kozhikode l tuesday l december 23, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION S.C. pulls up U’khand govt over forest land grab by pvt entities 2,866 acres of forest land under lens The case concerns 2,866 acres of forest land, a part of which was leased to Pashu Lok Seva Samiti. The society subsequently allotted land parcels to its members. A dispute later arose, and it went into liquidation in 1984, surrendering 594 acres to government. But, some individuals, including the petitioner, claimed to have taken possession of the land in 2001 A vacation bench initiated a suo motu case on Monday observing that the state remained a mute spectator while forest land was being grabbed ■ 1950 Govt’s approach shocking: CJI-led bench ■ “What is shocking to us is that the State of Uttarakhand and authorities are sitting like mute spectators when forest land is being grabbed in front of their eyes,” the bench led by CJI Surya Kant said It directed all construction be halted at once and that vacant land, excluding residential houses, be taken into possession by the state when The land in question was alloted to Pashu Lok Seva Samiti 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 THE United States has extended online presence reviews to all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants worldwide, a move aimed at curbing work visa programme abuse but causing disruptions. “Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL NZ joins growing FTA list, fastest deal so far DIPAK MONDAL @ New Delhi IN one of the fastest trade negotiations in recent times, India New Zealand on Monday concluded a free trade pact in just nine months, offering duty-free access for Indian goods to the island nation’s markets. On Monday Prime Minis, ter Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon after which the two leaders jointly announced the conclusion of what they described as the “historic, ambitious and mutually beneficial” pact. Earlier, New Zealand imposed peak tariffs of up to 10% on key Indian exports such as textiles and apparel, leather, ceramics, carpets, automobiles and auto components. Now, 100% of India’s current exports will get tariff-free access to the New Zealand market. In return, India has offered market access in about 70% of tariff lines, covering 95% of the bilateral trade value, while keeping 29.97% of tariff lines under an exclusion list covering sensitive sectors such as dairy and agriculture. “With zero-duty market access for Indian products, Indian exporters will become more competitive and enjoy a level-playing field in New Zealand,” the commerce ministry said. With 100% duty-free access, India’s labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, engineering goods, and automobiles could see a sharp rise in exports. The free trade agreement also includes a future-ready mobility framework with improved entry and stay provisions for Indian professionals, students and youth. A new Temporary Employment Entry Visa pathway will allow up to 5,000 Indian professionals at any given time to work in New Zealand for up to three years. This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities… while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers —US Embassy in New Delhi partment warned of delays, encouraging applicants to “apply as early as they can”. The expanded vetting has already disrupted travel plans for Indian H-1B holders who returned home to renew visas. Dozens of visa interviews scheduled between December 15-26 were abruptly cancelled or postponed, with many rescheduled for as late as March, The Washington Post reported. The State Department said delays followed expanded social media screening “to ensure that no applicants… pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety .” Immigration lawyers de- scribed the impact as severe. “This is the biggest mess we have seen. I’m not sure there is a plan,” Indian immigration lawyer Veena Vijay Ananth told The Washington Post. Emily Neumann, a partner at Houston-based Reddy Neumann Brown PC, said she had “at least 100 clients stranded in India”. Indians, who comprise 71% of H-1B visa holders according to April 2025 data, are disproportionately affected. Explicit death threats to journos Press freedom has emerged as another flashpoint. Editors warned that threats against journalists have escalated after attacks on media offices last week. “Journalists are receiving explicit death threats,” The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam said at a protest organised in Dhaka by the Editors’ Council on Monday Bangladesh’s Editors’ Council protests the mob attack on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Dhaka, on Monday | AFP B’desh halts visa to Indians Motaleb Sikdar, leader of the National Citizen Party, shot at, further stoking pre-poll tension J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi The Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi and its consulate in Agartala on Monday suspended all visa and consular services for Indians, as political violence and protests continued to roil the country less than two months ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12. No timeline was