New Delhi: The structure of the unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi started taking shape on Monday with the appointment of five departmental heads and allotment of office spaces to officials of erstwhile north and east civic bodies at its headquarters at the Civic Centre in New Delhi, officials said. The unified MCD formally came into existence on Sunday, with IAS officers Ashwani Kumar and Gyanesh Bharti assuming charge as the new civic body's special officer and commissioner, respectively. According to senior officials, nine additional commissioners have been allocated departments and office spaces at different floors of the Civic Centre, while three deputy commissioners were also appointed.They said the unification process started by bringing some officials of erstwhile east corporation into its head office at the Civic Centre and also by making a single website for the three MCDs. IAS Ankit Mishra was appointed as the deputy commissioner of Rohini zone while IAS Prince Dhawan has been given charge of Civil Lines zone, an order later said.DANICS officer Jitender Kumar has been made deputy commissioner (Hackney Carriage, Language, Disaster Management and Election), it added.The order also said the unified MCD will also have three engineer-in-chiefs.While KP Singh will be the engineer-in-chief for different zones, including Rohini, Narela, Keshavpuram, SP-City, Karol Bagh and Civil Lines, PC Meena was appointed EnC for central zone, south zone, west zone and Najafgarh zone, the order said. It added that Dilip Ramnani will look after the works of the EnC for Shahdara (south) and Shahdara (north) zones."Appointment of five head of departments have been finalised and rest will be appointed soon. The departments for which HODs have been appointed include education, law, vigilance, IT and press and information," a senior official of the MCD told&nbsp;PTI. An order issued by the MCD said AK Sharma will be the chief law officer of the unified MCD, Vikas Tripathi will be the MCD's director, education, while Amit Kumar has been appointed as director (P&amp;I). Sanjay Sahay has been appointed as director vigilance and IAS Prince Dhawan will be the new director (IT), the order said.The official said appointment of directors of remunerative project cell and advertising departments are next in line.The MCD was trifurcated in 2012 during Congress leader Sheila Dikshit's tenure as the chief minister. It is now reunified by merging the three civic bodies -- North, South and East municipal corporations. Soon after assuming charge, MCD Commissioner Bharti issued an order, saying that erstwhile SDMC's Central Establishment Department will act as the nodal department for transfer and posting of officials and staff for the unified MCD. He also ordered that erstwhile SDMC's office of CA-cum-FA and the accounts department will act as the nodal finance and accounts department of the unified MCD. According to officials, the development of making the erstwhile SDMC's departments as the nodal agency for transfer posting has led to some "unhappiness" among officials of erstwhile North and East civic body staff. A senior MCD official said making the unified MCD financially stable will be among the key challenges."We are examining the possible viable options for making the civic body financially strong. We are constantly holding meetings with officials to zero in on possible solutions," the official said.The official also said the initial focus of the corporation would be on the issue of waste. "Waste segregation is an important segment to take care of to ensure cleanliness and effective waste disposal. Clear instructions are being given that landfills has to be shortened. We will ensure that waste segregation is done at source. "It however requires collective will. It cannot be done by just imposing things but collective campaign has to be done," the official said. The MCD special officer Ashwani Kumar had on Saturday visited Ghazipur landfill site to take stock of the situationThe three civic bodies have been merged into one MCD through the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2022. A bill to unify the three civic bodies was approved by the Lok Sabha on March 30 and by the Rajya Sabha on April 5. The bill became an Act after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to it on April 18.The Act reduces the number of wards in the national capital to 250 from the existing 272, which means that the MCD will have to undergo a delimitation exercise before the election.The Centre will form a delimitation commission to carry out the demarcation of wards.—PTI

The structure of the unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi started taking shape on Monday with the appointment of five departmental heads and allotment of office spaces to officials of erstwhile north and east civic bodies at its headquarters at the Civic Centre in New Delhi, officials said.

Financial stability, waste management top Delhi municipality's agenda

New Delhi: Amid historically highest exports, the Centre on Wednesday said it has notified capping of sugar exports at 10 million tonnes in the current marketing year ending September to maintain the domestic availability and price stability. The notification was issued by the Directorate of General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) late at night on May 24.As per the DGFT notification, sugar exports will be allowed with effect from June 1 till October 31 this year or till further order, whichever is earlier, with specific permission of the Directorate of Sugar under the Food Ministry. In the ongoing marketing year (October-September), contracts for export of about 9 million tonnes have been signed, about 8.2 million tonnes of sugar have been dispatched from sugar mills for export and approximately 7.8 million tonnes have been exported. According to the Food Ministry, the decision came in the light of record exports of the sugar. Sugar exports in the 2021-22 marketing year are "historically highest". Exports in 2020-21 stood at 7 million tonnes and 5.96 million tonnes in 2019-20."Taking into consideration unprecedented growth in exports of sugar and the need to maintain sufficient stock of sugar in the country as well as to safeguard interests of the common citizens of the country by keeping prices of sugar under check, Government of India has decided to regulate sugar exports w.e.f. June 1, 2022," it said. Sugar mills and exporters need to take approvals in the form of Export Release Orders (EROs) from the Directorate of Sugar, Department of Food and Public Distribution, the ministry said in a statement. The decision will ensure that the closing stock of sugar at the end of September 2022 remains at 6-6.5 million tonnes, which is 2-3 month stocks required for domestic use.Crushing in the new marketing year starts in the last week of October in Karnataka. For Maharashtra, it begins in the last week of October-November and in November in Uttar Pradesh. So generally, up to November, supply of sugar takes place from previous year stock, it added. For sugar export from June 1 to October 31, Export Release Orders will be issued to exporters on receiving application through a transparent method and these orders would be placed on a website of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, according to a letter written to exporters by the Food Ministry. The ministry said sugar exports up to May 31 will be allowed.Further in the case of exports through bulk or break-bulk vessels, if the shipping bill is filed and vessels have already berthed or arrived and anchored in Indian ports and their rotation number has been allocated as of May 31, such vessels will continue to proceed for the loading and export of sugar without any approval or release order. Exporters can apply for EROs through the National Single Window System portal and no request for a change of ERO will be entertained. The validity of EROs issued will be up to the date of Let Export Order (LEO) under the contract agreement or 90 days, whichever is earlier, as per the statement. Non-implementation of ERO or non-export of sugar under ERO within LEO date will be viewed seriously and such exporters may be penalised under the Essential Commodities (EC) Act 1955 or the Sugar Control order 1966, it added. "Any breach of the above conditions for export by an exporter, would invite blacklisting of the exporter and would disqualify them from further participation in OGL export besides inviting action under the EC Act and Sugar Control Order," the ministry said.In a separate letter, the ministry has asked mills to submit online the details of the dispatch of sugar for export on a daily basis. In case of non-submission of these details, the applications for EROs may not be considered. Sugar mills have to apply for approval for dispatch of sugar for export/deemed exports, it said.The ministry mentioned that the government has been continuously monitoring the situation in the sugar sector, including production, consumption, export and price trends in wholesale and retail markets all over the country. India has been the highest producer and the second-largest exporter of sugar in the world in the current year. "As a result of regular efforts of the Government of India, despite record production of sugar, 99.5 per cent of cane dues for last sugar season 2020-21 have been paid and about 85 per cent of cane dues of current sugar season 2021-22 have also been released to farmers," the statement noted. The government is committed to maintain stable prices of sugar in the domestic market, and in the last 12 months, prices of sugar are under control, it said. Wholesale prices of sugar in India are range-bound between Rs 3,150 - Rs 3,500 per quintal, while retail prices are also within control in the range of Rs 36-44 in different parts of the country, it added.—PTI

