Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Babar Azam Criticized for Slow Batting in Champions Trophy Opener

    Babar Azam Criticized for Slow Batting in Champions Trophy Opener

    Pakistani cricket star Babar Azam is facing heavy criticism after his slow performance in the opening match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand. Babar scored 64 runs off 90 balls, but his slow batting with a strike rate of just 71.11 didn’t help Pakistan chase down New Zealand’s total of 321 runs, leading to a 60-run defeat in Karachi.

    Fans and cricket experts are disappointed, including former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. He expressed concern about Babar’s lack of “intent” or aggression while batting, especially when other players like Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah were hitting the ball hard. During the first 10 overs, Pakistan struggled with just 22 runs for 2 wickets, putting themselves under pressure from the start.

    Ashwin, who praised Babar’s talent, said it was hard to watch him play so defensively. He pointed out that Babar didn’t use the right shots to score runs and seemed to play it safe rather than taking risks. Ashwin noted that even a player like Fakhar Zaman, who was injured, was ready to take more risks than Babar.

    Babar’s slow start and poor shot selection have left Pakistan in a tough spot in the tournament. They now must win their next match against India to keep their chances alive. Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament, and Imam-ul-Haq is his replacement.

    Ashwin summarized Babar’s performance by saying, “It was bad play.” He believes that with only three matches in this tournament, Babar needs to be more aggressive and take chances to help his team.

  • Power Sector In 2023-24: Balancing Government and Private Players

    Power Sector In 2023-24: Balancing Government and Private Players

    In 2023-24, three major industries experienced a big boost in their value, and the power sector stands out because it has a nearly equal mix of government-owned companies and private companies. This is important because other sectors like railways and defense mostly have government companies, which are seeing a drop in their value. Even though the power industry has some large government-owned companies, it’s also feeling some pressure from these changes in other sectors. However, what people are missing is that there are positive developments happening in the power sector that may not be immediately visible.

  • TikTok Returns: Downloads Surge, Rivals Fall!

    TikTok Returns: Downloads Surge, Rivals Fall!

    TikTok is back on mobile app stores in the US! When TikTok was taken down, a competing app called Xiaohongshu, also known as Rednote or China’s Instagram, became very popular. However, after TikTok came back, downloads of Rednote dropped by an incredible 91% in just five days.

    According to Sensor Tower, TikTok’s downloads more than doubled once it reappeared on Apple and Google app stores. Other social apps like YouTube, Snap, Facebook, and Instagram also saw fewer downloads after TikTok returned.

    Even though TikTok is back, it cost its parent company, ByteDance, a lot of money—about $142 million in US spending was lost while the app was gone.

    TikTok’s future in the US isn’t certain yet. Former President Trump gave ByteDance 75 more days to sell TikTok’s US operations or risk facing a ban. So far, ByteDance has said no to selling, while various companies have shown interest, including Perplexity AI and Frank McCourt, a former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

    Currently, people in the US spend about $4.7 million a day on TikTok, which is slightly less than before it was removed. TikTok has 170 million users in the US, and because of its popularity, other platforms like YouTube and Instagram are changing to keep up with TikTok’s success.

  • Sonia Gandhi Discharged from Hospital After Routine Check-Up

    Sonia Gandhi Discharged from Hospital After Routine Check-Up

    On Friday morning, Sonia Gandhi, a leader from the Congress party, was discharged from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. She had gone to the hospital for a routine check-up on Thursday morning. Doctors kept a close eye on her health during her stay, but now she is healthy and back home.

  • Nifty Pharma Index Sinks: Top Gainers, Losers & Market Highlights Today!

    Nifty Pharma Index Sinks: Top Gainers, Losers & Market Highlights Today!

    New Delhi: The Nifty Pharma index was struggling in a tough market around 10:14 AM (IST) on Friday. Gland Pharma Ltd. rose by 0.72%, and Natco Pharma Ltd. went up by 0.39%, making them the top gainers. On the other hand, many companies faced losses: Ipca Laboratories Ltd. dropped by 3.2%, Divi’s Laboratories Ltd. fell by 3.13%, and Ajanta Pharma Ltd. decreased by 2.81%. Biocon Ltd. and Laurus Labs Ltd. also lost 2.34% and 1.94%, respectively.

