Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Amazon and Starbucks Workers Strike for Better Pay and Rights

    Amazon and Starbucks Workers Strike for Better Pay and Rights

    Workers at Amazon delivery stations and Starbucks stores across several U.S. cities are on strike. They want to be recognized as union workers and are pushing for their first labor contracts. These strikes began on Thursday and Friday, echoing the recent struggles of other worker groups who have gained better working conditions this year.

    Big unions have won important agreements after strikes by workers in different industries, but Amazon and Starbucks employees are still trying to get their companies to agree on contracts. Amazon does not recognize the efforts of its workers to unionize, even though the Teamsters Union claims to represent them. Starbucks has resisted unionization but agreed to discuss contracts by the end of the year.

    Strikes often happen during busy times, like the holidays, to gain more leverage. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers, like baristas and Amazon drivers, started organizing for better pay and conditions due to increased attention on their challenges.

    John Logan, an expert in labor studies, said workers might feel a sense of urgency to make progress before President Trump’s expected appointment of a Republican majority to the National Labor Relations Board, which may be unfriendly to unions.

    At Amazon, the Teamsters are striking at several locations due to the company’s refusal to negotiate. They argue for better pay and safer work conditions. Many Amazon workers feel financially insecure even though the company is worth $2.3 trillion.

    Meanwhile, Starbucks is already in negotiations, but workers say the company did not keep its promise to reach an agreement this year. Striking workers report that Starbucks is proposing low wage increases. The strikes, which began in places like Los Angeles and Seattle, are expected to spread to dozens more stores soon.

    Starbucks claims to pay competitive wages, but workers disagree, and they are rallying to make their voices heard. Experts believe there might be even more union activities before Trump takes office, giving the public a chance to see how he commits to supporting the working class.

  • India’s Best Bowling Performances at the MCG in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

    India’s Best Bowling Performances at the MCG in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

    India is gearing up for a big match against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They need to win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which is known to be tough for teams. The players have to focus on bowling since the batting has been a bit weak lately, and the pitch has surprisingly favored bowlers in recent years.

    Here are India’s best bowling performances in Test matches at the MCG:

    – Jasprit Bumrah: 6 Wickets for 33 Runs in 2018-19
    Jasprit Bumrah has been outstanding in the current series and made his mark in Australia from the start. On his first tour, he took 6 wickets for only 33 runs, which is the best by any Indian bowler at the MCG. His effort helped India bowl Australia out for just 151 runs, leading to a series win.

    – BS Chandrasekhar: 6 Wickets for 52 Runs in 1977-78
    BS Chandrasekhar, a key member of India’s famous spin attack, was incredible in the MCG Test where India won for the first time in Australia. He took 6 wickets for 52 runs in each inning, helping India bounce back after losing the first two matches in that series. His bowling was crucial in breaking important partnerships.

    – Erapalli Prasanna: 6 Wickets for 141 Runs in 1967-68
    Prasanna had a tough game but still made the list. After India scored only 173 runs, Australia quickly took a strong lead. Prasanna took 6 wickets but had to deal with three Australian players scoring centuries. The match is remembered for Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s brave innings while injured.

    – Anil Kumble: 6 Wickets for 176 Runs in 2003-04
    Anil Kumble, another legendary spinner, had a big task against a top Australian team. He bowled 51 overs and took 6 wickets, but gave up a lot of runs. India had played well initially, thanks to Virender Sehwag’s 195 runs. Despite Kumble’s six wickets, Australia overpowered them with powerful batting.

  • Nita Ambani Headlines Harvard’s 2025 India Conference: A Global Perspective!

    Nita Ambani Headlines Harvard’s 2025 India Conference: A Global Perspective!

    The India Conference at Harvard (ICH) announced on Sunday that Nita Ambani, a leader in charity, education, and culture, will headline its event on February 15-16, 2025, in Boston. As one of the most important figures in India, Ambani has changed the lives of over 80 million people through her social programs. She is also working hard to show the world India’s potential. A highlight of her recent work includes hosting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in India after 40 years and supporting India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics.

    The India Conference at Harvard is one of the largest student-led gatherings focusing on India in the US. This annual event, held at Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, encourages discussions about India’s growing role in the world. The 2025 conference will feature over 80 expert speakers from various fields, who will discuss how Indian ideas and innovations are changing global conversations.

    One special event includes a fireside chat with Ambani, who chairs the Reliance Foundation, where she will share her vision of India’s place in the world. The conference will also include a policy Hackathon tackling climate challenges and improving financial support for rural areas, as well as a startup competition. Ambani’s speech fits perfectly with this year’s theme, “From India to the World,” which celebrates India as a new global leader in peace, prosperity, and innovation.

