SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR 'DELHI WILL BRING BACK CONGRESS' ‘GENDER EQUALITY ESSENTIAL FOR ACHIEVING PROGRESS’ P3 SENSEX 81,381.36q230.05 The Statesman wishes its readers a happy Dussehra Today, being a holiday in the offices of The Statesman, there will be no Issue of this edition dated 13 October 2024 NIFTY P7 24,964.25q34.20 ‘OUR AIM IS TO DO WELL AND BACK OUR STRENGTH’ OBAMA CAMPAIGNS FOR HARRIS P9 ` vs $ 84.11 GOLD 77,815.00 SILVER 96,000 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Prime Minister of Lao PDR Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane on Friday and congratulated him on successfully hosting the 21st ASEAN-India and 19th East Asia Summits. The two PMs held productive talks on further strengthening India-Laos civilisational and contemporary ties. They discussed various areas of bilateral cooperation such as development partnership, capacity building, disaster management, renewable energy, heritage restoration, economic ties, defence collaboration, and people-to-people ties. PM Siphandone thanked Mr Modi for India’s flood relief assistance provided to Lao PDR in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi. The two leaders noted that the ongoing restoration and conservation of Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, under Indian assistance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) imparts a special dimension to bilateral ties. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the close cooperation between the countries in regional and multilateral fora. PM Siphandone reaffirmed India’s role on the international stage. India has strongly supported Lao PDR’s Chairmanship of ASEAN for 2024. Following the talks, MoUs/ Agreements in the fields of defence, broadcasting, Customs cooperation, and three Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation were exchanged in the presence of the two leaders. The Prime Minister said: “A free, open, inclusive, prosperous, and rules-based Indo-Pacific is crucial for the peace and progress of the entire region.” On South China Sea, he said “the peace, security, and stability in the South China Sea are in the interest of the entire Indo-Pacific region.” Making India’s view clear, he said “we believe that maritime activities should be conducted in accordance with UNCLOS. Ensuring freedom of navigation and airspace is essential. A robust and effective Code of Conduct should be developed. And, it should not impose restrictions on the foreign policies of regional countries. Our approach should focus on development and not expansionism.” Supporting ASEAN on Myanmar, he said, “we endorse ASEAN's approach to the situation in Myanmar and support the FivePoint Consensus.” He said it was crucial to sustain humanitarian assistance and implement suitable measures for the restoration of democracy. “We believe that, Myanmar should be engaged rather than isolated in this process,” he said. NEW DELHI, 11 OCTOBER WEATHER Max. 87 % TEMPERATURE Min. 36 % Max: 33.6 °C (1) SUN RISES 06:21 hrs MOON RISES 14:40 hrs STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 11 OCTOBER RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Min: 20.3 °C (1) SUN SETS 17:55 hrs MOON SETS 01:25 hrs THUMBNAILS Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performs Kanya Pujan at Gorakhnath temple on the occasion of Mahanavami in Gorakhpur on Friday. ANI Express train collides with goods train in Tamil Nadu, 2 coaches catch fire: An express train has collided with a goods rake in Tamil Nadu's Triuvallur district and two coaches of the passenger train have caught fire. At least two coaches of the express train have also derailed and there are reports of some passengers getting injured.Officials said the 12578 MysoreDarbhanga Express collided with the goods train, which was stationary, at Kavaraipettai near Chennai at 8:50 PM and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and ambulances have been rushed to the spot Protests erupt in Duki following deadly rocket attack on coal mine: Several Pakistani citizens and traders held a protest on Friday, in response to the lethal rocket attack on coal mines in Duki, Balochistan, which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 miners and injuries to seven others. The attack was the most recent act of violence in the southwestern province. The mineralrich area, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has faced decades of turmoil due to recurring violence, as reported by The News International. PM Modi returns after two-day visit to Lao PDR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned here this evening after a two-day visit to Laos during which he participated in the 21st ASEAN-India and the 19th East Asia Summit. In a post on X, while leaving for Delhi, he said: “Thank you Lao PDR! It’s been a productive visit, in line with India’s commitment to keep strengthening the relations with ASEAN. Together, we will continue to work towards peace, prosperity, and sustainable development in the region.” BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 78.88q 0.43 PM: India stands with ASEAN for Noel Tata appointed peace & progress in Indo-Pacific Tata Trusts chairman Modi meets East Asian leaders on margins of ASEAN engagements PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 34 AND 21 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. P12 P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed concern over ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world at the 19th East Asia Summit at Vientiane, Lao PDR and said this is not the age of war and solutions to problems cannot be found in the battlefield. Addressing the Summit, he said the most negatively affected countries, due to the conflicts are those from the Global South. There is a collective desire for restoration of peace and stability in regions such as Eurasia and the Middle East as soon as possible. Mr Modi said it is essential to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international laws. “With a humanitarian perspective, we must place a strong emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy,” the Prime Minister said. “In fulfilling its responsibilities as a Vishwabandhu (friend of the world), India will continue to make every effort to contribute in this direction,” the Prime Minister said. After attending the 21st ASEANIndia Summit, the Prime Minister strongly identified India with ASEAN policies on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and committed India will add fresh momentum to its relations with ASEAN. The PM posted on the X: “Took part in the 19th East Asia Summit being held in Vientiane, Lao PDR. India attaches great importance to friendly relations with ASEAN. We are committed to adding even more momentum to this relation in the times to come. Our Act East Policy has led to substantial gains and has contributed to a better planet. At the same time, we wish to work towards an IndoPacific which is rules based, free, inclusive and open.” He said India has consistently supported the unity and centrality of ASEAN. ASEAN is also pivotal to India's Indo-Pacific vision and Quad cooperation. There are important similarities between India’s "Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative" and the "ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific," he said. Omar Abdullah meets LG Sinha, stakes claim to form govt in J&K STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, 11 OCTOBER National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah, on Friday evening, met the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha in Srinagar and staked claim to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir. After meeting the LG, Omar told media persons, “I have met LG Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan and submitted support letters from NC, Congress, CPI(M), AAP and independent candidates. “I requested him to decide the date for the oath-taking ceremony at the earliest so that the government can start functioning. It will be a long process as there is the central rule in J&K,” he added. He said, “We have been told it would take two to three days. So, if it happens before Tuesday, we will have the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday. All I want to say is that Jammu will not be ignored in this government.” Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra said, "We have given the letter of support to Omar Abdullah and he will meet the Lieutenant Governor and will stake claim to form the government. We are looking forward to the date of Monday, October 14, but it depends on the LG what date he gives.” The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) extended support to the NC for forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir. This has paved the way for Omar Abdullah to become chief minister of the Union Territory (UT). Omar was on Thursday unanimously elected leader of the National Conference Legislature Party. A meeting of the CLP held in Srinagar in the afternoon decided to extend support to the NC, said the UT’s Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra who presided over the meeting after returning from New Delhi. AICC in charge of J&K Bharat Solanki was present in the meeting. Karra said, “Today, in the CLP meeting, we unanimously passed a resolution and authorised the party's Central leadership to choose our CLP leader. We have extended our support to the National Conference and we will hand over the letter of support to them in some time.” Replying to questions on the demand for berths for the Congress in the coalition ministry, Karra said, "We have no demands. We are supporting the National Conference for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We will sit with them formally and at that time we will discuss what the model of governance will be like. The spirit of this alliance is far beyond the game of numbers and ministerial posts.” He said, “The spirit of this alliance is very high and it has a great noble cause and we want to fight the menace of BJP, this is the spirit”. It is worth mentioning that the strength of the NC-Congress-CPI(M) pre-poll alliance has increased to 54 in the house of 90 seats after 5 of the 7 independents and the lone AAP MLA Mehraj Malik have also extended support to the NC. NEW DELHI, 11 OCTOBER Noel Tata, the chairman of Tata Trent and vice chairman of Tata Steel has been appointed as the chairman of Tata Trusts, succeeding his late half brother Ratan Tata. The Trustees of the various Trusts constituting the Tata Trusts have unanimously appointed Noel Naval Tata as Chairman. The trustees expressed their condolences for the significant loss of Ratan Tata, remembering his extraordinary contributions to both the Tata Group and nation building at a board meeting held in Mumbai. Noel Tata, who takes on the role with immediate effect, addressed the solemn occasion by reflecting on the legacy he inherits. "I am deeply honoured and humbled by the responsibility that has been cast on me by my fellow Trustees.” "I look forward to carrying on the legacy of Mr Ratan N. Tata and the Founders of the Tata Group. The Tata Trusts, founded over a century ago, are a unique vehicle for undertaking social good. On this solemn occasion, we rededicate ourselves to carrying on our developmental and philanthropic initiatives and continuing to play our part in nation building," he said in a statement. The appointment is of great significance since Tata Trusts owns 66% of Tata Sons. Also, the Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd is the main private holding company for all the other various Tata companies. Currently, Noel Tata is the a trustee on the board of two other trusts including the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. He is also the trustee on board of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. As Chairman of Tata International, Noel oversees the group’s global business, including its presence in retail through Tata Trent, a unit of Tata Sons Ltd. Tata Trent has undergone a remarkable transformation, with brands like Zudio. Aged 67, Noel Tata, is the son of Naval Tata and Simone Tata, the brother-in-law of the late Cyrus Mistry, and is married to Aloo Mistry, daughter of Pallonji Mistry, the largest individual shareholder in Tata Sons. Ratan Tata was the last individual to wear two hatschairman of Tata Trusts and chairman