Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Kharge Focuses on Strengthening Congress for 2025 and Upholding Values

    Kharge Focuses on Strengthening Congress for 2025 and Upholding Values

    Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge announced that the year 2025 will be focused on building a stronger party. He urged everyone to work hard to connect with people who have lost faith in the current government’s leadership. Speaking at a meeting in Belagavi, Kharge reminded party leaders of the need to tackle the disappointment from recent election results in Haryana and Maharashtra.

    This meeting was significant as it marked 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi led a Congress session in Belagavi. Kharge promised to fill all empty positions in the party and to follow the plans created during a previous meeting to prepare for elections. He encouraged members to find young, committed individuals who will stand up for the Constitution and include them in the party.

    Kharge stressed that success doesn’t just come from hard work; it requires a strong and clear plan. Local and new leaders should be given opportunities to shine. He highlighted the party’s rich legacy and expressed hope that they would leave Belagavi with renewed energy and purpose.

    Kharge also reminded everyone of Gandhi’s important message about communal harmony. He criticized the ruling party for promoting anger and division among communities. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of supporting actions that go against the Constitution and expressed concern about people losing faith in the election process due to perceived unfairness.

    Kharge expressed pride in speaking at the CWC meeting in his home state of Karnataka, reflecting on his long political journey and honoring the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi.

  • India and China Make Peace: Troops Withdraw and Patrols Resume

    India and China Make Peace: Troops Withdraw and Patrols Resume

    NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry has reported that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China is “stable but sensitive.” This comes after the Indian Army resumed patrols in Demchok, eastern Ladakh, for the first time in over four years. The aim is to restore the situation to what it was before the military standoff started in April 2020.

    On October 21, 2024, after many talks, India and China agreed to improve the situation based on fairness and mutual security. This agreement includes moving troops away from the busy areas of Depsang and Demchok and checking together on the changes made. The ministry stated, “Blocked patrol areas have been cleared by both sides, and joint checks are done.”

    Patrols in these regions have started again. The troop withdrawal began on October 23, just two days after both countries announced progress in their talks. This step ended a two-year deadlock after the last round of disengagement in September 2022 at Patrolling Point-15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area.

    Last week, India stated it would work with China to implement cooperation plans, which include the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and border trade. This was decided after Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing on December 18 for their first formal talks in nearly five years.

    In November, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun in Laos, highlighting the importance of reducing tensions and building trust between the two countries after the latest troop withdrawal.

  • Awami League Condemns Extradition Request for Sheikh Hasina by Interim Gov

    Awami League Condemns Extradition Request for Sheikh Hasina by Interim Gov

    The Awami League party in Bangladesh is upset with the country’s interim government. They say the government has asked India to return former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Awami League claims this request is part of a plot to harm Hasina through a fake trial.

    In a statement, the Awami League accused the current government of taking power unconstitutionally. They believe the extradition request is based on false charges aimed at Hasina and not supported by a treaty between India and Bangladesh. The party points out that this treaty does not cover made-up cases and that there is no real justice in Bangladesh right now.

    Hasina has been in India since she left Bangladesh in August. The Indian government has acknowledged receiving the extradition request but has not commented further.

    The Awami League is worried that the interim government wants to harm Hasina, and they’ve mentioned that some officials have even said they want to execute her. They believe that the case against Hasina—related to her efforts against war crimes from the 1971 liberation war—is part of the strategy to punish her unjustly.

    The Awami League also claims the interim government is responsible for violence against their supporters and minority groups in Bangladesh, stating that these actions amount to genocide. They have labeled the interim government as an “evil force.”

  • 86% of Candidates Lose Deposits in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Key Insights

    86% of Candidates Lose Deposits in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Key Insights

    A surprising 86% of more than 8,300 candidates who ran in the Lok Sabha elections this year lost their deposits. The Election Commission revealed that in 2024, a total of 12,459 people applied to run for election, which is more than the 11,692 who applied in 2019. After some nominations were rejected or withdrawn, 8,360 candidates were able to compete in the elections. This is a small increase from the 8,054 candidates in 2019.

    Out of 8,360 candidates, a big number—7,190—lost their deposits, which is 86%. These losses break down to 584 candidates from established parties, 68 from recognized state parties, 2,633 from unrecognized parties, and 3,095 independent candidates. In 2019, 6,923 candidates lost their deposits. This year, 3,921 independent candidates participated, but only seven won.

    Independent candidates received 2.79% of all valid votes. To contest in Lok Sabha elections, each candidate must pay a deposit of ₹25,000 (₹12,500 for SC and ST candidates). If they don’t win or get more than one-sixth of total valid votes, they lose this money.

  • 38 Dead in Mysterious Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash in Kazakhstan

    38 Dead in Mysterious Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash in Kazakhstan

    A plane from Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. The crash happened on Wednesday when the plane had to change its route because of bad weather. It was originally flying to Makhachkala in Russia but diverted to Aktau.

