Author: LokMarg

The 16th round of Corps Commander-level meeting between India and China is likely to be held on July 17, sources said on Wednesday.

They said talks would be held with the objective of discussing disengagement from friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
India will be represented by Fire and Fury Corps Commander Lt Gen A Sengupta in the talks.

The 15th round China-India Corps Commander-Level Meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on March 11 this year.

During the meeting, the two sides had carried forward their discussions from the previous round held on January 12 this year for the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector.

They had a detailed exchange of views in keeping with the guidance provided by the State Leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest.

They reaffirmed that such a resolution would help restore peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector and facilitate progress in bilateral relations.

The two sides also agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector in the interim. They agreed to maintain dialogue via military and diplomatic channels to reach a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest.

India and China have been engaged in a standoff since April-May 2020 over the transgressions by the Chinese Army in multiple areas including the Finger area, Galwan Valley, Hot springs, and Kongrung Nala. The situation worsened after violent clashes with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in June 2020.

The talks have led to disengagement from some areas including North and South Bank of Pangong Tso and Galwan but some friction points remain. (ANI)

The government announced on Wednesday that citizens above 18 years of age will be given booster doses free of cost from July 15 for the next 75 days as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal. The facility will be available at all government centres.

“India is celebrating 75 years of independence. On the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Kaal, it has been decided that from 15th July 2022 till the next 75 days, citizens above 18 years of age will be given booster doses free of cost,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told the media here.
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 199.12 crore as per provisional reports till 7 am on Wednesday. This has been achieved through 2,61,58,303 sessions.

COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on March 16, 2022. So far, more than 3.76 crore adolescents have been administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 precaution dose administration for the age group 18-59 years started on April 10.

The Centre has been making efforts to accelerate the pace and expand the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on January 16, 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from June 21, 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through the availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to states and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining of the vaccine supply chain.

As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the Government of India has been supporting the states and UTs by providing them COVID vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Centre will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to states and UTs. (ANI)

Actor-designer Masaba Gupta slammed a social media user, who body-shamed for her looks on her latest post.

On Tuesday, Masaba took to her Instagram story and shared a screenshot of an insensitive comment made by a troller.

In the screenshot, the comment that read, “You look so bad… It’s an irony that you are in the fashion and entertainment industry.”

Giving back to the troller, ‘Masaba Masaba’ actor wrote, “That’s cute. Let’s be clear being in any industry has to do with talent. Crazy hard work. Wild discipline. Yes? Yes. As for my face, that’s just a pretty bonus (as is my mind that is as sharp as a knife and your b* wouldn’t get past it even if you tried).”

Meanwhile, one of the most loved Indian series on Netflix – ‘Masaba Masaba’ is now back! The second season of ‘Masaba Masaba’ is set to hit the OTT platform on July 29, exactly a month from now.

The first teaser of the show was shared by Masaba herself on Instagram.

Going by the looks of it, the show is going to have a mix of old and new elements in season 2. In the teaser, Masaba is seen tackling new highs and new lows, and this time around – she’s cleaning up the hot mess!

Tackling new paths in their careers, new (and old) love interests, grief, emotions and competition – the mother-daughter duo – Neena Gupta and Masaba look fresh and promising in the teaser. Season 2 navigates through the lives of these two women and how they cross tough terrains and rough patches along the way.

Directed by Sonam Nair and produced by Viniyard Films, Season 2 will also feature Neil Bhoopalam, Rytasha Rathore, Kusha Kapila, Kareema Barry, Barkha Singh, Ram Kapoor, and Armaan Khera. The series marks influencer Kusha Kapila’s second stint at acting, the first being Karan Johar’s ‘Ghost stories’.

The first season of ‘Masaba Masaba’ was released in August 2020. (ANI)

Bollywood actor Athiya Shetty has finally reacted to the rumours about her getting married to cricketer KL Rahul.

Taking to Instagram, the ‘Hero’ actor shared a post on her story, which reads, “I hope I’m invited to this wedding that’s taking place in 3 months, Lol”.

For the past few days, there were speculations spreading around the corner that the ‘Mubarkaan’ actor is planning to get married to her long-time boyfriend, cricketer KL Rahul in the next three months, which she has now finally dismissed.

Previously, the ‘Motichoor Chaknachoor’ actor also rubbished the rumours which stated that the couple has bought a new luxurious apartment in Mumbai and are planning to move into a ‘Live-in Relationship’.

Speaking of the lovebirds Rahul and Athiya, the couple made their relationship official the previous year as the Indian cricketer wished his ladylove on her birthday with a cute social media post featuring Athiya and himself. Rahul even attended the premiere of Athiya’s brother, Ahan Shetty’s debut movie ‘Tadap’.

The couple recently travelled to Munich, Germany together where Rahul underwent a surgery.

