hyderabad l thursday l september 11, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION Nasa finds strongest clue yet of potential ancient life on mars NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance has uncovered rocks in a dry river channel that may hold potential signs of ancient microscopic life signs of microbial activity on rocks Earth-based analysis needed: Scientists The Perseverance rover uncovered colourful, speckled rocks in a dried Martian riverbed that contains iron phosphate and iron sulphide, chemical compounds that can be produced when microorganisms chomp down on organic matter. Lead researcher Joel Hurowitz of Stony Brook University said it is the best candidate yet in the rover’s search for signs of life ■ ■ Scientists cautioned that non-biological explanations are possible for the findings, and Earth-based analysis is needed to confirm the ancient life theory. The samples are expected to reach Earth in 2040 The sample was collected from reddish, clay-rich mudstones in Neretva Vallis, a channel that once carried water into Jezero Crater 30 rock samples collected so far by perseverance rover 45180/12 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 Trump pushes India-US trade talks back on track Says no difficulty in sealing deal; there’s limitless potential: Modi PUSHPITA D E Y & DIPA K MO N DAL @ New Delhi Some of the prisoners who escaped during the anti-government protests, being escorted back to a jail in Kathmandu, Nepal on Wednesday | PTI Ex-CJ Karki leads interim PM’s race, Army restores calm E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi Armed soldiers patrolled empty streets and guarded key buildings in Nepal’s capital on Wednesday, enforcing a strict curfew amid uneasy calm following days of violent anti-corruption protests that forced Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to resign. Hopes are rising for a political resolution as youth protest leaders signal readiness for talks, even as nearly 700 air passengers, including Indian pilgrims, remain stranded at the Kathmandu airport that reopened in the evening. The Nepal Army, now effectively in control of security, said the situation remained tense but “under watch”, and extended a nationwide curfew until at least 6 am Thursday. “Infiltrators under the guise of protests have committed arson, looting, and violent attacks. We brothers in arms Navy Agniveer, sibling held in rifle theft case S R a j a Re d d y @ Adilabad The Mumbai Police Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) on Tuesday night, arrested a Navy Agniveer and his brother in connection with the theft of an INSAS rifle in Penchikalpet mandal, Komaram Bheem Asifabad district. Police said the prime accused Dubbala Rakesh (22), a native of Elakapalli village in Penchikalpet mandal, joined the Navy as an Agniveer (seaman) in 2023. He called his brother, Umesh (25), to Mumbai on September 4. The duo allegedly conspired to steal a weapon. On September 6, dressed in naval uniform, Rakesh approached a junior sailor on sentry duty in Navy Nagar, South Mumbai, and pretended to relieve him. The unsuspecting sailor handed over his INSAS rifle and two magazines with 20 live rounds each.  Continued on P4 are committed to restoring peace and protecting lives,” said Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet. The health ministry confirmed 30 deaths since Monday and over 600 injuries, including both protesters and police, in what has become Nepal’s worst unrest in decades. Armoured vehicles guarded the scorched Parliament building, set ablaze on Tuesday while security , checkpoints checked IDs of every vehicle crossing city limits. The protests erupted after a social media ban sparked outrage among Gen Z-led groups already angry at entrenched corruption, political dynasties, and government overreach. Though the ban was lifted, the damage was done. Demonstrations quickly escalated into riots, with government buildings, party offices, and even former prime ministers’ homes set on fire. The leaderless protest movement, primarily made up of stu- dents and young professionals, has now proposed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister. At 73, Karki is seen as a rare figure of integrity in a political landscape dominated by patronage. Later in the day Nepal’s army chief General , Ashok Raj Sigdel met a delegation of youth protest leaders and other key parties and discussed the way forward. Despite the violence, signs of civic resolve were visible in Kathmandu. Small groups of young people some wearing masks and carrying bin liners were seen cleaning streets outside charred buildings. Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport reopened, but hundreds remain stranded, including Indians. Among them are 130 from the Isha Foundation returning from Kailash Mansarovar, and dozens of tourists caught mid-transit. “The Indian Embassy told us to stay where we are until they can advise further,” said Mayur Patil from Mumbai. P8 A soldier patrols on a road in the aftermath of anti-government protests, in Birgunj, Nepal, on Wednesday | PTI Other names in play to head the new govt Apart from former chief justice Sushila Karki (pic), Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and former electricity board CEO Kulman Ghising were being considered to lead an interim govt. Karki is the only woman to serve as the CJ of Nepal’s top court Doha,” Modi posted on X. “India condemns the violation of Prime Minister Narendra the sovereignty of the brotherModi on Wednesday ly State of Qatar.” condemned the recent A readout from the Israeli strikes in Doha External Affairs Minduring a phone converistry said “PM exsation with Qatar’s pressed deep concern Emir, Sheikh Tamim over the attacks in Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Doha and condemned calling the attacks a viothe violation of the lation of Qatari sovereignty of the Sheikh Tamim sovereignty . State of Qatar. PM ap“Spoke with Amir of preciated the role beQatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Ha- ing played by Qatar in promotmad Al-Thani and expressed ing regional peace and stability , deep concern at the attacks in including its mediation efforts EU team coming Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that European Commissioner for Trade, Maros Sefcovic, will visit India on Thursday to advance negotiations on the India-EU free trade agreement the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking w i t h P re s i d e n t Trump. We will work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people.” Government sources said the talks will resume soon, with