vijayawada l wednesday l november 20, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION In a first, Kyiv fires LONG-RANGE u.s. missiles into Russian region Russia’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that Ukraine fired six US-made missiles into Bryansk, five of which were shot down and one damaged Ukraine yet to confirm the escalation Putin lowers nuclear use threshold Fragments from a missile fell on an unspecified military facility, the Russian ministry said, adding that the falling debris sparked a fire but didn’t inflict any damage or casualties. The announcement comes shortly after Washington lifted curbs on Ukraine using US-made longer-range missiles to strike Russia. Ukraine didn’t immediately confirm the news | P9 ■ ■ Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday lowered Russia’s threshold for using nuclear weapons. According to the revised nuclear doctrine, a conventional attack on Russia by any adversary nation that is supported by a nuclear power, will be considered a joint attack And, such an attack could trigger a nuclear response from Russia 300 km range of the ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) used against Russia CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI India: Set new finance goal on climate justice S V Krishna Chaitanya EXPRESS IN BAKU W ith COP29 negotiations reaching a critical stage, India on Tuesday demanded clear answers from developed countries on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. Delivering the national statement, Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, said all NCQG decisions for climate finance must reflect the principles of climate justice and equity . He called for ambitious and unambiguous outcomes that address the evolving needs of developing countries, including adaptation, mitigation, and loss-and-damage funding. Singh reminded developed nations of their responsibility under the Paris Agreement to provide suf ficient financial resources to enable the Global South to meet its development goals while addressing climate challenges. The next round of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is due in 2025.  Continued on P9 Visa relaxation, resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on the cards India, China look to resume direct flights, dialogue Y e s h i S e l i @ New Delhi BUILDING on the recent progress made on de-escalating border tension, India and China on Tuesday sought to stabilise the relationship and take it to the next level. T h re e m a j o r d e c i s i o n s emerged during the meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio, Brazil: to resume special representativelevel talks on boundary issues, direct flights between India and China, and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The other steps discussed include data sharing on trans-border rivers and media exchanges. The meeting was the first high-level engagement between India and China after the completion of the disengagement process in Depsang and Demchok along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh last month. According to the MEA, Jaishankar and Wang agreed that the disengagement in border areas contributed to peace and tranquility. “The discussions Rahman, Banu separate after 29 years of marriage E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai Academy Award-winning music composer AR Rahman and his wife Saira Banu announced their separation to the media on Tuesday They have been married for 29 years. According to . a statement issued by Vandana Shah, a divorce lawyer, “The decision comes after significant emotional strain in their relationship. Despite their deep love for each other, the couple has found that the tensions and difficulties have created an insurmountable gap between them, one that neither party feels able to bridge at this time.” In a post on X, Rahman said, “We had hoped to reach the grand thirty but all things, it seems, , carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts. Yet, in this shattering, we seek meaning, though the pieces may not find their place again. To our friends, thank you for your kindness and for respecting our privacy as we walk through this fragile chapter.” The couple got married in 1995 and have three children, Khatija, Raheema and Ameen. focused on the next steps in India-China relations,” it said. In the meeting, Jaishankar told Wang that India is against unilateral approaches to establish dominance and it does not view its relationships through the prism of other nations. “On the global situation, the external affairs minister noted that India and China have both differences and convergences,” MEA said. For his part, Wang proposed visa relaxation to encourage people-to-people interaction. Noting that the next year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two Asian giants, the Chinese minister said both countries should plan commemorative activities and encourage visits in various fields and at different levels. Direct India-China flights and the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic. The 22nd round of special representative-level talks were held in New Delhi on December 21, 2019. India’s representative for the dialogue is NSA Ajit Doval while the Chinese side is headed by Wang. CM ‘moots’ linking of rivers under PPP mode S V i s w a n at h @ Vijayawada External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with China’s foreign minister Wang Yi | PTI India, UK to resume FTA talks in 2025 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said