kannur l sunday l October 26, 2025 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l city EDITION Ro-Ko show: Duo prove their worth in final ODI of series Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli wound back the clock with a match-winning 2nd-wicket partnership to help India win against Australia Century for Rohit, unbeaten fifty for Kohli Life left in us, says Rohit after game After an iffy start in Perth, Rohit has grown into the series. After a streaky 50 in Adelaide, he was at his best notching up his 33rd ODI 100 in trademark fashion. While Rohit played the aggressor, Kohli was equally solid during his unbeaten 74. After the game, Kohli spoke of his relief in making his first runs after being dismissed for zero in last two innings ■ ■ Though this could be their last appearance Down Under, in a special interview of the two with the broadcaster after the match, Rohit said there’s still some life left in the pair | Report on P11 Kohli got a standing ovation at the Sydney Cricket Ground when he came out to bat, a gesture that was in show in the two earlier games 168 They put on an unbroken 168-run stand off 170 legal deliveries 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 India waits for clear US signals on how Russian oil curbs will play out Trade pact talks stay the course; need more clarity on crude oil sanctions, say officials J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi As trade pact negotiations gain traction, India is pressing for a fair deal and clearer signals from Washington on sanctions related to Russian oil. In a key meeting India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, met US Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly to review the India–US energy security partnership and recent trends in bilateral energy trade. Sources said the talks also touched on how impending US sanctions could affect global oil flows, even as supplies remain stable. “These are early days and we need more clarity on the sanctions — that’s part of the ongoing conversation with the US. Our energy security is paramount and guided by market conditions, national interests, and domestic requirements,” a source familiar with the issue said. India’s attention is on US sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, which supply most of its Russian oil, and the possible ripple effects of secondary sanc- Kwatra meets Lockheed CEO Ambassador Kwatra also met Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet an had a ‘productive’ discussion on bilateral defence industrial collaboration and opportunities under India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative tions. The fineprint is awaited. Germany recently took temporary control of three Rosneft subsidiaries to secure its own energy supplies -- a move that underscores the lack of a uniform Western approach to Russian oil sanctions. Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s renewed sanctions on Moscow are being viewed as a pressure tactic as well. Sources said a Russia– Had a fruitful discussion with Deputy Secretary James Danly on the energy security partnership —Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Indian envoy to the US Ukraine ceasefire would represent the best-case scenario for India, potentially paving the way for lifting the additional 25% tariff on Russian crude imposed by the US. With fears of secondary sanctions looming, India’s imports of Russian oil are expected to come down gradually, a shift that could push New Delhi to source more energy from the US as well. Sources believe this diversification would help off- set tarif f pressures and strengthen the foundation for an energy-focused component in the trade pact. While Nayara Energy maintains a term contract for Russian crude, most of India’s Russian oil purchases are spot deals. Sources noted that while sufficient alternative supply exists, Russia remains a key partner. They added that Washington is unlikely to push sanctions to the point of triggering a price surge, given the potential impact on global markets, particularly on supplies to China and India. Crude prices rallied sharply on Friday with Brent at $66.42, , after Washington sanctioned Rosneft, Lukoil, and Sovcomflot, removing nearly 4.5 million barrels per day from global markets. On October 23, Trump announced sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, giving companies until November 21 to wind down transactions. Earlier, on October 9, Washington imposed sanctions on Serbia’s Russianowned oil company NIS, one of Russia’s last remaining energy assets in Europe. indore shocker Oz women cricketers Heartbreak after Messi affair ‘stalked, molested’ M a n i s h a V C S @Kochi A n u r a a g S i n g h @ Bhopal In a shocking incident, two Australian