Author: Sarita Jena

  • Jessica Simpson’s New Year: Divorce Rumors & Hidden Hills Mansion Sale

    Jessica Simpson’s New Year: Divorce Rumors & Hidden Hills Mansion Sale

    Jessica Simpson has started this New Year with some big changes in her life. There are rumors about her getting a divorce from Eric Johnson, and the California wildfires have caused disruptions in her area. Recently, Jessica shared on Instagram that her family had to evacuate from their mansion due to the fires.

    Shortly after that, her Hidden Hills home went back on the market with a lower price of $17.9 million. She had previously listed the same house for $22 million in September 2023. The home, which she bought from Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne for $11.5 million in 2013, had not sold and was off the market for several months.

    Fortunately, her large mansion, which is 13,274 square feet with 7 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, was not damaged by the nearby Kenneth Fire, which burned over 1,000 acres but is now fully contained.

    On the personal front, Jessica confirmed to PEOPLE magazine that she and Eric have been living separately during a tough time in their marriage. They have been married for 10 years and share three children: Maxwell, 12; Ace, 11; and Birdie, 5. They had moved to Nashville in the summer of 2023, but now Jessica has mentioned their separation. No divorce papers have been filed yet.

  • Novak Djokovic Eyes 100th Win at Australian Open

    Novak Djokovic Eyes 100th Win at Australian Open

    Novak Djokovic had an exciting match at the Australian Open, winning against Portugal’s Jaime Faria in four sets. This victory marked Djokovic’s 430th match at a Grand Slam tournament, making him the player to have competed in the most singles matches in Grand Slam history. He passed his longtime rival, Roger Federer, with this achievement.

    At 37 years old, Djokovic’s record is impressive, with 379 wins in those 430 matches. Last year, he surpassed Federer for the most Grand Slam match wins. If he reaches the semifinals of this year’s tournament, he will become only the second man ever, after Federer, to win 100 matches at the Australian Open. Djokovic loves this tournament; he won his first Grand Slam title here in 2008 and has won it a total of 10 times, with a perfect 10-0 record in finals.

    But reaching the semifinals won’t be easy. Djokovic is likely to face the young star Carlos Alcaraz in a big quarterfinal match. After a quieter start to 2024, Djokovic has slipped to world number 7, so Alcaraz is in for a tough challenge. Their match will be a rematch of the thrilling gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Djokovic won his first Olympic gold.

    First, though, Djokovic is focused on his third-round match against Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic. Machac, ranked 25th in the world, has been improving quickly and recently beat Reilly Opelka in a five-set battle. Opelka had previously beaten Djokovic in Brisbane, so Djokovic knows he has to play well.

  • Trump’s Cabinet Nominees Face Intense Senate Hearings This Week

    Trump’s Cabinet Nominees Face Intense Senate Hearings This Week

    Donald Trump’s choices for his cabinet are being closely examined this week as U.S. senators hold important hearings. These meetings could decide the future of 13 nominees, some of whom might face tough questions about their past behaviors, relationships with leaders of other countries, and opinions on vaccines.

    The nominees have been preparing hard, practicing how to respond to difficult questions while staying loyal to Trump. Sean Spicer, Trump’s first spokesperson, said these nominees represent Trump and his plans, meaning they will defend his ideas rather than their own.

    Some Republicans want to quickly confirm the nominees related to national security, while Democrats will likely try to block those they feel are unfit for the jobs.

    One controversial nominee is Pete Hegseth, a former army officer and ex-Fox News host, who is up for the role of secretary of defense. Hegseth is facing serious accusations, including sexual assault, financial issues, and drinking too much. Senator Elizabeth Warren pointed out that he has been so intoxicated at work events that he had to be carried out. She questioned whether he could be trusted to make critical security decisions.

    Hegseth can only afford to lose three Republican votes if all Democrats and independents oppose him.

    Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman who supports Trump, is another nominee causing concern. She previously met with the Syrian president and called him “not the enemy,” and has shown support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine. However, some think her views may be changing as she now supports a program she once tried to cancel.

    Opposition is also building against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice for secretary of health and human services, who is known for anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.

    On the other hand, Marco Rubio, chosen for secretary of state, is likely to get widespread support and is expected to be confirmed quickly. He will have his hearing alongside Kristi Noem for homeland security, Pam Bondi for attorney general, and John Ratcliffe, who has held a top intelligence position before.

    More hearings are coming up for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kash Patel, who is up for running the FBI and has made controversial statements about attacking journalists and judges.

    On a different note, Trump’s team lost an attempt to stop the release of a report about his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The report suggested Trump might have been convicted if the case had gone to trial.

