Category: News

Pak Imported Cars Worth $1.2bn In 6 Months Despite $ Crisis

Pak Imported Cars Worth $1.2bn In 6 Months Despite $ Crisis

By LokMarg

Even though Pakistan is on the verge of financial collapse, the cash-strapped country has spent USD 1.2 billion on the imports of transportation items, including luxury cars and high-end electric vehicles, during the last six months, reported The News International newspaper.

According to the report, Pakistan is facing an acute shortage of dollars and has less than USD 5 billion in its reserves with its State Bank. The report said this is hardly sufficient to finance three-week imports.

Last year, the imports of these transportation vehicles and other items were reduced. However, many Pakistani are still buying expensive luxury vehicles and unnecessary goods burdening the economy, the report said.

In the last six months, Pakistan imported completely built units (CBU), completely knocked down/semi knocked down (CKD/SKD) of USD 530.5 million equivalent to USD 118.2 billion, the daily added.

Pakistan daily stated further that hefty spending on cars and other vehicle imports raises many questions about the government’s policy of halting imports related to the industrial and commercial sectors.

This report comes as virtual talks between Pakistan and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are likely to commence next week amid a severe economic crisis and falling foreign exchange reserves.

Pakistan has sent an official email to the IMF to look into the process and complete its ninth review, which is pending on its side, Geo News reported.

Experts believe Pakistan could sink deeper into a quagmire if the IMF program does not resume within the next few weeks. (ANI)

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SRK Climbs House's Roof To Greet Fans Ahead Of 'Pathaan' Release

SRK Climbs House’s Roof To Greet Fans Ahead Of ‘Pathaan’ Release

By LokMarg

Shah Rukh Khan fans are excited to see their favourite superstar back on screen again after a wait of four years.

While there’s still a couple of days left before they head to cinema halls to see him back in action, the superstar surprised his fans on Sunday evening by greeting them from his house Mannat’s roof!
SRK greeted his hundreds and thousands of fans gathered outside his house and even shared the video on social media. In the video, we can see a red car getting stuck among the sea of fans outside SRK’s house in Mumbai.

Sharing the video on Instagram, SRK also passed a witty comment on how the red car got stuck in the middle. He wrote, “Thank you for a lovely Sunday evening… sorry but I hope ki laal gaadi waalon ne apni kursi ki peti baandh li thhi. Book your tickets to #Pathaan and I will see you there next…”

Check it out:

Talking about ‘Pathaan’, the film is a part of Aditya Chopra’s ambitious spy universe and has the biggest superstars of the country – Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham — in lead roles. The film also stars Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana in pivotal roles.

It is set to release on January 25, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. (ANI)

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Get Ready For Defamation Suit: Hooda Hits Back At WFI Chief

Get Ready For Defamation Suit: Hooda Hits Back At WFI Chief

By LokMarg

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday issued a warning to embattled Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan, saying he should be prepared to receive a defamation suit. This, after Singh claimed the allegation of sexual harassment against him by wrestlers was made at the behest of the former Haryana CM and his son and Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the former Haryana CM said he was consulting his lawyers on filing a defamation suit.
“We know how to respect our daughters. On what evidence did Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh took our name in this matter? There should be a fair and impartial investigation in this case,” Bhupinder Hooda said.

In the eye of a storm amid allegations of sexual harassment and fiscal mismanagement at the helm of the country’s top wrestling body, the WFI chief was asked by the Union Sports ministry to step aside and keep away from the day-to-day functioning of the federation pending the ongoing investigation into the charges by a seven-member oversight committee.

Led by star pugilist and Olympian MC Mary Kom, the probe panel has been asked to hand it its report within four weeks.

Led by star grapplers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, the wrestlers sat in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding the sacking of the WFI chief and a complete overhaul of the federation.

The protest, however, was called off after Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced the setting up of the oversight committee to probe the charges against the BJP MP.

Meanwhile, the Congress, on Saturday, took out a protest in solidarity with the wrestlers during which the party members burned an effigy of the WFI chief.

Demanding justice for the grapplers and action against the BJP MP, Atul Mahajan, a Congress leader from Ambala, said the government should order a fair and impartial probe into the allegations levelled by the wrestlers.

“Those who abuse positions that they hold by indulging in such acts should be removed. The BJP was trying to save one of its own till the wrestlers erupted in protest,” Mahajan said.

