The New Indian Express wishes its readers a diwali THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l monday l October 20, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Gone in 4 minutes: Thieves steal Napoleon-era jewels at Louvre Eight items stolen from gallery of apollo Around 9.30 am, several intruders broke a first-floor window, cut through the glass with a disc cutter, and headed straight to the Gallery of Apollo, officials said. They are believed to have entered the museum from the riverfront side, where construction is underway, used a freight elevator to reach the gallery, stole eight items from a 23-piece Napoleon collection and fled on scooters Robbers on Sunday broke into the iconic Paris museum and made off with the jewels in an audacious daylight robbery lasting 4 minutes 800 Diamond-adorned crown recovered ■ Shortly after the thieves fled, a 19th-century crown adorned with diamonds and emeralds, which belonged to Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III, was found damaged near the building ■ The value of the stolen items is still being assessed. Meanwhile, a manhunt is on with the authorities looking for four suspects Metres is the distance from the robbery site to the Paris police HQ 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 Gaza truce strained after Israel, Hamas trade fire Agencies Just nine days after the guns fell silent in Gaza, the landmark ceasefire agreement appeared to be faltering on Sunday, with Israel carrying out fresh airstrikes in Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating the truce terms by firing at Israeli troops. Gaza’s civil defence agency, which operates under Hamas authority said at least 33 people, , including a woman and two children, were killed in Israeli strikes across the territory on Sunday Israel said it was check. ing reports of casualties. Israel’s military said Hamas militants opened fire on troops in parts of Rafah city that fall under Israeli control, according to the agreed ceasefire lines. In response, the military launched fresh airstrikes on Hamas targets in southern Gaza, it said. Israel said it responded to at least three incidents in which “Hamas fired towards our meeting on oct 22 in delhi Ladakh representatives called for talks with MHA Ahead of the meeting, the MHA on October 17 announced a judicial IN a significant thaw after months inquiry led by a retired Supreme of impasse, Ladakh’s key agitators Court judge into the September 24 are set to resume talks with the incident — one of the key precondiCentre, with an eight-member del- tions set by LAB and KDA to egation from the Leh Apex Body resume talks. (LAB) and Kargil DemoThe delegation will incratic Alliance (KDA), clude three representaalongside MP Haji Haneetives each from LAB and fa Jan, scheduled to enKDA, their legal advisor, gage a Ministry of Home We welcome the and MP Haji Haneefa. Dordecision of the Affairs (MHA) sub-comjay said they would push Government of mittee on October 22 in India to invite us for the release of all deNew Delhi. tainees, including climate for talks in Delhi LAB co-chairman Cher- and look forward activist Sonam Wangchuk, to a positive ing Dorjay told this paper who remains jailed under outcome that the MHA has invited the National Security Act, them for talks chaired by and seek compensation for Chering Dorgay, the Union Home the victims. Leh Apex Body Secretary . KDA leader Sajjad KarThis marks the first digili said the LAB and KDA rect engagement between Ladakh will jointly attend the meeting. “We representatives and the Centre af- are meeting for statehood & Sixth ter the dialogue broke down follow- Schedule status, justice for Septeming protests in Leh on September ber 24 victims, and release of de24 demanding statehood and inclu- tainees including Sonam Wangsion under the Sixth Schedule. chuk. Only genuine dialogue The violence left four dead and can fulfil Ladakh’s aspirations,” over 80 injured. Sajjad Kargili said. f aya z w a n i @ Srinagar Smoke billows following an Israeli strike in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday | afp troops standing behind the yellow line in the agreed-upon positions”. Hamas, however, insisted it was complying with the truce and accused Israel of inventing pretexts to continue the war. The group said communication with its remaining units in Rafah had been cut off for months, and “we are not responsible for any incidents occur- ring in those areas”. The escalation comes just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed security forces to take “strong action” against Hamas over alleged truce violations. Israel informed the US in advance of the strikes, Axios reported. The US urged Israel to “show restraint”. Centre writes to States States directed to snuff out Call to set up organ, tissue bonded labour, trafficking donation teams in all hosps J i t e n d r a C h o u b e y @ New Delhi SIT to take Potti to other states to gather evidence T’Puram: The SIT probing the Sabarimala gold theft case will take Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused, to Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru this week as part of evidence collection. Potti had revealed that the gold plates from the dwarapalaka idols and the door frames were taken to these cities under the garb of maintenance and electroplating | P4 Centre mulls QR code on cough syrup, medicines New Delhi: The Union government plans to mandate barcoding and QR code-based traceability for vaccines, antimicrobials, narcotic and psychotropic drugs, and anticancer medicines. This decision follows the tragic deaths of over 20 children due to substandard cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan | P7 Gogoi: SIT formed to save Assam CM Guwahati: A month after the death of Zubeen Garg, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday alleged that the Assam government constituted a ninemember Special Investigation Team to hide CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s proximity with chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddharth Sharma, the singer’s manager | P8 oganisation set up under the Union health ministry . NOTTO director Dr Anil Kumar, in his letter, said the organ and tissue donation team must be mandatorily notified of all the deaths happening in hospitals. “Even if the family does not agree to organ donation, the option for tissue donation must be given to the family Dr ,” Kumar said in the letter dated October 17. Tissues such as corneas, skin, bones, and heart valves can be donated from cases of brainstem-death and cardiovascular deaths in hospitals or due to natural death cases. Tissues can be harvested up to 10 hours after death. One donor can save eight lives. “India requires nearly one lakh corneas annually, yet only one-third of the demand is being met. Bone donation, in particular, plays a vital role in treating patients with trauma, nonunion of bone fractures, and other bone-related disorders,” the letter