kozhikode l monday l may 05, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION billionaire Warren Buffett to bow out by end of the year Decision brings curtains down on a six-decade run heading Berkshire Hathaway that made Buffett the world’s most influential investor Vice-chairman greg abel is successor minces no words on dollar’s future Buffett had such a devoted following among investors that markets would move when his investments were disclosed. Buffett said he will recommend to Berkshire Hathaway’s board that Vice Chairman Greg Abel should replace him. Abel has been Buffett’s designated successor for years, and already manages Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses ■ ■ Buffett said the market turmoil that generated headlines after US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement last month ‘is really nothing’ to be worried about On the fate of the US dollar, Buffett said, “We would not really invest in a currency that is going to ‘hell’ $1.18 trillion is the estimated size of the berkshire hathaway empire 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 Befitting reply to those who hurt India: Rajnath Air Chief Marshal meets Modi amid rising cross-border tensions RA J ESH KUMAR THAKUR , MAYANK SINGH & FAYAZ WANI @ New Delhi/Srinagar AMID the rising tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, according to sources. There was no official statement on the meeting, but the two were understood to have discussed the security situation. The Air Chief Marshal’s oneon-one-meeting with the prime minister came a day after Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi met Modi. Later in the day, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said he will see to it that the armed forces give a “befitting reply” to India’s enemies. Issuing a stern warning to Pakistan—without directly naming the country—Singh said: “As the defence minister, it is my responsibility to work with my soldiers and ensure the protection of the country’s borders. And it is my responsibility to give a befitting reply, by working with the armed forces, to those who cast an evil eye on our country.” Singh’s strong words came during his speech Iran’s foreign minister to visit Pak, India After Tehran said it would use its ties with India and Pakistan to ease tensions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit Pakistan on Monday, and India after that. Tehran said the visit is “part of regular consultations with neighbouring countries” at the Sanatan Sanskriti Jagran Mahotsav event in Delhi. Meanwhile, officials said Pakistan continued to breach the ceasefire agreement for the 10th continuous night. “During the night of May 3 and 4, Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J&K,” an army official said, adding that Indian forces responded promptly and proportionately . Although there have been no casualties or injuries in the cross-border firing, it has led to escalation of tension at the frontiers, causing panic among border residents. X handles of Bilawal, Imran blocked The social media accounts of Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former Pak PM Imran Khan will not be available in India as the government on Sunday withheld their X handles. The action is part of the digital crackdown on Pak handles Also, while heavy weaponry such as mortars and artillery has not yet been used, the continuous use of small arms including light machine guns by both sides has raised concerns that the situation may escalate into intense clashes. Pakistan’s continuous ceasefire violations and targeting of army posts along the Line of Control in multiple sectors from Kashmir to Jammu region has put the border ceasefire pact in threat and danger. Fearing further escalation of the situation, the border residents in Jammu and Kashmir are cleaning and fortifying their underground bunkers and stock-piling essentials to prepare for any eventuality. Farmers are also hurriedly completing the harvesting of crops in the border areas. Need partners, not preachers: EAM tells EU J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi EXTERNAL Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Europe to show greater sensitivity and mutuality of interest if it wants deeper ties with India, saying New Delhi is looking for “partners, not preachers.” Speaking at the ‘ rctic Circle A India Forum’ during an interactive session on Sunday, Jaishankar highlighted India’s long-standing advocacy of ‘Russia realism’ and pointed to the ‘important fit’ and ‘complementarity’ between the two countries, describing Russia as a resource provider and India as a resource consumer. He also criticised Western efforts to resolve the RussiaUkraine conflict without involving Moscow, terming them a challenge to the basics of realism. “Just like I am an advocate of Russia realism, I am also an advocate of America realism,” he said. “I think the best way to engage today’s America is also through finding mutuality of interests rather than putting ideological dif- ferences upfront and then allowing it to cloud the possibilities of working together,” he added. Responding to a question on India’s expectations from Europe, he said Europe must move beyond preaching and instead act on the basis of shared interests. “When we look out at the world, we look for partners; we do not look for preachers, particularly preachers who do not practise at home and preach abroad,” he