KOCHI l sunday l september 27, 2026 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l LATE city EDITION 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 discussing investment opportunities next round of dialogue in november The two 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. The two countries established the Board of Investment to discuss investment opportunities and impediments, 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, with the next round to be held in November, the White House said The two leaders agreed to use the term “super intelligence” rather than “artificial intelligence” to describe emerging technologies $495 bn is the bilateral trade between U.S. and China annually, as per ustr 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, greater use of online hearings SIR eased, experts to review ECINET system Sept 30 INDIA bloc meeting to intensify stir against CEC Pa r v e z Su lta n & Su b h en d u M a i t i @ New Delhi/ Kolkata 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 INSIDE US president rejects Iran offer, attacks may resume after midterms | P9 THE Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced a series of measures to streamline the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, including doorstep verification for voters facing notices, greater use of online hearings and special assistance for vulnerable sections. It has also announced a review of its ECINET system and clarified on a letter written to the Cabinet Secretary . 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 complete relook of its ECINET system, adding that an expert committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT will review the system. Noting that several upgrades to ECINET have already been made on the basis of inputs received from State Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), the EC said, “Flexibility or changes required by field officials will also be considered and future initiatives relating to IT modules and portals will be dis- cussed by the Committee of Officers before being placed for the Commission’s approval.” 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 “concer ned 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. It added Booth Level Officers will visit homes to upload documents for unmapped persons or those with logical discrepancies. Authorised family members can also attend on the elector’s behalf, the EC said. CEC Gyanesh Kumar with Election Commissioners Dr S S Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi at a meeting on Saturday | PTI 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 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 par- NDA allies ties touched base on clear the air Saturday. Leader of the Hours after EC’s d i s p u t e d T r i n a m o o l clarification on Mamata Banerjee spoke SIR, NDA allies at length over the phone TDP, LJP (RV) to Leader of the Opposi- and Shiv Sena tion (LoP) in Lok Sabha (Shinde) came and Congress MP Rahul out in support of Gandhi and CPM general the poll panel. secretary MA Baby to Andhra Pradesh discuss the course of ac- CM N Chandtion against the BJP and rababu Naidu CEC, sources said. said EC’s Besides Rahul, Con- statement “puts gress chief Mallikarjun to rest all Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, misconceptions.” 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 pan-India protests seeking removal of Kumar and an independent inquiry into the EC’s decisions. Discussion will focus on three core agenda items, including impeachment motion against Kumar, nationwide stir in pollbound states including UP, Punjab and Uttarakhand. ‘Gyanesh offered me BJP LS ticket’ T’Puram: In a revelation that could put CEC Gyanesh Kumar further on the defensive, former Keralam Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has said that Gyanesh Kumar had offered him BJP candidature in the Lok Sabha elections. P4 For Rahman visit, Dhaka wants new water-share treaty J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Bangladesh is seeking a new agreement on sharing the Ganga’s waters rather than merely renewing the 1996 treaty as Dhaka presses India for what it describes as its “dues” as a lower-riparian state and seeks assurances against political activities by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Indian soil. These two issues are emerging as important elements as both sides look at a possible November visit to India by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. A high-level meeting in Dhaka on September 17 discussed various aspects of the ties, diplomatic sources said. India and Bangladesh have since “remained engaged” at senior levels as they work towards finalising the visit, which is being looked at for the latter half of November. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam who Dhaka is sending as its next High Commissioner to India is expected to arrive in the first week of November, sources said. Dhaka’s new water demand comes in the wake of the expiry of the 30-year Ganga Water Sharing Treaty on December 12. It now wants a fresh treaty rather than a “straightforward extension” of the existing arrangement, arguing that a new framework should better reflect its requirements as the 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 per missible. 