    At this time, the Nifty Pharma index was down by 1.36%, sitting at 20,503.85. The NSE Nifty50 index dropped by 152.46 points to reach 22,760.7, while the BSE Sensex fell by 435.13 points to 75,300.83. Out of the 50 stocks in the Nifty index, only 8 were gaining, but 42 were losing.

    Among the most traded stocks on the NSE were Vodafone Idea, YES Bank, IREDA, Suzlon Energy, and NHPC. Deccan Cements, Redington, Blue Coast Hotel, Norben Tea Exp, and Camlin Fine Sc reached new highs in their stocks today. Meanwhile, Suratwwala Business, AGS Transact Tech, Hindcon Chemicals, OneSource Specialty, and Godavari Biorefineri saw their stock prices hit new lows.

  • Is Now the Right Time to Invest in Nifty Stocks?

    Is Now the Right Time to Invest in Nifty Stocks?

    Recently, the Nifty index dropped by 16% when looking at US dollars since it hit a high in September. This drop has led many to wonder if it’s a good time to buy stocks, especially since 29 out of 50 Nifty companies have prices below their average from the past five years.

    Looking at some specific company numbers, Tata Motors is currently priced at a low P/E (price-to-earnings) ratio of 7.89, while its average has been 15.77—this is a big drop! Asian Paints is also down, with its P/E falling from 69.73 to 50.70, a 34% price drop from its peak. On the other hand, Reliance Industries, a big player in India, is at a P/E of 24, which is just slightly below its five-year average of 25.23.

    Some stocks have held steady despite the market drop. For example, HUL (Hindustan Unilever) has a P/E of 49.22, compared to an average of 62.10, while Sun Pharma sits at 35.21 versus 41.46. This shows that people still trust businesses in the consumer goods and healthcare sectors.

    However, IT stocks like Wipro, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, and HCL Tech are doing well and are priced higher than their averages. Experienced investor Manish Chokhani thinks the market’s drop is actually good news. He mentioned, “Markets have corrected to give investors a chance to buy stocks they want for the long term.” He also pointed out that during good times, people “rent” stocks, but in tough times, they find their real owners again.

    Chokhani believes this drop can help investors purchase shares in good companies at lower prices. Even large companies are now trading at about 19 times what they’re expected to earn next year, but the market can move up and down quickly.

    Foreign investors are pulling out money due to worries about company earnings and tariffs from former US President Trump, leading to a 16% decline in the Nifty in USD since its peak in September 2024. Mid-cap and small-cap stocks have suffered worse with drops of 21% and 23%, respectively. Additionally, the Nifty’s P/E ratio has fallen to 19 from a peak of 21.3.

    The earnings season has been tough, with companies announcing lower profits. Nomura noted that earnings estimates for companies in the Nifty50 were lowered by 3.5% since January 2025.

    Anand K Rathi from MIRA Money sees things similarly. He thinks that prices of many stocks are starting to look more reasonable. Rathi advises a smart investment strategy, like investing slowly over the next few months, especially as companies report their earnings. This way, investors can take advantage of price changes and position themselves well when the market bounces back.

    In conclusion, although many Nifty stocks are trading lower than their usual prices, caution is still important as market ups and downs continue. A gradual investment approach may help deal with risks, and focusing on strong companies is essential. Overall, this market might hold some exciting opportunities for thoughtful investors.

  • ED Raids Home of Suspect in Canada’s Largest Gold Heist

    ED Raids Home of Suspect in Canada’s Largest Gold Heist

    On Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in India searched the home of Simran Preet Panesar in Mohali. He is a major suspect in Canada’s biggest gold theft, which happened last year. This raid comes just two days after the ED opened a money laundering investigation linked to the crime that took place outside India.

    An ED official said, “Our team is looking into Panesar’s home as part of our investigation. He will also be questioned.”

    A report revealed that the ED started this investigation following a section of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This law allows them to handle cases that cross international borders, like crimes committed by Indians in other countries.

    The agency filed a report about a theft worth 22.5 million Canadian dollars (CAD) that took place at Toronto Pearson International Airport in April 2023. Officers are checking if any of the stolen gold or money came to India.

    Here’s what happened: On April 17, 2023, a cargo container filled with gold bars was stolen using fake documents from a secure storage area. The stolen goods included 6,600 gold bars, weighing a total of 400 kg, and cash worth 2.5 million CAD. The gold bars were brought from Switzerland and were supposed to go to a bank in Toronto.

