Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Chinese Tech Stocks Surge While US Giants Struggle: What’s Next?

    Chinese Tech Stocks Surge While US Giants Struggle: What’s Next?

    This year, Chinese tech companies have made a stunning comeback, growing by $439 billion. This rise has outpaced their American competitors, many of which have actually lost value. A group of seven major Chinese tech companies, including Alibaba and Tencent, has seen their stock prices climb more than 40%, while a similar group in the US lost about 10%. This shift surprised many experts on Wall Street.

    Previously, the Nasdaq index in the US was hitting record highs while Chinese stocks were in a slump due to strict government rules and slow spending. But recently, a new AI tool named DeepSeek changed how people view China’s tech industry. This boost in Chinese stocks has made even longtime skeptics feel hopeful.

    Chinese stocks are rallying now, especially after the Chinese government announced support for tech firms and several new AI tools from companies like Alibaba. Charu Chanana, a strategist at Saxo Markets, noted that China’s tech innovation should not be underestimated, even with US chip export limits.

    Societe Generale identified a group of seven leading Chinese companies based on their size and growth. These companies are now trading at about 18 times their expected earnings, which is over 40% cheaper than similar American companies.

    The Hang Seng Tech Index, a measure of Chinese tech performance, recently rose more than 1% in a day and 10% in a week. However, US tech stocks are facing challenges. Concerns are growing about high valuations, and US trade policies under President Trump are creating uncertainty for businesses and investors.

    While Chinese stocks are gaining strength, they still have a long way to go. The Hang Seng Tech Index is still about 40% lower than its peak in 2021, and its return over the past five years is much less impressive than the Nasdaq’s strong performance. Despite this, many investors are now seeing China as a better option due to worries about US stocks and the positive signs coming from China’s tech sector.

    Experts like Vey-Sern Ling from Union Bancaire Privee believe that Chinese tech is ready to succeed, thanks to government support, improved earnings, and growth in AI. With US tech experiencing challenges, there’s a growing trend of investors moving their money from the US to China and Europe.

  • Stocks Dive Over 5% While Sensex Sees Small Rise – Market Update

    Stocks Dive Over 5% While Sensex Sees Small Rise – Market Update

    NEW DELHI: On Friday, many stocks dropped more than 5% in Mumbai, even as the BSE Sensex went up by 23.38 points, reaching 74,363.47. This small rise happened because big companies were being bought more.

    Some stocks that fell a lot include Frontline Corp (down 15.68%), Riddhi Steel & Tube (down 9.99%), Roopa Ind (down 9.17%), BDH Industries (down 8.68%), and Containe Tech (down 8.23%).

    In the popular Nifty index, 24 stocks went up while 26 stocks went down. The Nifty index was up by 17.3 points at 22,562.0.

    On the BSE, some stocks like B C Power Controls, Ansal Prop, Suratwala Business, Vikram Aroma, and EKI Energy Services reached their lowest prices in the last year. On the other hand, Triumph International Finance India Ltd., TCPL Packaging, Covance Softsol L, Autoriders International, and Gyan Developers reached their highest prices in the last year.

  • Life in North Korea: The Truth About TV, Haircuts, and Escape

    Life in North Korea: The Truth About TV, Haircuts, and Escape

    Imagine if the government decided what you could watch on TV and how to dress your hair. In North Korea, this is a reality. Timothy Cho, a man who escaped North Korea, shared his story about life there. He explained that buying a TV in North Korea is strictly monitored. “If you buy a TV, the government comes to your house and removes all antennas, leaving just one,” he said.

    TV in North Korea is All About the Kim Family

    Cho described how North Koreans can only watch certain shows. “Everything is about the Kim family—programs, songs, and documentaries—24/7,” he said. There’s no choice in what to watch; all content serves as propaganda for the Kim family.

    Strict Rules About Everyday Life

    The rules in North Korea don’t just stop at TV. Even haircuts are controlled by the government. Children must pick from only a few approved haircuts, and if their hair is too long, it can cause trouble for their parents. “If someone has a different hairstyle, their parents might be called to the police station,” Cho explained.

    Escaping from North Korea is Hard

    North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family since 1948, with Kim Jong-un currently in charge. The country is very isolated, making it hard to learn about the daily lives of regular North Koreans. Most of the information comes from those who have escaped, like Cho.

    Since the 1950s, about 31,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea, often first passing through China. In 2009, the number of people escaping peaked at nearly 3,000 but has dropped since Kim Jong-un made crossing the border tougher after becoming leader in late 2011.

