Category: News

  • Aiyar Reflects: The Gandhis Shaped My Career, Not Just Politics

    Aiyar Reflects: The Gandhis Shaped My Career, Not Just Politics

    Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar recently talked about how his political journey has been shaped by the Gandhi family. Aiyar said that his career was both “made and unmade” because of them. He mentioned that for ten years, he did not have a chance to meet Sonia Gandhi one-on-one or have meaningful conversations with Rahul Gandhi. He has only met Priyanka Gandhi a couple of times.

    Aiyar stated, “The irony is that my political career was built by the Gandhis and also destroyed by them.” He added that he is still a member of the Congress party and will never join the BJP, despite being out of the party’s main activities.

    Aiyar, who was once an Indian Foreign Service officer before entering politics, recalled a surprising interaction with Sonia Gandhi. He once greeted her with a Christmas wish, and she responded by saying, “I’m not a Christian.” This left him surprised, as he identifies as a non-believer but respects all religions.

    In his upcoming book, “A Maverick in Politics,” Aiyar discusses the political changes in 2012. He believes that Pranab Mukherjee should have been made Prime Minister instead of being named President. Aiyar pointed out that during that time, both Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh were unwell, which affected the leadership of the Congress party.

    He mentioned that Pranab Mukherjee had the energy and ideas to lead the government. Aiyar thinks that if Pranab had become Prime Minister while Dr. Manmohan Singh was the President, the Congress party would still have lost the 2014 elections, but not by such a large margin

  • Vinesh Phogat Calls for Action on Farmers’ Protest Amid Urgent Situation

    Vinesh Phogat Calls for Action on Farmers’ Protest Amid Urgent Situation

    On Sunday, Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat said that India is in a serious situation similar to an emergency. He asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do something to help the farmers who are protesting, instead of just giving speeches. Phogat met farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike at the Khanauri Border for a long time. Phogat showed his support for the farmers and said everyone in Punjab, Haryana, and across the country should join this protest.

    “He (Dallewal) is risking his life for others. We need action now, not just talks,” Phogat told ANI.

    On Sunday, Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, and an official from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mayank Mishra, met with Dallewal. They were trying to convince him to accept medical help because the Supreme Court asked them to check on him and help him since he started his fast on November 26. The meeting didn’t go well because Dallewal refused the medical aid and instead told the government to listen to farmers’ demands.

    Yadav said he told Dallewal that Punjab’s chief minister, Bhagwant Mann, is worried about him and even sent a message asking for medical help for Dallewal.

    Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni said that the farmers’ demands haven’t changed and urged the government to talk to them. “Farmers are protesting quietly, but nobody is listening. The government should call us for discussions and help find a solution,” he said

  • Trump Appoints Devin Nunes to Lead Intelligence Advisory Board

    Trump Appoints Devin Nunes to Lead Intelligence Advisory Board

    Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, has chosen Devin Nunes to lead the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB). This board helps the President understand how well the intelligence agencies are working. Trump shared this news on his Truth Social platform, saying, “Devin will use his experience from being the former Chair of the House Intelligence Committee and his work to expose the Russia Hoax to provide me with his thoughts on the intelligence community’s effectiveness.”

    So, who is Devin Nunes? Here are some quick facts:

    1. Nunes is a strong supporter of Trump and is currently the CEO of Truth Social, a social media platform created by Trump in February 2022. He will do both jobs at the same time.

    2. He is a Republican and used to be a member of the House of Representatives from California.

    3. In December 2021, Nunes left Congress to become the CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group, which runs Truth Social.

    4. He was the Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 2015 and released a memo in 2018 claiming the FBI was working against Trump. Some Democrats said the memo was misleading.

    5. This appointment is just one of many where Trump has chosen people linked to his media company, including Kash Patel for FBI director and Linda McMahon for the Department of Education, who are also on the board of Trump Media.

  • How Dividend Mutual Funds Thrive in Market Downturns

    How Dividend Mutual Funds Thrive in Market Downturns

    Not all mutual funds get the spotlight, especially those without famous fund managers. However, many mutual funds aim specifically for stocks that pay good dividends. In a rising market, these funds may struggle to find suitable stocks. But when the market turns downwards, these funds not only discover great investment opportunities but also help raise the value of those stocks.

