THRISSUR l Wednesday l march 05, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l city EDITION Kuki-Zo groups defy Shah fiat, to block free travel in Manipur File photo The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) said no free movement would be permitted in Kuki-Zo areas until the community’s aspirations are fulfilled The decision was part of an ‘eightpoint charter of resolution’ adopted at an event on Monday The resolution followed Home Minister Amit Shah’s directive to security agencies to ensure free movement for people on all roads in Manipur from March 8 COTU said its demand for a separate Union Territory with legislature is non-negotiable 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 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ It’s a very powerful weapon that politicians haven’t used before because they were stupid, dishonest, or paid off — Donald Trump Global trade war begins as high US tariffs kick in Canada and China hit back with equal tariffs on US; Mexico to take reciprocal action soon B E N N K O C H U V E E D A N @ Mumbai GLOBAL trade war has officially begun with US President Donald Trump’s new 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and an enhanced 20% duty on Chinese goods, taking effect on Tuesday . Trump said the tariffs on Canada and Mexico are “to combat the extraordinary threat to US national security, including public health posed by unchecked drug trafficking” of lethal drugs such as fentanyl and nitazene synthesis, which could kill 9.5 million Americans. According to the White House, 68% of all drug poisoning deaths in 2022 and 2023 were caused by synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. In 2024, Mexico’s exports to the US were $506 billion and total bilateral trade was $839.9 billion. The US exported $334 billion to Mexico, making Mexico the US’ top trading partner for the second consecutive year in 2024. The US had a trade deficit of $171.8 billion. Mexico is the biggest supplier of passenger cars to the US, with 23% of all US car imports. China’s total trade with the US was $582.4 billion in 2024, while the US exports to China was only $143.5 billion and imports were $438.9 billion, causing a trade deficit of $295.4 billion. In 2024, Canada exported 75.9% of all its exports to the US worth $410 billion led by $107 billion in crude oil alone, and leaving it with a merchandise trade surplus of $102.3 billion. The tariff war has put global markets on edge and triggered retaliations by the affected nations. China and Canada—the US’ second largest trading partner and third largest source market, respectively—announced equal retaliatory tariffs. Mexico—the largest source market for the US —said it would announce counter tariffs shortly. Canada announced a 25% tariff on $107 billion worth of US goods, while China slapped an additional 15% tariff on US farm goods like corn and soybeans. Military aid pause softens Zelenskyy Special bench to hear plea to end ragging E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i ce @ New Delhi E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i ce @Kochi THE Trump administration has suspended all US military aid to Ukraine, halting crucial shipments and increasing pressure on Kyiv to seek peace with Moscow, deepening the rift with Europe. The decision comes after the blow-up in the White House last week during wh i ch P re s i d e n t D o n a l d Trump, infuriated over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s alleged ‘disrespect and ingratitude’, told him he was “gambling with a third world war”. Zelenskyy was asked to come back “when he is ready for peace”. “The President has been clear he is focused on peace... We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” a White House official said. Reacting to the development, Zelenskyy said he wants to “make things right” with Trump. “Our meeting in Washington on Friday did not go as planned. It is regrettable that it happened this way It’s time to . make things right. We want future cooperation and communication to be constructive,” he posted on X. Meanwhile, EU leaders announced a $841-billion plan to defend European countries and boost Ukraine’s security Twen. ty-seven EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the package. Since the start of the UkraineRussia conflict in 2022, the US has provided $65.9 billion in military aid to Kyiv. Amid a spate of ragging incidents in the state, the High Court on Tuesday formed a special bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C Jayachandran to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to eliminate ragging in educational institutions. The bench will take up the case at 1.45pm on Wednesday . The court made the decision when the PIL filed by the Kerala State Legal Service Authority (KeLSA) seeking to form state-level and district-level monitoring committees to ensure the effective implementation of the existing anti-ragging laws came up for hearing. According to KeLSA, these committees, comprising representatives from the government, legal service institutions, and civil society, including teachers and parents, would be tasked with overseeing the implementation of anti-ragging guidelines, regulations, and judicial decisions while ensuring strict compliance by education● More on P4 al institutions. Shreyas Iyer (L) & Virat Kohli added 91 runs for the third wicket against Australia in Champions Trophy semifinal | AP Desert storm: india in final G ome s h S @ Chennai And just like that India are in yet another ICC event final. Their fourth in as many events in the last two years, second in a 50-over global event. But this Champions Trophy will feel special. On the other side were the Australians. Though naysayers might say it’s a team without three of their frontline bowlers, yet it’s still a grudge match after losing the 50-over World Cup final. The Aussies are always the biggest threat. Even on Tuesday in front of packed Dubai International Stadium, they threatened to run away with the match with some sumptuous hitting after electing to bat. But India were not having any of the surprises this evening. They had all bases covered and once again played with four spinners on a slow wicket. Whenever a partnership was building, In- dia managed to break it. The wounds of World Test Championship final 2023 and the ODI World Cup 2023 to Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 are still fresh and any win would lead to some healing. The 4-wicket win on the tricky Dubai surface once again showed why India have been dominating the shorter forms of cricket. Virat Kohli once again showed why he is the king of chase with a P13 match-winning 84. Pejorative ‘Pakistani’ not a criminal offence: SC Such i t r a K a lyan M ohan t y @ New Delhi The Supreme Court has held that using pejoratives like ‘miyan-tiyan’ or ‘Pakistani’ are in poor taste but do not constitute a criminal offence intended to hurt religious sentiments. A two-judge bench pronounced the verdict on February 11 after hearing an appeal filed by Hari Nandan Singh, 80, who was accused of making these remarks. While quashing the case, the court said there was no assault involved in the case to attract Section 353 of the IPC. It fault- ed the Jharkhand High Court for refusing to quash the trial court’s verdict. “Undoubtedly, the statements made are in poor taste. However, it does not amount to hurting the religious sentiments of the informant.” The prosecution had accused Singh of hurting the religious feelings of the informant. The SC, however, did not find any evidence to justify the case. It said there was no assault or use of force by appellant to attract Section 353 (assault or criminal force used to stop a public servant from doing their duty) of the IPC.