Amid historically highest exports, the Centre on Wednesday said it has notified capping of sugar exports at 10 million tonnes in the current marketing year ending September to maintain the domestic availability and price stability.

Govt notifies capping of sugar exports at 10 mn tonnes for this year

California:&nbsp;Although the mechanism remains unclear, high salt concentrations may inactivate viruses by damaging the viral nucleic acid. With high contents of organic macromolecules, phase-separated particles with organic- and inorganic-rich domains or amorphous particles containing trapped moisture may form, potentially enhancing viral and bacterial survival. Furthermore, the pH of aerosol particles is RH, size, and composition dependent, and the pH of aerosol droplet surfaces may be different from the droplet bulk. Indeed, predicting the evolving aerosol pH is challenging, particularly when the facile partitioning of water-soluble acidic and basic components from the ambient environment is considered, even before the influence of aerosol pH on microorganism survival is considered.Laboratory strategies to assess the airborne stability of a pathogen must either be capable of simulating every aspect of the real-world environment in which transmission occurs or sufficient control over the conditions must be achieved such that the influence of individual processes and properties on survival can be assessed independently. Goldberg rotating drums have been widely used over many decades to assess airborne pathogen stability and have been used to investigate the airborne survival of SARS-CoV-2. More specifically, studies have examined the dependence of infectivity on time (20 min to 16 h), RH (40 to 70 per cent), and the presence of UVC light with measurements in aerosols composed of cell culture media (Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium [DMEM] and minimal essential media [MEM]) and artificial saliva. All studies concentrate on equilibrated particle sizes of ~5 um (mass median aerodynamic diameter). A nebulizer is used to generate a cloud of aerosolized pathogen that is suspended by the rotation of the drum. The initial environmental conditions within the drum can be controlled by mixing the output of the nebulizer with a flow of humidity- and temperature-controlled air. However, operation with stable environmental conditions can be challenging; for example, as the droplets evaporate and equilibrate to the set humidity, the water they release can cause the humidity within the drum to increase. In addition, dynamic changes in liquid water content within the freshly nebulized aerosol-cloud do not replicate the very rapid changes that can accompany the extremely low concentrations of the exhaled aerosol. This precludes any study of short-term decreases in pathogen viability that may be critical to understanding close contact transmission and the immediate consequences of exhalation on microbe survival.The researchers have previously reported a unique approach to the study of infectious aerosol and the interplay between aerosol microphysics and pathogen survival, using complementary aerosol analysis techniques to assess the underlying mechanisms that govern the airborne longevity of pathogens. The aerosol stability of viruses and bacteria is investigated using the CELEBS (controlled electrodynamic levitation and extraction of bioaerosols onto a substrate) technique. In CELEBS, a small population (&amp;lt;20) of near-identical monodisperse droplets containing bacteria or viruses are trapped within an electric field, while a constant flow of air prevents the accumulation of released water around the droplets. Loading droplets into the CELEBS takes &amp;lt;0.1 s, and there is no physical loss of droplets over time. Thus, an assessment of the viability of suspended microbes within droplets can be made after periods of suspension varying between less than 5 s to many hours. These longevity measurements can then be contextualized with detailed measurements of the dynamic changes in the physicochemical properties of droplets generated the exact same way in an instrument referred to as the comparative kinetic-electrodynamic balance (CK-EDB). The CK-EDB uses the same piezoelectric droplet-on-demand dispensers as the CELEBS to generate droplets, with particles captured in the path of a laser within a flow of humidity and temperature-controlled air. The elastic light scattering pattern can be used to infer the size and structure of these droplets within the same environmental conditions as those used in CELEBS.By coupling the time-sensitive measurements of the physicochemical properties of the droplets (CK-EDB) with the downstream biological effects (CELEBS) on the same timescale, the systematic exploration of hypotheses regarding the inactivation mechanisms of viruses and bacteria is possible. In this study, we apply this approach to the study of SARS-CoV-2 survival in airborne droplets of cell culture medium, examining the survival over timescales spanning from &amp;lt;20 s, commensurate with the evaporation of freshly exhaled aerosol, through to 20 min. By studying the physicochemical changes that take place in the droplet and exploring how these changes impact the infectivity of the virus, we elucidate the effect of the airborne environment on SARS-CoV-2. This study provides insights into the potential influence of environmental conditions on COVID-19 transmission.&nbsp;—ANI(Concluded)

 Although the mechanism remains unclear, high salt concentrations may inactivate viruses by damaging the viral nucleic acid. With high contents of organic macromolecules, phase-separated particles with organic- and inorganic-rich domains or amorphous particles containing trapped moisture may form, potentially enhancing viral and bacterial survival.

