Author: LokMarg

While India’s National Disaster Response Force miraculously rescued a six-year-old girl and made headlines, a lot of the credit for the daring rescue ought to be reserved for Romeo and Julie, part of the NDRF’s dog squad.

Romeo and Julie succeeded where machines failed. The dog squad was instrumental in detecting the little girl’s whereabouts under tonnes of rubble. Without their help, the little girl could not have survived.

The NDRF is currently making an all-out effort to save lives and find a living soul in the rubble at the disaster site at Nurdagi and in different parts of Turkey which were badly affected by the earthquake on February 6.

Dog handler Constable Kundan explained how Julie found the little girl, who has been identified as Beren, alive first in the rubble at the Nurdagi site.

“We were asked by our government to facilitate search and rescue operations here in Nurdagi and we had a lead about a survivor trapped in the rubble. We asked Julie to go inside the rubble. She went in and started barking, which was a sign that she had detected a survivor trapped underneath,” he told ANI.

“For reconfirmation, we have sent Romeo (Male Labrador) into the rubble and he also confirmed through barking that someone was, indeed, alive under the debris,” another NDRF dog attendant told ANI.

However, no one knew about the condition and age of the living soul at that time. After several hours of the rescue operation, NDRF personnel succeeded in saving the life of 6-year-old Beren.

A six-story building collapsed and turned into rubble at the Nurdagi site where the NDRF is conducting search and rescue operations. Locals informed NDRF about surviving victims inside the debris after which Julie and Romeo were tasked to locate the surviving victims. The task was assigned and they succeeded.

Appreciating NDRF for saving the girl, Home Minister Amit Shah later tweeted, ” Proud of our NDRF. In the rescue operations in Turkiye, Team IND-11 saved the life of a six-year-old girl, Beren, in Gaziantep city. Under the guidance of PM @narendramodi, we are committed to making @NDRFHQ the world’s leading disaster response force. #OperationDost.”

India announced ‘Operation Dost’ shortly after the magnitude 7.8 quake ravaged Turkey and sent a team from the Indian Army to set up 60 Para Field Hospital and the NDRF for search and rescue operations, including relief and humanitarian assistance to the ‘Dost’ country.

More than 34,000 people have lost their lives, so far, due to strong tremors from the earthquake and the search and rescue operation is ongoing even after 7 days. (ANI)

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Bollywood actor Tara Sutaria shared a glimpse of her mid-week cravings with fans on social media.

Taking to Instagram. Tara flaunted her cooking skills again and dropped a series of pictures of yummy dishes-pasta, Parmesan lamb chops, and Cacio e Pepe.
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Sharing the pictures, she wrote, “Mid week cravings at mi Casa! Here’s what we cooked – Bucatini in spicy Calabrian and vodka sauce with burrata, Parmesan lamb chops, (god bless Nigella )

Cacio e Pepe, sundried tomato and creamy avocado chicken salad, lasagne and the best jam pie’s ever!”

Tara made her film debut with Karan Johar’s ‘Student of the Year 2’ in the year 2019 alongside Ananya Panday. She was last seen in ‘Ek Villain Returns’ which also starred Arjun Kapoor, Disha Patani and John Abraham.

She was recently seen in ‘Apurva’.

‘Apurva’ is an edge-of-the-seat thriller and will see Tara Sutaria in a never seen avatar, based on a story that will keep audiences hooked right to the very end.

Helmed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and produced by Star Studios and Murad Khetani’s Cine1 Studios.

Earlier in July, Tara announced the film on her Instagram with a special post that she captioned, “Fearless has a new face, and her name is #APURVA! I am so honoured and thrilled to play such a strong, powerful young woman. Apurva is a game of survival with impossible odds. A nerve-wracking tale that keeps you hooked till the end.”

Abhishek Banerjee, Rajpal Yadav and Dhairya Karwah are also a part of the film. (ANI)

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Zeenat Aman, the veteran star who became a household name during the 70s and 80s after bagging the title Miss Asia Pacific International pageant in 1970, is known for her bold personality and was one of the actors who set the fashion trend with her satirical choices. After staying away from social media, she finally made her Instagram debut on Saturday.

Dressed in a striped co-ord set, the veteran actor captioned her first post, “Laughing at the places life takes me. Why hello there, Instagram.”
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Zeenat received a warm welcome from the Insta fam.

