Author: Rasmita Jena

  • PCB Files Complaint Over Trophy Ceremony Snub in Champions Trophy Final

    PCB Files Complaint Over Trophy Ceremony Snub in Champions Trophy Final

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially complained to the International Cricket Council (ICC). This happened after there was a problem during the final of the Champions Trophy, where their COO, Sumair Ahmed, was not invited to the trophy presentation ceremony.

    In the final match held in Dubai, India beat New Zealand to win the Champions Trophy for the third time. Since PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was not at the match, Sumair went instead as their representative. However, the ICC did not call him to the stage, ignoring his presence completely.

    During the ceremony, BCCI president Roger Binny gave white jackets to the Indian players and handed out medals. Meanwhile, ICC chairman Jay Shah presented the trophy to Indian captain Rohit Sharma and awarded the winning team.

    A PCB official said, “We’ve filed a complaint because what happened is unacceptable.” However, the ICC is unlikely to give a formal response to the PCB. According to ICC sources, protocols led to Sumair being left out. They explained that only certain high-ranking officials are usually invited on stage, and since Sumair is not a top office-holder, he was not included.

    The PCB finds this explanation unreasonable and has called for an official public clarification. They believe that being ignored was disrespectful to Pakistan, the host nation.

    They are waiting for an apology and assurance that such treatment won’t occur again, warning that they may take the matter to the Board of Governors if necessary.

  • Manipur Receives Rs 500 Crore Fund for Financial Support and Recovery

    Manipur Receives Rs 500 Crore Fund for Financial Support and Recovery

    In a big move to help the troubled state of Manipur, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Tuesday that the government is setting up a special fund of Rs 500 crore. This money will be used as a safety net for emergencies in Manipur. She made this announcement while talking about various financial demands and budgets in the Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of Parliament. This new fund aims to strengthen Manipur’s finances and support its recovery.

  • Robert Pattinson and Zendaya: A Behind-the-Scenes Help Moment!

    Robert Pattinson and Zendaya: A Behind-the-Scenes Help Moment!

    In a surprising moment, Robert Pattinson turned to Zendaya for help with a tough scene that was making him feel really stressed. They will both be in a new movie called The Drama, which tells the story of a couple facing surprising challenges just before their wedding.

    Pattinson’s Struggles:
    Pattinson was struggling with a scene he couldn’t understand. He said, “I kept writing and trying to find out what it meant, but nothing worked.” So, he called Zendaya the night before they were supposed to film. He shared all his worries with her for about two hours. She calmly helped him see that the lines in the script simply meant what they said—there was no deep hidden meaning.

    Emotional Challenges:
    This isn’t the first time Pattinson has faced difficulties while acting. He once shared that filming another movie, Die, My Love, nearly made him have a mental breakdown. He found those dance scenes really hard because he felt like he couldn’t keep up with good dancers like Jennifer Lawrence. He laughed about how nervous he was, saying, “I was sweating so much, I thought I was going to fall apart!”

    Upcoming Releases:
    Both The Drama and Die, My Love are set to come out this year, but release dates haven’t been announced yet.

  • Last Chance to Register for NCC Special Entry in Indian Army!

    Last Chance to Register for NCC Special Entry in Indian Army!

    The Indian Army will stop accepting applications for the NCC Special Entry Scheme on March 15, 2025. If you want to apply and meet the requirements, head over to the official website at joinindianarmy.nic.in.

    Job Openings:
    1. NCC Men: 70 positions
    2. NCC Women: 6 positions

    Who Can Apply?
    Check the educational requirements in the Detailed Notification available on the website.

    Age Requirement:
    To apply, you need to be between 19 to 25 years old as of July 1, 2025. This means you should be born between July 2, 2000, and July 1, 2006.

    Probation Period:
    New officers will have a six-month probation. If they don’t meet the standards during this time, their service may end.

    How Selection Works:
    1. Your application will be reviewed to shortlist candidates.
    2. You will receive an email about your selection center.
    3. After that, you can log in online and choose your SSB dates.
    4. Only those who are shortlisted will go to the SSB for further assessment.

    If you are selected and medically fit, you will get a joining letter for training based on your rank.

