Author: Sarita Jena

  • Magnus Carlsen Quits Chess Championships Over Dress Code Dispute

    Magnus Carlsen Quits Chess Championships Over Dress Code Dispute

    Magnus Carlsen, the top chess player in the world, has quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships. He decided to leave after a disagreement about the tournament’s dress code. Carlsen, who has won the World Rapid Championship five times and the World Blitz Championship seven times, was fined $200 for refusing to change out of his jeans, which went against the rules set by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

    The Chief Arbiter warned Carlsen that if he didn’t follow the dress code, he would not be allowed to play in the remaining rounds. However, Carlsen chose to leave the tournament instead of changing. Speaking to the chess channel “Take Take Take,” he said it became a matter of principle for him. He also mentioned that he was surprised by the fine because he had come straight from lunch and hadn’t realized that wearing jeans would be a problem.

    Carlsen’s exit is the latest in a series of disagreements with FIDE. He has criticized the organization for interfering with “Freestyle Chess,” a version of chess he supports, and he has expressed frustration with how FIDE is run. On its part, FIDE denied Carlsen’s claims and insisted that only they can approve events labeled as world championships.

  • Top 10 Incredible Places to Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2025 in India

    Top 10 Incredible Places to Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2025 in India

    As we look forward to 2025, many people are searching for the best places to celebrate New Year’s Eve. India has a variety of amazing options, whether you want to party hard or relax in peace. Here are the top 10 places to celebrate in India!

    1. Goa – The Party Paradise

    Goa is known as the ultimate party place in India. With its beautiful beaches and lively atmosphere, it’s perfect for New Year’s Eve. Enjoy beach parties with live music, fireworks, and lots of dancing. Whether you’re staying at a fancy hotel or a beach hut, you’re sure to have a blast!

    2. Mumbai – The City That Never Sleeps

    Mumbai is famous for its grand New Year’s celebrations. You can find fun parties at hotels, rooftops, and beaches. Enjoy tasty food, live music, and stunning views of the city lights. It’s a great spot for night owls who love to party until dawn!

    3. Jaipur – A Royal Festivity

    If you want a special celebration, Jaipur is the place to go. You can celebrate New Year’s Eve in beautiful palaces and fancy hotels. Experience the rich culture, amazing buildings, and delicious local food for a truly royal New Year!

    4. Udaipur – The City of Lakes

    Udaipur is one of the most romantic places in India. You can celebrate by the tranquil lakeside at a cozy resort or enjoy a lovely dinner while admiring the glowing City Palace. It’s a peaceful, beautiful way to start the New Year.

    5. Delhi – A Bit of Everything

    Delhi offers a mix of parties and culture. You can enjoy rooftop celebrations with great city views, visit famous landmarks, or go to live music events. The energy in Delhi makes it a fun spot to welcome the New Year!

    6. Kerala – A Calm Celebration

    If you want a peaceful setting, visit Kerala. Known for its amazing greenery and backwaters, Kerala is perfect for a relaxing New Year. Enjoy a scenic houseboat ride in Alleppey or relax by the beach in a lovely resort.

    7. Rishikesh – A Spiritual Beginning

    Rishikesh is perfect for those looking for a spiritual New Year. Join a tranquil Ganga Aarti ceremony by the river, take part in meditation sessions, or join a yoga retreat to begin the year with peace and positivity.

    8. Manali – A Winter Wonderland

    If you love snow, Manali is the perfect choice. With its snowy mountains and stunning views, it’s a fantastic winter destination. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in a cozy resort or enjoy a lively party surrounded by beautiful landscapes.

    9. Pondicherry – The French Charm

    Pondicherry is a laid-back spot with a unique mix of French-style buildings and peaceful beaches. Celebrate the New Year with beach parties, bonfires, and delicious seafood. It’s an enchanting place for a quieter celebration.

    10. Andaman and Nicobar Islands – A Beach Paradise

    For the ultimate beach holiday, head to the Andaman Islands. With its stunning beaches and clear waters, it’s a tropical paradise to start the New Year. Enjoy water sports or just relax on the beach for a refreshing New Year getaway!