    Ayush Shukla, one of the conference co-chairs, said, “The India Conference aims to expand discussions around India’s growth story. This year’s theme shows how India is changing from local ideas to global influence, celebrating our technology successes and lessons in community spirit, culture, resilience, and entrepreneurship.”

  • Akash Deep’s Key Role in India’s Dramatic Draw at Gabba Test

    Akash Deep’s Key Role in India’s Dramatic Draw at Gabba Test

    In a crucial Test match at Gabba, Australia, Team India, led by Rohit Sharma, faced a tough situation. They were struggling and on the brink of losing when Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah teamed up in the final session of Day 4. They added 47 important runs for the last wicket, helping India avoid a follow-on and securing a draw in the series, which is now tied at 1-1.

    Akash Deep came to bat at the no. 11 spot when the scoreboard read 213/9. He showed patience and aggression, scoring 31 runs off 44 balls. Speaking to reporters ahead of the Boxing Day Test, he shared his mindset while batting. He said that his goal wasn’t to save the follow-on, but simply to stay not out and contribute to the team.

    “I’m a lower-order batsman, so even 20-30 runs are valuable. I wasn’t thinking about the follow-on; I just wanted to survive,” Akash explained. The team’s mood lifted significantly once he hit a four off Pat Cummins, allowing India to dodge the follow-on, leading to high-fives among players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir.

    Though Akash didn’t play in the first two Tests, he replaced Harshit Rana for the third Test. In the first innings, he was unlucky but managed to take one wicket. In the second innings, he bowled really well, taking two wickets.

    Akash praised Jasprit Bumrah for his guidance, saying, “This is my first time in Australia. Jasprit bhai constantly advises us, making our jobs easier. He reminded me to stay calm, focus, and maintain my bowling style from India.”

  • Stellantis Cancels Ohio Jeep Plant Layoffs After CEO’s Departure

    Stellantis Cancels Ohio Jeep Plant Layoffs After CEO’s Departure

    Stellantis, the company behind brands like Jeep and Ram, has decided not to lay off about 1,100 workers at its Jeep plant in Ohio. This change comes less than three weeks after their CEO, Carlos Tavares, unexpectedly quit his job. A company spokesperson said that instead of putting people on indefinite layoff starting January 5, they will keep employees informed and help them adjust. Workers should report back to work after the New Year as planned.

    Tavares had to leave because some board members thought his goals for the company were unrealistic. Just last month, Stellantis announced layoffs at a plant in Toledo, Ohio, which makes the Jeep Gladiator. The company is trying to improve efficiency and reduce inventory due to falling sales in North America, where they usually earn a lot of money from popular Jeep and Ram vehicles.

    Stellantis’s focus on cutting costs grew under Tavares’s leadership. Last month, they also mentioned that 400 workers at a parts facility in Detroit would lose their jobs indefinitely. In August, they said they would lay off up to 2,450 workers in Michigan after ending production of the Ram 1500 Classic truck.

    While Stellantis has cut some salaried positions through buyouts, many people are paying attention to the layoffs affecting workers from the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. UAW President Shawn Fain has warned about a possible nationwide strike, claiming Stellantis isn’t keeping its promises to the union. Stellantis insists it is following the terms of the contract.

  • Blake Lively’s Lawsuit: Director’s Disturbing Tactics Exposed

    Blake Lively’s Lawsuit: Director’s Disturbing Tactics Exposed

    Blake Lively is suing Justin Baldoni, and emails and texts from his team show a plan to hurt her reputation. They talked about using Taylor Swift and Hailey Bieber to change how people see Lively during a tough time when she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment while they were making a movie called “It Ends With Us.”

    In the court papers, a crisis expert said that Swift’s huge fanbase might be helpful for Baldoni’s team. They believed that if they used Swift’s influence, they could make Lively’s claims seem less important. One email mentioned that some small issues can blow up on social media, while big problems might not matter at all.

    Baldoni’s team also discussed making stories about how some celebrities, like Taylor Swift, have been accused of using feminism to control situations. Lively and Swift have been friends for a long time, which made this situation even trickier.

    Hailey Bieber’s name came up, too. Baldoni shared a chat that said she bullied women and suggested they could use similar tactics against Lively. Lively’s lawsuit claims Baldoni went beyond just regular public relations help and used a method called “astroturfing.” This means creating fake comments online to trick people into thinking real people support their view.

    Recently, Lively filed her lawsuit against Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath, saying they acted badly on set and made her feel unsafe. After the lawsuit, Baldoni’s talent agency dropped him but continues to represent Lively.

