Author: Sarita Jena

  • MeitY Workshop: Improving Grievance Handling and Protecting India’s Map

    MeitY Workshop: Improving Grievance Handling and Protecting India’s Map

    On Wednesday, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) hosted a workshop in New Delhi aimed at improving how people can complain about social media content. This event was the first meeting between members of three Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs) and social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter/X, which were set up to help users when they have issues with platforms’ decisions.

    At the workshop, government officials asked social media companies if there was a way to automatically block maps of India that leave out areas like Jammu and Kashmir. These discussions are part of a big push for a safer and more responsible internet.

    GACs were created in 2022 to help users who are unhappy with how social media platforms handle their complaints. If users are not satisfied with the platform’s response, they can go to these government bodies for help.

    During the workshop, some GAC members suggested that social media companies should provide more detailed answers to complaints instead of just sending standard replies. They also requested that platforms include dates in their communications so they could track if complaints were resolved in time.

    In very serious cases, like when a woman’s account is hacked, the GACs can still take complaints, even if they are a bit late or weren’t first addressed by the platform.

  • FMCG Stocks Surge as Colgate, Dabur Lead Gains Today!

    FMCG Stocks Surge as Colgate, Dabur Lead Gains Today!

    On Thursday morning, several fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies saw their stock prices go up. At around 9:59 AM, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd. led the way with a rise of 2.79%. Other companies doing well included:

    – Dabur India Ltd. (up 1.82%)
    – Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. (up 1.59%)
    – Marico Ltd. (up 1.57%)
    – Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (up 1.11%)

    In contrast, some companies faced losses in their stock prices. JHS Svendgaard Laboratories Ltd. was down by 1.48%, and other losers included:

    – Varun Beverages Ltd. (down 0.96%)
    – Parag Milk Foods Ltd. (down 0.69%)
    – Nestle India Ltd. (down 0.12%)

    Overall, the NSE Nifty50 index rose by 59.55 points, reaching 23629.4, while the BSE Sensex fell by 159.57 points, reaching 77988.92. Despite some declines, many companies like Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (up 1.77%) and Infosys Ltd. (up 0.52%) were still on the rise. Companies like Apollo Hospitals and Tata Motors saw their stocks drop by about 1%, showing that while some stocks were up, others were struggling.

  • PSU Mutual Funds: Time to Be Cautious or a Chance for Recovery?

    PSU Mutual Funds: Time to Be Cautious or a Chance for Recovery?

    Recently, six mutual funds focused on Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have not been doing well. In fact, they lost up to 12% in the last three months! The Quant PSU Fund, which is new and started in February 2024, lost the most—around 11.58%. Other funds like the CPSE ETF lost about 10.14%, while Aditya Birla SL PSU Equity Fund and ICICI Pru PSU Equity Fund had losses of 8.55% and 6.80%, respectively.

    Many people are asking: Why are these funds struggling? An expert named Rajesh Minocha explained that the reasons include market corrections, global uncertainty, and people taking profits after stocks went up. He suggests that instead of jumping onto the latest trendy funds, investors should look at flexible funds like flexi-cap and multi-cap options.

    Even though PSU funds have not been performing well lately, they can still be important for long-term investments, especially in sectors like infrastructure, energy, and defense, which are supported by the government. Minocha advises investors to focus on quality PSUs that have strong fundamentals and growth potential.

    Currently, PSU funds are seeing average returns of around -7.87% over the last month. Invesco India PSU Equity Fund saw the biggest drop, losing about 8.72%.

    For those invested in these funds, Minocha recommends being cautious. He doesn’t think investors should panic, but it’s wise to avoid putting too much money into one area. Keeping a balanced investment portfolio and watching for budget announcements can help in finding new opportunities or risks.

    Minocha also emphasizes that investors should not focus on short-term gains but instead think about long-term investments. Staying invested for a longer time is key to making money.

    In 2024, PSU funds had a great year, thanks to strong financials and a focus on infrastructure by the government. This created a lot of interest in PSUs.

    Looking ahead to the upcoming budget, Minocha believes there will be a big focus on selling off parts of PSUs to boost resources, along with spending in energy, railways, and defense. He believes these steps are aimed at making PSUs more efficient and aligning them with India’s long-term growth plans.

    To invest in these funds, it’s important to have a long-term plan or a good understanding of the sector. It’s crucial to avoid making quick decisions based on short-term trends.

  • Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster: New Romance After Deborra-Lee Split!

    Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster: New Romance After Deborra-Lee Split!

    Hugh Jackman, a famous actor known for his role in “Wolverine,” has recently made headlines after he was seen with Sutton Foster, a Broadway star. They were spotted holding hands while having dinner in Santa Monica, California. The two have worked together in “The Music Man,” and there have been rumors about their relationship for some time now.