ministries from tariff-affected sectors claiming they have been assured by the commerce ministry that a favourable deal is on the horizon. Confir ming the development, Commerce and Industry ‘transfer 98 acres’ Hyderabad: The state government has set up an emergency helpline at Telangana Bhavan, Delhi defence land sought for gandhi sarovar Contact: E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e Helpline for TG citizens  Vandhana – 9871999044 @ Hyderabad  G Rakshith Naik – 9643723157 Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has requested Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to transfer 98.2 acres of defence land for the Gandhi Sarovar project, which the Telangana government is set to take up. The chief minister met Rajnath Singh in Delhi on Wednesday and briefed him about the project coming up at the confluence of the Musi and Esa rivers in Hyderabad. He explained that the government has proposed to build a Gandhi Circle of Unity at the junction of the two rivers and needs the defence land to complete the project. Revanth said Gandhi Sarovar will stand as a symbol of national unity and propagate Gandhian ideals. It will feature a knowledge  CH Chakravarthi – 9949351270 PM condemns Doha strikes by Israel J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi INDIA-US trade talks, which were stalled amid diplomatic friction arising out of Washington’s punitive tariff action on New Delhi, are likely to resume soon with US President Donald Trump striking a conciliatory note towards India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reciprocating positively . Late on Tuesday, Trump announced via a TruthSocial post that India and the US were trying to address trade barriers through negotiations. “I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks. I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our great countries,” President Trump said. In response, Modi stated: “India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership. Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at in Gaza to achieve ceasefire and release of all hostages.” “Prime Minister Modi reiterated support for resolution of all issues through dialogue and diplomacy and the need to avoid escalation. :He highlighted that India stands firmly in support of peace and stability in the region, and against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the MEA said. Sheikh Tamim thanked Modi for the expression of solidarity with the people and the state of Qatar. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy calls on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday hub, meditation village, handloom promotion centre, entertainment hub, landscaped ghats and a peace statue museum. Congress MPs Porika Balaram Nayak, Kadiyam Kavya and Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, along with MRDCL MD EV Narasimha Reddy and Central Projects and Schemes Coordinator Gaurav Uppal, also attended the meeting. Minister Piyush Goyal said that India is in talks with the US and other trade partners. “We are in active dialogue with the United States of America and with New Zealand. With Qatar, we will be finalising the terms of reference by the first week of October,” Goyal said at an event in Delhi. India and the US have been negotiating a bilateral trade agreement, with the first tranche expected to be completed by September-October. However, tensions over India’s Russian oil purchases led the US to call off the visit of its trade negotiators to Delhi in August last week, effectively stalling the process. At that time, the commerce ministry said the delegation’s visit would be rescheduled, but no new dates were provided. The US has since imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, pushing New Delhi to explore other export markets. Now, with the leaders of both countries signalling renewed goodwill, talks are expected to gain momentum. A government source told this newspaper that while no dates have been finalised yet, the next round of negotiations will happen soon. express read V-P elect likely to take oath on Friday New Delhi: Vice-President-elect C P Radhakrishnan, who is currently the governor of Maharashtra, is expected to take the oath of office on Friday, sources said. The swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath, sources said. However, an official confirmation is awaited. Radhakrishnan, 67, was elected Vice-President on Tuesday, defeating the joint opposition nominee B Sudershan Reddy by a margin of 152 votes. inside six die in lightning strikeS IN TELANGANA I P2 Group-I mains: TGPSC likely to file review petition in HC I P4 nato scrambles to intercept 19 russian drones in poland I P9 Over 1.2K tonnes of garbage left to rot daily as trash crisis mounts in state 1,211 tonnes of In the dumps K h yat i S h a h @ Hyderabad Source: TGPCB 2022-23 report Telangana is unable to scientifically process all the waste it generates daily, leaving over 1,200 tonnes untreated, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board. The figures, shared in reply to an RTI query filed by TNIE, highlight systemic gaps in waste n  waste generated Total (daily): 11,394 tonnes waste sent n  waste collected: Total to landfills 11,297 tonnes (per day) n  Scientifically processed: 8,941 tonnes 1,242 tonnes untreated management despite high collection levels. According to TGPCB’s 2022– 23 report, accessed by TNIE, the state generates 11,394 tonnes of solid waste a day Of this, 11,297 . tonnes were collected, but only 8,941 tonnes were scientifically processed. While 1,211 tonnes went to landfills, 1,242 tonnes remained untreated or unaccount- ed for. “Collection is happening, but processing is not keeping pace. Untreated waste is either dumped in open areas or enters drains and lakes, creating health and pollution risks,” said environmental activist Suresh. Experts stressed the need for long-term planning. “Cities like Hyderabad cannot depend on landfills alone. Decentralised composting and recycling centres in every ward should become the norm, otherwise the crisis will only grow,” said environmentalist B Srinivasan. Poor segregation at source is another concern. “Rules mandate separation of wet and dry waste, but compliance is weak. Without this first step, processing plants cannot function ef- ficiently Suresh added. ,” Activists also underlined citizen participation. Waste management, they said, cannot be seen as the sole responsibility of municipalities. “If bulk generators like apartments, hotels and markets handle their own waste responsibly it will signif, icantly reduce pressure on civic systems,” Srinivasan noted.