Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Kushayb’s War Crimes Trial: Wrapping Up Horrors of Darfur

    Kushayb’s War Crimes Trial: Wrapping Up Horrors of Darfur

    The trial of a powerful Sudanese militia leader, Ali Kushayb, is ending this week at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He faces serious charges for crimes committed in Darfur during Sudan’s civil war, including rape, murder, and torture. Prosecutors say he was a key figure in the Janjaweed militia, responsible for attacking villages and harming many innocent people.

    During the war from 2003 to 2004, it’s reported that civilians were hurt, homes were destroyed, and thousands were forced to flee. The ICC prosecutor explained that Kushayb led group attacks where people were captured and killed without mercy. He has denied all wrongdoing and claims he is not guilty.

    This case is important because it is the first one brought up after the UN Security Council sent it to the ICC. Sudan is still facing violence today between two fighting groups, which has resulted in many more deaths and displacements. Just recently, an airstrike in North Darfur killed over 100 people during a market attack.

    The ICC is also looking into the current situation in Sudan, and the prosecutor hopes to hold more people accountable for their actions soon.

  • South Korea’s Police Chiefs Arrested in Martial Law Investigation

    South Korea’s Police Chiefs Arrested in Martial Law Investigation

    Two of South Korea’s top police officers have been arrested as part of an investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recent martial law declaration. This news comes just before the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, plans to vote on a new impeachment motion against Yoon.

    Last week, Yoon’s former defense minister, Kim Yong Hyun, was also arrested. He is accused of leading the effort to enforce martial law and misusing power. Kim is the first person arrested related to the martial law situation from December 3.

    The police chiefs, Cho Ji Ho and Kim Bong-sik, are being held at a police station in Seoul. They are under investigation for sending police to block members of parliament from entering to vote against the martial law decree. Armed troops were also sent to the parliament but were unable to stop lawmakers from rejecting the martial law quickly.

    During a hearing, Army Special Warfare Command chief Kwak Jong-keun said that he received direct orders from Kim Yong Hyun to stop lawmakers from entering Parliament. Yoon reportedly also called Kwak and asked to remove lawmakers forcefully. Although they discussed the orders, taking physical action against lawmakers was ruled out.

    An officer from the military’s intelligence unit shared that his superior asked if there was a place to detain political figures after martial law was declared. Meanwhile, the opposition argues that the martial law was illegal, as it can only be declared in times of war or severe emergencies. In Yoon’s announcement, he called for a need to fight against his political rivals.

    Many believe this unfolding situation could lead to Yoon being impeached. If that happens, his powers would be paused until a court decides his fate. If removed, a new election would be held.

    North Korea’s state news agency took notice of the protests happening in South Korea, using harsh words against Yoon, labeling him a “traitor.” This indicates that North Korea is aware of the unrest, which could inspire its own people who lack access to outside news.

  • India vs Australia: Key Decisions Ahead of Busy Brisbane Test!

    India vs Australia: Key Decisions Ahead of Busy Brisbane Test!

    India’s recent defeat in Adelaide has put them in a tough spot. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma need to come up with new plans for the third Test in Brisbane. Ex-India player Sanjay Manjrekar suggests India should be cautious about changing their playing XI for the next match.

    In the last game, the Indian bowling trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Harshit Rana did not perform well with the pink ball. Bumrah and Siraj took four wickets each, but Rana did not take any wickets and gave runs easily, with an economy rate of 5.40. There are talks about whether Rana should keep his spot in the team, as Akash Deep is ready to make his Test debut in Australia.

    Manjrekar believes Akash should be given a chance but without dropping Rana. “If the pitch is all about pace, Akash Deep could be the fourth seamer, but they need to make the right decision,” he said on ESPNCricinfo. Akash had a great debut earlier this year against England and also performed well against Bangladesh and New Zealand, causing trouble for batters even when the pitch wasn’t helping him much.

    With the Brisbane Test approaching, the Indian team is focused and prepared to come back strong after losing last time. They are putting in hard work during practice sessions to improve for the upcoming match.

    Manjrekar advised the team to carefully look at the Gabba pitch before deciding on their bowling lineup. “If the pitch is flat like Adelaide, their current bowling group may not be enough. They need to think about it,” he added.

  • Adani Ports Withdraws $553M Loan for Sri Lanka Terminal Project

    Adani Ports Withdraws $553M Loan for Sri Lanka Terminal Project

    Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), a big company from India, has decided not to take a $553 million loan from the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to build the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) in Sri Lanka. Instead, they will use their own money to pay for the project. The company announced this on Tuesday.

    The CWIT project is going well and should be finished and ready to use by early next year. Even though the DFC had already agreed to give them the loan, the money had not been given out yet, according to reports.

