THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l wednesday l june 11, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l LATE city EDITION openai probes high error rates as chatgpt hit by global outage OpenAI’s ChatGPT experienced a major global outage on Tuesday, with India and the United States reporting highest number of disruptions over 800 complaints from india alone downtime shows overreliance on ai According to the real-time monitoring platform Downdetector, user reports of ChatGPT outages surged rapidly around 3pm, with about 800 complaints logged in India alone. About 88 per cent of complaints from India cited the chatbot not responding to queries, 8 per cent reported issues with the mobile app, and 3 per cent faced API-related problems ■ ■ The outage led to a flurry of activity on social media, with users sharing memes, voicing frustration, and highlighting the growing reliance on Artificial Intelligence tools for finishing daily tasks OpenAI acknowledged the outage, and said it is investigating the issue, but did not provide a specific timeline for the resolution 18 crore users employ chatgpt on a daily basis across the world 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 Blaze raging & smoke billowing, ship drifts in the sea unmanned Shipping company told that the cargo vessel won’t be allowed to dock at Indian ports M a n o j V i s w a n at h a n @ Kochi Fire continued to rage and dark smoke with toxic fumes kept billowing from MV Wan Hai 503 on Tuesday a day after , a major blast ripped through the Singapore flagged container vessel. The Director General (DG) of Shipping released a list of 157 containers carrying hazardous cargo, but details of the explosives have not been revealed. However, sources confirmed the presence of explosives in the vessel, saying they might have triggered the blast. A top official said the shipping firm has been told that the vessel will not be allowed to dock at Indian ports and they will have to take it off Indian waters after dousing the fire. “We have confirmed the presence of explosives on the vessel. But the list of dangerous goods released does not have these details. We believe the initial blast was triggered by the explosives and the fire spread to the inflammable cargo. Among the 18 crew members, five sustained burn injuries and were admitted to a hospital. The others are lodged in a hotel. The DG Shipping authorities will start recording their statements on Wednesday The . salvage team appointed by the shipping firm will arrive in Ko- Now, mystery over Sonam’s whereabouts a n u r a a g s i n g h @ Indore DAY after Meghalaya police said they cracked the May 23 murder of Raja Raghuvanshi and arrested his wife and her four aides from two states, the million-dollar question now is where was Sonam for 17 days after her husband’s murder. Two kinds of unconfirmed information are cropping up during the ongoing probe. Investigators are probing the possibility of Sonam having returned to her home Indore on May 25 (two days after husband’s killing in Meghalaya) before leaving by road for Varanasi in eastern UP. Once in Indore, she met prime suspect Raj Kushwaha (alleged boyfriend), who kept her in hiding close to Dewas Naka in Indore. On May 27, she boarded a taxi hired by Raj to Varanasi, after Sonam which she went into hiding, before dramatically re-surfacing in Ghazipur district’s Nandganj on May 8-9. Another possibility being probed is Sonam took a bus from Varanasi for Gorakhpur on June 8, but left the bus 65 km later near the roadside dhaba in Nandganj (Ghazipur) after knowing that Raj and his henchmen had been arrested in Indore on night of June 8-9. Some people in the bus she is believed to have boarded said they spotted her at ISBT in Varanasi. “If the second possibility is true then the question arises why was she on her way to Gorakhpur. People in hiding who proceed towards Gorakhpur take that route to go to Nepal,” a source who is part of the probe said. 16 pages, including 4 pages of THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Express Coast Guard ships attempt to douse the fire that broke out on container ship Wan Hai 503 Measured response years of BJP govt Modi govt 3.0 Adapts and Advances J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Dangerous Resin solution Benzophenone Nitrocellulose with alcohol Trichlorobenzene cargo on board Ammonium metavanadate Phosphoric acid solution Bipyridylium pesticide Dimethyl sulphate Naphthelene Ingredients of paint Wan Hai 503 Location of ship: 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal harbour Vessels involved in firefighting & rescue oPs Vessel drifting at one nautical mile in southerly direction 10 to 15 containers drifting at the speed of 1-1.5 knots per hour in southeasterly direction. May reach Kerala shore by June 12. Contents of these containers unknown ICGS Sachet, Samudra Prahari, Samarth, Arnvesh and Abhinav chi on Wednesday morning. There are expert chemists in the team and the efforts to neutralise the toxic chemicals will be taken up based on their advice,” said a senior officer. Indian Coast Guard vessels Samudra Prahari and Sachet toiled hard pumping water at high force on the vessel to contain the flames while other ICG INS Sutlej vessels Samarth, Abhinav and Arnvesh were, in addition to providing support, coordinating rescue operations. Indian Navy vessel INS Sutlej also joined the operations on Tuesday evening. The Dornier aircraft of Coast Guard deployed for surveillance has sighted around 10 to 15 containers drifting in the Approver reinstated as accused in fake note case tied to Dawood network T o b y An t o n y @Kochi In a rare development, an accused-tur ned-approver has been reinstated as accused after he turned hostile during trial. The case pertains to the 2011 Taliparamba Fake Indian Currency Note seizure linked to the Dawood Ibrahim network. