VIJAYAWADA  WEDNESDAY  MAY 28, 2025  `9.00  PAGES 12  LATE CITY EDITION 65 INJURED AS CAR PLOUGHS INTO LIVERPOOL VICTORY PARADE At least 65 people, including four children, suffered injuries on Monday evening when a 53year-old white British man drove over people VEHICLE ENTERED STREET SHUT TO TRAFFIC CAR SPED UP WHEN ANGRY CROWD BLOCKED IT The horrific incident happened around 17.00 GMT Monday when thousands of people were on the streets of Liverpool to celebrate Liverpool FC winning the Premier League. As the parade wound up, a Ford Galaxy drove into Water Street, which had been shut to traffic. The car, blocked by bystanders, suddently accelerated, knocking over people ■ ■ ■ Police said the roadblock on Water Street had been lifted temporarily just before the incident to allow an ambulance to pass through The Ford Galaxy car followed the ambulance onto Water Street, when an angry crowd blocked the car and opened the driver’s door The car then sped up, veering into people on both sides of the street NO TERROR POLICE QUICKLY DISCLOSED THE SUSPECT’S DETAILS TO REFUTE ISLAMIC TERROR ANGLE 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 Bunked class? You could lose visa, US warns students J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu garlands NTR’s statue on the inaugural day of Mahanadu in Kadapa on Tuesday | EXPRESS MAHANADU A TRIBUTE TO PARTY CADRE: CM Naidu hails 2024 electoral victory as “extraordinary”, credits grassroot party workers for their relentless commitment S N A G A R A J A R A O @ Kadapa our cadre continue to exhibit even a year after the polls.” Calling the 2024 electoral victory “extraordinary,” Naidu credited party workers for their relentless commitment. “With a 93% strike rate and over 57% vote share, our performance is historic. The credit belongs to the grassroots warriors who kept the TDP flag flying high CHIEF Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday dedicated the party’s success in last year’s elections (93% strike rate and over 57% vote share) to the unwavering sacrifices of the party workers. The Telugu Desam Party national president inaugurated the three-day annual party conclave Mahanadu in Kadapa on Tuesday . Addressing the party cadre, Naidu said, “Holding Mahanadu at the divine doorstep of Kadapa after our historic win in seven out of ten seats in this district, reflects the passion despite severe oppression.” He recalled the repressive atmosphere of the previous YSRCP government, condemning its “culture of vendetta, false cases, and political murders. “Our workers fought bravely, even when their lives were at risk. Their sacrifices brought the alliance to power. Mahanadu is our tribute to them.” Lokesh: What is the urgency to take CM post? TDP general secretary and Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh sought to know what the urgency is for him to take the post of Chief Minister. In an informal interaction with the mediapersons on the sidelines of Mahanadu in Kadapa on Tuesday, Lokesh described Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu as a young and dynamic leader. Naidu emphasized that no other political party has had as profound an influence on public life as the TDP. “From ending the Patel-Patwari system to empowering women through DWCRA, from `2/kg rice to `4,000 pensions, from education reforms to IT exports —TDP’s legacy is one of transformative governance.” “TDP is not just a political party, it is a trendsetter,” he said, highlighting contributions such as infrastructure development, girl child education, women’s property rights, and drip irrigation subsidies for P4 Rayalaseema farmers. THE United States has issued an advisory to international students in the country includ, ing Indian nationals, urging them to strictly comply with the terms of their student visas. The US embassy in New Delhi warned that students who violate visa norms risk immediate consequences, including visa revocation and ineligibility for future US visas. “Always adhere to the terms of your visa and maintain your student status to avoid any issues,” the embassy stated in its notice on Tuesday “If you drop . out, skip classes, or leave your program of study without informing your school, your student visa may be revoked, and you may lose eligibility for future US visas,” it added. Non-compliance of norms by students could result in immediate termination of their F-1 visa status, which may jeopardise their legal stay in the US and impact any future study or immigration benefits. According to the Open Doors 2024 Report on International Educational Exchange, the number of international students enrolled at US colleges and universities reached a record high of 11,26,690 in 202324. India was the leading contributor with 3,31,602 students during that period — a 