Donald Trump sounds warning note to Russia after it bombed Ukraine’s energy grid Don’s coming for Russia 1 KANNUR l saturday l march 08, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l city EDITION 2 Trump mulls sanctions on Russia until a ceasefire and peace agreement are reached Ukraine used Mirage jets to repel an overnight attack on its energy infrastructure 3 The US suspended military aid to Ukraine this week, including sharing of intelligence 4 Poland announced plans to train all adult men in warfare, as the war in Ukraine escalates 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 Elephant ballet CPM backs ‘divesting’ loss-making PSUs with dragon only right call: China K S SR E E J I T H @ Kollam Every reason for Delhi, Beijing to back each other, says Wang Yi in annual press meet contribute to each other’s success... There is every reason for A duet between the elephant us to support each other rather and the dragon contributing to than undercut each other, work each other’s success is the ‘only with each other rather than right choice’ for India-China guard against each other. This relations, Chinese Foreign is the path that truly serves the Minister Wang Yi said on Fri- fundamental interests of the day as he acknowledged two countries and people,” positive strides in bilatWang said. eral ties after a fourFo l l ow i n g a g r e e year stalemate bements reached during a tween the two Asian meeting between Prime powerhouses. Minister Narendra “There is every reason Modi and President Xi for us to support each Jinping in Kazan, RusAll for other rather than unsia, last year, both counbetter ties dermine each other or tries began high-level As key undercut each other,” discussions aimed at members of Wang, who is also a nor malising their the Global member of the powerstrained relationship South, Wang ful political bureau of and fostering trust. Nastressed that the ruling Communist tional Security Advisor Party of China (CPC) China and India Ajit Doval and Foreign and a special repre- have a crucial Secretary Vikram Missentative for boundary role in opposing ri have been engaging hegemonism talks from the Chinese with their Chinese and power side, said at his annual counterparts to adpolitics press conference here. vance these efforts. A ‘cooperative pas de Reflecting on their deux’ (steps of two) is the ‘only long histories, Wang said the right choice for both sides,’ boundary issue should not deWang said while replying to a fine their entire relationship, question on how Beijing views nor should it allow specific difthe course of bilateral ties after ferences to overshadow the the two countries ended the broader partnership. four-year stalemate in ties. This year marks the 75th an“China always believes that niversary of China-India diplothe two should be partners that matic relations. J aya nt h j a c o b @ New Delhi In a major policy shift, the CPM has proposed to end “protectionism” extended to lossmaking PSUs that are beyond revival and instead hand them over to private entities to operate on a PPP model. The policy document, Novel Ways to New Kerala, presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the party state conference has taken forward the capitalist shift the CPM had adopted in its last meet in 2022. The document also suggests that the government explore ways to engage with private players and sign contracts for the management of such PSUs, with clearly delineated condi- POLICY SHIFT The policy document— Novel Ways to New Kerala — presented by CM Pinarayi Vijayan at the CPM state conference proposes to: End “protectionism” extended to loss-making PSUs that are beyond revival and operate them under PPP model Welcome any kind of capital investment if it comes without any strings attached Reconsider giving freebies to the richer sections of society tions. The government must welcome any kind of capital investment if it comes without any strings attached, says the document. “In view of the Union government’s anti-Kerala Consider using local bodies and cooperative sectors for additional resource mobilisation, without passing the additional burden on to the people’s shoulder. NRI investment can also be considered, the document says position, the state cannot move forward without additional resource mobilisation. Without passing the additional burden on to the people’s shoulder, the government must ponder ways to achieve this. For this, local bodies and cooperative sectors can be used. This sector has not been utilised effectively so far. The government must consider it. NRI investment is another sector the government must consider for additional resource mobilisation,” it said. It was in the new Kerala document presented at the 23rd state conference in Ernakulam that the CPM indicated its shift towards private capital. The document had called for efforts to attract private investment in the higher education sector, which later led to the government decision to allow private universities in the state. The document presented at this Lawyers to boycott HC judge over ‘rude behaviour’, want apology in open court E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kochi In an unprecedented move, lawyers of the Kerala High Court have decided to boycott Justice A Badharudeen’s court until he tenders an apology in an open court for his alleged rude behaviour towards a lawyer, who is the widow of an HC advocate. In a letter to the Chief Justice, the Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA) said the judge “insulted and humiliated” the lawyer — wife of the late advocate Alex M Scaria — when she sought time to file ‘vakalath’. Alex Scaria passed away on January 8, 2025. When a case he had represented was called on March 6, his wife, who is also a lawyer, appeared in the court and informed Justice Badharudeen of his passing, and requested additional time to file the ‘vakalath’. The resolution moved by the lawyers alleged that the judge’s response to the request was rude, as he asked, ‘Who is Alex Scaria?’ The judge continued his harsh behaviour even after seeing Scaria’s widow in tears, said the resolution. On Friday a large number of law, yers gathered in Justice Badharudeen’s court during the morning ses- sion, demanding an apology from him in open court. However, Justice Badharudeen did not attend the proceedings. Later, a notice issued by the Registrar (Judicial) said he would not be sitting in court on Friday It also . stated that urgent matters listed before him would be taken up by Justice Johnson John. Following the lawyers’ request, the KHCAA convened a general body meeting and decided to boycott Justice Badharudeen’s court. The meeting was informed that Justice Badharudeen had agreed to apologise to the lawyer in his chambers. ● More on P4 If Justice Badharudeen fails to apologise, KHCAA will be constrained to initiate ‘inhouse procedure’ and until the in-house complaint is dealt with in accordance with law, lawyers will refuse to appear before his court — Adv Yeshwanth Shenoy, KHCAA prez year’s conference, however, goes one step further and advocates for private capital in different sectors, including health and tourism. “Though the government is facing a financial crisis, people have different types of deposits. The development of a system through which these deposits could be channelled for the state’s growth should be considered. There are many sectors where tax raise has not been implemented for many years. The government should also think about resource mobilisation in these sectors. The possibility of sand mining from dams should also be examined,” the new document ● More on P4 says. 26/11 attack Rana loses SC appeal against extradition S h e k h a r S i n g h @ New Delhi The US Supreme Court has rejected Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana’s emergency petition seeking a stay on his extradition to India, effectively clearing the path for his handover to Indian authorities. “Application… denied by Justice Elena Kagan,” read a note on the court’s website. Soon after the decision was announced, the Canadian national of Pakistan origin submitted a renewed application and urged that it be reviewed by Chief Justice John Roberts. The Ministry of External Affairs said it is working closely with the US authorities to complete all necessary formalities for Rana’s extradition to India.