    Meanwhile, Deborra-Lee Furness, Hugh’s wife of 27 years, recently talked about their close relationship before their split in September 2023. She mentioned to People Magazine that they did everything together and joked that she might step in to play Sutton’s role if necessary. She laughed and said, “You’d have to push me onto the stage,” showing she was light-hearted about it.

    After the news of Hugh and Sutton being together surfaced, Deborra-Lee reportedly felt relieved. Sources say she had been worried and had suspicions about Hugh and Sutton’s closeness. When she finally saw photos of them together, she felt like her feelings were confirmed. Now, she feels ready to move on with her life.

    There had been whispers about Hugh and Sutton’s relationship for a while. Interestingly, Deborra-Lee showed she was aware of the rumors by liking an Instagram post that mentioned Hugh “running off with the mistress.”

    After everything, it was noted that Deborra-Lee was upset with Hugh’s friends, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. She felt blindsided because they didn’t tell her about what was going on between Hugh and Sutton. According to a source, she feels cheated that they kept quiet when they could have said something.

  • Australia’s New Cricket Squad: Maxwell Left Out for Sri Lanka Tour

    Australia’s New Cricket Squad: Maxwell Left Out for Sri Lanka Tour

    Australia’s cricket team has made big changes for their upcoming tour to Sri Lanka, and Glenn Maxwell’s dreams of playing Test cricket again may now be over. Maxwell and fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh were not selected for the squad. Instead, the team has picked 19-year-old Cooper Connolly, who has yet to make his debut, as a new spin bowler.

    Steve Smith will be captain, filling in as regular skipper Pat Cummins is away on paternity leave and also dealing with an ankle injury. Paceman Josh Hazlewood is not included as he recovers from a calf injury.

    The squad also sees the return of Nathan McSweeney, who was dropped earlier in the series against India. They are looking forward to letting new players grow in their cricket skills while playing in Sri Lanka’s conditions.

    Teenagers Sam Konstas and Beau Webster showed great potential in their first games and have retained their spots. Uncapped bowler Sean Abbott joins experienced players like Mitchell Starc.

    Australia recently defeated India 3-1 and already secured a place in the World Test Championship final against South Africa in June.

    Squad for Sri Lanka:
    Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

  • Pushpa 2: The Rule Reloaded Drops Extra Footage on January 17!

    Pushpa 2: The Rule Reloaded Drops Extra Footage on January 17!

    The highly awaited movie, Pushpa 2: The Rule Reloaded, featuring Allu Arjun, is now set to release in theaters on January 17, instead of the original date of January 11. The production company, Mythri Movie Makers, announced this change on their social media and explained that it happened due to some delays in finishing the film. They thanked fans for being patient.

    This “reloaded” version will include 20 extra minutes of new footage, giving fans more thrilling moments to enjoy. The producers believe that the extra content will make watching the movie even more exciting, especially since it will be released during the festive season of Sankranthi.

    Fan Reactions
    Fans are buzzing with excitement! One fan hopes this movie will meet everyone’s hopes and provide the explosive action they’ve been waiting for. Another fan marked January 17 as a date not to be missed, eager to see Pushpa take over the big screen again. Some are even wondering if the release change is because of Ram Charan’s upcoming movie, Game Changer.

    Details about the Additional Footage
    The new scenes in the reloaded version are likely to include extended parts from the Japan sequence, which was teased in the trailer but not included in the first release. Fans can’t wait to see these moments and other new content that will make the movie experience even better.

    So far, Pushpa 2 has broken many records, though it still trails behind Dangal as the highest-grossing Indian film globally. Dangal has earned about Rs 2,059 crores worldwide, while Pushpa 2 has reached around ₹1,831 crores in just 32 days. In North America, it stands as the fourth-grossing Tollywood film, earning Rs 15.04 million, behind Baahubali 2, Kalki 2898 AD, and RRR.

    About the Film
    Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2 tells the story of Pushpa’s climb in the sandalwood mafia. The film has impressed audiences in several languages: Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. However, the competition is tough during the Sankranthi season with several big movie releases lined up, including Game Changer, Daaku Maharaj, and Sankranthiki Vasthunnam. The release of the reloaded version is a smart strategy to keep its box office leadership against these strong competitors. The film features Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, among others.

  • Market Update: Key Insights on Delta Corp, Waaree Energies, & Tata Technologies

    Market Update: Key Insights on Delta Corp, Waaree Energies, & Tata Technologies

    The stock market ended slightly down on Wednesday after a busy day, as investors held back before the earnings reports come out and worried about slower economic growth. Some stocks caught attention:

    – Delta Corp: This stock went up by 3%. It’s showing early signs of bouncing back from a key support level of Rs 110. If it stays strong, it could rise further to Rs 120 and Rs 124. A solid base at Rs 104 acts like a safety net.