New Research On Airborne Stability And Infectivity Of SARS-COV-2 Could Help Mitigate Spread Of Diseases-II

Washington: During a recent study researchers found that fruit flies can quickly compensate for catastrophic wing injuries while maintaining the same stability after losing up to 40 per cent of a wing.
This finding could inform the design of versatile robots, which face the similar challenge of having to quickly adapt to mishaps in the field. The Penn State-led team published their results in Science Advances.
To run the experiment, researchers altered the wing length of anaesthetised fruit flies, imitating an injury flying insects can sustain. They then suspended the flies in a virtual reality ring. Mimicking what flies would see when in flight, researchers played virtual imagery on tiny screens in the ring, causing the flies to move as if flying. "We found flies compensate for their injuries by flapping the damaged wing harder and reducing the speed of the healthy one," said corresponding author Jean-Michel Mongeau, Penn State assistant professor of mechanical engineering. "They accomplish this by modulating signals in their nervous system, allowing them to fine-tune their flight even after an injury," he added. By flapping their damaged wing harder, fruit flies exchange some performance -- which lowers only slightly -- to maintain stability by actively increasing damping.
"If you drive on a paved road, friction is maintained between the tires and the surface, and the car is stable," Mongeau said, comparing damping to friction. "But on an icy road, there is decreased friction between the road and tires, causing instability. In this case, a fruit fly, as the driver, actively increases damping with its nervous system in an attempt to increase stability," he added. Co-author Bo Cheng, Penn State Kenneth K. and Olivia J. Kuo Early Career Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering noted that stability is more important than power for flight performance.
"Underwing damage, both performance and stability would typically suffer; however, flies use an 'internal knob' that increases damping to maintain the desired stability, even if that leads to further decreases in performance," Cheng said, adding, "In fact, it has been shown that it is indeed the stability, instead of the required power, that limits manoeuvrability in flies." The researchers' work suggests that fruit flies, with just 200,000 neurons compared to 100 billion in humans, employ a sophisticated, flexible motor control system, allowing them to adapt and survive after an injury. "The complexity we've uncovered here in flies is unmatched by any existing engineering systems; the sophistication of the fly is more complex than existing flying robots," Mongeau said.
"We are still far away on the engineering side of trying to replicate what we see in nature, and this is just another example of just how far we have to go," he added. With increasingly complex environments, engineers are challenged to design robots that can adapt quickly to faults or mishaps.
"Flying insects can inspire the design of flapping robots and drones that can respond intelligently to physical damage and maintain operations," said co-author Wael Salem, Penn State doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, adding, "For example, designing a drone that can compensate for a broken motor in flight or a legged robot that can rely on its other legs when one gives out."
To study the mechanism by which flies compensate for wing damage in flight, collaborators at the University of Colorado Boulder created a robot prototype of a mechanical wing, close in size and function to that of a fruit fly. Researchers snipped the mechanical wing, replicating the Penn State experiments, and tested the interactions between the wings and the air.
"With a mathematical model only, we need to make simplifying assumptions about the structure of the wing, the motion of the wing and the wing-air interactions to make our computations tractable," said co-author Kaushik Jayaram, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder.
He added, "But with a physical model, our robot prototype interacts with the natural world much like a fly would, subject to the laws of physics. Thus, this setup captures the intricacies of the complex wing-air interactions that we do not yet fully understand." —ANI

During a recent study researchers found that fruit flies can quickly compensate for catastrophic wing injuries while maintaining the same stability after losing up to 40 per cent of a wing.

Injured Fruit Flies Use Corrective Movements To Maintain Stability: Research

New Delhi (The Hawk): During the 17th round of discussions at the Corps Commander level, India and China agreed to uphold security and stability along the LAC in the Western region.
The meeting took place on December 20, 2022, at the Chushul-Moldo border crossing on the Chinese side, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Defence on Thursday.
The two parties engaged in an open and productive discussion about how to resolve the pertinent issues along the LAC in the Western Sector, building on the advancements made since the last meeting on July 17, 2022.
"They had an honest and thorough discussion," the defence ministry continued, "keeping in line with the guidance provided by the State leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest possible time which would help in restoration of peace and tranquilly along the LAC in the Western Sector and enable progress in bilateral relations."
The Western Sector's security and stability would be maintained in the interim, the statement continued.
The two parties agreed to keep constant communication, continue their engagement through diplomatic and military channels, and resolve any outstanding concerns as soon as possible to their mutual satisfaction.
The first meeting round following the standoff on December 9 was the 17th. A fight broke out when some 300 PRC forces tried to cross the Line of Actual Control in the Yangtse region of Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
According to a source, soldiers from China and India were hurt during the conflict. Six of the hurt Indian jawans were admitted to the military hospital in Guwahati, but there was no mention of casualties or major injuries.
The sources claim that China has made numerous attempts to seize control of the 17,000-foot-high summit. According to sources within the Indian Army, India has a tight grip on the peak, which offers commanding views of both sides of the border.
(Inputs from Agencies)

During the 17th round of discussions at the Corps Commander level, India and China agreed to uphold security and stability along the LAC in the Western region.

China and India agree to safeguard security and stability along LAC

Jakarta [Indonesia]: Indonesia President Joko Widodo on Thursday thanked leaders of the East Asia Summit for making it a forum for all in order to strengthen cooperation. In his address to the 18th East Asia Summit that began in Jakarta today, Widodo said, "Essentially we acknowledge stability and peace as the main key to achieve prosperity. ASEAN is steadfast in making this vision an epicentrum of growth and therefore ASEAN will continue to work to play a role as country leader..."
"ASEAN will really appreciate that if this East Asia summit can agree on a leader statement and its determination as the epicentrum of growth," Widodo said. Indonesia is the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.  The Indonesian President said that it is at this time when the international community will assess if "we are leaders with the wisdom to make the world a better place for all." "I thank once again the leaders of the East Asia Summit of making this forum for us to strengthen the cooperation. I call on all the leaders to show the wisdom, to show the leadership for the success of this," said Widodo as he declared the East Asia Summit open. The East Asia Summit would provide an opportunity for leaders of ASEAN countries and its eight dialogue partners, including India, to exchange views on issues of regional and global significance. East Asia Summit is the foremost of the ASEAN-centered mechanisms in the Indo-Pacific. Since its inception in 2005, it has played a significant role in providing a platform for dialogue and discussion on matters of strategic importance to the region. At this 18 th East Asia Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders will discuss ways to further strengthen the East Asia Summit mechanism, as well as exchange views on matters of regional and international interest.  EAS consists of 10 ASEAN Member States (i.e. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the USA. East Asia Summit is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the centrality of ASEAN. Prime Minister Modi attended the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit at the invitation of Indonesia's President Joko Widodo. The Prime Minister's visit to Indonesia comes ahead of the G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi on September 9-10 under India's Presidency this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who arrived in Indonesia early Thursday morning said that it is an "honour" for him to co-chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India summit. Earlier PM Modi said he is looking forward to “working with various leaders for making a better planet.” He said, "Last year we celebrated the India-ASEAN Friendship Day and gave it a form of comprehensive strategic partnership..." The ASEAN-India Summit is the first summit since the elevation of the ties between India and the ASEAN bloc of countries to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022. “Engagement with ASEAN is an important pillar of India’s ‘Act East’ policy,” PM Modi said in his departure statement. The 20th ASEAN-India Summit is a “greatly cherished” partnership, PM Modi said in a post on X.
—ANI

Indonesia President Joko Widodo on Thursday thanked leaders of the East Asia Summit for making it a forum for all in order to strengthen cooperation.

