Month: May 2023

Shruti Haasan

Cannes 2023: Shruti Slays In All-Black Attire

By LokMarg

Actor Shruti Haasan has joined the Bollywood celebrities who have attended the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Haasan looked elegant as she walked the red carpet in all-black attire.

The actor shared her astonishing pictures from the film festival via her Instagram handle on Sunday. She captioned, “Cannes again. Today was wonderful”. Haasan also marked her love of storytelling and sisterhood with ‘I love this’.

Shruti increased the temperature with her all-black latex dress. The actor’s hairstyle also complimented her look as she opted for a sleek high bun with a middle partition.

On the work front, Shruti was recently seen in the Telugu action comedy film ‘Waltair Veerayya’ alongside actors Chiranjeevi, Ravi Teja and Prakash Raj.

Helmed by Bobby Kolli, the film received a decent response from the fans.

Prabhas, on the other hand, will be next seen in Om Raut’s ‘Adipurush’. He will also be seen in ‘Project K’, which stars Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Prabhas, and will hit the theatres on January 12, 2024.

Helmed by Nag Ashwin, Project K is a bilingual film shot simultaneously in two languages i.e. Hindi and Telugu across various locations. The film will also mark Deepika’s debut in the Telugu film market. (ANI)

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Rajinikanth Ratan Tata

Rajinikanth Remembers Late Actor Sarath Babu

By LokMarg

The sudden demise of South actor Sarath Babu has left everyone in shock. He passed away at the age of 71 on Monday in Hyderabad. Superstar Rajinikanth visited the residence of the veteran actor in Chennai to pay his last tribute.

While remembering the late actor, he said, “He was a good man. I never saw him angry. All of his films were a very big hit. He was very affectionate towards me. I feel sad about his demise.”
He worked with Rajinikanth in films like ‘Annamalai’ and ‘Muthu’.

Previously, Kamal Haasan also tweeted about the late actor, “A great actor and a great friend, Sarath Babu has passed away. The days of acting with him are a shadow in my mind. Introduced by my Gurunath in Tamil. He excelled in many timeless roles. Cinema has lost a good actor. My tribute to him.”

Sarath Babu, who has acted with Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, NTR, Chiranjeevi and others is known for his works in mainly Tamil and Telugu cinema. He also appeared in Kannada and a few Malayalam and Hindi films.

Sarath Babu debuted in the film industry in 1973 with a Telugu film, ‘Rama Rajyam’ and rose to prominence with the Tamil film ‘Nizhal Nijamagiradhu’ which also featured Kamal Hassan.

He was also worked in Malayalam movies such as ‘Sarapancharam’ and Kannada films like ‘Ranachandi’ and ‘Amrutha Varshini’, Telugu films like ‘Maro Charitra’, `Abhinandana’, ‘Chettu Kinda Pleader’, and many more. He was last seen in the Tamil film ‘Vasantha Mullai’. Maro Charitra.

He was the recipient of eight state Nandi Awards. Surely, his passing away has created a void which cannot be filled. (ANI)

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Modi

‘Welcome Modi’ Message In Sydney Ahead Of Big Diaspora Event

By LokMarg

‘Welcome Modi’ spelt by a recreational aircraft’s contrails posed a mesmerising sight in the clear blue sky over Sydney ahead of the community event organised to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Australia.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1660880739708309504
A video of the skywriting has since then gone viral on social media.

PM Modi arrived in Sydney on Monday as a guest of the Australian government and the visit builds on the Australia-India Annual Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in March and discussions at the G7 Summit and Quad Leaders’ meeting in Hiroshima, Japan over the weekend.

PM Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese will attend a community event later today in Sydney to celebrate Australia’s dynamic and diverse Indian diaspora, which according to the Australian government is “a core part” of its multicultural community.

“As friends and partners, the relationship between our countries has never been closer. I look forward to celebrating Australia’s vibrant Indian community with Prime Minister Modi in Sydney,” the Australian PM said ahead of the event to be held in Qudos Bank Arena.

