Category: News

  • EU Leaders Reaffirm Support for Ukraine Amid Trump’s Presidency Concerns”

    EU Leaders Reaffirm Support for Ukraine Amid Trump’s Presidency Concerns”

    European Union (EU) leaders are meeting in Brussels on Thursday to show support for Ukraine, especially with Donald Trump as the U.S. President again. They will talk with Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to reaffirm their commitment to stand by Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia.

    Trump has previously suggested that the war should end quickly, recently saying that Zelenskiy should be ready to talk peace with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, he did not clarify if this would involve Ukraine giving up any land to Russia, which currently controls about a fifth of Ukraine and is advancing eastward.

    The EU leaders agreed that Russia should not win this conflict and that any talks about Ukraine’s future should include Kyiv’s opinions. One EU diplomat mentioned this shows a clear message to the U.S.

    Additionally, the leaders will discuss their relationship with the U.S. during lunch, especially since there are worries about a potential trade war. Trump has warned the EU that it will face high tariffs for not buying enough American products. The EU is determined to stay united and not get divided by U.S. negotiations with individual countries.

    The EU will also highlight that it is one of the biggest trading partners for the U.S. and share common values. To address America’s concerns about trade, the EU might offer to buy more U.S. liquefied natural gas or military equipment.

    During their lunch debate, they will also bring up issues with China and whether the EU will have to take sides in the U.S.-China trade dispute. Britain is also a topic, as it seeks to improve relations with the EU, which sees Britain as an important security partner.

  • SBI’s New MD Appointed: What It Means for Investors”

    SBI’s New MD Appointed: What It Means for Investors”

    Today, State Bank of India (SBI) is in the spotlight because they just announced their new Managing Director (MD), Rama Mohan Rao Amara. According to an official notice from the Indian government, he will take over this important role. Rama Mohan Rao Amara previously held the position of Deputy Managing Director and was also in charge of managing risks at the bank.

    His appointment as MD is for three years and will begin once he officially starts the job. Meanwhile, Kshitij Mohan, who was also a Deputy Managing Director, will now take over as the Deputy Managing Director & Group Chief Risk Officer.

    SBI’s shares have been doing well over the past year, increasing by 29.3%. Since the beginning of this year, they are up by 30.7%. However, in the last six months, the stock has dipped slightly by 0.66%, though it has risen by 5.9% over the last three months. On Wednesday, SBI shares closed at Rs 839.05, down by 1.3%.

    Disclaimer: This news is based on reports and opinions of experts and does not reflect the views of Niftystat.

  • Matt Gaetz Faces Ethics Report Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

    Matt Gaetz Faces Ethics Report Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

    Former Congressman Matt Gaetz is threatening to reveal secrets about sexual misconduct settlements involving other lawmakers. This comes after the House Ethics Committee finished a report on sexual misconduct claims against him. The report will be made public soon.

    Before, the Department of Justice looked into claims that Gaetz had sex with a minor but decided not to press charges against him. Gaetz, who denies any wrongdoing, stepped down from Congress on November 13 after Donald Trump considered him for the U.S. Attorney General position. He later pulled out of the nomination, saying he didn’t want any more drama in Washington.

    “I wasn’t charged with anything and I believe I am innocent. But now the Ethics Committee is going to share a report that I can’t argue against,” Gaetz said.

    The Ethics Committee has not shared what they will do with their report, which includes claims that Gaetz was involved in sexual misconduct, used drugs, and bribed people. A woman who was at a party with Gaetz in 2017 said she saw him having sex with a minor and that Gaetz paid women for sex. Gaetz continues to call the investigation a “smear campaign.”

    He did admit to some of his past: “I partied hard and drank too much when I was younger. I’ve changed my ways now.”

  • Yash Highvoltage’s IPO: Strong Debut with Huge Market Potential!

    Yash Highvoltage’s IPO: Strong Debut with Huge Market Potential!

    Yash Highvoltage’s shares are set to make their market debut on Thursday. Before they start trading, they are showing a grey market premium (GMP) of Rs 152. This means if you bought shares at the top price of Rs 146, you could make a profit of up to 90% when they list! But remember, grey market prices can change quickly, so they are just a guideline.

    The money raised from selling shares will help Yash Highvoltage build a new factory to make special transformer parts and cover other company costs. Their initial public offering (IPO) raised Rs 93 crore and was very popular, with investors oversubscribing by 180 times!

    Yash Highvoltage makes a variety of transformer bushings, which are parts that help control electricity. They produce different types, including oil-impregnated and resin-impregnated bushings, and also offer repair and testing services for old equipment. Their factory can produce 7,000 bushings each year!

    In the transformer bushing market, the resin-impregnated type is the most popular, making up over 61% of sales globally. This is because more customers prefer this type. For the first half of 2024, Yash Highvoltage reported Rs 27 crore in sales and a profit of Rs 3.12 crore.

