visakhapatnam l monday l april 14, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION trump fully fit to don role of commander-in-chief: docs Test reports of Donald Trump said he has dropped 20 pounds since his last physical test in 2020. He now weighs 224 pounds underwent colonoscopy, eye surgery In July 2024, according to the report, Trump had a colonoscopy that found a benign polyp and a condition called diverticulosis. It’s a common condition in which the walls of the intestine weaken with age. It can lead to inflammation, though most people with it never experience any problems. Trump also had cataract surgery ■ 62 faces risk of elevated blood pressure ■ Trump’s cholesterol levels have improved over time, helped by the medications rosuvastatin and ezetimibe, the report said His blood pressure was 128 over 74. That is considered elevated, and people in that situation are likely to develop high blood pressure unless steps are taken to control the condition beats per minute is the heart rate of donald trump as per reports 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 NIA seeks voice samples of 26/11 co-conspirator Probe team also plans to take Tahawwur Rana to Kochi to confront ‘mystery witness’ MUK E SH RA N J A N @ New Delhi IN a bid to corroborate call recordings in possession of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the probe team is looking to collect voice samples of Tahawwur Rana, the extradited co-conspirator of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. The agency is also preparing to take him to different places across India, including Kochi, which he had visited multiple times before and after the terror attack on November 26 that year, sources said. Before taking his voice samples, investigators would need Rana’s consent. If he refuses, the NIA team can approach the special court. Once the court’s permission is obtained, experts from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory will be roped in to collect the voice samples, they added. The voice samples could then be used for matching with Rana’s call records to figure out if he was on the phone giving instructions to the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai from November 26 to 28. According to sources, a ‘mystery witness’, who is in NIA custody, belongs to Kochi and investigators plan to take Rana to the southern city to confront him. The ‘mystery witness’ had helped Rana and David Coleman Headley, another accused in the case, in arranging logis- tics. It is learnt that at least two officers of the NIA Kochi unit are part of the team of 12 investigators questioning Rana. Investigators are also examining if Rana was connected to Dawood Ibrahim or his criminal network based in Dubai. Rana is being questioned not just for his role in the Mumbai attacks, but also to see if he was involved in planning similar terror attacks in other cities, sources said. Keeping this in mind and to retrace events that took place 17 years ago to unravel the conspiracy, the sources said, the NIA probe team may take Rana to several other locations across the country . Besides informing the NIA team about his origins in Pakistan, family, education, immigration to Canada with his wife and opening a travel agency in Chicago, Rana largely remained uncooperative, sources said, adding that he has so far claimed his inability to recall the chain of events but confirmed his presence in Mumbai one week before the attack. Fixing deadline for Guvs not judicial overreach: SC New Delhi: The apex court in its April 8 verdict held that although it has fixed a timeline for Governors to give their assent or recommendations to bills passed by state legislatures, the directive did not amount to any “judicial overreach”. The Supreme Court noted that if the Governor withholds assent, he must return the bill within three months. Tirupati: Anna Konidala alias Anna Lezinova wife of Deputy CM of AP Pawan Kalyan, came to Tirumala as a thanks giving visit on Sunday night. After their son came out from a fire mishap in Singapore very recently, Anna came to Tirumala to pay her ows to Lord Venkateswara. | P3 U s h a Pe r i @ Visakhapatnam At least eight workers lost their lives, and eight others suffered injuries in an explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Kailasapatnam village of Kotauratla mandal, Anakapalle district, on Sunday . The fire, which broke out following the explosion, spread rapidly through the unit, engulfing the entire premises within minutes and reducing it to rubble. According to reports, the blast occurred when a large stockpile of firecrackers caught fire, triggering a series of explosions. A total of 16 workers were present in the unit at the time of the incident. The deceased have been identified as Dadi Ramalakshmi (35) of Rajupeta, Puram Papa (40), Gumpina Venubabu (34), Sangarati Govindu (40), and Appikonda Pallayya (50) of Kailasapatnam, Senapati Baburao (55) of Chowduvada, Devara Nirmala (38) of Vetlapalem, and Hemanth (20) of Bheemunipatnam. Of the injured, six are under- general casualty ward to immediately clean their wounds and prevent infection.” He further stated that among the patients admitted, one man sustained 90 percent burns, another had 50 percent, and a third suffered 30 percent burns. “Though the burns are external, we are also monitoring for internal damage, especially to the lungs, as the victims may have inhaled chemical smoke. It will take at least two to three days to fully assess the extent of internal injuries,” he exP4 plained.  