Indian and Chinese militaries will hold another round of Lieutenant General-level talks today in an attempt to de-escalate tension in eastern Ladakh. The meet will also finalise modalities for disengagement of troops from the sensitive region. It will be the third round of Lt General-level talks and sources said it will take place in Chushul sector on the Indian side of Line of Actual Control.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 10:30 AM. The Indian delegation at the talks will be headed by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh while the Chinese side is likely to be led by the Commander of the Tibet Military District.

The first two meetings had taken place at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC. In the second round of talks on 22nd of June, the two sides arrived at a mutual consensus to disengage from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh.

AIR correspondent quoting official sources said the two sides are expected to deliberate on the implementation of an agreement arrived at the first round of the Lt General talks on June 6.

Union Home Ministry has said that a door to door survey for COVID-19 in Delhi will be done first in containment zones on priority basis by 6th of July. The decision to extend the date has been taken as numbers of containment zones have increased to 435 in the city.The Ministry said, this will be followed by door to door testing in the entire Delhi.

Delhi has recorded 2,084 fresh cases of COVID-19 taking the infection tally in the city to  85,161. A total 57 deaths have been reported in the national capital in the last 24 hours due to COVID-19. The number of active cases stands at 26,246 while 56,235 patients have recovered so far. As many as 16,329 patients are in home isolation.The number of containment zones in the city also jumped to 435.

The Centre has issued new guidelines for Unlock -2 to open up more activities in areas outside the Containment Zones. The new guidelines will come into effect from tomorrow and the process of phased re-opening of activities has been extended further. It said, the lockdown will continue to be implemented strictly in the Containment Zones till 31st of July this year. The Home Ministry has said that the new guidelines are based on feedback received from States and UTs, and extensive consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.

Under the new guidelines of Unlock -2, Metro Rail service, operation of Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will not be allowed. Similarly, social, political, sports, entertainment,  academic,  cultural and religious functions and other large congregations will not be permitted. The Ministry said, dates for opening of these will be decided separately, based on the assessment of the situation. It said, all  activities, except these will be permitted outside containment zones. The Ministry said,  after extensive consultations with States and Union Territories, it has been decided that schools, colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed till 31st of July.

As per the guidelines, night curfew timings are being further relaxed and curfew shall be in force from 10  PM to 5 AM. Further, relaxations in night curfew have been given for seamless operation of industrial units in multiple shifts, movement of persons and goods on National and State Highways, loading and unloading of cargo and movement of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and airplanes. It said, domestic flights and passenger trains have already been allowed in a limited manner and their operations will be further expanded in a calibrated manner.

It said, shops depending upon their area, can have more than 5 persons at a time. However, they have to maintain adequate physical distance.

Training institutions of the Central and State Governments will be allowed to function with effect from 15th of July.  SOP in this regard will be issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.

International air travel of passengers has been permitted in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission.  Further opening up will take place in a calibrated manner. The guidelines said, containment Zones are required to be carefully demarcated by the State Governments with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19, after taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Health  Ministry. Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only essential activities allowed.

These Containment Zones will be notified on the websites of the concerned District Collectors and by the States and information will also be shared with the Union Health Ministry. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 4 PM today. The Prime Minister’s Office said this in a tweet following the Home Ministry’s announcement of Unlock 2 guidelines.

This would be Prime Minister’s sixth address to the nation since the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic. Mr Modi had last addressed the nation on 12th May when he had announced a 20-lakh-crore rupee financial package to boost the economy recovering from coronavirus-induced lockdown. In his Mann Ki Baat address last Sunday, the Prime Minister had urged the people to be more vigilant in the Unlock phase and take more precautions.

Recently, 10 people killed in pakistan alongwith 4 terrorists and 4 security guards, 1 sub-inspecter of police and a civilian, The Dawn reported and also said that three police officials were badly injured.

The gunmen, according to The Dawn, stepped out of a vehicle and lobbed grenades before entering the stock exchange premises.

AK-47 rifles, hand grenades, magazines and other explosive material have been recovered, the police said, adding that the equipment indicated that they had come for a long siege. Sindh Rangers Director General Umer Ahmed Bukhari said that a tweet had been posted in which the attack has been attributed to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), The Dawn reported. However, Bukhari added that a final statement on it will be issued after investigation.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, “Strongly condemn attempted terrorist attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange, thwarted by valiant security personnel, four of whom sacrificed their lives protecting Pakistan. We have repeatedly warned about externally supported terrorism. PSX is safe & open for business.”