  • ICC Awards 2024: Nominees for Emerging Cricketer of the Year Revealed

    ICC Awards 2024: Nominees for Emerging Cricketer of the Year Revealed

    New Delhi,India – The International Cricket Council (ICC) has just shared the first list of nominees for the ICC Awards 2024! These awards focus on the new stars in men’s and women’s cricket who have shown great talent over the past year.

    This year, the nominees for the Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year come from different countries. They include:

    – Gus Atkinson from England, who had a fantastic start to his Test career.
    – Saim Ayub from Pakistan, known for scoring runs in many formats.
    – Shamar Joseph from the West Indies, a fast bowler to watch.
    – Kamindu Mendis from Sri Lanka, who broke records while batting.

    For the Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year, the nominees are:

    – Annerie Dercksen from South Africa, an all-round player.
    – Saskia Horley from Scotland, a rising talent.
    – Shreyanka Patil from India, making waves in the sport.
    – Freya Sargent from Ireland, who has impressed everyone.

    Fans can learn more about these players on the ICC website. The ICC Awards 2024 will celebrate 12 different awards, and the nominees will be revealed in stages from December 28 to December 30. A special group of cricket experts picked these nominees based on their performances over the year.

    Now, cricket fans can vote for their favorite Emerging players at www.icc-cricket.com. The results from fans will be combined with votes from an international panel to decide the winners in each category.

    Other awards to be announced include the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year and the ICC Umpire of the Year. The best teams of the year will also be decided. Winners of the ICC Awards 2024 will be revealed in late January 2025.

    Here are the nominees so far:

    ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year: Gus Atkinson, Saim Ayub, Shamar Joseph, Kamindu Mendis.
    ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Annerie Dercksen, Saskia Horley, Shreyanka Patil, Freya Sargent.

    This article was created using an automated news agency feed without changes to the original text.

  • Jr NTR Enjoys Family Time at London’s Winter Wonderland – See the Fun!

    Jr NTR Enjoys Family Time at London’s Winter Wonderland – See the Fun!

    Jr NTR is enjoying some family time in London, especially at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. Many fans spotted the actor there and shared videos online. He visited the park with his wife, Lakshmi Pranathi, and their two sons, Abhay Ram and Bhargav Ram. The family looked cheerful, all dressed warmly to stay cozy in the chilly weather.

    One fan video shows Jr NTR happily buying a toy for Abhay, asking him what he likes before telling the shopkeeper. Another clip captures them standing in a line for a fun ride. Other videos show the family munching on snacks while strolling around the park and taking a break to chat and relax together.

    Jr NTR doesn’t usually share photos from his vacations, so fans were excited to get a peek into his London trip. People are curious to see if he will post a picture to wish everyone a happy new year.

    ### Recent Work
    Jr NTR’s latest movie is called Devara: Part 1, directed by Koratala Siva. Fans were eagerly waiting for it since it was his next big project after the hit film RRR by SS Rajamouli. The movie did fairly well at the box office, but the reviews were mixed.

    Currently, he is working on a new film directed by Prashanth Neel. This one is said to be a period drama, which means it’s set in a specific time period, not a historic fiction like some fans thought.

  • Dua Lipa Engagement: Fans React to Surprise Ring!

    Dua Lipa Engagement: Fans React to Surprise Ring!

    Dua Lipa, the singer of the hit song “Levitating,” might be engaged to actor Callum Turner after dating for almost a year. On Friday, she shared fun photos from her Christmas celebrations on social media. Fans quickly spotted a sparkling ring on her left hand in one of the pictures!

    In the photo, Dua is wearing a stylish black and white fuzzy coat and taking a mirror selfie. As she poses, fans noticed a big diamond ring that looked like an engagement ring. They filled the comments with excitement, asking, “Are you engaged, Dua?” and “Let us see the ring!”