said. Jaishankar has repeatedly Congress asks state units to up ante on caste census P r e e t h a n a i r @ New Delhi in one voice Participants wave the Tricolour at the ‘Constitution-Waqf Protection Conference’ organised by Sunni organisations in Kochi on Sunday. Representatives of EK and AP factions of Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama, Dakshina Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama and Kerala Samasthana Jem-Iyyathul Ulama gathered near the JLN Stadium in Kaloor for the event | T P Sooraj | P5 Vedan set to perform at state govt event today Anto’s ‘ascent’ hits pause button as Innocent teen picked Cong veterans back Sudhakaran up, ‘assaulted’ by cops Express News Service Discordant notes from certain veteran leaders, including K Muraleedharan, seem to have put brakes on the announcement of new Congress state president even as four-time MP Anto Antony remains a strong favourite in the race to replace K Sudhakaran. Sources said Anto failed to win the backing of senior leaders like Muraleedharan, Shashi Tharoor and Ramesh Chennithala, and this has led to a delay in the expected announcement. “The AICC president will decide when to make it official. He will choose the timing of the announcement,” a party insider said. However, sources close to Anto remain confident. They believe the high command still backs him firmly and that an announcement in his favour @Idukki In a notable shift in stance, the Kerala government has decided to reinstate rapper Vedan’s programme at the ‘Ente Keralam’ event in Vazhathope, Idukki, days after cancelling it following his arrest in a drug case. The move comes amid growing criticism over the aggressive action taken by some forest officials, which both the CPM leadership and Forest Minister A K Saseendran later termed “overzealous”. Hirandas Murali, popular as Vedan, was originally scheduled to perform at the ‘Ente Keralam’ venue on April 29 as part of celebrations marking the fourth anniversary of the state government. However, his arrest on April 28 for alleged possession of ganja led the Idukki district administration to call off the show. He was arrested again the same day under the Wildlife Protection Act for allegedly wearing a chain with what was suspected to be a leopard’s tooth. The tide turned after the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Perumbavoor granted him bail on April 30, citing lack of evidence to support the charges under the Wildlife Protection Act violation. The court noted that the pendant could not be confirmed as leopard tooth and there was no link to hunting or illegal trade. Following the court’s observation, the g ove r n m e n t re s ch e d u l e d Vedan’s performance for Monday at 8pm , at the Vazhathope , Government Vocational Higher Secondary School ground. mistaken identity Express News Service @ T’Puram/Kochi K Sudhakaran Anto Antony could come within this week itself. “It’s only a matter of time,” a close aide of Anto told TNIE. Muraleedharan came out in strong support of Sudhakaran, saying he is capable of leading the party “This is not the right . time for a change, especially with local and assembly elections ahead,” said Muraleedharan. Tharoor, too, had earlier supported Sudhakaran, saying the party needs unity, not a leadership shuffle. Meanwhile, Congress leaders V D Satheesan and K C Venugopal are reportedly push- K Sudhakaran is capable of leading the party. This is not the right time for a change, especially with local body and assembly elections coming up — K Muraleedharan, senior Congress leader ing for a change of guard. They believe the party needs fresh leadership to take on future challenges. Behind the scenes, the issue is not just about politics -- religion plays a part too. Some Congress leaders feel it is time to bring in a Christian, preferably a Catholic, as the state Congress president. This, they believe, will help stop the slow drift of Christian votes towards the BJP. While Anto fits that profile, his family’s links to the Pentecostal Church have created hesitation among some Church leaders, especially within the influential SyroMalabar Church. “We are not sure if Anto is the right choice,” said a Congress leader. Amid rumours of his replacement, Sudhakaran remains firm. He told reporters that some quarters within the party have sought his ouster citing his health problems and his treatment at Mayo Clinic in the US. However, he declined to name the leaders who wished him to be replaced.  ● More on P4 Express News Service @ Kozhikode/Kochi An 18-year-old youth from Cheruvannur was reportedly beaten up by police after being mistaken for an associate of an accused in an abduction case in Meppayur, in Kozhikode. Adhil P, a student of hospital administration, suffered an injury to his ear in the incident. Adhil filed a complaint with the DGP, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission and Meppayur police. According to the complaint, Adhil was waiting at the Digital Seva Kendra, near Meppayur police station, last Friday afternoon when plainclothes police officers from Kalamassery in Kochi apprehended him, took him into the station and beat him up. The police team was after an accused in a kidnapping-for- ransom case involving a 22-year-old man from Kalamassery . On supposedly realising their mistake, officers issued an apology and released Adhil, it said. The police team had been tracking Muhammed Hashir, one of the suspects in the kidnapping of Sourav. As part of their operation to trap Hashir, from Meppayur, the 21-year-old was led to believe that the ransom money was kept in the vicinity of the Seva Kendra. “I was at the Seva Kendra to procure documents to open a bank account. I noticed Hashir at the location. All of a sudden, a group of police officers in civvies reached there and detained me and another man waiting at the facility, along with Hashir, and led us to the station around 2.40pm,” Adhil told TNIE.  ● More on P4 Houthis attack Israel’s main airport with hypersonic missile A g e n c i e s @ Tel Avivi / New Delhi A missile launched by Iranianbacked Houthi rebels of Yemen briefly halted flights and commuter traffic at Israel’s main inter national air por t on Sunday . The Houthis have been striking Israel throughout the war in Gaza in solidarity with Palestinians. The attack on BenGurion International Airport came hours before Israeli Cabinet ministers were set to vote on whether to intensify military operations in the Gaza Strip. The armed wing of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas praised the missile attack. Houthi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Saree said in a Israeli security forces inspect the site where the projectile was fired by Yemen’s Houthis on Sunday, leading to suspension of flight services | AP video statement that the group fired a hypersonic ballistic missile at the airport. called out what he sees as Western duplicity in global affairs, especially Europe’s selective application of international principles. He has long argued that for Europe to be taken seriously it must show consistency , in upholding values such as territorial integrity, rather than bending rules to suit its own interests. Pointing to what he terms a lopsided worldview, Jaishankar in the past had said that the Europe must move beyond the belief that its problems are global concerns, while the rest of the world’s issues are not its responsibility . The Israeli military confirmed that the attack, which gouged a large crater in the pe- rimeter of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, was launched from Yemen and had struck despite “several attempts... to intercept the missile”. A photographer said the missile hit near the parking lots of Terminal 3, the airport’s largest. The crater was just hundreds of metres from the tarmac. This was the first time a missile struck the airport since the war began. Passengers were heard yelling and scrambling for cover in footage shared by Israeli media. Air raid sirens were sounded in multiple parts of Israel. In response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed retribution: “Whoever harms us, we will harm them sevenfold.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a multi-phased repsonse to Yemen’s Houthis. “It’s not bang, bang and we’re done, but there will be bangs,” he said. Scores of flights operating from the Ben-Gurion international airport to different countries were cancelled. Germany’s Lufthansa airline and British Airways suspended flights to Tel Aviv till May 7, while Air India announced a temporary termination of all its operations to and from Tel Aviv till May 6 after the diversion of its New Delhi to Tel Aviv flight, carrying nearly 200 passengers, to Abu Dhabi due p9 to the attack.  STEPPING up pressure on the Union government to conduct the caste census as announced by the Union cabinet recently, the Congress asked its state units on Sunday to highlight the BJP’s resistance to ‘caste enumeration’ in the past and Rahul Gandhi’s consistent efforts in pushing for it. In a circular, AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal directed all state units to raise demands made in the CWC meeting last week, including carrying out the caste census without delay and implementation of Article 15(5), during the upcoming ‘Samvidhan Bachao Rallies’ scheduled to be held across all states and districts. Venugopal also urged state units to convey the party’s historical and ongoing commitments at the grassroots level, including the leadership role played by Rahul Gandhi. “In particular, the demand for the immediate implementation of Article 15(5) should be prominently highlighted,” he said. The article pertains to reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs in private educational institutions. The party directed all PCCs that during the assembly-level ‘Save Constitution’ rallies and house-to-house campaigns scheduled till May 30, the state units must organise ‘chaupal meetings’ with active participation from social activists, civil society activists, teachers, lawyers, shopkeepers, self-help groups members, and Bahujan communities. The circular called upon the state units to “expose the BJP’s anti-Bahujan ideology, its resistance to caste enumeration, and its efforts to suppress social justice”. express read 4 Velankanni pilgrims die in TN road accident T’Puram: Four persons from Thiruvananthapuram who were on a pilgrimage to Velankanni church died after their van collided with a Tamil Nadu bus near Karuveppanchery in TN’s Thiruvarur district on Sunday morning. P5 Drug-fuelled crimes on the rise in Kerala Kochi: Kerala is witnessing a disturbing trend as the number of crimes committed under influence of drugs and alcohol continues to rise sharply. In 2024 alone, the state has seen a more than 120% increase in criminal cases involving intoxicated individuals. P5