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Tue, 27 September 2022
Paid Rs 1000 cr for Bigg Boss 16? Salman reacts
Timeline Refresh
23:52 Kerala film producers body temporarily bans actor Sreenath Bhasi
The Kerala Film Producers Association on Tuesday decided to temporarily ban Malayalam actor Sreenath Bhasi from movies over allegations against him of misbehaving with a female anchor during an interview he gave to a Youtube channel.
Producers association stated, "Currently, the remaining dubbing and shooting will be allowed to be completed. He will not be allowed to act in films after that temporarily. Four dubbing and one film shoot will be allowed to be completed. He will refund the amount bought in excess of the contract. If we receive a complaint related to the film sector, we will take action in the best possible way."
Earlier, The Maradu police arrested Sreenath Bhasi for allegedly misbehaving with a female anchor working for online media during an interview for his movie Chattambi.
A case was registered last week against Bhasi based on the journalist's complaint that the actor used abusive words against her and other crew members during an interview to promote his latest movie Chattambi.
The police will further record statements of the complainant and witnesses and check the CCTV visuals of the hotel where the interview took place. -- ANI
23:38 Paid Rs 1000 cr for Bigg Boss 16? Salman reacts
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on Tuesday dismissed the rumours that he is charging 'Rs 1,000' for hosting the latest season of Bigg Boss, saying he will stop working the day he earns such a whopping amount.
While he was rumoured to have earned Rs 350 crore for the last season of Colors reality series, a report in July claimed Salman demanded Rs 1,000 crore for the 16th installment.
The actor, whose remuneration is subject to gossip whenever a new chapter of the show is around the corner, also quipped he plans to return the hundreds of crores "that he never got in the first place".
"If I get this amount I will not work in my life... Those Rs 1,000 crore, I was rumoured to be getting this year, I was about to return the money I never got in the first place. So, Colors will be in complete profit," Salman said.
He was in conversation with actor and former Bigg Boss winner Gauahar Khan at a press event in Mumbai.
Alluding to his run-ins with the law, the 56-year-old actor joked he will use the money to pay his lawyers when he earns this much.
"If I am getting this price, I have so many expenses, like the fees of the lawyers. Here Salman earns, here Salman gives. It comes, it goes," he added.
On a serious note, Salman said his salary figure has been "exaggerated".
"There is income tax... The ED (Enforcement Directorate) also notices that and they come. They know the truth," he said. -- PTI
22:58 DRDO conducts successful test flight of VSHORADS missile
The DRDO on Tuesday successfully flight tested the very short range air defence system missile in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
The VSHORADS is an air defence system designed and developed indigenously by Hyderabad-based Research Centre Imarat of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
"The DRDO conducted two successful test flight of the very short range air defence system missile on September 27 from a ground based portable launcher at the integrated test range, Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha," the defence ministry said in a statement.
"VSHORADS missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturised reaction control system and integrated avionics, which have been successfully proven during the tests," the ministry said.
"The missile, meant for neutralising low altitude aerial threats at short ranges is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor," the ministry said on the Man Portable Air Defence System. -- PTI
22:36 Politician-actor Ravi Kishan duped of Rs 3.25 cr
Politician-cum-actor Ravi Kishan has allegedly been duped of Rs 3.25 crore by a Mumbai-based businessman, his public relations officer said on Tuesday.
Ravi Kishan had given the money to accused Jain Jitendra Ramesh in 2012.
When nudged to return it, Ramesh allegedly handed him 12 cheques of Rs 34 lakh each.
The actor, also the Lok Sabha MP from here, deposited one of the cheques at an SBI branch here on December 7 last year but it got bounced.
He continued talks with Ramesh for the money but did not get a satisfactory answer.
Following this, a police complaint was lodged, his PRO Pawan Dubey said on Tuesday.
Cantonment police station in-charge Shashi Bhushan Rai the complaint was lodged a few days ago, based on which a case has been registered. -- PTI
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22:08 Sikh couple moves HC for implementation of Anand Marriage Act in Maha
A Sikh couple has approached the Bombay high court seeking that it order the Maharashtra government to frame rules for the implementation of the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, in the state.
The plea filed by the advocate couple earlier this month noted that ten states in India, including Delhi, Punjab, Kerela, Assam and Rajasthan, have already framed rules for implementation of the Act.
The Anand Marriage Act seeks to give statutory recognition to a marriage rite of the Sikhs called 'Anand'.
Thus, any marriage performed according to the 'Anand' ceremony is valid with effect from the date of its solemnisation.
"It is quite unfortunate that the state of Maharashtra is yet to promulgate rules for the Anand Marriage Act. The Sikhs in Maharashtra, despite having separate legislation for registration of their marriages under the Anand Marriage Act are forced to register the same under the Hindu Marriage Act," the plea said.
The petition is likely to come up for hearing in due course.
As per the petition, the Anand Marriage Act was promulgated in 1909. It was amended in 2012 making it mandatory for states to frame their rules for the implementation of the act. -- PTI
22:04 Abu Salem gets 3-year jail in fake passport case
Jailed gangster Abu Salem was on Tuesday sentenced to three years imprisonment in a 25-year-old fake passport case by an Uttar Pradesh court.
Special judicial magistrate Samriddhi Mishra convicted Salem, who appeared through video conferencing from Taloja jail, New Mumbai, where he has been serving life imprisonment for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, and his associate Mohammad Parvez Alam in the passport case.
While pronouncing the quantum of sentence, the court said that the time already spent by them in jail in this case shall be adjusted in their three-year jail term.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Salem and Rs 35,000 on Alam.
Alam, who was present before the court, was granted interim bail on furnishing two sureties of Rs 20,000 each. He had sought bail, saying he wanted to challenge the verdict before the sessions court.
