Author: Rasmita Jena

  • TrustRing’s Unique Leave Policies Attract Young Workers in Japan!

    TrustRing’s Unique Leave Policies Attract Young Workers in Japan!

    Japan is facing a problem: there aren’t enough young people wanting to work. Big companies are raising salaries to get workers, but small businesses are getting creative with benefits. For example, a tech company in Osaka called TrustRing is offering unusual leave options to make work more fun.

    One interesting rule they have is “hangover leave,” which lets workers take time off if they feel bad after a night out. One employee mentioned that coming in later helped them work better. The company also has something called “celebrity loss leave.” This means that if a favorite celebrity has a big announcement, like getting married, employees can take the day off. In 2021, one worker even took time off when a popular singer got married.

    TrustRing’s president, Daigaku Shimada, said that these fun rules help attract workers even though they pay a starting salary of 222,000 yen (about $1,400) plus overtime. The strategy seems to be working well because the company has been successful, and no one has left their jobs in three years!

    To make things even better at work, they have a bar with drinks in the office. Many people online are talking about these cool benefits, and some joke that they want to find more favorite stars to celebrate and take off work.

    In China, another company called Pangdonglai lets workers take “unhappy leave” if they feel stressed. Employees can have up to 10 extra days off to relax when they need it. The founder, Yu Donglai, believes it’s important to give workers a break when they feel overwhelmed.

  • IIM Bangalore Ranks 3rd Globally: A Look at EPGP Success

    IIM Bangalore Ranks 3rd Globally: A Look at EPGP Success

    IIM Bangalore is celebrating after being ranked 3rd in the career progress category in the 2025 Financial Times MBA Rankings. The school is also recognized as the 57th best business school in the world.

    The Executive Post Graduate Programme (EPGP) at IIM Bangalore, a one-year MBA for experienced professionals, continues to shine on the global stage. The EPGP program has been praised for achieving 86% of its goals, having 40% women in leadership roles, and getting a top 8 rating for international course experiences.

    Additionally, IIM Bangalore improved its diversity ranking significantly, moving from 94 to 47 thanks to strong collaboration with various industries and global partners.

    This year marks the 15th anniversary of the EPGP, which has trained over 1,000 graduates who now hold key positions in sectors like IT, banking, consulting, FMCG, and retail. Professor Rishikesha T. Krishnan, the director of IIM Bangalore, mentioned that the EPGP program combines global curriculum and real-world experiences, helping students understand the challenges of today’s world.

    “IIMB’s partnerships around the world help us maintain our strong reputation among top business schools,” Professor Krishnan added.

  • Heartbreaking Tales of Indian Immigrants Sent Back Home from America

    Heartbreaking Tales of Indian Immigrants Sent Back Home from America

    As America sends back planeloads of illegal immigrants from India, many heartbreaking stories are emerging. Two such stories stand out, reported by ToI on February 17.

    Paramjit Singh, who is also called Saurav, started a big adventure from his village Chandiwala in Punjab. On December 17 last year, he and his family sold two acres of their land and took a loan to pay Rs 45 lakh (about $54,000) to an agent for a secret trip to the United States. Though Saurav was aware of the risks, the hope of a better life was too strong to ignore, as shared by ToI’s Neel Kamal.

    Saurav said goodbye to his family, promising not to let them down. But just two months later, he was back home, tired and depressed. Their money was gone, and his dreams were shattered. The last 40 days were the toughest for him. “One bad choice can become your worst enemy,” he reflected. Saurav had hoped to reach the US and make life better.

    His difficult journey began in Malaysia, where he spent a week before being sent back to Mumbai. After ten days there, he traveled to Amsterdam and then Panama. Along with others, he went through jungles on foot to Mexico City, where they waited for three days. Eventually, they were taken close to the US border by taxi and told to cross the border alone but were caught by the border police.

    Saurav remembered being taken to a police station where they took his fingerprints and pictures. Then, he was sent to a detention center for 18 days. On February 13, they were shackled and taken to a military plane. Instead of being relocated, they learned they were being sent back to India.

    Another sad story comes from a family in Karnal, Haryana. They sold their home for Rs 45 lakh to help their son, Anuj, chase his American dream. After four months of trying, Anuj was deported back to Amritsar on Saturday with others who were sent back. His family, living in Jundla village, is devastated after Anuj’s dangerous attempt to reach the US via the donkey route. They are now asking the government to take action against dishonest travel agents who cheated them.

    Among the 116 people deported to Amritsar, 33 were from Haryana, including nine from Karnal. Anuj’s father, Ashok, is urging the government to crack down on these shady agents.

  • Harshit Rana Likely to Miss Champions Trophy: Arshdeep Singh Steps Up

    Harshit Rana Likely to Miss Champions Trophy: Arshdeep Singh Steps Up

    Harshit Rana’s excitement about playing for India might be cut short. The young fast bowler is likely to miss the first match of the Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh this Thursday, and possibly the whole tournament.