given for the resumption of services, amid heightened diplomatic and security sensitivities between Dhaka and New Delhi. The suspension comes two days after a group of around 2025 protesters demonstrated outside the Bangladesh mission in Delhi, condemning the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a gar- ment worker in Mymensingh, fied fears of targeted violence and demanding protection for and political unrest. minorities in Bangladesh. Hadi, 32, was the founder of External Affairs Ministry Inqilab Moncho, a platform spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal that emerged from last year’s had on Sunday said that “there mass protests against then was no attempt to breach prime minister Sheikh the fence or create a seHasina, which culmicurity situation at any nated in her ouster. He time,” adding the police had announced plans to dispersed the g roup contest the February 12 within minutes. elections and was camDays after the killing paigning in Dhaka of prominent youth when he was shot earleader Sharif Osman Motaleb Sikdar lier this month. Bin Hadi, another politiHis death triggered cal activist was attacked on widespread protests across Monday Motaleb Sikdar, Khul- Bangladesh, with supporters . na divisional chief of the Na- alleging that the assailants fled tional Citizen Party (NCP), was to India and demanding their shot in the head in Khulna and arrest. Police, however, said is undergoing treatment in hos- there is no clarity on the suspital. The attack has intensi- pects’ whereabouts. The dete- cricketers Following the World Cup win, BCCI has increased the domestic match fee for women cricketers. It will be a big boost to women players who strive to stay in the game without any WPL or India contracts. A look More on P11 150% up to E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @Kochi/T’Puram increase A senior women cricketer will now receive 50,000 for one-dayers and multi-day ties. Reserves will get 25,000. For T20s, the pay has increased from 20,000 to 25,000. Previously, senior domestic women cricketers used to get 20,000 (playing XI) and for reserves it was 10,000 E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @T’Puram Dousing the BJP’s high hopes of expanding its base in the state, the party’s vote share declined in the just concluded local body polls to 14.76%, according to data released by the State Election Commission on Monday The saffron party-led NDA . had secured 19.26% of total votes polled in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, while the front’s vote share hovered around 15% this time. The Congress emerged on top with 29.17% of the votes, while CPM finished second with 27.16%. However, despite leading the field, the Congressled UDF registered a 6.35% decline in its vote share to 38.81%, compared to the 2024 general election. The LDF, meanwhile, failed to make significant inroads into opposition strongholds, managing only a marginal 0.11% increase in vote share at 33.45%. Independents, including those fielded by the three major front especially the LDF, and smaller parties together secured 13.03% of the votes. In the run-up to the civic polls, BJP stalwart and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had set an ambitious target of securing 25% vote share. However, except for wresting the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the party failed to throw up more surprises. The BJP fared comparatively better in southern districts. The party recorded its highest vote share in Thiruvananthapuram district at 23.08%. In Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha it garnered around 19% votes. Among northern districts, the BJP came closest to this tally in Thrissur (19.65%) and Kasaragod (18.88%). In Palakkad, the party secured 17.05% of the total votes polled. Malappuram (5.91%) and Iduk- Jr. cricketers also get hike Meanwhile, junior women cricketers (U15, U19 and U23) will receive a match day fee of 25,000 while reserves will get 12,500. For T20s, they playing members will get 12,500 and reserves will receive 6,250. Earlier, the fee was 10,000 for playing XI and 5,000 for reserves In a landmark moment for India’s public healthcare, the Ernakulam General Hospital (GH), performed a heart transplant on a Nepalese woman on Monday, the first time a district-level government hospital in the country undertook such a complex procedure. Durga Kaami, a 22-year-old from Nepal received the heart of Shibu, 46, a resident of Chirayakkara in Kollam who was declared brain-dead on December 21 following a road accident. After his family, com- The heart of Kollam resident Shibu being brought to Ernakulam General Hospital for transplantation | A Sanesh prising mother Shakunthala and siblings Shiji S and Saleev S, consented to organ donation, the heart was airlifted from Thiruvananthapuram Govern- ment Medical College (GMC) and brought to Ernakulam by noon. The surgery was led by the GH’s cardiothoracic surgeon Dr George Vallooran. Durga, who suffered from a rare genetic heart condition since childhood, was under the care of cardiologist Dr Paul Thomas at the hospital. The procedure was completed by evening, and Durga was shifted to the