    The DFC approved this loan in 2023 to help create a new deepwater container terminal at the busy Port of Colombo, which is a key shipping hub in the Indian Ocean. This terminal will help meet the shipping needs of growing economies in the Bay of Bengal by using Sri Lanka’s important location.

    A spokesperson from DFC said they were still looking into the project to make sure everything was done properly before lending any money. Recently, there have been investigations into Adani, making the DFC more cautious about their decision.

  • Cautiously Optimistic: Kotak’s Nifty Target at 26,100 by December 2025

    Cautiously Optimistic: Kotak’s Nifty Target at 26,100 by December 2025

    Mumbai: Kotak Securities has shared a prediction for the Nifty index, setting a target of 26,100 points by December 2025. This means they expect it to go up by 6% from its current level of 24,610, which is where it closed recently.

    The company mentioned that there are important reasons for being “cautiously optimistic.” For example, they’re concerned that the country’s economic growth (GDP) has dropped to 5.4%, and inflation is expected to go over 6% in October. Additionally, they noted that policies from the Trump administration and a stronger dollar might affect the market.

    Kotak Securities believes some sectors like Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI), Information Technology (IT), real estate, and pharmaceuticals will perform better in the coming years. They also advised investors to be realistic about their return expectations. Shripal Shah, the CEO, suggests that it’s time to focus on finding good value in investments instead of just following trends.

    He noted that there has been a strong rally in smaller and larger company stocks, and now it’s important to be careful. The company also predicted that gold and silver will stay strong in 2025 due to demand for safety and industrial use, but a strong dollar and Trump’s economic decisions might limit huge price increases.

  • Pushpa 2 Earns ₹ 644 Crores in Just 6 Days!

    Pushpa 2 Earns ₹ 644 Crores in Just 6 Days!

    Allu Arjun’s movie, Pushpa 2: The Rule, is taking theaters by storm! After a huge opening weekend, the film is still earning a lot of money even during the weekdays. According to niftystat, by Tuesday, the total box office collection of Pushpa 2 crossed ₹ 640 crores.

    On its sixth day, the film made ₹ 51 crores. During its first few days, here’s how much it made: ₹ 93.8 crores on Friday, ₹ 119.25 crores on Saturday, and a whopping ₹ 141.5 crores on Sunday! On Monday, it earned ₹ 64.45 crores, bringing the total to ₹ 644.45 crores as of Tuesday.

    The movie had great audience attendance with 31.23% of seats filled for Telugu shows and 31.55% for Hindi shows on Tuesday.

    Pushpa 2 has already broken several records, including beating the lifetime box office earnings of Pushpa: The Rise in just two days. The film has also made more than ₹ 120 crores just in Hindi language, making it the second film of Allu Arjun to hit the ₹ 100 crore mark in Hindi.

    Pushpa 2: The Rule continues the journey of Pushpa Raj, who moves from being a daily wage worker to leading a red sandalwood smuggling group. Rashmika Mandanna plays his wife, Srivalli, who supports him against his family. Fahadh Faasil returns as police officer Bhanwar Singh Shekawat, who is still struggling with the defeat he faced in the first film. The movie sets the stage for a new story in Pushpa 3: The Rampage!

  • Lula da Silva’s Remarkable Journey: Overcoming Adversity & Health Challenges

    Lula da Silva’s Remarkable Journey: Overcoming Adversity & Health Challenges

    Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, is in intensive care after emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain due to a fall. Lula, at 79 years old, is a symbol of someone who overcame many obstacles to lead one of the biggest economies in the world. He has faced tough times, including poverty, health issues, and even jail time for a corruption case that was later thrown out because the judge was unfair. Despite his struggles, Lula has always fought for people’s rights, worked to end hunger, and protected the Amazon rainforest.

    Recently, Lula had surgery after a fall that caused bleeding in his brain. He is currently serving his third term as president after defeating Jair Bolsonaro in a tough election in 2022 that split the country. Lula’s journey is incredible: he grew up poor as the son of farmers, became a shoeshine boy and a metalworker, and eventually led major workers’ strikes against Brazil’s military government in the 1970s.

    He started the Workers’ Party and ran for president three times before finally winning in 2002. Lula was once called “the most popular politician on Earth” by Barack Obama. Though he hopes to live to 120 years old, he has had many health problems, including high blood pressure and cancer treatment. Lula’s latest challenge came after he fell in a bathroom, suffering a concussion and other injuries that required surgery.

    In his personal life, Lula has lost two wives and married again in 2022. He has five children from his relationships. Lula’s story is one of resilience, fighting against the odds, and standing up for the less fortunate.

