THRISSUR l wednesday l may 07, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION time to look for the holy smoke from vatican’s sistine chapel All 133 Catholic cardinals to vote for a new pope arrived in Rome a day before the process to elect the next head of the 1.4 billion Catholics begins huge stakes on future of catholic church phone signals to be cut during voting Hailing from 70 countries across five continents, the group summoned following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 is the largest and the most international ever. At stake is the direction of the Catholic Church, a 2,000-year-old institution with huge influence but which is struggling to recover its reputation after allegations of child sex abuse by priests ■ ■ The 133 cardinals who will vote — all those aged under 80, minus two absent for health reasons — will gather on Wednesday afternoon under the frescoed splendour at the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel The Vatican announced that it would cut phone signals within the tiny city-state for the duration of the conclave for security reasons 12 years duration of francis’ papacy before his death on april 21 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 India gets strategic partner amid conflict with Pak Up to 99% of exports to be exempt from tariffs India, UK seal free trade pact, script strategic partnership JAYANTH JACOB @ New Delhi INDIA and the UK finalised a long-anticipated free trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday amid New Delhi’s efforts to strengthen global partnerships in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and the recent tariff tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump, which pushed both nations to accelerate trade negotiations. Sealed after three years of stop-start talks, the deal targets a $34 billion trade boost by 2040 through easier market access and fewer trade barriers. After speaking on phone with his British counterpart Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the pact is ‘ambitious and mutually beneficial’. “Along with a Double Contribution Convention, these landmark agreements will deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies,” Modi wrote on X. Under the Double Contribution Convention, Indian workers temporarily in the UK and their employers will be exempt from paying UK social security contributions for three years—a move that could yield significant financial savings for Indian service providers, boost their competitiveness in the UK, and create new job opportunities for Indians working there. Starmer hailed the FTA as a step toward stronger alliance and lower trade barriers in a ‘new era for trade.’ Turning to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, the British PM reiterated his “deep condolences at the tragic and senseless loss of life”. The deal cuts tariffs on goods such as advanced manufacturing components and food products, while setting mutual quotas for auto imports. It opens Indian markets to more British firms and allows Indian professionals to work in the UK without altering its points-based immigration system. An Indian government release said 99% of Indian exports will benefit from zero-duty access. The deal unlocks major export potential for India’s labourintensive sectors—textiles, leather, marine products, footwear, sports goods, toys, and gems & jewellery—and key industries such as engineering goods, auto parts, engines, and organic chemicals. UK’s Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds met with his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal in London last Tuesday where they re, solved most of the remaining issues. The pact also delivers a significant boost to trade in services, including IT/ITeS, finance, professional and business services, and education. Britain, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has not always supported India on security matters. The FTA with India marks a significant step forward, setting the tone for India’s upcoming FTAs with the US and the European Union. For the UK, the deal is a postBrexit milestone in asserting trade independence; for India, it counters the perception of being a reluctant free trade negoP10 tiator. THE BIG DEAL India-UK FTA to double the trade between the two countries to India will cut duties on 90% of tariff lines, with 85% becoming duty-free in 10 years Scotch whisky, gin, cars, aerospace parts, and food items from the UK will be cheaper in India Whisky and gin tariffs will be halved from 150% to 75%, and finally to 40% by year 10 of the deal TariFfs and the power of Sector Automotive tariffs will drop from over 100% to 10% under a quota system A4,000 cr Competitiveness boost to India companies in UK through social security exemption India will gain from tariff elimination on 99% of the tariff lines Zero $120 bn by 2030 covering almost 100% of the trade value Indian professionals in the UK will be exempt from social security payments for up to three years, reducing employment costs Dairy products, apples, cheese excluded from duty concession to protect Indian farmers Agri and Processed Foods *Duty Range Under FTA Animal products Up to 20% Vegetable/Oil products Up to 20% Processed food Up to 70% 99.3% Tariff lines at zero duty 99.8% Tariff lines at zero duty 99.7% Tariff lines at zero duty Industrial Goods under fta — From 18% max to 0 Headgear/ Up to 12% Transport Up to 18% /Auto Minerals Up to 8% Glass/Ceramic Gems & Up to 4% Instruments Up to 6% Chemicals Up to 8% jewellery /Clocks Plastic/ Up to 6% Base metals Up to 10% Arms/ Up to 2% Rubber Ammunition Leather Up to 16% Mechanical Up to 8% machinery Furniture/ Up to 4% Wood/PaperUp to 10% Electrical  Up to 14% Sports goods Textile Up to 12% machinery (*Existing Duty Range) SEctor  *Duty Range Indian professionals to get better access to UK job market UNSC poses tough questions to Pak on Pahalgam massacre Despite opposition from Congress state chief K Sudhakaran and a section of party leaders in Kerala, the high command is all likely to nominate Pathanamthitta MP Anto Antony a close con, fidant of AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, as the new state president. Anto’s name is expected to be announced by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Venugopal in a day or two. The central leadership is learnt to have taken the decision after Rahul Gandhi held deliberations with former state presidents and senior leaders to end the stalemate in the state Congress following opposition from some senior leaders and Sudhakaran against Anto’s appointment. Though the names of Roji M John, Sunny Joseph, Adoor Prakash and Mathew Kuzhalnadan were considered in the first lap along with Anto, only Sunny and Anto entered the final round, Congress insiders said. The AICC had put the announcement on hold after senior leaders like K Muraleedharan and Shashi Tharoor objected to a change of leadership and Sudhakaran openly revolted against the high command, said sources. Anto, who was a confidant of Oommen Chandy, is expected to take his new charge after visiting the tomb of the former chief minister. The four-time MP started his po- litical career in the Congress through Kerala Students Union and was the DCC president of Kottayam. After being defeated by CPM’s Suresh Kurup in his first election to the Lok Sabha from Kottayam in 2004, Anto shifted his base to Pathanamthitta, from where he won in 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024. The high command decided to look for a new KPCC president following complaints from several senior and youth leaders about the ill health of Sudhakaran and his absence in organisational work. The difference of opinion between Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan and Sudhakaran also worked as a catalyst in his likely exit from the post. The two leaders’ silly quarrels which came out in the open had affected the image of the Congress, the high command feels.  ● More on P4 MUKESH RANJAN a n d RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ Ranchi/New Delhi nent member of the UNSC. “Pakistan was questioned about the cross-border linkagAmid rising tensions between es, the terror groups active on India and Pakistan, the United its soil and the way many of Nations Security Council them have been operating with (UNSC) held a closed-door impunity. Despite trying hard meeting at Pakistan’s request, Pakistan couldn’t muster which ended without concrete enough support to come out resolutions. However, members with a statement,” well-placed raised questions for Islamabad sources said. about the Pahalgam terror atSources said that another tack, expressing concerns over point of discussion was Pakithe targeting of tourists stan’s “missile tests and based on their religion. nuclear rhetoric,” which Greece’s Permanent several members deemed Representative to the UN “escalatory”. While PaPakistan was and current Security questioned kistan presented the misCouncil President, sile tests as routine drills, about the Evangelos Sekeris, de- cross-border they raised international scribed the meeting as linkages to alarm about the Pahalgam “productive and helpful”, growing instaand terror though he acknowledged bility in the that no “specific out- groups active region. on its soil comes” were achieved. UN Assistant “The Security Council is Secretary-Gen- Sources always helpful in such eferal for Middle forts to de-escalate. It is the re- East, Asia, and the Pacifsponsibility of the Council,” he ic Khaled Mohamed Khiari, said. who briefed the Council, later During the meeting held in a told reporters that all members consultations room rather than expressed the desire for dethe main UNSC chamber, Paki- escalation. stan was questioned about the Pakistan’s Permanent Repreinvolvement of Lashkar-e-Toi- sentative to the UN Asim Iftba (LeT) in the Pahalgam at- ikhar Ahmad, said the consultack, with some members re- tations aimed at allowing j e c t i n g t h e “ f a l s e f l a g ” Council members to discuss narrative, sources said. Paki- the security environment and stan currently is a non-perma- rising tensions in the region. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday charged that an intelligence report was sent to Prime Miniter Narendra Modi three days ahead of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, following which he cancelled his Kashmir visit. “If the prime minister could change his plans, why were tourists left exposed?” Kharge wondered. He was addressing a ‘Samvidhan Mallikarjun Bachao Rally’ Kharge in Ranchi. The BJP in its pushback called it an irresponsible statement, adding Kharge could not have made a more reckless comment at a time of rising tensions with Pakistan. “What kind of comments is he making? On the one hand, he says at the (all-party) meeting that they are standing with the country, on the other, he is trying to weaken the country,” former Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. Terming the Pahalgam attack an intelligence failure, Kharge said that the government had accepted the fact and assured to address it. mock drill today Qatar backs India India hits out at OIC T’Puram: The civil defence mock drill, announced by the Union government amid simmering tension with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, will be conducted in all districts of the state on Wednesday. The mock drill will start by 4pm. P4 Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani expressed full support to India’s fight against terrorism and all its actions to bring the perpetrators of Pahalgam attack to justice during a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MEA said India strongly criticised the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for its refusal to acknowledge the cross-border linkages to the terror attack in Pahalgam. It slammed the OIC’s remarks as “absurd” and accused it of acting at Pak’s behest Express News Service @ New Delhi CJI walks the talk as judges’ assets go public Anto likely to be nominated Congress state president K S S r e e j i t h @ T’Puram PM axed J&K trip after intel alert: Kharge s u c h i t r a k a lya n m o h a n t y @ New Delhi in all grandeur The Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu teams face off during the kudamattom ceremony as a sea of humanity witnesses the grand spectacle held as part of the Thrissur Pooram at the Thekkinkadu Maidan on Tuesday | T P Sooraj EXPRESS READ IAS rejig: 11 officers assigned new roles Govt to increase Plus-I seats marginally T’Puram: The state government has effected a major bureaucratic reshuffle by transferring and reassigning responsibilities of 11 IAS officers. General administration department additional chief secretary K R Jyothilal will now serve as the additional chief secretary, finance. P4 T’Puram: The state government will allow a marginal increase in Plus-I seats for the 2025-26 academic year to ensure that all eligible students get admission, General Education Minister V Sivankutty has said. The government will not have additional financial liability due to the increase. P4 IN a significant move to enhance transparency in the judiciary 21 Supreme Court judges, , including Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, declared their assets, including those of their spouses, in the public domain. The decision was made in accordance with a full-court resolution passed on April 1. The declarations are now available on the Supreme Court’s website. CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who will demit office on May 13, has a three-bedroom DDA flat in South Delhi, a fourbedroom flat in Commonwealth Games Village, Delhi, and a share in a four-bedroom flat in Gurugram. He has fixed deposits and bank accounts worth `55.75 lakh and `1.06 crore in PPF, among other assets. Justice B R Gavai, the CJIdesignate, has a house in Amravati, a residential apartment in Mumbai, and another in New Delhi.