18th East Asia Summit begins in Jakarta

London: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday said that he is heading to the G20 Summit set to be held under India's Presidency with a clear focus, which includes stabilising the global economy, building international ties and supporting the most vulnerable. Sharing a post on X, Sunak stated, "I’m heading to the #G20 Summit with a clear focus. Stabilising the global economy. Building international relationships. Supporting the most vulnerable. This action is part of that – Putin again has failed to show up for the G20, but we will show up with support for Ukraine." Rishi Sunak's remarks come ahead of his arrival in New Delhi for the G20 Summit which is due to be held in Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi on September 9-10. Sunak shared the post in response to a statement made by UK Prime Minister's Office on X which reads, "The war in Ukraine continues to affect us all. We’re making sure food exports get out of Ukraine to countries that need it: Establishing surveillance in the Black Sea Providing £3m funding for the World Food Programme Convening an international food security summit." UK Prime Minister's Office in a press release said that during the G20 summit Rishi Sunak would emphasise that global leaders must make it clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative has increased Russia’s global isolation, and pledge to protect those whose lives have been devastated by the ongoing conflict. According to the release G20 leaders will on Saturday gather in Delhi to discuss the big challenges faced by the world, including the spike in the cost of living driven by Putin’s actions. The press release said, "At the summit, the Prime Minister will stress the importance of those who do choose to attend demonstrating their leadership, both in helping the world’s most vulnerable people to deal with the terrible consequences of Putin’s war and in addressing wider challenges like climate change and the stability of the global economy." "Once again, Vladimir Putin is failing to show his face at the G20. He is the architect of his own diplomatic exile, isolating himself in his presidential palace and blocking out criticism and reality" the release from the UK Prime Minister's office said.  "Russia has displaced 11 million people from their homes, manipulated global energy prices and made daily life more difficult for households across the planet" it added. "The rest of the G20, meanwhile, are demonstrating that we will turn up and work together to pick up the pieces of Putin’s destruction. That starts with dealing with the terrible global consequences of Putin’s stranglehold over the most fundamental resources, including his blockade of and attacks on Ukrainian grain" the statement added. According to the press release, the UK will host an international food security summit later this year and increase support for vulnerable people worst hit by rising food prices. UK will also contribute £3 million in funding for the World Food Programme to continue work started under President Zelenskyy’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative. —ANI

 UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday said that he is heading to the G20 Summit set to be held under India's Presidency with a clear focus

'Heading To G20 With Clear Focus': UK PM Ahead Of His Arrival In India

Imphal: The Assam Rifles has requested Manipur police to take prompt action against the valley-based insurgents and miscreants who have acquired vehicles and modified them to resemble those used by the Central paramilitary force.
The Churachandpur-based headquarters of 27 Sector of Assam Rifles, in a confidential letter to the Superintendent of police of Churachandpur district said that immediate actions should be taken against such illegal modification of vehicles to avoid any kind of adverse incident.
The Assam Rifles’ September 18 letter, accessed by IANS, said, "It is reliably learnt that few Maitei miscreants with the help of VBIGs (Valley Based Insurgents Groups) have acquired many used TATA 407 from civil market and have converted them to resembled like the TATA 407 vehicle being used by Assam Rifles by painting and putting the Assam Rifles insignia."
"These vehicles are located in the general area of Kakching. Conversion of civil vehicle to lookalike of Assam Rifles vehicle clearly shows the nefarious intention of VBIGs to tarnish the image of Assam Rifles or to utilise the same vehicle for anti-national activities," the letter said.&nbsp;
"It is requested to please disseminate this input to SP, Kakching and to your higher authorities so that a preemptive action can be taken to avert any kind of adverse incident," it added.
The development comes at a time when the Manipur police on September 16 arrested five persons with sophisticated weapons in camouflage uniforms.
On Friday, the Manipur police displayed a fake identity card, posted on the X (formerly Twitter) : "Fake I-card. Manipur Police has not issued such a card. Necessary legal action will be initiated."
A senior Manipur police official said that the police have information that miscreants masquerading as police commandos are roaming around and such acts, including demands for extortion and threats, have hampered the efforts to normalise the situation that the police have been genuinely
making.
"We have several reports from different valley districts including Imphal East and Imphal West that there is an increase in complaints related to extortion and threats," the official told the media.
Meanwhile, The Manipur government on Friday night warned people, who have looted arms, to deposit them within 15 days, otherwise stern legal and security measures would be taken against them.&nbsp;
A release, issued from Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s office said that all illegal weapons held by any person or groups across the state should be surrendered forthwith or within a period of 15 days.
The state government is willing to take a considerate view for the persons depositing such illegal weapons within these 15 days.
"At the end of the 15 days, security forces, both of the Centre and the state, will undertake a strong and comprehensive search operation all over the state to recover such weapons, and all persons associated with any illegal weapons will be dealt with severely, as per the law," the statement
said.
It said that there have been reports of extortion, threats and abduction by miscreants/ groups using these illegal weapons.
"This is a serious matter and the state government will take strong action against such miscreants/groups in any part of the state," the release said, appealing to the people of the state to cooperate with both the Central and state government in restoring peace and normalcy in the state.
Accepting the recommendations of the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC), the state government on Thursday has directed the Director General of Police to recover the arms and ammunition, looted during the ethnic riot from the armouries of security forces and the Churachandpur gun shop.
According to various reports, during the ethnic riots, which broke out on May 3, over 4,000 different types of sophisticated arms and lakhs of different kinds of ammunition were looted from the police stations and police outposts by the mobs, attackers and militants.
Inspector General of Police, Operations, I.K. Muivah, last week, said that of the weapons that had been "lost", 1,359 firearms and 15,050 various types of ammunition were recovered.
—IANS

The Assam Rifles has requested Manipur police to take prompt action against the valley-based insurgents and miscreants who have acquired vehicles

Assam Rifles seeks action against insurgents using lookalike paramilitary vehicles