One of the users wrote, “This is not just A zeenat aman. This is THE Zeenat Aman !!.”

“A very , very warm welcome ! You’ve been missed by so many of us !!,” another comment read.

Another fan wrote, “welcome to the Instagram world, legend. we love you!!!”

On Sunday, she uploaded a close picture of herself along with a long note.

The note read, “In the 70s the film and fashion industry was absolutely male-dominated, and I would often be the only woman on a set. Over the course of my career, I have been photographed and filmed by many talented men. A woman’s gaze though, is different.”

She added, “This series of pictures was shot by young photographer @tanyyaa.a_ in the comfort of my home. No lights, no makeup artist, no hairdresser, no stylist, no assistants. Just a lovely sunny afternoon together. It’s such a pleasure to see so many young women working on both sides of the lens today. I look forward to discovering more such talent on Instagram.”

Zeenat has given several hits such as ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’, ‘Don’, ‘Yaadon ki Baraat’, ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’, ‘Qurbani, Dostana’, ‘Dharam Veer’, among others. (ANI)

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Preparations for Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani’s star-studded Mumbai reception are going on in full swing.

Although the party is going to take a while to start, we have some photos from the venue. Check them out:

Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani may have tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Jaisalmer. Still, they have made sure to invite the film fraternity members to their reception in Mumbai tonight.

The couple hosted their first reception for the groom’s family at The Leela Palace, Delhi on February 9.

It’s going to be a grand affair, as many Bollywood stars and industrialists are expected to attend the reception. Karan Johar, Shahid Kapoor, Manish Malhotra, Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan, Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra, Juhi Chawla, Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh among others are likely to mark their presence at the function.

Sidharth and Kiara dated for a couple of years, before tying the knot. However, they always remained tight-lipped about their relationship.

The two apparently fell in love during the shoot of their film ‘Shershaah’, which was released in 2021. (ANI)

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Praising the Yogi Adityanath government for giving priority to sports and cinema sectors for inviting investment in Uttar Pradesh, Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said that the state is presently the best investment destination in the country.

“No sector is deprived in Yogi Ji’s rule. With such great support of the state government itself, UP currently is the best investment destination,” Thakur said while addressing a session titled, ‘Media & Entertainment–The Indian Digital Growth Story’.
“In a way, UP is going to contribute one-fifth of the country. Be it through medals or films like RRR, sports and cinema are two sectors that break the boundaries of the country and make it proud. I’m thankful to CM Yogi for paying the required attention to both,” the Minister added.

Speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting sports and developing sports infrastructure for the athletes, Thakur said that UP is moving ahead to fulfil the PM’s vision.

“When we talk about the creative economy in the world, India is the country that produces the maximum number of films. We must encourage film production in unexplored areas,” he said.

The Union Minister emphasised that animation, visual effects, gaming and comics is the new emerging sector.

“We must work towards it as we have a lot of potential not only in production but post-production,” he said.

Lauding the efforts of the state government, he said that film shooting in the entire state has not only been made easier but also the subsidies being offered are giving immense encouragement to the budding filmmakers.

“Jab Sarkar Khud Aap Ka Haath Pakad Kar Chalne Ko Taiyar Hai Toh Peeche Mat Hatiye (when the government itself is ready to walk holding your hand, do not back off),” he remarked.

“UP has not only dreamt but is also building a grand film city in an area of 1,000 acres. The government is also reviving musical gharanas in the state and is simultaneously promoting digital usage,” the Minister added.

Sharing his personal experience of shooting in Uttar Pradesh, Director KC Bokadia praised the environment in UP. He expressed gratitude to the team of ‘Film Bandhu’ for all the support and encouragement to the film industry.

BJP MP and actor Hema Malini said, “I thank Film Bandhu for inviting me and would like to congratulate CM Yogi and the entire administration for organising this summit and for inviting the legends from all the sectors in the summit. UP offers subsidies and has brought into effect many proposals to make filmmaking easier in the state.”

“Even when UP had beautiful locations, shooting wasn’t easy for us actors as there was no atmosphere of security. Today, under CM Yogi’s policy of ‘zero-tolerance’ against crime, the issue has permanently been resolved,” Malini added.

A short film made by ‘Film Bandhu’ showcasing the immense potential for filmmaking in Uttar Pradesh as well as having details about the subsidies given by the government was also screened on the occasion.