    Dua and Callum, who is 34 years old, started dating in January this year. A source told Page Six that they are very much in love and that their relationship is strong. Now, with rumors flying around, another source revealed to Niftystat that the couple is indeed engaged! They plan to celebrate with family and friends on New Year’s Eve.

    According to these friends, “Dua and Callum are so in love and know this is forever.” They are engaged and couldn’t be happier!

  • Astrology 2025: Which Zodiac Signs Will Shine Brightest?

    Astrology 2025: Which Zodiac Signs Will Shine Brightest?

    Astrologers say 2025 is going to be a fantastic year for some zodiac signs, bringing loads of luck and exciting opportunities! If your sign is one of them, follow your gut feelings and chase your dreams, because this year is full of potential.

    Which Signs Will Shine in 2025? Let’s Find Out!

    To see how the stars will affect you, check your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. Here are the three zodiac signs that can expect big success and growth in 2025:

    Gemini: Welcome Changes!
    From July 7 to November 7, 2025, Uranus will move into Gemini, starting a 7-year journey of big changes that will fully show in 2026. This is Gemini’s chance to try new things, step out of their comfort zone, and grow. Although it might feel tough at times, it’s an important journey. By embracing these changes, Geminis can discover their true purpose and see life in a new way. 2025 could be the year they break through limits and soar to new heights!

    Cancer: Grab the Opportunities!
    In June 2025, Jupiter will enter Cancer, bringing a wave of good luck and new chances that will last for about a year. This is when Cancers can attract amazing success. Jupiter’s energy will inspire them to push past their usual boundaries and explore great possibilities. Cancers’ natural kindness will attract others and help them create strong connections and support. Staying true to themselves will be key to their success!

    Pisces: Follow Your Path!
    As the North Node moves into Pisces in January 2025, this year will be powerful for transformation. Pisces will feel a strong urge to grow and change, guided by a deep sense of purpose. This time offers the chance to know themselves better, love themselves more, and live a happier life. By trusting their instincts, Pisces can follow their true path and unlock their full potential.

  • Omar Abdullah Ensures Quick Recovery Efforts After Ganderbal Snowfall

    Omar Abdullah Ensures Quick Recovery Efforts After Ganderbal Snowfall

    Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, visited his constituency, Ganderbal, on Saturday to see how people were doing after the snowfall. He wanted to check on the situation and see how the local government was helping the citizens.

    First, he made an unannounced visit to the district hospital to see if it was ready to help patients. He spoke with doctors, nurses, and people being treated there. He stressed how important it was to provide continuous medical services, especially during tough times. He asked about heating, staff availability, medicines, and other important facilities.

    Next, he went to the mini-secretariat to discuss the situation with local officials. During a meeting with divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners, Abdullah talked about clearing snow from roads and restoring water and power supplies. He instructed everyone to act quickly to keep essential services running smoothly.

    After meeting with reporters, Abdullah mentioned, “I came here to ensure that people don’t have too much trouble because of the snow. I want to speed up the snow-clearing on roads and restore electricity as soon as possible.” He also added that he is keeping an eye on other areas affected by the snowfall. He promised that electricity would be restored by Saturday evening in some areas and that efforts are underway to clear blocked roads. For areas without water supply, he assured that immediate actions would be taken, and water tankers would be sent where needed.

  • New Zealand Claims Nail-Biting T20 Win Over Sri Lanka by 8 Runs

    New Zealand Claims Nail-Biting T20 Win Over Sri Lanka by 8 Runs

    In an exciting T20 match on Saturday, New Zealand narrowly defeated Sri Lanka by eight runs. Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell each scored half centuries and together made a strong partnership of 105 runs for the sixth wicket. Their impressive performance helped New Zealand reach a total of 172 runs, even after they had struggled early on at 65 runs for 5 wickets.

    Sri Lanka started well, with Pathum Nissanka scoring a fantastic 90 runs, building a big opening partnership of 121 runs with Kusal Mendis, who added 46 runs. Just when it looked like Sri Lanka would win easily, things changed quickly. Jacob Duffy bowled an incredible over, taking three wickets for just one run, which completely turned the game around for New Zealand.

