saturdAY 24 january, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard Florida may freeze new H-1B visa hires at Universities for a year n e pa l p o l l s Florida’s university system is proposing one-year bar on new hires using H-1B visas, following a directive from Governor Ron DeSantis ex-PM Bhattarai drops out of race The former PM on Friday withdrew his candidacy from general elections, saying he was honouring the sentiments of the Himalayan nation’s youth. Page 9 florida governor behind the move A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS l New Delhi l J8.00 l The Florida Board of Governors is scheduled to review and potentially introduce the policy change on January 29, Politico reported. If approved by the full board, it would enter a 14-day public comment period before final implementation. This stems from an October 2025 directive by Governor Ron DeSantis, who wanted a halt on ‘H-1B abuse’ PAGES 12 Left point on Sonia in Sabarimala gold row upsets Rahul Gandhi P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi PM Narendra Modi with NDA alliance partners, including AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, at a poll rally at Maduranthakam on Friday | Shiba Prasad Sahu TN will have ‘double engine’ NDA govt after polls, says PM Says TN got `3L cr from Centre in 11 yrs, huge crowd shows state is ready for change S u b a s h i n i V i j aya k u m a r @ Chennai Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday kicked off the NDA’s campaign for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections at Maduranthakam, urging voters to opt for a “double-engine government” and asserting that coordination between the state and the Centre was essential to attract investments and accelerate development. “Bharat is becoming a destination for investors and is signing big deals. At this time, it is essential to have an NDA double-engine government — one that is cordial with the Central government. Only then will it become easier for investments to reach the state,” Modi said. Even as AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has been stressing that his party will win majority on its own and there won’t be any need to share power with allies in the government, Modi repeatedly referred to the prospect of an “NDA government” or “NDA-BJP government” assuming power in the state after the polls during his speech at the event. The rally effectively pushed Tamil Nadu into election mode, with senior NDA leaders sharing the stage and projecting unity ahead of the polls. Among them was T T V Dhinakaran, leader of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, who shook hands with Palaniswami, indicating that their focus now was to unseat the ruling DMK from power. Addressing the gathering, Dhinakaran said he had joined the NDA without hesitation. “We want to remove corrupt family rule and restore the governance ideals of Puratchi Thalaivar MGR and Amma. AMMK cadres will work for NDA’s victory,” he assured Modi and Palaniswami who were on the stage. Edappadi K Palaniswami also addressed Dhinakaran as “brother” during his speech. Stating that the countdown to “send the DMK government home” had begun, Prime Minister Modi said senior NDA leaders had gathered with that single resolve. The people of TN are now referring to the DMK as a CMC (Corruption, Mafia and Crime government). The DMK government is functioning for the benefit of a single family Narendra Modi, PM ‘DMK, allies insulted HC’ Speaking on Thiruparankundram issue, Modi said BJP leaders had stood up for the rights of devotees, but the DMK and its allies have insulted the HC to protect their vote-bank. “They (DMK) are against TN’s culture,” the PM said ‘Only BJP can develop state’ Corruption by the successive CPM and Congress governments in Kerala has stifled the state’s growth; only the BJP can bring development but it needs a decisive mandate, Modi said HC allows govt to transfer money to EWS students’ bank a/cs in pvt schools U d aya n K i s h o r e @ New Delhi The Delhi High Court on Friday permitted the Delhi government to transfer money for school uniforms to the bank accounts of students of economically weaker sections (EWS) and disadvantaged groups in private schools instead of giving them actual uniforms. A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Subramonium Prasad passed the order, modifying its 2023 order that uniforms ought to be supplied in kind. The bench passed the order on a review plea filed by the Delhi government, which cited practical and administrative difficulties in dealing with uniforms. The bench noted the submission and said that the difficulties faced by the government regarding measurement of students and delivering uniforms of correct size to them were “genuine”. The bench said, “Undoubtedly, it would be impossible to carry-out the exercise of taking measurements of every student, placing orders for different kinds of uniform cloth on the GeM portal, getting the uniforms stitched after procurement of the material as per the measurements, and distributing the uniforms in schools before a new session.” It said the government’s