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 heard in detail. The case involves the ED’s finding that Pinarayi received Rs 3.28 crore from Cochin Minerals and Rutiles Ltd (CMRL) through his daughter Veena T without rendering any service and that the amount was disproportionate to his known source of income. The ED has also alleged in its report that Veena’s husband and former minister P A Mohamed Riyas had sent money to the UAE through the hawala route. Meanwhile, the ED counsel submitted that the information shared with the state police would be produced before the court in a sealed cover at the next hearing to maintain confidentiality Advocate Jaisankar . submitted that the central agency had shared information with the state police chief regarding the commission of offences allegedly unearthed during its investigation. The ED investigation revealed certain transactions which, according to the agency disclosed a predi, cate offence requiring investigation by the state police or the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption ● More on P4 Bureau.  Express @ asian games Nagoya v Aslam Inamdar (third from bottom left) & the rest of men’s kabaddi team celebrate their victory on Saturday | pti ADA Pav! No, that’s not Aslam Inamdar’s favourite food. At 14, that was literally the only item on the menu he could afford, the food that kept him alive. When developing athletes his age were building their physique with protein The water issues are now being handled within the broader framework of the IndiaBangladesh Joint Rivers Commission, which deals with the two countries’ shared rivers. India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers downstream country . Bangladesh minister Forhad Hossain Azad had said Dhaka will seek a higher share of the Ganga, including a stronger guarantee for flows during the dry season. For India, however, the question is not merely a bilateral renewal. Consultations have been held with Indian stakeholders, including West Bengal, on water requirements. Alongside water, Dhaka is seeking assurances regarding Hasina, who remains in India. Bangladesh has objected to what it describes as political activities and public statements by Hasina and the Awami League from Indian territory, which is being flagged as a potential irritant in ties. The Kochi-based football club is poised to be acquired by a consortium close to the royal family of the United Arab Emirates, according to sources | P4 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, who had a public falling-out with the previous LDF government, 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 Pak using drones to smuggle drugs into Raj blissful moment Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking the blessings of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi during an event held as part of the spiritual leader’s 73rd birthday celebrations at Amritapuri in Kollam on Saturday | B P Deepu | P4 golden ticket out of poverty Indraneel Das Joint Rivers Commission dealing with the matter Kerala blasters set for ownership change Why no FIR on ED’s findings in CMRL payoff case, HC asks govt E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @Kochi Tarique Rahman shakes and health food, all Inamdar had — could have — was vada pav, rotis or anything he could lay his hands on. This was a time when he slept without a roof over his head; his full-time job was washing utensils in a tea shop or in a nearby juice shop. But now, after India’s kabaddi team defended their gold medal against Iran on Saturday, he’s a two-time Asian gold medallist. There is nothing quite like sport when it comes to throwing up gripping, inspirational stories. “Kya kya nehi kiya maine (What all did I not do),” he says, while sitting on a bench, after his team’s gold winning performance. He lost his father when he was young and the focus quickly turned on survival. Washing utensils, cleaning toilets, working in juice bars, tea shops — name any menial job and he has done it. That was when he was a child. “I worked at tea stalls, juice bars, cleaned washrooms and utensils. I even used to work in farm fields too,” he says. “I even gathered scrap bottles to sell to dealers’ just to buy food.” Kabaddi found him around this time and gave him an extra source of food — leftovers from tournaments. “I survived on vada pav or free food, and food saved from tournaments. I used to take whatever I could in my bag to eat later, even if it was spoiled.” He was around 14 then and was playing in age group | P11 competitions. Jaipur: Smuggling of drugs and weapons from Pakistan into border districts of Rajasthan is turning into a huge challenge for security agencies. Incidents involving the delivery of narcotics and weapons via Pakistani drones across the international border, particularly in the state’s Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh are often coming to light in recent months. P8 Major uptick in domestic tourist arrivals in 2025 New Delhi: India has witnessed significant growth in the tourism sector after the Covid pandemic, with the major contribution coming from domestic travel. According to the data released by the Ministry of Tourism, domestic tourist visits reached 428.55 crore in 2025, which was way lower at 67.7 crore in 2021. P7