  • Delhi Fog & Cold Weather: AQI Reaches Dangerous Levels!

    Delhi Fog & Cold Weather: AQI Reaches Dangerous Levels!

    On Thursday morning, people in Delhi and nearby places like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram woke up to very thick fog. The cold weather is making it feel even chillier outside. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was at a worrying level of 448 around 6 am, which is close to the “severe-plus” category. Out of 37 monitoring stations in Delhi, 21 of them showed AQI levels that were even worse.

    In Ghaziabad, the AQI was 381, while Noida and Gurugram had AQI levels of 364 and 376, respectively. These numbers mean that the air quality is very poor and not safe for most people.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that foggy weather will continue in Delhi for another day or two due to weather changes. As a result, the temperature in the city dropped to 5 degrees Celsius early on Thursday. Last Tuesday, it was a bit warmer at 7.4 degrees Celsius.

    Cold Wave Warnings in North India

    In Himachal Pradesh, a cold wave is affecting the area. The local meteorological office warned that temperatures are dropping, especially in some districts. Places like Tabo reported a freezing minus 7.4 degrees Celsius. There are orange and yellow warnings for the cold wave in different parts of the state.

    In Karnataka, cold wave conditions are also predicted for districts like Bidar, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi, where temperatures are expected to be 2-4 degrees below average. Fog may be seen in some areas until December 20.

    Kashmir’s Intense Cold

    In Kashmir, it has gotten slightly warmer, with Srinagar’s temperature rising to minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, but it is still freezing. Cold weather has caused some lakes, including the famous Dal Lake, to freeze over, and many water supply lines are also frozen. The ski resorts like Gulmarg and Pahalgam recorded lows around minus 5 to minus 5.8 degrees Celsius.

  • Asteroid 2024 XS3 Will Safely Pass Earth—What You Need to Know!

    Asteroid 2024 XS3 Will Safely Pass Earth—What You Need to Know!

    Big Asteroid Passing Earth, but No Need to Worry!
    Today, an asteroid called 2024 XS3, which is about 84 feet long, is flying by Earth. NASA says there’s no danger of it hitting us! This asteroid will pass at a safe distance of 2,080,000 miles, which is more than 16 times the distance to the Moon. It’s moving really fast, at 23,423 miles per hour. The closest it will get to us is at 1:54 AM IST on December 18.

    Asteroids like 2024 XS3 are leftovers from when our solar system was formed around 4.6 billion years ago. Scientists study these rocks to learn about Earth’s history. It’s important to track their paths because one big asteroid hitting Earth millions of years ago wiped out the dinosaurs!

    How does NASA keep an eye on asteroids?
    NASA uses special systems to track near-Earth objects (NEOs) like 2024 XS3. They have radar technology and tools from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Plus, NASA’s missions, like OSIRIS-REx, gather samples from asteroids to help scientists learn about our solar system’s beginnings.

    The flyby of 2024 XS3 shows how important it is to watch for these objects. Even though it’s not a threat now, keeping track of them helps scientists be ready for any future dangers and helps us learn more about outer space.

  • Astronauts Williams and Wilmore to Stay in Space Until 2025!

    Astronauts Williams and Wilmore to Stay in Space Until 2025!

    NASA has shared that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will stay in space longer than expected. They won’t return to Earth until at least late March 2025. They will come back with astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov after the Crew-10 mission gets to the International Space Station (ISS).

    This mission, which was supposed to launch in February, has now been pushed back to late March 2025. NASA says this delay is to allow teams to finish working on a new Dragon spacecraft. This ‘handover period’ helps the current Crew-9 team share what they learned with the new Crew-10 team, making it easier for all astronauts to do their jobs at the ISS.

    NASA didn’t give a specific date for when the astronauts will finally come back. Williams and Wilmore went to the ISS in June for what was meant to be an eight-day mission. However, their stay turned into several months because their Boeing Starliner capsule was not safe for the trip back to Earth.

    So, are they safe up there? Yes! The ISS is a secure place for these astronauts. It’s often stocked with supplies and is like a home in space for scientists conducting research.

    They’re not alone, either. Other astronauts currently aboard the ISS include Oleg Kononenko (the Commander), Nikolai Chub, Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, Jeanette Epps, and Alexander Grebenkin.

    Plus, the spacecraft can act as lifeboats if they ever need to leave the ISS quickly due to an emergency. Sadly, the Boeing Starliner, which could have been a backup, had some problems like thruster failures, leaving Williams and Wilmore stuck in space for a while longer.

  • Supreme Court Urges Punjab to Safeguard Hunger-Striking Farmer Leader

    Supreme Court Urges Punjab to Safeguard Hunger-Striking Farmer Leader

    On Wednesday, the Supreme Court warned the Punjab government that if anything happens to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the entire state would be held responsible. Dallewal has been on a hunger strike for 23 days, and the court called for special measures to ensure his health and safety, including hospital care.

