US provided USD 56.5 million aid to Pakistan for flood relief, humanitarian assistance

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September 27, 2022

US PAK — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. (Photo
Credit – Twitter/Antony Blinken)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the State Department on Monday and said that America had provided USD 56.5 million in aid to Pakistan for flood relief and humanitarian assistance this year. Blinken expressed his sorrow over the devastation and loss of life throughout Pakistan caused by catastrophic flooding.

“He reaffirmed the US commitment to the people of Pakistan, noting the nearly USD 56.5 million in flood relief and humanitarian assistance provided this year as well as the additional USD 10 million of food security assistance announced today,” read the US State Department press release.

The US Secretary and the Pakistan Foreign Minister also discussed partnering on food security, economic prosperity, regional stability, and Afghanistan. “Welcomed Pakistani Foreign Minister @BBhuttoZardari to the @StateDept to reaffirm our close partnership for economic prosperity, regional stability, and food security. I also emphasized our continued support for flood relief, including nearly USD 56.5 million in aid. #PakUSAt75,” tweeted Blinken.

Blinken and Foreign Minister Bhutto Zardari focused on various issues including the marking of 75 years of the countries’ relations, security and the devastating floods in Pakistan. Since mid-June, unprecedented heavy rains and flooding gripped Pakistan, the military has been engaged in relief and rescue efforts across the country struggling with the deluge that has killed more than 1,600 people.

“We stand in strong solidarity with our friends in Pakistan, not only in solidarity,” said Blinken. “We are doing everything we can to be of assistance at this moment, just as Pakistan has been of assistance to us, including at the beginning of COVID.” Responding to Blinken, Bhutto stressed on climate change that has brought one of the most devastating floods in the history of Pakistan.

“This is a global problem that needs global solutions, and your President has shown leadership on the climate front, so I think we’re ready to be partners on this agenda,” said Bhutto. Speaking on 75-year diplomatic relations between the two countries, he said, “I think Pakistan and the United States have shown over the last 75 years that we’ve been great powers – great partners, great partners, and we’ve achieved great things together.

In fact, whenever we’ve – there’s developed a distance, we’ve faltered, and I think it’s a great testament to our diplomatic relations that we’ve not only withstanded the tests of time, but we are now re-engaged in a broader framework.

NASA’s DART mission successfully crashes spacecraft into asteroid

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ANI

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September 27, 2022

NASA 2 — NASA smashes DART spacecraft into asteroid Dimorphous successfully. (Photo: Twitter//NASA

NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) – the world’s first planetary defense technology demonstration – successfully impacted its asteroid target on Monday, the agency’s first attempt to move an asteroid in space. “IMPACT SUCCESS! Watch from #DARTMIssion’s DRACO Camera, as the vending machine-sized spacecraft successfully collides with asteroid Dimorphos, which is the size of a football stadium and poses no threat to Earth,” NASA tweeted, taking to Twitter.

Termed humanity’s first test of planetary defence by NASA, the main objective behind the mission was to redirect the asteroid closer to Didymos, which it orbits, CNN reported. The asteroid system was the perfect target to test kinetic impact, which may be needed if an asteroid is ever on track to hit Earth. As per CNN, the process took place when a briefcase-size CubeSat hitched a ride with DART and three minutes after impact, it flew by Dimorphos to capture images and video which will be streamed back to Earth in the coming weeks and months.

The mission is known as the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), according to NASA. NASA reported that with a diameter of about 525 feet (160 meters) Dimorphos is the smaller of two asteroids in a double-asteroid system. Dimorphos orbits the larger asteroid Didymos every 11 hours and 55 minutes.

The DART spacecraft is designed to collide head-on with Dimorphos to alter its orbit, shortening the time it takes the small asteroid to travel around Didymos. When DART hits the surface of the asteroid, its kinetic energy will be 10 billion joules. A crater will be formed and material known as ejecta will be blasted out due to the impact. In the days following the event, NASA expects to receive images of the impact from a CubeSat that will be deployed by DART before impact, states the Space agency. Even though there are no known objects currently posing a threat to Earth, scientists continue scanning the skies for unknown asteroids. Should one be discovered, NASA is actively researching and planning for ways to prevent or reduce the effects of a potential impact. In future, by using the knowledge gained from this demonstration, similar techniques can be used to deflect an asteroid or comet away from our planet if it were deemed hazardous for the Earth.

Rajasthan crisis: Status quo to be maintained till Congress president election nominations

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ANI

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September 26, 2022

As the Congress seeks to tide over the political crisis in Rajasthan triggered by efforts to find a successor to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot who is likely to fight the party’s presidential polls, sources said status quo will be maintained till the process is over for filing nominations.

