MONDAY 14 JULY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00 | LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR VIJAY LEADS PROTEST AGAINST TAMIL NADU CUSTODIAL DEATHS BIHAR CM PROMISES 1 CRORE JOBS, PRIVATE SECTOR BOOST P8 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY. LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN ACCOMPANIED WITH THUNDERSTORM/ LIGHTNING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 33 AND 24 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. TEMPERATURE P9 P12 Shukla is coming home; ULFA(I) says top leaders killed capsule to undock today in military action, Indian Min: 25.1 °C (-2.2) SUN SETS 19:21 hrs MOON SETS 09:44 hrs THUMBNAILS Women devotees take part in Kalash Yatra during the month of Shravan in Bhopal on Sunday. ANI FGD requirements for coal-fired plants eased: The requirement for mandatory installation of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems at most coal-based thermal power plants has been relaxed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The new framework will restrict FGD mandates only to plants located within 10 kilometres of cities with a population exceeding one million. (Details on Page 10) According to Axiom Space, the Crew Dragon is expected to splash down off the coast of California on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. IST Army denies involvement STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 13 JULY Min. 67 % Max: 34.8 °C (-0.7) SUN RISES 05:34 hrs MOON RISES 21:56 hrs P5 MUSKAN BHATIA RAINFALL: 015.6MM RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 98 % ‘IRAN OPEN TO U.S. SUNDAR STRIKES NUCLEAR TALKS IF NO TWICE, ENGLAND MORE ATTACKS ASSURED’ 175/6 AT TEA GUWAHATI, 13 JULY A The proscribed militant group, United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent, said on Sunday that drone attacks that it blamed on the Indian Army on one of its camps in Myanmar killed several of its top cadres and injured several others. An Indian Army spokesperson, however, denied Indian military involvement in the incident. According to a press statement issued by the banned outfit, the drone and missile attacks killed several top ULFA(I) leaders, including top commander ‘lieutenant general’ Nayan Medhi (alias Nayan Asom) (photo), ‘brigadier’ Ganesh Asom and ‘colonel’ Pradip Asom. The outfit claimed that the attacks took place at several camps located in Myanmar between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Sunday. It said that nearly 150-plus drones manufactured in Israel and France were used in the attack. The Statesman has not independently verified these fter more than two weeks aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Indian astronaut Shubanshu Shukla is heading home, with science samples in tow and a suitcase full of memories. On Sunday, Shukla and his Axiom-4 crew will begin packing up experiments and personal items into SpaceX’s Dragon capsule for their return to Earth, NASA said in a statement. Updating the mission status for the return journey, NASA said on Friday that mission managers have given the “go” for the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew to board the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and undock from the ISS. The spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the space-facing port of the Harmony module at 4:35 p.m. IST on Monday, 14 July.According to Axiom Space, the Crew Dragon is expected to splash down off the coast of California on 15 July 2025, at 3:00 p.m. IST, following a series of orbital maneuvers. In a press statement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said after splashdown, Gaganyatri Shubanshu Shukla will undergo a week-long rehabilitation programme under the supervision of flight surgeons to help him readjust to Earth’s gravity. The Axiom-4 mission, piloted by Group Captain Shukla and carrying veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, European mission specialists Slawosz UznanskiWi niewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), reached the ISS on 26 June. Aboard the space station, Shubanshu Shukla conducted a range of scientific experiments — from space farming to muscle regeneration. On Friday, ISRO shared an update on the status of seven microgravity experiments carried out as part of India’s participation in the Axiom-4 mission. Completed experiments include survival studies on Indian tardigrades, the effects of the space environment on muscle loss, the growth of methi and moong seeds, and a cyanobacteria-based study aimed at developing life support systems. The remaining three ~ involving microalgae, crop seeds, and the Voyager Display experiment ~ are nearing completion, ISRO said in a statement. These microgravity experiments ~ and the insights gained by Shukla during the mission ~ will contribute to India’s future space endeavours, including the development of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), planned for the early 2030s, and Chandrayaan-4, the country’s first human mission to the Moon, targeted for 2047. Jaishankar on China visit to attend SCO meet STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 13 JULY External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to arrive in China’s Beijing on Sunday evening, his first trip to the neighbouring country in five years. While Mr Jaishankar has met his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of