Author: Rasmita Jena

  • FIA Imposes New Travel Rules for First-Time Travelers from Pakistan

    FIA Imposes New Travel Rules for First-Time Travelers from Pakistan

    Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has put new rules in place for first-time travelers, especially those around 35 years old, from areas like Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, and Jhelum. These rules affect travel to certain countries, including Saudi Arabia, even for religious trips like Umrah.

    The FIA is carefully checking passengers going to 15 countries—including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkiye, and more. They want to make sure that travelers have a clear reason for their trip, confirmed hotel bookings, and enough money to support themselves.

    This decision comes after some tragic boat accidents involving people from Pakistan who were traveling under the pretence of going to Umrah. Many of those involved were aged between 15 and 40 and came from various towns, including Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat.

    Airport immigration officials are checking travelers’ documents and asking questions to make sure they really plan to travel for the right reasons. A recent look at travel records showed that many people were misusing visit, tourist, and student visas to try to sneak into Europe. The FIA flagged these 15 countries as common paths for people trying to enter illegally.

  • Court Clears Shehla Rashid: Case Dropped Over Controversial Tweets About Army

    Court Clears Shehla Rashid: Case Dropped Over Controversial Tweets About Army

    A court in Delhi has allowed the police to drop a case against Shehla Rashid Shora, a former vice president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), over her tweets about the Army. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Anuj Kumar Singh, made this decision on February 27. The police asked to drop the case after the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, V K Saxena, decided not to go ahead with the prosecution. This decision from the Lieutenant Governor was based on advice from a Screening Committee, and it was approved on December 23, 2024. Shehla had been accused of stirring up conflict between groups and harming social harmony with her tweets. On August 18, 2019, she alleged that the Army was going into homes and mistreating people in Kashmir, but the Army called these claims false.

  • February Sees a 30% Drop in Midcap Stocks: Key Insights

    February Sees a 30% Drop in Midcap Stocks: Key Insights

    Midcap stocks took a big hit in February, dropping by as much as 30%. Investors rushed to sell their shares or limit their losses. This negative sentiment was due to both global and national issues. On one hand, fears of tariffs from Donald Trump and worries about a slowing U.S. economy affected the markets. On the other hand, a lot of midcap companies didn’t meet their earnings expectations for the last quarter, which hurt local investor confidence.

    The BSE Midcap index lost 4,500 points or 10% in February. This week, the decline was even worse, with the index falling by 1,800 points, or 4.4%. Out of 132 stocks in this index, 123 ended the month lower, while only 9 saw gains. The ten stocks that fell the most included Rail Vikas Nigam, Tube Investments of India, Gujarat Gas, and others, which saw their prices drop by 20% to 30%.

    In the past week, there were no stocks that went up, but IREDA, New India Assurance, and Mphasis saw the biggest declines, falling by up to 12%.

    The U.S. economy’s growth rate was only 2.3% last quarter, down from 3.1% before, which worried investors. Also, the inflation rate hit 3%, much higher than the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%.

    On the home front, around 34% of midcap companies missed their earnings goals. Despite some support from domestic investors, foreign investors sold off a lot of Indian stocks, totaling Rs 11,639 crore in one day—the highest in February. Over the month, they sold Indian stocks worth Rs 34,574 crore, only buying shares on two days.

  • Shivakumar’s Mahashivaratri Visit Sparks Controversy in Congress

    Shivakumar’s Mahashivaratri Visit Sparks Controversy in Congress

    There’s been a lot of talk about Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar visiting Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha yoga center in Tamil Nadu for the Mahashivaratri celebration. This visit has created a split within the state’s Congress party members. Some leaders, like Cooperative Minister K N Rajanna, are questioning why Shivakumar is sharing the stage with someone who has criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Rajanna mentioned that Sadhguru had said he doesn’t know Rahul Gandhi, so he wants Shivakumar to explain why he is appearing with such a person.

    On the other hand, former MP D K Suresh, who is also Shivakumar’s brother, defended him. He said that Shivakumar always keeps the party in the loop before attending any event, including when he meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Suresh pointed out that Shivakumar had informed the party about his visit to Isha Foundation’s event ahead of time. He noted that Sadhguru personally invited Shivakumar to attend the event in Coimbatore.

    Shivakumar, who is also the president of the Congress party in Karnataka, attended the big celebration in Coimbatore, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present. In defense of his visit, Shivakumar expressed his strong faith, stating, “I was born a Hindu and I will die a Hindu.”

    State Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi mentioned that this issue has grown beyond Karnataka and is now being viewed on a national level. He believes it’s important for leaders in Delhi to pay attention to it because it’s unclear what’s right or wrong.

    Minister M B Patil also supported Shivakumar, saying attending the Shivaratri event is totally fine since he’s a Hindu. He argued that being a devoted Congress member doesn’t prevent someone from celebrating their faith and added, “What’s wrong with sitting with Amit Shah?” Patil emphasized that the event was not political, as Sadhguru hosts such gatherings every year in a grand way.