With party observers slamming some actions of loyalists of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, sources said decision on issuing show cause notices to miffed MLAs, who have been vocal in public, will be taken after interim chief looks Sonia Gandhi into the report by the observers sent to the state.

AICC observers will submit a written report to Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi either tonight or tomorrow. “Status-quo to be maintained till Congress president election nominations. Decision on issuing of show cause notices to miffed MLAs, vocal in public, will be taken after interim chief takes action on report by observers,” a source said.

The process for filing nominations for Congress presidential elections will end on September 30.

Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday briefed Sonia Gandhi about the developments in Rajasthan in wake of political crisis in the state. Sonia Gandhi asked Maken and Kharge, who were appointed observers for the legislature party meeting, to give a written report which will be submitted to her tonight or tomorrow.

“Mallikarjun Kharge and I briefed Congress chief everything about our meeting in Rajasthan in detail. Now she has asked us for a written report that will be given to her by tonight or tomorrow,” Maken told reporters.

The political crisis has been triggered by Ashok Gehlot wanting a successor of his choice in Rajasthan after he apparently agreed to file his nomination in the presidential election.

Maken said the venue of legislative party meeting was decided after consultations and they had to give a report after talking to every MLA, which could not happen. He said holding a “parallel meeting” when a CLP meeting has been called “is against discipline”.

Maken said a decision on leadership in the state was to be taken in Delhi and not Jaipur. Maken said the three ministers who met them at Gehlot’s residence put forward three conditions.

He said they demanded that a decision on a CLP resolution should be after declaration of Congress presidential poll results on October 19.

Rejecting the condition, Maken said a resolution is not passed with conditions and also noted that any such move will be “a conflict of interest” for Gehlot. Maken said the ministers also demanded that MLAs should meet the observers in groups and this was not acceptable.

“We wanted to meet every MLA individually so that the decision is free and fair,” Maken said. He said the three ministers also said that successor to Gehlot should be chosen from among 102 MLAs, who had stood by him during the crisis in 2020.

Gehlot government had faced political crisis in 2020 over demands led by Sachin Pilot and MLAs loyal to him. Maken on Sunday met three members from the Gehlot camp – Shanti Dhariwal, CP Joshi and Pratap Khachriyawas who had put forward their proposals.

Champa Singh Thapa who worked for Shiv Sena for decades joins Shinde camp

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PTI

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September 26, 2022

Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra,Mumbai | Image : Twitter/@mieknathshinde

Champa Singh Thapa and Moreshwar Raje who had served former Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray at his residence ‘Matoshree’ for almost three decades on Monday joined the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde here.

Thapa, the trusted Man Friday of the Sena patriarch and helped him in his daily chores, had served him devotedly for 27 years before the Thackeray senior’s death in November 2012.

So much so that Sena president Uddhav Thackeray acknowledged his service by keeping Thapa by his side while performing the senior Thackeray’s last rites.

Thapa would attend to senior Thackeray’s phone calls and also pass on his messages to whoever called him. Raje, who also used to attend phone calls at ‘Matoshree’ for Bal Thackeray, had spent at least 35 years in the Thackeray residence in suburban Bandra in Mumbai.

Chief Minister Shinde, an MLA from Thane, welcomed Thapa and Raje to the fold by offering them shawls and greeting them. “On this auspicious occasion of Navaratri, everyone is happy that (pandemic-related) restrictions on festivals have been lifted. There is huge enthusiasm which is the need of the hour,” he said and added that the joining of Thapa and Raje, who were like shadows of Bal Thackeray, had added to the pleasant atmosphere of festivities.

Shinde said the duo decided to join his faction as he represents the “real” Shiv Sena and is taking forward the teachings of the Sena founder and Hindutva.

“Balasaheb used to do straight talking and used to be blunt. People knew Balasaheb well and hence they did not accept the Sena’s alliance with Congress and NCP under the Maha Vikas Aghadi,” he said. Palghar Zilla Parishad president Vaidehi Vadan and some members of the local body also joined the Shinde faction on the occasion.

President Murmu will lay the foundation stone of NIV at Bengaluru, informed Union Health Minister

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ANI

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September 26, 2022

President Droupadi Murmu will lay the foundation stone of the National Institute of Virology at Bengaluru on Tuesday, informed Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

Mandaviya tweeted, “President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji will lay the foundation stone of the National Institute of Virology at Bengaluru tomorrow. It will feature state-of-the-art facilities, undertake dedicated research on regional priority diseases & play a critical role in improving health outcomes.”