According to the prosecution, after the 1993 Mumbai blast, it was revealed that Abu Salem in conspiracy with his wife Sameera Jumani and Azamgarh resident Mohammed Parvez Alam had got a fake passport prepared from Lucknow in the name of Aqil Ahmad Azmi and Sameera Jubani. They had concealed their identity.
The first information report in this connection was lodged by CBI's Special Task Force, New Delhi, on October 16, 1997 against Abu Salem and others.
They were also accused of preparing fake documents with the signature of then SSP Azamgarh on June 29, 1993.
Salem was extradited from Portugal on November 11, 2005, after a prolonged legal battle. In June 2017, Salem was convicted and awarded a life sentence for his role in the 1993 serial blast case in Mumbai.
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21:32 MP seer found dead inside Mathura temple
A 55-year-old seer was found dead inside a temple in Mathura on Tuesday morning, the police said.
The body of Sudhakar Das alias Lal Baba was found on a bench on the premises of Chamar Devi temple in Jaint police station area, Station House Officer Arun Panwar said.
The seer, a native of Madhya Pradesh, who lived in Burjwaale Mata temple and had gone to Chamar Devi temple on Monday evening to perform prayers, he said.
According to villagers, there was a dispute over the land on which the temple, where he lived, was built and he was getting threats.
The body has been sent for post-mortem and further investigation is underway, he said. -- PTI
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21:14 AugustaWestland scam: HC asks CBI to respond to ex-IAF officers' plea
The Delhi high court has sought a response from the CBI on a plea by three ex-Indian Air Force officers challenging the summons issued to them in the Rs 3,600-crore AugustaWestland chopper scam.
Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain issued notice to the CBI and listed the matter for further hearing on January 16, 2023.
The three ex-officers have challenged a trial court on July 18 order summoning them as accused in the case and also the second supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI to the extent that it charges them.
Retired Air Commodore Navyath Santosh, retired Air Commodore Sanjay Anand Kunte and Retired Wing Commodore Thomas Mathew sought to quash the summons issued against them. -- PTI
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20:52 Woman killed by husband for refusing to wear hijab in Mumbai: Police
A woman living separately for the last few months died after she was allegedly attacked by her husband when she refused to wear a hijab and sought a divorce in Mumbai, the police said.
Inspector Vilas Rathod said, "The victim was living separately with her 2-year-old child due to being pressured by accused and his family members to wear Muslim dress. On Monday she called her husband and asked for a divorce and when the victim refused to hand over the custody of their child, she was killed by the accused. Further investigation is going on."
According to the police, accused Iqbal Mohammad Sheikh allegedly murdered his Hindu wife by cutting her neck and hand on Monday night.
The couple had got married got 3 years ago and have a 2-year-old child. -- ANI
CEC Rajiv Kumar
20:36 Will apply rule of majority law: CEC on Sena row
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday said the Election Commission of India will apply the transparent process of the "rule of majority" after the Supreme Court allowed the EC to go ahead with the hearing of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde group's plea for recognition as the "real" Shiv Sena and allocation of the party's bow-and-arrow poll symbol to it.
The CEC said the poll body has a transparent process of the "rule of majority" in place and will apply the same when looking into the case.
"There is a set procedure. That procedure mandates us and we define it in terms of a very transparent process by judging and applying the 'rule of majority'. We will apply the 'rule of majority' whenever we are looking at it. This will be done after reading the exact decision (of SC)," the CEC said when asked about the apex court's order.
He was in Gandhinagar to review poll preparedness regarding the upcoming Gujarati assembly elections. -- PTI
Mallikarjun Kharge
20:08 Cong report spares Gehlot, guns for 3 loyalists
Congress observers for Rajasthan on Tuesday recommended disciplinary action against three party leaders, including two ministers, for the crisis in the state, but did not seek any action against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
The three Gehlot loyalists against whom action has been recommended are Cabinet Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Minister and Congress chief whip in the assembly Mahesh Joshi, and MLA Dharmendra Rathore.
The observers -- Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken -- submitted their report to party chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday evening, flagging "gross indiscipline" on the part of some leaders who organised a parallel meet of MLAs instead of joining a Congress legislature party meeting.
The two observers had to return from Jaipur without holding the CLP meeting as a large group of MLAs considered loyal to Chief Minister Gehlot refused to join it and put forth certain conditions for the selection of Gehlot's successor.
The sources said the report has not sought any action against Gehlot even as it recommended action against three of his loyalists.
However, it has pointed out that the parallel meeting of MLAs was held with Gehlot's knowledge.
The Congress observers' report pointed to the "gross indiscipline" on the part of some Rajasthan leaders who organised the parallel meet of MLAs and did not allow the CLP meeting to take place.
The report came a day after the observers briefed Sonia Gandhi on the developments and she had asked them to submit a written report.
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20:06 Mumbai police prohibits taking photos, videos of floating, half-submerged Durga idols
The Mumbai police on Tuesday issued an order prohibiting people from taking photographs and shooting videos of floating or half-submerged idols of Goddess Durga after immersions from October 5 to 7.
The police cited that pictures and videos of floating and half-submerged idols can hurt religious sentiments and may disturb public peace and tranquility, an official said.
As per the order, such pictures and videos should not be taken, published in newspapers or circulated on social media from October 5 to 7 during the Durga Puja festival, he said.
The police have invoked section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in this regard and action will be taken against people who violate the order, the official added. -- PTI
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19:34 Maha permits use of loudspeakers till midnight in Mumbai on Oct 1 during Navratri
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday allowed the use of loudspeakers till midnight during the ongoing Navratri festival on October 1 also, apart from October 3 and 4, in Mumbai.
"Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday decided to give concession in Mumbai for the use of loudspeakers till midnight on October 1. Apart from October 3 (Monday) and October 4 (Tuesday), an additional day on Saturday (October 1) will be available for the use of loudspeakers till midnight during the ongoing Navratri festival," a release issued by the chief minister secretariat said.
Under the environment and climate change department's Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Revised Rules, 2017, the concerned district collectors have been authorized to announce exemptions for the use of loudspeakers on any 15 days in a year from 6 am to 12 pm, the release said.
It further said that generally the district collectors fix 13 days for this exemption and remaining two days are reserved for exemption according to local conditions in the district. -- PTI
A vandalised KSRTC bus during PFI hartal in Kerala/ANI
19:05 KSRTC in HC seeking Rs 5 cr damages from PFI
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation on Tuesday moved the high court in Kochi seeking directions to the Popular Front of India to compensate the loss of over Rs 5 crore caused to it due to damage to its buses and reduction in services during the hartal on September 23.
On September 22, PFI had called a state-wide hartal on September 23 in protest against hundreds of leaders being arrested and its offices being raided across the country by NIA last week.
During the hartal, its activists had allegedly engaged in widespread violence resulting in damage to buses, public property and even attacks on the general public.
In its plea, moved through advocate Deepu Thankan, KSRTC contended that the hartal was called without any advance notice which was a violation of the high court's orders that flash hartals were illegal and seven days prior notice has to be given.
Due to lack of an advance notice and the police assuring that law and order would be ensured, the corporation said it started its services as usual, the petition said.
Moreover, it cannot stop its operations abruptly as daily life of a large number of persons is dependent upon it, it said and added that 2,439 buses, 62 per cent of its strength, were operated and 9,770 employees reported for duty.
The hartal, unfortunately, turned violent resulting in smashing of windscreens and damage to seats of 58 buses, injuries to 10 employees and one passenger, it said. -- PTI
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18:49 Encounter breaks out between security forces, terrorists in J-K's Kulgam
An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, the police said.
Security forces received inputs about the presence of militants in the Ahwatoo area of Kulgam, following which a cordon and search operation was launched there, a police official said.
During the operation, a contact with the hiding militants was established, which led to a gunfight, he said.
There were no reports of any casualties on either side so far, the officer said. -- PTI
18:28 Heavy rains likely to lash Kolkata during Durga Puja, organisers on tenterhooks
Durga Puja in Kolkata and southern West Bengal districts is likely to be rain-drenched this year with the Met department on Tuesday saying that a cyclonic circulation may form over northwest Bay of Bengal on October 1.
Regional Met director GK Das said that the system is likely to cause heavy rain in Kolkata and other southern districts on October 2 -- Mahasaptami, the first day of the four-day festival.
"Rainfall is likely on all four days of the festival, with heavier precipitation on October 2 and light to moderate rain till October 5 thereafter," Das said.
The cyclonic circulation may intensify after formation on October 1, he said.
The community puja organisers said they are taking all precautions to save the pandals and artwork.
Bikash Majumder, the secretary of College Square Puja committee, said "We don't have control over nature but I am hopeful Maa Durga will ensure that we can celebrate the puja in a grand manner as in pre-pandemic times and there is no interruption." -- PTI
18:11 Mumbai taxi fares to go up by Rs 3, auto by Rs 2
Residents of Mumbai and the metropolitan region will have to pay Rs 28 as the minimum fare for travelling in black and yellow taxis and Rs 23 for auto rickshaws, with the basic fares being hiked by Rs 3 and Rs 2 respectively, authorities said on Tuesday.
The new fares will come into effect from October 1, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority said in a release.
The minimum fare for a distance of 1.5 km for kaali-peeli taxis has been hiked to Rs 28 from Rs 25 and the same to Rs 23 from Rs 21 for auto-rickshaws.
"Beyond this minimum flag down distance, passengers will have to pay Rs 18.66 per km instead of Rs 16.93 per km for taxis and Rs 15.33 a km instead of 14.20 (per km) for auto-rickshaws," the release said.
The decision to hike the fares was taken in the MMRTA meeting chaired by the Maharashtra transport secretary on Monday.
But it was announced only after the minutes of the meeting were signed.
The existing fare for around 60,000 taxis and about 4.6 lakh auto-rickshaws in MMR has been in force since March 1, 2021.
The new rates will be applicable for petrol as well as CNG-operated taxis, the MMRTA said. -- PTI
17:50 BSF nabs Pak national from Rajasthan border
A 20-year-old Pakistani national has been apprehended by the Border Security Force from the Sri Ganganagar sector in Rajasthan, a spokesperson of the force said Tuesday.
Mohammed Waqas was nabbed from along the India-Pakistan International Border in "suspicious circumstances" on Monday evening, he said.
"During initial questioning, the man revealed that he is a follower of Tehreek-e-Labbaik and entered into India to propagate the ideology of the said outfit," the spokesperson said.
Waqas hails from Karampur village in the Bahawalnagar district of Pakistan, he said.
A joint team of intelligence and security agencies is questioning the man and he will be handed over to the local police soon, the officer said. -- PTI
17:29 Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Exp during Guj visit, to lay foundation for 29K-cr project
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Gandhinagar-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express and Ahmedabad Metro rail, and lay foundation stones for several projects worth more than Rs 29,000 crore during his two-day visit to poll-bound Gujarat from September 29.
An official statement said the projects are spread across Surat, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad and Ambaji, and are aimed at developing world-class infrastructure and enhancing mobility and ease of living.
Prime Minister Modi will also participate in Navratri festival celebrations in Ahmedabad.