23% jump compared to the previous academic year. However, failure to follow the rules can have serious repercussions under Trump’s rule. Violations such as poor academic performance, unauthorised absence can lead to deportation. FREEZE ON VISA INTERVIEWS? A late-night US media report claimed that the Trump administration has ordered all US embassies to halt new interviews for student visas as it intends to expand social media screening of the candidates. The US embassy in New Delhi denied receiving the order Pawan calls for stringent monitoring ‘Shocking’ jailing of student over Sindoor post: HC of cinema halls management in State S U D H I R S U R YA W A N S H I @ Mumbai EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Vijayawada DEPUTY Chief Minister and actor-politician Pawan Kalyan has called for stringent oversight in the management of cinema halls across the state to ensure better services for moviegoers. In a review meeting with Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh and other senior officials, he issued key directives regarding the regulation of cinema ticket pricing, food item costs within theatres, and the recent cinema hall bandh issue that has rocked the Telugu film industry . Pawan Kalyan made it clear that the government departments concerned must regularly monitor cinema halls op- erations to maintain standards. Emphasizing a structured process for ticket price hikes, he directed that producers should apply for permission through the Telugu Film Industry Council rather than approaching the government in an individual capacity. This directive gains significance in the context of the upcoming release of Harihara Veeramallu, for which ticket price hikes have been requested. The Deputy Chief Minister was unequivocal in stating that personal affiliations or political differences must not influence administrative decisions. A major concern discussed in the meeting was the soaring prices of food items like popcorn, soft drinks, and bottled water in cinema halls, often higher than the actual ticket prices. Pawan Kalyan directed officials to routinely inspect the pricing and quality of these items. He stressed that the monopoly of certain vendors in both multiplexes and singlescreen theatres has come to the government’s notice. To curb this, he suggested that Minister Durgesh initiate a thorough inquiry into these practices. P4 THE Bombay High Court on Tuesday ordered the immediate release of a 19-year-old engineering student arrested for sharing an Instagram post on Operation Sindoor and slammed the Maharashtra government and state police for their ‘radical reaction’ to a critical comment. While granting bail, a bench of justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan said it was “absolutely shocking” that the student was treated like a hardcore criminal even after she apologised and deleted the social media post. “It is shocking that an FIR was lodged against her on May 9 without even considering the fact that she had deleted the post and even apologised,” the court said, while observing that the girl’s act of sharing the post REFORM YOUNG MINDS, SAYS HC The Bombay High Court observed that educational institutions’ responsibility is not limited to imparting academic education. Institutes should also help students learn from mistakes and reform, HC said can only be termed as “act of indiscretion” by a young student. “How can the state arrest a student like this? Does the state want students to stop expressing their opinions? Such a radical reaction will further radicalise the person,” the court observed. The bench also pulled up the college authorities for rusticating the student without Truck-load of explosives Above-normal rains this season, looted in Odisha forest fewer heatwave days, says IMD PRASANJEET SARKAR & ASISH M E H TA @ Rourkela/Bhubaneswar UNIDENTIFIED persons, suspected to be Maoist operatives, on Tuesday looted a truck-load of explosives from a remote and forested area located about 90 km from Rourkela, in Sundargarh district. The area where the loot took place connects to Saranda forests in the adjacent West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, considered the hotbed of Maoists. The truck, sources said, was on its way to Banko area, where a stone quarry is located. Eight armed persons hijacked the truck around 10 am and drove it to the nearby forest where the explosive packets were unloaded. As per preliminary information, the truck was carry- SEPT 15 NEW DEADLINE FOR ITR FILING ing about 150 packets of gelatin sticks of Prime make. DIG Brijesh Kumar Rai said the truck was intercepted near Banko and forcibly taken 1 km inside the forest, where the explosives were unloaded in presence of another 10-15 persons who then vanished into dense forests with the