visakhapatnam l friday l april 03, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Amid tighter visa norms, Indian student count in U.S. falls 6.2% Over 3.52 lakh Indians are studying in the US as of February 2026, down from 3.78 lakh last year, the government told Parliament on Thursday ai generated Indians impacted by trump’s visa policy: mos ‘Govt raising student concerns with U.S.’ The Trump administration expanded screening and vetting for all visa applicants on June 18, 2025. The Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this tougher filtering, including increased scrutiny and compliance requirements, had an impact on the number of US student visas issued to Indian nationals ■ ■ “The new US guidance mentions that every visa adjudication is a national security decision and calls on all applicants to credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought,” Singh said The government has been regularly raising all issues being confronted by Indian students with the US authorities, he said 8.92 lakh Asian students in the United States as of March 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 At UK-led talks, India SC stinker as for unimpeded transit mob gheraoes 60+ nations join Hormuz meet on safe passage options day 34 J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Moonshot The NASA Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft launches at the Kennedy Space Center in the wee hours of Thursday, in Cape Canaveral, Florida | AP E x p r e s s r ea d AP plans stricter norms for firecracker units Vijayawada: In the wake of the devastating explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Vetlapalem last month that left around 28 people dead and several others injured, the AP government is moving towards a comprehensive overhaul of safety norms in the sector | P3 AP liquor sales surge, revenue marginal Vijayawada: The State has recorded a strong growth in liquor sales during 2025-26, with overall sales value rising by 6.11% driven by significant increases in both IML and beer segments. However, despite robust sales volume, total revenue registered only a marginal growth of 0.68% | P4 India on Thursday called for immediate de-escalation in West Asia, warning of risks to global energy flows and maritime security, while highlighting that it is the only country to have lost mariners in recent attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf. Representing India at a highlevel virtual meeting convened by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the crisis could only be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. The meeting, attended by representatives from over 60 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Canada and the UAE, focused on the deteriorating security situation in key international waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz. In his remarks, the Foreign Secretary talked about “the importance of the principles of freedom of navigation and unimpeded transit through international waterways.” an official readout said. Misri stressed that “the way out of the crisis consisted of de-escalation and a return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue among all concerned parties,” signalling India’s preference for a political solution over military escalation. The meeting took place amid heightened tensions after US President Donald Trump suggested that ensuring the security of Hormuz should be the responsibility of nations that rely on it. The US did not participate in the meeting. The strait remains a critical artery for the global economy, Customs duty off S U CHITRA K ALYA N M OHA N TY @ New Delhi Full customs duty exemption granted on critical petrochemical products for three months till June 30. Will help industries like plastics, packaging, textiles, pharma, chemicals, automotive components etc. Revenue loss pegged at `1,800 crore Don gives no timeline US President Donald Trump claims Israel and US were close to completing their key objectives in the war against Iran, adding the conflict would soon be over, but doesn’t provide an exact timeline Iran’s pushback Iran threatened “crushing” attacks on the US and Israel, firing missiles at Tel Aviv and US bases after Trump vowed to bomb the Islamic Republic “back to the Stone Ages” Videograb of a strike on an IRGC missile base in Iran’s Baharestan, Isfahan | X handling nearly 20% of the world’s oil and LNG shipments and its ongoing blockade sent oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel. Two Indian seafarers had lost their lives since the beginning of the war. Cooper accused Iran of disrupting global trade. “We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” she said, warning of ripple effects across energy fertiliser and fuel , supply chains worldwide. European countries, initially reluctant to commit naval forces, are now exploring a coordinated approach amid rising energy costs. Officials said the meeting marked the first step toward forming a coalition to restore safe passage. Initial plans include clearing mines from the waterway and ensuring protection for commercial vessels, with further consultations involving military planners expected in the coming weeks. INS Taragiri set to join ENC fleet with ‘Rise Above’ motto U s h a Pe r i @ Visakhapatnam On April 3, the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) formally inducts INS Taragiri (F41) into its fleet. The 6,670-tonne Project 17A frigate arrived in Visakhapatnam following a construction timeline that began with its keel laying in September 2020 and its delivery by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in 2025. While the ship is a significant engineering achievement, built with over 75% indigenous content and the contribution of 200 MSMEs, the focus for its crew is the transition from a technical project to a functional home. For the 300 crew on board, the commissioning marks the point where a structure of steel plates becomes a living vessel. Captain Hemanth Gopal, Commanding Officer, views the event as a rare pro- judges in WB fessional responsibility “Building a ship . is the task of the shipbuilders, but bringing life to it is ours,” he noted, adding, “My team must ensure that hundreds of individual systems function together seamlessly It is about taking a structure . of steel and making it a functioning warship, all while upholding the respected legacy of the previous TaraP4 giri.”  