    Harshit got his ODI cap during a recent series with England, where he took 3 wickets on his first game. But now, it seems he won’t be in the starting team for the Champions Trophy. India has three important matches in the group stage against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand—teams that could give them a tough fight.

    In the last tournament, the T20 World Cup 2021, India lost early games to Pakistan and New Zealand, putting them in a tough spot. To avoid that again, they want their best team to play.

    The other fast bowler, Arshdeep Singh, might not have many ODI games (only 9), but he has been impressive in T20 cricket, becoming the top wicket-taker for India. Reports say he’s currently seen as being better than Harshit.

    Harshit became popular as an up-and-coming player, and India’s coach Gautam Gambhir believes in him. But even though Harshit did okay in his matches against England, he may have to wait for his turn because Arshdeep’s experience is noted and valued. With Jasprit Bumrah not playing, India needs to make the best choices to win their second ICC title in two years.

  • Supreme Court Delays Hearing on Places of Worship Law to April 2024

    Supreme Court Delays Hearing on Places of Worship Law to April 2024

    On Monday, the Supreme Court decided to postpone discussions about a law that protects places of worship until the first week of April. A group of judges, including Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, said a larger group of three judges would hear the case.

    Earlier that day, the court was unhappy with the increase of new cases related to this law, called the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. This law ensures that the religious character of a site remains the same as it was on August 15, 1947. The Chief Justice expressed concern that they might not have enough time to address all the new cases being brought up, mentioning that they might set a later date in March.

    In December, the court had paused several lawsuits from Hindu groups wanting to assess the original religious character of certain mosques like the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and others. These petitions were supposed to be heard on February 17, but new petitions continue to be filed. For example, leaders from different political parties, like AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress’s Iqra Choudhary, have requested that this law be enforced fairly to keep peace and harmony among various communities.

    Choudhary highlighted that many legal actions against mosques are starting to create tensions. Meanwhile, the court had already agreed to look into a separate case brought by Owaisi, asking for similar protection.

    On the other side, a Hindu organization, the Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti, wants to participate in these cases to ensure the law stays valid. Currently, around six main petitions, including one from lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, are challenging parts of the 1991 law, arguing that it limits people’s rights to seek legal action over places of worship.

    The law aims to keep the current religious status of worship sites like they were in 1947, not affecting the well-known Ayodhya dispute over the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid. Muslim groups like the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind wish for strict enforcement of this law to maintain peace. They argue some petitioners are trying to exploit the law and file claims about mosques that are currently protected.

  • Pakistan Aims for Glory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2023!

    Pakistan Aims for Glory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2023!

    The ICC Champions Trophy is coming back after being away for eight years! Last time, Pakistan won the tournament for the first time ever by defeating India in the final at The Oval. Since then, things have changed for Pakistan. The only players still on the team are Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam.

    Fakhar, who returned to the team last October after some issues with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is playing really well. He will be important for the team, especially since Saim Ayub, an in-form opener, got injured and will not be playing. This has raised questions about whether Babar will open the batting for the Champions Trophy.

    In the middle order, Pakistan will rely on captain Mohammad Rizwan, who recently scored 122 runs against South Africa. He will be joined by another strong player, Salman Ali Agha. Together, they made a record partnership in that same match. The team needs to decide how to speed up the run-making during crucial moments.

    Pakistan’s biggest worry, however, is their bowling. The fast bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi, only took 10 wickets during the recent tri-series at home, which is lower than expected. They also lack a good spinner, with Abrar Ahmed being their only option besides part-timers Khushdil Shah and Salman.

    Here’s how Pakistan has performed lately: since the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they didn’t reach the semifinals, they have won 8 out of 12 matches. They recently beat Australia 2-1 and swept South Africa 2-0, which shows their potential. But they lost 2 out of 3 matches in the tri-series against New Zealand, showing they need to be more consistent.

    Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Group Matches:
    – vs New Zealand, February 19, Karachi
    – vs India, February 23, Dubai
    – vs Bangladesh, February 27, Rawalpindi

    Pakistan’s Best XI:
    1. Fakhar Zaman
    2. Babar Azam
    3. Saud Shakeel
    4. Mohammad Rizwan (Captain & Wicketkeeper)
    5. Salman Ali Agha
    6. Tayyab Tahir
    7. Khushdil Shah
    8. Shaheen Afridi
    9. Naseem Shah
    10. Haris Rauf
    11. Abrar Ahmed

    Pakistan’s Full Squad:
    – Mohammad Rizwan (c)
    – Babar Azam
    – Fakhar Zaman
    – Kamran Ghulam
    – Saud Shakeel
    – Tayyab Tahir
    – Faheem Ashraf
    – Khushdil Shah
    – Salman Ali Agha
    – Usman Khan
    – Abrar Ahmed
    – Haris Rauf
    – Mohammad Hasnain
    – Naseem Shah
    – Shaheen Shah Afridi

  • Dilip Kumar Shares Key Insights on Employee Wellness and Work Culture

    Dilip Kumar Shares Key Insights on Employee Wellness and Work Culture

    Venture capitalist Dilip Kumar recently shared his thoughts on employee wellness on social media. He pointed out that many companies make wellness too complicated, which often leads them to miss the mark. According to his post, 64% of employees in India feel stressed and burned out at work. He emphasized that wellness isn’t just about yoga classes, fun office activities, or step challenges.

