SATURDAY 17 AUGUST 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 PERRY’S DEATH LEADS TO SWEEPING INDICTMENT OF FIVE ‘ART SHOULD SPARK DISCOURSE’ P7 SENSEX 80,436.84p1,330.96 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY.LIGHT RAIN/THUNDERSTORM. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 35 AND 26 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY RAINFALL: 013.6 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 100 % TEMPERATURE P9 24,541.15p397.40 P4 GOLD 71,620.00p110 ` vs $ 83.89 THUMBNAILS Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya poses for a picture with the Indian contingent during their send-off ceremony for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, in New Delhi on Friday. n ANI Urban unemployment rate declines to 6.6 pc in April-June of FY25, says NSO data: The latest data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Friday said the urban unemployment rate declined to 6.6 per cent in Q1 (April-June) of FY25, from a four-quarter high of 6.7 per cent in the preceding quarter. This was driven by a decline in the male unemployment rate, according to the NSO. SILVER 83,500p500 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 78.13q1.47 Haryana Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on 1 October NEW DELHI, 16 AUGUST Min: 25.3 °C (-1) SUN SETS 18:58 hrs MOON SETS 03:50 hrs P12 EC announces 3-phase Bangladesh interim head Assembly polls in J&K assures Modi about safety of Hindus, other minorities SANTU DAS Min. 65 % Max: 35.2 °C (+1) SUN RISES 05:52 hrs MOON RISES 17:27 hrs NIFTY MANU’S MEMORIES OF SAILING STALIN SETS 200-SEAT TARGET IN 2026 ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS T he Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced that Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) will be held in three phases, with the first phase scheduled for 18 September, while elections to the Haryana Legislative Assembly will be held in a single phase on 1 October. The second phase of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for 25 September and the third phase for 1 October. The counting of votes for both J&K and Haryana will take place on 4 October.Notably, last December, the Supreme Court of India had ordered the Commission to hold Assembly polls in J&K by 30 September, 2024, while pronouncing its judgment in the cases concerning the abrogation of Article 370. This will be the first Assembly elections in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370 and the splitting of the erstwhile state into two Union territories in 2019. Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar while announcing the schedule for the Assembly polls in J&K said: “Elections in J&K will be held in three phases. This is a much shorter period than the parliamentary election (Lok Sabha polls) which were held in five phases." Informing that there are 90 Assembly seats in the Union Territory , he said out of these, nine are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and seven for Scheduled Castes. He said the total number of electors in J&K is 87.09 lakh. The first-time voters number 3.71 lakh. Polling will be held in a total of 11,838 polling stations. The CEC said in the first phase, polling will be held in 24 Assembly constituencies on 18 September. The notification will be issued on 20 August and the last date of filing nomination is 27 August. He said the scrutiny of nomination will take place on 28 August and 30 August is the last date of withdrawal of candidature. For the second phase, scheduled for 25 September, Mr Kumar said the notification will be issued on 29 August. The last date for filing nomination is 5 September and next day the scrutiny will be held. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is 9 September. The CEC said voting for the third phase will be held on 1st October. On 5 September the notification will be issued and the last date for nomination will be 12 September, scrutiny 13 September and withdrawal of candidature will be allowed till 17 September. On security arrange- ments, Mr Kumar said: "Sufficient forces will remain to deal with any eventuality whatever comes on the way. Security threats to the candidates would thoroughly under the establishment and will be taken care of. Security cover would be provided to the candidates." "We will be absolutely clear in our resolve to ensure that the district officials behave absolutely impartial," he said. Referring to the participation of people of J&K in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the CEC said: “This was a triumph of ballot over bullet. J&K people chose ballot over bullet and boycott.” “We want the layers of democracy are strengthened in J&K. Percentage of vote increase is one aspect of strengthening the democracy. We expect that there would be more votes this time again," he said. Announcing the schedule for the Haryana Assembly polls, the CEC said elections to 90 seats will take place on 1 October and the notification will be issued on 5 September. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 16 AUGUST PM gets call from Netanyahu Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday received a call from Bangladesh government's interim head Muhammed Yunus during which the latter assured him about the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country. “Received a telephone call from Professor Muhammad Yunus, @ChiefAdviserGoB. Exchanged views on the prevailing situation. Reiterated India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh. He assured protection, safety and security of Hindus and all minorities in Bangladesh,'' Mr Modi said in a social media post on X. The two leaders also discussed ways to take the bilateral relationship forward in line with the respective priorities. In his Independence Day speech yesterday, Mr Modi hoped the situation in violence-hit Bangladesh would return to normal soon as the people in India were concerned over the safety of Hindus and minorities STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 16 AUGUST Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday received a telephone call from the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, conveying his warm wishes on the occasion of India’s 78th Independence Day. The two leaders discussed the prevailing situation in West Asia. The PM emphasised the need to de-escalate the situation. Mr Modi reiterated India’s call for immediate release of all hostages and the need for continued humanitarian assistance for the affected. He called for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. The two leaders also discussed various aspects of the bilateral cooperation and ways to further strengthen the India-Israel Strategic Partnership. The leaders agreed to remain in touch. there. On Tuesday, Mr Yunus had reached out to the Hindus in Bangladesh when he visited Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka. He promised to punish those who attacked minorities during the recent violence after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted. Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma had also taken up this issue at a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain earlier this week.Meanwhile, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh. India, he said, desires the return of normality there as early as possible. The spokesperson said India looks forward to working closely with the interim government in Bangladesh. Institution head responsible for filing FIR after Cabinet okays airport, Metro projects worth `34,000 crore violence against healthcare worker: Centre STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 16 AUGUST The Union Health Ministry on Friday said head of the Institution shall be responsible for filing an FIR in any violence against healthcare worker within six hours of the incident. In a office memorandum, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Atul Goel said: "Recently it has been observed that violence has become common against Doctors and other healthcare staff in Government hospitals. A number of health workers suffer physical violence during the course of their duty. Many are threatened or exposed to verbal aggression. Most of this violence is done by either patient or patient's attendants." "In view of above, It is stated that in the event of any violence against any health care worker while on duty, the Head of Institution shall be responsible for filing an Institutional FIR within a maximum of six hours of the incident," Dr Goel said. The office memorandum was addressed to Director/Medical Superintendent of Central government Hospital/Institutes, Director All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, all other AIIMS and Directors/Principals of all Medical colleges. The office memorandum of the Ministry comes amid the ongoing nationwide protest by doctors demanding justice for the woman postgraduate trainee (PGT) doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College Hospital in Kolkata last week. The protesting doctors are also demanding suspension of the former Principal of RG Kar Medical College and immediate constitution of a committee to draft a Central Protection Act (CPA) for health care professionals. Earlier, the Ministry issued an advisory to the Central government hospitals in Delhi on safe work environment. In its advisory issued to Centre-run hospitals including RML Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, the Ministry said: "Recently it has been observed that violence has become very common against Medical Staff in the government hospitals. Many Health Workers suffer from physical violence at some point in their career. Many more are threatened or exposed to verbal aggression." It is important that proactive measures be taken to prevent violence against healthcare professionals/staff, said the advisory. The Central government hospitals are advised to maintain a registry of all such incidents, it said. "Any such incident must be immediately brought to the notice of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through the Directorate General of Health Services," it added. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 16 AUGUST The Union Cabinet on Friday met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and approved two airports and three Metro transport projects involving investment of nearly Rs 34,000 crore. Briefing newspersons on the five projects, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said two defence airports in Bagdogra in West Bengal and Bihta near Patna in Bihar will be developed for greater civil aviation use. The Metro projects will be in Thane, Pune and Bengaluru. Mr Vaishnaw said the Prime Minister had said the government in its third consecutive term would take big decisions. So far, projects worth Rs 1,54,000 crore have been approved and with Friday’s approvals, the total cost of the approved projects reaches near Rs 2 lakh crore. The projects would generate economic growth, creating a large number of employment opportunities. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the development of a New Civil Enclave at Bagdogra Airport, Siliguri, West Bengal at an estimated cost of Rs 1549 crore. The proposed Terminal Building spans 70,390 sqm and is designed to accommodate 3000 Peak Hour Passengers (PHP), with an annual capacity to handle 10 million passengers. For Bihar, the CCEA approved the devel- opment of a New Civil Enclave at Bihta, Patna, at an estimated cost of Rs.1413 crore. This will meet the growing air travel demand of the Patna capital region. The proposed New Integrated Terminal Building at Bihta Airport spans 66,000 sqm and is designed to handle 3000 Peak Hour Passengers (PHP) and annually cater to 50 lakh passengers. At present the country has Metro services in 21 cities. For Bengaluru, the Cabinet approved Phase-3 of Bangalore Metro Rail Project with two elevated corridors for a length of 44.65 Km with 31 stations. Corridor-1 will be from JP Nagar 4thPhase to Kempapura (along Outer Ring Road West) for a length of 32.15 Km with 22 stations and Corridor-2 will be from Hosahalli to Kadabagere (along Magadi Road) for a length of 12.50 Km with 9 stations. ISRO launches Earth Observation Satellite EOS-08 70th National Film Awards announced; STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 AUGUST The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched Earth Observation Satellite8 (EOS-8) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday. In a post