visakhapatnam l friday l may 29, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Iran, U.S. reach tentative plan to extend ceasefire & start n-talks Iran, US negotiators have reached an agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and launch talks on Iran’s nuclear programme, reports said Trump yet to sign off on the agreement... ...wants ‘couple of days to think about it’ The proposed deal will move forward if and when US President Donald Trump gives his final approval, Axios reported quoting two US officials and a regional source involved in the mediation efforts. Iran is yet to confirm its acceptance, the report added. The tentative agreement worked out by the two sides comes at a time the fragile ceasefire seems to be wavering ■ ■ US officials said terms of the deal have been agreed to by the negotiators but both sides need approval from senior leadership | P9 US negotiators briefed Trump on the details of the final deal, but he did not immediately sign off saying he wants “a couple of days to think about it”, Axios said. Iran’s leadership is ready to sign the MoU 60 days Proposed extension of ceasefire, during which n-talks will be held 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 Siddu quits to make way After NEET-UG leak, IAF option on for DKS, declines RS berth table to airlift retest question papers CLP meet, swearing-in ceremony only after guv accepts resignation The Centre is assessing to draft in the military, with the Indian Air Force set to transport question papers for the upcoming NEET-UG re-examination after the paper leak controversy forced the cancellation of the May 3 test, sources in the defence establishment said following a high-level meeting on Thursday . The nearly 40-minute meeting was held at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s residence and attended by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, NTA Director General Pradeep Singh Kharola and senior representatives As h w i n i M S r i pa d & Dev a r a j B H i re h a l l i @ Bengaluru Ending six months of speculation over leadership change in Karnataka, a teary-eyed Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced his decision to resign from the post of Chief Minister and make way for his deputy D K Shivakumar to be sworn in as his successor. The announcement came a couple of day after hectic parleys in New Delhi with the high command asking Siddaramaiah to step down and take a Rajya Sabha berth instead. Siddaramaiah, however, declined the berth and said he would continue in active politics in Karnataka. He made the announcement at a breakfast meeting with his cabinet colleagues, including Shivakumar. Many ministers too turned emotional when Siddaramaiah announced his resignation. He then went to Lok Bhavan at 3 pm and tendered his resignation to the Special Secretary to the Gover nor, Prabhu Shankar, as Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had flown to Indore following a medical emergency involving a family member. Gehlot returned to Bengaluru late Thursday evening but by then Siddaramaiah had left for New Delhi to meet the party high command, and is expected to be back on Friday The resignation can be . accepted only when Siddaramaiah presents himself before the Governor. “The resignation has been submitted. However, it has to be presented in person to the Governor. Only after the Governor accepts it, will the resignation become official. Until then, Siddaramaiah will continue as Chief Minister,” Lok Bhavan sources told this newspaper. If the resignation is accepted Siddaramaiah announcing his resignation as chief minister as Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar looks on, in Bengaluru on Thursday | Nagaraja Gadekal Flight diverted Siddaramaiah’s chartered flight from Bengaluru to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur on Thursday due to heavy rains at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. It landed at 7.55 pm. Five other party leaders were on board. Two hours later, the flight was yet to take off for Delhi, airport sources said on Friday the Congress Legisla, ture Party (CLP) could be convened on Saturday or Sunday, followed by Shivakumar’s oathtaking as the new chief minister. Sources said there is also a likelihood of the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, depending on Shivakumar finding an auspicious time for it in consultation with his astrologer. If the Congress high command approves a full-fledged cabinet, the swearing-in ceremony is likely to be held on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha — a legacy associated with former Chief Ministers Ram- akrishna Hegde and S M Krishna, which Shivakumar is keen to continue. However, with the June 18 Rajya Sabha polls approaching, the leadership is also considering a partial cabinet expansion while keeping some berths vacant. Analysts reckon that a full cabinet formation could trigger dissidence among disappointed aspirants, giving the opposition an opportunity to woo disgruntled MLAs ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls. If only a partial cabinet is sworn in, the ceremony is likely to be held at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan. Addressing the media, Siddaramaiah said he has no intention to switch to national politics despite Rahul Gandhi offering him a RS seat. “I have very humbly declined. I have no interest in national politics. I am staying right here in state politics. The people have elected me for a five-year term, and there are still two years left. Until then, my focus is entirely on being there for the people of Karnataka and the people of my constituency he said. ,” Global average temperatures likely to continue at or near record levels in the next five years, says new report from the World Meteorological Organization 1.3°C-1.9°C 91% chance of global mean near-surface temperature exceeding 1.5°C above the 1850-1900 average for at least a year between 2026 and 2030 Sources said the PMO is closely overseeing preparations, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being regularly briefed on developments related to the examination and the security arrangements being put in place Arctic temperatures over the next five extended northern hemisphere winters (November-March) predicted to be 2.8°C above normal El Niño predicted for the end of 2026, which increases the chances of the following year, 2027, being the next record-breaking year express Illustration Air pollution levels across Andhra Pradesh have worsened consistently over the past three years, with particulate matter remaining above national safety standards, and nitrogen dioxide levels rising sharply, according to a new analysis released by Respirer Living Sciences. The study, which analysed air quality data between January 2024 and April 2026, found that PM10 levels exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) every year during the study period, while PM2.5 concentrations rose significantly and crossed prescribed annual limits in both 2025 and 2026. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), largely associated with vehicular and industrial emissions, also recorded a steep increase during the period. According to the report, the State’s annual average PM10 concentration increased from 67 µg/m³ (Sixty-seven micrograms per cubic metre) in 2024 to 84 µg/m³ in 2026, remain- ing above the national standard of 60 µg/m³ throughout. PM2.5 levels rose by 33% between 2024 and 2026 and breached the annual limit of 40 µg/m³. The analysis also found that NO2 concentrations increased by nearly 44% during the same period, reflecting the growing impact of transport emissions, industrial activity and combustion sources across urban centres in the State. The report stated that particulate pollution contin- Dharmendra Pradhan Jyotiraditya Scindia “The Air Force is expected to assist in the secure and timebound movement of question papers to minimise risks during transit, which investigators believe was a major vulnerability in the earlier process,” a source said, adding that contingency plans and inter-agency coordination mechanisms were India among 30+ nations working to build non-China supply chain P U S H P ITA D E Y @ New Delhi INDIA, along with more than 30 countries, is working to build an alternative supply chain for critical minerals used in electric vehicles, smartphones and defence equipment, as governments seek to reduce heavy dependence on China after Beijing tightened exports of key minerals, sources said. “India, along with 30-40 other countries, is trying to create an alternative market and supply chain for critical minerals to reduce import dependence on China,” an official aware of the matter said. India is in talks with Chile, Canada, Japan, Australia and others to bring them on board for creating a resilient critical minerals supply chain. Recently India, Australia, Ja, pan and the US—the Quad partners—set an ambitious target What are critical minerals? Critical minerals include copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, aluminium, manganese, silicon, and silver, rare earth elements, among others. These are essential for national security as they are vital for defence, aerospace, nuclear, and space applications of mobilising up to $20 billion in government and private-sector support to build secure critical minerals supply chains, reduce dependence on dominant suppliers and strengthen regional industry . “India does have reserves, but these are mostly used for very specific projects, such as those in ISRO. For mass-market needs like smartphones and ve- THE Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested retired judge Giribala Singh in connection with the alleged dowry death of her daughter-in-law Twisha Sharma. CBI sleuths took her into custody from her Bhopal residence after 5 hours of questioning in the high-profile case. Sources said the CBI has informed the Bhopal District and Sessions Judge Manoj Srivastava about the arrest. The ex-judge will be produced before court on Friday . The arrest of the 63-year-old former judge came a day after the Madhya Pradesh High Court quashed the anticipatory bail granted to her by a sessions court. Giribala’s son and Twisha’s husband Samarth Singh is already in CBI custody Officials . said the CBI will interrogate the motherson duo together. Steep rise in AP’s air pollution causes serious concern U s h a P er i @ Visakhapatnam Rajnath Singh from the education ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office, sources told this daily . They added that the discussions focused on strengthening security protocols across the entire exam cycle, including paper setting, printing, storage, transport and coordination at centres across India. E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Bhopal Global temperature crossed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time in 2024 — Dr Leon Hermanson, lead author of the report PMO oversees prep Twisha case: In-law in CBI custody Exceptional heat in next 5 yrs: UN body Annual global mean near-surface temperatures during 2026–2030 predicted to be 1.3°C-1.9°C above the 18501900 average J a v a r i a R a n a @ New Delhi ued to be the dominant airquality concern in AP, while ammonia and carbon monoxide levels largely remained within permissible limits. Seasonal variations were evident in the findings. Pollution levels were highest during the winter months, particularly in November, December and January, when lower wind speeds and reduced atmospheric mixing contributed to pollutants remaining trapped closer to the ground. PM2.5 concentrations peaked at 67.9 µg/m³ in December 2025, while PM10 levels crossed 100 µg/m³ in December P4 2025 and January 2026.  Vizag a hotspot Vizag emerged as the State’s most critical pollution hotspot during the study period. The GVMC monitoring station ranked among the top polluted places in AP hicles, the industry is still importing from China,” another official said. The biggest challenge lies in convincing Indian industry to source from alternative markets, as China continues to enjoy a strong competitive edge in critical mineral exports, sources said adding that pricing is a big concern. “The challenge lies in matching prices and convincing industry to buy from India and partner countries that are working together,” the official said. India is seeking to position itself as a trusted partner in emerging mineral alliances. “Countries need confidence in our systems before they open up sensitive technologies,” the official said. Indian agencies are also exploring partnerships with research institutions in Australia to gain expertise in mineral extraction and processing. WFI moves SC against HC’s Phogat fiat WFI has challenged the Delhi HC’s order that allowed Phogat to take part in trials for Asian Games | P7 also reviewed as part of a “multi-layered security architecture” being put in place for the examination. The move is part of a wider framework being built around the June 21 re-test, which will be conducted for more than 22 lakh aspirants. Investigations into the NEETUG 2026 paper leak continue across Rajasthan and Maharashtra, with the CBI probing allegations that portions of the question paper circulated before the exam through guess papers and encrypted messaging platforms. Queries sent to the defence ministry on the meet did not elicit a formal response till the filing of this report. tdp Mahanadu Confer Bharat Ratna on NTR: CM to Centre S V i s w a n at h @ Vijayawada Chief Minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu has demanded that Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, be conferred on Telugu Desam founder and for mer Chief Minister NT Rama Rao. Participating in the TDP’s Mahanadu on Thursday Naidu , moved a resolution paying tributes to NTR to mark the birth anniversary of the party founder. Naidu described NTR as a symbol of Telugu self-respect and one of the most influential figures in Indian political history . “The demand for Bharat Ratna to NTR is not just ours, but that of all Telugu people. He was a visionary leader who brought transfor mational changes in national politics, and worked tirelessly for the unity and self-respect of Telugu people,” Naidu said. The resolution seeking Bharat Ratna for NTR was unanimously adopted on the second day of Mahanadu. P4