Last week, agencies reported that the government will start a network of regional BSL-3 labs to brace for future pandemics.

“At the time of any disease outbreak, it is important to step up quick surveillance and ensure timely diagnosis. The government of India is working towards developing four virology regional biosafety labs BSL- 3 and ICMR-NIV Pune will be steering the project and research work. These labs will work as regional labs and ICMR-NIV Pune will look after their research work,” official sources told to the agencies.

The center lab will be at Jabalpur, the Northeast lab will be at Dibrugarh, the lab for the North will be at Mohali and for South in Bangalore.

“These labs will be physical labs and will be useful for future preparedness if any disease outbreak or Pandemic is reported in future as strengthening of lab infrastructure is crucial and will help spread and detection of virus faster. The project of these labs comes under the PM Ayushman Bharat Health infrastructure Mission (PM- ABHIM),” added the official sources.

RSS inspiring Bharat Raksha Manch has sought of holding NRC ecercise nationwide

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PTI

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September 26, 2022

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-inspired Bharat Raksha Manch (BRM) held its third convention in Nagpur in Maharashtra and sought the holding of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise nationwide as well as identification of illegal immigrants.

The three-day convention concluded at Reshimbagh here on September 25 and it was attended by over 850 BRM functionaries.

“We want implementation of NRC nationwide, free places of worship from the control of the government, bring amendments to Places of Worship Act, implementation of Uniform Civil Code, abolition of facilities to minorities and introduction of Population Control Act,” said by general secretary of BRM Prashant Kotwal to agencies

He said the NRC was essential in view of what he claimed was rampant infiltration from Bangladesh, adding that vote-bank politics was creating hurdles in solving this problem.

“We have been working on this issue since 2010 and want the NRC exercise to be held in all states of the country. Infiltrators must be identified and deported. On humanitarian grounds, they can be given work permits as they come here looking for livelihood,” Kotwal said.

He said the Population Control Act must be introduced as the growth rate of Muslims was higher than that of Hindus, and this was creating an imbalance. High population growth was also leading to people not getting education and other basic facilities, Kotwal claimed.

Temples and mutts must be managed by functionaries of these places of worship rather than the government, just like churches and mosques have been doing so, he said. “For this, the Places of Worship Act should be amended. We also need the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code,” he said.

The BRM general secretary called for ban on organisations like the Tablighi Jamaat and the Popular Front of India. On a query on one of the speakers at the convention talking about forming a “Hindu Army”, Kotwal said these are personal opinions of some persons, adding that the BRM believes in achieving its objectives within the Constitution of India.

Assam: clash between two Congress workers groups in meeting to discuss ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’

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ANI

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September 26, 2022

cong clash — Image: Screengrab/Twitter/ANI

A clash between two groups of Congress workers broke out during a meeting to discuss the Bharat Jodo Yatra at Rajiv Bhawan in Assam’s Dhubri district on Monday.

The incident happened in the presence of some leaders of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee. A meeting was organized at Rajiv Bhawan, Dhubri to discuss the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Assam slated for November 1.

The local leaders dismissed the claims of any division within the party and said that some misconceptions prevailed.

“The Dhubri District Congress is not divided, we are united. But there are some misconceptions. We don’t have any division over Bharat Jodo Yatra. During the discussion on Bharat Jodo Yatra, Assam, a group raised their allegations against the district president. Today’s meeting is not the right place to raise such things. When they raised their issues some of our party workers opposed it and some untoward situations happened,” said Congress MLA, Wazed Ali Choudhury.

The 3,500-km march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir will be completed in 150 days and cover as many as 12 states. From Kerala, the Yatra will traverse through the state for the next 18 days, reaching Karnataka on September 30. It will be in Karnataka for 21 days before moving north.

The Padyatra (march) will cover a distance of 25 km every day. Presently, the yatra is in Kerala and will enter Karnataka on September 29.

Earlier on Sunday, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi along with party leaders and workers resumed the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ on Day 18 in Thrissur in Kerala.

The Yatra started at 6.30 am from Patturaykkal Junction, Thrissur district. The morning halt time is at 10 am at St Francis Xavier Church. The yatra will again resume at 4 pm from Vadakkamchery bus stop.

The Yatra finished at 7 at Vettikkattiri and took a halt at Jyoti Engineering College, Cheruthuruthi, Thrissur district.