On a fresh 40-day parole granted to rape convict godman, Baba Ram Rahim Singh, the former Hayana CM said, “Every prisoner has the right to get parole. He is entitled to a parole under the law of the land. Ram Rahim must have been granted parole after due process.”

On the party’s prospects in the 2024 Assembly elections, the former Haryana CM said, “The Congress workers in the state are so strong in the state that they don’t need to be led by anyone. No matter what the BJP says or does, the Congress will form the next government in Haryana as well as at the Centre. The public response to the Bharat Jodo Yatra goes to show that our prospects are getting better by the day.” (ANI)

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Shooting In California Leaves 10 Dead

Shooting In California Leaves 10 Dead

By LokMarg

At least 10 people have been killed and another 10 injured in a mass shooting in the city of Monterey Park in the US state of California, Capt. Andrew Meyer of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Times reported that a man had opened fire at a local dance studio around 10 pm on Saturday. The incident reportedly took place near the downtown area where the Monterey Park Lunar New Year Festival is held each year.

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday for one of the largest events in the region.

“The Monterey Park Police Fire Department responded to the scene, treated the injured and pronounced 10 of the victims deceased at the scene. There were at least 10 additional victims that were transported to numerous local hospitals and are listed in various conditions from stable to critical,” Meyer said in a statement aired by CNN.

The suspect fled the scene and remains at large, the official added.

Meanwhile, Chief Scott Wiese of Monterrey Park Police Department told reporters that the Monterey Park Lunar New Year Festival had been canceled “out of an abundance of caution and reverence for the victims.”

Chinese Lunar New Year celebration is one of the largest events in the area, as per the Los Angeles Times report. Internal police communications have revealed that there have been some fatalities.

Earlier on Saturday, people were enjoying skewers and shopping for Chinese food and jewelry.

The New Year festivities were scheduled from 10 am to 9 pm. Videos that have surfaced on social media showed the presence of police and fire units on Garvey Avenue and treating victims. (ANI)

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Pakistan's Economic Crisis Going From Bad To Worse

Pakistan’s Economic Crisis Going From Bad To Worse

By LokMarg

Pakistan’s economic crisis is going from bad to worse. The forex reserves in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has recently touched the lowest mark of USD 4.343 billion just enough for two weeks. This is just due to the ineptitude of the political class and over-involvement of the army in decision-making, reported Financial Post.

According to the Washington-based financial news organisation, this dip in forex reserves came after a loan of USD 1 billion was repaid by Pakistan to two United Arab Emirates (UAE) banks. The remittances to Pakistan abroad have declined from USD 15.8 billion to USD 14.1 billion. Notably, on January 6, the forex reserves in the SBP touched the lowest mark of USD 4.343 billion, just enough for two weeks.
The low forex reserves have also become the reason for severe food inflation because of which people are struggling to survive without the required food and energy resources, the Financial Post reported.

Now, Pakistan after getting a portion of a six-billion-dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hopes to receive financial support and aid from international financial organisations and friendly countries, such as Saudi Arabia, China, and the UAE, the report said.

Pakistan had previously raised USD 10 billion dollars at a donor conference in Geneva on January 10 for the floods that had hit the country from June to October last year.

It must be noted here that Pakistan had actually urged for USD 16 billion as an aid for flood recovery. Interestingly, 90 per cent of these financial ‘pledges’ (USD 8.7 billion) were project loans that will be rolled out over the next three years. Although the terms of these loans have not been revealed yet, which raises concerns over its repayment on the given deadline, the Financial Post report claimed.

To support Pakistan, Saudi Arabia has said to deposit another USD 2 billion with the State Bank of Pakistan, after conducting a “study”, adding to this UAE is also expected to provide USD 3 billion in financial assistance. Similar help is expected from China also, the report said.

Ironically, all of this financial help is in the form of loans which will increase Pakistan’s long-standing debt and increase its yearly debt servicing requirements. Similarly, the country already is facing difficulty in clearing import consignments and letters of credit due to delays in payments from banks, it said.

Another reason for the country’s poor economic condition as highlighted by the report is the recurring economic crises in Pakistan, primarily caused by a persistent fiscal deficit which is a result of the government’s tendency to overspend, neglect increase in domestic resources, and engage in excessive spending, the report said.

It was “shameful to have a nuclear weapon in one hand and a begging bowl in the other,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said while addressing the passing-out ceremony of probationary officers of the Pakistan Administration Service (PAS) on January 14, the Financial Post reported.