    A panel of justices, Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasized that the court’s job is to make sure the farmers’ concerns are heard loud and clear by everyone involved. Justice Kant reminded the Punjab government’s attorney, Gurminder Singh, that they need to take extra steps to protect Dallewal’s health, and that serious situations need serious actions.

    The court plans to review the situation again on Thursday at 2 PM. Earlier, the court had ordered the Punjab government to engage with farmers and ensure Dallewal’s well-being, promoting peaceful protests grounded in “Gandhian principles.” They also set up a high-level panel to help address farmers’ issues, including demands for legal guarantees for minimum support price (MSP).

    Justice Kant stressed that Dallewal, a prominent figure, needs to stay healthy to represent the farmers’ cause effectively. Although his vital signs are stable, Dallewal refuses medical checks and hospital admission, preferring to continue his protest.

    Justice Kant stated the government must protect Dallewal since it is their duty. He urged the Punjab AG to act quickly for Dallewal’s safety. The bench highlighted the importance of saving Dallewal’s life and reminded that the Supreme Court is open for farmers to voice their demands.

    Dallewal started his hunger strike on November 26 as part of a larger movement seeking to legalize MSP and push for broader agricultural reforms. Farmers, organized under different groups, have been protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border since February, blocking major roads and causing disruptions.

    Dallewal argues that MSP is critical for farmers’ survival and even wrote to Prime Minister Modi to stress its importance for rural livelihoods. A Supreme Court-appointed committee is mediating between farmers and the government, working to address key issues affecting agriculture, such as rising debt and climate challenges.

  • Gold Prices Soar in 2024: What You Need to Know

    Gold Prices Soar in 2024: What You Need to Know

    Gold prices have jumped over 20% this year, outdoing popular stock market indices like Nifty and BSE Sensex, which only grew by about 12%. This rise is due to problems around the world, people buying gold as a safe investment, and central banks adding gold to their reserves. Still, gold also faces tough challenges ahead, including a stronger US dollar and the rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in 2025.

    Gold has been steadily rising for the last seven quarters. According to ICRA, the average price of gold has gone up by 25% this fiscal year compared to last year, even though there were some small drops in price. Over the past five years, gold delivered nearly 15% returns in 2023 and 14.38% in 2022. In 2019 and 2020, gold prices shot up by about 24.59% and 28.24%, but fell slightly in 2021.

    Recently, two big events affected gold’s popularity. First, the government cut customs duty on gold and silver to 6%, causing gold to drop by 6% in price. Second, results from the US elections strengthened the dollar, which can make gold less appealing to investors. The dollar has increased in value by 6.3% against other important currencies in the past month.

    Despite these challenges, demand for gold remains strong. In November, gold imports soared to $14.86 billion, up from $7 billion in October, showing a huge increase of 112%. ICRA predicts domestic gold jewelry consumption will continue to grow by about 14-18% this financial year.

    Looking ahead to 2025, gold will have to tackle three main events early in the year. First, Donald Trump will return as US President. His policies may add some uncertainty, which usually makes gold more appealing. Next, the Union Budget 2025 will be released, and third, the Reserve Bank of India will have new leadership.

    Investment trends are also shifting as cryptocurrencies gain popularity. Bitcoin has recently surged by 140% this year and may even reach the $120,000 mark, drawing attention away from gold. An expert at HDFC Securities, Anuj Gupta, predicts that gold will face competition but still has chances for good returns. He estimates gold could hit Rs 82,000 in 2025, with strong resistance around Rs 84,500. Gupta believes gold is still a safe bet for the future.

    (Note: The opinions in this article are those of the experts and do not reflect the views of Niftystat.)

  • Delhi LG Criticizes CM for Missing CAG Reports, Urges Assembly Session

    Delhi LG Criticizes CM for Missing CAG Reports, Urges Assembly Session

    In New Delhi, the Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena wrote a letter to the Chief Minister Atishi, criticizing her government for not sharing important reports. These reports are done by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and should have been presented in the assembly.

    Saxena claims the government has ignored its duty to show 14 such reports over the last two years. He noted that normally, assemblies meet at least three times a year, but the Delhi government has only met five times in the last five years, which he called “very unusual.”

    The LG mentioned that the assembly’s last meeting was cut short on December 4 but hasn’t been formally ended yet. He urged Atishi, as the leader, to hold a special assembly session on December 19 or 20 to discuss these reports, especially since elections for a new assembly are coming up.

    Currently, there’s a lawsuit because the opposition BJP wants the government to present these reports and has warned they will go back to court if not done within 48 hours. Saxena also shared that he has repeatedly reminded Atishi and her predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal, about the importance of these reports. He expressed disappointment that a government that promised transparency is not following through on sharing its findings, which is crucial for the people.