New Delhi: Amid the diplomatic row between India and Canada, the Canadian Vice Chief of Army Staff, Major General Peter Scott said here on Tuesday that 'we want to build military relationship' between the two nations.  The Canadian Vice Chief of Army Staff was in the national capital to attend the Indo-Pacific Armies chief conference (IPACC).  He said that although he was aware ofCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement, he washere to build a military-to-military relationship with India.
Scott said, "I am aware of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement. The government's stance, the offer to cooperate and participate in the investigation with India but that issue does not influence the Indo-Pacific Summit. In a true example, we are here to build military to military relationships and we will try to address that issue to our respective groups (India-Canada) ourselves."  The Canadian Vice Chief of Army Staff said, "We are looking forward to the opportunities to exchange ideas and learn with each other."  The Indian Army and the US Army is co-hosting the 13th Indo-Pacific, 47th IPAMS and 9th SELF, a three-day conference of Chiefs of Armies chief conference (IPACC), in New Delhi.  The Indian Ministry of Defence said that the central theme for this forum is “Together for Peace: Sustaining Peace and Stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.”  The conference will provide an opportunity for Army Chiefs and senior-level leaders from land forces, primarily of the Indo-Pacific region, to exchange ideas and views on security and contemporary issues. The core effort of the forum is to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through mutual understanding, dialogue and friendship amongst the littoral partners, the defence ministry official added.  This event is going on in Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt and will see over 150 delegates participate in various plenary and round-table sessions.  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, attended the opening ceremony at the Manekshaw Centre.  The Army Chiefs conference isdiscussing the issues of mutual interest and areas of cooperation to synergise efforts of all stakeholders for effecting peace and stability in the region, officials added.
—IANS

Amid the diplomatic row between India and Canada, the Canadian Vice Chief of Army Staff, Major General Peter Scott said here on Tuesday

Canadian Vice Chief of Army in India, says 'We want to build military relationship'

New Delhi: US Army’s Chief of Staff General Randy George on Tuesday said the partnership between the US and Indian Army is vital for stability in the Indo-Pacific and the relationship between the armies is strong and growing stronger. General George along with 17 other Army chiefs have arrived in New Delhi to attend the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC). The armies of India and the United States will host the 13th biannual Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC), the 47th annual Indo-Pacific Army Management Seminar (IPAMS), the 9th Senior Enlisted Forum at the Manekshaw Center in the national capital from September 25-27. The gathering is notably the largest conference for land forces (army, marines, etc.) in the region. The objective of these meetings is to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through mutual understanding, dialogue, and friendship.  The US Army chief said: “Our soldiers are sharpening their skills, mastering their craft and learning from each other. They are building trust and deepening the friendship between our armies. We all know how important trust and friendship are in a challenging global security environment. Having great allies and partners is more important than ever before.” The remarks by George came during a joint press briefing with Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army General Manoj Pande. General George further said: “We are here at IPACC to talk about the role of land power. It not only contributes to our shared security, land power is decisive. Our land power network, the network that General Manoj Pande and I and all of our fellow chiefs are building here at IPACC is a security architecture that binds this region together and leads to unity and collected commitment across the region. And that unity and commitment are the best deterrence.” As per the US Army chief, the character of war is changing, and they all have to talk about how to strengthen their profession, the trust between the leaders in the land and standards and discipline. "We do these things, and we do them together, we deepen our unity and collective commitment, and that is how together we maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific," he said. Speaking at the conference Army Chief General Manoj Pande said that the cooperation between land forces was critical.  "Cooperation amongst our land forces is a critical component of the collective response through bilateral and multilateral engagements between components of Armed forces of nations have been ongoing...the theme of this year's event together for peace, sustaining peace and stability in the Indo-pacific region resonates deeply with the idea of a secure, stable, free open and inclusive Indo-pacific which provides opportunities for growth of all nations" General Pande said. The theme of this year’s IPACC is “Together for Peace: Sustaining Peace and Stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.” There will be both larger plenary sessions and more intimate break-out sessions at the conference. Participants will take part in vibrant conversations on subjects including peacekeeping operations, humanitarian aid/disaster relief, leadership development, and women's emancipation as well as hear from eminent guest speakers. Participation in IPAMS has grown from nine nations at the first conference held in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1977, to 31 nations in Seoul, Korea in 2017. IPACC is now held every two years and is co-hosted by the United States Army and the hosting country. IPAMS is the longest-running land forces conference held every year. In 2014, the SELF was added allowing senior enlisted members to experience the same fellowship, discussion and sharing opportunities, but from a different perspective, the US Embassy release read. Meanwhile, Indian Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on Monday interacted individually with Chiefs of Armies who arrived in New Delhi to attend the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference 2023. According to the officials of the Indian Army, the Army Chief interacted individually with them to deliberate on ways for further enhancing the Defence Cooperation between the respective Armies. "The chiefs he met included Gen Morishita Yasunori of Japan, Gen Simon Stuart, Australian Army, US Army Chief Gen Randy George, Vietnam Peoples’ Army’s Dy Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Nguyen Doan Anh &amp; Lt Gen Peter Mbogo Njiru, Commander, Kenyan Army," officials said. "Discussions on a collaborative approach for strategic &amp; constructive partnership to promote peace &amp; stability in the Indo-Pacific region were also carried out during the interactions," they added. —ANI

US Army’s Chief of Staff General Randy George on Tuesday said the partnership between the US and Indian Army is vital for stability 

Partnership Between US, India Vital For Stability In Indo-Pacific: US Army Chief Gen Randy George

New Delhi: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attributed the good changes in India to the country's political stability, policy clarity, and democratic ideals, and he stated that the country's continued development journey requires clean, clear, and stable governance.
At the closing ceremony of the G20 University Connect, Prime Minister Modi told an audience of students, professors, and university presidents that India's diplomacy had reached new heights over the past month, and that some decisions made at the G20 Summit could alter the course of the 21st century.
He was alluding to the G20 Summit that took place in Delhi earlier this month and stated, "In today's polarised international atmosphere, it is not a small thing to get so many countries together on one platform."—Inputs from Agencies

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attributed the good changes in India to the country's political stability, policy clarity, and democratic ideals, and he stated that the country's continued development journey requires clean, clear, and stable governance.

Clean, stable governance necessary for country's developmental journey to continue: PM Modi

Baghdad: Iraqi authorities said the voter turnout for the provincial elections, which were held after a gap of 10 years, stood at 41 per cent.  According to the Independent High Electoral Commission, around 6.6 million out of more than 16 million eligible voters cast their votes during voting on the Monday and early balloting on December 16, reports Xinhua news agency.  Voting was held in 15 of the country's 18 provinces, excluding the three provinces in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.  The eligible voters chose 285 new members for the provincial councils from 5,901 candidates.  "The commission prepared well to ensure the transparency of the elections by installing 112,000 surveillance cameras at polling stations," Hassan Hadi Zayer, a member of the media team of the electoral commission, told Xinhua at a polling centre in Baghdad.  Samir Abdul-Samad, a 45-year-old government employee, said, "I participated in the elections to make a change to our life and get rid of corruption so that we can get better services, because our suffering from lack of public services is great."  He said his motivation to participate in the local elections was the hope for a better future, "we cannot keep our hands tied and must contribute to changing the current situation for the better".  The turnout in the provincial elections could have been even higher had it not been for the boycott of prominent Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who officially withdrew in 2022 from the political scene after a lengthy political deadlock over cabinet formation.  On Monday night, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani congratulated the Iraqi people for the success of the provincial elections, calling the polls "a step toward the administrative decentralization and support to the civil peace and stability".  The last provincial elections in Iraq were held in April 2013.
—IANS

Iraqi authorities said the voter turnout for the provincial elections, which were held after a gap of 10 years, stood at 41 per cent.