women’s cricket team members were allegedly stalked and sexually harassed by a motorcycle-borne man in Indore on Thursday. The incident took place in broad day light, 11 am to be precise, when the two players were walking from the Radisson Blu hotel (where the team was staying since October 17) to a popular café close by . The accused stalked the two players who were jogging to the café from the hotel. He followed the cricketers and first tried to grab one of them and drove off. Later, he came from behind again and molested the other woman cricketer. A case was registered on the complaint of the team’s security manager Danny Simmons at Indore’s MIG police station on October 23 night. The accused, identified as Aqeel Khan, was arrested the next day and booked for stalking and outraging a woman’s modesty, under BNS Sections 74 and 78. This was confirmed by additional DCP (ADCP-Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya who added that it was done based on the complaint filed by the Australian team management’s security in-charge Simmons, about “inappropriate behaviour” with the team’s players. “Intensive strategic operation was carried out by multiple teams of five police stations, resulting in the tracing and arrest of the accused within six hours of The accused at the police station after the arrest | express lodging of the case,” Dandotiya told this newspaper. The arrested man has been accused in 10 cases of theft, robbery, drug peddling and attempt to murder from 2012 to 2024. “Protocols for the team’s security were set following a meeting between all stakeholders, including the BCCI and MPCA officials and the Indore Police Commissionerate. Despite that, the incident happened. We will analyse and find out the shortcomings,” Dandotiya added. Importantly, the incident with the two players took place a day after the Aussies beat England. The team has been staying at the same hotel and have been visiting the popular café as well. The Indian cricket board (BCCI) condemned the incident. Disbelief and disappointment swept through Kerala’s football circles on Saturday as confirmation arrived that Lionel Messi and Argentina will not play in Kochi this November. The world champions’ much-hyped visit — once promoted as a `200-crore spectacle — has been called off, leaving fans wondering if they were strung along by organisers who kept changing venues and dates. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) ended the suspense early on Saturday, announcing that the team would train in Spain before playing their only friendly, against Angola in Luanda on November 14. “After the match, the delegation will return to Europe to continue training until November 18,” the AFA said, confirming that India is not on their itinerary Australia, Argentina’s . supposed opponent, also released its schedule for the same period — matches against Venezuela and Colombia in the US — closing the door on Kerala’s hopes. The cancellation brings to an end a year-long statebacked attempt to host a highprofile Argentina–Australia match at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru International (JLN) Stadium. The event was to be organised by the sports department and its commercial partner, Reporter Broadcasting Company, which claimed to have transferred `130 crore to AFA in June. The rest of the `200-crore budget was set aside for stadium renovation and logistics. Initially pitched for Thiruvananthapuram and later shifted to Kochi, the project had fuelled huge excitement. Fans started painting streets blue and white, and the JLN stadium was under frantic renovation. Now, with AFA’s confirmation, that enthusia s m h a s g ive n w ay t o frustration. Reporter Broadcasting Company MD Anto Augustine cited procedural delays and FIFA’s five-hour flight limit as reasons for the can● More on P5 cellation.  ‘Tirupati-model admn required in Sabarimala’ board,” Jayakumar told TNIE as part of ‘Express Dialogues’. The recent controversy over Assigned by the state governthe missing gold at Sabarimala ment, Jayakumar had earlier temple has revealed the sysstudied the functioning of the temic flaws in the functioning Tirumala Tirupati Devsathanof the Travancore Devaswom ams (TTD) Board. “I had subBoard (TDB). While the board mitted the study report in 2012. members change every two Sabarimala and Tirupati are years, the absence of a top-level different in nature. Tirupati alprofessional management is lows darshan on 365 days. Here, posing a challenge to efthe temple is opened on ficient administration limited days and hence of temples and other inthere are some peculiar stitutions, said former problems. A full-fledged chief secretary K Jayaoffice of TTD is funckumar, who served in tioning at Tirumala unvarious capacities with der the leadership