Category: News

  • Life in North Korea: The Truth About TV, Haircuts, and Escape

    Life in North Korea: The Truth About TV, Haircuts, and Escape

    Imagine if the government decided what you could watch on TV and how to dress your hair. In North Korea, this is a reality. Timothy Cho, a man who escaped North Korea, shared his story about life there. He explained that buying a TV in North Korea is strictly monitored. “If you buy a TV, the government comes to your house and removes all antennas, leaving just one,” he said.

    TV in North Korea is All About the Kim Family

    Cho described how North Koreans can only watch certain shows. “Everything is about the Kim family—programs, songs, and documentaries—24/7,” he said. There’s no choice in what to watch; all content serves as propaganda for the Kim family.

    Strict Rules About Everyday Life

    The rules in North Korea don’t just stop at TV. Even haircuts are controlled by the government. Children must pick from only a few approved haircuts, and if their hair is too long, it can cause trouble for their parents. “If someone has a different hairstyle, their parents might be called to the police station,” Cho explained.

    Escaping from North Korea is Hard

    North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family since 1948, with Kim Jong-un currently in charge. The country is very isolated, making it hard to learn about the daily lives of regular North Koreans. Most of the information comes from those who have escaped, like Cho.

    Since the 1950s, about 31,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea, often first passing through China. In 2009, the number of people escaping peaked at nearly 3,000 but has dropped since Kim Jong-un made crossing the border tougher after becoming leader in late 2011.

    However, in 2023, South Korea saw nearly three times the number of North Koreans escaping compared to the last two years. Many were younger people or from higher-status families, including diplomats and students. The main reasons for escaping are changing; many now flee because they are unhappy with the government, while before, food shortages were the biggest reason. According to surveys, 23% of defectors said they left due to political unhappiness, and just over 21% cited food problems.

  • SpaceX Starship Malfunction Causes Flight Delays at Florida Airports

    SpaceX Starship Malfunction Causes Flight Delays at Florida Airports

    On Thursday, March 6, a problem with SpaceX’s Starship led to space debris falling from the sky. This caused delays for flights at two big airports in Florida – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stepped in to keep everyone safe. They made the decision to stop planes from taking off and landing at major airports, including Miami International Airport (MIA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). This was done to prevent accidents from falling debris. This story is still developing, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.

  • India’s Strategy on US Tariffs: What You Need to Know

    India’s Strategy on US Tariffs: What You Need to Know

    Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the new tariffs planned by the US could affect India. However, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is currently speaking with US officials, including the Trade Representative, about this issue. Sitharaman spoke at a post-budget event in Visakhapatnam and mentioned that India wants to protect its exports.

    She said India will make decisions based on the results of these talks. “Tariffs are something the US President is discussing. Piyush Goyal has gone to the US to talk to officials about this,” she explained.

    Recently, President Donald Trump stated that starting April 2, he will impose tariffs on countries that have high taxes on US imports. Indian officials believe there might be a way to resolve this issue, possibly leading to a trade deal by this fall.

    Trump’s strategy aims to tackle unfair trade practices, such as subsidies and high taxes, to encourage other countries to lower their tariffs on US products. However, Trump’s tariffs on countries like Canada and Mexico have caused a lot of uncertainty, making businesses worried and affecting consumer confidence and investments.

    Although these tariffs began on Tuesday, Trump quickly rolled some back when the stock market fell. The halt, which will last until April 2, gives some relief to car manufacturers.

    Trump sees tariffs as a way to earn money for the US government and to fix trade imbalances. Recently, the US trade deficit reached a record high of $131.4 billion, a big jump compared to last year. Analysts believe that this increase was driven by a rise in gold imports, but also by businesses trying to prepare for the new tariffs.

  • Kashmir Conflict: Jaishankar Calls for Return of Pakistan-Occupied Land

    Kashmir Conflict: Jaishankar Calls for Return of Pakistan-Occupied Land

    External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar recently talked about the long-standing issue of Kashmir, saying that the problem would be solved when Pakistan returns the part of Kashmir it currently controls, known as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He spoke at an event in London and explained that India has made progress on the Kashmir issue by doing three main things:

    1. Removing Article 370: This removed the special privileges that Jammu and Kashmir had in India.
    2. Restoring Growth: By improving economic activities and social justice in the region, the government aimed to help the people.
    3. Holding Elections: Jaishankar mentioned that elections were held recently in which many people voted.

    He believes that once Pakistan gives back the part of Kashmir it holds, the Kashmir issue will be resolved completely.

    India has always insisted that Jammu and Kashmir is an essential part of the country. Since India changed Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the relationship between India and Pakistan has worsened, and trade between the two countries has stopped.

    The head of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, Sajjad Lone, responded to Jaishankar’s comments by saying this is a matter for both countries to discuss. He believes in peaceful talk rather than violence but stated that it is up to the central government to decide.

