Saudi to buy $142 bn worth arms from U.S. “The united states and saudi arabia signed the largest defence sales agreement in history,” the white house said | P9 HYDERABAD l wednesday l may 14, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l LATE CITY EDITION Now, India plans to strike THE U.S. with retaliatory tariffs D i pa k M o n d a l @ New Delhi INDIA has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) about its plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on select US metal imports in response to Washington’s protectionist tariffs on steel, aluminium and related products. India’s decision to end concessions for the US will effect an increase in import tariffs on selected products originating in the US. The countermeasures could come into effect as early as June 8, 2025, unless consultations are initiated or the US withdraws its safeguard tariffs. The notice was filed on May 12 under Article 12.5 of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, which allows retaliation when a member imposes safeguard measures without adequate notification. India has estimated the US tariffs have affected $7.6 bil- Goyal to visit U.S. for trade talks Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will lead a team of officials to Washington starting May 17 for talks with the US on the proposed bilateral trade agreement lion in Indian exports, resulting in an additional $1.91 billion in duties. It, therefore, now plans to impose retaliatory tariffs. India’s move targets US duties that have been in place since 2018, and recently extended via presidential proclamations on February 10, 2025. Although imposed under the guise of national security , India argues these tariffs are de facto safeguard measures that violate WTO rules. It further contends the US failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 12.3, which mandates prior consultations. express read Sultania appointed Principal Finance Secretary Hyderabad: Senior IAS officer Sandeep Kumar Sultania was on Tuesday appointed Principal Secretary, Finance. He succeeds K Ramakrishna Rao who was recently appointed Chief Secretary. Ramakrishna Rao was holding full additional charge of the post after his elevation | P4 Retail inflation eases to 6-year low in April New Delhi: Retail inflation eased to a six-year low of 3.16% in April mainly due to subdued prices of vegetables, fruits, pulses, and other protein-rich items, creating enough room for the Reserve Bank to go for another round of rate cuts in the June monetary policy review | P10 Trump and Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also signed a host of bilateral pacts 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 ■ The deal was inked during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi, the first foreign tour in his 2nd term Trump and Saudi Crown Prince bin Salman | ap/pti After interacting with the 39-year-old crown prince, Trump said: “I really believe we like each other a lot” ■ Modi makes Adampur point to call out Pak propaganda Visits airbase Islamabad claimed it had destroyed along with S-400 battery RA J E S H K U M AR T HA K U R @ New Delhi Clearly exposing Pakistan’s lie that it destroyed Indian Air Force’s Adampur airbase in Punjab, which houses the S-400 air defence system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited the airbase and interacted with the soldiers. “What you have achieved is unprecedented, unimaginable and amazing,” Modi told the airmen in his first speech to the armed forces since Operation Sindoor, with an S-400 missile defence system in the backdrop. Pakistan had claimed it had inflicted significant damage on the Adampur airbase and destroyed the S-400 air defence system there. The PM’s presence at the airbase debunked Pakistan’s tall claims. Upon arriving at the airbase in the morning, Modi engaged with air warriors and soldiers in full public view. He walked near fighter jets ready for deployment, with the S-400 system on standby, within a fully operational and normal-looking base. “He came, walked openly on the airbase, interacted with the air warriors and conquered their hearts,” said a senior official. The prime minister’s visit, a No trade talk with America during Op Sindoor: MEA J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi | pti ‘No place in Pakistan is safe for terrorists’ In a dire warning to terrorists, Modi said, “There will be only one consequence of killing innocents: destruction, total annihilation”. Terrorists may have Pak army protection, but there’s no place where they can feel safe, he added day after his address to the nation, delivered yet another powerful message to the international community— laying bare Pakistan’s falsehoods while cautioning it against any future misadventures. “Interacted with the air warriors and soldiers at AFS Adampur. Their courage and professionalism in protecting our nation are commendable,” Modi later wrote on X. The external affairs ministry asserted on Tuesday that trade was never discussed with the US during Operation Sindoor, where the might of Indian armed forces compelled Pakistan to seek a ceasefire, and that India will suspend the Indus Waters Treaty until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border terrorism. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “Now, as per the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision of 23 April, In- There is now a dia will keep the Trea- new normal. The ty in abeyance until sooner Pakistan Pakistan credibly and gets used to it, irrevocably abjures the better its support for crossRandhir Jaiswal, border ter rorism. MEA spokesperson Please also note that climate change, demographic shifts and technological changes have created new realities on the ground.” As for the issue of trade, it did not come up in any of the discussions with the US, Jaiswal said, rebutting claims made by President Donald Trump of how he had used the issue of trade as a leverage to broker a ‘full and immediate ceasefire’ between India and Pakistan. He reiterated that it was Pakistan which had approached India for a ceasefire after it was rattled by the force of Indian strike at its air bases. A magical, and memorable, evening in the City of Pearls S h r e ya V e r o n i c a @ Hyderabad Under the warm glow of the festive lights installed at the Charminar and its vicinity the 109 contestants vying , for the 72nd Miss World title found themselves transfixed by the sights, sounds and soul of old Hyderabad on a magical Tuesday . The historic Laad Bazaar was transformed into a glittering passageway — its entrance adorned with strands of famed Hyderabadi pearls, a red carpet unfurled beneath their feet. During the course of the evening, the contestants were ushered into heritage stores, some over a century old. Among the standout moments was a stop at a bangle shop run by the second generation of a family known for its craftsmanship. Specially handcrafted bangles — delicate, colourful, and meticulously made — were created for the occasion. Smiles lingered on faces as wrists adorned with these vibrant pieces were raised to phones for selfies and snapshots, the Laad Bazaar alive with laughter and movement. At a nearby pearl store, contestants from Bulgaria and Serbia were shown how to distinguish real pearls from the imitation — by fire.  continued on P2