FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR | Thursday, 28 August 2025 SPORTS WORLD NATION 29,000 Myanmar refugees shelter in Mizoram Page 8 BRIEFLY Israel says hospital strike targeted Hamas camera NATION TN CM Stalin amplifies vote theft charge at Bihar rally Page 9 Vaishno Devi landslide toll US tariffs come into effect, govt seeks to mitigate impact rises to 34; PM assures aid New Delhi, 27 August New Delhi: Expressing ''shock'' and "deep regret" over the killing of journalists in Gaza's Khan Younis, India on Wednesday said it has always condemned loss of civilian lives in conflict. The comment from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) comes after Israel struck Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza on Monday, killing at least 21 people, including five journalists, in a "double-tap" attack, amid intensifying Israeli offensives in the besieged enclave. Among the journalists killed were Al Jazeera's Mohammad Salama, Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri, and Mariam Abu Daqqa, a freelance journalist working for AP at the time. Page 12 Page 5 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE India condemns killing of scribes in Gaza: Coco Gauff battles to win in first US Open match T he 50 per cent tariffs imposed on most imports from India to the United States came into effect on Wednesday. Economists have warned that the tariffs could inflict significant damage on the Indian economy and further disrupt global supply chains. Exporters said shipments and even production are currently on hold. According to trade estimates, the move will impact at least Rs45,000 crore worth of Indian exports. Exporter groups estimate the tariffs could affect nearly 55 per cent of India's $87 billion in merchandise exports to the US, while benefiting competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and China. Santanu Sengupta, chief India economist, Goldman Sachs’ also warned that sustained 50 per cent levies could push India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth below 6 per cent, from a forecast level of around 6.5 per cent. Rival exporters from Turkey to Thailand, facing lower People burn an effigy during a previous protest against US President Donald Trump in Kolkata. FILE PHOTO US tariffs, are already scooping up American buyers with offers of cheaper goods. “About 30 per cent of India’s exports to the US ~including pharmaceuticals, electronics, raw drug materials and refined fuels ~ worth $27.6 billion, remain duty-free. But sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery, and seafood, long reliant on the American market, face shrinking order books. “At a 50 per cent tariff, it is very difficult to export,” Mr Sengupta said. As the Indian government seeks to mitigate the impact of the tariffs, it is said to be actively engaging with exporters to increase shipments of key products like textiles, leather, and gems and jewellery to other countries. New Delhi is also said to be ingreach out to 40 countries, including the UK, Spain, France, Germany, and Italy to push exports in key sectors including textiles and chemicals, in order to counter the heavy tariffs. Other countries include the Netherlands, Poland, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Belgium, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Australia. A senior official said trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, and sector-specific promotional campaigns will also be part of India's stepped up drive to push exports amid escalating tariff tensions between India and the United States. India's merchandise exports arefacingpressureamidgeopolitical tensions and the 50 per cent punitive hike in US tariffs that kicked in on Wednesday. The Commerce Ministry is set to hold a series of consultations with exporters this week as part of this renewed push to diversify India's export basket and strengthen its presence in global markets, a senior official confirmed. The meetings will bring together industry representatives from key sectors including textiles, chemicals and gems and jewellery, sources said. The discussions are expected to centre around strategies to reduce dependence on a narrow set of products and markets, and to chart out a road map for entering new geographies. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Jammu, 27 August At least 34 pilgrims, 16 among them women and 2 children, died and 23 others were injured after a massive landslide hit them on Tuesday on the Vaishno Devi track route, officials confirmwd on Wednesday. The authorities have identified 20 of those dead, while other bodies were still unidentified. The victims were from across the country. Rescue operations by the Army, CRPF, NDRF and SDRF were ongoing and debris was being removed to rule out the possibility of more people trapped there. The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board authorities had initially said that five people had died and 14 were injured. However, the number of casualties Omar asks why Vaishnodevi yatra was allowed to continue amid weather alert STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Jammu, 27 August Cabinet approves submission of bid for Commonwealth Games 2030 Cabinet clears four railway projects worth Rs 12,328 crore STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 27 August The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Sports Ministry’s proposal to submit India’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games (CWG). As part of the decision, the Cabinet also cleared the signing of the Host Collaboration Agreement (HCA), along with guarantees from the relevant ministries, departments, and authorities. Additionally, it sanctioned the provision of grant-in-aid support to the Gujarat government, should the bid be successful. If awarded, Ahmedabad is set to be the host city, with the government highlighting its world-class stadiums, cutting-edge training facilities, and strong sporting culture. The Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket venue and the site of the 2023 ICC World Cup Final, has already proven its ability to stage marquee global events. A Commonwealth Sport inspection team, led by Director of Games Darren Hall, recently visited Ahmedabad to review the proposed venues and hold discussions with Gujarat government officials. A larger delegation is expected to make a visit soon. The Cabinet stressed that hosting the Games would have benefits far beyond sport, driving tourism, job creation, and opportunities across multiple sectors such as sports science, event operations, logistics, broadcasting, IT, communications, and public relations. “Hosting the CWG in India would leave a lasting impact, boosting tourism, creating jobs, and inspiring millions of young athletes,” the release stated. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had earlier approved the bid at its Special General Meeting on 13 August in the national capital. Having already submitted its Expression of Interest, the IOA now has until 31 August to file the final proposal. Alongside India, Nigeria and two other countries have reportedly expressed interest in hosting the 2030 edition. The final decision will be taken at the General Assembly of Commonwealth Sport in Glasgow in November. India last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010, staging the event in New Delhi. New Delhi, 27 August The Union Cabinet Wednesday approved four railway projects worth approximately Rs 12,328 crore, a government release said. These projects aim to ensure seamless and faster transportation of both passengers and goods, providing connectivity and improving travel convenience while reducing logistic costs and dependence on oil imports. The four projects approved includeDeshalpar–Hajipir–Luna and Vayor–Lakhpat New Line, Secunderabad (Sanathnagar)–Wadi 3rd and 4th Line, Bhagalpur–Jamalpur 3rd Line, and Furkating–New Tinsukia Doubling. (Details on Page 5) ‘India must set the rules of engagement’ PARWINDER SANDHU CDS assures resolution of Inter-Service differences Mhow, 27 August In a powerful call seeking strategic dominance, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that in today’s evolving global landscape, the nation that defines the battlefield controls the conflict and its terms. He urged India’s armed forces to take the lead in determining the battlefield and setting the rules of engagement, confirming that adversaries are forced to operate on our terms. Mr Singh was addressing the gathering during the ongoing Ran Samwad-2025, being organised by the Head Quarter Integrated Defence Staff, at Army War College in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, here today. “Today, in the world, whichever nation decides the PARWINDER SANDHU Mhow, August 27 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh releases the Joint Doctrine for 'Multi Domain Operations' (MDO) and the 'Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap 2025' during Ran Samvad 2025 at the Army War College, in Ambedkar Nagar on Wednesday. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh also present. ANI battlefield is the one that controls the game and its rules. Others have no option but to respond to this and step into the arena on terms that are not of its own choosing. Our endeavour must be to define the battlefield and the rules of the game ourselves, compelling the adversary to fight there, so that the lead advantage always remains with us,” he said. As the curtains were drawn on the first edition of Ran Samwad 2025, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, in his closing remarks, stressed that any “dissonance” amongst the services will be resolved with the best interest of the nation in mind. It may be noted that during the course of discussions, the Naval Chief and Air chief had made contrasting remarks over the proposed creation of theatre commands. While Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said that there was no need for another structure at the lower level, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi called for the rollout of theatre commands as the “ultimate goal”. Addressing the gathering, Gen. Chauhan said: “As a CDS I actually set out to promote jointness among the three services. Today, I can say with some kind of pleasure and confidence that we can speak about our differences in a very conducive kind of environment... openness to patiently listen to others with different and alternate points of view, without temperatures being risen.” (Details on Page 8) increased as the debris was removed and more bodies were found. It is feared that the number might further rise. The Jammu region has witnessed widespread damage and loss of lives due to cloudbursts and landslides during the incessant rains that have been continuing since Monday. The Vaishnodevi yatra has been suspended after the tragedy hit the region at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the landslide, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X: “The loss of lives due to a landslide on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is saddening. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The administration is assisting all those affected. My prayers for everyone's safety and well-being”. Mr Modi on Wednesday assured continued assistance to the people of Jammu and Kashmir when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah briefed him about the widespread damage in Jammu caused by the ongoing floods triggered by torrential rains that have hit the region. Omar, who reached here from Srinagar this morning after the air flights resumed, visited the worst-affected areas and assessed the situation. He assured of taking all necessary measures to safeguard people in vulnerable areas. As a landslide triggered by incessant rains claimed 34 lives of Vaishno Devi pilgrims, J&K CM Omar Abdullah on Wednesday questioned the authorities for permitting the yatra to continue despite a high-scale alert of adverse weather conditions. Replying to questions of reporters, Omar expressed grief over the deaths in the Vaishno Devi landslide, and asked why officials did not stop pilgrims from treading the track when there was a warning of the calamity. The death toll in the landslide has mounted to 34 with rescuers pulling out more bodies from under the debris, officials said on Wednesday, a day after the disaster struck the route to the hilltop shrine in J&K’s Reasi district. The pilgrimage to the shrine was suspended when the mountainside gave way and stones, boulders, and rocks came hurtling down catching people unawares.