    Pakistan’s Response:
    A spokesperson from Pakistan, Shafqat Ali Khan, urged India to stop making false claims about Kashmir. He said that instead of talking about returning parts of Kashmir, India should give back the territories it has held for 77 years. He also stated that the United Nations has said that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir should be decided through a fair vote. He dismissed the elections held in Indian-administered Kashmir, arguing they do not allow people to truly choose their future.

  • Russia Warns NATO: Serious Consequences if Troops Enter Ukraine

    Russia Warns NATO: Serious Consequences if Troops Enter Ukraine

    Russian officials have made it very clear to British, French, and German troops: if NATO forces go into Ukraine, there will be serious consequences. Politicians in Moscow are strongly against the idea of Western troops being sent to Ukraine, claiming it could lead to huge losses for European forces.

    Dmitry Rogozin, a former Russian government official, poked fun at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for even thinking about sending troops. He challenged Starmer to send troops to Russia if he thinks it’s so easy. Rogozin made jokes about British soldiers, suggesting they would be easy targets for Russian forces, and reminded everyone of past battles where British troops faced defeat against Russia.

    Another Russian military officer, Major General Alaudinov, agreed with Rogozin, saying Western countries would not be as strong as Ukraine in a fight. He argued that even if NATO could manage to send 50,000 soldiers, they would still struggle against the tough Russian military. Alaudinov stated that Russia could quickly draft up to two million soldiers if needed and warned that if NATO enters Ukraine, Europe would face great destruction. He expressed that Russia is ready to endure hardships for victory and believes that history shows Russia has always been unbeaten in battles.

    In short, Russia is sending a strong message: do not challenge its military power.

  • UK Condemns Security Breach During Indian Minister’s Visit

    UK Condemns Security Breach During Indian Minister’s Visit

    The UK government has strongly condemned an incident where a protester got too close to the Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during a visit to London. This happened on Wednesday night outside Chatham House, a think tank.

    A spokesperson from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said that trying to scare or disrupt events is not acceptable. They emphasized that while peaceful protests are allowed, it is important to respect security.

    During the protest, a small group of supporters for Khalistan, a separate Sikh state, were gathered with yellow flags. They shouted slogans supporting Khalistan while Jaishankar was inside Chatham House.

    When he came out to his car, a man with an Indian flag pushed through the police barriers and ran toward the minister’s motorcade. He confronted the police and even tore the Indian flag before being taken away by officers.

    India’s government has also condemned this security breach, saying it expects the UK to fulfill its duty to keep visiting officials safe. An Indian official called these protesters “provocative” and criticized them for misusing their right to protest.

  • Brazil Warns: Trump’s Return May Hinder Global Climate Efforts

    Brazil Warns: Trump’s Return May Hinder Global Climate Efforts

    Brazil’s Environment Minister, Marina Silva, warned that global efforts to fight climate change could take a hit if Donald Trump returns to the White House. She believes this could create a “triple negative effect” on climate action.

    Trump has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, caused trade problems with Canada, China, and Mexico, and has changed U.S. policies on the war in Ukraine. Brazil is getting ready to host important climate talks later this year.

    Silva explained that these political troubles can make it harder for countries to work together on climate issues. She said, “Less action means less money and less cooperation,” which is bad for our planet. Brazil plans to use its leadership during the upcoming COP30 summit to encourage teamwork and respect for science.

    Silva shared concerns about the promise made last year to give poor countries $300 billion each year by 2035, saying we can’t just assume it will happen. She also mentioned that trade fights are bad for everyone and could lead to higher prices and economic problems in the future. “People won’t support leaders if their homes are destroyed by fires or if they can’t afford food,” she said.

  • Can the Sensex Bounce Back After the Kumbh Dip?

    Can the Sensex Bounce Back After the Kumbh Dip?

    Recently, the BSE Sensex took a big hit, dropping nearly 4% during the Maha Kumbh period. But is it time for it to rise again? Historical data shows that five out of six times since 2004, the Sensex ended up going up over the next six months, giving an average return of 8%. Apurva Sheth from SAMCO Securities looked into these past Kumbh events to see how the Sensex performed and why he thinks it will go higher this time.

    Kumbh Performance Overview:

    – 2004 Ujjain Kumbh (April 5 – May 4): The Sensex fell by 3.27% but bounced back with 1.01% gains in the next six months.
    – 2010 Haridwar Kumbh (Jan 14 – April 28): A small drop of 1.16% was followed by a strong 16.82% return.
    – 2013 Prayagraj Kumbh (Jan 14 – March 11): The index dropped 1.31% but recovered to give 1.79% returns.
    – 2015 Nashik Kumbh (July 14 – Sep 28): The worst fall was 8.29%, and it did not recover, with returns down by 2.54%.
    – 2016 Ujjain Kumbh (April 22 – May 23): The Sensex dipped by 2.35% but grew by 2.12% afterward.
    – 2021 Haridwar Kumbh (April 1 – April 19): It fell sharply by 4.16% but had an amazing recovery of 28.81% in the next six months.