emeritus of Tata Sons. This changed in 2022, when the Tata Sons board unanimously amended its Articles of Association (AoA) to ensure that the same person cannot hold both the positions. Nayab Singh Saini likely to take oath as Haryana CM on Oct 15 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI 11 OCTOBER BJP leader Nayab Singh Saini is likely to take oath as the chief minister of Haryana on October 15 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, who are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony. A 10-member committee headed by the Panchkula district commissioner has been set up by the state chief secretary to oversee the arrangements for the ceremony. Saini, talking to reporters in Kurukshetra, parried the question about the date of the swearing-in. ''We will tell you the date...oath ceremony will be held soon..,'' he said. Charging the main Opposition party in the state with corruption and nepotism, he said, ''Congress is a party stuck in 'Parivaarvad'. They are fully corrupt...BJP has come back to power with a huge margin... Congress came to power in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana by spreading lies but now nobody is believing them..." He assured the people of the state that the results of 25,000 talented youth will be released soon. He visited different grain mandis, including Ladwa, from where he won the assembly elections. He assured the farmer community that ''every grain of the crop of our farmer brothers will be purchased at MSP". Instructions have been given to the officials to ensure that the farmers do not face any problems in getting their due. Saini called on Union Education Minister and State Assembly Election In-charge Dharmndra Pradhan yesterday in New Delhi and congratulated him on the resounding victory of the BJP in the state. A day after the election results, Chief Minister Saini met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and credited him for the historic hat trick. He also met BJP chief JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Both these leaders, while congratulating him for the party's success, attributed it to PM Modi's welfare-oriented programmes and policies. The BJP Legislature Party is likely to meet a day ahead of the oath-taking ceremony to elect its leader who will be the state’s new chief minister, most probably 54-year-old Saini. Saini, a confidant and successor of former CM Manohar Lal who replaced him in March barely two months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Also, adding to its tally, three independent MLAs have extended support to the BJP. The party won a landslide victory by winning 48 seats in the 90-member House. The Congress emerged as the second-largest party with 37 seats while the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) managed to bag only two seats. Japanese atomic bomb survivors’ group Nihon Hidankyo wins Nobel Peace Prize AGENCIES OSLO (NORWAY), 11 OCTOBER The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese group of atomic bomb survivors for "extraordinary efforts" to "achieve a world free of nuclear weapons". The winner was announced at a ceremony in Oslo on Friday, for the group, which "contributed greatly to the establishment of the nuclear taboo". The group has campaigned over the years for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Norwegian Nobel Committee Chair Joergen Watne Frydnes said the Prize was given to the 1956 group "for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again". As per the Nobel Committe, the grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as Hibakusha, is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again. The extraordinary efforts of Nihon Hidankyo and other representatives of the Hibakusha have contributed greatly to the establishment of a nuclear taboo. It said that the fates of those who survived the infernos of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were long concealed and neglected. In 1956, local Hibakusha associations along with victims of nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific formed the Japan Confederation of A- and HBomb Sufferers Organisations. This name was shortened in Japanese to Nihon Hidankyo. It would become the largest and most influential Hibakusha organisation in Japan. The Nobel committe said that next year will mark 80 years since two American atomic bombs killed an estimated 120 000 inhabitants of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A comparable number died of burn and radiation injuries in the months and years that followed. In awarding this year's Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said it wishes to honour all atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki who, despite physical suffering and painful memories, have chosen to use their costly experience to cultivate hope and engagement for peace. "They help us to describe the indescribable, to think the unthinkable, and to somehow grasp the incomprehensible pain and suffering caused by nuclear weapons," it said.. As per the Norwegian Nobel Institute 286 candidates had been nominated for this year's peace prize, a number comprising 197 individuals and 89 organisations. Alfred Nobel specified that the awarding decision must be made by a committee of five people, appointed by the Norwegian parliament. As per the Swedish innovator's will, the Peace Prize is being awarded to "done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses". According to the scientist's last will, this prize if being awarded in Oslo, not Stockholm, unlike other awards. Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi won the prize in 2023, when she was honoured for her work fighting the oppression of women in Iran. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded 105 times to 142 Nobel Prize laureates between 1901 and 2024, 111 individuals and 31 organisations. Since then the International Committee of the Red Cross has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize three times (in 1917, 1944 and 1963), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize two times (in 1954 and 1981), there are 28 individual organisations which have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.