Thousands of expatriate Indians have gathered at the country’s largest entertainment and sporting arena in Sydney to welcome PM Modi, who is visiting the country after a gap of nine years. He last visited Australia in 2014.

Shashi Prabha who had arrived to attend the event said “All of us are excited for PM Modi to arrive. That is the most important thing for us at the moment.”

On his arrival in Sydney after visiting Japan and Papua New Guinea, PM Modi received a resounding welcome from the Indian community.

People had arrived in charted flight “Modi Airways” from Melbourne and had taken the “Modi Express” coach from Canberra and Brisbrane.

Among those who had gathered to greet PM Modi included 91-year-old Dr Navamani Chandra Bose who journeyed from Melbourne to meet the Indian prime minister in Sydney, according to The Australia Today.

She was full of energy and passion and very happy to travel by “Modi Airways.” “Very happy today and it’s going to be a great event,” said the nonagenarian who arrived by the ‘Modi Airways,’ a special charted flight that took off from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.

The plane full of Indians from across Australia arrived this morning for the diaspora event.

Visuals from Melbourne Airport tweeted on the Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation, which is organising the event in Sydney showed passengers waving the tricolour and dancing.

According to a report in The Australia Today, 177 people had booked to be part of the special “Modi Airways” flight from Melbourne to Sydney.

Among the passengers on the flight was 91-year-old Navamani Chandra Bose. She was accompanied by her daughter who said that Dr Navamani is the wife of NS Chandra Bose who was the President of the Indian Medical Association from 1991 to 1992 and had served as the President of the Tamil Nadu State Bharatiya Janata Party from 1995 to 1997.

“I’m the daughter and this is the wife of Dr Chandra Bose who was the state President of Tamil Nadu’s BJP from 1995-1997,” she said.

PM Modi is on a three-day visit to Australia, with whom India signed a historic trade deal last year.

He kickstarted his Australian visit by meeting with CEOs of several companies.

During his visit PM Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. At their bilateral meeting, the leaders will discuss trade and investment, including efforts to boost trade between the two countries through a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.

The Australia visit is on the last and final leg of PM Modi’s three-nation tour.

Ahead of Modi’s arrival, Prime Minister Albanese said in a statement, “I am honoured to host Prime Minister Modi for an official visit to Australia, after receiving an extremely warm welcome in India earlier this year.” (ANI)

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Modi With Vedic Chants

Modi Welcomed With Vedic Chants At Sydney Stadium

By LokMarg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park with Vedic chanting and other traditional types of welcome as he arrived in the company of Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese to address Indian diaspora at a community event in the Australian city.

After a traditional welcome, PM Modi and Albanese greeted each other with a warm hug and walked into Sydney’s biggest stadium to reverberating cheers.

He was also welcomed in India traditions. Priests were present at the event and chanted prayers.

A cultural program was held at the Qudos Bank Arena. Various cultural performances were performed by various artists, Bharatnatyam, Garba and other dance forms were performed at the event.

Members of the Indian diaspora expressed their excitement at attending the event. Modi is visiting Australia for the first time in nine years. He has last visited the country in 2014.

An attendee Shashi Prabha said, “All of us are excited for PM Modi to arrive. That is the most important thing for us at the moment.”

Earlier, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that a chartered Qantas flight rebranded as “Modi Airways” was in Melbourne to bring fans to Sydney and “Modi Express” buses are being chartered from Queensland.

The plane full of Indians from across Australia arrived this morning in Sydney for the diaspora event

According to ABC, PM Modi will address a rally which is expected to draw a crowd of up to 20,000 people who are hoping to catch a glimpse or listen to him.

Prime Minister Modi had arrived in Sydney on Monday as part of the third and final leg of his three-nation visit after concluding his visit to Papua New Guinea. PM Modi was received by Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell and other officials upon his arrival in Sydney.

