U.s., China decide on $30 billion reciprocal tariff cut; ai talks China said on Saturday that it had agreed with the US on a $30 billion reciprocal tariff-cut arrangement and on launching a dialogue on AI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l sunday l september 27, 2026 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l LATE city EDITION The countries reached consensus on recommendations for a more favourable tariff treatment for $30 billion of non-sensitive goods in each direction, the White House said. They established the Board of Investment to discuss investment opportunities, and to provide a channel to address investment-related issues. On artificial intelligence, the leaders agreed to establish a China-US AI dialogue to exchange views on AI-related risks and benefits, the White House said | P9 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 ■ ■ EC announces doorstep verification for voters facing notice SIR eased, experts to review ECINET system CEC Gyanesh Kumar with Election Commissioners Dr S S Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi at a meeting on Saturday | PTI m u k e s h r a n j a n @ New Delhi WITH THIS ISSUE The New OTT Stars Binge Brigade PLUS 12 P AGES WHILE seeking to address issues at the centre of a row over decision-making in the Election Commission and concerns of voters who have been issued notices or are left out from the poll rolls, the EC on Saturday asserted that all SIR orders received unanimous consent from all three Commissioners and that the updates to Form 6 for voter enrolment were upheld by the Supreme Court. After a meeting attended by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Dr S S Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, the EC announced a number of measures including additional time for filing claims, home visit by election officials and help desks for those facing notices for removal from the rolls. Announcing a complete review of its ECINET system, the poll panel said a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT will review the system. On the legal framework governing SIR, the Commission said the declaration attached to Form 6 for the exercise has been upheld by the Supreme Court. “For periods outside SIR, applications will continue to be processed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960,” it said. The EC also sought to clarify concerns surrounding a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary, saying it was not related to any policy matter concerning either the Commission or its IT division. According to the EC, the communication “concerned the functioning of an officer on deputation to the Commission”. “The work-reallocation orders issued by the officer were not implemented after directions from two Commissioners and that oversight of the IT division by the Deputy Election Commissioner was never withdrawn,” EC said. “The order for the SIR issued on 24.6.2025 for all States/ UTs, starting with Bihar, and 30 other States/UTs was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission,” EC said. It added Booth Level Officers will visit homes to upload documents for unmapped persons or those with logical discrepancies, the EC said. The order for SIR starting with Bihar, followed by West Bengal and 30 States/ UTs was issued with unanimous approval of EC Election Commission of India Extends deadline The EC extended deadlines for filing claims in two states. In Delhi, claims and objections can be filed till Oct 30, while all claims have to be disposed by Nov 30. In Maharashtra, Oct 12 and Nov 10 are the 2 deadlines, respectively Sept 30 INDIA bloc meeting to intensify stir against CEC Pa r v e z S u lta n & S u b h e n d u M a iti @ New Delhi/ Kolkata THE INDIA bloc is expected to go into a huddle on September 30 at the Constitution Club in Delhi to deliberate and strategise a joint programme aimed at cornering the Centre on the issue of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, amid concerns over special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The decision to hold the meeting was taken after the top leadership of INDIA bloc parties touched base on Saturday . Leader of the disputed Trinamool Mamata Banerjee spoke at length over the phone to Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and CPM general secretary MA Baby to discuss the course of action against the BJP and CEC, sources said. Besides Rahul, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Mamata, her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and Baby are expected to attend the meeting. Sources said INDIA bloc leaders are likely to chalk out a roadmap for panIndia protests seeking removal of Kumar and an independent inquiry into the EC’s decisions. blissful moment Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeks blessings of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi during an event held as part of the spiritual leader’s 73rd birthday celebrations at Amritapuri, Kollam, on Saturday | B P Deepu | P4 CMRL payoff case Why no FIR on ED’s findings, HC asks govt E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @Kochi The Kerala High Court on Saturday asked the state government why it has not registered an FIR based on the materials submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the CMRL payoff case involving former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and family .   Advocate General Jaju Babu submitted that it is not mandatory to register an FIR acting on the information given under Section 66(2) of the PMLA Act and that a preliminary enquiry as ordered now is also legally permissible. Advocate Jaisankar V Nair, counsel for ED, submitted that in such a case, registration of FIR is mandatory and there is no scope for a preliminary enquiry overlooking the ED finding. Justice A Badharudeen, while hearing a petition filed by political activist K M Shajahan, seeking to register an FIR in the case, said the legal question is to be ● More on P4 heard in detail.  EXPRESS READ Premkumar to lead film devpt corporation T’Puram: The state government on Saturday appointed new office-bearers to several major cultural institutions. Actor Premkumar has been appointed chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation. Playback singer G Venugopal has been appointed chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. P5 Dubai-based consortium set to buy Blasters Kochi: As a new ISL season is just around the corner, Kerala Blasters FC is finally ready for its much-anticipated ownership change. Sources have confirmed that the Kochi-based club is poised to be acquired by a consortium close to the royal family of the UAE. P4