  • Uttarakhand Avalanche: 4 Dead, 5 Workers Still Missing in Mana Rescue Efforts

    Uttarakhand Avalanche: 4 Dead, 5 Workers Still Missing in Mana Rescue Efforts

    A terrible avalanche occurred in the small village of Mana, located in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. At least four workers lost their lives after being trapped under the snow. On Friday morning, 55 workers from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) were caught in the avalanche. Thankfully, 50 of them were rescued, but search efforts are ongoing for the remaining five workers.

    The avalanche struck the BRO camp between 5:30 AM and 6 AM, burying the workers under eight containers and a shed. Rescue teams have faced tough conditions, battling heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures while trying to reach the trapped workers.

    Sandeep Tiwari, the district magistrate of Chamoli, reported that two of the workers were on leave when the avalanche hit. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Indian Army started rescue operations quickly, despite the bad weather. Rain and snow made it hard to work, so the efforts were paused as night fell.

    On Saturday, the weather got a little better, and helicopters were sent in to help the rescue efforts. Six helicopters, including three from the Indian Army and two from the Indian Air Force, were used since the roads were blocked.

    Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, visited the area by helicopter to see the damage. He spoke with one injured worker who was being airlifted to a hospital for treatment. Dhami reassured everyone that the government is doing everything possible to help the affected workers and ensure their safety.

  • Nifty 50 Decline: Stay Cautious or Seize the Opportunity?

    Nifty 50 Decline: Stay Cautious or Seize the Opportunity?

    India’s main stock market index, the Nifty 50, has been falling for eight days straight. It has dropped about 16% from its highest point of 26,277. It’s now very close—just 1,103 points away—from hitting a bear market, which means a 20% drop. This situation has investors asking: Should we be scared or take action now?

    Strong Declines Across the Market

    The decline isn’t just affecting big companies. Smaller stocks are facing sharper drops: the Nifty Midcap 150 is down 21.1%, the Smallcap 250 dropped 25.6%, and the Microcap 250 plummeted 26.2% from their peaks. This shows that investors are quite nervous, mainly because of problems both in India and globally.

    Economic Challenges Affecting Investor Feelings

    The drop has been influenced by actions like tariffs suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump, leading foreign investors to sell stocks in India. They have taken out nearly ₹2 lakh crore since October 2024. This has put pressure on the Indian rupee, which recently fell to 87.37 against the U.S. dollar, making Indian stocks less appealing to outside investors and raising import costs.

    Market Valuations Getting Realistic

    Mayank Mundhra from Abans Group explains that the market is adjusting its prices back to more realistic levels. The exciting mood from before October 2024 is starting to fade as investors are now looking at long-term growth plans more realistically.

    Key Support Levels to Watch

    From a technical view, the Nifty is getting close to an important support zone. Ajit Mishra from Religare Broking notes that important levels to watch are between 21,800 and 22,000. He suggests traders should be careful and wait for signs that the market is turning around. It’s wise to manage risks better and focus on safe trading.

    Market analyst Jai Bala warns against jumping in too soon, comparing it to trying to catch a falling knife. He mentions that while there is a strong support level at 22,100, true support is between 21,800 and 21,280, and it is still very early to predict a bottom.

    Understanding Past Market Drops

    While the current drop can be frightening, history shows that big market drops have often turned into good buying chances later. Krishna Appala from Capitalmind Research reminds investors that in the past 30 years, markets have dropped more than 20% several times but bounced back in 22 out of those 30 years. Sticking with good investment practices is essential, as investing involves ups and downs.

    Domestic Investors Stepping In

    On a brighter note, while foreign investors are leaving, local investors continue to put money into mutual funds, which helps balance some of the selling. Despite these tough times, India’s strong economy, good company earnings, and better prices might offer solid chances for long-term investors.

    While things look uncertain now, history suggests that overly bad news can sometimes lead to a recovery. Whether the Nifty hits a bear market or not, careful investors will be on the lookout for signs of recovery to seize future opportunities.

    (Disclaimer: The recommendations and views expressed are those of experts and do not reflect Niftystat.)

  • Trump Clashes with Zelensky: A Risky Game Over Ukraine’s Future

    Trump Clashes with Zelensky: A Risky Game Over Ukraine’s Future

    After a tense meeting at the White House, Russian media celebrated while U.S. President Donald Trump scolded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump told Zelensky he was being “disrespectful” and warned against making the situation worse. “You can’t tell us how to feel. You are risking a World War III,” Trump said. He added, “I have made you strong. Now you need to make a deal, or we are done. You don’t have the power.”

    Former Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev, now a top official in Russia, mocked Zelensky online, saying, “Trump finally told the truth to the Ukrainian president. The Kiev government is playing with fire. It’s time to stop supporting their military.” A Kremlin-backed news site claimed Zelensky looked nervous during the meeting.