Although Sharif blamed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for wasting time by causing “political disorder” through street protests. Nevertheless, such political bickering will not help Sharif save Pakistan from the impending default crisis, the Financial Post noted. (ANI)

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Kiren Rijiju

Some People Consider BBC Above SC: Kiren Rijiju Over Documentary

By LokMarg

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday took on the “malicious campaigns” inside and outside India in connection to the UK’s British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)’s documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said that some people “consider the BBC above the Supreme Court of India”.

The Union Minister alleged that they “lower” the country’s dignity and image to any extent to “please their moral masters”.
Taking to Twitter, Rijiju said that minorities in the country are moving ahead positively.

“Minorities, or for that matter every community in India is moving ahead positively. India’s image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India. PM @narendramodi Ji’s voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians,” Rijiju tweeted.

“Some people in India still haven’t gotten over the colonial intoxication. They consider BBC above the Supreme Court of India and lower the country’s dignity and image to any extent to please their moral masters,” the Minister added (roughly translated from Hindi).

He said that there is no hope from these people whose “only aim is to weaken India”.

“Anyway, there is no better hope from these tukde tukde gang members whose only aim is to weaken the might of India,” Rijiju tweeted.

Earlier, former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Sanjeev Tripathi slammed UK’s British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it “prejudiced, biased and full of factual errors”.

He added that the documentary needs to be condemned by everyone.

Speaking to ANI, Tripathi questioned the BBC’s intent behind the documentary on PM Modi, which he said seems ‘motivated’. He said the documentary features the 2002 Gujarat riots and the Godhra train burning incident, which preceded it, adding that the Supreme Court recently gave PM Modi a clean chit in the case.

“This documentary of BBC, which claims to examine the so-called tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India, and in that context, talks about again the so-called controversial policies of Prime Minister Modi, is not only prejudiced but is also biased and full of factual errors,” he said.

In a strong response to the BBC documentary, more than 300 eminent Indians, including retired judges, bureaucrats, and armed forces veterans signed a statement slamming the British national broadcaster for showing “unrelenting prejudice” towards India and its leader. (ANI)

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Six arrested In Atlanta For Protest Against Shooting Of Activist Turns Violent

Six arrested In Atlanta For Protest Against Shooting Of Activist Turns Violent

By LokMarg

At least six people were arrested in Atlanta on Saturday evening during a protest that started in response to the fatal police shooting of an activist, CNN reported.

Addressing a presser, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said that the protesters were marching peacefully but a group within the crowd later started their illegal acts.
The crowds even broke the windows and attacked police cruisers, Schierbaum added.

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of the US state of Georgia and has a population of roughly around 4.96 lakhs.

He further stated that the police had arrested six people and were continuing to investigate whether there were any others involved in illegal activity, the chief said. Three businesses sustained damage to their windows, according to CNN.

Social media footage showed a police cruiser on fire in the downtown area, and video from CNN affiliate WANF showed broken windows at a Wells Fargo bank.

The protests come in response to a planned USD 90 million, 85-acre law enforcement training facility – dubbed “Cop City” by its opponents – and just days after the police killing of a 26-year-old activist near the training centre site.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the activist’s fatal police shooting took place in the morning when the authorities were removing people from the site of the future facility, CNN reported.

The killed activist was identified as Manuel Esteban Paez Teran.

Activists associated with movements protesting the facility said Teran was a “forest defender” working to fight environmental racism. He was a “sweet, warm, very smart and caring” person, they said.

Teran’s mother told CNN on Saturday night that she felt angry and powerless over Teran’s death.

“He was attacked,” she added.

Heartbroken, the victim’s mother said, “He was not a violent person. He was a pacifist. He would tell me that all the time. ‘I am a pacifist.’ He wouldn’t even kill an animal,” Belkis Teran told CNN.

“Tortuguita,” the nickname Teran went by, was because of their love for turtle conservation, the mother said. (ANI)

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From CNN to NBC News, the US media is witnessing a tough time as a series of outlets have announced layoffs amid the downfall in the economy, and now, Vox Media is the latest company to be added to this list.

US Media Witness Massive Job Cuts

By LokMarg

From CNN to NBC News, the US media is witnessing a tough time as a series of outlets have announced layoffs amid the downfall in the economy, and now, Vox Media is the latest company to be added to this list.