    However, in 2023, South Korea saw nearly three times the number of North Koreans escaping compared to the last two years. Many were younger people or from higher-status families, including diplomats and students. The main reasons for escaping are changing; many now flee because they are unhappy with the government, while before, food shortages were the biggest reason. According to surveys, 23% of defectors said they left due to political unhappiness, and just over 21% cited food problems.

  • SpaceX Starship Malfunction Causes Flight Delays at Florida Airports

    SpaceX Starship Malfunction Causes Flight Delays at Florida Airports

    On Thursday, March 6, a problem with SpaceX’s Starship led to space debris falling from the sky. This caused delays for flights at two big airports in Florida – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stepped in to keep everyone safe. They made the decision to stop planes from taking off and landing at major airports, including Miami International Airport (MIA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). This was done to prevent accidents from falling debris. This story is still developing, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.

  • Parineeti Chopra Celebrates Raghav Chadha’s Harvard Leadership Invite!

    Parineeti Chopra Celebrates Raghav Chadha’s Harvard Leadership Invite!

    Parineeti Chopra, a popular actress, is really proud of her husband, Raghav Chadha, who is also a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Raghav recently shared some exciting news – he has been chosen to join a special leadership program at Harvard Kennedy School in the USA!

    On her Instagram Stories, Parineeti posted Raghav’s video and wrote, “BRB. Crushing on this inspiring human.” In the video, Raghav explained that he will be part of the Global Leadership Program at Harvard from March 5 to 13. This program is very prestigious and gathers talented people from different fields around the world, including governance, arts, and culture.

    Raghav was honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and now he’s one of the few selected for this amazing opportunity. He believes learning never stops and aims to use what he learns to make a positive impact in his work.

    Parineeti and Raghav got married on September 24, 2023, in a beautiful ceremony at Leela Palace Hotel in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Their wedding was attended by many celebrities and important politicians.

    Recently, Parineeti starred in a film called “Amar Singh Chamkila,” along with Diljit Dosanjh. In this movie, she played the role of Amarjot Kaur, the wife of a famous singer. Next, she will appear in a Netflix series!

  • Kashmir Conflict: Jaishankar Calls for Return of Pakistan-Occupied Land

    Kashmir Conflict: Jaishankar Calls for Return of Pakistan-Occupied Land

    External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar recently talked about the long-standing issue of Kashmir, saying that the problem would be solved when Pakistan returns the part of Kashmir it currently controls, known as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He spoke at an event in London and explained that India has made progress on the Kashmir issue by doing three main things:

    1. Removing Article 370: This removed the special privileges that Jammu and Kashmir had in India.
    2. Restoring Growth: By improving economic activities and social justice in the region, the government aimed to help the people.
    3. Holding Elections: Jaishankar mentioned that elections were held recently in which many people voted.

    He believes that once Pakistan gives back the part of Kashmir it holds, the Kashmir issue will be resolved completely.

    India has always insisted that Jammu and Kashmir is an essential part of the country. Since India changed Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the relationship between India and Pakistan has worsened, and trade between the two countries has stopped.

    The head of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, Sajjad Lone, responded to Jaishankar’s comments by saying this is a matter for both countries to discuss. He believes in peaceful talk rather than violence but stated that it is up to the central government to decide.

    Pakistan’s Response:
    A spokesperson from Pakistan, Shafqat Ali Khan, urged India to stop making false claims about Kashmir. He said that instead of talking about returning parts of Kashmir, India should give back the territories it has held for 77 years. He also stated that the United Nations has said that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir should be decided through a fair vote. He dismissed the elections held in Indian-administered Kashmir, arguing they do not allow people to truly choose their future.

  • Missile Hits Hotel in Ukraine: 4 Dead, Many Injured in Ongoing Attacks

    Missile Hits Hotel in Ukraine: 4 Dead, Many Injured in Ongoing Attacks

    A Russian missile hit a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, late on Wednesday. This attack resulted in the deaths of four people and left 32 others injured. Rescuers continued to search for anyone trapped under the rubble on Thursday morning. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared that a group of volunteers from Ukraine, the U.S., and Britain were staying in the hotel just before the attack but managed to find shelter quickly and escape unharmed. Kryvyi Rih is President Zelenskyy’s hometown and has been targeted many times since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

    Sadly, four lives were lost in this latest attack, as stated by the President on Telegram. He emphasized the need to keep pushing Russia to stop the war and the terror it brings to innocent lives. Ukraine’s Emergency Services reported that 19 people were rescued from the hotel’s wreckage. They shared photos showing teams working hard to clear the debris from the five-story building. The regional governor also posted pictures, showing the hotel’s top floor destroyed while the structure itself was severely damaged. Among the injured were two children.

