February 2024 - Page 34 of 36 - Lokmarg

Our Budget Announcement Is Guarantee Of Empowering Poor: Modi

By LokMarg 3rd February 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the Interim Budget which was announced earlier this week guarantees the development of every section in the society adding that this budget further strengthens the government’s policy in eradicating poverty in the nation.

Addressing a public meeting in Sambalpur, Prime Minister Modi said, “The country’s new budget has come just two days ago. This budget further strengthens the policy following which 25 crore people of the country have come out of poverty in the last 10 years. The budget announcement is a guarantee of empowering the poor. Be it our youth, women, farmers, fishermen, this budget guarantees everyone’s development. Guarantee of fulfilling guarantees is the meaning of Modi guarantee.”

Stating that the BJP-led Centre has brought a new revolution in the usage of LED bulbs resulting in a reduction in the cost of electricity bills, PM Modi said, “In the last 10 years, we provided electricity even to those villages which were in darkness even after the independence of the country. Now our effort is that the electricity bill of the poor of the country also becomes zero and in this budget, rooftop solar power scheme has been announced for 1 crore families.”

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Sambalpur.

Prime Minister Modi also laid the foundation stone of projects worth more than Rs 68,000 crore in Sambalpur, Odisha aimed at boosting the energy sector involving natural gas, coal and power generation apart from important projects of road, railway and higher education sector.

PM Modi underlined that the people of Odisha belonging to the poor section, labourers, working class, business owners and farmers among all other sections of society will reap the benefits of today’s development projects.

He further added that it will also create thousands of new employment opportunities for the youth of Odisha.

The Prime Minister said that in order to make Odisha a hub of education, and skill development, continuous efforts have been put in by the Central government.

“The fate of Odisha’s youth has changed with the setting up of modern educational institutes like IISER Berhampur and Bhubaneshwar’s Institute of Chemical Technology in the last decade. Now, with the establishment of IIM Sambalpur as a modern institute of management, the state’s role is being further strengthened,” PM Modi said.

Prime Minister is on a visit to Odisha and Assam on February 3-4. (ANI)

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After Flak Over Lack Of Action, Chinese Navy Starts Escorting Cargo Ships Through Red Sea

By LokMarg 3rd February 2024

The Chinese navy has started escorting Chinese cargo ships through the Red Sea, according to a shipping company and Chinese state media reports, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

The development comes at a time when various cargo shipping companies have decided to avoid the globally important trade passage citing attacks from Houthi rebels.

Since November, Iran-backed Houthis have launched scores of drone and missile attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea, acts that they say are in support of Palestinian militant group Hamas in the war with Israel.

Significantly, weighing in on recent attacks on merchant ships by armed Houthi rebels and suspected pirates on the Red Sea and western Arabian Sea, experts and distinguished voices from across the world, while commending the prompt response by the Indian Navy to distressed vessels, called out China over the lack of similar rescue missions.

Hailing the rescue of crew from distressed merchant vessel Marlin Luanda in the Gulf of Aden, the experts noted that despite being considered a world power and having a naval base in Djibouti (near the area of the incident), did not respond to the distress call and it was the Indian Navy that demonstrated swift action.

“India takes over. Superpower rising…Stop drooling over China,” Europe-based historian and researcher, Martin Sauerbrey posted on X.

British journalist Mark Urban also called it ‘fascinating’ that India, and not China, has risen to the crisis in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.”

Among the emerging great powers fascinating to see how India has risen to the crisis in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea…China not so much,” Urban posted on X.

A US-led coalition has responded to the attacks with missile strikes on Houthi positions, backed by a collective force from Bahrain, Britain, Canada, France, Holland, Italy, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain. But they have so far not stopped ships from being targeted, as per VOA.

At a time when most shipping companies have re-routed to go around Africa, doubling costs and shipping times, Sea Legend Shipping, a Qingdao-based company registered in Singapore, is actively promoting its cargo business through the Red Sea.

The company said since January, the Chinese navy has provided security escorts for its five cargo ships in the Red Sea, making it one of the few still operating in the region, according to Chinese media.

In an emailed response to a request for confirmation and comment on the scope of protection being provided, Yuan Mu, a spokesperson for China’s Embassy in Washington, referred VOA to departments directly responsible, according to VOA.