Gujarat is slated for assembly elections later this year, with the ruling BJP making all out efforts to register a thumping win and continuing its winning streak in the state since 1995.
The total cost of projects to be inaugurated in Surat is more than Rs 3,400 crore.
At Bhavnagar, Modi will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple developmental initiatives worth over Rs 5,200 crore.
Among the infrastructure projects to be inaugurated by Modi is the Phase-I of the Ahmedabad Metro project. He will also flag off the Gandhinagar-Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express. -- PTI
17:25 SC allows EC to hear Shinde's claim as real Sena
The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Election Commission to go ahead with the hearing of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde group's plea seeking recognition as the real Shiv Sena and allocation of the party's bow-and-arrow poll symbol to it.
Justice D Y Chandrachud, heading a Constitution bench, rejected the plea of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction seeking to restrain the EC from deciding the Shinde group's claim over the 'original" Shiv Sena.
"We direct that there would be no stay of the proceedings before the Election Commission," the bench also comprising Justices M R Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha said.
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16:48 President gives assent to Haryana law declaring child marriages void
President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to a legislation of Haryana under which every child marriage that has been solemnised will be considered as "void ab initio" (having no legal effect from inception), thus making a marital relationship between a man and a girl aged between 15 and 18 years illegal.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2020 was enacted following a Supreme Court ruling.
The apex court had declared that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, being a special law, prevails over the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and sex with a minor wife aged between 15 and 18 years, in accordance with the prevailing exception 2 of section 375 of the IPC, is arbitrary and violative of the Constitution.
Accordingly, the apex court invalidated the existing exception 2 of section 375 of the IPC, under which sexual intercourse between a man and his wife aged between 15 and 18 years does not amount to the offence of rape as defined under section 375.
But according to the provisions of section 6 of the POCSO Act, this falls within the definition of rape.
The Supreme Court has also observed that it would be wise for all the state legislatures to adopt the route taken by Karnataka to make child marriages void and thereby, ensure that sexual intercourse between a minor girl and her husband is a punishable offence under the POCSO Act and the IPC. -- PTI
16:29 Pilot lands in Delhi amid Rajasthan crisis
Amid a massive political crisis in the Congress in Rajasthan, senior party leader and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot arrived in the national capital on Tuesday.
However, there was no confirmation about his schedule here with sources close to him saying that no meetings were fixed so far.
Pilot's visit comes even as the top Congress leadership continued to grapple with the situation in the party's state unit.
Party president Sonia Gandhi is awaiting a written report on the crisis from Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken.
The two leaders were sent as observers to Jaipur for a Congress Legislature Party meeting.
The observers, who had met MLAs in the state, termed as "indiscipline" the action of 82 MLAs in the state, setting conditions for the party leadership for appointing Ashok Gehlot's successor.
Gandhi had on Monday sought a written report on the revolt in Rajasthan from the observers as the chances of Ashok Gehlot becoming the party chief receded and other names cropped up for the post. -- PTI
15:52 I have faith in judiciary: Uddhav on Sena name
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday expressed confidence that his faction will emerge victorious in the legal tussle with the rebel group led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court is hearing an application of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction seeking to restrain the Election Commission from deciding on the claim of the Shinde-led group over the "real" Shiv Sena.
"I have full faith in the judiciary and we will win," former state CM Thackeray told the Sena workers from Osmanabad, which was renamed as Dharashiv in one of the final decisions of his government before it collapsed in June this year. He was addressing the cadre at his residence 'Matoshree' in Mumbai.
The Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government had collapsed after a revolt by Shinde and 39 other legislators against the Sena leadership. Shinde was sworn in as the CM on June 30 along with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.
On August 23, the Supreme Court had referred to a five-judge bench the petitions filed by the Thackeray and Shinde-led factions raising several constitutional questions related to defection, merger and disqualification. It had asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) not to pass any orders on the Shinde faction's plea that it be considered the real Shiv Sena and be granted the party's poll symbol.
A bench headed by the then Chief Justice N V Ramana had said the batch of petitions raise important constitutional issues relating to the 10th schedule of the Constitution pertaining to disqualification, power of the speaker and governor and judicial review. -- PTI
15:36 US replies to India on selling F-16s to Pakistan
India and Pakistan are both partners of the US with different points of emphasis, the Biden administration has said, a day after visiting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar questioned the rationale behind Washington's USD 450 million F-16 security assistance to Islamabad.
Referring to the argument made by the US that F-16 sustenance package is to fight terrorism,
Jaishankar has said that everybody knows where and against whom F-16 fighter jets are used.
"You're not fooling anybody by saying these things," he said in response to a question during an interaction with the Indian-American community here on Sunday. "We don't view our relationship with Pakistan, and on the other hand, we don't view our relationship with India as in relation to one another. These are both partners of ours with different points of emphasis in each," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference on Monday in response to a question on Jaishankar's remarks.
"We look to both as partners, because we do have in many cases shared values. We do have in many cases shared interests. And the relationship we have with India stands on its own. The relationship we have with Pakistan stands on its own," he said.
Early this month, the Biden administration approved a USD 450 million F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan, reversing the decision of the previous Trump administration to suspend military aid to Islamabad for providing safe havens for the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
"We also want to do everything we can to see to it that these neighbours have relations with one another that are as constructive as can be possible. So that's another point of emphasis," Price said in response to a question. -- PTI
15:25 SC reserves verdict on pleas challenging Centre's 10% EWS quota
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the validity of the 103rd Constitution amendment providing 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections (EWS) persons in admissions and government jobs.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit reserved the verdict on the legal question of whether the EWS quota violated the basic structure of the constitution after hearing a battery of senior lawyers including Attorney General K K Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the marathon hearing that lasted for six-and-half-day. PTI
15:21 Little did I imagine... PM at Abe's funeral
PM Modi tweets, "When I was in Tokyo earlier this yr, little did I imagine I would be back for solemn program of former PM Abe's state funeral. He was a great leader, a phenomenal individual & someone who believed in India-Japan friendship. He shall live on in hearts of millions."
