WEDNESDAY 07 MAY, 2025 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard TIME TO LOOK FOR THE HOLY SMOKE FROM VATICAN’S SISTINE CHAPEL GERMANY CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ WINS IN 2ND BALLOT Friedrich Merz succeeded on Tuesday in his bid to become the German chancellor during a second vote in parliament, hours after he suffered a defeat. PAGE 9 All 133 Catholic cardinals to vote for a new pope arrived in Rome a day before the process to elect the next head of the 1.4 billion Catholics begins HUGE STAKES ON FUTURE OF CATHOLIC CHURCH A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS India gets strategic partner amid conflict with Pak NEW DELHI J8.00 INDIA and the UK finalised a long-anticipated free trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday amid New Delhi’s efforts to strengthen global partnerships in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and the recent tariff tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump, which pushed both nations to accelerate trade negotiations. Sealed after three years of stop-start talks, the deal targets a $34 billion trade boost by 2040 through easier market access and fewer trade barriers. After speaking on phone with his British counterpart Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the pact is ‘ambitious and mutually beneficial’. “Along with a Double Contribution Convention, these landmark agreements will deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies,” Modi wrote on X. Under the Double Contribution Convention, Indian workers temporarily in the UK and their employers will be exempt from paying UK social security contributions for three years—a move that could yield significant financial savings for Indian service providers, boost their competitiveness in the UK, and create new job opportunities for Indians working there. Starmer hailed the FTA as a step toward stronger alliance and lower trade barriers in a ‘new era for trade.’ Turning to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, the British PM reiterated his “deep Cooperate with Centre in SYL canal case: SC to Punjab, Haryana S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Punjab and Haryana governments to cooperate with the Centre in formulating steps to resolve the SutlejYamuna Link (SYL) canal row. SYL is an under-construction 214-km-long canal to connect Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. The proposal, however, met many obstacles, mainly due to differences between Punjab and Haryana regarding sharing of the river water. The case was pending for disposal in the SC. At the outset of the hearing, the Centre informed the bench that it has already taken effective steps to resolve the issue amicably between the parties. After hearing submissions from the Union of India (UOI), a two-judge bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih said, “We direct both the state governments (Punjab and Haryana) to cooperate with the UoI in arriving at an amicable solution in the issue.” The SC has appointed the home secretary, the chief secretary of Punjab, and the DGP as Receivers for reporting on the current situation regarding the lands and properties acquired for the project. In 2016, a Constitution bench set aside the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004, which had “unilaterally” ended the 1981 water-sharing agreement between Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. condolences at the tragic and senseless loss of life”. The deal cuts tariffs on goods such as advanced manufacturing components and food products, while setting mutual quotas for auto imports. It opens Indian markets to more British firms and allows Indian professionals to work in the UK without altering its points-based immigration system. An Indian government release said 99% of Indian exports will benefit from zero-duty access. The deal unlocks major export potential for India’s labourintensive sectors—textiles, leather, marine products, footwear, sports goods, toys, and gems & jewellery—and key industries such as engineering goods, auto parts, engines, and organic chemicals. UK’s Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds met with his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal in London last Tuesday, where they resolved most of the remaining issues. The pact also delivers a significant boost to trade in services, including IT/ITeS, finance, professional and business services, and education. Britain, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has not always supported India on security matters. The FTA with India marks a significant step forward, setting the tone for India’s upcoming FTAs with the US and the European Union. For the UK, the deal is a post-Brexit milestone in asserting trade independence; for India, it counters the perception of being a reluctant free trade P10 negotiator. BIG DEAL Scotch whisky, gin, cars, aerospace parts, and food items from the UK will be cheaper in India Whisky and gin tariffs will be halved from 150% to 75%, and finally to 40% by year 10 of the deal TARIFFS AND THE POWER OF Automotive tariffs will drop from over 100% to 10% under a quota system `4,000 cr Competitiveness boost to India companies in UK through social security exemption India will gain from tariff elimination on 99% of the tariff lines ZERO Animal products Vegetable/Oil products Processed food DRILL AT 55 LOCATIONS QATAR