Earlier today, he met different Sydney-based CEOs and highlighted “transformative reforms and initiatives” taken by his government and India’s credentials as one of the most preferred major economies for foreign investments in the world.

He also met certain prominent figures of the country including artists and those working in science, artificial intelligence, art and music. (ANI)

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Kohli, Shubman’s Uncanny Centurion Relationship

By LokMarg

One of the rising talents in Indian cricket, Shubman Gill and star player Virat Kohli have striking similarities across all three formats of the game, which are pretty hard to miss out on.

Virat and Shubman have developed a knack for scoring centuries in the same match in 2023.
Both batters have struck a century against Sri Lanka in the ODI format specifically in the third match of the series in January this year.

While in the Test format, Shubman and Virat both struck a century in the same match against Australia in February.

Finally, in the T20 format, both players scored a century in the same match for different teams in the final group stage match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.

In their recent encounter, Shubman’s century turned Virat’s (101*) futile as Gujarat Titans managed to clinch the victory by six wickets.

This loss knocked RCB out of the race of the IPL 2023 playoffs and allowed Mumbai Indians to end the group stage in the fourth position.

In Qualifier 1 of IPL 2023 which will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, Chennai Super Kings, the four-time champions, will turn up at their home ground, where they will enjoy massive support.

MS Dhoni and his team have picked up eight wins in the league stage, five of which came at Chepauk reflecting their dominance in their home stadium.

But GT will back themselves after enjoying a successful travelling record. GT have won six out of the seven matches we played away from Ahmedabad, setting up an eye-watering playoff fixture. (ANI)

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 2000 Rs note

Order Reserved On PIL Against Allowing 2K Notes Without ID Proof

By LokMarg

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved the order on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and State Bank of India (SBI) notifications, which permits the exchange of Rs 2,000 banknotes without obtaining any requisition slip and identity proof.

The plea called the decision arbitrary and irrational and offends Article 14 of the Constitution of India, hence, inoperative.
The bench of Justices Satish Chander Sharma and Subramonium Prasad on Tuesday said the court will pass the appropriate order while keeping the order reserved.

Appearing for RBI, senior advocate Parag Tripathi opposed the plea and said it is a statutory exercise and not a demonetisation.

The plea had been moved by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, further seeking direction to the RBI and SBI to ensure that Rs 2,000 banknotes are deposited in respective bank accounts only so that no one could deposit the money in others’ bank accounts and people having black money and disproportionate assets could be identified easily.

During arguements before the Court, petitioner advocate Ashwini Upadhyay clarified that he has not challenged the notification as a whole only as far as it allows the exchange of currency without any proof of identity.

The plea also prayed for a direction to the Centre to take appropriate steps against the black money and disproportionate asset holders in order to weed out corruption, benami transaction and secure the fundamental rights of citizens.

The plea further stated that according to the RBI total value of Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation has declined from Rs 6.73 lakh crore to 3.62 lakh crore, of which 3.11 lakh crore has been reached either in individual’s locker otherwise has been hoarded by the separatists, terrorists, Maoists, drug smugglers, mining mafias and corrupt people.

Presently, the total population of India is 142 crore, the total number of families is 30 crore and 130 crores Indians have AADHAAR Card. It means every family has 3-4 AADHAAR cards. Similarly, the total number of accounts is 225 crore and out of that 48 crore are Jana Dhan accounts of BPL families. It means every family has a bank account, the plea stated.

Recently, it was announced by the Centre that every family has AADHAAR Card and Bank Account.

