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Maharashtra CM, Ministers visit Guwahati to pay obeisance to Goddess Kamakhya

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PTI
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Guwahati Goddess Kamakhya Mandir
Image: PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several other ministers along with their families on Saturday visited Guwahati to pay obeisance to Goddess Kamakhya.

Their short trip to the northeastern state comes five months after Shinde along with a group of Shiv Sena MLAs and Independent legislators stayed at a hotel in Guwahati for a week from June 22-29 before toppling the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the western state.

“The Maharashtra chief minister, several ministers, MLAs and their family members landed at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in separate flights, including a chartered one,” a police officer said.

“As far as we know, they are here to pay obeisance at Kamakhya temple. They will spend the night at a private hotel and return tomorrow,” he said.

It is the same hotel where the then rebel MLAs had stayed in June. A member of the entourage told reporters at the airport that the then rebel MLAs in June had a ‘darshan’ of Goddess Kamakhya and prayed to her for success.

“The ‘devi’ heard our prayers and Shinde Ji became the chief minister,” he said.

Shinde, in a bid to topple the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government in Maharashtra, had reached Guwahati, around 2,700 km from Mumbai along with dissident Shiv Sena MLAs and some Independent legislators on June 22.

They stayed at a private hotel till June 29, when they flew to Goa and went to Mumbai later. Shinde was sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra in July with the support of the MLAs with whom he had spent a week in the capital of Assam, where BJP headed by Himanta Biswa Sarma is in power.

Veteran actor Vikram Gokhale passes away at age of 77

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PTI
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Vikram Gokhale Passed Away Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital
Image: PTI

Veteran film, television and stage actor Vikram Gokhale on Saturday died at a city-based hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment for the last couple of weeks, the hospital authorities said.

Gokhale, 77, was admitted to the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital here earlier this month following health complications. His mortal remains will be kept at the Balgandharva Auditorium in the city and the last rites will be performed at the Vaikunth crematorium in the evening, a family friend of the actor said.

Gokhale, an artist equally at home in theatre, television, and movies, acted in several Marathi and Bollywood films, including the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer “Agneepath” (1990), “Bhool Bhulaiyaa” (2007), “Natsamrat” (2015) and “Mission Mangal” (2019). His latest release is the Marathi film “Godavari”.

107 crores on state government for the Central Library work in Kalina

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Web Team
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Central Library Work in Kalina University RTI Activist Anil Galgali
107 crores on state government for the Central Library work in Kalina 4

190 crores will be spent for the work of the Central Library which has been stalled for the last 12 years on the Kalina University plot in Kalina, Santa Cruz East.

137.07 crores has already been given to India Bulls by the government and a tender of 53 crores has been issued for the incomplete works. Public works department has given this information to RTI activist Anil Galgali.

Considering the expected expenditure, even now it has come to light that the government has suffered an additional hit of 107 crores in the work of the Central Library.

RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the Public Works Department about the stalled work of the Central Library.

The Public Works department provided the current status information to Anil Galgali. On November 26, 1993, the government took over 4 acres of land for the central library by giving Rs 1.61 lakh to the University of Mumbai.

An agreement was entered into with India Bulls Real Estate Limited for the construction of land approximately 23423 square meters for the building of Central Library through privatization.18,421 sq. Meter in lieu of construction of Central Library Permission was given to construct.1 per sq. meter for a long term lease of 99 years.

On July 6, 2010, the work order was issued and it was agreed to complete the work in 36 months. It was approved by the Infrastructure Committee of the Cabinet on February 19, 2009.

The Infrastructure Committee of the Cabinet on September 3, 2019 approved the payment of the amount and compensation demanded by the developer in view of India Bulls Real Estate Limited, which did not complete the project.

In this, the transfer of the plot of area 7000 sq. meter given on lease was canceled. Rs 137.07 crores has been paid to the developer and 46.67 crores has been earmarked for completing the incomplete construction of the 6-storey Central Library.

A tender of 53 crores has been issued and it is intended to complete the construction of the Central Library within a year.

According to Anil Galgali, the government did not get any benefit from this contract, instead, an additional loss of 107 crores was incurred and the company India Bulls Real Estate Limited, which did not complete the contract, benefited. Because the cost of construction is 82.49 crores, on what basis the amount of 137.07 crores has been paid to the developer, it is necessary to inquire.

Anil Galgali, in a letter sent to Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, has demanded that the government be cheated by the then ministers, officials and contractors and their roles have been investigated at a high level and action has been taken.

“Uddhav Thackeray sat on the chair only 4 times in two and a half years,” said Abdul Sattar

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Web Team
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Uddhav Thackeray,Shiv Sena
Uddhav Thackeray | Image: Agencies

I’m not offended. There was no gram panchayat member in my house. But for the last 42 years, what else do you want than getting such a big position in politics? State Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar explained that how can I be angry.

Abdul Sattar also claimed that there is a bigger force of people who are angry in Congress and Nationalist Congress Party than in Shinde group.

