FRIDAY 28 JUNE 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 INVESTORS SHOW INTEREST IN AMARAVATI AGAIN ASSANGE SAGA BOLIVIAN GENERAL ARRESTED AFTER FAILED COUP ATTEMPT P6 SENSEX 79,243.18568.93 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. Light rain/thundershower likely to occur. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 32 °C and 27 °C respectively. RAINFALL: 2.1 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 88 % NIFTY 24,044.50175.70 AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 27 JUNE President Droupadi Murmu with Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of President Murmu's address to both Houses of Parliament, at Parliament House in New Delhi on Thursday. ANI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 JUNE resident Droupadi Murmu on Thursday addressed the first joint session of Parliament after the election of the 18th Lok Sabha, and said there can be opposition to policies, but obstruction of parliamentary work has to be avoided. She said the present times are “very favourable” for India in every way. In the coming years, the decisions taken and policies framed by the government and Parliament will be keenly watched by the whole world. “It is the responsibility of every Member of Parliament as well as of the government, to ensure the country gets utmost benefits during this favourable period,” she said. The President said: P “When Parliament conducts its business smoothly, when healthy deliberations take place here, when far-reaching decisions are taken, then the people repose confidence not only in the government but also in the entire system.” The Opposition raised noises when the President spoke of the government getting a “clear majority” in the recent elections, the 1975 Emergency, NEET examination paper leaks and that the “government is continuously working for lasting peace in the NorthEast.” Mrs Murmu said the Indian Constitution had stood up to every challenge from the time it was framed. Recalling the imposition of Emergency on 25th June 1975, she said this was the biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that President Droupadi Murmu's address to both the House of Parliament presented a roadmap of progress and good governance. PM Modi shared a post on X and called the President's address comprehensive adding that it covered the strides India has been making and also the potential that lies ahead. “Rashtrapati Ji's address to both Houses of Parliament was compreConstitution. The entire country felt outraged, she said. The country emerged victorious as traditions of the republic lie at the core of India, she said. “My government also does not consider the Constitution of India as just a medium of governance; rather we are making efforts to ensure that our Constitution becomes a part of public consciousness,” she said. With this objective in mind, the government had started celebrating 26th November as Constitution LK Advani discharged from AIIMS ‘RBI watchful of emerging risks; be cautious of tech disruptions’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 JUNE NEW DELHI, 27 JUNE Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here on Thursday after a minor procedure. “Lal Krishna Advani was discharged at 2 pm today. His condition is stable,” an official of the premier institute told The Statesman. Advani, who had served as the seventh Deputy Prime Minister under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government, was admitted to the AIIMS on Wednesday evening. He was kept in the geriatric department of the institute. On Wednesday, the premier institute in a statement said, “Lal Krishna Advani is admitted at AIIMS, New Delhi. He is stable and under observation.” In March this year, he was conferred with Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday said the central bank is watchful of emerging risks. He also cautioned against disruptions in the financial system from new technologies. Mr Das said the matrix of financial stability is perhaps at its best, but the real challenge is to maintain it and improve upon it further. “New technologies offer gains in efficiency and customer experience, but they can also bring with them sudden and widespread disruptions to the financial system,” Das said in the foreword of the June edition of the Financial Stability Report. “This requires that all stakeholders not only invest adequately to take full advantage of technological advancements, but also take steps to safeguard the security and soundness of their systems,” he added. Mr Das observed that stress tests showed capital levels of banks and nonbanking financial companies (NBFCs) will remain above the regulatory minimum even under severe stress scenarios. He said even in this stable environment, the regulator is watchful of the emerging risk including those from cyber hazards, climate change and global spillovers. At a time when the global financial system faces major risks which include alarming levels of public debt, stretched asset valuations, increasing economic and financial fragmentation; Sebi okays norms to regulate ‘finfluencers’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27JUNE In a significant move, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Thursday approved norms to regulate misinformation through financial influencers or finfluencers by restricting association of its regulated entities with any unregistered person. After its board meeting, the market regulator said: “The persons regulated by the Board and the agents of such persons shall not have any association, like, any transaction involving money or money's worth, referral of a client, interaction of information technology systems or any other association of sim- ilar nature or character, directly or indirectly with any person who directly or indirectly provides advice or recommendation.” SEBI has provided a window for investor education from such associations with a condition that they do not provide any recommendation or claim any return or performance. This ensures that mutual funds, stock brokers, research analysts, or registered