decision to transfer money to students directly would ensure that the uniforms are available to them in time. ‘In line with RTE Act’ The HC said the govt decision to transfer money to students directly won’t contravene the RTE Act. “... Under the 2011 Rules, there is a mandate to provide uniforms, but the Rules do not state that the govt has to provide uniforms in kind only. So, the insistence of the petitioners that physical uniforms be provided cannot be accepted,” it said. Draws Ahmedabad parallel to rev up BJP’s Kerala cadre E X PRESS NEWS SERVI C E @ T’Puram Recalling that the BJP’s 1987 victory in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation paved the way for decades of its rule in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the party’s win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation would trigger a similar “transformation” in Kerala, reflecting public trust in the BJP’s development and governance model. Virtually kick-starting the NDA’s assembly poll campaign in Kerala with a rally in Thiruvananthapuram, Modi said the BJP was a marginal force in the 1980s. “In 1987, we won the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for the first time. Our journey began in one city Similarly in Kerala, our begin. , nings have started with Thiruvananthapuram,” he said. Modi launched a scathing attack on both the ruling CPM-led LDF and the opposition Congress-led UDF, accusing them of ruining the state in collusion with each other for the past many decades. Alleging an unholy alliance between both fronts, he said it was time to break the nexus by electing an NDA government, which would be “pro-people” and “prodevelopment.” Accusing the LDF of harming the customs and traditions of the Sabarimala temple, Modi said if the BJP assumes power in the state, then all the culprits would be put behind bars. “This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said. He also targeted opposition UDF, referring to its main constituent Congress as ‘MMC’ or ‘Muslim League Maoist Congress’. Prakash admits he met Potty UDF convenor and Congress MP Adoor Prakash admitted that he met Potty on multiple occasions, but dismissed allegations linking him to the gold case Was UDF’s major poll plank The alleged gold heist was the UDF’s principal campaign plank during the recent panchayat elections, a strategy that appeared to favour the Cong-led front Satheesan raised it The issue was initially raised in the assembly by V D Satheesan, who questioned the loss of gold from the Sabarimala With the controversy over the alleged ‘Sabarimala gold theft’ intensifying, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is learnt to be ‘deeply upset’ with the party’s Kerala leaders over the manner in which the issue was handled, particularly after Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson and his mother Sonia Gandhi’s name figured in the political sparring. According to sources, Rahul felt that sections of the state Congress leadership adopted a short-sighted approach in pursuing the controversy, allowing the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF to drag his mother’s name and sharpen its counter-offensive. The political slugfest intensified after photographs surfaced purportedly showing Unnikrishnan Potty the prime , accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, along with Sonia Gandhi and Congress MPs Adoor Prakash and Anto Antony The CPI(M) and the Kerala government seized on the . images to allege links between the Congress leadership and the accused, a charge the Congress dismissed it as a smear campaign. Sources said Rahul believed that the Congress’s aggressive campaign strategy forced the Left to intensify the issue and turn it into a larger political confrontation. The Sabarimala gold loss cases relate to the alleged misappropriation of the precious metal from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and sanctum sanctorum door frames at the Lord Ayyappa temple. A Special Investigation Team probing the cases has arrested 12 people, including Potty and two former presidents of the Travancore Devaswom Board in connection with the matter. The issue dominated proceedings in the Kerala assembly this week, triggering heated exchanges with ministers, including V Sivankutty and M B Rajesh. While referring to the photograph appearing to show the accused with Sonia Gandhi, Rajesh said that the photo showed “the thief and the person who pocketed the loot” together. While Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan wrote to Speaker A N Shamseer demanding that the remarks be expunged, Congress insiders say it has done a huge damage to the party . Sources said the Congress leadership has so far failed to offer a convincing explanation regarding the photograph, allowing the CPI(M) to weaponise it. The Congress’s use of the song Pottiye Kettiyatharappa during protests and campaign events linked to the alleged gold theft case also drew criticism that it was ill-advised and led to deepening animosity between the UDF and the LDF. Sources in the Left said it felt compelled to launch a counter-offensive after sustained