According to CNN, Vox Media, publisher of news websites like Vox and The Verge has announced that it will lay off 7 per cent of its workforce.
Vox media’s chief executive Jim Bankoff said that the 7 per cent layoff would lead to about 130 people losing their jobs which will also have an impact on the multiple teams, including editorial.

Bankoff told staffers that the cuts were “due to the challenging economic environment impacting our business and industry.”

“We are experiencing and expect more of the same economic and financial pressures that others in the media and tech industries have encountered,” Bankoff said in his memo, as per the report in CNN.

The union representing Vox Media employees said it was “furious” over the announcement.

“We’re furious at the way the company has approached these layoffs, and are currently discussing how to best serve those who just lost their jobs,” the union said in a tweet.

Not only Vox media but CNN, NBC News, MSNBC, Gannett and other news media are also laying off their employees.

On November 30, CNN informed its employees that layoffs had commenced, a move which will impact hundreds of staffers at the global news network and mark the deepest cuts to the organization in years.

Chris Licht, who took over as chief executive of the network in May, described the cuts in an all-staff memo as a “gut punch” to the organization and told employees that “it is incredibly hard to say goodbye to any one member of the CNN team, much less many,” CNN reported.

Employees at the company had been anxiously bracing for the layoffs since Licht informed them last month that “unsettling” changes lie ahead.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post is also expected to announce a staff reduction soon. And companies that haven’t laid off staffers have taken strong measures to reduce spending, according to CNN.

Apart from media organisations, big tech companies have announced the laying off of their employees. Google’s parent company Alphabet on Friday joined Big Tech giants Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft in announcing layoffs.

Alphabet said it had made the decision to eliminate 6 percent of its workforce, which translates to approximately 12,000 jobs, reported CNN.

Entertainment giants, such as Warner Bros. Discovery (CNN’s parent company) and Paramount Global, have also trimmed their workforces. (ANI)

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"Such a cute picture! You look almost the same," a fan commented.

Neetu Shares Throwback Pic On Wedding Anniversary

By LokMarg

Veteran actor Neetu Kapoor, on Sunday, remembered her husband late Rishi Kapoor on the occasion of their 43rd wedding anniversary.

Taking to Instagram, Neetu shared a throwback picture which she captioned, “Time fliessss …… Only memories…..”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CntIzRDoiJA/

In the family picture, Neetu and Rishi could be seen posing with Ranbir and Riddhima from their childhood days in front of a flower wall.

Soon after she dropped the pictures, fans flooded the comment section with red heart emoticons and heartfelt messages for the couple.

“Such a cute picture! You look almost the same,” a fan commented.

Another fan wrote, “Nice family memories.. all are looking lovely.”

A fan wrote, “Happy Anniversary Neetu Madam.”

Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor’s daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni also took to Instagram to wish the couple and shared a throwback picture from her childhood days with her parents.

Rishi and Neetu got married on January 22, 1980. Unfortunately, on April 30, 2020, Rishi Kapoor passed away after battling cancer for two years.

Back in the 70s and 80s, the couple starred in several hits together like ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’, ‘Khel Khel Mein’, ‘Rafoo Chakkar’, ‘Kabhi Kabhie’, ‘Besharam’ and many more and inspired generations with both their on-screen and off-screen romance. (ANI)

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Retired Professor and Writer KS Bhagawan have stoked a controversy after he made derogatory claims about (Lord) Rama

Rama-Sita Would Spend The Day Drinking: KS Bhagawan’s Controversial Remark

By LokMarg

Retired Professor and Writer KS Bhagawan have stoked a controversy after he made derogatory claims about (Lord) Rama stating that he was “not ideal”, adding that he sat with Sita and spent the day “drinking”.

He also claimed that Rama chopped the head of Shambuka, a shudra, and asked “how can he be ideal?”
Addressing an event in Karnataka’s Mandya, Bhagawan said, “There is talk about building a Rama Rajya…If one reads the Uttara Kanda of Valmiki’s Ramayana, it will become evident that (Lord) Rama was not ideal. He did not rule for 11,000 years, but only for 11 years”.

He claimed that Rama sent Sita to the forest and “didn’t bother about her”.

“(Lord) Rama would sit with Sita in the afternoon & spend the rest of the day drinking…He sent his wife Sita into the forest and didn’t bother about her…He chopped off the head of Shambuka, a Shudra, who was sitting in penance under a tree. How can he be ideal?” he said. (ANI)

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