    – Waaree Energies: This stock went down by 3%. It’s trading close to a major support level of Rs 2675. If it breaks below this, it might drop to Rs 2500. However, if it holds above Rs 2675, it could rebound to Rs 2850 and Rs 3000. Keep an eye on how it performs at Rs 2675.

    – Tata Technologies: This stock fell below the important level of Rs 883, which shows it’s struggling. If the stock keeps dropping, it might decline to Rs 850 and Rs 825. It’s important to set a stop-loss at Rs 920 to protect against unexpected rises.

  • Oil Prices Drop Amid Rising U.S. Fuel Inventory: What’s Next?

    Oil Prices Drop Amid Rising U.S. Fuel Inventory: What’s Next?

    Oil prices are down again on Thursday, continuing a drop from the day before. This decline is mainly due to a large increase in U.S. fuel inventory levels. However, worries about reduced supplies from OPEC (countries that produce a lot of oil) and Russia helped prevent prices from falling too much.

    Brent crude oil prices fell 28 cents, or 0.4%, bringing them to $75.88 a barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 30 cents, also down 0.4%, settling at $73.02. Both these types of oil lost over 1% just a day earlier. The reason for the drop is a stronger U.S. dollar and more fuel in stock than analysts expected.

    According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gasoline supplies grew by 6.3 million barrels last week, reaching 237.7 million barrels. Experts predicted only a 1.5 million-barrel increase. Distillate supplies, which include diesel fuel, also went up by 6.1 million barrels to 128.9 million barrels, far above the expected 600,000-barrel rise. However, crude oil supplies actually dropped by 959,000 barrels, while analysts thought there would be a small decline of 184,000 barrels.

    Though there’s been a lot of fuel inventory growth, prices aren’t falling too much because winter demand is increasing in the northern hemisphere. Hiroyuki Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, mentioned that people are likely to hold off on making big trades until the new U.S. President takes office on January 20.

    In the market, the difference in price between the first-month Brent future contract and the six-month contract reached its highest level since August 2024. This difference reflects worries about tight supply and hopes for more demand from China.

    A survey from Reuters showed that oil production from OPEC fell in December after two months of increases. Maintenance work in the United Arab Emirates impacted overall production. Meanwhile, in Russia, oil production averaged 8.971 million barrels a day in December, which is below their target goals.

  • Los Angeles Wildfires: Firefighters Face Water Shortage Amid Emergencies

    Los Angeles Wildfires: Firefighters Face Water Shortage Amid Emergencies

    Wildfires are burning in Southern California, especially in Los Angeles. Firefighters trying to control the Palisades fire are struggling because they are running out of water. Some firefighters reported that fire hydrants are dry, making it hard to put out the flames.

    Recently, a fire burned homes in Pacific Palisades, forcing people to evacuate quickly. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and warned that things could get worse, as strong winds are expected to continue.

    Rick Caruso, a wealthy developer, confirmed the lack of water by saying, “There’s no water in the fire hydrants.” He mentioned that firefighters are present but can’t do much without water, leading to neighborhoods and businesses catching fire.

    A representative from the Department of Water and Power acknowledged the problem, stating that they are working to provide water supplies. They added that this area has water tanks and they are coordinating efforts to maintain water availability.

    As firefighters battle strong winds, which can gust over 100 mph, wildfires have forced 30,000 people to leave their homes in Pacific Palisades. The fire has burned thousands of acres and is expanding. Over 1,400 firefighters are currently fighting these serious fires in Los Angeles.

    Evacuation orders have been given for another 52,000 people in nearby areas like Altadena, La Cañada Flintridge, and parts of Glendale.

  • Prataap Snacks Gets Open Offer – What You Need to Know!

    Prataap Snacks Gets Open Offer – What You Need to Know!

    Prataap Snacks, a company that makes snacks, has announced that Authum Investment & Infrastructure and Mahi Madhusudan Kela want to buy a part of the company. They plan to buy up to about 62.98 lakh equity shares, which is 26.01% of Prataap Snacks, for Rs 865.66 each. This offer includes a cash price of Rs 864 per share and an interest amount of Rs 1.66 per share.

    After the news came out, Prataap Snacks’ share price increased by 3.04%, closing at Rs 1,181 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The total value of Prataap Snacks is about Rs 2,800 crore. Authum Investment & Infrastructure, a registered non-banking financial company (NBFC) founded in 1982, is valued at Rs 32,265 crore.

    Mahi Kela is known as the wife of famous investor Madhusudan Kela. This offer follows India’s regulations for purchasing shares from public shareholders. If more shareholders want to sell their shares than the offered amount, then the shares will be accepted proportionately, meaning not everyone may get their shares sold.

    The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved this acquisition back in December. However, Prataap Snacks has faced challenges, with its share price dropping by 1.2% in the last year, while the Nifty index has gained 10%. On a positive note, over the last six months, Prataap Snacks has performed better than Nifty, increasing by 32%, while Nifty has lost some value.