RBI has imposed a fine on Jalgaon People’s Co-operative Bank of Rs 50 lakh

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PTI

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September 26, 2022

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday said it has imposed a penalty of Rs 50 lakh on The Jalgaon People’s Co-operative Bank, Jalgaon for non-compliance with norms, including those related to classification of NPA accounts.

The RBI had conducted a statutory inspection of the Maharashtra-based lender with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2020.

The co-operative bank had not classified certain accounts as non-performing assets in accordance with norms, and had levied penal charges for non-maintenance of minimum balances in saving banks accounts without notifying the customers and without providing one month time for restoration of minimum balances in the accounts.

It also did not pay interest on balance amounts lying in current accounts of deceased individual depositors/ sole proprietorship concerns while making payments to the claimants, the RBI said.

In another statement, the RBI said a penalty of Rs 5 lakh has been imposed on The Andaman & Nicobar State Co-operative Bank Ltd for contravention of norms as it sanctioned unsecured loans to its directors.

The central bank has also imposed penalty on nine other co-operative banks for contravention of certain norms.

However, the RBI said the penalties have been imposed for deficiency in regulatory compliance and are not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the banks with their customers.

Remand of 5 PFI accused has been extended at Mumbai court

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ANI

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September 26, 2022

Mumbai Court,Maharashtra | Image : Representative

A Mumbai court on Monday extended the remand of 5 PFI accused arrested in Mumbai for another 8 days. The extension has been granted till October 3. The accused were produced before the court at the end of their 5-day remand today.

The accused were arrested on September 22 in raids by multi-agency teams led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) across several states for alleged support to terror activities in the country.

The National Investigation Agency, Enforcement Directorate and the state police forces jointly carried out coordinated searches at the houses and offices of the PFI leaders and members across India.

Searches were conducted at 93 locations in 15 states of India in which over 100 activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) were arrested.

The states where the raids were conducted included Andhra Pradesh (4 places), Telangana (1), Delhi (19), Kerala (11), Karnataka (8), Tamil Nadu (3), Uttar Pradesh (1), Rajasthan (2), Hyderabad (5), Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Bihar and Manipur. The searches were conducted in connection with five cases registered by the NIA following “continued inputs and evidence” that the PFI leaders and cadres were involved in the funding of terrorism and terrorist activities, organising training camps for providing armed training and radicalising people to join banned organizations.

one more arrested in case of bomb hurled at Madurai-based RSS member’s house

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ANI

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September 26, 2022

Madurai police arrested one more accused on Monday in connection with hurling of a bomb at a Madurai-based RSS member’s house on Saturday.

Earlier, Madurai police had arrested two on Sunday for the bomb hurling incident. Director General of Police, Sylendra Babu, said, “So far 14 persons were arrested and 11 cases have been filed in connection with bomb hurling incident.”

Madurai City Police Commissioner Senthil Kumar, said, “Accused Abu Taheer was arrested on Monday morning for hurling a bomb at Madurai-based RSS functionary Krishnan’s house on Sept 24. Yesterday we arrested two in connection with the case.”

According to Police, a case was also registered against the petrol station owner for selling of ‘loose’ petrol in bottles, which was used for filling up petrol bombs.

Police Commissioner Senthil Kumar had earlier requested the petrol bulk owners to avoid giving loose petrol. “We have taken the list of vulnerable Hindu outfit members who have been given protection,” he said.

As many as three petrol bombs were hurled at the house of an RSS member in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. The incident was captured in the CCTV footage at 7:38 pm on Saturday at Mel Anuppanadi housing board area in Madurai at the residence of MS Krishnan.

The CCTV footage shows bike-borne men were seen approaching the house and hurling petrol bombs before the duo sped away. In this regard, RSS member Krishnan and BJP Madurai district president Suseendran had filed a petition to the Keerathurai police.

“I have been working in an RSS organization for the last 45 years. Around 7 pm we did puja at my house with about 65 people. Then I heard a noise outside and when I came out, my car was on fire. Last year in 2014 police gave protection to me due to danger to my life but the police protection was withdrawn in 2021. More than 20 RSS workers like me have been attacked in Tamil Nadu alone. We have lodged a complaint with the police regarding the petrol bomb hurled at my house. They assured to arrest the accused by tonight,” said Krishnan.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP has written to Home Minister Amit shah highlighting the increasing attacks against BJP and RSS functionaries in recent times. The letter mentioned 19 attacks against those belonging to Hindu outfits.

Earlier, a petrol bomb was hurled at the house of an RSS leader near Tambaram near Chennai in the early hours of Saturday, said the police.