multilateral events, this would be his first trip to China since bilateral relations were severely strained following the violent Galwan Valley face-off between troops of the two countries at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in June 2020. The two countries are trying to ease tensions and improve ties that plummeted following the deadly clashes at the LAC five years ago.The incident had sharply escalated tensions and brought bilateral ties to a historic low. The External Affairs Minister, who is on a two-nation tour ~ Singapore and China ~ will arrive in Beijing after wrapping up the Singapore External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong in Singapore on Sunday. n @DrSJaishankar X/ANI leg of his visit. Mr Jaishankar is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Monday to discuss issues concerning India and China. The two leaders last met in February on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Johannesburg. Mr Jaishankar will also attend a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting (CFM) in Tianjin on 15 July. "EAM will visit the People's Republic of China to participate in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting (CFM) being held in Tianjin. EAM will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the CFM,” an official communique issued here said. Mr Jaishankar's visit follows visits by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who had travelled to China in June for the SCO meetings. Wang Yi is also expected to visit India next month to meet NSA Ajit Doval - part of a planned round of dialogue under the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism aimed at resolving the decades-old boundary dispute. Even as diplomatic talks continue, China's recent trade actions have raised eyebrows in New Delhi. In recent weeks, China has either delayed or stopped key exports to India, including rare earth magnets, fertilisers, and tunnel boring machines meant for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. Adding fuel to the fire, China's covert and overt support to Pakistan, particularly during the clashes in May this year, remains a sticking point. These thorny issues threaten to overshadow any constructive dialogue at the SCO meeting. The SCO meeting may also come with its own set of challenges. Last month, India refused to sign a joint statement at the SCO defence ministers' meeting after it did not include any mention of the terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. India had pushed for strong references to terrorism, but one country -- believed to be Pakistan -- disagreed. A similar deadlock may play out again during the foreign ministers' meeting, making Mr Jaishankar's task tougher. The SCO is a 10-nation Eurasian security and political grouping whose members include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran. The 25th Heads of State Council meeting of the SCO will be held in Tianjin later this year. India had chaired the SCO Presidency in 2023 while Pakistan hosted the SCO Leaders' Summit in 2024. claims or the authenticity of the statements, and Guwahati-based spokesperson of the Indian Army, Lt Col Mahendra Rawat, was quoted by news agencies as saying: “There are no inputs with the Indian Army on such an operation.” Meanwhile, there were reports that camps belonging to the banned underground outfits National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) were also targeted in attacks inside Myanmar territory, leading to deaths and injuries among cadres belonging to these groups. The reports have not been independently verified. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, meanwhile, told police that there was no involvement of Assam police or the state government. The Chief Minister, who spoke to reporters, also clarified that the state has not received any official communication from the central defence establishment regarding the reported strikes. “We need more clarity on the matter. If such an operation has taken place, the Indian Army will issue its own statement,” Mr Sarma added, saying the state was closely monitoring the situation. The ULFA(I), led by commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, is a breakaway faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom, which has waged a violent campaign for Assam's independence since the late 1970s. While the pro-talk faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa entered peace negotiations in 2011, ULFA(I) continues to reject dialogue and has operated from sanctuaries in Myanmar and other neighbouring regions. Murmu nominates Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Ujjwal Nikam, two others to Rajya Sabha STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 13 JULY President Droupadi Murmu Sunday nominated four distinguished individuals to the Rajya Sabha. The nominees are Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former Foreign Secretary of India; Ujjwal Devram Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor known for handling highprofile cases; Meenakshi Jain, eminent historian, researcher, and academician recognised for her extensive work on Indian history; and C Sadanandan Master, BJP leader and noted social worker and educationist from Kerala, known for his grassroots initiatives and community service (in photos, clockwise from top left). Welcoming the nominations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the