visakhapatnam l monday l september 23, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION hEZBOLLAH strikes deep inside Israel as tensions escalate Hezbollah fired over 100 rockets across a wider and deeper area of northern Israel, with some landing near city of Haifa, injuring three U.N. warns of imminent catastrophe ■ 3 in open-ended battle with Israel: Hezbollah The rocket barrage overnight set off air raid sirens across northern Israel, sending thousands of people scrambling into shelters. Tensions have escalated sharply after the recent pager and walkie-talkie explosions and an Israeli air strike that killed a Hezbollah commander in Beirut. The United Nations warned that the region is on the brink of “an imminent catastrophe” ■ The militant group took its attacks deep into Israel’s north, hitting Jezreel Valley, about 100 km from the border, local media reported Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Kassem said his outfit is now in an open-ended battle with Israel. “Your economy will be destroyed... and you will not achieve your goals,” he warned Israel | P9 dead in israeli air strikes on southern lebanon on Sunday 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 twin towers: men, women create olympiad history S w a r o o p s w a m i nat h an @ Chennai Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Indian community members at Nassau Veterans Coliseum in New York, on Sunday. Over 13,000 Indian Americans were present | PTI Quad calls for rules-based order Leaders agree to expand maritime ties, express concerns over situation in East, South China Seas Ye s h i Sel i @ New Delhi Amid Chinese military posturing in the Indo-Pacific, Quad leaders on Sunday decided to expand maritime security cooperation in the region and expressed concerns over the situations in the East and South China Seas. Though China was not named by any of the leaders, the White House had earlier indicated that it would be high on the agenda of discussions during the annual meeting of the grouping in Wilmington, Delaware “We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We continue to express our serious concern about the militarisation of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea,” the leaders said in a joint declaration. They condemned “dangerous manoeuvres” in the region. “We condemn the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing use of dangerous maneuvers,” the Quad Wilmington Declaration said. Recently, Philippine vessels were allegedly rammed by Chinese coast guard ships in the South China Sea. During his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “Quad supports rules-based international order, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the peaceful resolution of all issues.” “Our meeting is taking place at a time when the world is surrounded by tensions and conflicts. In such a situation, it is crucial for the Quad to unite around our shared democratic values for the greater good of humanity. We are not against anyone,” Modi said. President Joe Biden said Quad is more strategically aligned and delivering more positive impact across the IndoPacific than ever before. “Four years after my proposal to elevate Quad, the US, India, Japan, Australia, are more strategically aligned and delivering more positive impact across the Indo-Pacific than ever before. While challenges will come and the world will change, the Quad is here to stay,’’ he wrote on X. Later, Modi met members of the Indian diaspora in New York. “Just yesterday, President Biden took me to his home in Delaware. His affection, his warmth, it was a moment that touched my heart. This respect is for the 140 billion Indians. This respect is for you, for your achievement,” he told them. Drone deal on track, new semicon plant in Kolkata D Gukesh was in stellar form during the Chess Olympiad this edition | PTI team meeting before the Slovenia game they were kind of celebrating. On Sunday, Gukesh and Co. ‘forced ourselves’ to refocus. Arjun Erigaisi came with a funky opening while Gukesh started enjoying a fairly big advantage over Vladimir Fedoseev, who had taken down Magnus Carlsen a few days ago. With two wins fairly certain, the celebrations could start in earnest. When R Praggnanandhaa nailed his game, it sealed an Y E SHI S E L I @ New Delhi Boston, LA TO HAVE consulaTes India will open new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing the Indian diaspora in New York nearly 300 Antiquities returned US handed over to India 297 antiquities, which were smuggled out of the country over the years | P7 Signalling that the US is keen to strengthen ties with India, US President Joe Biden highlighted the progress in India’s procurement of 31 long-endurance MQ-9B armed drones from American defence major General Atomics and also referred to the setting up of a semiconductor plant in Kolkata, West Bengal. During his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he held wide-ranging talks covering various key aspects of India-US ties including ways to further ramp up bilateral defence and military engagement. It may be recalled that the US had approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B drones to Indian military for around $4 billion in February. Out of these, 16 are for the Indian Air Force and 15 for the Navy . The salient feature of the drones is that these can operate in pin-drop silence and fly as close as 250 metres from the ground. According to reports, some more small details are to be worked out and both sides are likely to formally conclude the deal by next month. As for the semiconductor fabrication plant in Kolkata, both Modi and Biden hailed it as a watershed arrangement. “The plant will be established with support from India Semiconductor Mission as well as strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech and US Space force,’’ the White House said in a statement. Govt doctors demand arrest of JSP MLA express read Three medicos feared drowned in waterfall Rajamahendravaram: Three students, including two girls of Eluru Asram Medical College, are feared drowned in Jalatharangini Waterfalls near Maredumilli in Alluri Sitarama Raju district on Sunday evening. Three others were rescued by locals and police. A search operation was launched for the missing students | P3 E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kakinada/Vijayawada Notwithstanding the apology tendered by Jana Sena Party MLA Pantham Nanaji for manhandling a professor of Rangaraya Medical College (RMC) on Saturday the Andhra , Pradesh Government Doctors Association (APGDA) and the AP Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) have threatened to launch an agitation if the Kakinada Rural MLA and his followers are not arrested. Condemning the assault, Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav also tweeted on X that the government will take stern action against the attackers after conducting a through inquiry into the incident. Meanwhile, Nanaji announced ‘Prayaschitta Deeksha’ at his residence from 10 am to 4 pm for assaulting the professor. “I behaved in a way that an MLA should not. No one should take me as an example. JSP chief Pawan Kalyan, who is doing Prayaschitta Deeksha for someone else’s mistake, has set an example to others, and I will take responsibility for my own mistake,” the MLA said. Nanaji and his followers manhandled Prof Uma Maheswara Rao, HoD of Forensic Medicine, following a row over issuance of permission to use the college ground for a volleyP4 ball match by the latter. LATE on Saturday Viswanath, an Anand had posted his congratulations to the Indian Open team for winning the chess Olympiad. Minutes later, he had posted a clarification as it wasn’t mathematically over. Hours into Sunday’s final round, the Open team, led by D Gukesh, completed formalities as they monstered the Slovenian side 3.5-0.5 to rubber-stamp their authority. If their gold wasn’t much of a surprise — they were one of the favourites — that was followed by a famous double as the women’s team beat Azerbaijan by a similar margin to script yet another piece of history . Going into the final round in Budapest, the Open team was sole leader by two clear points. The players also enjoyed a clear advantage on tie-breaks. It was such a big advantage that in the Nominated posts for sincere TDP leaders top spin: ash reward R Ashwin picks six wickets in the second innings to skittle Bangladesh out for 234 runs and help India script a 280-run victory in the first Test | Ashwin prasath Vijayawada: Emphasising that activists are TDP’s main strength, party supremo and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has said their sacrifices will not be forgotten. Certainly, priority will be given to all those who worked hard in the TDP-JSP-BJP combine in filling up of nominated posts, he said | P4 Shanti Homam at Tirumala temple today It has been decided to perform Shanti Homam and Panchagavya Prokshana to sanctify the Tirumala temple premises and its surroundings. The Shanti Homam will be held at Yagashala near Bangaru Bavi (golden well) in Srivari temple from 6 to 10 am on Monday, the CM said SIT to probe laddu row, power misuse E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an IG and above rank officer will be constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government to probe into the adulteration of the Tirumala temple Laddu Prasdam. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced this at a media conference on Sunday “The SIT will investigate all . issues, including procurement of adulterated ghee containing animal fat, and its use in making the Laddu Prasadam offered to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala temple, and misuse of power by the previous dispensation. Based on the inquiry report submitted by the SIT, sternest action will be taken against the culprits. A letter has been written to the There is no compromise in safeguarding Prime Minister the sanctity of Tirumala temple and its on the Tirumala traditions,” the Chief Minister said. laddu row. I do not Naidu also announced that based on the have any political recommendation of Agama Advisors of interest in Tirumala temple, it has been decided to unravelling the perform Shanti Homam and