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) last month moved a plea in the NIA special court in Kochi to reinstate Shihab H K, a native of Kanhangad in Kasaragod, as an accused. The case dates back to September 2010, when police seized fake notes of `1,000 denomination having a face value of `8.96 lakh from Taliparamba in Kannur. The NIA probe revealed that Aboobacker Haji alias Masthigooda Aboobacker of Kanhangad, the kingpin, was a close associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. He was deported from Abu Dhabi during the probe on the agen- cy’s request. The other accused include V P Pradeep Kumar of Pilathara, Kamal Ummer alias Kamal Haji of Hosdurg, M P Ashish of Melechovva, and Mohammed Farooq of Kannur.. Instances of approvers, particularly in NIA cases, turning hostile are extremely rare. The NIA submitted a certificate under Section 308 of CrPC, which deals with the trial of a person who fails to comply with the conditions of pardon before the NIA Court last month. “The certificate submitted by the prosecutor is accepted and the witness is made an accused in this case, for which a separate trial is to be conducted,” the court ordered. Originally the sixth accused, Shihab was made an approver and designated the 32nd prosecution witness. He failed to appear when initially summoned for trial and eventually turned hostile during witness exami● More on P4 nation.  Tugs: Water Lily, Offshore Warrior southeasterly direction. The estimated speed of the drift is 1 to 1.5 knots per hour. If unchecked, these containers may reach Kerala coast between Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram by Thursday. The contents of the floating containers remain unknown, and their potential for hazard is un● More on P4 der assessment.  Five Malayalis killed in Kenya road accident Express News Service As the Modi gover nment completes the first year of its unprecedented third consecutive term, India finds itself navigating a landscape defined by both political recalibration at home and assertive re-engagement abroad. The 2024 general elections ushered in a significant shift as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at the helm of a coalition government for the first time since 2014. This has necessitated a more consultative and consensus-driven style of governance, compelling the BJP to adapt its political strategy to accommodate the diverse interests within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Domestically this new coali, tion dynamic has driven both tactical flexibility and policy evolution. While the BJP fell short of a parliamentary majority it swiftly reasserted its , dominance within the NDA and gained momentum in key state elections, indicating political resilience. Legislative moves such as the caste census and the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, underscore a balancing act between ideological priorities and the imperatives of coalition politics. Simultaneously, efforts to revive “re- @Palakkad/ P’thitta/ Thrissur Five Keralites died and several others suffered injuries after the bus in which they were travelling met with an accident in the Nyandarua region of central Kenya on Monday. They were part of a 28member tourist group of Indian nationals based in Qatar. The deceased are Riya Ann, 41, and her daughter Tyra Rodrigues, 7, from Mannur in Palakkad; Jasna Kuttikkattuchalil, 29, and her 18-monthold daughter Roohie Mehrin from Thoyakkavu in Venkidangu, Thrissur; and Geetha Shoji Isaac, 58, a native of Cherukol near Mavelikkara. The tourist group had 14 Keralites. The others were from Karnataka and Goa. According to reports from Kenya and Qatar, the group was en route to Nyahururu town — approximately 200km from Nairobi — where they had planned to stay at Panari ● More on P4 Hotel.  The United Nations Population Fund’s latest report predicts that India’s population will reach an estimated 1.46 billion by 2025 but at the same time the fertility rate has declined below the replaceable level. Right now the fertility rate is precariously placed at 1.9. This means soon the population curve will start moving south. According to UNFPA’s 2025 State of World Population Report, in the next 40 years India will reach an estimated pop- pregnancies while 30 per cent face an unfulfilled desire to have either more or fewer children. The report says that 23 per cent face both the issues. It India in numbers 1.46 bn Estimated population in 2025 79 yrs Population doubling time 2.1 Replaceable rate 1.9 India’s total fertility now 68% (15-64) Population by age 26% group (10-24) 7% 24% (0-14) Aged above 65 years Age in Bracket () First year of Modi 3.0 has seen a dual transition: From single-party dominance to coalition governance at home, and from rhetorical