30 killed, 84 injured in Russian attack in Sumy KYIV: At least 32 people have been killed in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, officials said. Two ballistic missiles struck the heart of the city at around 10.15 am as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, according to officials. Trump tariff fiat gives Indian electronics 20% advantage over China R a k e s h K u m a r @ New Delhi russian missiles kill 30 in ukraine Firefighters try to put out the blaze following Russia’s missile attack that killed at least 30 civilians in Sumy, Ukraine | AP | P9 Groundbreaking ceremony for LG’s Sri City unit likely on May 8 E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Tirumala LG Electronics, a globally recognized household brand, is set to transform the economic landscape of Andhra Pradesh with a new manufacturing facility in Sri City . The groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for May 8, marks , the start of a plant that will produce eight LG-branded electronic goods, including refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, TV sets, heat exchangers, compressors, and other components. The Andhra Pradesh government has approved a Rs 5,001 crore investment for the project, which promises significant economic benefits. The facility is expected to generate 1,495 direct jobs, prioritizing local youth from Rayalaseema, Nellore, and neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana. Beyond direct employment, the plant will create a wide range of indirect job opportunities and stimulate business expansion in the region. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu took the initiative in bringing the South Korean global giant to Andhra Pradesh. Later, Tirupati district collec- 1,495 jobs for local youth The new LG facility is expected to generate 1,495 jobs, particularly for local youth from Rayalaseema, Nellore and neighbouring states. temples in state capitals TTD’s Divya Kshetrams hit by staff crunch B o m m a l a M u r a l i @ Tirumala The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), one of India’s wealthiest temples, faces a severe staff shortage. With over 108 employees retired as of March 31, 2025, and an estimated 500 more expected to retire by June, maintaining existi n g t e mples ha s be come challenging. This shortage poses significant concerns as TTD plans to construct “Divya Kshetrams” (Srivari Temples) in every state. The lack of essential staff, particularly Archakas trained in Pancharatra and Vaikhanasa Agama, crucial for temple operations, raises questions about the feasibility of the expansion. While TTD is optimistic about simultaneous construction and recruitment, some experts urge the temple going treatment at King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam, while two others are being treated at the Narsipatnam Area Hospital. Speaking to the media, KGH Superintendent Dr P Sivananda said, “Soon after we received the alert about the accident, all departments, including the plastic surgery, paramedical, and allied medical teams, were put on standby to attend to the victims. Upon their arrival at KGH, the injured were directly shifted to the burns ward operation theatre instead of the zero levy express read Pawan Kalyan’s wife visits Tirumala 8 killed, 8 injured in firecracker unit blast in Anakapalle dist board to prioritize addressing the staff crunch over new temple construction. The staff shortage at TTD has reached a critical point, forcing the organization to rely heavily on local volunteers for sensitive tasks like Hundi counting at outside temples. A recent incident exposed this vulnerability when a staff member was suspended in March for allegedly manipulating foreign currency denominations in a Hundi, amounting to `6.5 lakh, with an ongoing police investigation. Experts suggest that the staff member exploited the situation due to being indispensable amid the staff shortage, highlighting the risks of relying on overextended personnel. Furthermore, TTD has been slow to develop a comprehensive manpower deployment and recruitment strategy, particularly for crucial roles such as Archakas trained in Pancharatra and Vaikhanasa Aga- ma, Veda Parayanadars, Paricharakas, temple kitchen (Potu) staff, and sanitation, security, and musical staff. TTD is grappling with a significant staff shortage, with 108 employees retired as of March 31, 2025, and an estimated 500 more expected to retire by June. The lack of new recruits has impacted not only temples but also guest houses, Public Amenities Complexes, and other support facilities. Notably, the TTD’s staff strength has dwindled from 16,600 employees two decades ago to around 5,000 currently . The temples taken over from the AP Endowments Department, such as those in Vontimitta, Devuni Kadapa, and Valmikipuram, are facing a severe resource crunch, relying heavily on TTD funding and facing periodic pressure for inP4 creased allocation.  