BACKS INDIA 250 CIVIL DEFENCE DISTS Mock drills under ‘Operation Abhyas’ will be carried out at 55 locations across 11 revenue districts in the city at 4 pm on Wednesday, according to officials. The locations include Delhi Cantonment, Connaught Place and Lok Nayak hospital. | P3 $120 BN BY 2030 covering almost 100% of the trade value Indian professionals in the UK will be exempt from social security payments for up to three years, reducing employment costs Dairy products, apples, cheese excluded from duty concession to protect Indian farmers AGRI AND PROCESSED FOODS 99.3% Tariff lines at zero duty 99.8% Tariff lines at zero duty 99.7% Tariff lines at zero duty INDUSTRIAL GOODS UNDER FTA — FROM 18% MAX TO 0 Headgear/ Up to 12% Transport Up to 18% /Auto Minerals Up to 8% Glass/Ceramic Gems & Up to 4% Instruments Up to 6% Chemicals Up to 8% jewellery /Clocks Plastic/ Up to 6% Base metals Up to 10% Arms/ Up to 2% Rubber Ammunition Leather Up to 16% Mechanical Up to 8% machinery Furniture/ Up to 4% Wood/Paper Up to 10% Electrical Up to 14% Sports goods Textile Up to 12% machinery (*Existing Duty Range) SECTOR *DUTY RANGE Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani expressed full support to India’s fight against terrorism and all its actions to bring the perpetrators of Pahalgam attack to justice during a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MEA said | P7 The government has identified over 250 ‘civil defence districts’ having sensitive installations like nuclear plants, military bases, refineries and hydroelectric dams, which will be covered under the mock drills held across the country on Wednesday | P8 UP-CADRE IAS OFFICER KAUSHAL RAJ SHARMA NAMED DELHI CM SECY A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi BARELY two weeks after his appointment as secretary to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, IAS officer Kaushal Raj Sharma has been named as Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s secretary . On April 22, the 2006-batch IAS officer of UP cadre was named Yogi’s secretary. Sharma was earlier posted as DM and Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi, PM Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency . The home ministry on Tuesday gave special approval to send Sharma on Central deputation for three years. His appointment will ensure a close monitoring of developmental projects in the national capital. While serving as DM and Divisional Commissioner in Varanasi, he undertook several development projects to make the city clean, apart from big-ticket infrastructure and tourism initiatives. TRUMP MEETS CARNEY AT WHITE HOUSE Sharma is valued by the PMO as he has handled many key projects in the PM’s constituency. After serving as Varanasi DM, he was transferred to Prayagraj but within 24 hours appointed as Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi. Sharma, from Bhiwani in Haryana, was included in the list of top 50 IAS officers in 2020 and honoured with the PM Excellence Award in 2022. A week after Gupta took oath, the government had shuffled some bureaucrats, transferring five IAS AGMUT-cadre officers. The CM’s office got a secretary and two special secretaries. According to the order by the Services Department dated February 27, the L-G posted Madhu Rani Teotia (IAS, 2008) as secretary to the CM and Sandeep Kumar Singh (IAS, 2011) and Ravi Jha (IAS, 2011) were named special secretaries. On Monday the MHA transferred 11 , AGMUT-cadre officers. Canadian PM Mark Carney held talks with Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday amid tensions over the US Prez’s tariffs and threats of annexation. | P9 MUKESH RANJAN AND RAJESH K U M A R T H A K U R @ Ranchi/New Delhi CONGRESS president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday charged that an intelligence report was sent to Prime Miniter Narendra Modi three days ahead of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, following which he cancelled his Kashmir visit. “If the prime minister could change his plans, why were tourists left exposed?” Kharge wondered. He was addressing a ‘Samvidhan Mallikarjun Bachao Rally’ Kharge in Ranchi. The BJP in its pushback called it an irresponsible statement, adding Kharge could not have made a more reckless comment at a time of rising tensions with Pakistan. “What kind of comments is he making? On the one hand, he says at the (all-party) meeting that they are standing with the country, on the other, he is trying to weaken the country,” former Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. Terming the Pahalgam attack an intelligence failure, Kharge said that the government had accepted the fact and assured to address it. @ New Delhi *DUTY RANGE UNDER FTA Up to 20% Up to 20% Up to 70% PM axed J&K trip after intel alert: Kharge nent member of the UNSC. “Pakistan was questioned about the cross-border linkagAMID rising tensions between es, the terror groups active on India and Pakistan, the United its soil and the way many of Nations Security Council them have been operating with (UNSC) held a closed-door impunity. Despite trying hard meeting at Pakistan’s request, Pakistan couldn’t muster which ended without concrete enough support to come out resolutions. However, members with a statement,” well-placed raised questions for Islamabad sources said. about the Pahalgam terror atSources said that another tack, expressing concerns over point of discussion was