The spokesperson in an emailed response said, “On the whole, China stands ready to work with all parties to safeguard the safety of international shipping lanes.”

Although the Houthis have said that ships from some countries, including China and Russia, can safely pass through the Red Sea, a British oil tanker carrying Russian oil was hit by a Houthi missile and caught fire last week.

Shipping news site oilprice.com reports that even tankers carrying Russian fuel are now avoiding the Red Sea.

About 40 per cent of trade between Europe and Asia goes through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, and about 12 per cent of the globe’s sea trade in oil. (ANI)

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Yes, I Faked My Demise: Poonam Pandey

By LokMarg 3rd February 2024

Amid reports of her demise and frenzied speculations that she might have pulled a stunt, actor and ‘Lock Upp’ fame Poonam Pandey on Saturday announced that she had ‘faked’ her death and was alive and well.

Taking to Instagram, Pandey shared a video which she captioned, “I feel compelled to share something significant with you all – I am here, alive. Cervical Cancer didn’t claim me.”

In another Insta message, Poonam said her stunt was aimed at spreading awareness regarding cervical cancer.

“But tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women who stemmed from a lack of knowledge on how to tackle this disease. Unlike some other cancers, Cervical Cancer is entirely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease,” her caption further read.

“Let’s empower one another with critical awareness and ensure every woman is informed about the steps to take. Visit the link in the bio to delve deeper into what can be done. Together, let’s strive to put an end to the devastating impact of the disease and bring #DeathToCervicalCancer,” she added.

In a personalised video on Instagram, Pandey said, “I am alive. I didn’t die because of cervical cancer. Unfortunately I cannot say that about those hundreds and thousands of women who have lost their lives because of cervical cancer. It is not because they coudn’t anything about it because they had no idea what to do about it. I’m here to tell you that unlike other cancers, cervical cancer is preventable. All you have to do is you have to get your tests done and you have to get HPV Vaccine. We can do all this and more to make sure there is no more life lost to this disease.”

On Friday, a post was shared on Pandey’s official Instagram handle which indicated that the ‘Nasha’ actor has died of Cervical cancer.

Pandey’s media manager Parul Chawla also confirmed the news of the actor’s demise.

Soon after Pandey shared the news of her being alive, she faced a lot of backlash on social media.

A user wrote, “Like dude death is a joke? You could have created awareness by multiple ways.”

Another user wrote, “Awareness failane ka tarika thoda cazual hai.”

“How desperate is that to gain attention,” a user commented.

In another video, shared on Instagram, Pandey apologized to her fans for spreading fake news of her being dead due to cervical cancer.

In the video, she said, “I’m sorry I’ve caused this tear and I’m sorry to those whom I’ve hurt. My intention? To shock everyone into the conversation that we are not talking enough about. Which is cervical cancer. Yes, I faked my demise. Extreme, I know. But suddenly we all are talking about cervical cancer, aren’t we? It’s a disease that silently takes your life. And this disease needed the spotlight urgently. I’m proud of what my death news has been able to achieve. And for those who have questions for me, I will see you live on Hot to Fly.”

The news has sent shockwaves across the industry.

Pandey is known for her bold photos and videos.She made her acting debut with the film ‘Nasha’ in 2013.

She also appeared in Kangana Ranaut’s reality show ‘Lock Upp’. (ANI)

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Earthquake Of Magnitude 4.1 Strikes Arunachal

By LokMarg 3rd February 2024

An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 on the Richter scale was recorded in Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday morning, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) informed.

According to the NCS, the tremors were felt at 10:11 am. The depth of the quake was recorded at 60 km.

“Earthquake of Magnitude:4.3, Occurred on 03-02-2024, 10:11:01 IST, Lat: 36.77 & Long: 97.17, Depth: 60 Km, Location: 975km N of Pangin,” read a post on the official handle of the NCS.

Further details are awaited. (ANI).

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Another Western Disturbance Set To Hit North India This Weekend: IMD

By LokMarg 3rd February 2024

After the wet weather, induced by a western disturbance, prevailed across North India over the last few days, another western disturbance is set to alter weather conditions in the mountain regions this weekend, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Scientist Naresh said.