He interacted with the media in Nashik.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along with many supporters MLAs and MPs have gone to Guwahati. But Abdul Sattar and Gulabrao Patil did not go to Guwahati.

Abdul Sattar also commented on this. If the Chief Minister goes to Guwahati, it is as if the entire Maharashtra has gone.

Abdul Sattar said that I will definitely go to Guwahati in the future. Abdul Sattar also criticized former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Uddhav Thackeray should move.

Why Shiv Sena split should be evaluated. If we had known in advance, there would have been no time to travel. Abdul Sattar has targeted Uddhav Thackeray that Uddhav Thackeray sat on the chair only 4 times in two and a half years.

Paytm Payments Services resubmits application for its aggregator services

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ANI
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Paytm,financial services,Digital
Paytm, financial services, Digital | Image: PTI

Digital payments and financial services company Paytm has shared an update with the exchanges about its 100 per cent subsidiary, Paytm Payments Services.

The fintech company said that it has received a letter from the Reserve Bank of India in response to an application from its subsidiary for the authorization to provide payment aggregator services for online merchants.

The company can now resubmit the application within 120 calendar days for the payment aggregator services.

Ahead of that, the company will seek necessary approval for past downward investment from Paytm into its subsidiary, to comply with foreign direct investment guidelines.

During this process, the company will not onboard new online merchants.

“We can continue to onboard new offline merchants and offer them payment services including All-in-One QR, Soundbox, Card Machines, etc. Similarly, PPSL can continue to do business with existing online merchants, for whom the services will remain unaffected,” said the company in its exchange filing on Saturday.

This essentially means that Paytm’s strong business momentum is likely to continue, with no impact on its profitability target as the company can continue to work with its existing online merchants.

Additionally, Paytm’s growing device deployments base and increasing offline payments base will also not be impacted with this development, where it can continue to onboard new merchants.

The company specifically outlined in its filing that this has no material impact on its business and revenues since the communication from RBI is applicable only to the onboarding of new online merchants. “We are hopeful of receiving the necessary approvals in a timely manner and resubmitting the application,” said the company in the filing.

ISRO successfully launches PSLV-C54 carrying 9 satellites

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ANI
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ISRO PSLV-C54 Sriharikota
Image: PTI

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday successfully launched a PSLV-C54 rocket carrying EOS-06, also known as Oceansat-3, and 8 nanosatellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota.

PSLV-C54 was launched from First Launch Pad (FLP) Sriharikota spaceport at 11.56 am in a two-hour multi-orbit launch mission.

The primary payload onboard PSLV-C54 was the EOS-06. It will be separated in Orbit-1.

“Subsequently, Orbit change is planned by using two Orbit Change Thrusters (OCTs) introduced in the Propulsion Bay Ring of the PSLV-C54 Vehicle. The Passenger Payloads (PPLs) will be separated in Orbit-2,” read a statement by ISRO.

This is the 56th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the 24th Flight of the PSLV-XL version with 6 PSOM-XLs.

At least 3 killed, 11 injured in twin school shootings in Brazil

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ANI
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Brazil Schools Attack
Image: AFP

At least three people were killed and 11 were severely wounded after an armed gunman opened fire at two schools in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo on Friday, foreign media reported citing Brazilian authorities.

The gunman who opened fire on schools in Brazil was reportedly carrying a semi-automatic weapon which was captured in security footage. The alleged shooter was found to be wearing military attire while the face was covered.

However, the shooter is suspected to be a 16-year-old. The attack, notably, took place in the small town of Aracruz, 50 miles north of the state capital, Vitoria, as per foreign media.

In a tweet, the governor of Espirito Santo, Renato Casagrande confirmed on Friday, “security teams caught up with the attacker who, cowardly, attacked two schools in Aracruz. I declared three days of official mourning as a sign of grief for the irreparable losses. We will continue to investigate the reasons and, soon, we will have new clarifications.”

“The attacks took place at the Primo Bitti school and the Praia de Coqueiral Educational Center,” said the Governor.

Describing the twin shootouts as an “absurd tragedy”, Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, tweeted, “It’s with sadness that I was informed about the attacks at the Aracruz schools in Espirito Santo. My solidarity goes to the family of the victims in this absurd tragedy.”

“My support goes out to Governor Casagrande in investigating the case and comforting the communities surrounding the two affected schools,” he added, according to foreign media.

GST Coucil meet will be held on December virtually

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ANI
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Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister,GST Council Meet
Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister | Image : PTI

The GST Council will next meet on December 17, 2022, in a virtual format. “The 48th Meeting of the GST Council will be held on 17th December, 2022 by video conference,” the GST Council tweeted late Friday evening. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is the chairperson of the Council. The 47th meeting was held in late June 2022, in Chandigarh.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is the chairperson of the Council. The 47th meeting was held in late June 2022, in Chandigarh.

After the recommendations that were taken up in the two-day 47th GST Council meeting in Chandigarh in June, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was hiked for numerous items including LED lamps, solar water heaters and various job works, informed the officials.