said. E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ T’Puram In an apparent capitulation to the arm-twisting by the Union government — that purportedly involved the withholding of funds — Kerala has gone back on its opposition to the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. On Sunday General Education Minister , V Sivankutty announced that the state will become a signatory to the scheme, which will be rolled out in over 260 schools in the state. In a face-saving measure, however, the minster said the scheme will not be implemented at the cost of the educational values and traditions of the state, adding that money retained by the Union government rightfully belongs to the children. “When the Union government erased historic events, including the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, from textbooks, Kerala introduced alternatives,” he said at the press meet, clarify- Funds worth ing the state government’s position. L1,466 cr, which However, several top CPI leaders ques- rightfully belong tioned the move to roll out PM SHRI, stat- to the students ing that it was not discussed in the cabi- of the state, net. Reiterating that the party has not have not been gone back on its opinion, state secretary released by the Centre. Why Binoy Viswam was quoted by TV chan- should we nels as saying that the CPI will raise its accept this concerns if formal discussions are situation? initiated. Emphasising the state government’s V Sivankutty, position, Sivankutty said, “Funds worth General Edu Min `1,466 crore, which rightfully belong to the students of the state, have not been released by the Union government. Why should we accept this situation? The money does not belong to BJP governments alone.” Sivankutty stressed that the state pays the salaries of over 7,000 teachers. “The central funds will be utilised for printing textbooks, setting question papers, the education requirements of coastal regions, SC and ST students, including their travel, food, and hostel facilities,” the education ● More on P4 minister said. luxury on wheels KSRTC to launch airline-model ‘biz class’ ride; hostess to serve food K r i s h n a K u m a r K E @Kochi A bus ride that rivals air travel. The KSRTC is set to launch an ‘airline model’ business class bus service promising unprecedented luxury and speed to commuters. The premium offering, which will even have a hostess on board, is set to roll out upon the completion of the NH 66 widening work. Custom-designed coaches and on-board amenities, mirroring the comfort of a business class flight, will make the What’s on offer EX P RESS REA D THE Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) has directed all states and Union Territories to intensify action against inter-state human trafficking and bonded labour, following mounting concerns over slow progress in rehabilitation efforts. In a government order issued on September 25, Secretary Vandana Gurnani instructed all Chief Secretaries to constitute vigilance committees in every district and sub-division to track bonded and child labour cases. States have also been asked to submit proposals for immediate financial assistance to rescued labourers within three months of issuing release certificates. The directive follows a Supreme Court order of November 22, 2024, which asked MoLE to consult with states to simplify procedures for identifying and rehabilitating bonded la- K A V ITA BA J E L I - DATT @ New Delhi bourers. This is the second such directive since December ALL hospitals in India should 2024, after the Centre expressed have dedicated teams to coundissatisfaction with the states’ sel families of potential organ progress. “However, not much and tissue donors, the Centre progress seems to have been said in a communication to all made,” the order said. MoLE oversees the Bonded Labour states. Hospitals have been System (Abolition) Act, 1976, asked to report all deaths, make and implements the “Rehabiliefforts for timely counselling tation of Bonded Labour-2021” of family members, and enscheme, which procourage them for vides compensation organ and tissue press of `30,000 and rehaclusive donation. bilitation grants The move comes of `1 lakh for men as India faces a and `2 lakh for women. huge gap between the number NCRB data for 2023 shows of patients requiring human forced labour (23,520 cases) as organ and tissue transplants the largest human trafficking and the availability of donors. crime, followed by sexual ex“It is essential that hospitals ploitation (17,944). Maharashshould constitute organ and tistra, Telangana, and Odisha resue donation teams by involvported the highest cases. ing brain stem death commitTina Kuriakose Jacob of the tee members and transplant International Institute for Micoordinator / counsellor,” said gration Development termed the the National Organ and Tissue order “a step toward systematic Transplant Organization (NOTreview and monitoring to proTO) in a letter to all states. tect most vulnerable workers.” NOTTO is a national-level Kerala govt does a U-turn, to sign up for PM SHRI Representational pic The premium service promises unprecedented luxury and swift travel Each seat to have a smart TV and headphones The buses will operate as non-stop express services, service a reality A hostess will . be deployed and light food will be served to passengers. avoiding entry into bus stations to save time The service will be first launched in the T’Puram- Ernakulam sector, upon the completion of the NH 66 widening work “The KSRTC is acquiring two 25-seater luxury buses featuring air suspension for a super- smooth ride. The tendering process will begin soon. The speciality will be the luxury seating. We’re in talks with companies in Vietnam and China to import specially designed, electronically operated reclining seats. The seats are intended to offer maximum comfort, much like those found in an airline’s business cabin. Each seat will have a smart TV and headphones. Passengers can connect their Android devices to play their own content or enjoy KSRTC-provided selections like songs and comedy film scenes,” Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar told TNIE. Another key feature is the airline-style food service. “A hostess will be deployed, and a small pantry with a microwave will ensure hot food is served to passengers who pre-order meals with their tickets or purchase them on board. This system is designed to minimize fares by offering the food as an optional purchase,” he said. The service is projected to cover the Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam section in a remarkable four hours, or even just three-and-ahalf hours, and is planned to be launched upon completion of the NH widening activities in the section, taking full advantage of the improved NH infrastructure. “The buses will operate as non-stop express services, avoiding entry into bus stations to save time. The only planned stops will be at a chosen hotel or restroom for the primary needs of the commuters,” the ● More on P4 minister said.