  • Rohit Sharma’s Batting Struggles: Tips from Coach Sanjay Bangar

    Rohit Sharma’s Batting Struggles: Tips from Coach Sanjay Bangar

    Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has some advice for captain Rohit Sharma. Bangar suggests that Rohit needs to spend more time batting in games, especially since he hasn’t been performing well lately. Rohit has struggled against fast bowlers and hasn’t scored many runs in recent matches.

    In the last 13 Test innings, Rohit managed only one score of fifty. During the recent series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, he didn’t do well at the top of the batting order. He even had a tough time batting at number 6 in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Bangar thinks Rohit could come in to bat at number 3 to help the team’s bowling strength.

    Bangar explained that something isn’t right with Rohit’s batting. He believes that Rohit is a little late in playing his shots, especially his favorite pull shot. This means he might not be in the best position to hit the ball effectively.

    To improve, Bangar suggests that Rohit should get into position earlier when batting. By moving his feet quicker, he can play better shots and regain his rhythm. Batting is all about feeling good and if Rohit feels confident in his movements, he can find his lost confidence again.

    India needs to win both matches ahead to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the third time in a row without depending on other teams’ results.

  • U.S. Drops $10 Million Reward for Syrian Rebel Ahmad al-Sharaa

    U.S. Drops $10 Million Reward for Syrian Rebel Ahmad al-Sharaa

    On Friday, the Biden administration announced that it will not pursue a $10 million reward for a Syrian rebel leader named Ahmad al-Sharaa. His group helped remove President Bashar Assad from power earlier this month. The decision came after al-Sharaa met with Barbara Leaf, the U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, in Damascus. This visit was the first by U.S. diplomats to Syria in over ten years.

    Even though Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), al-Sharaa’s group, is still labeled a foreign terrorist organization, Leaf stated that al-Sharaa promised to renounce terrorism. Because of this, the U.S. decided to cancel the reward. Leaf emphasized the importance of preventing terrorist groups from threatening Syria or its neighbors, including the U.S.

    Leaf’s team also discussed the need for a fair government in Syria and sought information about missing journalist Austin Tice. Roger Carstens, the U.S. envoy for hostages, said they have leads about Tice’s possible whereabouts and are focusing on six prisons where he might have been held.

    Austin Tice went missing during the Syrian civil war and was last seen in a video blindfolded and surrounded by armed men. The U.S. continues its efforts to find him.

    The visit didn’t mean the U.S. embassy in Damascus would reopen soon. The embassy is currently protected by the Czech government, and U.S. officials will decide on reopening it based on the new Syrian leadership’s actions.

  • Devendra Fadnavis Announces Portfolio Allocations for Maharashtra Government

    Devendra Fadnavis Announces Portfolio Allocations for Maharashtra Government

    Nagpur, Maharashtra – On Saturday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that he and his team will share their job responsibilities soon. Speaking at a press conference after a week-long meeting of the Maharashtra legislature, he said that they expect to decide who gets which roles either later that day or by Sunday.

    Earlier, Minister Bharat Gogawale mentioned that they planned to allocate the jobs within the day. Fadnavis, along with his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, took their oaths on December 5, while 39 other ministers joined them just before the Winter Session started on December 15.

    Although the Mahayuti government is now in place, the assignment of roles is still pending. The Mahayuti, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party, had a great win in the assembly elections held on November 20, securing 230 out of 288 seats.

  • Tabu’s Heartwarming Role in Dune: Prophecy with Josh Heuston

    Tabu’s Heartwarming Role in Dune: Prophecy with Josh Heuston

    Tabu recently stole the show when she played Sister Francesca in episode 5 of Dune: Prophecy. Her co-star, Josh Heuston, who plays her son Constantine, shared how they became close friends while filming.

    In a fun behind-the-scenes video from HBO Max, Josh mentioned that Tabu really took care of him during their time on set. He said, “Tabu would hang out with me in the trailer and bring me tasty Indian food every day. We built a great friendship because she kept me fed!”

    Josh posted this video on Instagram and called her “@tabutiful the queen.” Fans loved this, with some commenting, “That’s something a son would say for real,” and “Just so motherly of her.” Others joked about how moms always think their kids are hungry, saying, “Cute mother-son relationship.” Many fans also called Tabu the “sweetest soul” for looking after Josh.

    About Tabu in Dune: Prophecy

    In the series, Tabu plays Sister Francesca, a strong character from the Bene Gesserit group and the Emperor’s past love. Her role is to help balance a power struggle. Charithra Chandran acts as her younger self. Josh’s character, Constantine, is the Emperor’s illegitimate son, and Mark Strong plays the Emperor, Javicco Corrino.

    After episode 5 was released, Josh shared many fun pictures of their time on set, including one where he and Tabu were having a candid moment. The series is set 10,000 years before the events of the Dune movies and focuses on the beginnings of the powerful Bene Gesserit.