CMYK MAY 17 Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim attends the celebration of Buddha Purnima to mark Gautam Buddha’s 2566th birthday at Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata, on Monday. TUESDAY 35 35 29 Precipition: 10% Humidity: 35% Wind: 26 KM/H PG 3 Rs. 3 KOLKATA TUESDAY, 17 MAY, 2022 PG-12, YEAR—8, ISSUE—352 (RNI NO.: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) China unemployment Modi's visit contributes a boost to Lumbini a worldwide visibility rate near pandemic peak MI News Service, Beijing: China's jobless rate rose to 6.1 per cent in April, the highest level since the 6.2 per cent peak seen in the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic in February 2020. It comes as widening lockdowns led to a sharp slowdown in activity for the world's second largest economy, the BBC reported. Official figures also show retailers and manufacturers were hit hard. Full or partial lockdowns were imposed in dozens of cities in March and April, including a long shutdown of the commercial centre Shanghai, the BBC reported. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang recently described the country's employment situation "complicated and grim" following the worst outbreaks of the virus since 2020. Still, the MI News Service, Lumbini: Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday hailed the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lumbini, saying that his visit to sacred religious sites has boosted cultural relations between people of both countries. Nepal PM Deuba addressed a congregation at International Convention Center and Meditation Hall at Lumbini in the presence of PM Modi. "I believe that Modiji's visit will contribute to giving worldwide visibility to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha," PM Deuba said. Prime Minister visited the Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini, the first stop of his one-day visit to Lumbini, on Buddha Jayanti. He was accompanied by PM Deuba and his spouse Dr Arzu Rana Deuba. The leaders paid their respects at the Marker Stone inside the temple premises, which pinpoints the exact birth spot of Lord Buddha. They attended the pooja conducted as per Buddhist rituals. Talking about his discussions with PM Modi earlier in the day, Deuba said they had fruitful discussions on ways to further advance historical relations between Nepal and India. "The past visits by Modiji to sacred ❑ Continue PG 3 ❑ Continue PG 3 The Buddhist students (bhikkhu) attend the celebration of Lord Buddha's 2566 birth anniversary in Kolkata on Monday. PIC: PRABIR BHATTACHARYA Amid Maoist resurgence threat, Mamata to visit Junglemahal MI News Service, Kolkata: In the backdrop of frequent recovery of Maoist posters and intelligence alerts about the resurgence of the Left-wing extremist (LWE) activities in pockets of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be in Junglemahal for two days from Tuesday. Although the Junglemahal area is scattered over three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, this time the chief minister will restrict her activities in West Midnapore district only. In the coming days, the chief minister will make similar visits to Purulia and Bankura as well, confirmed sources from the state secretariat of Nabanna. Sources said that on May 17, the chief minister will first reach the Circuit House in Midnapore town. On the same day, around 3 p.m. she will chair an administrative review meeting, which will be attended by district magistrates and district police superintendents and other senior bureaucrats and police officers from the district. Next day, she will address a rally of the party workers and leaders in the district at the Midnapore College Grounds. Killing of 2 Sikhs in Peshawar latest in a series of targeted attacks COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax price slashed to Rs 250 from Rs 840 MI News Service, Pe- MI News Service, Hyderabad: The price shawar : The killing of the of COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax has been two Sikh men in Peshawar is the latest in a series of targeted attacks on the community which continues to live under mounting fear. On Sunday morning, Saljeet Singh, 42, and Ranjeet Singh, 38 were gunned down by unidentified assailants in the city's Bata Tal bazaar, reports The Express Tribune. The two assailants were riding a motorcycle when they opened fire on the victims, who owned spice shops in the bazaar. The men died on the spot. CMYK reduced to Rs 250 a dose from its earlier Rs 840, said Biological E Limited (BE) on Monday. For end-user, the price would be Rs 400 a dose, including taxes and administration charges, added the pharmaceutical company. Earlier in April, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) A member of the state cabinet, who did not wish to be named, told reporters that the chief minister is concerned about the reports of possible resurgence of the Maoist activities in the state. "She has got reports that a section of the people in the three districts scattered over the Junglemahal area are dissatisfied with the slow progress ❑ Continue PG 3 granted emergency use authorisation to Biological E's COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax for those aged 5 to 12 years, informed the pharmaceutical company. Corbevax is currently being administered to children in the age group of 12-14. Biological E Limited has manufactured 30 crore doses of Corbevax and has already ❑ Continue PG 3 Southwest Monsoon advances over Andaman and Nicobar Islands MI News Service, New Delhi : The South- west Monsoon advanced into some parts of South Bay of Bengal, most parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Andaman Sea on Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced. This comes a day later than the earlier announcement last week of the Southwest Monsoon reaching the South Andaman Sea on May 15. As per the normal dates of monsoon, the onset of Southwest Monsoon over Andaman Sea happens around May 22. ❑ Continue PG 3 Uncertain future awaits the residents of Bowbazar MI News Service, Kolkata: Goldsmiths of Durga Pithuri Lane in Kolkata's Bowbazar -- whose shops had to be shut overnight after at least 12 houses in the area developed major cracks due to tunneling work for the East-West Metro line -- are staring at an uncertain future, as they run from pillar to post with jewellery-filled bags. Ananda Maity, Sushil Roy, Foni Mahato and their fellow goldsmiths are now caught between devil and deep sea. They are frantically looking for a temporary place to immediately restart work on a number of wedding jewellery orders amounting to lakhs of rupees. "The wedding season is in full swing, and we have several orders to deliver with very little time. Now, with our shops gone, we are left with nothing. The situation here is at sixes and sevens." said Suhas Mahato, standing close to a building with noticeable cracks. At least 12 houses suffered structural damage in Durga Pithuri Lane of Bowbazar on May 11, with more than 140 locals being shifted to hotels. Similar scenes were witnessed in the area on August 31, 2019, when a tunnel boring machine (TBM) hit an aquifer, leading to severe ground subsidence and col- lapse of several buildings. A senior official of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation told that some of the goldsmiths had set up shops at Durga Pithuri Lane decades ago, and they have been asked to leave with their belongings, as the "dangerous" buildings might have to be razed. "We were working round the clock to complete the orders. And now, all of a sudden, we had to leave with jewellery and tools-loaded bags, searching for a place where we can get down to work again, Suhas Mallick said. Ananda Maity, 65, said they have been searching for rooms on rent to resume work, but landlords are demanding an exorbitant amount. Some landlords are asking for Rs 30,000 per month, while others are demanding Rs 1-1.5 lakh in advance to give rooms on rent, Maity said. "The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on our business, and we are not in a position to spend this amount of money to set up temporary shops elsewhere," he said. Senior officials of Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC), during a recent meeting with city mayor Firhad Hakim, had discussed about temporary rehabilitation of these goldsmiths.