“Therefore, why RBI is permitted to exchange Rs 2,000 banknotes without obtaining identity proof? It is also necessary to state that 80 Crore BPL families receive free grains. It means 80 crore Indians rarely use Rs 2,000 banknotes. Therefore, the petitioner also seeks direction from RBI and SBI to take steps to ensure that Rs 2000 banknotes are deposited in a bank account only, the plea stated. (ANI)

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Eric Garcetti

US Envoy Garcetti Praises Modi’s Leadership

By LokMarg

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Tuesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and “transformative policies” initiated by his government and said the two countries are increasing their collaboration around critical emerging technologies.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the US-India 5G and Next Generation Networks Workshop, Garcetti said 5G presents a fantastic opportunity to collaborate towards an open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem, built on shared values and shared systems.
“India is in such wonderful hands. With your leadership, with the transformative policies that you and this administration are implementing together with the public sector and private sector and with that community aspect that defines everything that is part of India’s rise right now. This is the most exciting nexus in the world, The US-India relationship is where it is at,” he said.

The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is hosting the workshop. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti and Department of Telecommunications Secretary K Rajaraman kicked off the workshop with over 150 senior Indian and US government and private sector participants.

The event is being attended by leading industry experts and officials to exchange information on approaches, solutions and applications of 5G and next-generation networks in India and highlight new opportunities for US-India technical and commercial cooperation in the sector and expand strategic technology partnership, an important element of the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

Garcetti said 5G is an important part of the United States’ and India’s shared efforts to build a resilient economy for now and for the future.

“To foster an open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem, we must ensure that our shared values fuel our shared decisions. Events like today’s workshop allow us to build mutual trust and confidence, allowing us to turn ideas into action.”

Sharing his recent experience at Select USA Summit, he talked about the growing US-India relations as it had the largest Indian delegation.

“The biggest number one delegation, first time in history came from right here in India. Over 240 different business delegations, some of whom are here today, who made the trip, who travelled from all parts of India in everything from steel and precious metals to looking at real estate, investments, technology, telecoms, agriculture, we saw a profound desire for our people to come together even more closely. And that’s really what we’re talking about here today,” he said.

Speaking on the upcoming visit of PM Modi to the US, he talked about technology cooperation between the two countries.

“Our National Security Advisor is in preparation for the visit of the Prime Minister for a State visit next month to Washington,DC – collaborating intensely around critical emerging technologies…It’s technology that connects, protects and detects. We know that the backbone of this is 5G.”

PM Narendra Modi will embark on an official state visit to the US on June 22. During his visit, PM Modi will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a state dinner at the White House.

In a a tweet later, Garcetti said 5G & Next Generation Networks workshop would advance a key component of the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical Emerging Technology (iCET)

“I am so excited to attend the U.S.-India 5G & Next Generation Networks workshop to advance a key component of the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical Emerging Technology (iCET)! 5G presents a fantastic opportunity to collaborate towards an open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem, built on shared values and shared systems. Looking forward to #USIndia technical and commercial cooperation in this transformative sector,” he said. (ANI)

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Kashmir G20 Meeting Srinagar

G20 Tourism Meet: Visitors Laud Development In Kashmir

By LokMarg

The second day of the G20 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting began on Tuesday in Srinagar.

The meetings are being held at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar from May 22-24.

The people of Kashmir welcomed the G20 summit meetings which aim to boost the tourism and business sector. The delegates are likely to visit the various famous places in Srinagar.

In today’s meeting, the delegates are expected to hold multiple sessions at SKICC. During the day, the delegates will be taken to a few locations including Nishat Garden, Cheshma Shahi, Pari Mahal, Kashmir Arts Emporium and Polo View Market. A grand dinner will also be hosted.

The mega G20 tourism meet in Srinagar has clearly caught the attention of international media, with many of them highlighting India’s efforts of showcasing the restoration of stability and normalcy in Kashmir.

However, the first day of the G20 tourism meeting began on Monday despite a boycott from China and Pakistan, Taiwan News reported.

India under its G20 Presidency is currently holding meetings across the country in the lead-up to the G20 Summit scheduled to be held in September in New Delhi.

The G20 delegations arrived at Sheikh-ul Alam International Airport in Srinagar as the mega event began. They were greeted by rows of lamp posts illuminated in the colours of the Indian national flag and billboards featuring the G20 logo, Nikkei Asia reported.