tor Venkateswar secured 247 acres of land for the project after the approval from the state state government in November last year. The district administration’s swift action ensured the site was ready within months. Located in Sri City-2, an extension of the phase-1 development, the project is progressing rapidly, with land acquisition efforts advancing on a war footing to meet the committed timeline. Sources confirm that preparations for the ceremony are complete, signaling LG Electronics’ commitment to enhancing local manufacturing and economic growth. This initiative underscores Sri City’s growing status as a hub for industrial innovation. INDIA’s exports of iPhones and other electronics items — such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets — to the United States will be 20% cheaper compared to those from China, according to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA). While the US has exempted reciprocal tariffs on electronic imports from most countries, Chinese electronics — particularly iPhones and related devices — continue to face a 20% tariff. India and Vietnam — two major iPhone manufacturing hubs — now benefit from zero tariffs on exports of iPhones, smartphones, laptops, and tablets to the US. The US had said reciprocal tariff on Indian electronics exported to the US was set at 26%, while China faced a 145% tariff and Vietnam 46%. A week later, the US postponed the imposition of these tariffs for 90 days, excluding China. On Friday the US , Customs and Border Protection published a notice drones for surveillance in Temple City tirupati stating that electronic items — including smartphones, computer monitors, and other gadgets — would be excluded from the reciprocal tariffs announced by the Trump administration. This included the removal of the 26% tariff on Indian products and the 145% tariff on Chinese goods. According to Counterpoint Research, Apple accounted for more than half of smartphone sales in the US last year. As a result, Apple may accelerate its plans to shift and expand its manufacturing operations in India. The tariff exemption brings relief to India. India’s mobile phone exports hit an all-time high of `2,00,000 crore in FY 2024–25, a spike of 55% over the `1,29,000 crore recorded in FY 2023–24. India’s total mobile phone production is estimated to have reached `5,25,000 crore in financial year 2024-25, up from `4,22,000 crore in last fiscal year. Currently, t h re e m a j o r iPhone manufacturers operate in India: Foxconn (67% share), Pegatron (17%), and Tata Electronics (16%). In a big boon, the Tirupati district police procured six drones at a cost of `15 lakh for surveillance in Tirumala and Tirupati city. 7 months on, Law Commission may get new head in retd SC judge Maheshwari P r ee t h a N a i r @ New Delhi After remaining headless for over seven months, the 23rd Law Commission may get a new chief this week. According to highly placed sources, former Supreme Court judge Justice (retd) Dinesh Maheshwari is likely to head the law panel. Along with Justice Maheshwari, two more members will take charge. One of them could be Prof D P Verma, former member of 22nd Law Commission, sources said. A formal notification announcing Justice Maheshwari’s appointment is expected in a couple of days, sources said. The 23rd law panel was set up on September 2 last year for a period of three years. Though there is a provision to appoint serving Supreme Court and high court judges as its chairperson and members, usually Dinesh Maheshwari retired top court judges and exchief justices of high courts get to hold that high office. According to its terms of reference, the commission is also tasked to examine whether a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) can be introduced in the country . Justice Maheshwari retired from the Supreme Court in May 2023. He took oath as a judge of the Rajasthan High Court in September 2004 and was transferred to the Allahabad High Court in 2014. Justice Maheshwari was promoted as the chief justice of the Meghalaya High Court in February 2016. Two years later, he was transferred to the Karnataka High Court as chief justice. In 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court. According to law ministry sources, the new panel will be mandated with the completion of the draft UCC among other terms of reference. Sources said that the 22nd Law Commission hadn’t finalise its report on the UCC. The law panel was headless after Justice Rituraj Awasthi resigned as its chairperson in March this year after he was appointed as a judicial member of the Lokpal. Implementation of a central UCC was one of the main poll planks of the BJP during its campaign in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.