INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY AUGUST 26, 2022 1 A W e e k l y N e w s p a p e r Fe a t u r i n g N e w s & Tr e n d s f r o m t h e I n d i a n S u b - C o n t i n e n t P u b l i s h e d f r o m t h e U S C a p i t a l Website: www.indiathisweek.online Vol. 30 No: 34 • WASHINGTON D.C • Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 • e-mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday • August 26, 2022 Rahul’s reluctance paving the way for non-Gandhi President of Congress, Sonia Gandhi urges Ashok Gehlot to lead New Delhi [India], August 24 (ANI): Amid the countdown to the elections of the Congress party’s president, the turbulence over the chief candidate’s name still prevailed on Wednesday as sources confirmed that the senior leaders of the party advised Sonia Gandhi who is currently the party supremo, to continue till 2024 if her son and party leader Rahul Gandhi denies running for the post. The senior leaders also stressed that no one except the Gandhi family can hold the party together, the party will disintegrate and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should be given command after 2024. “Sonia Gandhi hinted at the name of Ashok Gehlot, saying that if no one from the Gandhi family is made then Gehlot should be made the president, She also said this to Gehlot in the meeting between the two leaders on Tuesday,” said sources. The tally is still stuck as both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are going abroad for their mother Sonia Gandhi‘s check-up. In the next few days, the date of the election for the post of President will be announced. After the refusal of the Gandhi family in the race for the post of president, Ashok Gehlot is the first, followed by Mukul Wasnik, Venugopal, Kumari Selja, Malikarjun Kharge, Bhupesh Baghel and many other names are in discussion. The Congress party has completed the internal election process till August 20. The party had announced that the election for the post of president will be held between August 21 and September 20 but despite several attempts, Rahul Gandhi has not cleared the stance till now. Meanwhile, Congress plans to embark on ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ from Kanyakumari on September 7 under the leadership of party leader Rahul Gandhi and the 148day march will culminate in Kashmir. The five-month yatra is scheduled to cover a distance of 3,500 kilometers and more than 12 states. The padayatra (march) will cover a distance of 25 km every day. The Yatra will include padayatras, rallies, and public meetings which will be attended by the senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held earlier this year and the yatra is seen as an attempt to rally the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles. Meanwhile, sources said Rahul Gandhi will meet civil society people and organizations in Delhi on August 22 to listen to their issues and share their thoughts. Gandhi will also discuss his Bharat Jodo Yatra and its purpose with people from civil society. Ahead of his Bharat Jodo Yatra starting from Kanyakumari on September 7, Rahul Gandhi will work with civil society to chalk out a strategy for the 2024 general elections. Gandhi is going to meet organizations and individuals working for different sections of society before his Bharat Jodo Yatra. (ANI) SALES EVENT ES F SPORT RX F SPORT NX F SPORT ENDS SEPTEMBER 6 AAP KO NAVIGATION NAHIN CHAHIYE TO KNOW YOU’VE ARRIVED. LEXUS.COM | #LEXUS The Lexus Golden Opportunity Sales Event hai ek sunehra mauka to find sensations you’ve spent all Summer chasing. ©2022 Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
August 26, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Heavy rain lashes Madhya Pradesh, locals face difficulties Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], August 23 (ANI): As heavy rainfalls continue to hit parts of Madhya Pradesh, the people of the state continue to face difficulties and bear damage to the public properties. In central and east Madhya Pradesh, it has been raining heavily for the last 24 hours. Also, there is a possibility of heavy rainfalls in Ratlam, Ujjain, Indore, Dhar, Jhabua and Alirajpur in the coming hours. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the rain and flood-affected areas. In the last 24 hours, State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) together have rescued over 400 people from floods/ excess rain in the state. The following number of people from floods/excess rain: Vidisha (190), Rajgarh (103), Ashoknagar (94), Raisen (7), Jabalpur (5), Mandla announced that there will be a holiday in all schools of the Narmadapuram district yesterday. (ANI) Bharatpur (Rajasthan) [India], August 23 (ANI): A government school teacher in Bharatpur was suspended for allegedly molesting girls on the school campus, said officials on Tuesday. “The villagers have complained that a senior teacher Iqbal Khan used to molest young girls. There’s also a complaint against a member of the School Management Committee as well. The officials reached the spot and both the accused have been suspended, the principal of the school has also been directed to take note of the SMC and there will be further