four distinguished individuals. In a series of posts on the social media platform X, the Prime Minister highlighted the contributions of each nominee. "Shri C Sadanandan Master’s life is the epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice... His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable. He is extremely passionate towards youth empowerment." “Shri Ujjwal Nikam’s devotion to the legal field and our Constitution is exemplary... He has not only been a successful lawyer but also been at the forefront of seeking justice in important cases.” “Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla Ji has excelled as a diplomat, intellectual, and strategic thinker... Glad that he’s been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India. His unique perspectives will greatly enrich Parliamentary proceedings.” “It’s a matter of immense joy that Dr Meenakshi Jain Ji has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha... She has distinguished herself as a scholar, researcher, and historian. Her work in the fields of education, literature, history, and political science has enriched academic discourse significantly.” Pilots’ unions say unfair to New SDG index shows stronger progress in N-E blame Air India crew for crash AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 13 JULY India’s pilot associations have slammed the 'reckless speculation' around the Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash at Ahmedabad, as sections of the media have hinted that the pilots are to be blamed for the tragic incident. TheIndianCommercialPilots’ Association (ICPA) on Sunday condemned'insinuationsofpilot suicide'asbaselessandinsensitive, sayingthecrewactedinlinewith their training for an emergency. “Speculation is irresponsible and cruel. There is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage… invoking such a serious allegation based on incomplete information is not only irresponsible, it is deeply insensitive,” the ICPA said in a statement. The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) has already criticised the preliminary investigation report, Released on 7 July by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this is the second edition of the index, building on the first report from August 2021. NEW DELHI, 13 JULY AGENCIES calling the tone of the probe biased towards pilot error and lacking in transparency. They have demanded that line pilots be included in the investigation process, at least as observers, to ensure transparency and accountability. The pilots' associations also questioned the selective media leaks hinting at pilot error ahead of the publicationofthepreliminaryreport. A preliminary report released by the AAIB on Saturday stated that both engines of the Air India Dreamliner lost thrust after the fuel cut-off switches moved from the ‘RUN’ to the ‘CUTOFF’ position, within seconds of take-off. The cockpit voice recorder revealed that one of the pilots told the other that he did not turn off the fuel control switches. According to former AAIB director Aurobindo Handa, the report presents a factual timeline but does not identify what triggered the failure. “Even though the report is out, it just contains the facts… what has gone on in those 30-odd seconds. It is nothing conclusive.” With better data systems, broader district coverage and stronger state involvement, the 2023-24 edition of the NER District SDG Index offers a more refined and reliable picture of the development journey of India’s Northeastern Region. The 2023-24 index shows remarkable progress in several areas. All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura have now achieved ‘Front Runner’ status. Hnahthial in Mizoram emerged as the top-performing district. States like Nagaland and Tripura showed well-balanced and strong performance across various goals. Compared to the first edition, the proportion of districts in the Front Runner category has increased from 62 per cent in 2021-22 to 85 per cent in 2023-24. This improvement is the result of national flagship schemes, better localisation by states, and saturation efforts under initiatives like the Aspirational Districts Programme. Released on 7 July by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this is the second edition of the index, building on the first report from August 2021. This latest edition tracks how districts in the eight northeastern states are performing on 15 of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). It covers 121 out of 131 districts, an increase from 103 districts in the first edition. The data for this index has also improved, with 84 indicators being used ~ 41 from central sources and 43 from state systems ~ reflecting better coordination and reporting. The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations in 2015, aim to reduce poverty, improve healthcare and education, ensure clean water and jobs, and create a more just and equal world by 2030. In India, NITI Aayog leads the national effort, linking these global goals to government schemes and working closely with all ministries. The UN team in India supports the process by ensuring inclusiveness and strong financial backing. The index not only ranks districts but also highlights gaps, challenges and disparities ~ both within states and between them.It aims to encourage competitive federalism, support local planning, promote peer learning, and improve data systems.