THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l sunday l june 28, 2026 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l late city EDITION cape Verde celebrate their greatest sporting night Cape Verde players rejoice after the match against Saudi Arabia on Friday | AP Meeting with Argentina awaits newbies A small group of islands off Africa’s west coast continue World Cup fairytale; advance into knockout stage after 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia Nobody gave them a prayer when they qualified for the World Cup but the debutants, paired with former champions Spain and Uruguay as well as Saudi in Group H, equipped themselves well over their three group games. Players and support staff became heroes. A reward for finishing second in the group is a meeting in the first knockout tie against holders Argentina ■ 1974 Knockout rounds from today ■ The first of the knockout ties will be held on Sunday night (IST) when hosts Canada face South Africa in Los Angeles Two-time champions Uruguay, meanwhile, lost to Spain and bowed out of the tournament at the first of asking. Belgium advanced after big win over New Zealand while Iran await fate | P11 France first team to have 2 players on 4 or more goals in group stages since 1974 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 It’s official, Ram temple trust gen secy & VHP V-P Champat Rai quits Pressure built up after RSS gen secy Hosabale questioned Rai over the alleged donation swindle Trust to meet on July 7 n a m i ta b a j pa i @Lucknow Teachers’ test now put off after Maha paper leak S u d h i r S u r ya w a n s h i @ Mumbai Weeks after the leak of NEE T- U G e x a m p a p e r kicked up a political firestor m, the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), scheduled for Sunday , was abruptly postponed after the police found leaked question papers during a raid at a hotel in Thane district on Saturday . The Maharashtra State Examination Council said the TET 2026 exam, scheduled for June 28 at 1,028 centres across the state, has been postponed to maintain the transparency and integrity of the examination process. Acting on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid at the Diamond Hotel in Bhiwandi, where they found certain individuals in possession of TET question papers. Three persons have been arrested. The Maharashtra State Examination Council officials were called to verify the material. After a close inspection, it was confirmed that several questions in the leaked paper matched those in the actual question paper. WITH THIS ISSUE Teaching No Lesson n India reat he G Education t Crisis PLUS 12 P AGES THE Shree Ram Janmabhumi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Saturday confirmed the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Dr Anil Mishra following allegations of embezzlement of temple donation funds and valuables. In a letter released to the media, Trust treasurer Mahant Govind Giri said both leaders had submitted their resignations, which would be formally taken up at the next meeting of the Trust. Expressing shock and hurt over the allegations, Govind Giri emphasized the Trust’s commitment to a fair and transparent probe. “The temple trust assures devotees who have donated sil- Champat Rai ver bricks, ornaments and other valuables in the service of Lord Ram that their offerings are safe,” he stated. The resignations came on the heels of a Special Investigation Team unravelling mismanagement in donation collection in its preliminary report to the UP government. Based on its findings, the police filed an FIR and Transparency push Needless secrecy over failures of PSLV: Scientists B o s k y k h a nn a @ Bengaluru THE Ministry of Science and Technology’s refusal to publicly share the Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) report on the back-to-back PSLV-C61 and C62 mission failures has sparked concern among space scientists and private industry players. Union Minister Jitendra Singh recently said the report was out and anomalies were detected, but that they cannot share it on a public platform. Singh also acknowledged that experts were working on resolving it. But scientists said such secrecy is counterproductive at a time when the government is actively seeking private sector participation in India’s space programme. Sources in Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) said the policy push includes Expression of Interest for transferring Launch Vehicle Mark-3 ( LVM-3) technology to private hands, following similar moves for PSLV and SSLV . A senior space scientist, speaking anonymously said the industry was invited because , ISRO demonstrated its strength and was prepping to focus on advanced projects. “But when basics go wrong and information is withheld, why would companies invest?” he asked. The PSLV-C61 mission on May 18, 2025 failed due to a pressure drop in the third-stage motor chamber, preventing the EOS-09 satellite from reaching its intended 534 km Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit. “The C-61 mission was not successful because of nozzle throat failure. The material was not right. Graphite was imported for the nozzle throat. This was changed to a carboncomposite component for C-62, which also did not succeed. The question which arose was whether it was fully ready for industrial use or not,” the space scientist said. VHP chief Alok Kumar said on Saturday that the Ram Temple Trust will meet in Ayodhya on July 7 to decide on the next course of action following the resignation of the two senior Trust functionaries. He said he hopes that a chief executive officer is appointed to manage the affairs of the temple. arrested eight persons. Though neither Rai nor Mishra was named in the FIR, their role in not reporting the matter on time came under scrutiny The eight arrested include . Rai’s former driver, who allegedly held the keys to the ‘hundi’ without authority. Rai is also VHP’s vice president. Highly-placed sources said the twin resignations followed intense pressure after a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) meeting in Haridwar on June 18-19. RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale reportedly questioned Champat Rai and others over alleged irregularities. Even during Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s visit to Ayodhya on June 19, Champat Rai was kept away from official programmes. On Thursday night, he received calls from RSS and VHP leaders advising resignation to contain the controversy . On Friday morning, both Rai and Mishra submitted their resignations to Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das at Mani Ramdas Ji’s camp. The Trust and VHP maintained silence through Friday evening. E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi Bangladesh’s decision to hand over the development of an economic zone at Mongla Port to a Chinese state-owned company marks a significant shift in Dhaka’s strategic and economic engagement with China in the wake of the just-concluded visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Beijing. The project will be developed on around 110 acres of land adjacent the Mongla Port in Bagerhat, land that was originally earmarked for an Indian eco- nomic zone but was later delisted under the Muhammad Yunus-led administration as India-Bangladesh ties deteriorated. Mongla, Bangladesh’s