investigations accordingly on both,” said Sub Divisional Magistrate, Kapil Sharma. The villagers and locals blocked roads and barricaded the area as they demanded action against the teacher. The school principal however restrained from committing on any FIR. “I have been told today, the girls confirmed the situation. We will see if a complaint is to be registered or not,” said Madan Meena, school principal. As per reports, the miscreant molested the girls under the pretext of sweeping and cleaning the area. ” I have had a word with the girls. They confirmed the sad incident. We will thoroughly investigate the matter. I have also informed the higher authorities about the issue. The teacher has been suspended with immediate effect,” said Raghunath Khatik (District Rajasthan: Govt school teacher thrashed for molesting girls (3), Sidhi (2), Guna (3). Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj S Chouhan reviewed situations in rain-affected districts of the state and stated that assistance will be given by sending helicopters to Vidisha if need be. Chouhan said, “The people of 10 flood-affected villages from Vidisha and Guna districts will be airlifted using two helicopters. NDRF and SDRF teams are deployed for rescue operations in the rain and flood-affected districts of the state.” Later, CM reviewed the flood situation in Vidisha district. “We will try our best to give adequate compensation for damages due to flood situation. I will soon visit the flood-affected districts of the state,” he said. In the state, the Parvati river is flowing at its maximum water level in Guna and the Ken river in Panna is close to its maximum water level. The water level of the Narmada river is 271.56 metres. In Vidisha, the Betwa river and its tributaries are overflowing. According to the information received this morning, the water level in dams like Rajghat, Gandhi Sagar, Bargi, Tawa, Handiya, Mohanpura, Barna, Kolar, Omkareshwar, Kaliasot, Bhadbhada etc. has increased significantly. Also, 11 gates of Bansujara Dam in Tikamgarh have been opened. Earlier on Monday, a red alert for rainfall has been issued in 39 districts of Madhya Pradesh including Bhopal, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Ratlam, Neemuch and Mandsaur. Apart from this, moderate rainfall is to take place in 12 districts including Indore, Gwalior, Dhar and Khargone. Due to the incessant rains, District Collector and Magistrate Neeraj Kumar Singh had on Monday
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August 26, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK India-UK agree to exchange experiences, best practices in judiciary New Delhi [India], August 23 (ANI): India and UK held the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), where both the countries reached to facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices in the area of working of commercial courts, and alternate dispute resolution mechanisms, according to the statement released by the Ministry of Law and Justice. India-UK further agreed that training and capacity enhancement programmes would be conducted in reputed Institutes for legal advisers, draftsmen, judicial officers, prosecutors and legal professionals and in time bound manner. On July 10, 2018, the Government of India and the United Kingdom entered into an MoU for promoting cooperation between both countries, in the sphere of Law and Justice. “A Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) has been constituted in terms of the MoU to carry out its objectives by firming up the way forward in areas of cooperation. The third inperson meeting of the JCC was held at New Delhi on 18th August 2022 at New Delhi,” according to the statement. The Indian delegation was led by Niten Chandra, Law Secretary while the UK side was led by Jo Farrar, Second Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice. Both the Leaders Co-chaired the meetings. As regards the subject of framing regulations for entry of UK Law Firms and Lawyers under the MoU was concerned, the same was discussed separately in the Legal Services Committee (LSC) meeting held later in the day on 18th August 2022. The Legal Services Committee (LSC) in its meeting recalled the outcome of the India-UK virtual summit held on 4th May, 2021, between the Indian Prime Ministers and the UK and the launch of the ‘Enhanced Trade Partnership’ (ETP) to unleash the trade potential between the two countries who had also agreed to facilitate each other’s market-access concerns including the opening of the legal services sector in India, on a reciprocal basis. The LSC deliberations were also attended by the British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere wherein both sides appreciated each other’s concern for the challenges in the opening of the legal services sector. “The President Law Society of England and Wales along with her team joined the meeting virtually. She explained in detail the regulations which determine the areas of court practice and legal advice by nonUK qualified lawyers,” the statement reads. It further added, “Secretary BCI, emphasised the responsibilities vested in the Council to protect the rights, privileges and interest of lawyers, whom they represent. However, the