Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Kamath vs. Gopichand: Rethinking Sports Careers for Kids

    Kamath vs. Gopichand: Rethinking Sports Careers for Kids

    Nithin Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, recently shared his thoughts on a statement made by India’s badminton coach, Pullela Gopichand. Gopichand said that parents shouldn’t encourage their kids to pursue sports unless they have a lot of money.

    Kamath understands Gopichand’s worries but believes there are more chances now in sports than before. He talked about how it’s tough to work in a job you don’t like, whether that’s in sports or school. He said, “If you’re not happy in what you do, you might not do well, and that can make finding a good job harder in today’s world.”

    Kamath also mentioned that even if someone doesn’t become a famous athlete, there are many job options available now. For instance, they can work as coaches or personal trainers. There are more people looking for trainers than ever before! He pointed to new companies like @FITTRwithsquats and @gametheoryindia, which focus on fitness and see lots of interest from people wanting help to get fit. He concluded by saying that many people are willing to pay for coaching, just like companies such as @urbanclap help people with home services.

    Earlier, Gopichand had voiced his concerns about how hard it is to make money in sports, saying, “We can’t really support sports as a career unless kids come from wealthy families.”

  • Netanyahu’s Vow: Responding to Hamas Over Hostage Body Confusion

    Netanyahu’s Vow: Responding to Hamas Over Hostage Body Confusion

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised strong action after a ceasefire violation by Hamas. Hamas recently released a body that was meant to be that of Shiri Bibas, a mother with two young sons. However, it was revealed that the body was not hers, raising serious concerns about the fragile ceasefire agreement in place.

    As part of the ongoing ceasefire, six living hostages are set to be released on Saturday, following the handover of four bodies by Hamas, including those of Shiri’s sons, Kfir and Ariel, as well as 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz. Only Lifshitz and the two boys were correctly identified; the fourth body was identified as a woman from Gaza, not Shiri Bibas or any other Israeli hostage.

    Netanyahu expressed his determination to bring Shiri and all hostages back home, stating, “Hamas will pay the full price for this cruel violation.” He emphasized the loss of Lifshitz and the Bibas boys, declaring that their memory would live on in Israel’s heart.

    The return of the wrong body shocked many, particularly the Bibas family, which has become a symbol of the struggle of Israeli hostages. During the current truce, which started in January, Hamas has been releasing living hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This was the first time body remains of deceased hostages were returned.

    The Israeli army reported that the fourth body released was still unidentified. The Bibas family has been informed, including Yarden Bibas, who had been released earlier this month.

    Hamas claims that Lifshitz and the Bibas family were killed by Israeli airstrikes, while Israel argues that they were killed by their captors. US envoy Adam Boehler called the release of the wrong body “horrific” and a “clear violation” of the ceasefire. He warned Hamas could face serious consequences if they do not release all hostages.

    It remains uncertain how this incident will impact the scheduled hostage swap on Saturday. Hamas plans to release more bodies next week, completing the first phase of the ceasefire. However, there are worries about the truce continuing past early March.

    Recently, explosions were reported in central Israel. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the Israeli military is increasing its presence in the West Bank, which might lead to further conflicts.

    If all goes as scheduled, Hamas will still have around 60 hostages left, with half believed to be alive. Hamas has stated it will not release the rest without a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Netanyahu, supported by the Trump administration, aims to destroy Hamas and return the hostages, which many see as opposing goals.

    Overall, the situation remains tense and unpredictable, with many innocent lives affected by the ongoing conflict.

  • 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.