Voter turnout in Iraq provincial polls hits 41%

An ethnic armed group in the western Myanmar state of Rakhine said it has taken control of a town bordering India and Bangladesh, marking the latest loss for the military government as it battles rebellion in several parts of the country.
Myanmar is in the throes of an insurgency on multiple fronts, where allied anti-junta groups backed by a pro-democracy parallel government have seized control of several military posts and towns. It is the biggest challenge the junta has faced since it mounted a coup against an elected government in 2021.  A spokesperson for the Arakan Army (AA) said late on Sunday it had conquered Paletwa, a port town on the Kaladan river that is key to trade with neighbouring countries.
"Regarding border stability issues, we will cooperate at our best with neighbouring countries," said AA spokesperson Khine Thu Kha in a statement, adding the group will take over administration and law enforcement in the area.  A spokesperson for the junta did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the AA's claim.  The fall of Paletwa in the west comes after another rebel group in the Three Brotherhood Alliance took Laukkai town on the in northern Shan State on the border with China.  Last week, the junta agreed a ceasefire with that group, the TNLA, for the region bordering China. The talks were held in the Chinese city of Kunming and facilitated by Chinese officials.  But on Sunday, the rebel alliance said junta forces are breaching the ceasefire agreement, launching attacks in several townships in Shan State.
—Reuters

In the throes of Myanmar's insurgency, Arakan Army seizes control of Paletwa, intensifying challenges for the military junta.

Myanmar rebel group claims control of town bordering India, Bangladesh

Washington, DC (US): In response to questions about whether Pakistan consulted with the US before launching retaliatory air strikes on Iran, the US government evaded the issue during a Thursday press briefing. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller neither confirmed nor denied reports of prior consultations, stating, "I do not have any private conversations to read out." Miller expressed US concern over escalating tensions in the region and called for restraint from all parties involved. Despite acknowledging Pakistan's government statements on the importance of cooperative relations with neighbors, he emphasized the need to avoid escalation. Miller also criticized Iran, labeling it a major funder of Hezbollah and a principal supporter of Hamas. The US is closely monitoring the situation between Iran and Pakistan, urging restraint and expressing a commitment to hold Iran accountable while maintaining Pakistan's status as a major non-NATO ally. US National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby emphasized a cautious approach, stating that the US does not want to see escalation and is closely monitoring the situation.
—Input from Agencies

US sidesteps questions on Pakistan's prior talks before Iran strikes. Tensions mount as State Department calls for restraint amidst escalating concerns.

US Dodges Queries on Pakistan's Consultation with Washington Before Striking Iran

—Dr. Alon Ben-Meir
A couple of months ago, in an interview with Al Jazeera, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti claimed that the September attack on Kosovo police by Serbian gunmen in northern Kosovo was planned by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in an effort “to destabilize” Kosovo in the hopes of starting a war. Such a statement does not serve the public’s interest well or produce political or strategic gains for him. Not only that, Serbia's President Vučić has nothing to gain by waging a war against Kosovo; he stands only to be humiliated by NATO, which is committed to Kosovo’s national security.  Whereas Vučić continues to placate Putin, he values Serbia’s relationship with the US and would not undertake such a reckless act. As he recently stated, “For us, it is of the utmost importance that peace in the region is not disturbed and Serbia will continue to behave responsibly and contribute to stability in the Balkans,” adding that Serbia and the US will work to preserve Serbian-American relations. Moreover, Vučić knows that ultimately, Serbia’s alliance with the US and the EU, rather than Russia, will best serve Belgrade's long-term national interests.  Vučić wants to project power and sensible leadership to strengthen himself domestically while demonstrating to the West that he is a responsible leader who will always endeavor to maintain regional stability. He stated that “for us, it is of great importance that the peace in the region is not broken and that Serbia will continue to act responsibly and contribute to stability in the Balkans.” Nevertheless, he promised to continue purchasing arms from China and other countries, including anti-aircraft systems, fighter planes, and drones, and likes to flex his muscles as he has multiple times moved a small contingency of Serbian troops to Kosovo’s border in what is considered by NATO as hostile actions.  One need not take Vučić’s words for granted; a closer look at the Balkans’ overall political and military environment suggests that no country in the region wants to heighten the tension, which may accidentally precipitate a violent conflagration. NATO's decision in early October to dispatch 200 British soldiers and 130 Romanian soldiers to reinforce its peacekeeping mission in Kosovo is not such a massive power meant to deter Belgrade. Vučić fully understands the high stakes for him if he steps out of line.  The purpose of the NATO forces augmentation in Kosovo, which also includes the purchase of drones and anti-tank missiles, mainly from Turkey, is to keep tensions in the Western Balkans under control, as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated.  In that regard, the US decision to sell 240 portable Javelin missile systems that can destroy tanks and other armored vehicles was designed to send a message to Russia’s President Putin that the US is fully engaged and committed to improving the security of its European partners, which is critical for both political and economic stability in Europe.  For the ordinary Kosovar, though, when put together, Kurti’s warning about a potential war with Serbia, the dispatch of more EU forces, and the US sale of Javelin missiles could amount to a looming war with Serbia. In fact, the last thing that Vučić wants is a war against Kosovo that would immediately draw NATO into the fray—a war that he will not only severely lose but would also irreversibly damage Serbia’s prospect of joining the EU. This is something that Vučić wants to avoid at all costs.  Although Prime Minister Kurti is duty-bound to ensure Kosovo’s national security, he should view it in the context of NATO’s overall commitment to the stability of the Balkans and how other conflicts might impact that. Even though the turmoil in the Middle East is not likely to spill over into the Balkans, the US is rightfully demonstrating in words and deeds that it takes the security and the development of events in the Balkan region very seriously and will act promptly to prevent any miscalculation by a would-be enemy, especially Russia.  The US’ sale of Javelin missiles to augment Kosovo’s military forces will not be the last shipment of military hardware; other supplies of military equipment will follow it as the Kosovo Security Forces aims to transition into a professional military force by 2028 to meet NATO standards.  For this reason, it will be prudent for Kurti to take what Vučić says or does with some reservation. Vučić is not interested in violently engaging Kosovo as he is extremely keen that his losses will far outweigh any gain. Therefore, Kurti's suggestion that Serbia is planning for war against Kosovo does nothing but cause unnecessary public tension and stress, destabilize the economy, and create a rush to stock unperishable goods, often precipitating inflation and creating financial distress and social tension.  Unless Kurti’s warning of a potential war against Serbia is purposely designed to strengthen his political standing and rally the public around him in an election year, which I do not believe is the case, he should know by now that Vučić speaks loudly but carries a small stick.