of a the board and senior officer. That maK Jayakumar Sabarimala. chinery is well geared Pitching for a Tirupato meet any eventualiti-model administration at the ty he said. ,” hill shrine, Jayakumar pointed According to Jayakumar, the at the need to plug loopholes in TDB should replace the “seathe Sabarimala administration sonal arrangements” at Sabarby minimising manual imala with a permanent mechinterventions. anism. “Here we go The senior buthere during the reaucrat, who was season, set up arheading the courtrangements and reappointed high-power committurn. I feel this is the biggest tee for Sabarimala from 2012 to problem in the Sabarimala ad17, said structural changes ministration,” he said. should be made in the TDB for In his report, Jayakumar had proper management of Sabarsuggested opening permanent imala and other shrines. offices of the TDB at Pampa “On the Tirupati model, a and Pathanamthitta. The office senior IAS officer should be at Pampa should work round posted at the helm of the the year, he said. P4 M S V i d ya n a n d a n @ T’Puram EXPRESS READ LSG polls: 2.84 cr electors in final list T’Puram: A total of 2.84 crore voters figure in the final voters’ list published by the State Election Commission for the upcoming local body election. The voters’ list was published on Saturday on polling station basis following the delimitation of wards. The voters’ list is available on the website https://www.sec. kerala.gov.in and also at the respective taluk offices. WITH THIS ISSUE Star Trek PLUS 12 P AGES Syrup deaths: Regulator blocks prosecution info K a v i ta B a j e l i - D at t @ New Delhi India faced intense international heat after over 100 children died due to contaminated cough syrups made by three phar ma companies in The Gambia and Uzbekistan. However, after the initial outrage, international alerts, and announcements of probe in 2022-2023, India’s drug regulator has refused to share the action taken against the pharma companies that were at the centre of the international storm, a latest RTI query revealed. Not only did the Central Drugs Standard Control Or- Stonewalling RTI query RTI activist Dr K V Babu said, “CDSCO refused to share the status of investigation and prosecution against the 3 pharma companies.” It shows there is “no visible action or prosecution by the authority against them.” ganisation (CDSCO) refuse to reveal the details of the investigation and the subsequent prosecution against the three firms — Maiden Pharmaceuticals, Marion Biotech Pharmaceuticals and Fourrts (India) Pvt Ltd — it also cited a section of the RTI Act to stonewall information. While Maiden was linked to the deaths of over 60 children in The Gambia, Marion was blamed for the deaths of 18 in Uzbekistan. Both syrups had dangerous levels of the toxins — diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG). Fourrts was flagged in 2023 for containing high DEG and EG. In its reply CDSCO, Chennai, , said on Fourrts, “no such information is available.” Besides, “The information sought by the applicant is exempted under Sec 8 (1) (d) (g) (h) of the RTI Act 2005.” CDSCO, Ghaziabad, said: “...stop production order, suspension, cancellation of licenses/product licenses etc. have been taken.” No word on prosecution. ““That’s the reason why the pharma companies continue to flout the laws,” RTI activist Dr K V Babu said. Call centre specifically set up for Aland vote theft B a l a C h a u h a n @ Bengaluru A call centre with around five computers was set up for the purpose of filing 6,018 fraudulent Form 7 applications on the Election Commission website for the deletion of names of voters in Karnataka’s Aland constituency sources said on condi, tion of anonymity, as the SIT investigation into the alleged voter theft gained momentum. The facility was run by four suspects—Akram, Ashfaque, Nadeem and Mushtaq. “Of the four accused, one is an online political surveyor/ manipulator, one a data operator and two others are well versed in filing online applications and providing logistical support,” sources said. According to the SIT, which is probing the alleged voter fraud, the perpetrators used 75 mobile phone numbers belonging to people from vulnerable sections of society to create login IDs for the 6,018 applications. The probe is examining loopholes that were exploited to create login IDs with single-use OTPs. “How did the perpetrators get these 75 mobile phone numbers? There has to be a network of people helping them with logistics. Each login was created using an OTP. How did they manage to get them,” sources said. “Each of the four played an important role in the alleged fraud. The data operator helped file applications. Who identified and approached the four men for the job is key to the SIT investigation,” said sources.