    How to Apply:
    1. Go to the Indian Army’s website at joinindianarmy.nic.in.
    2. Click on the “Officer Entry Application/Login” link.
    3. A new page will open; choose “register”.
    4. Fill out the application form and submit it.
    5. Download the confirmation page for your records.

    Once you submit your application, you cannot change any details. There will be no exceptions!

    For updates and more information, check the official Indian Army website.

  • EU Aims to Strengthen Defence Spending Amid Rising Tensions

    EU Aims to Strengthen Defence Spending Amid Rising Tensions

    On Tuesday, European Union president Ursula von der Leyen urged EU countries to spend more on their defence. She warned that with Russia being more aggressive and support from the United States declining, Europe needs to take charge of its own security.

    In a speech to EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, von der Leyen declared that the era of depending on America for complete protection is over. She demanded immediate action, saying, “We need a surge in European defence. And we need it now.”

    Recently, EU leaders agreed on a plan to raise around 800 billion euros (about 860 billion dollars) to boost defence spending. The plan includes providing loans up to 150 billion euros and changing rules to let countries spend more on defence items.

    Von der Leyen emphasized that these loans should be used to strengthen Europe’s defence industry. “These loans should finance purchases from European producers,” she mentioned.

    The rising tensions with Russia, particularly due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict, add to the urgency. Because the US’s role in NATO is uncertain, European governments feel pressure to enhance their military capabilities.

    In her speech, von der Leyen said, “Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted but only deterred.” She added that Russia spends more on its military than all of Europe combined.

    “This is the time to build a European Defence Union that ensures peace through unity and strength,” she stated confidently.

    Additionally, the commission is looking into allowing member states to use funds originally meant for less wealthy countries to support their defence efforts. A summit in Brussels next week will continue these discussions, with plans for a white paper that outlines more ways to boost EU defence financing.

    In the EU parliament debate, many lawmakers supported the idea of borrowing together for more defence funding, a move previously avoided by countries like Germany.

  • Nifty Bank Index: Key Winners and Losers of the Day!

    Nifty Bank Index: Key Winners and Losers of the Day!

    In New Delhi, the Nifty Bank index ended the day on a low note, which means it lost some value. However, not all banks struggled. ICICI Bank’s share price increased by 2.52%, Canara Bank went up by 0.96%, Kotak Mahindra Bank rose by 0.7%, State Bank of India had a small increase of 0.14%, and Federal Bank went up by 0.05%. These banks were the top performers today.

    On the flip side, some banks faced big losses. IndusInd Bank dropped sharply by 27.16%, Au Small Finance Bank fell by 3.11%, IDFC First Bank went down by 1.8%, Axis Bank lost 0.99%, and Bank of Baroda dropped by 0.73%. Overall, the Nifty Bank index ended 0.75% lower, closing at 47,853.95.

    In other news, the main Nifty50 index increased slightly by 37.61 points, ending at 22,497.9. The BSE Sensex finished down by 12.85 points at 74,102.32. Among the 50 stocks in the Nifty50, 29 gained value, while 21 saw a drop.

    Popular stocks traded today included Vodafone Idea, Zomato, IndusInd Bank, YES Bank, and Suzlon Energy. Notably, Nitiraj Engineers, Sarda Energy, Taj GVK Hotels, AXISCADES Engg Tech, and California Soft hit new highs in their share prices. Meanwhile, IndusInd Bank, Hercules Hoists, Fourth Dimension Sol, Hi-Tech Pipes, and Senco Gold reached 52-week lows.

  • Trump Accuses Canada of Tariff Abuse Over Electricity Price Hike

    Trump Accuses Canada of Tariff Abuse Over Electricity Price Hike

    On Monday, President Donald Trump called Canada a “tariff abuser” after Ontario raised electricity prices for three U.S. states. Trump said the U.S. doesn’t need energy from Canada anymore.

    “Ontario has just put a 25% tax on electricity,” Trump said, claiming that Canada shouldn’t be allowed to do this. He added that the U.S. will not pay for Canada’s products anymore.

    “We don’t need your cars, lumber, or energy, and soon you’ll see that,” Trump said.

    These comments came after Ontario announced a higher export tax that affects around 1.5 million American customers in Minnesota, New York, and Michigan. Ontario’s Premier, Doug Ford, warned he might increase the tax or even cut off electricity if the U.S. retaliates.