attacks by the Congress, both at the national level and outside Parliament. Talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US opened in Abu Dhabi, as Moscow said it was not dropping its demand that Kyiv pull out of its Donbas region. Both sides say that the fate of territory in Ukraine’s east is one of the main outstanding issues. | P9 EXpress news service @ New Delhi INDIA’s largest steel companies—Tata Steel, JSW Steel and state-run SAIL and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)—disclosed their pricing plans to rivals and coordinated production cuts to reduce supplies, according to a confidential antitrust investigation report seen by Reuters. It was earlier reported that CCI found 28 firms colluded on steel prices, meaning they could face hefty fines. The investigation report by the Competition Commission of India into the four major companies that has not been made public, shows the ‌ omc mission reviewed dozens of WhatsApp ‌ hats, including c from groups named “Friends of Steel”, “Tycoons” and “Steel Live Market” that were seized during 2022 industry raids. It analysed pricing changes, sales and production patterns. Tata Steel, JSW Steel and state-run Steel Authority of India Limited (‌SAIL), and RINL colluded during 2018-2023, the report says. “There is enough circumstantial evidence ... of concerted efforts by SAIL, RINL, JSW and Tata Steel,” the commission report, drafted in April 2025, said, as per Reuters. The four companies “were influencing the market with the sensitive price information in advance,” it said. Consultancy BigMint estimates the companies account for 44.4% of India’s steel market. Tata Steel said it “denies any wrongdoing”, and that it determines its prices independently based on market conditions and other factors. while JSW, SAIL and RINL did not respond to queries from Reuters. express read Pannun booked ahead of R-Day The Delhi Police Special Cell has registered an FIR against Sikhs for Justice terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for allegedly issuing threats to trigger unrest in the national capital ahead of the Republic Day. | P3 abu dhabi hosts dialogues between Russia, Ukraine and us Steel sector cartelisation under CCI lens Sambhal gets two CJMs within 48 hrs UP’s Sambhal saw the transfer of two Chief Judicial Magistrates (CJMs) within 48 hours. CJM Aditya Singh was transferred to Sambhal from Chandausi, but sent back on Friday. He has been replaced by Kaushambi CJM Deepak Kumar Jaiswal. no lesson learnt (Above) Sector 150 in Greater Noida, where techie Yuvraj Mehta died due to drowning on January 16, shows the embankment which his car jumped is still broken. (Inset) this newspaper’s spot visit on Thursday shows another dangerous road nearby that does not even have an embankment, which can cause vehicles to fall in the water-filled ditch in fog | Anup verma western disturbance Heavy snowfall & rain in high hills, temp to drop in plains J i t e n d r a C h o u b e y @ New Delhi Temperatures across large parts of northwest India are set to drop sharply over the next two days following widespread rainfall and heavy snowfall in the western Himalayan region. Thunderstorms with light rain swept the city on Friday due to an intense western disturbance over the Western Himalayan region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a cold day phenomenon is likely to grip the region, with minimum temperatures expected to fall by 3-5° Celsius over the plains of northwest India, including Delhi, as well as parts of central and western India. The drop is to begin from January 24, after the passage of an intense western disturbance. In the past 24 hours, heavy snowfall was reported in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, while moderate to widespread rainfall occurred across northwest India. Several areas in the higher reaches of J&K and Himachal witnessed waist-deep snowfall, a People watching R-Day rehearsal take cover in the Friday rain | Shekhar Yadav sight rarely seen in recent years. The snowfall has been welcomed by horticulturists, as a good snow cover is considered vital for stone fruits, pro- viding a natural source of moisture and nutrients. This winter has otherwise remained unusually dry due to a prolonged absence of western disturbances. The region last received significant snowfall in the first week of October 2022, raising concerns about water availability . The impact of the Western Disturbance was also felt in the plains, where thunders t o r m s a c c o m p a n i e d by squally winds were reported. Wind speeds of 60-90 kmph were recorded at isolated plac- es in J&K, Himachal, and Punjab, while gusts of 30-60 kmph affected Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttarakhand on Thursday night and Friday morning. These conditions led to a temporary rise in temperatures by 4°C in many areas. The IMD has forecast that there will be dense to very dense fog in the morning and night time in pockets of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh over the next two days. Also, cold wave conditions are likely in Himachal and some parts of Punjab and Haryana. P3