kozhikode l tuesday l march 03, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION pak players penalised for T20 World Cup exit? According to reports in the country, the Pakistan Cricket Board has slapped huge penalty on each of the cricketers part of the campaign fined $18,000 each for poor performance Eyes on the two big semifinals Not just the PCB, even some top govt functionaries were apparently unhappy with the team’s performance. If confirmed, this would be the first time a team would face such a penalty for exiting World Cup. Pak lost to India but somehow managed to reach the Super 8s where they succumbed to England after their match against New Zealand was rained off ■ ■ India will play England in the 2nd semifinal in Mumbai on Thursday. South Africa & New Zealand will play the first one on Wednesday PCB had earlier suspended all No Objection Certificates for their players playing at various T20 leagues after the team’s loss against India in the final of the Asia Cup | P11 5 million Pakistan rupees is the fine apparently slapped on players 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 aramco oil refinery hit Saudi Aramco shut down its Ras Tanura oil refinery near Dammam on Monday after it was hit by Iran. Earlier, debris fell on Kuwait’s Ahmadi oil refinery, injuring two Huge spike in Gas futures European natural gas futures spiked 42% as Qatar stopped production of LNG after two attacks on Ras Laffan and Mesaieed fields. Qatar snapped ties with Iran u.s. boots on ground not ruled out At least 555 killed in Iran, 11 in Israel as West Asia war rages on; Gulf allies bear the brunt; EU nations try to evacuate their citizens TNIE conclave spotlights AI, ambitions and self-reliance A G E NCI E S @ Tehran, Tel Aviv, Dubai THE war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran spread across West Asia and beyond on Monday, with Lebanon’s Hezbollah entering the fray and a British air base in Cyprus targeted. The Israeli military said it began new strikes on Tehran, as first responders heard explosions ring out on the third day of the US-Israeli joint assault and blasts rocked Lebanon’s capital Beirut. Gulf monarchies threatened to retaliate as a Saudi oil refinery burned, Qatar halted LNG production, tankers were attacked off Oman and energy prices soared. President Donald Trump said he was not ruling out sending US troops into Iran, while threatening a new, “big wave” of attacks. The intensity of the attacks and the lack of any visible exit plan set the stage for a prolonged conflict. The chaos became apparent when the US said Kuwait, an ally, had “mistakenly shot down” three American F-15Es. The US said all six pilots ejected safely . It however, confirmed that four of its troops were killed. Black smoke rose from the US embassy complex in Kuwait as Iran pressed on with attacks it launched in retaliation for the US-Israeli hits that killed its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Its top security official Ali Larijani said: “We won’t negotiate with US.” The toll grew on all sides. Ira- (From left) Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, The New Indian Express Editor Santwana Bhattacharya, CEO Lakshmi Menon, Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla (right) and Rajalakshmi Engineering College Vice Chairman Abhay Meganathan during the inauguration of the 14th edition of the ThinkEdu conclave, in Chennai on Monday | P ravikumar E x p r e s s n e w s s e r v i c e @ Chennai Flames and smoke rise from Israeli airstrikes on Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon in Monday | AP/PTI Airspace opens 3 US F-15Es shot in Kuwait in friendly fire Wife of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei too killed Hezbollah faces Lebanon ban after attack on Israel, IDF kills Hezbollah intel chief US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says no timeline to end hostilities First flight from Dubai carrying Indians touches base in New Delhi Trump says US yet to launch its biggest strike nian Red Crescent Society said the US-Israeli hits killed at least 555 people. In Israel, 11 were killed in Iranian hits. Urging restraint, UK PM Keir Star mer said Iran’s P9 approach is “reckless”.  Policymakers, academics, industry leaders, artists, and public figures came together to discuss issues ranging from Artificial Intelligence and semiconductors to diplomacy culture, sustainabili, ty and role of education in India on the , first day of the ThinkEdu Conclave 2026 held in Chennai on Monday . Delivering the inaugural address at the event presented by Tata Group and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) with Rajalakshmi Group of Institutions as title sponsor, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi underscored the importance of education and AI adoption in India’s development journey . “AI is a transformative technology that empowers individuals and nations,” Ravi said, adding that India must develop its own domain-specific AI models instead of merely replicating the high-energy-consuming Silicon Valley models. Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria (Retd), Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, and Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan (Retd) discussed how defence preparedness and diplomatic engagement must work together in navigating an increasingly complex global order. Additional Chief Secretary Supriya Sahu and Tata Motors CSO Jyotin Kutty Sastabhavan underscored the role inside Presents THINKEDU CONCLAVE The journey of human civilisation has always been on the back of technology. Becoming a developed nation by the centenary of Independence is not merely an aspiration but a necessity RN Ravi, TN Governor Aim is to release comprehensive human brain maps that can serve as a global reference in neuroanatomy. More than 100 human brains are being mapped now Dr Mohanasankar, IIT-M professor Tech key to Viksit Bharat: TN Guv Ravi; Israel-Iran war reflects US strategy: Tharoor | P5 Frenetic Modi diplomacy Women entry: TDB for de-escalation in W Asia to challenge SC order J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders on Monday as West Asia plunged deeper into crisis following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike and Tehran’s sweeping retaliation. In his call with Netanyahu, Modi conveyed India’s concern over the spiralling conflict and pressed for an immediate cessation of hostilities. “Conveyed India’s concerns over recent developments and emphasised the safety of civilians as a priority India reiter. ates the need for an early cessation of hostilities,” Modi posted on X. The conversation came hours after Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to review the situation and assess contingency plans for Indian nationals in the region. During his conversation with Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Modi agreed that the “earliest restoration of regional peace and stability is of utmost importance.” He condemned attacks targeting Saudi territory and reiterated India’s solidarity A similar message was conveyed to . Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain. played by communities, businesses, and gover nments in protecting local ecosystems. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, during his conversation with senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai, predicted a bright prospect for the Congress in Kerala, and stressed on the importance of liberal values and education. Actor Khushboo Sundar and filmmaker G Dhananjheyan discussed cinema’s political influence, contrasting digital popularity with electoral legitimacy . CPM Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas contended that right-wing rhetoric on education does not match ground realities, citing stark contrasts in school dropout figures between Gujarat, Chennai, and Kerala. Smriti Z Irani, former Union Minister, said that India’s future lies in science, underscoring the need for women’s economic empowerment and greater private investment in research. The event began with Saraswati Vandana by Shreya Ramnath and rendition of devotional songs by students from the Rajalakshmi Group of Institutions. Welcoming the gathering, Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director of TNIE, lauded the ThinkEdu Conclave 2026 as a global hub of ideas since its inception in 2012. Over 250 students took part on the first day of the conclave. E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @T’Puram Indicating a shift in the official position, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court (SC) opposing the entry of women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala hill shrine. The move comes nearly eight years after the top court lifted the entry ban on women in the 10-50 age group. An SC bench is hearing review and writ petitions related to its 2018 judgment. The board and other stakeholders have been asked to submit their versions before March 14. “The board has decided to contest the order,” TDB president K Jayakumar said, adding the decision stemmed from the statutory obligation to preserve traditional temple practices. As per the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, it is incumbent on the TDB to uphold traditions of temples. We cannot take a contradictory stand, he said at a press briefing after Monday’s board meeting. TDB had last submitted an affidavit on the issue towards the end of 2017, when Cong ress leader Prayar Gopalakrishnan was its head. It had upheld the customs and traditions at Sabarimala and opposed lifting the ban on women in 10-50 age group. India & Canada sign $2.6-bn uranium deal J AYANTH J ACOB @New Delhi INDIA and Canada on Monday signed a $2.6 billion longterm uranium supply agreement and a pact on critical minerals, marking a significant rebound in bilateral relations after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney . The agreements were part of a broader agenda that includes a new India-Canada Defence Dialogue and a commitment to conclude a comprehensive economic partnership by 2026, aiming to raise bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. The reset comes after years of strained relations under former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. Modi described the day as an “important milestone” and said “since our first meeting, our relationship has been infused with new energy mutual trust, and positiv, ity India and Canada share an unwavering belief in dem. ocratic values… Today, we discussed transforming this vision into a Next Level Partnership.” He highlighted Canada’s $100 billion investment in Indian markets as a strong indicator of confidence in India’s growth trajectory The leaders also focused on criti. cal minerals, with Modi noting the pact will “strengthen resilient supply chains” and support technological and industrial collaboration. In defence, both sides agreed to expand cooperation, including maritime domain awareness. “We will work to enhance defence industries, maritime domain awareness, and military exchanges. To this end, we have decided to establish the India-Canada Defence Dialogue,” Modi said, underlining deep mutual trust. E X P RESS READ Lakhs of women to offer Pongala today T’Puram: Lakhs of women will congregate at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in the state capital on Tuesday for the annual Attukal Pongala. Temple authorities said that at least 40 lakh women will take part in the event. At 9.15am, melsanthi Brahmasree Aneesh Namboothiri will light the pongala hearth inside the temple. targeted subsidies & welfare Kerala goes lean & mean in high-wire fiscal balancing act R a je s h R a v i @Kochi As a double-edged sword in policy making, subsidies are a convenient political tool and a damaging fiscal policy Across . India, states spend vast sums on free electricity, farmloan waivers and consumption support to ease the cost of living. Yet Kerala, often labelled a welfare-heavy state, quietly runs one of the leanest subsidy regimes in the country — particularly in electricity — even as it struggles to keep a tight leash on its finances. Finance Commission assessments and state budget documents show that Kerala’s explicit subsidies, measured as a share of gross state domestic product (GSDP), are markedly lower than those of many large states. The contrast is most visible in power sector. Unlike Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, or Rajasthan — where free or heavily subsidised electricity for agriculture and households forms a major component of public spending — Kerala follows a restrained model. The KSEB does not provide blanket free power. Instead, assistance is limited to lifeline tariffs for low-consumption households and a few welfare categories. G Madhavankutty, chief economist at Canara Bank, estimates Kerala’s power subsidy at roughly “0.2–0.5% of GSDP”, far below states offering universal free supply . Lekha Chakraborty, professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy said , the 16th Finance Commission’s analysis also places Kerala among the lowest in per-capita electricity subsidy — about `155 on average in recent years, with an absolute subsidy of roughly `842 crore in 2023-24 for a population of around 3.5 ● More on P4 crore.