investment advisors do not associate with finfluencers. It has also introduced flexibility in the voluntary delisting framework by introducing a fixed price process as an alternative to reverse book building process. The market regulator also provided a an alternate framework for the delisting of investment holding companies. Sebi also provided certain funds exemption from granular disclosures under the Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPIs). Financial influencers are persons who provide advice on social media platforms on various financial topics such as investing in securities, personal finance, banking products, insurance and real estate investment, among others. and frequent geopolitical conflicts, the Indian economy is exhibiting strength and resilience, with strong macroeconomic fundamentals and buffers, he said. “Economic activity is expanding at a steady pace, with the financial system being stronger and more vibrant than what it was before the onset of the recent period of crises,” he said. The governor emphasised that it was important to consolidate the gains and nurture a financial system that is future ready and supports the needs of India’s growing economy. “Furthermore, as India’s contribution to global growth rises, our financial system must also modernise and deepen as it prepares to go more global,” he said. He said efforts must be made to develop an ecosystem that puts the interests of the customer at the forefront. P12 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 83.230.48 State govt suspends hawker eviction drive for a month STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 27 JUNE President’s address presented roadmap of progress: PM Modi THUMBNAILS Nifty hits 24,000 for the first time, Sensex at record high: Indian frontline indices again touched an all-time high on Thursday as strong buying was seen in IT stocks. Sensex and Nifty made an all-time high of 79,240 and 24,036 respectively. This is the first time that nifty crossed the 24,000 mark and Sensex exceeded the 79,000 level. At 12:55 p.m., Sensex was up 418 points or 0.53 per cent at 79,092, and Nifty was up 135 points or 0.53 per cent at 24,004. Among the sectors, buying is seen in IT, oil and gas, and FMCG while, PSU bank, auto, pharma, and media are top laggards. SILVER 90,000 Govt committed to a fair investigation into paper leaks ,says President New Moon on 06 July People enjoy the monsoon high tides lashing at Marine drive, in Mumbai on Thursday. ANI GOLD 71,730270 Murmu:Don’t obstruct parliamentary work Min: 29.2°C (+2.4) SUN SETS 18:25 hrs MOON SETS 09:60 hrs TEMPERATURE P9 ` vs $ 83.44 Min. 66 % Max: 33.8 °C (+0.9) SUN RISES 04:55 hrs MOON RISES 22:50 hrs P4 AFGHANISTAN’S FAIRY-TALE ENDS IN DISAPPOINTMENT hensive and presented a roadmap of progress and good governance. It covered the strides India has been making and also the potential that lies ahead. Her address also mentioned some of the major challenges we have to collectively overcome to ensure a qualitative change in the lives of our citizens," the Prime Minister wrote on X. Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary said that the President gave a message of solidarity, of taking the country forward and how can we make it a developed country by 2047. Day, she said. The Constitution has also fully come into force in “that part of India, our Jammu and Kashmir, where the conditions were different due to Article 370,” the President said. She said the whole world is talking about the recent Lok Sabha elections. About 64 crore voters had cast their votes and the Kashmir Valley broke all records of voter turn-out. People elected a “stable Government with clear majority, consecutively for the third term. This has happened after six decades,” she said. The drive to evict hawkers illegally occupying space on roads and pavements in Kolkata has been suspended for a month, chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Thursday. During a review meeting held at Nabanna Sabhaghar attended by top bureaucrats and police officers, including the district magistrates and district police superintendents, Miss Banerjee gave hawkers encroaching on roads and pavements a month’s time to shift with their wares, and gave the administration three months’ time to complete the ground work of survey , identification of the locations where the displaced hawkers can be rehabilitated. “I’m giving you a month’s time to set the places in order by doing the needful. I will sit with you a month later. Till that time no further eviction drive would be carried out,” the chief minister told the hawkers’ representatives present at the meeting. “To make someone unemployed by evicting them is not my purpose. I have no right to rob someone’s earnings. I still consider the hawkers as my brothers and sisters. What I want to do is to bring them under a system. The hawkers displaced so far by the eviction would be looked after by the administration should they need it,” To make someone unemployed by evicting them is not my purpose. I have no right to rob someone's earnings. I still consider the hawkers as my brothers and sisters. What I want to do is to bring BENGAL CM MAMATA BANERJEE them under a system Miss Banerjee said. The Chief Minister however, remained sharply critical against the trend of encroachments on government lands and public spaces. Miss Banerjee said: “The local councillors keep mum doing nothing and police too are busy extorting money, allowing encroachments to continue. That should be stopped. From now on, the areas where this trend is found to be going on unabated, the councillor of the area or any leaders, however big they are, would be arrested. If any police officer is found involved in raising money, they will be arrested. No one would be spared,” Miss Banerjee was reported as saying. Miss Banerjee also mooted a series of proposals to clear the mess of encroachment by hawkers. She said that a portal should be started to entail a hawking zone and no hawking zone. A building should be earmarked near hawking zone, where a fire service could be set up. The