Meanwhile, the daughter of Suniel Shetty, Athiya, recently made her debut on YouTube as she opened her channel on the particular social media platform and was last seen in Motichoor Chaknachoor, alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui. She made her acting debut with Salman Khan’s ‘Hero’ along with Sooraj Pancholi in the year 2015. The film failed to impress the audience at the box office. (ANI)

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who landed in the Maldivian capital Male on a Sri Lankan Air Force plane, will be leaving for Singapore on Wednesday.

Rajapaksa who left for the Maldives early this morning is to leave for Singapore later Wednesday, sources in the Maldives told the Daily Mirror.
Rajapaksa landed at the Velana International Airport in the Maldives early Wednesday.

The Prime Minister’s Office also confirmed that Rajapaksa has left the country.

A statement issued by the Sri Lankan Air Force said that Rajapaksa prepared a SLAF aircraft to fly to the Maldives per his presidential powers and with the approval of the Ministry of Defence.

Rajapaksa and his wife along with two bodyguards travelled to the Maldives after full approval of the country’s Defence Ministry, Sri Lanka officials confirmed on Wednesday.

“According to the request of the Government in accordance with the powers vested in an Executive President in the Constitution of Sri Lanka, His Excellency the President and the Lady along with two bodyguards from Katunayake International Airport to the Maldives subject to the full approval of the Ministry of Defence subject to immigration, customs and all other laws at Katunayake International Airport. An Air Force flight was given clearance early in the morning on July 13, 2022 to depart,” Sri Lankan Air Force Media Director said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed armed forces and police to bring the situation under control.

As protests intensified in the Sri Lankan capital city of Colombo, protestors who had gathered outside Sri Lanka Prime Minister’s office have taken over his residence at Flower Road here.

Security personnel resorted to tear-gas shelling to drive away protestors on the streets of Colombo.

Wickremesinghe Wednesday declared an emergency and imposed a curfew in the western province of the country as protesters came prepared to face tear gas shelling by security forces deployed outside Wickremesinghe’s residence. Air patrolling has also started around the PM’s residence.

The country’s opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said that the PM cannot exercise the powers of the President, and cannot declare a curfew or a state of emergency.

“PM becomes acting President only if the President appoints him as such, or if the office of President is vacant, or if the CJ in consultation with the Speaker forms the view that the President is unable to act,” Premadasa tweeted.

“In the absence of any of these, the PM cannot exercise the powers of President, and cannot declare curfew or a state of emergency,” he said in another tweet.

Military personnel used tear gas shells to disperse protestors who scaled the wall to enter the Sri Lankan PM’s residence in Colombo.

73-year-old Gotabaya Rajapaksa had gone into hiding after crowds of protesters stormed his residence on July 9 and he had announced that he will resign on July 13.

The country is facing a severe shortage of fuel and other essential supplies and is in the throes of its worst-ever economic crisis with soaring inflation. (ANI)

A truck driver in the Minuthong area was arrested by the Imphal West District Police for carrying opium worth Rs 10 crore in his truck.

After receiving information about the transportation of narcotic items, a team of commandos rushed to the Minuthong area and intercepted the vehicle as part of an operation of the Imphal West District Police called War on Drugs 2.0.
“As a part of War against Drugs 2.0, Imphal West District Police carried out an operation based on specific information about transportation of narcotic items. A strong team of commandos along with gazetted officers rushed to the Mithuthong area and intercepted the truck while it was coming from North AOC side towards Mithuthong near MMTA area around 6:30 pm,” Ksh Shivakanta Singh, the Superintendent of Imphal West Police and IPS officer, said.

A total of 138 packets of suspected opium packets found to weigh approximately 136.03 kgs were confiscated. The opium, according to Singh, would be worth Rs 10 crore in the international market.

The arrested driver, namely Saddhik Mohammad (44), disclosed that the recovered suspected opium packets were handed over to him by an unknown person, who was sent by his partner namely Om Prakash of Jodhpur, to be transported to Rajasthan.

The vehicle, ostensibly carrying plywood was probed, from where a modified box concealing 131 packets of suspected opium packed in brown cello tape was found. On further checking the vehicle, another seven packets of suspected opium were also found.

“In the presence of an Executive Magistrate and Gazetted Officers, we carried out a search by observing all formalities, in which we found one modified box-type compartment on the bottom body of the vehicle which was suspected to be concealing some items. Upon opening the iron cover of the box, 131 packets of suspected opium were found packed in brown cello tape. We conducted a search of the vehicle again and found another seven packets of suspected opium concealed inside the front dashboard of the vehicle. The driver was arrested at about 9:10 pm, and we seized the recovered items at 10.00 pm by observing all necessary formalities,” Singh added.

The team of commanders was led by Inspector P. Achouba Meetei, Officer in Charge of the Commando – Imphal West and Inspector Gunachandra Chanam assisted by Sub-Inspector S Barun Singh under the command of M Amit Singh, a Manipur Police Service (MPS) officer and Additional Superintendent of Police (Operation).