representatives of both the countries appreciating the potential benefits of the opening up of the legal services sector to the respective economies, agreed in principle to work together to find common ground for benefit of all stakeholders.” (ANI) [India], August 24 (ANI): Congress General Secretary in charge Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said that the party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi along with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be travelling abroad for medical check-ups. “Congress President Sonia Gandhi, along with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, will be travelling abroad for medical check-ups. Party MP Rahul Gandhi will address ‘Mehangai Par Halla Bol’ rally in Delhi on September 4,” Ramesh said in a statement. Party MP Rahul Gandhi will address the ‘Mehangai Par Halla Bol’ rally in Delhi on September 4. Congress president Sonia Gandhi will also visit her ailing mother before she returns to Delhi, he added. Earlier on Tuesday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi met the newly elected President of India Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. Sonia Gandhi paid a visit to President Murmu amidst the ongoing internal differences in the Congress party. Recently,Congress senior leader Anand Sharma announced his resignation from the chairmanship of the party’s steering committee for the state, saying he was left with no choice after the continuing exclusion and insults. Meanwhile, the AICC in charge of Himachal Pradesh, Rajeev Shukla was sent to pacify him. After his meeting with Anand Sharma, Shukla travelled to Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi. Reportedly, Sonia Gandhi recently tested positive for Covid-19. (ANI) Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi & Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to travel abroad for medical check-ups New Delhi
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August 26, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK SCO member states must fight terrorism together: Rajnath Singh during Defence Ministers’ meet in Uzbekistan T a s h k e n t its resolve to fight all forms suggested an annual seminar providing safe havens and [Uzbekistan], August 24 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called upon Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to unitedly fight terrorism and eliminate the menace in all its forms. Addressing the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting at Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday, the Union minister asserted that terrorism in any form, including cross-border terrorism, when committed by anyone and for whatever purpose, is a crime against humanity. “Terrorism is one of the most serious challenges to global peace and security. India reiterates of terrorism and make the region peaceful, secure and stable. We seek to develop joint institutional capabilities with the SCO member states, which, while respecting the sensitivities of each country, create the spirit of cooperation among individuals, societies and nations,” Rajnath Singh said. In this context, the minister proposed to host a workshop in India in 2023 on the theme ‘Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief – Risk mitigation and Disaster Resilient Infrastructure’ for the Defence Ministries of SCO Member States. He also RBI lifts curb on American Express, allows onboarding new customers on ‘Topic of Interest’ among the defence think tanks of SCO countries. “We propose to organise the first such defence think tank seminar in India in 2023,” he added. Singh voiced India’s full support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasising respect for its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, national unity and non-interference in internal affairs. He urged all parties to encourage Afghanistan authorities to achieve national reconciliation through dialogue & negotiation and establish a broad-based, inclusive and representative political structure in the country. He underlined the importance of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions in this regard. The Union Minister added that the Afghan territory must not be used to intimidate or attack any country by training to terrorists and supporting their activities through financial assistance. He stressed the need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and safeguard their fundamental rights. Expressing India’s concern over the situation in Ukraine, Rajnath Singh stated that New Delhi supports talks between Russia and Ukraine to resolve this crisis. “India is concerned about the humanitarian crisis in and around Ukraine. We have extended our support for the efforts of the UN SecretaryGeneral, UN agencies and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide humanitarian assistance,” he added. Singh also threw light on India’s age-old ties with SCO countries, asserting that the Member States of the Organisation are common stakeholders in the progress and prosperity of the region. “India accords From thePoet’sPen INDIA THIS WEEK- August 26, 2022 Be Glad Your Nose Is On Your Face Jack Prelutsky M u m b a i (Maharashtra) [India], August 24 (ANI): Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday lifted restrictions on American Express Banking Corp. With the lifting of the ban, American Express will now be able to add new customers in India to its card network. “In view of the satisfactory compliance demonstrated by American Express Banking Corp with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circular dated April 6, 2018, on storage of Payment System Data, the restrictions imposed, vide order dated April 23, 2021, on onboarding of new domestic customers have been lifted with immediate effect,” said the RBI statement. By its order dated April 23, 2021, RBI had imposed restrictions on American Express Banking Corp from on-boarding new domestic customers onto its card network from May 1, 2021 for non-compliance with the RBI circular on Storage of Payment System Data. Pertinent to mention, similar restrictions were earlier imposed on Mastercard and Diners Club International. The restriction on Diners Club was removed in November last year while the ban on Mastercard was lifted last month. As per the RBI norms, financial services companies like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club are required to store Indian payment data locally since October, 2018. (ANI) Be glad your nose is on your face, not pasted on some other place, for if it were where it is not, you might dislike your nose a lot. Imagine if your precious nose were sandwiched in between your toes, that clearly would not be a treat, for you’d be forced to smell your feet. Your nose would be a source of dread were it attached atop your head, it soon would drive you to despair, forever tickled by your hair. Within your ear, your nose would be an absolute catastrophe, for when you were obliged to sneeze, your brain would rattle from the breeze. Your nose, instead, through thick and thin, remains between your eyes and chin, not pasted on some other placebe glad your nose is on your face! high priority to SCO because of its unwavering belief in multilateralism. There is a need to strengthen ties with SCO member states bilaterally and within the framework of the organisation on the basis of equality, respect and mutual understanding,” he said. Minister Singh invited all SCO Member States to visit India next year when New Delhi takes over the presidency of the Organisation from Uzbekistan. After his bilateral meetings with his Uzbek, Kazakh and Belarusian counterparts on Tuesday, Rajnath Singh is scheduled to meet the Defence Minister of Kyrgyzstan later on Wednesday. During the exchange of pleasantries with Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu Wednesday morning, Rajnath Singh conveyed his deep appreciation and thanks for arresting in Moscow a terrorist who was planning attacks in India. (ANI) INDIA THIS WEEK Address: P.O. 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August 26, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Truist Volunteers Support Persons With Disabilities In Beltsville Community Beltsville, MD - Truist teammates from the DMV area recently volunteered at Frontline Community Services, Beltsville as part of their Lighthouse Project initiative, a teammatedriven volunteer effort focused on bringing positive change to local communities. The project focused on uplifting facilities to benefit persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Truist also donated equipment to furnish the Recreation Center at Frontline. Over four days of collective volunteer service, Truist teammates planted and tended the spacious garden surrounding Frontline’s headquarters located at Ammendale Business Park in Beltsville. Volunteers also fitted ceiling tiles, primed, and painted the Recreation Center, gym, and Music Room. F r o n t l i n e Community Services’ new headquarters includes ample space for its aptly named Freedom Club, which launched four years ago. The Freedom Club offers dance, yoga classes, arts and craft activities, cooking lessons, physical fitness training, library memberships and music therapy. “Organizations like Frontline play a critical role in ensuring that even the most marginalized in our community feel safe and free enough to explore their creativity and to express themselves, said Robert Johnson, commercial banker and Lighthouse Project team leader at Truist. “We’re proud to partner with Frontline through our Lighthouse Project initiative. It’s projects like these that help us deliver on our purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities.” President of Frontline Community Services, Mr. Dittu Abraham had this to say, “We are deeply grateful for Truist’s time and investment into our Recreation Center. Truist’s generosity will revolutionize the experiences of our persons served. This space will not only be a blessing to our current persons served who will soon have a dedicated space in which to acquire new skills and showcase their talents, but in time, we hope to extend these facilities more widely to other persons with disabilities in our local communities. This is yet another step taken in line with Frontline’s commitment to serving the needs our community’s most vulnerable people by bringing real meaning to their lives,” he