Serbian President Vučić accused of planning Kosovo police attack. NATO reinforcement, Javelin missile sale, and geopolitical tension analyzed for regional stability.

Serbia’s Vučić Speaks Loudly But Carries A Small Stick

Patna: Amidst the political turmoil in Bihar the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) a crucial member of the ruling coalition assured on Saturday that everything is going smoothly within the states governing alliance. Speaking to PTI Mrityunjay Tiwary, spokesperson for RJDs state unit expressed confidence in the situation by stating, "The grand alliance government in the state is functioning well... Things are normal at present."  While highlighting RJDs preparedness to handle any challenges Tiwary mentioned, "If any unexpected events occur in the future we are prepared to face the consequences."  Addressing Bihars current political climate Tiwary called upon Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to provide clarity. He emphasized Kumars responsibility as the leader of Mahagathbandhan government to address the situation and highlighted achievements of Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar.  In response to unrest within Bihars ruling Mahagathbandhan coalition the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has scheduled a meeting on Saturday with its MPs and MLAs. The meeting aims to discuss preparations for Lok Sabha polls. Samrat Choudhary, Bihar BJP chief confirmed that strategizing for elections will be a key focus, during this meeting whose dates are yet to be announced.  Addressing the speculations regarding an alliance with Nitish Kumars JD(U) Choudhary clarified, "We haven't discussed any such matter at our level." However on Friday BJP leaders subtly hinted about Kumars discussions with the partys senior members.  In a development Shakeel Ahmed Khan, a leader from Bihar Congress has scheduled a meeting of party MLAs and former legislators in Purnea at 2 pm on Saturday. Khan dismissed reports linking the meeting to the political happenings in the state and stated, "All Congress MLAs (current and former) along, with senior party leaders will gather in Purnea on Saturday to discuss preparations related to Rahul Gandhis 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,' which is scheduled to enter Bihar on January 29."
—Input from Agencies

Stay informed on Bihar's political landscape with RJD's reassurance, BJP's election plans, and Congress' preparations.

Bihar Grand Alliance Stable: RJD's Tiwary

New Delhi : Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government, Union Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) G Kishan Reddy said that the Northeast, which used to have a new chief minister every year due to "political instability," is now developing due to a "stable government" and "able" leadership. He asserted that "without a stable government," a country or a state "can't be developed.".
Without naming anyone, he further said, "10 years ago, every year there used to be a new Chief Minister in Northeast, there was political instability. People from Delhi (government at the Centre) kept changing the CMs of Northeast". The remarks were made by the minister while attending 'North East Sammelan' at Dr Ambedkar International Centre in the National Capital on Sunday. "In 10 years, a stable government was formed in Delhi as per the democratic system and therefore stable govts were formed in the Northeast as well. Without a stable govt, a country or state can't be developed," the minister said. The remarks came amid the ongoing ethnic unrest that started back in May 2023 in the BJP-ruled state of Manipur. "Today because of a stable govt and able leadership, India is developing, and because of a stable govt, the Northeast is also developing," he added. Before the start of the programme, the minister paid tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar.
In a post on X on Sunday, Reddy said, "Before the start of the 'North East Sammelan', paid tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar at Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi." Home Minister Amit Shah, during his address to the 71st Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council in Meghalay's capital Shillong in January, said that there was a "73 per cent reduction" in violent incidents in the Northeast during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, told ANI on Saturday, "PM Modi always said that India will not develop until the North East is developed". The North Eastern Region is made up of eight states and is the country's easternmost region. The states are: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.
—ANI

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy lauds PM Modi's stable government, transforming Northeast's political landscape

Northeast developing due to stable govt, able leadership : G Kishan Reddy

New Delhi: Union Minister Piyush Goyal spoke at the ET NOW Global Business Summit 2024, emphasizing India's journey towards fiscal stability, honest governance, and developmental aspirations, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When questioned on the confidence that the BJP had on returning to power in 2024, the Minister said the party is confident of the work it had done.&nbsp;
"I can assure you...we are never arrogant. We are confident in our ability, we are confident in the people of India, we are confident that the people of India know what is best for them, their judgement and we are confident that the work we have done to serve the people for ten years will speak for itself. So, there is absolutely no arrogance, there is no over confidence, there is a courage of conviction reflected in our work and we go into the election with that courage of conviction...the conviction that all of you will stand behind good over evil." Minister Goyal highlighted the government's relentless efforts in combating corruption and inflation while focusing on providing honest governance and fostering development in the Northeast region. Minister Goyal said, "It is a period of tremendous fiscal stability." He underscored Prime Minister Modi's unparalleled commitment to ensuring equitable growth and progress across all regions of the country. "Tell me, one other Prime Minister or government which has focused more on providing honest governance and development to the Northeast as much as PM Modi has", said Goyal. Reflecting on India's demographic dividend, Minister Goyal emphasized the significance of building an aspirational India, nurturing its burgeoning youth population, which is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the nation's future. With India projected to become the world's third-largest economy within the next three years, Minister Goyal envisioned an economy poised for exponential growth, aiming to reach USD 5 trillion on a nominal US Dollar GDP basis, with purchasing power parity anticipated to be at least 2.5 times that amount. Goyal said, "We already are the 5th largest economy in the world, expected to be the 3rd largest in the next 3 years and economy which will not only be USD 5 trillion on a nominal US Dollar GDP basis but also which has a purchasing power parity which is at least 2.5 times that." Minister Goyal outlined a vision for India to aspire towards a USD 30 trillion economy within the next 25 years, terming it as the 'Amrit Kaal' or golden era. "This has prepared the nation to aspire USD 30 trillion in the 'Amrit Kaal' in the next 25 years and PM Narendra Modi is working to a plan, working to ensure that every single action of the government, every single rupee that the government spends goes towards the meeting the aspirations of the people of India and to achieve the transformational impact on the lives of the people", said Goyal. Drawing inspiration from an the economic theory built around four fundamental elements, Minister Goyal lauded the government's efforts in realizing the dreams of 1.24 billion Indians, including initiatives such as the restoration of Lord Ram's birthplace, Ayodhya. Minister Goyal said, "The famous economist has built his theory around the four elements and I think this government has done honorably on each one of those four right up to realizing the dreams 1.24 billion people to bring back Lord Ram to his birth place". He reiterated the government's commitment to upholding the aspirations and cultural heritage of the Indian people while driving forward the nation's economic and social progress.
—ANI

Union Minister Piyush Goyal speaks at ET NOW Global Business Summit 2024, outlining India's path to fiscal stability, honest governance, and USD 5 trillion economy under PM Modi's leadership.

