COIMBATORE l saturday l november 29, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l LATE city EDITION don vows to freeze migration from third world countries US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to suspend migration a day after an Afghan shot two National Guard soldiers new escalation in anti-migration stance Trump’s social media post, which also threatened to reverse “millions” of admissions granted under his predecessor Joe Biden, marks a new escalation in the anti-migration stance. Trump said earlier that Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member deployed in Washington as part of his crackdown on crimes, had died from wounds ■ 1,16,000 19 nations already face restrictions ■ The shooting on Wednesday has brought together three politically explosive issues: Trump’s controversial use of the military at home, immigration, and the legacy of the US war in Afghanistan As per USCIS, 19 countries — including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran and Myanmar — already face US travel curbs under an order | P9 green card holders from afghanistan in the u.s. 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 Gathering momentum 9.7 10 8 6 6 9.3 9.5 6.9 4.8 Y-o-Y growth rates (%) 8.4 8.2 7.4 7.8 6.5 6.4 5.6 4 2 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 2022-23 Q2 Q3 2023-24 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 2024-25 Q4 Q1 Q2 2025-26 At 8.2%, GDP grows at fastest pace in six qtrs year and 7% in Q1. Gross fixed capital formation — an indicaINDIA’s economy grew at 8.2% tor of infrastructure and asset in the second quarter of FY26, creation — maintained its rise beating all estimates and mark- at 7.3% versus 6.7% a year ago, ing the fastest pace in six quar- although slightly lower than the ters. This is a big jump from the 7.8% in Q1. 5.6% growth in the same “The confluence of period last fiscal. Most stable inflation, susanalysts had expected tained public capex, and the Q2 growth to be in reform momentum pothe range of 7–7.5%. sitions the economy to The strong performnavigate risks, as reance is attributed to a flected in upward reviboost in manufactursions to FY26 GDP ing, rising rural degrowth projections by mand, and sustained various agencies,” said growth of the services Chief Economic AdviThe 8.2% GDP sector. Manufacturing sor V Anantha Naggrowth is very grew at a robust 9.1% eswaran. He added that encouraging. It reflects the — more than four times India becoming a $4 impact of our the 2.2% recorded a trillion economy “as pro-growth year ago. Economists early as next year” is policies and attribute this partly to not unrealistic. reforms. It also frontloading of exports reflects the hard The government has to the US ahead of the highlighted the role rework and 50% tariff increase. ductions in GST rates enterprise of our people Construction also played in lowering the saw healthy expansion, Narendra Modi, PM cost of goods and servgrowing at 7.2%. The ices, supporting conservices sector continsumption and expandued its positive momentum, ing the tax base. clocking 9.2% growth in Q2 H o w e v e r, e c o n o m i s t s compared to 7.2% a year cautioned that slower nominal earlier. g rowth could pose risks. Private consumption re- Nominal GDP grew 8.7% in Q2, mained strong with 7.9% reaching an estimated `85.25 growth, compared to 6.4% last lakh crore. Putin visit to boost defence ties M AYA N K SI N GH @ New Delhi DEFENCE negotiations will be the key agenda of Russian President Vladmir Putin’s visit to India from December 4 to 5, which is expected to take the strategic bilateral ties to the next level. Announcing the two-day visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that Putin is coming to hold the annual India-Russia summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit will give an opportunity for the two leaders to review the progress in bilateral relations, set the vision to strengthen the ‘special and privileged strategic partnership’ and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the MEA said. Terming it a “visit of great importance”, the Kremlin said the current geopolitical issues will also come up in talks. The focus of the summit will be “broader elements of cooperation on defence”, said Defence Secretary R K Singh said while speaking at an event in Delhi on Friday. He said the strategic S-400 air defence systems may be on the table though no announcements are likely. “This meeting will focus on the larger defence partnership and resolving delivery delays,” he said. The S-400 played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor as it successfully targeted multiple Pakistani fighters and aircraft deep inside Pakistan. India