on microblogging site X, ISRO said: “The third developmental flight of SSLV was successful. The SSLV-D3 placed EOS-08 precisely into the orbit. This marks the successful completion of ISRO/DOS’s SSLV Development Project. With technology transfer, the Indian industry and NSIL India will now produce SSLV for commercial missions.” According to ISRO, the six-and-a-half-hour countdown leading to the launch began at 2.47 a.m. This marks the third and final developmental flight of the SSLVD3/EOS-08 mission. The spacecraft is designed for a mission duration of one year. Congratulating ISRO's scientists for the successful launch of new Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the cost-effective SSLV will play an important role in space missions and encourage private industry. In a post on X, the PM said: "A remarkable milestone! Congratulations to our scientists and industry for this feat. It is a matter of immense joy that India now has a new launch vehicle. The costeffective SSLV will play an important role in space missions and will also encourage private industry. My best wishes to @isro, @INSPACeIND, @NSIL_India and the entire space industry." ISRO’s latest Earth Observation Satellite ‘EOS-08’, was launched by the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 at 9.17 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Shriharikota. The primary objectives of the EOS-08 mission include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites. Built on the Microsat/IMS1 bus, EOS-08 carries three payloads: Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), and the SiC UV Dosimeter. The EOIR payload is designed to capture images in the Mid-Wave IR (MIR) and Long-Wave IR (LWIR) bands, both during the day and night, for applications such as satellite-based surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity observation, and industrial and power plant disaster monitoring. The GNSS-R payload demonstrates the capability of using GNSS-R-based remote sensing for applications such as ocean surface wind analysis, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, flood detection, and inland waterbody detection. The SiC UV Dosimeter monitors UV irradiance at the viewport of the Crew Module in the Gaganyaan Mission and serves as a highdose alarm sensor for gamma radiation. The satellite has a mass of approximately 175.5 kg and generates power of around 420 W. Aattam (The Play) wins Best Feature Film STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 AUGUST The 70th National Film Awards for the year 2022 were announced in the national capital on Friday. The award for the Best Feature film went to Aattam (The Play), directed by Anand Ekarshi. The Best Non-Feature Film award has been bagged by Ayena (Mirror), directed by Siddhant Sarin. Murmurs Of The Jungle got the award for Best Documentary. The Award for Best Book on Cinema has been given to Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography, authored by Anirudha Bhattacharjee and Parthiv Dhar. Kantara won the Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Rishab Shetty has been awarded the Best Actor in Leading Role for his performance in the movie Kan- 8Kantara won the Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. 8Rishab Shetty has been awarded the Best Actor in Leading Role for his performance in the movie Kantara whereas Nithya Menen bagged the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Thiruchitrambalam. 8 Pavan Raj Malhotra won the award for Best Supporting Actor while Neena Gupta won the Best Supporting Actress Award in the Feature Films category. tara whereas Nithya Menen bagged the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Thiruchitrambalam. Pavan Raj Malhotra won the award for Best Supporting Actor while Neena Gupta won the Best Supporting Actress Award in the Feature Films category. Directed by Ayan Mukerji with VFX Supervisors Jaykar Arudra, Viral Thakkar, and Neelesh Gore, BRAHMASTRA-PART 1: SHIVA bagged the award for Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects Gaming & Comic). The Jury for the 70th National Film Awards announced the winners for the year 2022. The Jury comprised of eminent filmmakers and film personalities from across the Indian cine-world. The awards were announced by Rahul Rawail, Chairperson, Feature Films Jury, Dr. Nila Madhab Panda, Chairperson, Non-feature Films Jury, and Gangadhar Mudaliar, Best Writing on Cinema Jury in the presence of Vrunda Desai, Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. India to host third Voice of Global South Summit today STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 16 AUGUST India will host the third Voice of Global South Summit on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs announced. This unique initiative envisages bringing together countries of the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform across a whole range of issues. It began as an extension of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas’, and is underpinned by India's philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. India had hosted the first Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) on 12-13 January 2023, and the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 November 2023, both in virtual format. Both the previous editions of the summit saw the participation of over 100 countries from the Global South. The inputs and feedback received from the leaders of the developing countries in these two summits were appropriately reflected in the agenda and discussions of the G-20 Summit under India’s Presidency last year, including in the G-20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration. The third VOGSS, with the overarching theme of "An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future”, will act as a platform to expand discussions held in the previous Summits on a range of complex challenges that continue to affect the world, such as conflicts, food and energy security crises, climate change - all of which disproportionately affect developing countries in a severe manner. At the Summit, the countries of the Global South would continue deliberations on challenges, priorities, and solutions for the Global South, particularly in the developmental domain.