The GST on printing/writing or drawing ink, LED lamps, lights and fixtures and their metal printed circuit board has been hiked to 18 per cent from 12 per cent.

Further, the Council has also increased the rate on tetra pack to 18 per cent from 12 per cent and rate on cut and polished diamonds to 1.5 per cent from 0.25 per cent.

The rate changes recommended by the GST Council became effective on July 18, 2022. Further, the Group of Ministers set up headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Casino, Race Course and Online Gaming was to re-examine the issues in its terms of reference based on further inputs from States and submit its report after that.

The GST related to casinos and online gaming will likely be on the table in the upcoming council meeting.

Jakarta university organized a seminar in memorial of victims in 26/11 terror attack

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ANI
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26/11 Terror Attack,Mumbai,Maharashtra,Hotel Taj
26/11 Terror Attack, Hotel Taj | Image: ANI

In order to commemorate the tragedy of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) of the University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta (UMJ) organized an international seminar at its campus on November 24.

The seminar, which was organized in a hybrid mode, also discussed the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings in Indonesia, according to a UMJ press statement. The seminar titled “Dangers of Terrorism: Commemorating the Tragedy of 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks” saw attendees from both India and Indonesia.

On behalf of the UMJ Rector Dr. Ma’mun Murad, Amin Shabana, FISIP’s chief of the International Cooperation Team, gave the opening remarks. A minute of silence was observed to pay homage to the victims of terror attacks in Mumbai.

On the night of November 26, 2008, a group of armed terrorists from Pakistan attacked Mumbai city, the financial capital of India.

The 10 terrorists, who were trained by the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), targeted several important locations simultaneously and mercilessly killed 165 people, including 140 Indians and 25 foreigners from 17 countries.

The attacks were planned and executed by LeT and its parent organization, Jamat ud Dawa (JUD). Strangely, LeT was banned by Pakistan in 2002. It has been openly operating its activities through JUD, which was banned on December 11, 2008.

Both LeT and JUD are affiliated to al-Qaeda and have been receiving full support in the shape of money, weapons and training from the Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), according to UMJ.

The terrorists were smuggled into Mumbai via sea on a suicide mission.

They were trained in marine warfare, swimming, automatic weapons (AK-47s), hand grenades and satellite phones by trainers (both retired and active) from the Pakistan Army and ISI. “They used Type 86 grenades, which were produced by China’s state-owned company, Norinco. They attacked a railway station, hospital, cafe, Jewish centre and two hotels. They killed civilians, taxi drivers, hotel staff, foreigners, and security personnel,” the UMJ statement read.

Before coming to Mumbai, they hijacked an Indian fishing boat and killed four of its crew.

The new thing in the Mumbai attacks was that terrorists were targeting foreigners also in addition to Indians.

It was a similar attack on foreigners in Indonesia’s Bali on October 12, 2002, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, 38 Indonesians and 23 Britons.

The terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the perpetrator of the 2002 Bali Bombings, and LeT from Pakistan have close links with al-Qaeda terror group.

This year, Indonesia is commemorating the 20th anniversary of Bali bombings and paying homage to the victims while India is commemorating the 14th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks this year and paying homage to the victims.

Those who planned and oversaw 26/11 attack must be brought to justice: EAM Jaishankar

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ANI
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26/11 Mumbai Attack EAM S Jaishankar
Image: PTI

Terrorism threatens humanity, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday, as he remembered the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

He also said those who planned and oversaw this attack must be brought to justice.

“Terrorism threatens humanity. Today, on 26/11, the world joins India in remembering its victims. Those who planned and oversaw this attack must be brought to justice. We owe this to every victim of terrorism around the world,” Jaishankar tweeted.

In 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists (LeT) carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks killing at least 166 people and leaving 300 wounded.

Last month, India hosted the two-day anti-terrorism meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), under India’s chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC).

After the meeting, a Delhi Declaration was issued which underlined that terrorists’ opportunity to access safe havens continues to be a significant concern and that all Member States must cooperate fully in the fight against terrorism.

The Declaration also recognized that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

During UNSC’s special meeting, Jaishankar highlighted that the global threat of terrorism is growing and expanding, particularly in Asia and Africa, despite the UNSC’s best efforts to combat the “gravest threat to humanity”.

“Terrorism remains the gravest threat to humanity. The UN Security Council in the past two decades has evolved an important architecture built, primarily around the counter-terrorism sanctions regime to combat this menace. This has effectively put the countries on notice that had turned terrorism into a state-funded enterprise.”

“Despite this, the threat of terrorism is only growing and expanding, particularly in Asia and Africa, as successive reports of 1267 sanctions committee monitoring reports have highlighted,” he added.

Jaishnkar told CTC members that their presence in Delhi at the special meeting demonstrated the importance that the UNSC member states and a wide range of stakeholders, place on this critical and emerging facet of terrorism.

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