  • Market Update: Airtel Rises While Reliance Takes a Hit!

    Market Update: Airtel Rises While Reliance Takes a Hit!

    Last week, five of the biggest companies in India gained a total of Rs 1,13,117.17 crore in their market value. Bharti Airtel stood out with the biggest rise. The companies that gained are Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, and Infosys. On the other hand, Reliance Industries, State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), ITC, and Hindustan Unilever saw their market values drop.

    During this time, the BSE index went up by 623.07 points (0.76%) and the Nifty index increased by 90.5 points (0.36%). Bharti Airtel’s market value jumped by Rs 47,836.6 crore, reaching Rs 9,57,842.40 crore. Infosys gained Rs 31,826.97 crore, making its value Rs 8,30,387.10 crore. HDFC Bank’s value rose by Rs 11,887.78 crore to Rs 14,31,158.06 crore, and ICICI Bank increased by Rs 11,760.8 crore to Rs 9,49,306.37 crore. TCS’s market cap climbed by Rs 9,805.02 crore, reaching Rs 16,18,587.63 crore.

    However, Reliance Industries lost Rs 52,031.98 crore, bringing its value down to Rs 17,23,144.70 crore. LIC’s value dropped by Rs 32,067.73 crore to Rs 5,89,869.29 crore, and Hindustan Unilever fell by Rs 22,250.63 crore to Rs 5,61,423.08 crore. State Bank of India’s value dropped by Rs 2,052.66 crore to Rs 7,69,034.51 crore, while ITC fell by Rs 1,376.19 crore to Rs 5,88,195.82 crore. Despite the losses, Reliance Industries remains the most valuable company, followed by TCS, HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, Infosys, State Bank of India, LIC, ITC, and Hindustan Unilever.

  • 19-Year-Old Student Sues School for $3 Million After Bullying Claims

    19-Year-Old Student Sues School for $3 Million After Bullying Claims

    A 19-year-old student named Aleysha Ortiz, who went to Hartford Public School and has a disability, says she graduated without being able to read or write. She has now filed a lawsuit because she was bullied and neglected by the school staff, including her special education case manager.

    Aleysha is asking for $3 million in damages. Her lawyer, Anthony Spinella, said, “We’re not asking for help to learn reading and writing. We’re suing to get back the emotional pain she felt while trying to get the school to help her and how badly some teachers and staff treated her.”

    This is Aleysha’s second lawsuit against the school and its staff. In her first suit, she asked for help learning basic skills she missed in school, and that case is still ongoing.

    In the new lawsuit, she claims her special education case manager, Tilda Santiago, bullied her for months. Aleysha says Santiago tried to control who could help her and even argued with teachers. According to the lawsuit, Santiago embarrassed her in front of others, scared her, and changed her attendance records.

    The Hartford Board of Education employees are also accused of not doing their jobs to stop the bullying against Aleysha.

  • Styrenix Stock Soars! Last Chance for Rs 31 Dividend Today!

    Styrenix Stock Soars! Last Chance for Rs 31 Dividend Today!

    Shares of Styrenix Performance Materials, a stock that has gained over 108% this year, are in the spotlight today because the company is giving out a special payment called an interim dividend of Rs 31 for each share by December 17. This means today is the last day to buy these shares if you want to receive this dividend.

    The company announced in a meeting on December 9, 2024, that the interim dividend is for the financial year 2024-25. To benefit from this dividend, you need to make sure the shares are in your demat account by the record date, which is December 17.

    It’s important to remember that if you want to qualify for the dividend, you need to buy the shares at least one day before the ex-date. This is because of how stock trading works, where it takes a day to settle transactions. If you buy the shares on the ex-date, you won’t get the dividend.

    Styrenix Performance Materials has performed well, showing a 97% return over the past year and a 45.2% return in the last six months, according to Niftystat. On Friday, the stock closed up by 1.2% at Rs 3,017.

    (Note: The opinions and suggestions provided by experts in this area are personal views and do not reflect those of Economic Times.)

  • Blinken’s Crucial Trip: Shaping Syria’s Future After Assad

    Blinken’s Crucial Trip: Shaping Syria’s Future After Assad

    Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, has just completed what might be his last trip to the Middle East as the top U.S. diplomat. His mission was to stop Syria from falling further into chaos after President Bashar Assad suddenly left the country for Russia. Blinken traveled to Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq, hoping to work together with other countries about what should happen in Syria now that Assad is gone.