secretaries of municipal affairs department and urban development departments would visit districts to identify places where hawking zones could come up. Identity cards for the registered hawkers should be introduced, she said. She also issued a note of caution for the government contractors engaged in public works, especially, those related to road construction and road repairs. “Once a new road is constructed or an existing road is repaired, they should be in intact condition for the next five years. Otherwise, the contractors concerned will be blacklisted. The illegal buildings will be taken over by the state government. Dilapidated buildings will also be taken over if not repaired in time,” the Chief Minister said. INDIA bloc expected to raise NEET issue today Indian Youth Congress (IYC) supporters protest against the alleged NEET scam and ongoing paper leaks in various exams, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday. ANI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 JUNE A meeting of leaders of the INDIA bloc was held here on Thursday to chalk out strategy on various issues, including NEET, amid the ongoing session of the Parliament. The meeting convened by Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge along with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, at his residence here, was attended by party leader K C Venugopal, NCP (SCP) president Sharad Pawar, TMC leader Derek O’brein, DMK leader Tiruchi Siva, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, JMM leader Mahua Maji, among others. During the meeting, they discussed a wide range of issues concerning the public. Informing about the INDIA bloc meeting under the leadership of Kharge, Rahul Gandhi in a social media post wrote: “We are all committed to fighting for the issues and rights of the people.” Mr Venugopal, who is the Congress General Secretary in-charge of Organization, in a post on X wrote: “Floor leaders of INDIA parties met at INC President Mallikarjun Kharge ji’s residence to chalk out the strategy for the rest of the Parliament session.” Talking to a news agency, Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh said: “Several issues were discussed in today’s meeting. There was also discussion on the Speaker election (in Lok Sabha) and President’s address.” “We will give notices (in Parliament) on the NEET issue tomorrow," DMK MP Tiruchi Siva told ANI news agency after the INDIA bloc meeting. INDIA leaders also told the news agency that if the NEET issue is not taken up for discussion tomorrow, then they would stage a protest inside the House. Meanwhile, in a post on X, Mr Kharge slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi after President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint session of both the Houses. CBI apprehends two from Patna STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 JUNE The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as part of its ongoing probe into the alleged irregularities in the NEET- UG exam, on Thursday arrested two individuals from Bihar's Patna, sources said. These are first arrests made by the federal probe agency in the NEET- UG alleged paper leak matter. According to the sources, the two accused allegedly provided safe space to the aspirants prior to the exam who were also aided to prepare for the exam. The two operated in Patna, the sources said, adding that both were also produced before a court by the central investigating agency. Arundhati Roy wins the iPhone maker shares note with Centre on 2024 PEN Pinter Prize allegation of not hiring married women STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 27 JUNE Weeks after the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor cleared her prosecution under the stringent UAPA, author Arundhati Roy, was on Thursday awarded the prestigious Pen Pinter Prize 2024 for her “unflinching and unswerving” writings. The PEN Pinter Prize was set up in 2009 by English PEN (‘Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, Novelists’) in memory of Nobel laureate playwright Harold Pinter. Ms Roy will receive the prize on 10 October 2024 in a ceremony co-hosted by the British Library. The Prize is awarded annually to a writer resident in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Commonwealth or former Commonwealth who, in the words of Harold Pinter’s Nobel speech, casts an “unflinching, unswerving” gaze upon the world, and shows a “fierce intellectual determination…to define the real truth of our lives and our societies”. CMYK NEW DELHI, 27JUNE A day after the centre has asked the Tamil Nadu government to submit a detailed report on the Apple iPhone supplier Foxconn’s rejection of married women job applications, the company has shared an informal note with the government. As reported by a news agency, in an informal note shared with the government, Foxconn said that the media report was based on anecdotal comments by 5-10 people or potential job seekers. It clarified that 25per cent of its new hires are married females. It further alleged that the comments would also have possibly been made by candidates who did not get the job or no longer work at Foxconn. The report citing sources said that currently, the Foxconn factory has about 70per cent women and 30per centmen and the Tamil Nadu plant is the largest factory for women employment in India with the total employment having touched 45,000 workers during peak periods. Foxconn further clarified the discussion around Hindu married women being discriminated against for wearing metals (ornaments and jewellery) terming it as ‘entirely slanted’. It said that wearing metal in such factories is a safety issue, a fact well recognised by both the industry as well as the government. Ministry of Labour and Employment on Wednesday has taken note of various media reports claiming that married women are not being allowed to work at Foxconn India Apple iPhone plant. In light of these reports, the Ministry has requested a detailed report from the Labour Department of the Tamil Nadu Government.
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