THE Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on the West Bengal government for its inaction over the gherao of judicial officers in Malda district during the special intensive revision (SIR) drive, ordering an independent probe by the CBI or NIA. “We direct the ECI to entrust the enquiry /investigation to either the CBI or NIA. The compliance report shall be submitted to this court. The agency shall be obligated to submit a preliminary enquiry report directly to this court,” said a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant during an urgent hearing on Thursday morning. The court took suo motu cognisance after it received a letter from the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court detailing how the judicial officers, including three women, were held captive for nine hours without food or water by protesters who claimed their names were deleted from the voter list. The incident occurred during the SIR exercise in the Kaliachowk area of Malda district. The bench said the incident exposes the ‘complete failure of the state administration’. “We have never seen such a polarised state. Unfortunately in your state, each one of you speaks politi, cal language. That is the most unfortunate thing. We have never seen such a polarized state,” the CJI told West Bengal’s Advocate General. The bench also asked the election commission to deploy adequate central forces for the safety of judicial officers in the poll-bound state. K S SR E E J ITH @ T’Puram TILL a few weeks ago, he was ignored and isolated by his own party in Kerala. But now, as the poll heat in Kerala has breached tolerance levels, the same Congress leaders are vying with each other to get his date. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor now has no time to rest, as United Democratic Front (UDF) candidates carry him from one campaign site to the next, hoping his charismatic persona and suave communication skills will draw voters. In the run-up to the assembly elections — Kerala goes to polls on April 9 — Tharoor has emerged the most sought after star campaigner of the Congress, after Rahul Gandhi. Sources say every UDF candidate wants Tharoor to campaign, banking on h i s p o p u l a r ap p e a l among urban voters and the wider electorate. The dramatic change in the attitude of region- al leaders is hard to miss. In a recent road show Tharoor shared stage with Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, who was once his staunch adversary, drawing significant public attention. “The requests for his participation often exceed what can be accommodated. Leaders who once asked him to quit the Congress are now requesting his presence,” a senior leader told this newspaper. 56 seats to be covered Tharoor is expected to cover 56 constituencies. In the first leg, from March 21 to April 1, he visited 37 constituencies. From April 2 to 6, he will participate in road shows with candidates This incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but challenge authority of this court Supreme Court EC hands over case to NIA; probe team to reach today Kolkata: Hours after the SC order, the Election Commission of India handed over the probe into the gherao of the seven judicial officers in West Bengal’s Malda district to the NIA. A top official of the poll body said the NIA team would reach West Bengal on Friday. The gherao happened when the officers were engaged in adjudicating cases of voters whose names had been marked “under adjudication” in the draft electoral rolls. The protesters initially sought a meeting but then resorted to a prolonged gherao Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, along with his wife Bhuvaneswari, performs special rituals at the Capital Amaravati foundation stone plaque in Uddandarayunipalem after the passage of Amaravati bill (right) People celebrate passage of the bill in Vijayawada | Express / Prasant Madugula Parl unanimously passes bill on capital amaravati Mavigun proposal of Jagan ridiculed Former CM Jagan’s “Mavigun” proposal for the State capital was unclear and ridiculous, observed CM Naidu S t a r c a m pai g n e r Tharoor moves from sidelines to spotlight Didi blames it on EC Mamata Banerjee distanced herself from the incident saying “EC failed to protect the judicial officers”. “My powers have been taken away; Bengal defamed,” she said Amaravati is a symbol of Telugu pride and selfrespect. Parliament has passed irreversible law granting legal status to Capital Amaravati, which is a great tribute to the resolve of people of AP Naidu, CM E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi Parliament on Thursday passed a bill seeking to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod to it with a voice vote, and all political parties except the YSRCP supporting the proposed legislation. Replying to the debate on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Upper House, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the AP Legislative Assembly on March 28 passed a resolution requesting the Union Government to grant statutory status to Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh by amending the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. The resolution requested for amendment to the Act, incorporating Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh with retrospective effect from June 2, 2024. Congratulating the people of Andhra Pradesh for getting legal sanctity for Amaravati as the State capital, he hoped that AP will reach new heights of progress to contribute towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Speaking on the bill, Sanjay Kumar Jha of Janata Dal (United) said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are the most important and trusted allies of the National Democratic Alliance right from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government to the present Narendra Modi-led regime. Supporting the bill, he said Amaravati would emerge as the best capital of the country in the coming years due to the visionary leadership of Naidu. Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury attacked the BJP-led NDA government for bringing the bill to make Amaravati the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh after 12 long years. “It is a shame that we are discussing the AP Reorganisation Bill, which should have been discussed 12 years ago. It is actually a statement of national shame and the so called collective wisdom and intelligence of this House. It took 12 years to fulfil a commitment made on the floor of this P4 House,” she said.  CM: Triumph of Amaravati self-respect E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said the unanimous passage of the Andhra P r a d e s h Re o r g a n i s a t i o n (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Parliament marks a defining moment that reflects the will of the people of the State and the strength of democracy . The Chief Minister and his wife Nara Bhuvaneswari were accorded a rousing welcome by Amaravati farmers, women and local residents when they visited Uddandarayunipalem on Thursday to celebrate the passage of Amaravati bill in Parliament. The atmosphere at Uddandarayunipalem was festive and emotionally charged, with people celebrating what they described as a hard-earned victory after years of sustained struggle, uncertainty and poP4 litical challenges.