    During his trip, Blinken pointed out that what happens in Syria can have serious effects on the whole region, including problems like people fleeing their homes and the threat of terrorism. He spoke with leaders from Arab nations, Turkey, and important officials from the European Union and the United Nations in Jordan. They all agreed that the new government in Syria should respect the rights of everyone, especially minorities and women, and prevent terrorist groups from gaining power.

    One of Blinken’s goals is to maintain stability in the region, especially since the Islamic State group remains a threat. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria, helping to fight this group and ensure they don’t regain control. After Assad stepped down, the U.S. quickly targeted around 75 terrorist positions in a bid to stop them from growing stronger.

    As Blinken made these important discussions, there were concerns about how the incoming Trump administration would handle Middle East issues. Trump has been vocal about releasing hostages in Gaza and generally wants the U.S. to stay out of Syria. However, officials believe Trump might not cut U.S. military presence in Syria because he often takes credit for defeating ISIS.

    The Biden administration is also focused on finding Americans missing in Syria, including Austin Tice, a journalist who has been missing for over ten years. They are working hard to locate him and return him home. Recently, another American named Travis Timmerman was found and safely transported to Jordan after being held in Syria.

  • Nifty & Sensex Surge Again: Key Factors to Watch This Week

    Nifty & Sensex Surge Again: Key Factors to Watch This Week

    The Nifty and Sensex, two important stock market indexes in India, have had a good week, gaining 0.5% for the fourth week in a row. Investors are feeling hopeful because of the upcoming festive season, which usually makes people spend more money. This boost in consumer spending comes just in time for the holidays!

    However, traders are being careful as they wait for big events this week, like the meeting of the US Federal Reserve. This is where they will discuss interest rates, which could affect the stock market.

    Here are four key points to keep in mind:

    1. US Fed Meeting: The stock market is closely watching the US Fed meeting on December 18, where a small rate cut (25 basis points) is expected. What the Fed says about the future will be very important.

    2. Economic Data: Other banks, like the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan, are also meeting this week. The Bank of England is likely to keep interest rates the same, and Japan is not expected to raise rates either. Traders will pay attention to important reports like Manufacturing and Services PMIs.

    3. Foreign Investment: Foreign investors (FIIs) have bought a lot of shares recently, totaling Rs 14,435 crore. While buying is good for the market, traders are watching closely because these investors can also sell quickly if they see better opportunities elsewhere.

    4. Global Markets: The US stock market had a mixed week, with the S&P 500 and Dow going down, while the Nasdaq had a good week.

    Technical Analysis: If the Nifty index moves above 24,800, it could keep rising and might reach between 25,200 and 25,500. On the downside, there is strong support between 24,300 and 24,400. Experts recommend buying selectively in stocks, especially in the IT and banking sectors.

  • Tragic Death of Georgia Football Star Gleaton Jones at Just 21 Years

    Tragic Death of Georgia Football Star Gleaton Jones at Just 21 Years

    Gleaton Jones, a young Georgia football player, tragically passed away on December 13 at just 21 years old. He was in a serious car accident while hunting on St. George Island in Florida. Before his death, he fought hard to recover after suffering a severe brain injury in the crash on December 10 and needed emergency surgery to help him.

    Jones had a bright future in sports. He joined the Georgia Bulldogs football team in 2021 and was part of their championship-winning team. Before playing for Georgia, he was a star athlete at Deerfield-Windsor School in Albany, winning many awards for football, including All-State and All-Region honors. Besides football, Jones also enjoyed track and basketball in high school.

    Gleaton was born on March 12, 2003, and was very close to his family, especially his younger brother, Cole. His family remembers him as a loving son and a great older brother who always encouraged and supported Cole. They are planning to celebrate his life at Wynfield Plantation on Monday, December 16, at 2 p.m.

    Jones is survived by his parents, Marlin and Kirk, and his brother, Cole. He was also excited to graduate in the spring from the University of Georgia’s Terry School of Business, where he was studying marketing. He hoped to work with his dad on their family farm.