    “I feel bad for the American people who didn’t start this trade war; it’s all President Trump’s fault,” Ford said.

    Trump has previously suggested absorbing Canada and caused confusion in trade between the two countries since he took office, according to reports.

  • Kremlin Warns Against False Hope in U.S.-Ukraine Relations

    Kremlin Warns Against False Hope in U.S.-Ukraine Relations

    The Kremlin warned Russians not to get too excited about recent actions by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine. Speaking at a school in Moscow, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told people to avoid seeing things only in a positive light. He mentioned concerns about Elon Musk possibly cutting off the Ukrainian military from his Starlink internet service, as well as Trump’s recent choice to stop military aid to Ukraine.

    “Don’t rush to think everything is great,” Peskov said. “We should hope for the best, but also be ready for tough times. We need to protect our own interests.” His warning came as U.S. officials were set to meet with Ukrainian leaders in Saudi Arabia, partly to see if Ukraine would agree to make any concessions to Russia to help end the war.

    Peskov stated that Russia is still achieving its goals on the battlefield in Ukraine, no matter what the U.S. decides. He claimed that Ukraine has so many weapons that it can keep fighting for months, even with the pause in U.S. military support.

  • Youth Violence in Kerala: Understanding the Growing Problem

    Youth Violence in Kerala: Understanding the Growing Problem

    Thiruvananthapuram – In a recent meeting, Kerala’s Excise Minister, M B Rajesh, explained that many young people, including students, have developed a growing problem with violence. He mentioned that violence is becoming like a drug to them, with many showing what he called a “sadistic mindset,” meaning they find pleasure in causing harm to others.

    When asked about how schools are teaching kids about the dangers of alcohol and drugs, Rajesh said that the problem isn’t just about drugs; it’s also that many kids are turning to violence for excitement. He pointed out that popular web series, movies, and social media are contributing to this increase in violent behavior.

    To help combat this issue, the Sports Minister, V Abdurahiman, announced that starting May 1, there will be a large anti-drug campaign across the state. This campaign will show students that sports can be a fun alternative to drugs. The minister asked all local leaders to pitch in and help make this campaign successful.

    Rajesh stressed that we need to work together to find solutions. He mentioned that there’s a problem of “apoliticalism,” meaning that there aren’t strong groups to hold accountable for the violence. To tackle these issues, student and youth groups should join the efforts to reduce drug use and violence.

    The government is taking actions like forming committees in schools to keep an eye on things and creating easy-to-read materials that teach students about the harm caused by drugs. These materials will also be used in school textbooks so that kids learn about these risks all year long.

  • Controversy Over Yogi Adityanath’s Image at Pro-Monarchy Rally in Nepal

    Controversy Over Yogi Adityanath’s Image at Pro-Monarchy Rally in Nepal

    A big argument happened in Nepal when some photos of Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, were shown at a rally that celebrated the former king, Gyanendra Shah. This rally took place at Tribhuvan International Airport when Gyanendra arrived from Pokhara after visiting places of worship. Many supporters, including leaders from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), came together to show they want the monarchy back.

    Some of Gyanendra’s supporters rode motorbikes with his pictures and flags, and a few had pictures of Adityanath too, which caused some people to get upset. In response to the negative feelings, RPP spokesperson Gyanendra Shahi accused Prime Minister K P Oli’s government of trying to ruin the pro-monarchy movement. Shahi claimed the government put someone at the rally to stir up trouble.

    However, Bishnu Rimal, who is an advisor to Prime Minister Oli, denied these accusations. On social media, Shahi said, “This is just a trick made by people who don’t deserve their positions.”

    Prime Minister Oli did not mention Adityanath by name but said, “We don’t use pictures of foreign leaders in our rallies” during a program in Kathmandu. Earlier this year, Gyanendra had met Adityanath during a trip to Uttar Pradesh.

    Supporters of Gyanendra have been holding rallies in different parts of the country, including Kathmandu and Pokhara, asking to bring back the monarchy, which was ended in 2008 after the People’s Movement. Pro-monarchists have gained more energy since February, when Gyanendra said, “It’s time for us to take responsibility to protect our country and unite our people.”