The session was attended by Mathura MP Hema Malini, Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishen, KC Bokhadia, Madhur Bhandarkar, Satish Kaushik, and others. (ANI)

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Lok Sabha Secretariat has sought Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s reply on the breach of privilege notice given against him by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey over “misleading, derogatory, unparliamentary and incriminatory statements” during discussion of the motion of thanks on the President’s address.

Rahul Gandhi has been asked to furnish his reply by February 15 for consideration by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
The communication by the Privileges and Ethics Branch of Lok Sabha Secretariat was sent to Rahul Gandhi on February 10.

“I am to request you kindly to furnish your reply/comments in the matter by February 15,2023,” said the letter written by a Lok Sabha official.

Rahul Gandhi, in his speech in the Lok Sabha on February 7, had made several allegations against the government over the Hindenburg-Adani row.

In his letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Dubey said the Congress MP made certain “unverified, incriminatory and defamatory statements” in contravention of the rules. He said Rahul Gandhi made these against Prime Minister Narendra Modi “without giving advance notice to the Speaker and also to the Prime Minister as required under Rule 353”.

“These statements are misleading, derogatory, indecent, unparliamentary, undignified and incriminatory in nature to the dignity of the House and Prime Minister being a Member of Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhi, despite making statement in the House that he would provide documentary evidence, has not submitted any duly authenticated document for supporting his statements,” Dubey wrote.

“As such, he has made a statement which amounts to misleading of the House in the absence of any documentary evidence besides being a reflection upon the Prime Minister. This conduct is in clear violation of privileges of the House and its members besides being a clear case of contempt of the House,” the BJP MP added.

Joshi, who wrote a similar letter, said Rahul Gandhi’s remarks are liable to be expunged by the Speaker as these are “derogatory, indecent, unparliamentary and undignified”. (ANI)

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Amid the row over the Hindenburg-Adani issue Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday attacked the Centre and said people of the country need an answer whether the government has hand in Adani Group’s growth or not.

“Rahul Gandhi raised the Adani issue in Lok Sabha, but instead of giving answers, Prime Minister abused Congress, he did it to run away from this issue. People need an answer, whether the government has hand in Adani’s growth or not. Now people are seeing how Adani has grown as a millionaire and one of the biggest corporates in the world,” Venugopal told ANI.
“Hindenburg research report has created lot many confusion and the Government of India had invested through LIC and SBI to strengthen Adani and his business. The country needs a question on this Adani scam whether the Government of India supported him or not supported him,” he added.

As far as Congress is concerned, Venugopal said the party’s priority is to stand against the divisive policies of the Union Government.

“This is our first and foremost priority to make the people of India united. This is our agenda. In Haath se Haath Jodo campaign, we will go to every house to spread the message of the Bharat Jodo Yatra on three topics – inflation, unemployment and divisiveness in society. We are conducting a house-to-house campaign against the BJP government’s anti-national policies,” added the congress leader.

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday reiterated his party’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the businesses of the Adani Group in the wake of the report by US short-seller firm Hindenburg Research.

Addressing a press conference, Kharge said, “Shouldn’t there be an inquiry into the Adani scam? Shouldn’t the matter be referred to the JPC? Should not there be a discussion on the money that public sector banks invested in Adani’s businesses? Public money is involved in it. Why does the government have a problem taking Adani’s name?”

Kharge alleged that PM Modi acted as an ‘agent’ for the Adani group of companies.

The Congress national president added, “Modi-ji acted as Adani’s agent and got him tenders in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Everybody knows about this.”

Questioning the regulatory bodies of the country, Kharge said, “The RBI, SEBI, ED, Corporate Affairs Ministry, Income Tax, and the CBI seem paralysed. Can they not see the corruption here? Is Adani invisible to them? With our institutions in inertia, it is our duty to question the government. The people sent us to the Parliament as their representatives and it is our responsibility to safeguard the public.”

“We tried to raise several issues in the Parliament. However, the Prime Minister evaded all questions and just gave an election speech, boasting about himself,” Kharge added.

Last week, amid the opposition sloganeering on the Hindenburg-Adani row and demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the matter by the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed both houses of Parliament during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address.

