Current Affairs in Short: 28 September 2022

Meta shuts down Russia, China-based influence campaigns

• The Parent Company of Facebook, Meta took down two separate covert influence networks operating from China and Russia.
• The company publicly detailed the takedown, as it remains on high alert for foreign interference in the US midterm elections.
• The network from China was small and barely received any attention, however, it did include some accounts that posed as the Americans on both sides of the political spectrum.
• The Russian Campaign, on the other hand, was vast as it pushed the pro-Kremlin narrative about the war in Ukraine.

Dinkar Asthana is the new Indian envoy to Senegal

• Dinkar Asthana, Indian Envoy to Lao has been appointed as the next ambassador to Senegal and is expected to take up the appointment shortly.
• Asthana joined the Indian Foreign Service in August 1990 and he knows Hindi, English, rudimentary French and German.
• In New Delhi, Dinkar Asthana served in the policy planning, PAI, Protocol and the Multilateral Economic Relations Divisions.
• Dinkar Asthana has been the Ambassador of India to Lao since end-April 2019.

PM Modi attends inaugural ceremony of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually attended the inaugural ceremony of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya.
• During his address, the Prime Minister informed that the construction of Ram Temple will be completed very soon.
• He further added that Lata Mangeshkar had called him just after the foundation laying ceremony of Ram Temple in 2020.
• The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh inaugurated the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya on the occasion of 93^rd birth anniversary of the late singer.

Government extends PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana Scheme

• Union Cabinet has extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana scheme for another three months from October to December 2022.
• The Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said that 44 thousand 762 crore rupees will be spent over the next three months.
• The Government of India has spent approximately Rs. 3 lakh 45 thousand crores under the scheme.