    The most recent Kumbh was the Prayagraj Kumbh, which lasted 48 days from January 9 to March 26. The Sensex fell from 77,620.21 to 74,602.12 during this time. On average, it dropped by 3.49% during the Kumbh events, but the average recovery is 8%.

    In the six trading days after the Kumbh ended, the Sensex fell another 0.56%, which equals approximately 400 points down. The six-month recovery period will end on August 28, 2023.

    So, why does Sheth believe the Sensex will recover? Here are two big reasons:

    1. Valuations are Attractive: Historical data shows that when the market drops, it often bounces back as valuations get more appealing. Currently, the Nifty’s price-to-earnings (PE) ratio is at 19.6, close to lower levels that could signal a good buying opportunity. Past trends suggest that investments made when valuations are low typically yield about 17.85% returns in a year.

    2. A Bounce-Back is Likely: When the index closes down for eight or more days in a row, history shows that it usually rebounds. Since 2002, this has happened nine times, with the index rising in six of those cases by an average of 2.68% a month later.

    Sheth encourages investors to remember the words of Warren Buffett: “Be greedy when everyone else is fearful.”

    (Disclaimer: These views are those of the expert and do not represent the views of Thellv.news)

  • Father Arrested for Allegedly Killing Daughter Over Neighboring Dispute

    Father Arrested for Allegedly Killing Daughter Over Neighboring Dispute

    A shocking incident has taken place in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. A 40-year-old man named Mohit Mishra has been arrested for allegedly killing his five-year-old daughter, Tani, and cutting her body into four pieces. The police say Mohit got angry after Tani went to play at a neighbor’s house, a place he had problems with.

    On February 25, Tani was reported missing, and her father was the one who told the police. They quickly started searching for her. “We formed four teams and soon found body parts. The next day, more pieces were discovered, confirming that she was murdered,” said Additional Superintendent of Police Pravin Ranjan Singh.

    During the investigation, Mohit acted strangely. He gave his phone to his wife and then vanished. Once he returned, the police questioned him, and he admitted to killing Tani and hiding her body.

    Mohit explained that he used to be friends with their neighbor, Ramu, but they had an argument recently and stopped talking. Despite being warned, Tani kept going to play at Ramu’s house. On the day she went missing, when Mohit saw her coming back from Ramu’s house, he became very angry.

    In a fit of rage, he took Tani on his bike to an empty area, strangled her with her own clothes, and then dumped her body in a mustard field. This terrible crime was uncovered after the police questioned over 100 people in the community.

  • PM Modi’s Vision for Year-Round Tourism in Uttarakhand

    PM Modi’s Vision for Year-Round Tourism in Uttarakhand

    Dehradun: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for Uttarakhand to become a year-round tourist destination. He wants to take steps to make sure the state doesn’t have an “off-season” for tourists. Currently, many people visit Uttarakhand during the summer months of March, April, May, and June, but interest drops after that, leaving hotels and home stays empty throughout winter. This seasonal tourism harms the local economy and the environment, Modi explained during an event in Uttarkashi to promote winter tourism.

    Modi suggested a “360-degree approach to tourism,” which would create jobs for local youth all year and help the state reach its economic potential. “When the rest of the country is foggy in winter, Uttarakhand enjoys sunshine,” he noted, encouraging the promotion of “Gham Tapo Tourism” (which means basking in the sun). He also encouraged businesses to hold meetings and events in the area to boost winter tourism.

    During his speech, Modi talked about the ongoing projects by both the central and state governments to improve tourism. These include the all-weather Char Dham road, modern expressways, and upgrades to rail and air services. He also mentioned two new ropeway projects for Kedarnath and Hemkund, which recently received approval. The Kedarnath ropeway will make travel from Sonprayag to Kedarnath much faster, cutting the journey from 8-9 hours down to just about 30 minutes. The total cost for both ropeway projects is ₹6,811 crore and should be finished in about 4 to 6 years.

    The number of people visiting the Char Dham Yatra has increased from 1.8 million per year before 2014 to about 5 million now. This year, the budget includes funding to develop 50 tourist spots, which will improve facilities and create more jobs.

    PM Modi also talked about the Vibrant Village Programme launched in 2023 to help develop certain villages along India’s northern border, calling them the “first villages” of the country now. He stressed the importance of new homestays in boosting tourism and helping local families earn more money. Those who build homestays can benefit from financial support under the Mudra Yojana program.

    He concluded by kicking off a trek and bike rally from Harsil to the tribal village of Jadung to help promote tourism in border areas. Modi reassured that efforts are being made to make these places livable again, especially the village of Jadung, which was evacuated during the 1962 India-China war. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami added that winter tourism is important for many families during the Char Dham Yatra and highlighted that new winter tours are being started thanks to Modi’s guidance.