    By the time Nissanka was out, Sri Lanka was at 153 runs for 5 wickets, needing only 20 more runs to win. However, with several players getting out cheaply after that, Sri Lanka could not finish the job. Their captain, Charith Asalanka, expressed disappointment, saying the team should have performed better.

    New Zealand’s bowlers, particularly Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes, did a great job towards the end, helping secure the win. It was a thrilling match, showing how quickly the game can change.

  • 43 Lakh Cheque Bounce Cases: What’s Causing the Delay?

    43 Lakh Cheque Bounce Cases: What’s Causing the Delay?

    As of December 18, there are more than 43 lakh cases of bounced cheques waiting to be resolved in courts all across India. Rajasthan has the highest number, with over 6.4 lakh cases. Other states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal also have many of these cases pending.

    Cheque bounce cases, along with traffic fines, make up a large part of the delays in Indian courts. While the government has made it easier to pay traffic fines online through virtual courts, bounced cheque cases still have to be handled in regular courts. This is because they involve serious legal matters that require evidence and witness statements.

    Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal recently explained in Parliament that these delays happen for a few reasons. They include many court adjournments (delays), not having enough monitoring systems, and no clear time limits for the courts to finish these cases. The ability to resolve cases also depends on other factors, such as available resources, cooperation from lawyers and witnesses, and how well the court rules are followed.

    To address these long delays, the Supreme Court set up a committee on March 10, 2021, to find ways to speed up cheque bounce cases filed under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The committee suggested creating special courts just for these cases.

    To see if this idea would work, the experts recommended doing a test study in five areas where there are a lot of bounced cheque cases—one each in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. On May 19, 2022, the Supreme Court ordered that this pilot study take place over one year in 25 special courts located in the chosen areas.

  • Navigate India’s Stock Market: Understanding Cycles Made Simple

    Navigate India’s Stock Market: Understanding Cycles Made Simple

    Equity markets, where stocks are bought and sold, go through ups and downs – they rise, reach a peak, fall, and then hit a low point. It can be hard to predict these changes. Many people think that when the economy grows, equity markets should do well, but that’s not always true.

    In India, the long-term returns from equity markets have mostly matched the country’s economic growth. However, there have been times when this wasn’t the case. For example, from 1993 to 2002, India’s economy grew by 12%, but the equity market didn’t change much. In contrast, between 2016 and 2023, while the economy grew around 9%, the Nifty 50 – a major stock index in India – gave returns of 15%.

    Globally, there is often a weak link between a country’s GDP growth and its equity market performance, and India is no exception. In fact, the correlation between India’s GDP growth and Nifty 500 returns is low, at -0.31 for the next year and just 0.05 for the same year.

    So, how can you better navigate these market cycles? To understand this, we need to look at equity markets as made up of different sectors. Each sector, like technology or real estate, behaves differently than the overall market. For example, the IT sector was a top performer in 2020-21 but struggled in 2022. On the other hand, real estate did poorly in 2022 but became a top performer in 2023.

    Sectors aren’t the same either; they contain different businesses with different situations. For instance, the financial services sector includes private banks, public sector banks, and insurance companies. In 2018-19, public sector banks faced serious losses while private banks thrived. Recently, from November 2022 to October 2023, public sector banks went up by over 45% while private banks only grew by 6%.

    The performance can even vary among companies in the same industry. For example, even when most public sector banks did well in profits recently, some still struggled.

    This means that understanding the cycle of both the industry and the specific business is essential for success in the stock market. When looking for investment opportunities, it’s smart to prefer industries that have recently performed poorly (since they might bounce back) and to look at their current valuations.

    For instance, private banks might not have performed well recently but are currently fairly priced and have good prospects for the future.

    In the words of experienced investor Howard Marks, “The study of cycles is really about how to position your portfolio for the possible outcomes that lie ahead.” While following these strategies can’t guarantee success, they provide a helpful way to think about market cycles and improve your chances of navigating them effectively.