“Another Western Disturbance will start affecting from tomorrow which will lead to heavy snowfall and rainfall in the mountain regions. Rainfall and snowfall may be expected between 75 to 100 per cent of the stations,” IMD Scientist Naresh told ANI on Friday.

Naresh said that snowfall is expected in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh on February 4 and Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and North-West Madhya Pradesh will experience light hailstorms.

“On the 4th of February, snowfall is expected in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain in plain areas are expected. Light hailstorm activities are also expected on February 4 in Punjab, Haryana and West UP and even in North-West MP,” the IMD Scientist said.

Naresh said the effect of the previous western disturbance lasted till Thursday, leading to intense snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

“If we talk about the past 4-5 days, Western Disturbance was seen in the Himalayan region and the adjoining plains. If you look at the satellite pictures, you can see that the system has moved forward, which had an effect till yesterday. This has led to intense snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In the plains, there was rainfall as well as hailstorms,” the IMD scientist said.

On the possibility of a rise in temperature since another Western Disturbance is set to alter weather patterns in north-west and central India, Naresh said temperatures will increase during the morning and dense fog may be expected in isolated pockets in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi NCR.

“Whenever there is Western Disturbance it leads to changes in wind patterns. So it leads to a rising tendency in temperature. So we do not expect that the temperature will drop in north-west India and central India. Temperatures will increase during the morning. Dense fog may be expected in the morning in isolated pockets in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi NCR,” Naresh said.

Naresh said there will be no prevalence of cold wave conditions in north India in the next few days owing to the western disturbance.

“There will not be a cold day, as temperatures will not drip in the next few days. So we are not expecting cold day in the next few days. We are also not expecting cold wave in the next 5-7 days,” he said.

Speaking about the weather pattern in the national capital, Lokesh said, “In Delhi, there might be light rainfall from February 3 to February 4.”

Several parts of the national capital received light-intensity rainfall on Wednesday afternoon under the influences of two western disturbances. (ANI)

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Sylvester Pays Glowing Tribute To Carl Weathers

By LokMarg 3rd February 2024

Actor Sylvester Stallone paid tribute to his long-time friend and ‘Rocky’ co-star Carl Weathers, who died on Thursday at the age of 76.

Weathers was known for playing boxer Apollo Creed in the first four ‘Rocky’ films, according to Variety.

He took to Instagram to share a video on his lifelong collaboration with Weathers, which began with the ‘Rocky’ series and continued for decades. The actor delivered the statement while standing in front of a painting of their characters, Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed facing off in the ring.

“Today is an incredibly sad day for me. I’m so torn up, I can’t even tell you. I’m just trying to hold it in because Carl Weathers was such an integral part of my life, my success — everything about it, I give him incredible credit and kudos. Because when he walked into that room and I saw him for the first time, I saw greatness. But I didn’t realize how great,” Stallone said. “I never could’ve accomplished what we did with ‘Rocky’ without him.”

“He was absolutely brilliant — his voice, his size, his presence, his athletic ability, but, most importantly, his heart, his soul. It’s a horrible loss,” Stallone said. “He was magic. I was so fortunate to be part of his life. Apollo, keep punching.”

Weathers played Apollo Creed in the first four ‘Rocky’ films when he constantly fights Stallone’s titular boxer in the ring. Though Creed dies in ‘Rocky IV’, Weathers’ legacy in the franchise continues in the sequel series ‘Creed’, starring Michael B. Jordan as Creed’s son.

According to Variety, Weathers and Stallone reunited at the 2017 Golden Globes, where the duo presented the final award of the night. “I can’t believe it’s been 40 years since ‘Rocky,'” Weathers said, to which Stallone jabbed,”Yeah, and I can’t believe I let you win the fight considering I wrote the screenplay.”

It was at the Santa Barbara Film Festival a year prior when Weathers gave Stallone his prize. “He clearly knows that I’m a fan,” Weathers said, adding, “I have such admiration and appreciation for all that very first screenplay allowed me … So what can I say except he deserved the award, and I have tremendous gratitude for being a part of the whole adventure.”

Apart from Sylvester, other actors also took to social media to pay tribute to the late actor, including Adam Sandler and Pedro Pascal.