    The crash has led to a lot of discussions and rumors about what happened. Some people think the plane might have been accidentally hit by a missile from Russian air defenses, especially since there have been recent drone attacks in the area. However, no evidence has confirmed this idea, and the Kremlin has denied any involvement.

    Investigation Underway

    The investigation to figure out what caused the crash is still ongoing. So far, officials have found 38 bodies from the crash site and confirmed that at least 29 survivors are in the hospital. Early reports suggest that a bird might have hit the plane, but some experts doubt this theory. They say that the damage looks more like it was caused by something else, possibly a missile.

    Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov asked everyone to avoid guessing about the crash until investigators finish their work. “It’s wrong to speculate before the investigation is complete,” he said.

    The Embraer 190 aircraft had 62 passengers on board, including people from Azerbaijan, Russia, and some other countries. There were also five crew members. Azerbaijan Airlines said the plane was checked and had no issues before taking off. However, the airline has stopped all flights to Grozny and Makhachkala until the investigation is complete. This has raised concerns about safety in the airspace of those regions.

    Social Media Theories

    As the investigation continues, many theories have appeared on social media. However, these claims are unverified. Reports also suggest that the timing of the crash and the recent drone activity could be linked, but without solid proof.

    The situation remains tense, and only time will tell what actually happened to the plane.

  • Nifty IT Index Update: Top Gainers, Losers, and Trading Highlights

    Nifty IT Index Update: Top Gainers, Losers, and Trading Highlights

    NEW DELHI: On Thursday, the Nifty IT index closed mostly stable. Some companies did well, like Coforge Ltd. (up 1.06%), Persistent Systems Ltd. (up 0.71%), LTIMindtree Ltd. (up 0.47%), and HCL Technologies Ltd. (up 0.21%), which were the top performers. However, other companies saw losses, including L&T Technology Services Ltd. (down 1.31%), MphasiS Ltd. (down 0.76%), Tech Mahindra Ltd. (down 0.37%), Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (down 0.25%), and Wipro Ltd. (down 0.09%).

    The Nifty IT index ended the day just slightly up by 0.01%, finishing at 43,664.25. The main NSE Nifty50 index went up by 22.55 points, closing at 23,750.2, while the BSE Sensex ended at 78,472.48, up by just 0.39 points. Out of the 50 stocks in the Nifty index, 30 saw price increases, while 20 experienced drops.

    Some of the most traded shares on the NSE included Vodafone Idea, Vishal Mega Mart, Ola Electric Mobility, YES Bank, and Sagility India. Shares of Cube Highways Trust, Gala Precision Engineering, Inventurus Knowledge, Garuda Construction, and International Gemmol reached new 52-week highs today. On the flip side, Vertoz Advertising, Hathway Cable, Odigma Consultancy, Digjam, and Filatex Fashions hit their new 52-week lows.

  • India Launches Massive Election Data for 2024 Lok Sabha!

    India Launches Massive Election Data for 2024 Lok Sabha!

    On Thursday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) launched an amazing new resource—the world’s biggest electoral dataset! This collection includes 42 reports about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and another 56 reports covering four state assembly elections. The goal is to make the election process more open, encourage studies, and help build public trust in the voting system.

    These reports provide a treasure trove of information, including how many voters there are in each district, how many people voted, and how different groups like men, women, and transgender individuals participated in the elections. This data is super helpful for teachers, researchers, and anyone curious about how elections work.

    According to the ECI, this huge dataset allows people to dig deeper into the numbers and compare them with past elections. It helps everyone understand trends and changes over time in politics and voting patterns.

    What the Reports Reveal:

    – In 2024, there were 97.97 crore registered voters, which is a 7.43% increase from 91.19 crore in 2019.
    – Around 64.64 crore votes were cast this year, showing a healthy increase from 61.4 crore in the last election.
    – The highest voter turnout was in Dhubri, Assam, at 92.3%, while Srinagar, J&K, had the lowest at 38.7%, although this is a big improvement from 14.4% in 2019.
    – Voters using the “None Of The Above” (NOTA) option accounted for 63.71 lakh votes, a slight decrease from 2019.
    – The 2024 elections had 10,52,664 polling stations, an increase from 10,37,848 in 2019.
    – Uttar Pradesh had the most polling stations, with 1,62,069, while Lakshadweep had the fewest, at just 55.

    Women and Other Voters:

    The elections also showed great news about women’s participation:
    – There were 47.63 crore women among the voters, making up 48.62% of all registered voters, a rise from 48.09% in 2019.
    – Female voter turnout was 65.78%, slightly higher than the male turnout of 65.55% for the second time ever.
    – Around 800 women ran for election this year, up from 726 in 2019.

    For third-gender voters:
    – Their numbers went up by 23.5%, reaching 48,324 registered voters.
    – Transgender voter participation almost doubled to 27.09%.