  • Jamal Hossain Leads Vishwa Samudra Open 2024 with Impressive 67

    Jamal Hossain Leads Vishwa Samudra Open 2024 with Impressive 67

    New Delhi, India: Jamal Hossain from Bangladesh is on fire after winning his last game! He played outstandingly well at the ₹2 crore Vishwa Samudra Open 2024 at the Delhi Golf Club, scoring five-under par with a 67 on the first day. Ravi Kumar from Chandimandir, Ajeetesh Sandhu from Chandigarh, Sudhir Sharma from Greater Noida, M Dharma from Bengaluru, and Manish Thakran from Gurugram all tied for second place with scores of three-under par (69).

    Play started 40 minutes late because of fog. Out of 124 players, 27 couldn’t finish their first round by the evening when play stopped at 5:30 pm due to dim light. They’ll finish their rounds starting at 7 am on Wednesday, and round two will begin after everyone is done with round one.

    Jamal kicked off his game strong, getting birdies (which means scoring one shot under par) on the first two holes by making two impressive long putts of 15 feet. He had one bogey on the third hole but quickly bounced back with birdies on the fourth, eighth, and ninth holes, getting close with his shots.

    At 39 years old, Jamal, who is currently ranked 17th, stood out even in tricky conditions. He made sure to hit all fairways and hit 16 greens in regulation. Even though he didn’t do his best with putting on the back nine, he still managed to make eight pars and a birdie on the last hole with a 20-foot putt.

    Jamal shared, “At the Delhi Golf Club, it’s important to hit straight, and I did that well today. The cold weather was tough for me, since I come from a warmer place. I hit all fairways and made 16 regulations, which is amazing for this course. I found my rhythm at the Jaipur event in mid-November, and winning in Digboi made my confidence even stronger.”

    Also, Rashid Khan was tied for seventh place with a score of 70, and the top player in the PGTI rankings, Veer Ahlawat, was at one-under through 15 holes.

  • Cheteshwar Pujara: Cricket’s Calm Voice in BGT Commentary

    Cheteshwar Pujara: Cricket’s Calm Voice in BGT Commentary

    When it comes to the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series, the excitement can often feel overwhelming. We hear phrases like “#toughestrivalry” and “Boiling Point” everywhere. As the Brisbane Test approaches, fans will start talking about breaking “Gabba ka Ghamand” (Gabba’s pride). But amidst all this noise, one voice stands out: Cheteshwar Pujara.

    Pujara, known as a quiet and focused player, is now part of the Hindi commentary team on Hotstar. He’s different from the loud commentators we usually hear. Instead of flashy words, he offers clear and insightful thoughts about the game. This series is his first time commentating live after his earlier work during the Asia Cup with ESPNcricinfo.

    In the Hotstar studio, Pujara feels right at home. He talks calmly and thoughtfully, much like how he plays cricket. He provides valuable insights on what it’s like to bat in Australia, especially against tough bowlers like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

    When India struggled during the Adelaide Test, Pujara explained what went wrong. He pointed out that the team didn’t do enough to bat carefully under the challenging conditions, especially at night when the ball moves more. He shared his experience and said, “We thought we could play attacking shots, but that doesn’t always work. You need to respect good bowling and wait for the right moment.”

    Pujara also broke down the mistakes of players like Shubman Gill, explaining how the pink ball can surprise batsmen. His comments show he knows the challenges players face today.

    With his quiet humor, Pujara touched on various topics in a casual way, making him relatable. When discussing the tension between players, he said, “These things happen, but they will move on.”

    In the studio, Pujara dresses smartly, showcasing his style and professionalism. After his first commentary, he even asked his teammates for feedback, proving he wants to get better.

    This series is perfect for Pujara to start his commentary journey. Whether he stays true to his style or gets influenced by typical cricket broadcasting remains to be seen. However, having Pujara as a calm, straightforward voice is refreshing in a world that often values excitement over clarity.

  • EU Raises Concerns Over Indian Firms Supplying Goods to Russia

    EU Raises Concerns Over Indian Firms Supplying Goods to Russia

    In New Delhi, the European Union (EU) has raised concerns with India about some Indian companies that might be sending important goods to Russia, which could be used for military purposes. This would go against the bans set by Western countries on Russia. David O’Sullivan, the EU Sanctions Envoy, visited India in October and talked with Indian officials about ways to stop the illegal sending of these important goods to Russia.

    O’Sullivan mentioned that he shared information with Indian authorities about the companies involved. Recently, the U.S. has imposed penalties on 19 Indian companies for allegedly helping Russia by providing technologies that could be used for military operations. Some sources from the EU indicated that two Indian companies are under specific restrictions for their exports.

    O’Sullivan said that many other countries he visited have set up special systems to handle this issue. He emphasized that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a significant concern for the EU, and they will keep working to disrupt Russia’s access to important technologies.

    He pointed out that Russia is paying much more for some items because of the sanctions. The EU is also working on its latest set of sanctions against Russia, which will target ships and companies supplying military goods.

    The EU represents many nations and continues to monitor companies that might break the sanctions.