The overall supervision of the case was taken over by Superintendent of Police and IPS officer, Ksh Shivakanta Singh. (ANI)

Amid reports that embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the interim President of Sri Lanka, the country’s main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa on Wednesday said that the PM cannot exercise the powers of President, and cannot declare curfew or a state of emergency.

Wickremesinghe today declared an emergency and imposed a curfew in the western province of the country as protests intensified following Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s escape to the Maldives.
A state of emergency was declared as protesters came prepared to face tear gas shelling by security forces deployed outside Wickremesinghe’s residence. Air patrolling also began around the PM’s residence.

“PM becomes acting President only if the President appoints him as such, or if the office of President is vacant, or if the CJ in consultation with the Speaker forms the view that the President is unable to act,” Premadasa tweeted.

“In the absence of any of these, the PM cannot exercise the powers of President, and cannot declare curfew or a state of emergency,” he said in another tweet.

The Daily Mirror newspaper reported that Wickremesinghe also ordered the security forces to arrest those acting in a riotous manner.

Military personnel used tear gas shells to disperse protestors who scaled the wall to enter the Sri Lankan PM’s residence in Colombo.

“We want the PM to resign because as per our constitution if the President resigns, the PM becomes the acting President. People want both of them to leave. Police took action by tear gas shelling. Army troops moved in,” said a former advisor to the Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs ministry.

Sri Lankan authorities today confirmed that Gotabaya Rajapaksa had flown to the Maldives with his wife and two bodyguards after full approval of the country’s Defence Ministry. the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Gotabaya had landed at the Velana International Airport in Male on a Sri Lankan Air Force plane.

The crisis-hit island country’s Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that he is yet to receive a letter of resignation from Gotabaya. “We haven’t received President Gotabaya’s resignation yet, but we hope to get one in a day,” Abeywardena told ANI.

73-year-old Gotabaya Rajapaksa had gone into hiding after crowds of protestors stormed his residence on July 9 and he had announced that he will resign on July 13.

The country is facing a severe shortage of fuel and other essential supplies and is in the throes of its worst economic crisis with soaring inflation. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday posted for hearing on July 26 a plea of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy seeking direction to the Centre to declare ‘Ram Setu’ as a national heritage monument.

A bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana said that it would hear the plea on July 26 after Swamy sought an early hearing of the case.
After Swamy submitted that the issue is pending for a long time and an urgent hearing is required, the bench listed the matter for hearing on July 26.

The bench also enquired about the stand of the government of India on the said issue. Swamy said that the government has filed an affidavit on the issue.

In his plea, Swamy urged the apex court to pass an order and direct the “Union of India along with National Monuments Authority (NMA) to declare Ram Setu as an Ancient Monument of National Importance.”

He has also urged the top court to pass an order and direct the “Union of India to engage Geological Survey of India and Archeological Survey of India to conduct a detailed survey in respect to Ram Setu as an Ancient Monument of National Importance.”

Swamy said that he has already won the first round of the litigation in which the Centre has accepted the existence of ‘Ram Setu’ and added that the concerned union minister had called a meeting in 2017 to consider his demand to declare the Setu as a national heritage monument but subsequently nothing happened.

Ram Setu is a chain of limestone shoals between Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, and Mannar Island, off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka. (ANI)

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his wife along with two bodyguards travelled to the Maldives after full approval of the country’s Defense Ministry, Sri Lanka officials confirmed on Wednesday.

“According to the request of the Government in accordance with the powers vested in an Executive President in the Constitution of Sri Lanka, His Excellency the President and the Lady along with two bodyguards from Katunayake International Airport to the Maldives subject to the full approval of the Ministry of Defense subject to immigration, customs and all other laws at Katunayake International Airport. An Air Force flight was given early in the morning on 13th July 2022 to depart,” Sri Lankan Air Force Media Director said in a statement.
Rajapaksa landed at the Velana International Airport in the Maldives early Wednesday.

The Prime Minister’s Office also confirmed that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has left the country.

On Monday, Rajapaksa signed a resignation letter which will be handed over to the Speaker of Parliament to make a public announcement today.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday will be sworn in as the President for a temporary period till a new President is elected by Parliament on July 20 and nominations for the presidency will be called for on July 19.

Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis since its independence which has led to massive protests demanding the ouster of Rajapaksa as the President.

Sri Lanka’s speaker of parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has said political party leaders have decided to elect a new president on July 20 through a vote in parliament.

The development comes after thousands of people stormed into the President’s House in Fort on Saturday. The dramatic visuals also came from PM’s official residence where they were seen playing carrom board, sleeping on the sofa, enjoying in park premises and preparing food for dinner.

In the wake of record food price inflation, skyrocketing fuel costs and widespread commodity shortages, some 61 per cent of households in Sri Lanka are regularly using coping strategies to cut down on costs, such as reducing the amount they eat and consuming increasingly less nutritious meals. (ANI)