15:09 President gives assent to Haryana law declaring child marriages void
President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to a legislation of Haryana under which every child marriage that has been solemnised will be considered as "void ab initio" (having no legal effect from inception), thus making a marital relationship between a man and a girl aged between 15 and 18 years illegal.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2020 was enacted following a Supreme Court ruling.
The apex court had declared that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, being a special law, prevails over the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and sex with a minor wife aged between 15 and 18 years, in accordance with the prevailing exception 2 of section 375 of the IPC, is arbitrary and violative of the Constitution.
Accordingly, the apex court invalidated the existing exception 2 of section 375 of the IPC, under which sexual intercourse between a man and his wife aged between 15 and 18 years does not amount to the offence of rape as defined under section 375.
But according to the provisions of section 6 of the POCSO Act, this falls within the definition of rape.
The Supreme Court has also observed that it would be wise for all the state legislatures to adopt the route taken by Karnataka to make child marriages void and thereby, ensure that sexual intercourse between a minor girl and her husband is a punishable offence under the POCSO Act and the IPC. -- PTI
14:54 Swedish weapons-maker to manufacture in India
Swedish defence products company Saab will manufacture its Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons system in India.
Production in its new facility in India is expected to start in 2024.
"We haven't done this in any other country," said Company's Senior Vice President.
The Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle is a man-portable, multi-role weapon system that allows dismounted soldiers to effectively deal with multiple challenges on the modern battlefield.
14:46 Punjab CM moves confidence motion in state Assembly
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday moved a confidence motion in the state assembly.
Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Sunday gave his nod to convene the House on September 27 after days of squabble between the Raj Bhavan and AAP government over holding a session of the Assembly.
Two BJP MLAs -- Ashwani Sharma and Jangi Lal Mahajan -- had earlier walked out of the House after Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan announced that Mann would move the confidence motion.
After moving the Motion of Confidence, Mann accused the Congress of supporting BJP's "Operation Lotus" alleging that its MLAs ran away from discussion in the House.
The Congress is in such a situation that nobody wants to take over as its president, he said, taking a jibe at the party over the political crisis in Rajasthan where MLAs loyal to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot did not meet central observers of the party.
He also attacked the BJP, saying the saffron party feels only they should be in power everywhere. "Three crore people of Punjab have faith in us... I have full faith in my 91 soldiers (AAP MLAs)," Mann said.
The AAP had recently claimed that at least 10 of its MLAs were approached by the BJP with an offer of Rs 25 crore to each of them in a bid to topple the six-month-old government under its "Operation Lotus". In the 117-member Assembly, the AAP has 92, Congress 18, SAD 3, BJP 2, BSP 1 while 1 is an Independent.
14:23 Haven't spoken to high command or Gehlot: Pilot
Update on the situation in Rajasthan: Congress MLA Sachin Pilot refutes news agency ANI's tweet that he has told the Congress high command that Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot should not remain CM if he decides to contest for the party president post and that it is his responsibility to bring MLAs together.
Pilot tweeted saying, "Am afraid this is false news being reported."
He said he has neither spoken with the party's high command nor with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.
14:13 Tharoor to file papers for Cong prez polls on Friday
Amid suspense over who could take on Shashi Tharoor in the Congress president polls, party's central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry on Tuesday said AICC treasurer Pawan Kumar Bansal has got nomination forms collected, adding that it may be for someone else.
Mistry also said a representative of Tharoor has informed his office that he will file nomination for the post of president on September 30 at 11 am.
Speaking with reporters at his office at the AICC headquarters here, Mistry said he met party chief Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence on Tuesday and handed over her voter's ID card.
He also briefed Gandhi about the process so far as to how many people have collected the nomination forms and about the delegates.
Mistry said Bansal got the nomination forms collected from his office on Monday and it may be "as a supporter" of someone.
When pressed further as to whether Bansal may have collected the forms for himself or someone else, Mistry said he cannot say for whom he has collected as it is not the procedure to ask for whom forms are being collected as any delegate can collect the forms.
According to a notification issued by the party, the process for filing nominations for the election will be held from September 24 to 30. The date for scrutiny of the nomination papers is October 1, while the last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 8. The final list of candidates will be published at 5 pm on October 8.
13:50 President Murmu inaugurates cryogenic facility at HAL
President Draupadi Murmu inaugurates the integrated cryogenic engine manufacturing facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in Bengaluru. She also laid the foundation stone for the zonal institute of virology.
13:38 Pilot awaits high command's decision on prez polls
Congress MLA Sachin Pilot is in constant touch with other MLAs apart from supporting MLAs, reports news agency ANI. He has asked his supporters to wait for the high command's decision on the party's presidential elections.
Pilot has told the Congress high command that Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot should not remain CM if he decides to contest for the party president post and that it is his responsibility to bring MLAs along.
Pilot was considered the frontrunner for the CM post if Ashok Gehlot resigned after being elected as the Congress national president. Pilot was the state Congress chief when the party was in opposition.
The open rebellion by MLAs close to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has put a question mark on whether he would still run for the Congress president's post or someone else will replace him as a candidate supported by the current leadership.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi had on Monday sought a written report on the revolt in Rajasthan from party observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken as the chances of Ashok Gehlot becoming the party chief receded and other names cropped up for the post.