    Kumar explained that the real issue isn’t just working long hours; it’s also about strict work cultures. He noted that being stuck in a rigid 9-to-6 job, sitting in endless meetings, dealing with long commutes, and worrying about family are what truly cause stress. He said that no amount of meditation or exercise can fix these problems.

    Kumar, who runs Rainmatter (the investment fund of Zerodha), believes companies should allow workers to have flexible schedules. This means letting employees take breaks to exercise, sleep when they need, or care for their families without feeling guilty. He insisted that the healthiest workers aren’t those who follow wellness programs; they are the ones who can create their own lives.

    His views come at a time when many people are talking about work-life balance. In contrast, some well-known figures, like Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and Larsen & Toubro Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan, have faced criticism for promoting long work hours.

  • Kuhnemann Misses Shield Match for Bowling Action Tests: What’s Next?

    Kuhnemann Misses Shield Match for Bowling Action Tests: What’s Next?

    Matthew Kuhnemann, a left-arm spin bowler from Australia, will not play in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield match against South Australia. This decision comes after officials reported that he might have an illegal bowling action. Kuhnemann recently took 16 wickets in a test series where Australia won 2-0 against Sri Lanka.

    Originally, Kuhnemann was supposed to play on Tuesday in Adelaide, but on Monday, the team said he would sit out due to an old thumb injury on his bowling hand. He had surgery last month after breaking his thumb while playing for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League in January. Even with this injury, Kuhnemann played two tests against Sri Lanka in Galle.

    By missing the Shield match, Kuhnemann will have his bowling action tested soon. Experts from the International Cricket Council (ICC) are expected to examine him at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

    This news has sparked discussion across Australia, especially since Kuhnemann had a clean record in more than 100 professional matches since 2017, including five tests and four one-day internationals.

    Steve Smith, who led Australia in the series against Sri Lanka while captain Pat Cummins was injured, said he believed Kuhnemann would be cleared of any issues. Tasmania captain Jordan Silk expressed his support for Kuhnemann, saying many were shocked by the news but that the team would support him and look forward to having him back soon.

  • Ajinkya Rahane Reveals Disappointment Over Team Selection Snub

    Ajinkya Rahane Reveals Disappointment Over Team Selection Snub

    Ajinkya Rahane, a veteran Indian cricketer, has spoken out about being left out of the 2023/25 World Test Championship cycle. Even after performing well in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023, Rahane was not picked for the team. The 36-year-old has not played for India for two years since the current chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, decided to go with younger players.

    Rahane did make a comeback to the Indian Test team after a great performance in the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings, where he scored 89 and 46 runs. This helped him secure a place in the Indian team for the West Indies tour, where he was named vice-captain. However, after that, he was again overlooked in favor of new talent.

    Talking to the Indian Express, Rahane admitted he was disappointed when he was dropped again. He felt that after his good form, he should have been selected for the series against South Africa. He said, “When I was dropped before, I scored runs and got picked for the WTC final, but then I was dropped again. I can only control my game.”

    He also mentioned that he tried to reach out to Agarkar but didn’t get a chance to talk. “I didn’t want to chase them, but I hoped for clearer communication. I was surprised to be left out after the WTC final,” he shared.

    Despite the setbacks, Rahane is determined to keep playing for India. He is currently competing in the Ranji Trophy, where he hopes to show his skills over the next two matches and make a strong case for his return to the national team. “I still have the passion to play for India. My goal is to make a comeback,” he concluded.

  • Chess960 Excitement: Keymer Shines, Gukesh Struggles at Grand Slam

    Chess960 Excitement: Keymer Shines, Gukesh Struggles at Grand Slam

    Chess960, also called Fischer Random Chess, was created by famous player Bobby Fischer in 1996. This exciting chess variant mixes up the starting position of pieces, making the game more fun and less about memorizing opening strategies.

    At the recent Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Germany, Vincent Keymer surprised everyone by defeating big names like Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, claiming first place at Weissenhaus, a beautiful location. This event was part of the Chess960 format, and it got fans buzzing with excitement.

    Unfortunately, for Indian fans, D Gukesh had a tough time and finished in eighth place without winning any games. Magnus Carlsen, the reigning world champion, played impressively before this Grand Slam event.

    D Gukesh’s coach, Grzegorz Gajewski, shared his thoughts with ChessBase India, saying many top players struggled at Weissenhaus because Chess960 is very different from regular chess.

    Famous chess player Judit Polgar also agreed, explaining, “It’s completely different because you have to think in a new way. You can’t rely on your usual strategies.” She mentioned how players like Gukesh tried new pawn strategies, which made the games exciting and tricky.

    Gukesh will participate in the next Grand Slam event in Paris this April, joined by fellow Indian players Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa, forming a strong team!