On Thursday, launching a scathing attack on Congress and other opposition parties who have been targeting him, Prime Minister Modi in the Rajya Sabha said “one person (Modi) is proving too much for so many” and that the more muck is raised by parties opposed to the BJP, the more the saffron party’s lotus will bloom.

A report by a US-based Hindenburg Research surfaced on January 24, claiming that the Adani Group had weak business fundamentals, and was involved in stock manipulation and accounting fraud, among others. The report triggered a sell-off of shares of all Adani Group companies.

However, the Adani group had termed the report “nothing but a lie”.

In a statement, Adani Group said Adani portfolio and the Adani verticals are focused on bringing India into the global economy and nation-building. In the summary of the long response by Adani Group, it said the report was “nothing but a lie”. (ANI)

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Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has arrived in Karnataka’s Bengaluru to attend the 14th edition of Aero India to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow.

PM Modi will inaugurate the mega event at the Air Force station in Bengaluru’s Yelahanka on Monday.

According to an official release, the theme of Aero India 2023 is ‘The Runway to a Billion Opportunities’.

In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’, the event will focus on displaying indigenous equipment/technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies.

Prime Minister’s emphasis on Aatmanirbharta in the Indian Defence sector will also be displayed, as the event will showcase the country’s progress in design leadership, growth in UAVs sector, defence space and futuristic technologies.

Further, the event will promote the export of indigenous air platforms like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).

The event will also help integrate domestic MSMEs and start-ups in the global supply chain and attract foreign investments, including co-development and co-production partnerships.

Aero India 2023 will witness participation by more than 80 countries. Ministers of about 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in Aero India 2023.

The event will also witness the participation of more than 800 Defence companies including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies

The Indian companies participating in the exhibition include MSMEs and start-ups, which will showcase the advancement of niche technologies, and growth in aerospace and defence capabilities in the country.

Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen and Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited. (ANI)

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The seventh Operation Dost flight reached earthquake-hit Syria on Sunday with over 23 tons of relief material

which was received by Deputy Minister of Local Administration & Environment Moutaz Douaji at Damascus airport.

“7th #OperationDost flight reached Syria with over 23 tons of relief material, including gensets, solar lamps, emergency & critical care medicines, & disaster relief consumables.

Received at Damascus airport by Deputy Minister of Local Administration and

Environment Moutaz Douaji,” tweeted Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

The seventh Operation Dost flight on Saturday departed for earthquake-hit Syria and Turkey.

The Indian Air Force C17 carrying relief material, medical aid, emergency and critical care medicines,

medical equipment and consumables took off from Hindon Airbase in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad.

The IAF aircraft with relief materials, medical aid, and emergency and critical care medicines will first land in Syria and unload materials and then head to Turkey.

EAM S Jaishankar also took to his Twitter handle to talk about the flight departing from Ghaziabad.

He tweeted, “The 7th #OperationDost flight departs for Syria and Turkiye. Flight is carrying relief material, medical aid, emergency & critical care medicines, medical equipment & consumables.”

The Indian Army also tweeted, “An #IAF C-17 aircraft got airborne last night for #Syria and #Turkiye, bearing relief material and emergency equipment.”

The Ministry of External Affairs said that the earthquake relief material and equipment were sent to Syria and Turkey. The flight is headed to Damascus and after offloading relief material there, it will head to Adana.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the flight is carrying more than 35 tons of relief material,

of which over 23 tons is headed for relief efforts in Syria, and around 12 tons to Turkey.

The assistance being sent for Syria comprises relief materials, sleeping mats, gensets, solar lamps, tarpaulins, blankets, emergency and critical care medicines,

and disaster relief consumables, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The material being sent to Turkey consists of team supplies for the Army field hospital and NDRF,

medical equipment such as ECG, patient monitor, anesthesia machine, syringe pumps, glucometer, blankets and other relief materials.

Earlier in the day, the relief material, medical equipment, medical aid,

and critical care medicines were being loaded into the IAF aircraft.

On February 06, 2023, a devastating earthquake happened in Turkey and Syria.

The death toll across Turkey and Syria following Monday’s earthquake reached 28,192 on Saturday (local time), reported CNN.

India launched Operation Dost to extend assistance to Turkey as well as Syria after devastating quakes and aftershocks in the region.

Under ‘Operation Dost’, India is sending a massive amount of humanitarian aid to Turkey and Syria. (ANI)

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