13:26 Asha Parekh to get Dada Saheb Phalke award
Veteran actor Asha Parekh will be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2020, the highest recognition in the field of Indian cinema, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said on Tuesday.
The 79-year-old actor, best known for films such as "Dil Deke Dekho", "Kati Patang", "Teesri Manzil", and "Caravan", is considered one of the most influential actresses of all time in Hindi cinema.
Also a director and producer, Parekh had helmed the acclaimed TV drama "Kora Kagaz" in the late 1990s. Last year, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2019 was conferred on Rajinikanth. PTI
12:59 Tharoor joins Yatra
Congress president-hopeful, Shashi Tharoor tweets, "Caught up with @RahulGandhi on the #BharatJodoYatra before it left my home state of Kerala, & that too in my ancestral district of Palakkad! What he's achieved already with the Yatra is amazing & it just seems to keep on gathering momentum & attracting the public!"
12:53 Modi pays homage to Shinzo Abe
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo. Modi was seen along with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the funeral.
File pic
12:37 Sec 144 imposed around Delhi's Jamia university
Jamia Millia Islamia has asked its students and teachers not to assemble in and around the campus as police have imposed restrictions under section 144 of the CrPC in the entire Okhla area.
In a notice issued on Monday, the chief proctor of the university said the SHO of the Jamia Nagar police station has informed that the restrictions have been imposed since September 19 as information was received that some people or groups may indulge in activities prejudicial to the maintenance of peace.
The SHO further said that the restrictions would be in place in the entire Okhla (Jamia Nagar) area till November 17, the notice added. The police have, however, denied that the order is related to the ongoing action against the Popular Front of India (PFI).
Section 144 of the CrPC prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area. Violation of the order is punishable under section 188 of the IPC.
In view of the order, all students, and teaching and non-teaching staff of Jamia Millia Islamia are advised not to assemble in and outside the campus in groups or as part of any march, agitation, dharna or meeting, the notice by the chief proctor stated. The notice came a day after Jamia's teachers announced a peaceful protest march -- PTI
Justice Dipankar Datta
12:23 SC Collegium recommends elevation Justice Dipankar Datta as SC judge
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended elevation of Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, Justice Dipankar Datta, as a judge of the apex court.
According to a statement uploaded on the top court's website, a meeting of the Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit was held on Monday.
"The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on September 26, 2022 has recommended elevation of Mr Justice Dipankar Datta, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court (PHC: Calcutta), as judge of the Supreme Court," the statement said.
Justice Datta was elevated to the bench of the Calcutta High Court as a permanent judge on June 22, 2006. He was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court on April 28, 2020. -- PTI
12:19 Tahir Hussain: Victim as villain
Hussain, termed the mastermind of Delhi riots, used to host over 1,000 guests every Holi and Diwali. Would a communal person do that, asks his son, standing in his father's office -- now a museum of innocence. Read the column here.
11:57 SC begins historic livestreaming proceedings
In a first, the Supreme Court on Tuesday began live-streaming its constitution bench proceedings.
On September 27, 2018, the then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had delivered the landmark judgement on the live telecast or webcast of important proceedings in matters of constitutional importance, saying sunlight is the best disinfectant. The proceedings can be accessed at webcast.gov.in/scindia/, said an official.
On Monday, a bench headed by Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit said the top court will soon have its own platform to live-stream its proceedings instead of having to use the YouTube.
In a unanimous decision taken at a recent full court meeting headed by the CJI, the apex court decided to live-stream proceedings of all constitution bench hearings from September 27, four years after the path-breaking announcement by Justice Misra.
The apex court may live-stream proceedings through YouTube and later host them on its server, sources had said.
People will be able to access the proceedings on their cell phones, laptops, and computers without any hassle.
On August 26, for the first time since its inception, the Supreme Court live-streamed proceedings of a bench headed by then Chief Justice (since retired) N V Ramana through a webcast portal. It was a ceremonial proceeding as Justice Ramana was to demit office that day. PTI
Watch it here:
Court 1: https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYorAvbSfzs
Court 2: https://www.youtube.com/embed/jBNVa2rtzrA
Court 3: https://www.youtube.com/embed/-3hbnrj6U0U
11:35 Modi at Shinzo Abe's funeral
Tokyo was under maximum security today, with angry protests opposing the funeral.
11:22 PM attends state funeral of Japan PM Shinzo Abe
PM Narendra Modi attends state funeral of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.
Abe's widow, Akie Abe, in a black formal kimono, walked slowly into the Budokan hall venue carrying an urn containing her husband's ashes, placed in a wooden box and wrapped in a purple cloth with gold stripes. Defence soldiers in white uniforms took Abe's ashes and placed them on a pedestal filled with white and yellow chrysanthemum flowers and decorations.
Government, parliamentary and judicial representatives, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, will make condolence speeches, followed by Akie Abe.
Abe was cremated in July after a private funeral at a Tokyo temple days after he was assassinated while giving a campaign speech on a street in Nara, a city in western Japan.
11:19 The man leading Ukraine in war
TIME's new cover: Inside the Ukrainian counterstrike that turned the tide of the war.
10:44 PFI activists held in Assam, K'taka, Maharashtra
Assam: Twenty-five Popular Front of India (PFI) activists were arrested from different districts of Assam in a fresh crackdown against the outfit on Tuesday, police said.
The highest number of 10 PFI activists were held in Goalpara, five in Kamrup (Rural) and three in Dhubri, followed by arrests in Barpeta, Baksa, Darrang, Udalguri and Karimganj, they said.
Earlier, 11 people were arrested by the Assam Police from various parts of the state and Delhi, after a nation-wide clampdown against the organisation since September 22.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said that his government has been urging the Centre to ban the outfit for allegedly creating an eco-system for terror activities.