    After the airplane landed, the cargo was taken to a different spot at the airport, and soon after, it was reported missing. The Peel Regional Police (PRP) in Canada called this the largest gold heist in the country’s history. They charged Panesar and eight others in April 2024 and issued an arrest warrant for him. Panesar and another suspect, Parampal Sidhu, worked at the airport’s warehouse.

    The PRP said that after the heist, Panesar even showed police officers around the warehouse! While Sidhu was arrested in May 2024, Panesar disappeared. Canadian authorities are still trying to find the stolen gold, and so far, they have recovered only 90,000 CAD out of the total stolen.

  • Trump Warns of World War III: Leadership Can Prevent Conflict

    Trump Warns of World War III: Leadership Can Prevent Conflict

    During a recent event in Miami, former US President Donald Trump warned that World War III could be near. He expressed confidence that his leadership could help avoid such a war. “No one gains from World War III, and it’s closer than you think,” Trump said. He added that if President Biden had another year in office, the US might have been involved in a major conflict.

    Trump mentioned that while the US would stay out of ongoing wars around the world, he would work to stop them. “We won’t get involved in these pointless wars, but we’ll be stronger than anyone else. If war comes, no one can compete with us, but I don’t think it will happen,” he asserted.

    He also referenced Elon Musk, who agreed with Trump about the situation in Ukraine, saying that it’s sad how many families have been impacted by the war.

    Recently, Trump criticized Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a “dictator” and claimed that Zelenskyy convinced the US to spend a lot of money on a war that shouldn’t have started. Trump believes that Russia wants to end the fighting and that he plans to meet with Russian President Putin soon to discuss the issue.

  • Kerala’s Roadmap to Transform Investments: Key Changes Ahead

    Kerala’s Roadmap to Transform Investments: Key Changes Ahead

    Kerala is gearing up for the “Invest Kerala Global Summit” (IGIS) and state industries minister P Rajeev shared exciting updates. The summit is different this year because it follows 50 events where discussions were held with investors across all districts. They listened to what investors wanted and made necessary changes to the rules to encourage businesses to come to Kerala.

    This year, Kerala’s motto is “nature, people, industry,” emphasizing responsible investments in 22 important sectors. They held special events focusing on technology like AI, robotics, and smart farming, and traveled to cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and even Dubai to promote Kerala as an investment destination.

    Unlike previous years, where investment promises were often unrealistic, this time they aim for more realistic goals with clearer plans. Rajeev highlighted that Kerala has improved its position in the ease of doing business, now ranking number one, a significant shift from 28th place before.

    Regarding the Vizhinjam port, which is a key project, Rajeev believes it will attract many investors. The port is located close to major international shipping routes and does not require much digging, making it an attractive option for shipping companies.

    He also mentioned other developments like the Palakkad industrial smart city, which is part of a major project to connect Kochi and Bengaluru. The government is welcoming investments in tech sectors instead of traditional manufacturing which can harm the environment.

    Rajeev recently attended the World Economic Forum in Davos to meet potential investors and showcase Kerala’s projects, including the Green Hydrogen Valley.

    Despite political differences, the opposition parties are also planning to attend the summit, showing a united front for the state’s growth. Rajeev believes Kerala is evolving and will soon stand out as a top destination for industries focused on technology and sustainability.

  • Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif’s Adorable Date Night Out in Mumbai!

    Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif’s Adorable Date Night Out in Mumbai!

    Famous actors Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif went out for a date night in Mumbai, and fans shared lots of videos and pictures online.

    In one clip, you can see Vicky and Katrina getting out of their cars and walking into a building. They both wore cozy clothing: Katrina chose a black sweatshirt, matching pants, shoes, and a cap, while Vicky wore a brown shirt, black pants, and a cap too.

    In another video, they were seen leaving the place. Vicky stood in front of Katrina as a fan tried to take her picture. They held hands as they walked, and Katrina turned to thank someone. Vicky then helped Katrina into their car before getting in himself.

    Recently, Katrina praised Vicky’s new movie, Chhaava, on Instagram. She highlighted how amazing the film is and complimented Vicky’s performance. She wrote, “The last 40 minutes will leave you speechless. Vicky, you are outstanding! The way you change for your characters is incredible. I’m so proud of you!” Katrina also appreciated the whole team behind the film.

    Chhaava is a historical drama about the great ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, played by Vicky. The movie shows his heroic life, starting with his crowning in 1681. So far, it has earned ₹219.75 crore at the Indian box office in just a week!