trade talks with India will relaunch, following his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit. The UK will seek a new strategic partnership with India, including a trade agreement and cooperation in various areas Renewable energy Pact with Australia India and Australia on Tuesday officially launched the Renewable Energy Partnership aimed at boosting two-way investment in the renewable energy sectors as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in on the sidelines of the G20 meet Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who envisages interlinking of rivers by taking Godavari water to Krishna, and from there to Banakacherla to provide irrigation facility to every acre of land in the State, seems to be mooting the idea of taking up irrigation projects under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model on the lines of development of National Highways. “Taking water to Banakacherla, thereby completing interlinking of rivers is my life ambition. That is my dream. But it will require `70,000 crore as per the existing prices. All of us should think how we can get `70,000 crore. I am having a thought of taking forward the project on the lines of private play- November 24 Ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, the Centre has scheduled an all-party meeting on Nov 24. Some Opposition parties are reportedly unlikely to attend | P7 Su d h i r Su r ya w a n s h i @ Mumbai A day before polling in Maharashtra, a purported video of BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde at a five-star hotel went viral on Tuesday amid allegations by the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) that he was distributing `5 crore in cash among his party leaders and workers at Nalasopara (Virar) to buy votes. The police registered two FIRs against Tawde and others in connection with the incident. The first FIR named them for assembling at a hotel in violation of the poll code, while the second one accuses them of luring voters by offering inducements. Tawde refuted the allegation saying he was in the hotel to guide party workers about election procedures. He said he was on his way from Wada in Palghar to Mumbai when a BJP leader called him for tea at the hotel at Nalasopara where this incident took place. “I am ready for any Polls 2024 probe. The Election Commission of India can conduct the probe and find out the truth. The Opposition must understand facts before making allegations,” Tawde said. For its part, the poll body said it recovered `9 lakh from the hotel, not `5 crore. The matter came in light after BVA workers barged in the hotel, claiming they got a tipoff that Tawde was with BJP leaders to distribute `5 crore to buy the votes in the area. “Our workers not only caught Tawde with a bundle of cash but also seized two diaries with entries on whom the money was given to buy votes. We hope that the poll body and police would conduct a fair probe,” BVA head Hitendra Thakur said. His party is contesting three seats in Palghar and Vasai-Virar. U s h a P e r i @ Visakhapatnam The State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the State Secretariat on Tuesday cleared invest, ment proposals to the tune of `85,083 crore. In its maiden meeting after the formation of the TDPled NDA government, the SIPB discussed the investment proposals and agreements signed A day after the incident of cutting hair of students for coming late to school came to light, the Alluri Sitarama Raju district administration on Tuesday suspended the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) principal and Chemistry teacher after conducting an inquiry . On Friday (November 15), a group of second year Intermediate students of KGBV in GM Kothuru village of G Madugula mandal arrived late for the morning assembly and classes. School principal U Sai Prasanna reportedly made the students stand in the sun for some time as punishment and allegedly beat them. During the lunch hour, the principal, with the assistance of other teachers, trimmed the students’ hair as a form of punishment. Defending her action, Sai Prasanna stated that she cut a few centimetres of the students’ hair to address their P4 indiscipline.  Security personnel deployed to maintain law and order amid curfew, in Imphal | PTI PC post gives Biren Day before poll, Tawde in cash row ammo to rap Cong SIPB clears `85,083 crore investment proposals @ Vijayawada ers taking up the NH projects if possible,” Naidu said, while participating in a short discussion on irrigation projects in the AP Legislative Assembly on Tuesday . Naidu said private players are developing four, six and eight lane highway projects by investing `50,000 crore to `1 lakh crore. On the similar lines, the Centre and the State government may share some funds, and the remaining by all-party meeting on Hair cut: KGBV principal, teacher suspended Express News Service Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu speaks in the Assembly | Express private players to complete the project over a period of 20 to 25 years. Income can be generated from now onwards once the interlinking project is conceived, he said, adding that otherwise, the cost estimates may escalate to `2 lakh crore or more. Asserting that the Polavaram Irrigation Project will be completed by 2027 by overcoming all hurdles, he made it clear that its height will remain at 45.72 metres. He urged the people not to believe the rumours of reduction in the project height. Mentioning that the international experts suggested construction of a new diaphragm wall instead of repairing the damaged one, the Chief Minister said the works will be commenced in January 2025 and completed by P4 March 2026. 