Karnataka: Police have detained several PFI leaders in urban and rural areas of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts early on Tuesday. PFI leaders were taken into custody from Mangaluru, Ullal, Talapady and other areas in DK district. Preventive detention cases have been filed against them under sections 107 and 151 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) against the detained leaders, police sources said.
Maharashtra: Police have arrested four activists of the PFI from different locations in Maharashtra's Thane district for alleged anti-national activities, an official said on Tuesday.
The arrests were made on Monday night in a joint operation carried out in the district by local police and crime branch officials, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Laxmikant Patil said. Two of the activists were nabbed from Mumbra and one each from Kalyan and Bhiwandi towns, he said without elaborating.
10:26 How can you be more participative in civil society? Ask Aakar Patel
From India to the United States to Hong Kong, democratic societies have seen movements that have brought about change. They have one thing in common: large scale participation by civil society and individuals and the absence of organised political parties. How can individuals make their participation more effective?
The Anarchist Cookbook: A Toolkit to Protest and Peaceful Resistance by Aakar Patel talks about ways in which the best campaigning organisations in the world effect change in democratic societies, how a citizen can engage with others who are like-minded, and how vibrant and participative action by citizens makes democracy better and more responsive.
Featuring political cartoons that have the power to inspire, outrage or amuse, The Anarchist Cookbook is a book for our times.
According to the author, Aakar Patel, "Democracy doesn't end at the ballot box. Voting is only one aspect of citizen participation in influencing government. There are other powers our constitution has given us with, that are often unused, and certainly more unused than the vote. If you are troubled by what you see around you in the world, this book helps you take agency and act in a way that is effective and has worked around the world."
Aakar Patel is a writer and human rights activist based in Bangalore. He is chair of Amnesty International India.
The book has been published by Harpercollins.
Antony Blinken with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
10:20 US gives $56.5 mn aid to flood-hit Pakistan
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. -- ANI
10:07 Markets rebound in early trade after 4-day slump
Benchmark indices rebounded in early trade on Tuesday after falling in the last four sessions amid partial recovery in Asian markets. After a positive beginning, the 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 461.82 points to 57,607.04 in initial trade.
Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty advanced 144.15 points to 17,160.45.
Among the 30-share Sensex pack, ITC, Power Grid, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, Wipro, ICICI Bank, Nestle and NTPC were major winners in early trade. Maruti, Titan, Tata Steel, Reliance Industries and Kotak Mahindra Bank were laggards.
PM Modi with Japan PM Fumio Kishida
09:47 India missing Abe San, Modi tells Japan PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended his heartfelt condolences to his dear friend "Abe San", late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
In his opening remarks to Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, he conveyed his personal loss as Abe was his dear friend.
"Today we are meeting in this hour of sorrow. The last time I came I had a long conversation with former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. India is missing Shinzo Abe and remembering him and Japan," said PM Modi during a bilateral meet with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.
He said that Abe had taken India and Japan relations to new heights and expanded them into many other areas.
"Abe took India and Japan relations to new heights and expanded it into many other areas. Our friendship played a key role in the growth of the global perspective. The people of India remember Abe San for all the good works he has done. They are missing Abe San. But, I do believe that under your leadership (Kishida), India-Japan relations will grow strong and will attain new heights and will play a major role in solving the problems of the world," added the Indian Prime Minister.
Japan PM Kishida thanked PM Modi for attending the funeral of Abe and said that PM Modi, along with PM Abe strengthened India-Japan ties.
09:35 Gehlot likely to drop out of Cong prez race
The open rebellion by MLAs close to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has put a question mark on whether he would still run for the Congress president's post or someone else will replace him as a candidate supported by the current leadership.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi had on Monday sought a written report on the revolt in Rajasthan from party observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken as the chances of Ashok Gehlot becoming the party chief receded and other names cropped up for the post.
Kharge and Maken, who were sent as observers to Jaipur for a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, briefed Gandhi after their return to Delhi and termed the parallel meet held by Gehlot loyalists as "indiscipline".
They are expected to recommend disciplinary action against those behind the move, including minister Shanti Dhariwal and Rajasthan Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi. Gehlot loyalists had submitted resignation letters to Assembly Speaker C P Joshi on Sunday evening, in an apparent bid to put pressure on the central leadership to pick someone from the Gehlot camp as CM if the veteran leader is elected the party president.
The loyalist MLAs indicated that they were against the appointment of Sachin Pilot, who led a rebellion against Gehlot in 2020, to the post. On Monday, Gehlot loyalist Dhariwal accused Maken, AICC in-charge for Rajasthan, of being involved in a conspiracy to remove Gehlot as chief minister and alleged he was canvassing for Pilot.
Sonia Gandhi is reportedly "upset" over the Rajasthan developments as Gehlot was being considered as her successor for the top post.
Sources said Gehlot told the two observers that he is not behind the Jaipur development and the MLAs involved in it were not listening to him.
Names of senior party leaders Kharge, Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, Sushilkumar Shinde, Mukul Wasnik and Kumari Selja are now also doing the rounds for the post.
Congress leader Kamal Nath, who met Sonia Gandhi Monday, ruled himself out as a candidate.
Kharge and Maken are likely to submit their report to Gandhi about the crisis in the party's state unit by Wednesday. After a nearly one and half hour-long meeting with Gandhi, Maken told reporters on Monday that it was "unfortunate" that the CLP meet could not be held. AICC General Secretary-Organisation K C Venugopal was also present during the meeting with Gandhi.
09:20 NIA court rejects Varavara Rao's application for cataract surgery
A special NIA court in Mumbai has rejected Telugu poet and Elgar Parishad accused Varavara Rao's plea to go to Hyderabad for three months to undergo cataract surgery.