ICU. The development has set a new benchmark for district hospitals across the country, highlighting Kerala’s advances in organ transplantation and equitable healthcare access, of● More on P4 ficials said. century-old connection In a little-known Ernakulam shrine rests relics of the real-life ‘Santa’ R e n j i t h L e e n @Kochi As the Yuletide spirit fills the air, posters, cutouts and dolls of Santa Claus crop up everywhere, heralding the season of love and sharing. However, not many may know that Santa, the most popular symbol of Christmas, is inspired from and modelled after St Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop from Myra in ancient Turkey known for his generosity and secret gift-giving. Some may find it hard to believe that the real-life Santa has a Kerala connection. For more than a century, Pampakuda, a sleepy village located 35 km away from Ernakulam, has been home to a relic of St Nicholas. Barring residents, not many are aware the modest wayside shrine at Pampakuda in front of St John’s Ephesus Orthodox Performance chart Party Vote share (%) Cong 29.17 IUML 9.77 Kerala Cong 1.33 RSP 0.48 KC (Jacob) 0.16 CMP (CP John) 0.21 CPM 27.16 CPI 5.58 KC(M) 1.62 RJD 0.72 JD(S) 0.39 NCP (two factions) 0.38 INL 0.20 KC(B) 0.11 Cong (S) 0.07 BJP 14.76 BDJS 0.26 ki (7.76%) were the only two districts where the party secured less than 10% votes. Among the UDF constituents, the IUML finished second, claiming 9.77% of the total votes polled. The vote shares of other Opposition front allies were Kerala Congress (1.33%), RSP (0.48%), Kerala Congress (Jacob) (0.16%) and CMP (CP John faction) (0.21%). The second best performer in the LDF was the CPI, which garnered 5.58% of the votes. The share of other constituents in the LDF were: Kerala Congress (M) (1.62%), RJD (0.72%), JD(S) (0.39%), two factions of the NCP (0.38%), INL (0.20%), Kerala Congress (B) (0.11%) and Congress (S) (0.07%). In the NDA camp, the performance of allies, except for the BDJS, was negligible. The Thushar Vellapally-led party garnered 0.26% votes. In a 1st, dist-level hosp performs heart transplant; Nepal woman gets new life Massive pay hike for women riorating security situation prompted Indian student bodies to urge New Delhi to ensure the safety of Indian nationals in Bangladesh, particularly medical students. Amid the unrest, Bangladesh’s interim leadership convened a high-level meeting to review law and order. Inqilab Moncho issued an ultimatum, threatening to launch a movement to oust the interim administration if justice is not delivered in Hadi’s murder. Against this backdrop, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin called for de-escalation between Dhaka and New Delhi. “Shoulder to shoulder, India, Bangladesh and Russia were together (since 1971),” he said. BJP’s vote share shrunk to 14.6% in local body polls UDF @ New Delhi H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening,” the US Embassy in New Delhi said Monday. “This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities… while still permitting VISA companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers.” H-4 visas cover spouses and unmarried children under 21 of H-1B holders. The State De- LDF e x p r e ss n e w s s e r v i c e NDA US expands online review of H-1B, H4 applicants Hopes dashed Church is home to six priceless relics, one of which is a fragment of the remains of St Nicholas. The other sacred relics, all kept in metal reliquaries inside a wooden case at the shrine, are stone fragments from the Milk Grotto Chapel in Bethlehem where the Blessed Virgin is believed to have breastfed the Child Jesus, a glossopetrae (a fossil) fragment related to St Paul the Apostle, and relics of St Kuriakose, a fourth-century child martyr, St George, a third-century martyr, and St Shmuel, the founder of Qartmin Monastery in Turkey . “It was another The shrine housing the relic of St Nicholas at Pampakuda; (inset) The reliquary containing the relic | Express saint who brought the remains to this village in the 1890s,” said Fr Johns Abraham Konat, the vicar of St John’s Church and principal secretary to Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the head of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. “St Geevarghese Mar Gregorios aka Parumala Thirumeni brought the relics to Pampakuda after visiting the Holy Land ● More on P4 in 1895,” he said.  EXPRESS READ Janu’s JRS, Anvar’s TMC UDF associate members Kochi: Buoyed by local body poll victory, the Congress-led UDF has moved swiftly to widen its political base, inducting P V Anvar’s Trinamool Congress and C K Janu’s Janadhipathya Rashtriya Sabha as associate members. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting in Kochi, signalling an early and aggressive build-up to the assembly elections | P4 Donated gold plate door in 2019, claims jeweller Kochi: At a time when former TDB presidents are facing a probe into the alleged disappearance of gold from Sabarimala temple, Govardhan, a jeweller from Ballari arrested by the special probe team has claimed the newly goldplated door frame was donated by him in June 2019. He stated that he donated 184g of gold, valued at around D9 lakh | P5