BHUBANESWAR  WEDNESDAY  NOVEMBER 20, 2024  `9.00  PAGES 12  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 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. NAGPUR HEAT ODISHA IS READY TO LEAD INDIA’S GROWTH STORY: CM EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bhubaneswar 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 Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday made a strong pitch for Odisha as India’s premier investment destination and urged Singapore-based business houses to invest in the state. Addressing a gathering of business leaders at his first investment roadshow in Singapore, he presented Odisha as a land of opportunities and said, the state’s focus on sustainable development, industry-ready infrastructure, and ease of doing business makes it the best investment destination in the country . “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Purvodaya Mission, we are focused on revitalising eastern 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 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. Dy CM orders probe into baby sale in Khaprakhol E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Cuttack DEPUTY chief minister KV Singh Deo ordered a probe into the alleged sale of a newborn by a poor family in Sangurjibhata v i l l a g e u n d e r B a l a n g i r ’s Khaprakhol block after he met the baby’s mother on Tuesday . Singh Deo went to the village and interacted with Aruna Bati Nag, the mother, who claimed that she had ‘gifted’ her newborn to some unidentified persons because she was unable to raise her six kids. IN a bizarre incident, a sixmonth-old baby boy died after one of his parents allegedly trampled over him in an inebriated state late on Monday night. The incident took place at Munda Sahi within Choudwar police limits. The infant’s parents have been identified as Raju Hembram and Sombhari Hembram. Apart from the son, the couple has four daughters. As per their neighbours, Raju had brought some of his friends home late on Monday night. His wife Sombhari too, joined in and all of them consumed alcohol. After having dinner, the couple went to sleep. However, locals found the couple burying their baby in a hurried manner in the wee hours of Tuesday. Suspecting foul play, they immediately infor med the police. A team reached the spot, exhumed the baby’s body and sent it to SCB medical college and hospital for postmortem. CONTINUED ON P5 @ Balangir India. With its rich resources, world-class infrastructure and skilled workforce, Odisha is ready to lead India’s growth story he said and in,” vited them to attend Utkarsh Odisha: Make-in-Odisha Conclave 2025. Majhi assured investors of government support through streamlined processes, incentives and fast-track approvals to ensure a smooth journey ALL-PARTY MEETING ON Baby ‘trampled’ over by drunk parent, dies EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE CM Mohan Majhi addresses business leaders in Singapore on Tuesday from concept to implementation. “Over the past three days, we have engaged with industry leaders, visited advanced ports and industrial complexes, and gained valuable insights to enhance Odisha’s development,” he said. The roadshow marked the beginning of the state’s global outreach under Majhi’s leadership. Accompanied by Industries minister Sampad Chandra Swain, the CM engaged in high-level G2G discussions with Singapore’s minister of Transport Chee Hong Tat on Odisha’s goal of developing integrated multimodal logistics solutions, drawing inspiration from the latter’s advanced transportation systems as well as digital freight management and coastal CONTINUED ON P5 shipping. 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 S U D H I R S U R YA W A N S H I @ Mumbai A polling official carries election material on the eve of voting for the Maharashtra Assembly polls, in Nagpur on Tuesday | PTI INVESTMENT PITCH Another newborn given away, this time in Rayagada Berhampur: In a similar incident, a Rayagada couple allegedly gave away their nine-day-old baby girl to a family from Andhra Pradesh due to acute poverty | P4 It was during the interaction, the deputy CM enquired from the ANM about the child, bringing to light new facts on the whole episode. While Aruna Bati asserted she was helped by ANM Mamata Bhoi, the latter said the woman herself took the decision to send the newborn away because her impoverished condition did not allow her to raise her sixth child. Singh Deo said he had learnt about the incident from media and directed the administration for an enquiry. “During our interaction, the mother said she was unable to raise six children which is why the family decided to give away the youngest one,” he told mediapersons. The incident took place two weeks ago but came to light after members of the Childline lodged an FIR over the alleged sale. Aruna Bati, mother of five including two sons, had given birth to her sixth child at Sunamudi health centre on November 2. T h e s a m e d a y, s h e i s reported to have given away her child alle gedly for CONTINUED ON P5 adoption. 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 U M D A R @ Guwahati EXPRESS READ HC directs PCCF’s appearance in elephant death case Cuttack: Taking serious note of the death of three elephants due to electrocution in poachers’ trap at Naktideul under Rairakhol forest division of Sambalpur district, the Orissa High Court on Tuesday directed personal appearance of PCCF-Wildlife on November 26. The division bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho said, “The PCCF-Wildlife is required to be present online and furnish to the court the number of deaths of elephants in Odisha.” | P3 Three days and counting: Air India flight leaves flyers stranded in Phuket S H E K H A R S I 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.