“A true great man. Great dad. Great actor. Great athlete. So much fun to be around always,” Sandler wrote of Weathers, whose shared credits include “Happy Gilmore,” “Little Nicky” and “Eight Crazy Nights.” “Smart as hell. Loyal as hell. Funny as hell. Loved his sons more than anything. What a guy!! Everyone loved him. My wife and I had the best times with him every time we saw him. Love to his entire family and Carl will always be known as a true legend.”

Pedro Pascal, who played opposite Weathers in Disney+’s ‘The Mandalorian,’ shared a photo of the late actor on Instagram with the caption, “Words fail.”

Robert Rodriguez, who directed Weathers in the ‘Star Wars’ spinoff series, commented, “Will miss the great Carl Weathers who I was very fortunate to work with on several occasions. A very kind and generous person. His performances were always electrifying and he was also a terrific director of both stage and screen.”

Born in 1948 in New Orleans, Weathers played professional football before breaking out as an actor with small roles in Arthur Marks’ blaxploitation movies ‘Bucktown’ and ‘Friday Foster’, as well as TV series including ‘Good Times’, ‘Kung Fu’, ‘Cannon’ and ‘Starsky and Hutch’. His career forever changed when he was cast opposite Stallone in ‘Rocky’, and Weathers would go on to star alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in ‘Predator’ and earn a Primetime Emmy nomination for ‘The Mandalorian’, of which he also directed two episodes, reported Variety. (ANI)

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BJP Won’t Renew UP Tickets For Sitting MPs, Barring One: Akhilesh

By LokMarg 3rd February 2024

Amid rising differences between the INDIA partners over seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday sought to shift focus to the BJP, claiming that the ruling party at the Centre would not renew tickets to all its present MPs from the state barring one.

Posting from his official handle on X, the former chief minister said the BJP has still not put out its list of Lok Sabha candidates from the state as their sitting MPs did little except ‘fill their pockets’.

“We have gathered from sources that the BJP will not renew the tickets of all its present MPs from Uttar Pradesh, except one. They are in no position to announce their candidates (for UP) for the Lok Sabha elections as their sitting did nothing but fill their pockets. There is a lot of anger among the public against the BJP and its MPs. In the midst of such circumstances, they are searching for fresh candidates. However, no one wants to fight a losing battle. No one is coming forward to be a BJP candidate,” Akhilesh posted from X.

The SP chief stated further that BJP MPs won’t receive a warm reception when they return to their respective Lok Sabha constituencies. “This time, the people of Uttar Pradesh will not elect big talkers but ones who can actually deliver on their promises,” Akhilesh said, adding, “Ab PDA (Pichhde, Dalit, Alpasankhayak) Ki Ekta Jaagi, Chhod Ke UP BJP Bhaagi (when the PDA unite, the BJP will disappear from UP).”

Earlier, on Friday, SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav claimed that the Congress and the Akhilesh Yadav-led party have finalised their seat-sharing arrangement in Uttar Pradesh.

On whether the Congress could go with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in UP, Yadav said the grand old party has already reached an agreement over seat-sharing with the Samajwadis.

“The Congress has reached a seat-sharing agreement with the Samajwadi Party. We will declare our Lok Sabha candidates soon,” Yadav said. (ANI)

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Advani To Be Conferred Bharat Ratna: Modi

By LokMarg 3rd February 2024

Saffron stalwart and senior BJP leader LK Advani will be conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday.

Taking to the social media platform, PM Modi said the former Union Minister’s contribution to the development of India is monumental.

“I am very happy to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental. His is a life that started from working at the grassroots to serving the nation as our Deputy Prime Minister. He distinguished himself as our Home Minister and I&B Minister as well. His Parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, full of rich insights,” PM posted on X.

Born in Karachi, in present day Pakistan, on November 8, 1927, Advani through the years had served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the longest period since its inception in 1980. Capping a parliamentary career of nearly three decades, he was, first, the Home Minister and, later, the Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004).

Advani is widely regarded as an individual of great intellectual ability, strong principles, and unwavering support for the idea of a strong and prosperous India. As confirmed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Advani has ‘never compromised on his core belief in nationalism, and yet has displayed flexibility in political responses whenever it was demanded by the situation’.

The veteran leader’s celebration of India’s independence from the British in 1947 was sadly short lived as he became one of the millions to be torn from his homeland amidst the terror and bloodshed of the tragedy of India’s partition. These events, however, did not turn him bitter or cynical but instead spurred him on in his desire to create a more secular India. With this goal in mind he journeyed to Rajasthan to continue his work as an RSS Pracharak.