has already signed contracts for the S-400 systems with Russia, but deliveries have faced delays. Singh confirmed that Russia has promised to deliver the remaining equipment in the financial year 2026-27. Cyclone located 320 km south of Karaikal red alert for coastal tn high wind warning P U SHPITA D E Y @ New Delhi Anbumani is PMK chief: ECI in dad-son spat S K U M A R E S A N @ Chennai In a significant development in the tussle between PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss and his son Dr Anbumani Ramadoss for control of the party, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has rejected the founder’s claims of being the current president of the party “Dr An. bumani is the president of PMK till August 1, 2026, as per our records,” the ECI said. The communication, seen as a major setback for senior Ramadoss, advised him to approach appropriate “party forum” or “competent court” to settle the matters regarding the office-bearers of the party . ECI’s letter was in response to various communications and representations submitted by Dr Ramadoss’s faction, which had stated that Dr Anbumani’s three-year tenure as president expired on May 28, 2025, and the founder was elected as the new president effective May 30, 2025. “As per the Commission’s records, the term of office bearers of PMK is valid up to 01.08.2026 and Dr Anbumani Ramadoss is the party’s president,” the letter said. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, MLA GK Mani, a staunch supporter of Dr Ramadoss, alleged that a “forged document” submitted by the opposite group had claimed that a general council meeting in 2023 had extended Dr Anbumani’s tenure till August 2026.  P5 Tamil Nadu Sri lanka A man wades through floodwater outside his house following heavy rainfall in Kaduwela on the outskirts of Colombo on Friday | afp A coastal road chipped away by crashing waves in Rameswaram | express J ayan t h J a c o b @ New Delhi AT least 61 people have died and more than 25 remain missing till Friday evening in Sri Lanka, which is bearing the brunt of massive destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah. With torrential rains, landslides and floods displacing thousands in the island nation, India has launched a swift humanitarian response for the island nation. New Delhi has rushed emergency relief under Operation Sagar Bandhu, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveying condolences and stressing India’s commitment to stand by its closest maritime neighbour. By Friday evening, Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said the cyclone had affected 43,991 people. Many regions of the country remain submerged and inaccessible, with officials warning that rising water levels in the Kelani and Attanagalu rivers pose a grave threat to Colombo and the populous Gampaha district. Outages have hit nearly a third of the region, and two major hydropower plants have been shut down. Responding to the escalating crisis, India has so far dispatched 4.5 tonnes of dry rations and 2 tonnes of fresh rations, including staple foods, ready-to-eat meals, dairy products, bakery items and other essential provisions. Additional survival supplies have also been handed over. The relief consignments were delivered by INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri, both docked in Sri Lanka, an official release said. Ditwah is likely to reach southwest Bay of Bengal near north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh by November 30, IMD said. Ditwah may batter TN, red alert for 4 districts E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Chennai Cyclonic stor m Ditwah, which has intensified over the south-west Bay of Bengal and moved closer to the Sri Lankan coast on Friday is heading towards , t h e N o r t h Ta m i l Nadu–Puducherry– South Andhra Pradesh stretch. The system is expected to influence weather over coastal districts from Friday night, bringing bouts of intense rainfall and strong winds. Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, said the cyclone lay around 40 km south-west of Trincomalee and HC bars ‘Dude’ producer from using Raaja songs TMC says 40 SIR-related deaths in West Bengal Chennai: VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan on Friday alleged ‘sanatanisation’ of judiciary as he contended that not a single Dalit has been included in the list of persons under consideration by the Madras HC Collegium for appointment as a HC judge | P4 Chennai: The Madras HC has barred producers of ‘Dude’ from using two songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja in the movie. The HC granted the relief on applications against unauthorised adaptation of songs ‘Nooru Varusham’ and ‘Karutha Machan’ in the film | P2 NEW DELHI: A Trinamool Congress delegation on Friday met the full bench of the Election Commission of India here and alleged that at least 40 SIR-related deaths had taken place in West Bengal, accusing the poll panel chief of having “blood on its hands” | P7 SC frees woman jailed for changing six lawyers u d ayan k i s h o r e @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court has ordered the release of a woman jailed by a lower court for changing her lawyers six times during an appeal in a cheque bounce case, describing the order as “appalling and shocking.” The case involves two dishonoured cheques issued by the woman’s mother, worth `7 lakh and `5.02 lakh respectively The trial court convicted . and sentenced both the mother and daughter. The woman subsequently filed an appeal before the sessions court in Faridabad, which has been pending for eight years, the bench noted. Meanwhile, the sessions court cancelled their bail and ordered their custody. The mother and daughter challenged this decision in the high court and later the Supreme Court. A bench comprising Justices Arvind Kumar and N V Anjaria, in an order dated November 27, noted that the mother had passed away, but the appellate court had not accepted her death certificate. The sessions court directed the concerned Station House Officer to verify the legitimacy of the certifi- 320 km south-south-east of Karaikal on Friday After travers. ing coastal Sri Lanka, it is likely to continue moving north-northwestwards over the sea, keeping Tamil Nadu directly under its rainbands for the next 48 to 72 hours. The weather office has issued a red alert for Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Chengalpattu and Puducherry for Saturday, warning of isolated extremely heavy rainfall. Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Salem and the delta districts remain under orange alert. On Sunday, as Ditwah nears the North TN coast, Tiruvallur and Ranipet are likely to receive extremely heavy rain. P5 Stalin reviews cyclone readiness; 16 SDRF, 12 NDRF teams deployed Chennai: CM Stalin on Friday visited the Emergency Operations Centre in Chennai and reviewed the precautionary measures taken in 14 districts for Cyclone Ditwah. With the cyclone expected to move towards the northern TN coast and cause heavy rainfall on November 29 & 30, 16 SDRF and 12 NDRF teams have been deployed across vulnerable districts. Central forces — Army, Navy, Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard — have been asked to remain on standby | P4 A 60-member NDRF team reached Puducherry on Friday | express 19-year ordeal VCK chief slams ‘judicial sanatanisation’ in HC brace! Puducherry beach saw rough tides on Friday. Red alert has been issued for Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Chengalpattu and Puducherry for Saturday | sriram r 61 dead in sri lanka express read Rosan Kujur (R) scored twice as India defeated Chile 7-0 in the Junior Hockey World Cup on Friday | ashwin prasath | P11 puducherry cate. The bench observed that if the lawyer was not assisting the court, the proper action would have been to appoint an amicus curiae or allow the accused time to arrange alternate counsel — not to jail her. The court ordered the woman’s release on a personal bond of `1 lakh.“It is appalling and shocking that the appellate court insisted on the appellant’s presence on every hearing date, particularly after suspending the sentence already passed,” the bench said. 6 caste Hindus get jail for abusing Dalit school cook P SRI N IV A S A N @ Tiruppur A Dalit school meal cook — who faced discrimination at the hands of upper caste parents, transferred at least five times, and struggled to perform her duty for 19 years — has finally tasted justice as a court has handed out jail terms to her abusers. The special court for trial of cases under the SC/ST (PoA) Act in Tiruppur on Friday sentenced six persons, including a woman, to two years of imprisonment for caste discrimination and other offences. The convicted persons were identified as P Palanisamy Gounder (74), N Sakthivel (55), R Shanmugam (53), C Vellingiri (64), A Duraisamy (70), and V Seetha Lakshmi (49). The victim, P Pappal, told TNIE on Friday that she has been facing caste abuse ever since her appointment as a government cook in 2006. Sources said Pappal (49) — a resident of Thirumalai Goundampalayam— started working as a noon meal cook at Kandayampalayam primary school in 2006, but was transferred to Kulle Goundan Pudur primary school within 15 days after facing opposition from the parents of dominant communities who claimed that their children would not eat the food cooked by an untouchable.  P5