packets. Rai said the role of Maoists has not been ruled out. Sundargarh SP Pratyush Diwaker said probe is on. From the modus operandi and precision of action, sources pointed out that it appeared to be a handiwork of the Maoists. In the event these explosive packets reaching the hands of the Maoists, it may have devastating impact since the left wing ultras are battling for existence in Jharkhand. The I-T deparment has extended the due date to file income tax return for FY25 from July 31, 2025, to September 15, 2025 | P10 J I T E N D R A C H O U B E Y @ New Delhi THE Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday updated its monsoon forecast to above-normal rainfall for the whole season from June to September. The average seasonal rainfall across the country is likely to be 106% of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of ±4%. Rainfall between 96% and 104% of the 50-year average of 87 cm is considered normal. As for the flow of monsoon, it is intense in different parts of the west and southern regions, and is way ahead of schedule. But scientists say the movement of the monsoon could slow down after three days, opening up the possibility of a dry spell. Except for the Northeast, J&K and Ladakh, the rest of the country will receive above-normal rainfall during monsoon season. Region-wise, the IMD expects normal rainfall in the Northwest (92-108% of LPA), followed by above-normal rain- A view of the flooded Motorai Palada village near Ooty in Tamil Nadu, following heavy rainfall in the Nilgiris on Tuesday | PTI fall over Central India and South Peninsular India (over 106% of LPA). As for June, the countrywide rainfall is projected to be over 108% of LPA. Above-normal monthly minimum temperatures are likely across the country, except in some parts of Central India and the South Peninsula, where normal to below-normal minimum temperatures are likely. As a result, below-normal heatwave days over the Northwest. HC REJECTS COLLEGE ARGUMENT The High Court rejected the college’s argument that the student’s anti-national sentiments posed a risk to campus community, saying mere critical social media posts cannot weaken national interest giving her an opportunity to give an explanation. “How can you rusticate? Did you call upon an explanation? What is the purpose of an educational institution? Is it only to educate academically? You need to reform a student or make a student into a cr i m i n a l ? ” Ju s t i ce Godse told the counsel appearing for the college. The court suspended the rustication order. Noting that the student missed some of her exams while in custody it issued , directions to permit her to appear for the remaining papers. As for the papers missed, the student can make appropriate representations before the authorities. During the hearing, the court enquired about the girl’s mental and emotional status and directed the police to provide protection to the student. “Give her a separate classroom for writing exams,” the bench told the college. The allegation against the girl was that her social media post caused tension between two groups and posed threat to public peace. In her plea, the student said she shared a post without any ill intent and deleted it immediately after receiving a barrage of threats. AP lost 468 ha of forest cover in 2024: Report U S H A P E R I @ Visakhapatnam ANDHRA Pradesh lost 468 hectares of primary forest in 2024, marking a slight increase from the 424 hectares lost in 2023, according to data released by Global Forest Watch (GFW), a coalition of over 100 organisations. The data reveals a fluctuating yet steady trend in forest degradation over recent years, with losses recorded at 193 hectares in 2022, 143 hectares in 2021, 225 hectares in 2020, and 363 hectares in 2019. In 2020, the state had approximately 2.46m hectares of forest, covering nearly 15% of its total land area. However, in 2024 alone, AP lost about 5.73 thousand hectares of natural forest, resulting in an estimated 1.75 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. From 2001 to 2024, the state lost 42.4 thousand hectares of tree cover, representing a 3.8 percent decrease since 2000 and accounting for 23.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions. Annual tree cover loss figures for recent years include 2.87 thousand hectares in 2024, 2.96 thousand hectares in 2023, 1.24 thousand hectares in 2022, 854 hectares in 2021, 1.40 thousand hectares in 2020, and 1.90 thouP4 sand hectares in 2019. District-wise tree cover loss (2001-2024) (ERSTWHILE DISTRICT-WISE ONLY) East Godavari 16.4 kha Visakhapatnam 15.7 kha Vizianagaram 3.08 kha West Godavari 2.73 kha Srikakulam 2.14 kha Guntur 685 ha Chittoor 469 ha Krishna 397 ha Nellore 274 ha Prakasam 267 ha YSR Kadapa 161 ha Kurnool 78 ha Anantapur 4 ha