BHUBANESWAR  THURSDAY  JULY 03, 2025  `9.00  PAGES 12  LATE CITY EDITION BANGLADESH COURT HANDS SIX-MONTH JAIL TERM TO EX-PM SHEIKH HASINA The International Crimes Tribunal, where Hasina is facing trial on charges of crimes against humanity, on Wednesday sentenced her in a contempt case FIRST SENTENCE SINCE HER EXILE IN AUG 2024 VERDICT BASED ON LEAKED AUDIO CLIP It marks the first time that 77-year-old Hasina has been sentenced in any case since she fled to India following a student-led uprising in August last year. The sentence, delivered in her absence, will come into effect from the day of her arrest or surrender before the court, chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam told reporters after the verdict was handed down protester Abu Sayeed, whose killing in Rangpur University escalated to a nationwide violent protest that eventually ousted her ■ The verdict came over a leaked audio clip in which Hasina is allegedy heard telling a party leader that she has “licence to kill” people ■ Hasina’s trial was opened on Monday over the murder of student AUG 8, 2024 WHEN MUHAMMAD YUNUS-LED INTERIM GOVT WAS SWORN IN, IN BANGLADESH 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 Institution of Dalai Lama will go on China fumes as incumbent says the Gaden Phodrang Trust alone has the authority to recognise his reincarnation H A R P R E E T B A J W A & J AYA N T H J A C O B @ Chandigarh/New Delhi IN a landmark announcement just days ahead of his 90th birthday, the 14th Dalai Lama on Wednesday formally announced that the centuries-old institution of the Dalai Lama will continue after his death, ending years of speculation over the future of Tibetan Buddhism’s highest spiritual seat. The decision, however, drew sharp criticism from China, which insists it holds authority over any future reincarnation. “I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” the exiled Tibetan leader declared in a statement posted on social media and his official website. He emphasised that only his personal institution, the Gaden Phodrang Trust, has the authority to identify and recognise his reincarnation, warning that no outside entity, including governments, has any right to interfere in the sacred process. “I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.” The Chinese government RIJIJU, TWO CMs TO ATTEND B’DAY EVENT Union minister Kiren Rijiju, CMs Pema Khandu and Prem Singh Tamang and Karnataka minister Gangadharaia are expected to attend the 90th birthday celebrations of the Dalai Lama on July 6 at Dharamshala The Gaden Phodrang Trust has the sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation. No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter GERE ARRIVES, U.S. MAY SEND DIPLOMAT Hollywood veteran Richard Gere is already in McLeodganj along with his son Homer James Jigme Gere. The US is likely to be represented by Bethany Poulos Morrison, Dy Assistant Secretary in the State Department condemned the announcement, reiterating its long-standing claim to control the selection of Tibetan spiritual leaders, a stance that triggered international criticism for politicising religion. “The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama, and other great Buddhist figures must be chosen by drawing lots from a golden urn and approved by the central government,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing. She cited — DALAI LAMA Screengrab of the 14th Dalai Lama announcing the institution will continue | PTI a Qing dynasty-era method to justify Beijing’s authority over reincarnations. Mao said China permits religious freedom but within limits defined by the state. “The survival and development of any religion lies in adapting to the country’s social environment and cultural traditions,” she said, defending China’s efforts to align religious practices with its governance model. Beijing views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and continues to reject his spiritual and political influence, especially in regions like Tibet and parts of the Himalayan belt where devotion to him is deep-rooted. In contrast to China’s rebuke, the Dalai Lama’s reaffirmation was welcomed by Tibetan groups and Buddhist communities across Asia. The spiritual leader revealed that his decision following 14 years of consistent appeals from religious leaders, civil organisations, and Tibetan communi- Landslide in Joda forest leaves three dead during suspected illegal mining EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Keonjhar/Rourkela THREE persons reportedly involved in illegal mining were buried alive following a landslide in the Bichakundi-Dalapahad forest under Joda police limits of Keonjhar district late on Tuesday evening. The landslide occurred in a remote part of Baitarani forest which is part of Joda mining circle. The accident site is about 75 km from district headquarters town of Keonjhar and comes under Joda police station jurisdiction. DIG (Western Range) Brijesh Kumar Rai said police received information about the three persons getting trapped in the landslide at about 7.30 pm. A joint team of police, forest department and fire services reached the spot at night and launched the rescue operation. However, due to heavy rain, difficult terrain and presence of wild animals, the operation was affected and could be resumed on Wednesday morning when the bodies were recovered. The deceased were identified as Sandeep Purti (32), Kande Munda (19) and Guru Champia (18), all from Bichakundi area. The mishap site is rich with manganese ore deposit and it appeared, the deceased were engaged in manual digging. The landslide was quickened with loosening of the top soil due to days of intermittent rainfall. Barbil SDPO Debendra Pingua said it was not immediately clear if more than three persons were present at the site during the incident. Police received information about the mishap from villagers. Regional chief conservator of forests of Rourkela circle P Ramaswamy said Keonjhar divisional forest officer (DFO) HD Dhanraj has rushed to the spot for investigation and a detailed report is awaited. A team from Joda mining circle also reached the area where the mining was taking place, said deputy director (mining) Dinesh Agarwal. Dhanraj infor med that the mishap site was an abandoned forest area located between two mines. Probe is underway to ascertain who was behind the smuggling. A case of unnatural death was registered at Joda police station in this regard. The illegal mining comes to surface even as the Special Task Force and Vigilance conduct a probe in Koida mining circle of Sundargarh district. Sources said, in view of the probe in the neighbouring district, mining mafia has shifted focus to Sundargarh-Keonjhar bordering areas of Bichakundi, Chor Malda, Palasa, Pidhpokhari and Ganua. In a month, more than a dozen vehicles have been seized in Joda mining circle in a joint departmental action. ties inside and outside Tibet. “Leaders of Tibet’s spiritual traditions, members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, participants in a Special General Body Meeting, members of the Central Tibetan Administration, NGOs, Buddhists from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, Buddhists of the Russian Federation, and Buddhists in Asia including mainland China, have written to me… earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue,” he said. Importantly the Dalai Lama , noted that Tibetans inside China — despite state surveillance — had conveyed their support through informal channels. The Dalai Lama had first broached the question of his succession in 1969, stating that the future of his lineage should be decided by the Tibetan people. In 2011, he promised to revisit the issue around his 90th birthday With this week’s state. ment, that moment has come — and brought clarity . The Gaden Phodrang Trust will oversee the reincarnation search process, in consultation with the heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and spiritual protectors linked to the Dalai Lama’s lineage. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi THE foreign ministers of the Quad countries, India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen. In a joint statement issued after their meeting in Washington, the ministers called for the “perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay .” While the statement urged all UN member states to cooperate under international law with efforts to investigate and prosecute those responsible, it notably stopped short of naming Pakistan, which India holds responsible for cross-border terrorism, including the Pahalgam attack. From India’s perspective, the explicit mention of the Pahalgam attack is significant. “We unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all their Mineral supply chains The Quad Critical Minerals Initiative aims to strengthen economic security by collaborating on securing and diversifying critical mineral supply chains forms, including cross-border terrorism,” the statement read. Cross-border terror for India denotes the terrorism directed against it from Pakistan. Beyond terrorism, the joint statement highlighted concerns over security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. While avoiding direct reference to China, the ministers condemned the “dangerous and provocative actions” in the South and East China Seas. The ministers also announced the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, plans for the first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise, and the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, which is slated to be inaugurated in Mumbai later this year. SBI flags Anil Ambani-led RCom loan as fraud B E N N K O C H U V E E D A N @ Mumbai GILL BILL Shubman Gill scores a century against England in the second Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday | AFP | P11 The country’s largest bank, State Bank of India, has classified the loan account of beleaguered Reliance Communications (RCom), under bankruptcy since June 2019, as a ‘fraud’ account, and reported the name of its erstwhile promoter and director Anil Ambani to the Reserve Bank of India. According to SBI, RCom used `12,692.31 crore, 41% of the total loan, to pay connected parties through a web of inter-group transactions. The company owed `31,580 crore to banks, SBI said in its letter. In an exchange filing on Wednesday RCom confirmed , MOVE FLOUTED DIRECTIONS OF SUPREME COURT, RBI: RCOM RCom said it will seek legal, remedial measures, arguing that SBI did not properly hear its side of the story as required by the Supreme Court and did not follow RBI norms on classifying a loan account as fraud receipt of the letter from SBI, dated June 23. The firm asserted its right to seek remedial and legal measures, arguing that the bank did not properly hear its case as required by the Supreme Court and did not follow RBI norms on classifying a loan account as fraud. In a March 28, 2023 order, the SC directed banks DON FOR 500% TARIFFS ON RUSSIA’S PARTNERS Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who introduced the bill earlier IN a development that could possibly this year, confirmed Trump’s support reshape US foreign trade poliduring an interview on ABC cy and geopolitical alliances, News. “If you’re buying prodPresident Donald Trump has ucts from Russia and you’re backed a Senate bill proposing not helping Ukraine, then a sweeping 500% tariff on there’s a 500 percent tariff on countries keeping economic your products coming into the ties with Russia. United States,” Graham said. The legislation, known as Donald Trump “India and China buy 70% of the Sanctioning Russia Act, Putin’s oil. They keep his war aims to economically isolate machine going.” Moscow by penalising third-party naIf enacted into law, the proposed tions, including India and China, tariffs would directly hit India and which continue to import vast quan- China, the largest buyers of Russian tities of Russian oil. crude. J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi EXPRESS READ Contract staff entitled to maternity leave: HC Members of the rescue team at the mishap site in Bichakundi-Dalapahad forest of Keonjhar district on Wednesday | EXPRESS Quad raps Pahalgam terrorist attack, but does not name Pak Rain cripples life in Koraput, disrupts road & rail traffic Cuttack: In a landmark ruling that reaffirms the rights of women employees irrespective of their employment status, the Orissa High Court has upheld the grant of maternity leave to a contractual worker and dismissed the state government’s appeal challenging the same. Anindita Mishra, engaged as a young professional under the Health and Family Welfare department since May 20, 2014, had filed a petition in the high court the same year | P2 Jeypore: Heavy rains continued to lash Koraput throwing life out of gear in several blocks of the district on Wednesday. Due to the rains, schools, colleges and educational institutions recorded a thin attendance while different markets and business establishments wore a deserted look in Jeypore, Koraput, Sunabeda and Kotpad areas. Communication network was the worst-hit with roads and bridges getting damaged in different areas due to the incessant downpour | P4 to provide borrowers with a personal hearing before classifying their loan accounts as fraudulent, citing the principles of natural justice. The court noted that classifying a loan account as fraud has severe implications for borrowers, including potential criminal pro- ceedings and restrictions on future borrowing. Following this, RBI issued revised guidelines to banks incorporating this ruling into its Febr uary 2016 guidelines. After SBI’s move, other banks with exposure to RCom are expected to follow suit. “We have taken cognizance of the responses to our showcause notice and... concluded that sufficient reasons have not been provided by the respondent to explain the nonadherence to the agreed terms and conditions of the loan documents,” SBI said in its June 25 letter, which RCom disclosed to exchanges on Wednesday .