the halfway line. Pause panchayat polls, says BC Commission Nowhere to go N a v ee n K u m a r Ta l l a m by announcing a possible “Messi10 vs RR9” showdown as the summit’s finale. Officials say the chief minister has treated the prospect like a major fixture, on par with the summit itself, which is set to conclude shortly before the football event. Sources hinted that Revanth has been carving out around 45 minutes in his day to work on drills, pace and touch, a quiet training routine ahead of any potential kick-off. Messi, meanwhile, blew the opening whistle on Instagram earlier in the day . “Thanks for all the love from India! The GOAT tour kicks off in a few weeks! I’m happy to lies curled on a thin mattress. Paralysis has pinned him to one spot, robbing him of the trade he once relied on as a mason. Padma moves around him, adjusting the fraying blankets, trying to shield him from the cold that seeps through the ground. The couple came to Karimnagar after years of drifting in search of work, Srinivas from Kandukur in residuary Andhra Pradesh, Padma from Ka- gaznagar in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district. They married after meeting here as daily-wage labourers, believing they had finally found a place where they could rebuild their lives. Instead, illness and poverty have left them clinging to survival on a footpath. Locals stop by with food, clothing and the occasional utensil. These small acts of generosity keep them going one day at a time.  continued on p2 A man wades through floodwater outside his house following heavy rainfall in Kaduwela on the outskirts of Colombo on Friday | afp 80 dead in Sri Lanka J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi AT least 80 people have died and more than 25 remain missing till Friday night in Sri Lanka, which is bearing the brunt of massive destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwa. With torrential rains, landslides and floods displacing thousands in the island nation, India has launched a swift humanitarian response for the island nation. New Delhi has rushed emergency relief under Operation Sagar Bandhu, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveying condolences and stressing India’s commitment to stand by its closest maritime neighbour. By Friday evening, Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said the cyclone had affected 43,991 people. Many regions of the country remain submerged and inac- cessible, with officials warning that rising water levels in the Kelani and Attanagalu rivers pose a grave threat to Colombo and the populous Gampaha district. Outages have hit nearly a third of the region, and two major hydropower plants have been shut down. Responding to the escalating crisis, India has so far dispatched 4.5 tonnes of dry rations and 2 tonnes of fresh rations, including staple foods, ready-toeat meals, dairy products, bakery items and other essential provisions. Additional survival supplies have also been handed over. The relief consignments were delivered by INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri, both docked in Sri Lanka, an official release said. Ditwa is likely to reach southwest Bay of Bengal near north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh by November 30, IMD said.