  • China Slashes Salaries for Top Financial Regulators: What You Need to Know

    China Slashes Salaries for Top Financial Regulators: What You Need to Know

    In 2023, China announced big pay cuts for staff at its three main financial agencies: the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA), and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). Starting this month, salaries for these employees will be reduced by about 50%.

    This decision is part of a larger plan to align their pay with other civil servants in the government. The regulators had been earning much higher salaries than regular government workers, which raised concerns. For example, heads of departments at the CSRC earned around 300,000 to 400,000 yuan a year, which is nearly double what other government employees earn.

    The goal of these cuts is to help boost consumer spending as China works to improve its slowing economy. Despite the pay cuts at the financial regulators, many government workers recently received surprise salary increases of around 500 yuan ($70) per month, showing a split in how wages are being managed.

    In the past, the PBOC, NFRA, and CSRC had a different pay system that allowed them to earn more than other state workers. However, they will now have their incomes reduced to match other government agencies like the Ministry of Finance.

    This change comes at a difficult time for China, as the government tries to stabilize economic growth and improve spending among its millions of civil servants. Many young people are still attracted to civil service jobs due to their security and benefits, even as some local governments struggle to pay their workers.

  • United Spirits Shares Jump 4.8%: Key Financials and Trends!

    United Spirits Shares Jump 4.8%: Key Financials and Trends!

    United Spirits Ltd. has become a hot topic after its shares climbed 4.8% to Rs 1411.50 on Tuesday. During the day, the stock reached a high of Rs 1465.00 and dropped to a low of Rs 1405.60. Currently, the shares are down 6.62% over the last month, while the overall market (BSE Sensex) has also seen a dip of about 6.35%.

    The highest price for this stock in the last year was Rs 1700.00, and the lowest was Rs 1055.65. Around 88,876 shares were traded by 2:09 PM, with total trading worth Rs 12.67 crore. In the previous session, the stock closed at Rs 1482.80.

    When looking at the company’s earnings, it has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 72.57, meaning people are willing to pay a premium due to expected future growth. The price-to-book ratio is 11.55, reflecting an interest in the company’s value even if it doesn’t grow.

    As of September 30, 2024, the promoters owned only 0.79% of the company. However, foreign investors and mutual funds together held 27.51% of the firm.

    Financially, United Spirits reported a total sale of Rs 2898.00 crore for the quarter ending September 30, 2024. This is a small increase from Rs 2796.00 crore in the previous quarter and a slight decrease from Rs 2907.50 crore one year ago. The net profit for the quarter stands at Rs 341.00 crore, showing a slight rise from the same quarter last year.

  • Work-Life Balance: ITC’s Puri vs. L&T’s Subrahmanyan Debate

    Work-Life Balance: ITC’s Puri vs. L&T’s Subrahmanyan Debate

    The debate about work-life balance in corporate India is heating up. ITC Ltd’s Chairman, Sanjiv Puri, recently spoke out after Larsen & Toubro Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan suggested employees should work 90 hours a week. Puri argued that it is better to empower workers instead of forcing them to work long hours. He said, “We want people to feel involved with our company and excited about making a difference.”

    Puri mentioned that ITC offers flexible work options, including allowing employees to work from home for two days each week. He believes it’s not about counting how many hours someone works, but about helping employees reach their goals and succeed in their jobs.

    This discussion began after Subrahmanyan was featured in a video where he suggested working on Sundays, asking what people do at home. His comments caused a lot of reactions online. L&T later clarified that Subrahmanyan was speaking about the company’s growth plans for India.

    Puri shared a different take, explaining how important it is for everyone in the company to have a common goal. He gave an example by saying that a mason putting a brick might think he’s just laying it down, but someone else might see it as part of a bigger project like building a castle.

    Many business leaders have shared their thoughts on this issue. Harsh Goenka from the RPG Group said working too many hours can lead to burnout. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, once suggested a 70-hour workweek. Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, jokingly added that spending too much time at home might cause a spouse to leave.

  • Nilesh Shah’s Vision for India’s Budget: Gold Savings and Growth!

    Nilesh Shah’s Vision for India’s Budget: Gold Savings and Growth!

    Indians have a lot of money saved in gold, and Nilesh Shah, the MD of Kotak Mutual Fund, believes that if Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman could think of smart ways to use this gold savings, it would really help the economy. He suggested that with the world moving towards protectionism (meaning countries are becoming more focused on their own needs and not trading as freely), the next budget should work on boosting the economy.

    Shah thinks the government should help city shoppers by lowering taxes, provide help for people struggling with their loan payments, and give incentives to businesses to invest more. He emphasized that the budget should stay careful about spending money because this smart money management makes India different from other countries.

    Divesting (which means selling parts of the government’s businesses) can also help improve our financial situation. Additionally, the budget needs to invest in new technologies and support local entrepreneurs.