The BLA is a Baloch secessionist militant group headed by UK-based Hyrbayair Marri. Pakistan has long accused India of backing Baloch separatists and militants — an allegation India has always denied. It also alleges an Afghan hand in the movement.

Also there may be some chinese investment links but nothing can be said untill the investigation goes to conclusion.

Telephobia or phone-phobia has become a major problem for introverts and ambiverts of this generation. Telephobia primarily refers to the tendency of being scared to take or make phone calls. It does not take place in one day. The fear takes time to become a disorder. It is a gradual process through which the anxiety makes its root in an individual and makes them nervous to have conversations on phone.

Introverts, who already have a hard time taking initiatives in making conversations are more likely to have this disorder. A constant fear of forming sentences correctly , the fear of whether or not they would be able to answer properly to the other person, or saying something inappropriate are the most common fears telephonic people face. The amount varies from person to person and everyone faces it in a different way. For some people it is something that is not serious and they can easily get over it if they want to. At the same time, it becomes a huge problem for many people who start ignoring important calls on a daily basis that affects their personal and professional life.

However, a few preparatory steps can be taken in order to make the phone conversations better and less exhausting.

1. Maintain a script

This may sound unusual but having a script prepared before making or taking a phone call can actually make a huge difference in the conversation. If not a detailed and descriptive write-up, a few points can also be helpful for people who feel really nervous to take phone calls. Supposed questions are to be kept in mind and their answers can be jotted down as bullet points in order to have successful phone conversations.

2. Practice with close friends

Telephobic people find it really intimidating to talk to unknown people on phone, therefore, the exercise to have small talks and conversations with people they are comfortable with can be a good start. Those people would already be aware of their issue and hence it they would be extra cooperative. Once the habit of talking on phone enhances, it will be less awkward and way more comfortable to have phone conversations.

3. Maintain flexible gestures

Many people often tend to have a static and stiff attitude while having a phone conversation. It really makes the conversation more awkward and less spontaneous. Telephobic people however, have to start maintaining a flexible and fluid body movement in order to have a better conversation. A smile, flexible hand gestures can really go a long way and make the conversation way better.

4. Mirror conversations

Many people tend to find having a mirror conversation helpful. Before making a phone call, practicing a bit in front of the mirror of talking on phone while having a mirror in front of them can be really helpful and make a huge difference in maintaining a good conversation.

These are some of the basic methods that can be taken up by people who tend to suffer from telephobia. However, those who suffer from extreme anxiety or nervousness would be recommended to visit a psychiatrist for it may lead to different dangerous consequences if not taken care properly.

-Suvasree Bandyopadhyay.

How to Live twenty four hours a day accomplished exactly what Arnold Bennett had hoped it would. It made people keenly aware of the value of time aware of the time, and especially the importance of using leisure time to some advantage instead of just frittering it away. It encouraged many to budget their time and spend it more wisely, to use hours they formerly wasted to advance themselves, to improve their minds, their personalities, their careers, and their lives – to add to their happiness.

The little book was an immediate success. It made thousands of eager, enthusiastic converts to Arnold Bennett’s method of self discipline and self direction. Letters began to pour in from people who had organised their time as he suggested, and had joyfully discovered it gave extra zest and interest to all their daily activities. The idea of budgeting time like money, and using it as carefully, was widely discussed in the press and from the lecture platform. How to live on Twenty Four Hours a Day became more than a title ; it became one of the most familiar and inspiring Phase of that period.

Bennett himself was amazed at the ever increasing interest in his idea. “I have received a large amount of correspondence concerning this small work!” he marvelled in his preface to one of the later editions. He was to marvel even more in later years when it remained one of his most popular books – in spite of such famous works as The Old Wives’ Tales, Clayhanger, Riceyman Steps, and The Vanguard.

How to live on Twenty-Four Hours a Day has become a little classic on self improvement, and is still one of Arnold Bennett’s best known books. An old time favourite, it continues to make new friends; for it provides the inspired a answer to all who complain they “haven’t a minute spare” or “just can’t find the time.” It proves that the time is there, twenty-four golden hours of it every day; and that all one has to do is spend it wisely and well to secure the greatest returns in happiness and contentment.

Taken from Light from many Lamps by Lillian Eichler Watson.