    In total, there were 12,459 nominations for the elections, and 8,360 candidates were confirmed as contesting after others withdrew. The reports help everyone understand more about the election system and what is changing in India’s voting world!

  • Uddhav Thackeray Prepares Shiv Sena for Upcoming Mumbai Elections

    Uddhav Thackeray Prepares Shiv Sena for Upcoming Mumbai Elections

    Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray is starting a three-day review of his party’s position in Mumbai as civic elections are expected next year. This comes after a big split in the Shiv Sena party formed by his father, Bal Thackeray, in 2022. The recent assembly elections were a big test for Uddhav’s party, which is part of the opposition group called Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Sadly, the MVA did not do well, winning only 46 seats in the entire state, with Sena (UBT) winning just 20 of those.

    In Mumbai, there are 36 assembly seats. Sena (UBT) took part in 21 of these and managed to win 10. Anil Parab, a leader of Sena (UBT), said that Uddhav is checking how ready the party is for elections in all 227 city wards. This review will take place over three days.

    Elections for local bodies, like the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), might happen in March or April 2025, depending on a court decision about OBC (Other Backward Class) reservations that is expected in January. After not doing well in the state elections, Sena (UBT) wants to keep control of the BMC, one of the richest civic organizations in Asia. The last budget for the BMC was nearly Rs 60,000 crore, which is more than some smaller states.

    Most municipal corporations, including the BMC, had their five-year terms end in 2022. Back in December 2021, the Supreme Court said that OBC reservations in local bodies should not happen unless the government meets certain conditions. These conditions include collecting data about OBC needs in every local body, specifying how many OBC seats there will be, and keeping the overall reservation from going above 50%.

  • Kohli Faces Penalty After Fiery Clash with Konstas in Fourth Test

    Kohli Faces Penalty After Fiery Clash with Konstas in Fourth Test

    Virat Kohli, a famous Indian cricketer, lost 20% of his match fee and got one demerit point after a heated exchange with Australian player Sam Konstas during the first day of the fourth Test match at the MCG. The incident happened after Kohli and 19-year-old Konstas accidentally bumped into each other on the field.

    The situation got tense because they exchanged some strong words after an intense moment in the game. Thankfully, Australian player Usman Khawaja and the umpires stepped in quickly to calm things down.

    Kohli accepted the punishment given by Match Referee Andy Pycroft, so there was no formal hearing. The rules, known as Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, say that players shouldn’t have inappropriate contact with others during an international match.

    Earlier, Konstas had already stirred things up with his fierce batting, scoring 60 runs off just 65 balls, which included some impressive shots that frustrated Indian bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah. At the end of the 10th over, Kohli’s growing irritation peaked when he bumped into Konstas.

    The day’s play ended with Australia in a strong position, scoring 311 runs for 6 wickets. In addition to Konstas, Usman Khawaja scored 57, Marnus Labuschagne got 72, and Steve Smith finished the day with 68 runs. Bumrah did well for India, taking three wickets, while other bowlers like Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar took one wicket each.

  • CM Revanth Reddy Meets Telugu Film Stars After Pushpa 2 Stampede

    CM Revanth Reddy Meets Telugu Film Stars After Pushpa 2 Stampede

    Telangana’s Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, met with important people from the Telugu film industry on Thursday. This meeting happened to reduce the tension between the film world and the state government, especially after a stampede incident during the premiere of “Pushpa 2.”

    Famous actors, directors, and producers like Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, and Dil Raju came to talk to the CM about the future of their industry. Revanth reminded everyone that keeping order at big events is a shared job. Both celebrities and police need to work together. He also pointed out that private security for big stars, like Allu Arjun, made things worse during the stampede.

    The CM made it clear that there will be no more special movie show permits in Telangana, and ticket prices cannot be raised. He encouraged the film industry to promote social issues like drug awareness and women’s safety.

    Dil Raju, who leads the Film Development Corporation, spoke on behalf of the film workers. Raghavendra Rao shared his idea of hosting an International Film Festival in Hyderabad to attract more tourists. Nagarjuna dreams of making Hyderabad the “capital of world cinema” and asked the government to give support to help filmmakers. Suresh Babu agreed, saying Hyderabad should be an international movie hub.

    The Pushpa 2 stampede happened on December 4 in Hyderabad, where a woman named Revathi died, and her young son, Sri Teja, was injured. The police stated that Allu Arjun went to the theatre without permission, and his security team made things worse. Allegedly, the actor was told about the fan’s death while still inside the theatre and only left when police insisted. Allu Arjun denied this. He was arrested on December 13 but was released on bail the next day.

    Allu Arjun’s father, producer Allu Aravind, announced that the Pushpa 2 team donated ₹2 crore to Revathi’s family. This week, Allu Arjun was questioned by the police for over three hours regarding the incident.