Panchaga- truth as being vya Prokshana to sanctify the Tirumala claimed by that person (Jagan) temple premises and its surroundings. “The Shanti Homam will be performed at N Chandrababu Yagashala near Bangaru Bavi (golden Naidu, Chief Minister well) in Srivari temple from 6 to 10 am on Monday,” he said. The Endowments Minister has been directed to take up similar rituals in all other temples in the State after verifying the quality of ingredients used in making Prasadam. A committee will be formed with Agama Pandits and experts to come up with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be followed in all the temples, he said. “For us, sentiments of devotees are above all. We are committed to ensuring communal harmony We will ensure no . criminals or anti-social elements are inducted into any temple board or religions institution,” he averred. P4, Edit P6 utterly dominating two weeks. On air, Vidit Gujrathi, one of the unsung heroes of this team’s campaign, said this would go down as a win for the ages never to be repeated again. Even as the Open team converted their positional superiority into points, the women’s team had to take the scenic route to global glory D Harika, . playing on the top board, was inconsistent while R Vaishali had slightly lost her rhythm in the second phase. But it didn’t matter as Divya Deshmukh, a world champion at age-group level, and Vantika Agrawal, on Board 4, became giants. So, even as Harika and Vaishali had to grind their way to wins or salvage draws, Deshmukh and Agrawal enjoyed serene progress in terms of wins. In the end, they won two individual gold, an apt reward for what they had done to the colP11 lective cause. impure ghee Rap Naidu for spreading lies on TTD, Jagan writes to PM E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada YSRC chief and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking swift action against the baseless allegations made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu pertaining to the Tirumala temple Laddu Prasadam. In his 8-page letter, the YSRC chief strongly criticised Naidu for spreading malicious propaganda on the purity of ghee used in the preparation of the sacred Tirumala Laddu. He pointed out that Naidu’s reckless and politically motivated statements have hurt the sentiments of devotees and tar nished the sanctity of the world-renowned T i r u m a l a Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Jagan reiterated that the Chief Minister’s baseless claims are nothing short of an attempt to divert public attention from the failures of his government, and to further his political agenda. He urged the Prime Minister to reprimand Naidu for his actions, and bring the truth to light, restoring the trust and faith of devotees. “Naidu has spread blatant lies against the practices of the TTD. He alleged that the ghee that was being used in the preparation of the Prasadam in the Tirumala temple was adulterated, and that the ghee contained animal fats,” the P4 YSRC chief said. Sri Lanka chooses Dissanayake as President to fix economy in disarray Dilrukshi Handunnetti Award-winning journalist and lawyer, founder and director of the Colombo-based Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) COLOMBO: National Peoples’ Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, 56, was on Sunday declared presidentelect by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka at the Election Secretariat in Colombo. Addressing election officials, presidential candidates, and political party representatives, Dissanayake promised to usher in a new political culture and strive to serve 22 million Sri Lankans “with deep commitment and respect” and to create a new political culture that celebrates political differences and honours people’s dignity and rights. Dissanayake, who polled 5,634,915 votes (42.31%), was declared winner after a second preferential count, as none of the candidates reached the con- This victory belongs to all of us. Together, we stand ready to rewrite Sri Lankan history President-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake gestures after his victory | AFP stitutionally required 50% plus 1 vote. In the second preferential count, he obtained 105,264 votes. His main rival, Opposition Leader and Leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Sajith Premadasa, polled 4,363,035 votes (32.76%) and 107,867 second preference votes. The president-elect noted the need to amend the election laws to enable certain sections of the public such as migrant workers to be able to vote, and promised to accord it high priority However, he said it would . not be possible to pass these amendments before the next bunch of elections. “Our country is unstable in many ways. There are economic, political, social, geopolitical challenges before us. They need to be addressed with care. But to address them, the NPP believed the rulers have to be mandated by the people,” he said. Sri Lanka’s election history has been marred by violence from time to time. But the 2024 polls witnessed minimum inciCONTINUED ON: P7 dents.
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