"We go into 2024 election with the courage of conviction", says Minister Piyush Goyal

Rawalpindi: Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir on Saturday called for a 'unified' government and urged the political leadership to 'rise above self-interests' and synergise efforts in governing and serving the people.
Munir’s statements came in the wake of the fact that two days after the voting for general elections was held, the country appeared to be headed to have a hung Parliament and a day after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who appeared to be enjoying the backing of the powerful military, called for a unity government.
Springing a surprise, independents backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won the lion's share of 101 seats in the National Assembly in Thursday's election.  The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won 73 seats, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 54, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) with 17 and other seats going to smaller parties, as the result of 255 seats out of 265 announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan.  To form a government, a party must win 133 out of the 265 seats in the National Assembly. Election to one seat was postponed after the death of a candidate.
 Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/pakistan-election:-pti's-loss-reminiscent-of-1987-jandk-election-'rigging'-says-mehbooba's-daughter-nc-hits-back" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/pakistan-election:-pti's-loss-reminiscent-of-1987-jandk-election-'rigging'-says-mehbooba's-daughter-nc-hits-back</a>&nbsp;
 The powerful Pakistan Army, which has ruled coup-prone Pakistan for more than half of its 75-plus years of existence, has hitherto wielded considerable power in matters of security and foreign policy. On Saturday, a statement attributed to the army chief, issued by the media wing of the army, said the free and unhindered participation by Pakistani people to exercise their right of vote demonstrated their commitment to democracy and the rule of law as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.
“Pakistan’s diverse polity and pluralism will be well-represented by a unified government of all democratic forces imbibed with national purpose,” he said, adding that elections and democracy are means to serve the people of Pakistan and not end in themselves.  “The nation needs stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarisation which does not suit a progressive country of 250 Million people. Elections are not a zero-sum competition of winning and losing but an exercise to determine the mandate of the people,” it said.  Munir said that political leadership and their workers should rise above “self-interests and synergise efforts in governing and serving the people,” which was perhaps the only way to make democracy functional and purposeful.  General Munir said that the people of Pakistan reposed their combined trust in the Constitution of Pakistan and it was now “incumbent upon all political parties to reciprocate the same with political maturity and unity.” “As we move forward from this national milestone we must reflect on where the country stands today and where our rightful place should be in the comity of nations,” he said and wished that these elections bring in political and economic stability and prove to be the harbinger of peace and prosperity.
He also appreciated the leadership and personnel of law-enforcement agencies for creating a safe and secure environment for the electoral process, despite overwhelming odds.  "The constructive role played by national media, civil society, members of civil administration and judiciary enabled the successful conduct of the largest electoral exercise in national history," he said.  Earlier on Thursday, soon after the voting ended and counting of votes had started, the powerful military had congratulated the nation on the 'generally peaceful and violence-free' conduct of the general elections, and expressed its hope that the outcome of the polls would serve as a 'catalyst for further strengthening democracy.”  A safe and secure environment for the public was ensured through the deployment of 137,000 army personnel and civil armed forces at approximately 6,000 selected “most sensitive” polling stations and over 7,800 QRFs, the statement had said, adding, more than 51 terror attacks were thwarted but in few of the incidents, at least 12 people, including 10 security personnel, were killed in poll-related violence.
—PTI

Amidst a hung Parliament in Pakistan, Army Chief Asim Munir calls for a unified government.

With Imran Khan-backed independents gaining majority, Pakistan’s powerful army calls for a unified government

Patna: The NDA government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday won the Bihar floor test after it secured the support of 129 MLAs who voted in favour of the NDA alliance. The vote of confidence took place amid a walk out staged by the Opposition as cross voting happened when three Rashtriya Janata Dal MLAs also voted in support of Nitish Kumar. The coalition government won the floor test with a 129 majority. The Deputy Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly Maheshwar Hazari asked the members of the House who were in favour of the motion to stand at their places. "(A total of) 129 votes have been received in favour of the motion. There were zero votes against the motion. Thus, this House passes the trust vote," the Speaker said on Monday. Three Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLAs -Chetan Anand, Neelam Devi, and Prahlad Yadav went and joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the State Assembly. On three RJD MLAs moving to the NDA side, RJD leader Bhai Virendra said that the public will not make them MLAs again. While addressing the Assembly, Nitish Kumar took a swipe at his former Mahagathbandhan ally Rashtriya Janata Dal and said that the latter indulged in "corrupt practices" during its rule in the eastern state. He also said that the current NDA government would initiate a probe into these practices. Earlier, the Bihar assembly passed the no-confidence motion against Bihar Assembly Speaker and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Awadh Bihari Choudhary ahead of the floor test of the Nitish Kumar government to prove its majority. During the no-confidence motion, 125 members voted in favour of the resolution brought by the ruling alliance and 112 against. RJD MLAs Chetan Anand, Neelam Devi and Prahlad Yadav were seen sitting on the treasury benches in the Bihar Assembly causing a jolt to the Opposition. Reacting to this, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said "MLAs should sit on their respective seats till the end of voting, otherwise voting will be considered invalid." Nitish Kumar had reportedly gone into a sulk after not being named the convenor of INDIA, the Opposition bloc that took shape through his efforts. He resigned as chief minister on January 28, his second volte face in less than 18 months. The JD(U) has 45 MLAs in the House of 243 while its partners, the BJP and the Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S), have 79 and four legislators respectively. The NDA has the support of 128 MLAs and the majority mark in the state assembly is 122.
—ANI

 Bihar floor test where NDA secured 129 votes, including support from RJD MLAs, ensuring Nitish Kumar's government's victory.

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Financial stability, waste management top Delhi municipality's agenda

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Financial stability, waste management top Delhi municipality's agenda

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