concluded. Annamayya (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 22 (ANI): Cybercriminals allegedly hacked the bank account of a retired school teacher in Annamayya via WhatsApp link and stole Rs 21 lakh. According to police, Varalakshi, a resident of Reddeppanaidu Colony in Madanapalle town of Annamayya district, received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. There was a link in the WhatsApp message and after clicking the link, money was debited from her bank account. Va r a l a k s h i claimed that since then, she has been receiving messages that the money has been deducted from her account. After contacting bank officials, she got to know that her account was hacked and Rs 21 lakh was withdrawn from her account. Varalakshi lodged a complaint to Cybercrime Police on Saturday. Two town Circle Inspector Muralikrishna said cyber criminals were sending links to WhatsApp numbers and hacking accounts and withdrawing money through them. “Cybercriminals have recently stolen Rs 12 lakh from the account of Gnanaprakash, a software employee from Madanapalle. Two town police registered a case on the incident on Friday. On the very next day, a complaint was received that Rs 21 lakh was stolen from the bank account of a retired school teacher Varalakshmi,” added the official. The investigation is underway. (ANI) Andhra: Cybercriminals hack retired teacher’s bank account, withdraw Rs 21 lakh
FRIDAY AUGUST 26, 2022 9 Jitendra Singh unveils India’s first indigenously developed hydrogen fuel cell bus in Pune New Delhi [India], August 21 (ANI): Union Minister of State, Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday launched India’s first indigenously developed Hydrogen fuel cell bus developed by KPIT-CSIR in Pune, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology said. The Union Minister told the gathering that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Hydrogen Vision’ is important for India to ensure Atma Nirbhar means of affordable and accessible clean energy, meeting climate change goals, and creating new entrepreneurs and jobs. He said Green hydrogen is an excellent clean energy vector that enables deep decarbonization of difficult-to-abate emissions from the refining industry, fertilizer industry, steel industry, cement industry and also from the heavy commercial transportation sector. Singh informed that the fuel cell utilizes Hydrogen and Air to generate electricity to power the bus and the only effluent from the bus is water, therefore making it possibly the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation. For comparison, a single diesel bus plying on long-distance routes typically emits 100 tons of CO2 annually and there are over a million such buses in India, the Ministry said. Singh said the high efficiency of fuel cell vehicles and the high energy density of hydrogen ensures that the operational costs in rupees per kilometre for fuel cell trucks and buses are lower than diesel-powered vehicles and this can bring freight revolution to India. Moreover, Fuel Cell vehicles also give zero greenhouse gas emissions. The Minister lauded the joint development efforts of KPIT and CSIR-NCL and pointed out that the technology prowess of Indian scientists and engineers is no less than the best in the world and also at much lower costs. Singh pointed out that about 12-14 per cent of CO2 emissions and particulate emissions come from diesel-powered heavy commercial vehicles and these are decentralized emissions and hence difficult to capture. The Minister said, Hydrogen fuelled vehicles provide an excellent means to eliminate the on-road emissions from this sector. India is also aiming to increase inland waterways for freight and passenger transport, he said. Singh concluded that by achieving these goals, India can pole-vault from being a net importer of fossil energy to becoming a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy and thus, providing global leadership to India in hydrogen space by becoming a large green hydrogen producer and supplier of equipment for green hydrogen. Later, he inaugurated the BisphenolA pilot plant in CSIRNCL and said these pilot plants have successfully demonstrated novel process technologies developed by NCL under CSIR’s Covid19 mission program and Bulk Chemicals mission program. Singh said Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an important feedstock for the production of epoxy resins, polycarbonate and other engineering plastics. He further said, the global market for Bisphenol-A is projected to reach 7.1 Million Tons by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 2 per cent over the analysis period 2020-2027. The entire estimated annual demand of 1, 35,000 tons in India is imported today. The Minister hoped that CSIRNCL’s technology will enable import substitution of this important raw material and help in India’s Atmanirbhar initiative. The uniqueness of the process developed by CSIR-NCL is a novel downstream process technology, which makes this indigenous technology competitive with global benchmarks. The process is ready for technology transfer and further co-development to a commercial scale. (ANI)
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