    Interestingly, the White House kicked out a reporter from the Russian news agency TASS during the meeting. They were not on an approved list and were taken out by a staff member.

    TASS reported on the meeting, making Zelensky look bad compared to Russia. This meeting came after Trump tried to talk to Putin about ending the war without including Zelensky. Trump also incorrectly claimed that Ukraine started the conflict and criticized Zelensky’s leadership. Zelensky responded by calling Trump’s statements false and said he was spreading Russian lies. Later, when asked about calling Zelensky a “dictator,” Trump seemed surprised and said, “Did I say that? I don’t believe I said that. Next question.”

  • U.S. Consumer Spending Drops: Impact on Interest Rates and Economy

    U.S. Consumer Spending Drops: Impact on Interest Rates and Economy

    In January, U.S. consumer spending took an unexpected dip, which might make it harder for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates just yet. Consumer spending, a big part of the U.S. economy, fell by 0.2% last month after a big rise of 0.8% in December, according to the U.S. government’s report. Economists had thought spending would increase by 0.1%, but the actual results were different.

    The drop in spending could be due to a few reasons. People may have already bought what they needed in December, when many were worried about higher prices from tariffs. Additionally, cold weather and snowstorms across the country, as well as wildfires in places like Los Angeles, probably hurt shopping. The unusual weather also slowed down construction jobs.

    Experts think that this news suggests the economy may grow slower at the beginning of the year, with predictions mostly below a 2% growth rate. Last quarter, the economy grew by 2.3%.

    Problems have also arisen from policies from President Trump, like tariffs and big budget cuts, leading to job losses for many federal workers. In his first month, Trump put tariffs on goods from China and said new tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada would begin soon. Other tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars are also coming soon.

    Confidence among businesses and consumers is falling due to worries about these tariffs, which could increase costs for everyone. People believe prices will rise over the next year, and recent data shows that the costs of living (the PCE price index) increased by 0.3% in January. Over the past year, prices rose by 2.5%. If you take out food and energy prices, the core inflation rate was 2.6%.

    The Federal Reserve is keeping an eye on these price measures for their target of 2% inflation. Financial markets think the Fed might start to cut interest rates in June. Right now, their interest rate is between 4.25% and 4.50%, having decreased by a total of 1% since last September. Recent discussions have shown concerns about rising inflation due to Trump’s policies. Earlier, the Fed raised rates sharply in 2022 and 2023 to keep inflation in check.

  • PM Modi Celebrates 25 Years of Jahan-e-Khusrau: A Cultural Milestone!

    PM Modi Celebrates 25 Years of Jahan-e-Khusrau: A Cultural Milestone!

    Prime Minister Modi celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Jahan-e-Khusrau program in Delhi on Friday. This event is all about Sufi music and culture, and he praised how it has touched people’s hearts. “These events are important for our culture and arts and bring relief to our minds. Over 25 years, Jahan-e-Khusrau has found a special place in the hearts of many, which is its biggest achievement,” he stated.

    PM Modi stressed the importance of the Sufi tradition in shaping India’s culture. He honored Sufi saints for their ability to connect different religions and beliefs. “Sufi saints read the Quran and listened to the Vedas, showing the blend of different faiths in India,” he explained.

    With Ramzan approaching, PM Modi sent warm wishes to everyone and spoke about the spirit of togetherness that the month brings. He also acknowledged the efforts of Aga Khan for his work in making Sunder Nursery beautiful, where this event took place. He said, “His contributions have brought blessings for many artists.”

    The Jahan-e-Khusrau program, named after the famous Sufi poet Amir Khusro, is one of India’s biggest cultural events. It brings together various voices to celebrate music, poetry, and spirituality. After 25 years, this event continues to enrich India’s culture and unite people through their love for art and traditions.

  • Amit Shah’s Key Directions to Improve Safety and Traffic in Delhi

    Amit Shah’s Key Directions to Improve Safety and Traffic in Delhi

    On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told Delhi Police to make fighting interstate gangs their top job. He asked them to be tough and serious about this issue during a big security meeting in Delhi. The meeting included Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other important officials.

    Shah said police should work hard to break up drug trafficking networks. He emphasized that they need to tackle the drug problem straight away and make sure no one can get away with it.

    He also raised concerns about illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Rohingya people. Shah said it is vital for national security to take strict action against those who help these immigrants enter and live in India. He insisted that these unauthorized individuals must be found and sent back to their countries.

    Amit Shah asked the police to help solve traffic jams in the city. He told police officers to visit local areas, listen to people’s complaints, and work on quick solutions to ensure smooth traffic.

    Additionally, he told the Delhi government to prepare a plan to handle waterlogging issues during monsoon. He also mentioned that from now on, permission from Delhi Police will not be necessary for construction projects. Lastly, he encouraged the Delhi government to hire special prosecutors to speed up cases from the 2020 riots.