    In a separate incident, Ukraine’s military reported that Russian forces launched a total of two ballistic missiles and 112 drones at various locations in Ukraine overnight. In the northeastern city of Sumy, Russian drones targeted a postal depot, causing a massive fire that claimed one life and destroyed the facility with over 2,500 parcels inside. Images from Nova Poshta, the owner of the depot, displayed the remnants of the warehouse filled with rubble and burnt packages. Other drones also attacked energy systems in Odesa, injuring two people. DTEK, Ukraine’s biggest private energy company, mentioned this attack was the fifth time their facilities had been hit in just two weeks. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that about 10,000 homes in Odesa were without power as efforts were ongoing to restore services. Throughout the war, Russia has regularly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing frequent blackouts across the country.

  • Russia Warns NATO: Serious Consequences if Troops Enter Ukraine

    Russia Warns NATO: Serious Consequences if Troops Enter Ukraine

    Russian officials have made it very clear to British, French, and German troops: if NATO forces go into Ukraine, there will be serious consequences. Politicians in Moscow are strongly against the idea of Western troops being sent to Ukraine, claiming it could lead to huge losses for European forces.

    Dmitry Rogozin, a former Russian government official, poked fun at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for even thinking about sending troops. He challenged Starmer to send troops to Russia if he thinks it’s so easy. Rogozin made jokes about British soldiers, suggesting they would be easy targets for Russian forces, and reminded everyone of past battles where British troops faced defeat against Russia.

    Another Russian military officer, Major General Alaudinov, agreed with Rogozin, saying Western countries would not be as strong as Ukraine in a fight. He argued that even if NATO could manage to send 50,000 soldiers, they would still struggle against the tough Russian military. Alaudinov stated that Russia could quickly draft up to two million soldiers if needed and warned that if NATO enters Ukraine, Europe would face great destruction. He expressed that Russia is ready to endure hardships for victory and believes that history shows Russia has always been unbeaten in battles.

    In short, Russia is sending a strong message: do not challenge its military power.

  • Trump Stops Intelligence Sharing with Ukraine: The Five Eyes Challenge

    Trump Stops Intelligence Sharing with Ukraine: The Five Eyes Challenge

    Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump had a big argument with Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the White House. This fight got a lot of attention and criticism from around the world. Because of this disagreement, Trump decided to stop sharing important information, known as intelligence, with Ukraine. This action seems to be a way to pressure Zelenskyy into agreeing to peace talks.

    Since World War II, many countries have formed and ended alliances, but one particular agreement called the “Five Eyes” has lasted a long time. This alliance includes the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It started when British and American teams worked together during the war to decode messages. In 1946, these two countries signed an agreement to share information, later involving the other three countries as well.

    The “Five Eyes” alliance helps these nations share crucial information about security, law enforcement, and global threats. Members trust each other deeply and generally share all information. However, they can choose to keep some things secret if they think it’s necessary.

    Recently, there were rumors that some U.S. officials, especially Peter Navarro, a close advisor to Trump, want to kick Canada out of the Five Eyes alliance. Navarro has expressed concerns about Canada’s role, and discussions about this are reportedly getting more serious in the Trump administration.

  • Brazil Warns: Trump’s Return May Hinder Global Climate Efforts

    Brazil Warns: Trump’s Return May Hinder Global Climate Efforts

    Brazil’s Environment Minister, Marina Silva, warned that global efforts to fight climate change could take a hit if Donald Trump returns to the White House. She believes this could create a “triple negative effect” on climate action.

    Trump has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, caused trade problems with Canada, China, and Mexico, and has changed U.S. policies on the war in Ukraine. Brazil is getting ready to host important climate talks later this year.

    Silva explained that these political troubles can make it harder for countries to work together on climate issues. She said, “Less action means less money and less cooperation,” which is bad for our planet. Brazil plans to use its leadership during the upcoming COP30 summit to encourage teamwork and respect for science.

    Silva shared concerns about the promise made last year to give poor countries $300 billion each year by 2035, saying we can’t just assume it will happen. She also mentioned that trade fights are bad for everyone and could lead to higher prices and economic problems in the future. “People won’t support leaders if their homes are destroyed by fires or if they can’t afford food,” she said.