A look at the headlines today:
1. FATF to announce Pakistan's status today
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which has kept Pakistan in its Grey List, with possibility of regression into the Black List, will make formal announcement about the interim developments today. The FATF has decided to give respite of four months to Pakistan to help her implement remaining recommendations of the task force, Aaj TV reported. Earlier, at the FATF meeting in Paris, Pakistan's Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar had explained his country's positive performance in 20 of the 27 parameters to check terror financing. China, Turkey and Malaysia "appreciated" the steps taken by Pakistan, Dawn News reported. The support of at least three countries is required to not blacklist any country.
2. Sonia Gandhi to address public meeting in Haryana today
Congress president Sonia Gandhi will address an election rally in Haryana's Mahendergarh today—her first poll campaign address after becoming interim party chief. The public meeting will be held at government college sports complex in Mahendragarh in the afternoon. Rahul Gandhi has already held rallies for the October 21 assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana. Congress General Secretary and Haryana in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the party's state president Kumari Selja and many local leaders, and candidates are expected to be present at this public meeting.
3. In a first, Mexico deports 311 Indians
In a first, Mexico's migration authorities deported 311 Indians, including a woman, from various parts of the country, following pressure from the US. The Indian nationals, who did not have a condition of regular stay in the country, were deported from the Toluca City International Airport on a Boeing 747 aircraft to New Delhi. The people were presented to the immigration authority in the states of Oaxaca, Baja California, Veracruz, Chiapas, Sonora, Mexico City, Durango and Tabasco, it said. The move comes after US President Donald Trump in June threatened tariffs on all Mexican imports if the country did not put a check on people entering America through Mexico's borders. Mexico had agreed to boost up security on the border and expand its policy of taking back migrants.
4. ED summons Praful Patel today in money laundering case linked to Iqbal Mirchi
The ED has summoned senior NCP leader Praful Patel in connection with its money laundering probe linked to alleged illegal assets of late Iqbal Mirchi, an aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. He is set to appear today. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is expected to record Patel's statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with a deal between a real estate company promoted by Patel and his wife and wife of Mirchi. He has already been questioned by the ED in an another money laundering case linked to the aviation scam. According to ED officials, Patel's Millennium Developers Pvt Ltd constructed a building called Ceejay House in 2006-07 and its third and fourth floors were transferred to Mirchi's wife Hajra Iqbal. The land on which the building tower was made is said to be owned by Mirchi. Investigators claim the land was purchased from the proceeds of crime of money laundering, drugs trafficking and alleged extortion crimes.
5. NASA's first all-female spacewalk today
Men have floated out the hatch on all 420 spacewalks conducted over the past half-century. That changes today with spacewalk No. 421. NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will make "HERstory," as NASA is calling it, with the first all-female spacewalk. All four men aboard the International Space Station will remain inside, as Koch and Meir go out to replace a broken battery charger. The battery charger failed after Koch and a male crewmate installed new batteries outside the space station last week. NASA put the remaining battery replacements on hold to fix the problem and moved up the women's planned spacewalk by three days. NASA, meanwhile, is asking schoolteachers to share photos of their students celebrating "HERstory in the making." The pictures might end up on the spacewalk broadcast. Russia holds claim to the first spacewalk in 1965 and also the first spacewalk by a woman in 1984. The U.S. trailed by a few months in each instance.
6. India to face Great Britain in Sultan of Johor Cup
India will face Great Britain in their final round robin league-stage match of Sultan Johor Cup today. Earlier, the Indian junior men's hockey team thrashed Australia 5-1 to qualify for the final. India's clinical performance at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium saw goals from Shilanand Lakra (26', 29'), Dilpreet Singh (44'), Gursahibjit Singh (48') and Mandeep Mor (50'). India had first sight of goal in the opening minute because of an Australian mistake.
7. US announces Turkish ceasefire in Syria
US Vice President Mike Pence announced Thursday that the US and Turkey had agreed to a five-day ceasefire in northern Syria to allow for a Kurdish withdrawal from a security zone roughly 20 miles south of the Turkish border, in what appeared to be a significant embrace of Turkey's position in the week-long conflict. Earlier, Erdogan had vowed that Turkey's operation would continue, despite US President Donald Trump demanding a ceasefire. The offensive was facilitated by the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria.
-Inputs from PTI