33,966 job opportunities to be generated The State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) meeting gave its approval to `85,083 crore investments of 10 companies. As many as 33,966 jobs will be generated with the proposed investments of the firms, besides providing large scale indirect employment with various fir ms during the past five months While seven fir ms that come under the purview of Industries and Commerce Department will invest a total of `73,181 crore, and provide employment to 27,891 peo- ple, proposals of three companies to invest `11,902 crore will generate employment for 6,075 people in the energy sector. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Pvt Ltd will establish an integrated steel plant (including capital port) at Bangarayyapeta. It will initially invest `61,780 crore to provide employment to 21,000 people by completing the first phase of the project by 2029. LG Electronics India Pvt Limited will invest `5,001 crore, providing 1,495 jobs. Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited will set up a plant with `1,430 crore providing 565 jobs, Phillips Carbon Black Limited will provide 200 jobs with an investment of `3,798 crore and Azad India Mobility Limited with an investment of `1,046 crore will generate employment for 2,381 P4 people.  the Union home minister during the then Congress governA social media post by Conment and O Ibobi was the chief gress leader P Chidambaram minister here, they brought a on Tuesday gave embattled MaMyanmarese foreigner nipur Chief Minister N Biren Thanglianpau Guite, who himSingh some ammunition to self admitted in one of the inblame the grand old party for terviews that he contested an the ongoing crisis in the state. MP election in Myanmar. That The Congress distanced itperson is the chairman of Zomi self from ChidambarRevolutionary Army, am’s post on X, now which is banned in Mydeleted, calling it his anmar,” Singh said. personal remarks. Wo r r i e d over Whatever we are Chidambaram said, seeing in Manipur Chidambaram’s state“Rushing 5,000 MORE ment on regional autoday is the central armed police tonomy, Ibobi said he creation of the Congress. They jawans is not the anspoke to party chief swer to Manipur crisis. cannot wash their Mallikarjun Kharge. “I ...It is more under- hands of the crisis told Kharge Ji it could standing: that the Biren Singh, Manipur be his (Chidambaram’s) Meitei, the Kuki-Zo personal views but this chief minister and the Naga can live will create a lot of mistogether in one State only if understanding in Manipur. Afthey have genuine regional t e r K h a r g e J i s p o ke t o autonomy .” Chidambaram Ji, he deleted the Singh wasted no time in hitpost,” the ex-CM said. ting back. “He (Chidambaram) Meanwhile, hundreds of Kuis the root cause of Manipur ki-Zos took out a rally in Chucrisis and the Congress is the rachandpur carrying empty cofcreator of what we are seeing fins in solidarity with 10 tribals in the state today When he was . killed on November 11. P r a s a n ta M a z um d a r @ Guwahati express read Pilot project on PPP model roads in EG, WG Vizag police arrest four youths in gangrape case Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has mooted PPP model for pothole-free roads in rural areas. On a pilot basis, this new model will be implemented in twin Godavari districts | P4 Visakhapatnam: Within hours after receiving a complaint, the Visakhapatnam City Police arrested four individuals on charges of gang-raping a thirdyear LLB student on Tuesday | P3 Three days and counting: Air India flight leaves flyers stranded in Phuket SHE K HAR SI N G H @ New Delhi OVER 100 Delhi-bound Air India passengers faced a harrowing three-day ordeal in Phuket after the flight, originally scheduled to depart on November 16, was cancelled due to operational and technical setbacks. The disruption left travellers stranded, sparking outrage and criticism. The trouble began when the crew exceeded their flight duty time limitations on November 16, leading to the flight’s cancellation. Efforts to resume operations the next day with another crew failed when the Airbus A320 experienced technical issues mid-flight, forcing it to return to Phuket after twoand-a-half hours in the air. The Ministry of Civil Avia- tion has since demanded a detailed report from Air India. Meanwhile, 80% of the strand- ed passengers have reportedly been flown back to India on alternative flights on November 17 and 18, airline sources said. The remaining 31 passengers are also scheduled to depart. Many passengers shared their frustration over delays. “Pathetic services. Flight AI377 returned to Phuket after flying 3 hours above Phuket. More than 150 passengers stranded. No satisfactory reply from airlines,” Shubham Maurya posted on X. Initially passengers were in, formed of a six-hour delay on November 16. They boarded the flight after prolonged waiting, only to be deboarded later. The same aircraft was prepared for departure the next day but , glitches persisted. “Air India regrets the incon- venience to passengers of Flight AI377... While our staff made effort to minimise inconvenience, providing on-ground assistance including hotel accommodations and meals, some guests were re-accommodated on available flights. Passengers were offered options for full refunds on cancellation and complimentary rescheduling,” said an airline official.