hyderabadl monday l june 08, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Chennai-born architect behind Trump’s AI policies to leave job pushed for rollback of regulations on AI Krishnan was an architect of the Trump administration’s ‘AI Action Plan’, which provided a blueprint to roll back regulation of the emerging technology and promote the construction of data centres across the US. He also was among tech advisers who helped craft an executive order limiting states’ ability to regulate AI, which Trump signed in December Sriram Krishnan is stepping down from his role as senior policy adviser for Artificial Intelligence to US President Donald Trump Criticised green card cap, drew maga ire ■ ■ Born in Chennai in 1984, Krishnan earned his Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology from SRM University in 2005, before moving to the US two years later to join Microsoft Krishnan had courted criticism from Trump’s right-wing supporters over his calls to remove country-specific caps on green cards 42-yr-old Worked at Microsoft, Meta and X before joining the White House 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 CM: Kishan influencing Fadnavis against TG E x p r e ss N e ws Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad Accusing Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy of actively obstructing Telangana’s development, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday alleged that the former had influenced Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to withhold permission for the proposed Pranahita-Chevella Project at Tummidihetti. The chief minister alleged that the Union minister was creating hurdles in securing approvals and support from the Centre for key projects proposed by the state government. “Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis is avoiding meetings with us to discuss the Pranahita-Chevella Project. Sources in the Maharashtra CMO have informed us that Kishan asked them not to grant permission for the project,” he claimed. The chief minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone for development works worth `1,511 crore in the Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) area at Uppal Bhagayath. The projects include construction of the MMC office complex at a cost of `98 crore on 10 acres, alternative roads through the AOC Centre at a cost of `960 crore, a six-lane flyover at the TKR College junction costing `416 crore and a 100-bed district hospital in Malkajgiri at a cost of `37.5 crore. He also launched the CURE-1 mobile application and inaugurated Khatri Bhavan and Vanjari Kula Atma Gourava Bhavan. Continued on P4 Chorus against second cooking gas price hike since Iran conflict TMC’s Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek with AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, in New Delhi on Sunday | PTI Amid strain, 23 Oppn parties to meet today P r ee t h a N a i r @ New Delhi As many as 23 Opposition parties are set to attend the crucial INDIA bloc meeting on Monday to devise fresh strategies to corner the BJP government on key national issues with an eye on the 2029 general elections, the Congress said. In a post on X, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said 23 political parties have confirmed their participation in the “INDIA janbandhan” meeting. “There are some parties who have expressed their inability to attend this particular meeting for their own reasons, even though they have conveyed their strong opposition to the Modi government’s policies and actions,” Ramesh said. The meeting comes amid growing friction within the bloc, with the DMK and AAP opting to skip and others expressing concerns about the Congress’s conduct. While the gathering is being seen as an effort to deepen coordination among Opposition parties, particularly after the recent round of assembly elections and amid Kejri, Didi discuss way forward Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Sunday met Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal, a day ahead of a meeting of the INDIA bloc. The TMC described the meeting as “warm”, and said the leaders held discussions on “the road ahead” Brittas to represent CPM CPM will be represented by its Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas at the meeting. CPM general secretary MA Baby will not attend in protest over the Congress charge of a CPI(M)-BJP understanding in Kerala evolving political equations in several states, a Samajwadi Party leader told this paper that the DMK’s absence would be a major setback for the bloc. “The Congress will have to face several questions. Being the largest party , they failed to take other parties along,” he said. The DMK decided to boycott the meeting, citing Congress’s “betrayal” in Tamil Nadu by joining the TVK government. The equation with the CPM has also been strained, with the Left party expressing displeasure over remarks by senior Congress leaders alleging collusion with the BJP in Kerala. The meeting comes at the behest of the Trinamool Congress, which is facing an existential crisis. “Meeting with a common purpose and clear intent. INDIA united. Many parties look forward to meeting in the spirit of camaraderie,” TMC MP Derek O’Brien said. SP’s Akhilesh Yadav, RJD’s Manoj Jha, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, NCP’s Supriya Sule, VCK’s Thirumavalavan and others are expected to attend. TVK was not invited because it doesn’t have MPs. Gehlot reignites debate on 2022 MLA rebellion r a j e s h a s n a n i @ Jaipur THE rift in Rajasthan Congress appears to be as raw as ever. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday asserted that the dramatic mass resignations by his loyalist MLAs in September 2022 was aimed solely at stopping Sachin Pilot from becoming Chief Minister, and not against the Congress high command, as widely believed. Addressing reporters at the Constitution Club, Gehlot said the revolt erupted after Pilot’s name was actively circulated for the CM’s post. “Had the MLAs actually rebelled against the high command, would I have been able to remain Chief Minister?” he asked. The MLAs refused to accept Pilot as CM because he had taken legislators to Manesar in 2020 in an attempt to topple the state gover nment, Gehlot alleged. He also rejected the long-held narrative that he declined the of fer of Cong ress President to remain CM. “When Sonia Gandhi herself offered to make me national president... how could I refuse? It was a conspiracy he ,” said, claiming the sudden arrival of observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken triggered the events that painted him as power-hungry The Pilot . camp maintains the 2020 revolt targeted Gehlot’s leadership. Kakatiya-era temple faces institutional neglect Experts say that the over 700-year-old Shiva shrine in Sanigaram village, Nallabelli mandal of Warangal district, is on the verge of collapse page 2 E x p r e s s Re a d Israel strikes Beirut, Iran issues warning Beirut: Israel’s military struck Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday. The army had struck a militant command centre in Beirut in response to Hezbollah fire, its PM said. Meanwhile, Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that US bases and Israeli assets had become ‘legitimate targets’ following the US’ backing for Israeli attacks in Lebanon | p9 Zverev ends Grand Slam drought Paris: Germany’s Alexander Zverev finally captured his maiden Grand Slam title, defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 in the French Open final on Sunday | p11 trailblazer Pimenta, most powerful woman in football s w a r o o p s w a m i n at h a n @ Oslo RAFAELA Pimenta has had a few insults thrown in her general direction over the decades. But the most powerful woman in football doesn’t let it affect her anymore. “Couldn’t care less at this point,” she tells this daily on the sidelines of the Norway Chess event last week. Pimenta, who manages Erling Haaland among other star footballers, lifted the lid on what her working conditions were like before she worked her way up the ladder to carve out a commanding space for herself in an industry created by men for men. “It’s really male dominated and it was even worse when I started,” says the 53-year-old who was at the event as she had invested in their new product, Total Chess. The Brazilian lawyer-turned-manager — generally recognised as one of the first female ‘super agents’ in press football — will have clusive a number of clients at the World Cup, beginning in the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11, including Norway’s Haaland. Pimenta hopes for better working conditions for women in football. “What I hope is that it gets easier for all women. That women will not care for What I hope is that it gets easier for all women and that’s one of the reasons for me to be here. Rafaela Pimenta, football agent Rafaela Pimenta | Michal Walusza / Norway Chess this abuse and that we can keep holding our positions we achieved and push forward.” It’s a powerful message to think about as the men’s World Cup — the single most widely watched sporting event across the planet — is about to start in a few days’ time.  P11 ‘A blessing’ Pimenta says that it is a blessing to work with Norwegian and Manchester City star Erling Haaland. “It’s a blessing. He fits the way I think people should work.” OPEC+ hikes output OPEC+ ministers decided Sunday to increase oil production quotas by 188,000 barrels per day for July. OPEC+ said the latest hike was “to support oil market stability” and “to accelerate profits for members E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi OPPOSITION parties on Sunday criticised the Centre over the latest increase in domestic LPG prices, accusing it of further burdening households already struggling with a rising cost of living and inflation. However, the government maintained that despite the latest hike, domestic LPG prices in India remain lower than those prevailing in neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The government raised the price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder by `29, taking it to `994 in Hyderabad. The hike comes nearly three months after an increase of `60 announced in March amid a surge in global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict. The Congress alleged that the government was passing the burden of rising costs onto ordinary citizens. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the government’s handling of fuel supplies and pricing. ‘Think twice before sending kids to US’ in Medchal-Malkajgiri district, had been living in North PhilaDevastated by the delphia for the past four years. death of her 28-year-old He was employed with a brother, Anshul, Tanvi Japanese MNC and worked Kuncha on Sunday apas a pizza delivery driver pealed to parents to careon weekends. fully consider the risks beTanvi said Anshul was fore sending their children shot three times in the head to the US. while delivering an orAnshul, a native of der on Friday night.  Anshul Kuncha Gundlapochampally  Continued on P3 E x p r e ss N e ws Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad My brother was a cheerful person. He went to the US with dreams of a better future. We never expected his life to end like this Tanvi Kuncha, sister of Anshul who was shot dead in the US NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar warned that the government would pay a “political price” as frequent hikes in essential commodities were burdening the common man. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, an NDA ally, too demanded an immediate rollback. Likewise, CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan called it an “anti-people” decision and sought a quick rollback. As for the Aam Aadmi Party , it said the hike in cooking gas price would intensify financial pressure on families across the country . The Trinamool, too, accused the Centre of shifting the burden of global disruptions onto ordinary households.