Pakithe targeting of tourists stan’s “missile tests and based on their religion. nuclear rhetoric,” which Greece’s Permanent several members deemed Representative to the UN “escalatory”. While PaPakistan was and current Security questioned kistan presented the misCouncil President, sile tests as routine drills, about the Evangelos Sekeris, de- cross-border they raised international scribed the meeting as linkages to alarm about the Pahalgam “productive and helpgrowing instaand terror ful”, though he acknowlbility in the edged that no “specific groups active region. on its soil outcomes” were UN Assistant achieved. “The Security Secretary-GenSources Council is always helpful eral for Middle in such efforts to de-escalate. It East, Asia, and the Pacifis the responsibility of the ic Khaled Mohamed Khiari, Council,” he said. who briefed the Council, later During the meeting held in a told reporters that all members consultations room rather than expressed the desire for dethe main UNSC chamber, Paki- escalation. stan was questioned about the Pakistan’s Permanent Repreinvolvement of Lashkar-e-Toi- sentative to the UN Asim Iftba (LeT) in the Pahalgam at- ikhar Ahmad, said the consultatack, with some members re- tions aimed at allowing Council j e c t i n g t h e “ f a l s e f l a g ” members to discuss the security narrative, sources said. Paki- environment and rising tenstan currently is a non-perma- sions in the region. P7 & 8 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE India-UK FTA to double the trade between the two countries to India will cut duties on 90% of tariff lines, with 85% becoming duty-free in 10 years Indian professionals to get better access to UK job market UNSC poses tough questions to Pak on Pahalgam massacre THE SECTOR PAGES 12 Up to 99% of exports to be exempt from tariffs India, UK seal free trade pact, script strategic partnership J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi Hailing from 70 countries across five continents, the group summoned following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 is the largest and the most international ever. At stake is the direction of the Catholic Church, a 2,000-year-old institution with huge influence but which is struggling to recover its reputation after allegations of child sex abuse by priests EXPRESS READ NTA announces results of CUET-PG 2025 The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday evening announced the Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate (CUET-PG) 2025 results. A total of 191 universities including Central, state, private and others participated in conducting the exam. City may receive light rain in coming days SIGHT TO BEHOLD Pomp and pageantry took centrestage with a sea of humanity witnessing Thrissur Pooram on Tuesday. The grandest festival of Kerala is an annual event on the Pooram day when the moon rises with the Pooram star in the Malayalam calendar | TP SOORAJ The national capital may see overcast conditions and receive light rain over the next few days as the city recorded below-normal day and night temperatures on Tuesday in the after-effects of last week’s intense storm and heavy shower, according to the Met department. | P3 CJI walks the talk as SC judges’ assets go public S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi IN a significant move to enhance transparency in the judiciary 21 Supreme Court judges, , including Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, have declared their entire assets, including those of their spouses, in the public domain. This decision was made in accordance with a full-court resolution passed on April 1, 2025. The declarations, now available on the Supreme Court’s website, reveal a wide range of assets owned by the judges. CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who will demit office on May 13, has declared assets including a three-bedroom DDA flat in South Delhi, a four-bedroom flat in Commonwealth Games Village, Delhi, and a share in a four-bedroom flat in Gurugram. He also has fixed deposits and bank accounts worth `55.75 lakh and `1.06 crore in Public Provident Fund (PPF), among other assets. Notably the CJI has no li, abilities or loans. Justice BR Gavai, the CJIdesignate, has `19.63 lakh in bank accounts, and declared a house in Amravati as well as a residential apartment in Mumbai and New Delhi. Justice Surya Kant has declared properties in Chandigarh, Gurugram, and New Delhi, including agricultural land and houses. Justice A S TWELVE JUDGES YET TO DECLARE THEIR ASSETS Justices B V Nagarathna, J K Maheshwari, Dipankar Datta, Manoj Misra, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Prashant Kumar Mishra, Satish Chandra Sharma, Prasanna B Varale, N Kotiswar Singh, R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi Oka, who is set to retire on May 24, has declared `92.35 lakh in PPF, `21.76 lakh in fixed deposits, and a 2022 model Maruti Baleno car, along with a car loan of `5.1 lakh. Justice Vikram Nath has declared a 2-BHK apartment in Noida, a bungalow in Allahabad, and inherited agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh, along with investments worth `1.5 crore. Justice K V Viswanathan has declared investments worth `120 crore and has paid tax of `91 crore in the last 10 years. He owns properties in New Delhi, including builder floor houses in Safdarjung and Gulmohar Park.
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