    As per reports, the upcoming budget is expected to include measures to increase demand and support growth, acknowledging the economy is slowing down. Ideas being discussed range from tax relief for middle-class families to initiatives that create jobs and encourage private investment.

    Currently, individuals are taxed 30% if they make over ₹15 lakh a year, and reducing this tax could help boost spending in cities. Indian businesses have many requests for the Finance Minister for the budget that is expected on February 1, focusing on reforms that encourage spending and job growth, as well as clear tax rules.

  • Kannauj Building Collapse: Six Injured, No Casualties Reported

    Kannauj Building Collapse: Six Injured, No Casualties Reported

    A building that was being built at Kannauj Railway Station collapsed, injuring six people seriously. Thankfully, none of them are in danger, according to a senior police officer on Saturday.

    K Vijayendra Pandian, the Kanpur Commissioner, reported to ANI that nobody died in the accident. They rescued a total of 28 people from the rubble. Out of those, 15 were treated at the hospital and have now gone home.

    The six people who were hurt have no head injuries, but some do have fractures. They are being watched closely in the hospital. Rescue teams even used drones and trained dogs to search the area. Fortunately, no one has been reported dead so far. The debris will be cleared soon, and all 28 individuals who were rescued were identified.

    Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He said the collapse was very sad and that better safety measures should have been in place during construction. Yadav accused the government of negligence and corruption. He pointed out that when contractors get jobs, they often give the work to others, leading to poor quality and safety concerns. He urged the government to provide help for the victims and ensure they receive all medical care needed.

    Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya promised that those responsible would be punished. He stated that the government wants immediate help and wants to investigate the collapse thoroughly.

  • South Korean Actor Lee Yoon Hee Dies at 64: A Heartfelt Tribute

    South Korean Actor Lee Yoon Hee Dies at 64: A Heartfelt Tribute

    Lee Yoon Hee, a beloved South Korean actor, passed away suddenly at the age of 64, as reported by media on January 11. Right now, there’s no word on what caused his death. Lee was known for his impressive work in both theater and TV and had no plans to stop acting. Just recently, he signed a contract with Beom Entertainment, the same agency as popular stars Kim Hong Pa and Oh Min Ae. Lee was excited about future acting roles.

    His agency, Beom Entertainment, shared a heartfelt message about his passing. They expressed deep sadness and offered condolences to his family and fans. “Lee Yoon Hee was a treasured actor, and he brought joy to many through his performances. His loss is a huge sadness for all of us,” they said. The agency promised to keep his memory alive and honor his accomplishments.

    Born in 1960, Lee started acting in plays in 1985. He made the move to film acting in 2007, beginning with a role in the movie Secret Sunshine. He appeared in many popular series like Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area – Part 1, Backstreet Rookie, and Save Me Season 2, among others. His last performances were in the drama Captivating the King and the Netflix thriller The Bequeathed.

    Just weeks before his passing, Beom Entertainment had introduced him to their team on December 27, 2024. His funeral is set for January 13 at 8 am KST and will take place at Ulsan Sky Park. Rest in peace, Lee Yoon Hee.

  • Pacific Palisades Wildfires: The Unexpected Destruction Unfolds

    Pacific Palisades Wildfires: The Unexpected Destruction Unfolds

    Pacific Palisades, a fancy area in Los Angeles, California, has been hit hard by terrible wildfires. These fires have destroyed many expensive homes and burned thousands of acres of land since they began on Tuesday. Before the fires, Pacific Palisades was a beautiful place filled with large, lovely houses, some owned by famous people, and pretty parks, shops, and cafes.

    A video from Reuters shows shocking scenes of Pacific Palisades before and after the wildfires. Streets that once looked wonderful now appear as if they were bombed. Back in May 2024, on a sunny day, a nice white building on Sunset Boulevard, which had a Starbucks and Cafe Vida, stood proud. Now, that building is blackened and ruined, with palm trees outside stripped of their leaves, all under a cloudy, yellow sky.

    The wildfires, known as the worst in U.S. history, have sadly affected not just Pacific Palisades but also nearby areas like Altadena and Pasadena. The Palisades Fire has burned over 20,000 acres and was only 11% controlled by Saturday. The neighborhood is still under mandatory evacuation, meaning people must leave for their safety. Other active fires are burning in Los Angeles and nearby towns, with at least 16 lives lost, and that number might rise as rescuers continue their work.

    On Friday, Pacific Palisades seemed empty, with just a few firefighters and some ravens watching from the roads. Outside one home, the heat melted almost everything, except for the metal frame of a wheelchair that once sat outside.

    These wildfires, which started on Tuesday, are causing massive destruction across Southern California, which is famous for its movie industry. Many homes, including those of Hollywood stars, are now just ashes, and strong winds called ‘Santa Ana’ have made the fires spread even faster.