The court rejected the request stating it has to frame charges against the accused within the next three months.
Special NIA judge Rajesh Katariya said the court "is required to frame charges against the accused and decide on the pending discharge application simultaneously within three months from the order dated August 18, 2022. If Rao is permitted to go and stay in Hyderabad for three months, the framing of charges would get prolonged. In such a situation, allowing the application would not be appropriate."
Rao had also approached the Supreme Court to modify the order granting bail and sought permission to go to Hyderabad for cataract surgery.
According to the bail conditions, Rao has to stay in Mumbai till the end of the Elgar Parishad trial, which is yet to begin. On August 10, the Supreme Court granted bail to Rao on medical grounds. The following week it granted Rao permission to approach the Special NIA Court to undergo his cataract surgery in Hyderabad.
09:11 Meet India's only woman Sukhoi weapon operator
Amid the ongoing military deployment along the China front, Indian Air Force's only female Weapon System Operator in the deadly Sukhoi-30 fighter fleet on Tuesday said pilots in the eastern sector were ready to respond to any eventuality in the area and prove their mettle in real operations.
During a visit to the Tezpur forward air base close to the China border in the eastern sector, team ANI witnessed the fighter aircraft operations of the Su-30 fighter aircraft which has been made more lethal with the induction of new weapons and electronic warfare systems.
"Being part of any actual operation is what every fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force trains for because that is where we would get to show our mettle. Our pilots from various bases in the eastern sector are ready to respond in case of any eventuality. We are always ready for any kind of tasks and challenges that may come upon us," Flight Lieutenant Tejaswi told ANI during an interaction at the forward base.
The WSOs or wizzos are specialist officers required to fly in the rear cockpit of multirole Su-30 fighter aircraft and handle the sensors and weapons to be fired by the aircraft at enemy targets.
Speaking exclusively to ANI on being asked about how she felt being part of operations during the ongoing standoff with China at the borders, she said, "What runs through, our minds is not very different during demanding times because such operations are an execution of what we practice on a daily basis."
Asked about the experience of fighter pilots during the multiple joint Army-Air Force joint operations during the recent wargames, another Su-30 fighter pilot Flight Lieutenant Sakshya Bajpai said the experience of flying during these wargames was always very thrilling as it helps pilots to prepare better for carrying out actual operations.
08:39 Modi meets Japan PM ahead of Abe funeral
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo.
Modi on Monday emplaned for Japan to attend the state funeral of his "dear friend" and former PM Shinzo Abe, which will be held today.
He will also meet Mrs Abe during this visit.
PM Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart.
The state funeral of Abe will take place on Tuesday, and will be attended by thousands of dignitaries worldwide.
Representatives from over a hundred countries, including more than 20 Heads of State and Heads of Government are expected to participate in the state funeral tomorrow.
File pic
08:34 Pakistan terrorist linked with JeM killed in Kulgam encounter
Pakistani terrorist linked with the proscribed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) was killed during the Kulgam encounter, informed Kashmir Zone Police on Monday.
The terrorist has been identified as Abu Hurarah.
The Police also recovered incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including an AK rifle from his procession.
"Killed terrorist has been identified as Abu Hurarah, a foreign Pakistani terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit JeM. Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including AK rifle recovered," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted quoting Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar.
08:11 NASA successfully crashes spacecraft into asteroid
NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) -- the world's first planetary defence 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. -- ANI
01:10 Chandigarh varsity video: Accused sent to five days police remand
Four persons including a girl and an Army official arrested in connection with the Chandigarh University 'leaked objectionable videos' case were sent to five days police remand by a court on Monday.
Earlier on Saturday, an Indian Army official identified as Sanjeev Singh was arrested in connection with the case and was produced to the court where he was sent to a five days police remand and the other three accused were on seven days police remand.
Harvindar Singh Johal, Ranjit Verma's lawyer said, "The police asked for seven days remand as all the culprits have to be interrogated face to face and, but the Kharar Court has given 5 days police remand."
The accused Army official is supposed to be the main accused in the case.
According to an Army official, "During the ongoing investigations by Punjab Police in a sensitive case, it has revealed that a serving Army soldier is likely to have been involved in acts chargeable under sections of the IPC and IT Act."
"Immediately on receipt of information from the police, all possible assistance was extended to Punjab and Arunachal Pradesh police to arrest the soldier and hand over his custody for further investigations," the official added.
"Accused army personnel Sanjeev Singh was arrested from Sela Pass, Arunachal Pradesh. Transit remand obtained from Ld CJM Bomdilla for production before Mohali court," said DGP Punjab police, Gaurav Yadav.
The Army official further emphasised that the Indian Army practices zero tolerance toward such acts and will continue to provide all assistance for the early conclusion of the investigation. -- ANI
Representational image
00:44 Kerala continues raids on PFI leaders' properties
The Kerala police on Monday said they were continuing raids on various places, including shops and other establishments, connected to the Popular Front of India in Kannur district.
On Monday, the raids were conducted at Mattannur and Kannur regions, the police said.
But, no arrests were made, a senior police official from the district said.
"The raids were mainly conducted in the shops and establishments connected with the PFI leaders and activists. Today, the raids were in areas around Mattannur and Kannur city," the official said.
The official said those establishments which were not open on Sunday were raided today.
The police said a total of 309 cases were registered till now and 1,404 people arrested in connection with the violence that took place during the PFI hartal on September 23.
Over 830 people were under preventive detention. Malappuram district recorded the most number of cases - 34 followed by Kottayam with 28 cases and Kollam city with 27.
Thiruvananthapuram city recorded 25 cases while rural, too, registered 25 cases. -- PTI
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