assertiveness to pragmatic recalibration abroad. The challenge now is sustaining policy momentum amid alliance politics and the global order under Trump forms” like “One Nation, One Election” reflect the continued pursuit of a key ideological project, despite being in a coalition government. On the foreign policy front, Modi 3.0 has projected continuity with added urgency . From making an all-out engagement with the Trump administration from the very beginning to initiating all-party diplomatic delegations and managing delicate relationships in South Asia, the government has sought to build bipartisan consensus on external affairs on national security front. Strategic engagement with China led to limited disengagement at Depsang and Demchok, while ties with Bangladesh turned fragile amid Dhaka’s political shifts. J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has issued a stern warning to the neighbour, asserting that India will strike deep into Pakistan if provoked by terrorist attacks. Talking to Politico during his visit to Europe, Jaishankar said that retribution would be directed at terrorist outfits and their leaders in response to barbaric acts such as the Pahalgam attack. Jaishankar, who is travelling a month after India launched Operation Sindoor, accused Pakistan of openly training and unleashing “thousands” of terrorists against India. “If you continue to do the kind S Jaishankar of barbaric acts which they did in April, then there will be retribution against the terrorist organisations and leadership.” He said, “We don’t care where they are. If they are deep in Pakistan, we will go deep into Pakistan.” Jaishankar also addressed China’s close ties with Pakistan, stating: “On an issue like terrorism, you cannot afford ambiguity or double standards. In the end, it’s a problem that concerns all of us.” On the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar reiterated India’s neutral stance, advocating for a negotiated peace. He downplayed concerns over Indo-US trade tensions, stressing that ties have strengthened over decades. tion,” said Siddaramaiah. The decision comes ahead ENDING days of uncertainty, of the Cabinet meeting on Karnataka Chief Minister Sid- June 12, which is expected to daramaiah on Tuesday said discuss the contentious social his government will hold a and educational survey (caste fresh caste survey to address census) report, which was reconcerns flagged by several leased in April. stakeholders. The announceThough the report has been ment came after the party’s discussed in as many as three top brass met SiddarCabinet meetings, the Human lives amaiah and his depugovernment failed to ty and PCC president of great value reach any consensus. D K Shivakumar at to Cong: Rahul DK Shivakumar the Congress’ new On the stampede said the caste census headquarters in New would be redone to alissue, a source Delhi, and discussed said Rahul Gandhi lay doubts of various various issues, in- told the CM and communities over the cluding the June 4 sanctity of data, and PCC president stampede i n that human lives that the government Bengaluru. are of great value has plans to finalise Siddaramaiah said the resurvey of the to the Congress the new survey will caste census in the and the be completed within government has next Cabinet meet on 90 days. to be responsive June 12. “At the meeting, towards people. The state governthe leadership said ment has been facing the report submitted heat from Opposition on the caste census has been and party leaders for ‘unscienaccepted in principle. Howev- tific data’. er, concerns were raised by Several leaders from Lingasome organisations, religious yat and Vokkaliga communiheads, and a few ministers as ties opposed the report, saying the last survey was conducted their numbers were less than in 2015. So we have agreed to what had been previously hold a fresh caste enumera- extrapolated. P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi 10 dead in Austria school shooting A former student opened fire, killing nine and injuring at least 12 before taking his own life in a school in the southeastern Austrian city of Graz | P9 India’s fertility rate drops below replaceable level ulation of about 1.7 billion before it starts declining. The report says that nearly 36 per cent of adult women in India experience unintended Domestic coalition, global recalibration India will strike back at terror, says Jaishankar K’taka govt to hold fresh caste survey 2025 UNFPA report R a j e s h K u m a r T h a k u r @ New Delhi Security concerns spurred a measured response blending diplomacy with limited military action, showing a more adaptive deterrence posture stresses the need to shift focus from concerns about underpopulation and overpopulation to addressing unmet needs regarding sexual health, contraception, and family planning. Despite decline in fertility rate, India’s youthful population remains significant with 24 per cent in 0-14 age-group and 26 per cent in 10 and 24. A substantial 68% is of working age aged between 15-64 presenting a potential demographic dividend if matched by adequate employment and policy support. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and party leader K C Venugopal with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar at a meeting to discuss Bengaluru stampede, in New Delhi | PTI