second-largest and second-busiest port after Chittagong, lies about 188 km from Kolkata and close to the Sundarbans, giving it considerable strategic heft. Sources familiar with the development said plans include setting up manufacturing industries, warehouses and storage facilities in the economic zone. The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with China Civil Engineer- ISRO scientist Lack of clarity Seeking a permanent solution to the state’s mounting human-wildlife conflict, the government is considering airlifting tigers and, if required, elephants from trouble-hit areas to other habitats. The plan is contingent on a study by the Wildlife Institute of India, which is assessing the carrying capacity of forests in the state. Forests and Wildlife Minister Shibu Baby John said though the plan is under the government’s consideration, any decision will be based entirely on the study’s findings. “If the study finds that the When forests are found to have surplus tiger populations If problematic tigers require to be relocated to suitable habitats When injured or stranded wild animals need rapid transportation for rescue or rehabilitation carrying capacity has been exceeded, tigers and, if required, elephants could be airlifted to other habitats. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has already given its nod for such an operation if needed,” the minister told TNIE. Officials said airlifting would be considered in three situations: when forests are found to have surplus tiger populations, when problem tigers require to be relocated to suitable habitats, and when injured or stranded wild animals need rapid transportation for rescue The Bangladesh-China deal on Mongla Port economic zone is widely seen as a major policy shift in a region New Delhi has traditionally regarded as its immediate neighbourhood ing Construction Corporation. Beijing sought to downplay any geopolitical implications of its growing partnership with Dhaka. Responding to questions over India’s concerns, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, “ChinaBangladesh cooperation does not target any third party and should be free from third-party influence.” The joint statement issued after the talks said both sides agreed to “jointly advance the Mongla Port Facilities Modernization and Expansion Project” and the development of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram. It added that the Chinese side would “provide support and help within its capacity to the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project”. The Teesta project has drawn close attention in India because the river flows close to the India-Bangladesh border and has implications for India’s northeastern region. in the ruling front as well. The introduction of a Finance Bill Despite stiff opposition from is the le gislative process within the Congress and the through which the assembly apruling front, the UDF govern- proves the imposition of new ment is all set to go ahead with taxes or amendments to existits controversial budget propos- ing taxes. al to reduce the sales tax on liqOnce the finance minister tauor with low alcohol bles the Bill in the In Finance Bill House, the proposed content. In an indication change in taxes comes The proposal to that there won’t be into force, enabling reduce the sales a n y i m m e d i a t e tax on liquor with the government to colrollback of the relect the revised taxes. low-alcohol vised taxes, the pro- content has been The draft Finance posal has been includBill proposes an included in the ed in the Finance Bill, amendment to Act 15 Finance Bill. the draft of which of The Kerala General was published on Saturday . Sales Tax Act, 1963. It proposes The Bill is expected to be ta- the insertion of a new category bled in the assembly on July 1. named ‘low alcoholic beverage’. The proposal to reduce the sales It also proposes two tax structax rate on low alcohol liquor tures for such categories of bevfrom the current 251% to 120- erages. While those having al175% had ignited a controversy cohol strength between 0.5% to , with the Opposition LDF alleg- 10% v/v will be taxed at 120%, ing corruption behind the beverages with alcohol strength move. The proposal had also between 10% to 20% v/v will at● More on P4 met with opposition from with- tract 175% tax.  E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @T’Puram miracle baby Videograb shows a newborn pulled out from under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Venezuela’s La Guaira after an emotional rescue on Friday night | X State moots airlifting tigers, elephants from ‘conflict’ zones According to forest dept officials, airlifting will be considered in three situations: Policy shift in Dhaka Govt set to go ahead with reduced tax on low-alcohol beverages t o s u it a b l e h a b it a t s V a r s h a S o m a r a j @ T’Puram Iran unleashed a drone assault on Bahrain and a ship was attacked in Hormuz on Saturday, hours after the US struck Iran over ‘truce violation’ | p9 India out, B’desh hands Mongla project to China When the basics are not right, why will some other company invest? Just as accuracy, quick technological advances and safety, transparency is also important Another senior ISRO scientist, refusing to be identified, said the PSLV twin failures raised questions if diagnosis done during C-61 mission was right and if the solutions listed were addressed in C-62. Fresh strikes by Iran, US amid Hormuz row or rehabilitation. Speaking in the assembly recently, the forest minister had said relocating excess big cats could provide a long-term solution to the human-wildlife conflict, but the process involves significant scientific, legal and logistical hurdles. “There are many limitations in capturing tigers. After capturing them, the bigger question is where we can release them. People are not willing to have them relocated to forests near their localities, but we have to leave them somewhere. We do not have a legal provision to keep them in zoos, and we follow the law,” the minister said. If the report concludes that a forest area has more tigers than it can ecologically sustain, the department will identify suitable destinations, preferably tiger reserves elsewhere in the country that have little or no tiger population. The minister maintained that the proposal was aimed at ensuring both wildlife conservation and public safety while remaining within the legal framework governing the management of wild animals. Social Forestry chief Pramod G Krishnan said preliminary discussions with the IAF had already established the technical feasibility of such an ● More on P4 operation. Ex p r e s s R e a d Ancy breaks Anju record, Sarvesh clears 2.31m Bhubaneswar: Kerala long jumper Ancy Sojan smashed the 22-yearold national record of Anju Bobby George at the National Inter-State meet. Her jump of 6.88m breached Anju’s mark of 6.83m, which was secured at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Sarvesh Kushare cleared 2.31m to better the national record in men’s high jump. P11 KEAM 2026: Ernakulam shines in engineering Kochi: The commissioner for entrance examinations (CEE), Kerala, on Saturday released the KEAM 2026 engineering and BPharm rank lists, with Ernakulam emerging as the top-performing district in engineering and Malappuram leading the BPharm rankings. P5