Through the latter half of the 1980s and the 1990s, LK Advani focused on the singular task of building the BJP into a national political force. The results of his efforts were underscored by the 1989 General Election. The Party bounced back from its 1984 tally of 2 to achieve an impressive 86 seats. The Party position moved up to 121 seats in 1992 and 161 in 1996; making the 1996 elections a watershed in Indian democracy. For the first time since independence, the Congress was dethroned from its preeminent position, and the BJP became the single largest party in the Lok Sabha. (ANI)

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Cong Won’t Be Able To Win Even 40 Seats In LS Elections: Mamata

By LokMarg 2nd February 2024

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Congress party on Friday, saying she doubted whether Congress would be able to secure even 40 seats in the upcoming general elections.

Speaking at a public event in West Bengal, CM Mamata said, “I doubt if you (Congress) will win 40. I was offering two seats and would have let them win. But they wanted more. I said okay, contest on all 42 then. Rejected! There has been no conversation with them since.”

The CM further expressed her disappointment after learning about the Congress Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra programme in West Bengal through unofficial channels, despite being an INDIA bloc member.

“They have come to do a programme in Bengal but did not even inform me as an INDIA bloc member. I got to know through administrative sources. They had called Derek to request that the rally be allowed to pass through,” the CM said.

Further, the TMC supremo challenged the Congress to defeat the BJP in UP, Banaras, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh if they had the courage.

“If you have the courage, defeat the BJP in UP, Banaras, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh,” CM Banerjee said.

West Bengal Chief Minister and ruling TMC supremo, Mamata Banerjee, on Thursday asserted that her party would form the government at the Centre along with like-minded regional partners after the Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking at a public event in West Bengal, CM Mamata, however, ruled out an alliance with the CPI (M), claiming that it perpetrated killings of opposition activists during their rule in the state.

“I can assure you all that we will form the government in Delhi. As to how or in what manner we form the government at the Centre is something we will decide after the (Lok Sabha) elections through talks with like-minded regional parties,” the TMC supremo said. (ANI)

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Tourists Rush To Shimla After Snowfall, Hoteliers Elated

By LokMarg 2nd February 2024

Following a fresh spell of snowfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh, tourists from northern India have started rushing to Shimla.

Atul Jain, a tourist from Punjab who has been staying in Kufri, a hill station, rushed to Shimla to experience the snowfall. He told ANI,” I would request everyone to come here and enjoy the beautiful weather here”.

Jeenu, hailing fom Delhi who experienced the snowfall for the first time said, “My dream came true. It is a beautiful view around. I am feeling very deligted to see the snow. Everyone should come here and enrich themselves with a new experience”.

Snowfall has also elated the local hoteliers, reviving their hopes of progress in the tourism industry here.

Welcoming the tourists here, Bilal Sheikh, a local tourist guide who complained about a lean summer season due to floods, told ANI, “We have been waiting for the snowfall for a long time. Be it taxi, hotel, everyone is now hopeful. Tourists have started rushing here. It has been snowing for last two-three days. There were predictions about more snowfall in the region”.

The hotelier have started getting reservations after the snowfall and now they are hopeful for revival of business after a long dry spell.

Naresh Kumar, a local hotelier expressed hope that more snowfall will increase tourist footfall in the City. “Tourists have started arriving here. The weather department has forecasted more snowfall during the next two days. So we hope to get more tourists in the region”.

According to the IMD, the Western Himalayan Region and select areas of Uttar Pradesh are anticipated to witness rainfall at one or two locations in the coming days.

Tikkar area of the Nawar valley in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district was covered in a blanket of snow on Friday morning.

The Kharapathar area in Shimla also got covered in a blanket of snow as it received fresh snowfall this morning.

As per the data from the State tourism department, nearly 17,20,000 tourists thronged the State in 2019 including 4,00000 foreign tourists with a jump of nearly 5 percent n comparison to the year 2018.

An economy of over Rs 11,000 crore is generated in the state of Himachal Pradesh in the tourism sector and it is considered a backbone for the economy in the state which contributes to 7.3 per cent in the state GDP. (ANI)

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