India is hosting a significant international event in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.

The excitement of authorities over Kashmir’s role in India’s G20 presidency is palpable, Nikkei Asia reported. Footpaths have been renovated and roadside walls have been painted in peach and white. The development comes as Srinagar undergoes a makeover under a smart city scheme.

India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Monday said that there cannot be a better place than Kashmir for shooting movies.

“You will see a vast number of films being shot here. Much like many Indian films are being shot abroad. But, in India, let me tell you, having travelled across the world, there is and I can tell you very sincerely that there is the finest destination anywhere in the world to shoot a movie and to shoot a romance that it cannot be a better place than Kashmir,” Amitabh Kant said at the third G20 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting in Srinagar.

For this three-day G20 Summit, from May 22-24, Kashmir is under a three-tier security grid for aerial surveillance drone monitoring is put in place. National Security Guard (NSG) and MARCOS (military unit Marine Commandos) have been deployed around the venue. Jammu and Kashmir Police’s special operation group (SOG) have been deployed at several places to give security cover to prevent any terror incident.

Spain, Singapore, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil and India are among seven countries to discuss the global perspective of film tourism, as well as, its economic benefits and impact in J-K. (ANI)

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Narendra Modi Meets CEOs Australia Business

Modi Kickstarts Sydney Visit, Meets CEOs, Indian Diaspora

By LokMarg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day visit to Australia on Tuesday met the Executive Chairman of Fortescue Future Industries, an Australia-based Green energy and technology firm.

John Andrew Henry Forrest AO, nicknamed Twiggy, is an Australian businessman. He is best known as the former CEO (and current non-executive chairman) of Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) and has other interests in the mining industry and in cattle stations.

According to the Financial Review, Forrest was the richest person in Australia in 2008.

The Prime Minister also met Paul Schroder, CEO of Australian Super, in Sydney.

He was appointed Chief Executive of Australian Super on October 1, 2021, and is responsible for the leadership and strategic development of the fund as well as the provision of advice to the board.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sydney as part of the third and final leg of his three-nation visit after concluding his visit to Papua New Guinea.

PM Modi was received by Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell and other officials upon his arrival in Sydney.

During his visit, PM Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.

At their bilateral meeting, the leaders will discuss trade and investment, including efforts to boost trade between the two countries through a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and work to strengthen people-to-people links, renewable energy, and defence and security cooperation, said the official statement released by the Australian government.

Members of the Indian diaspora also welcomed PM Modi as they chanted slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”.

During the visit, the Prime Ministers will attend a community event in Sydney to celebrate Australia’s dynamic and diverse Indian diaspora, a core part of our multicultural community,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Australian PM Albanese said he looks forward to visiting India in September in New Delhi for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, the world’s premier forum for economic cooperation.

Describing the relationship between India and Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the high degree of mutual trust between the two nations has naturally translated into greater cooperation over time, especially on defence and security matters.

In an exclusive interview with ‘The Australian’ newspaper, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he wants to elevate relations with Australia to the “next level,” which would entail deeper defence ties to support the creation of an “open and free” Indo-Pacific.

“India believes that these challenges can be addressed only through shared efforts,” he said, adding that he wanted India and Australia to press forward to realise the “true potential” of closer defence and security ties. (ANI)

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Travancoe Devaswom Board Temples

Travancore Board Debars RSS Drills On Temples’ Premises

By LokMarg

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) issued a circular to all temples under them to not allow mass drills and other activities organised by the RSS on temple premises.

The circular, issued on May 18 says that this should be strictly followed and action will be taken against those officers who do not follow it.
The TDB’S fresh circular is a reiteration of its earlier order on March 30, 2021, which said that other than for temple rituals and festivals the temple premises should not be used for any other purpose.

According to the circular issued by the TDB, the board re-issued the order after noticing that RSS branches functioning on its temple premises. (ANI)

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