Category: News

  • Holi Celebrated After 46 Years at Kartikeya Mahadev Temple

    Holi Celebrated After 46 Years at Kartikeya Mahadev Temple

    On Thursday, people in Khaggu Sarai celebrated Holi at the Kartikeya Mahadev Temple for the first time in 46 years. The event was joyful, with many social and Hindu groups taking part. The temple had been closed since 1978 due to riots but was reopened last December.

    Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shreesh Chandra reported that plenty of police officers were present to keep everyone safe. “Holi is being celebrated peacefully here at the temple. There’s no need to worry; people are enjoying the festival safely,” he said.

    The temple is near Shahi Jama Masjid, which has faced issues related to communal violence, including an incident in November 2024 that sadly resulted in four deaths. This violence started after a protest during a court-ordered survey of the mosque.

    Anand Agrawal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) district president, expressed his happiness about the celebration. “It’s amazing to celebrate Holi at the Kartikeya Mahadev Temple after so many years! People from different social groups are gathering here with flowers and colors,” he shared.

    Participants were excited about the celebration and thanked the police for keeping everyone safe. One attendee, Priyanshu Jain, said, “The police have done a great job making sure everything is secure, and everyone is fully enjoying the festival.”

    The temple, also known as Bhasma Shankar Temple, reopened on December 13 last year after the authorities discovered it during an anti-encroachment drive. The temple has an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling

  • LIC Shares Rated ‘Buy’: Target Price Revised to Rs 1,175

    LIC Shares Rated ‘Buy’: Target Price Revised to Rs 1,175

    The Kotak Institutional Equities brokerage firm believes that the shares of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) are a good buy at a low price. They lowered their target price for LIC shares from Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,175 after a recent fall in the stock market.

    Kotak mentioned that the recent drop in stock prices and business challenges, like new rules for surrender values, have made it tough for LIC. They said that changes in the stock market greatly affect LIC, which gets over half of its value from these investments.

    LIC’s investment in stocks has dropped by 6.9% since the end of 2025, which is troubling. Even though they predict the company will take a loss in the second half of the financial year, they think the current low price of LIC shares is a good reason to buy, given the challenges ahead.

    On the business side, LIC saw a 24% decline in a key sales metric called Annualized Premium Equivalent (APE) in the third quarter of 2025. During January and February, they saw declines of 11% and 21%, respectively, meaning they need a strong March to recover.

    To boost profits, LIC has launched new products and changed its commission structure to keep customers longer. However, there are rumors of dissatisfaction with these changes, which might be contributing to the drop in sales.

    Kotak also pointed out that there will be important changes in the company’s leadership soon. Two managing directors will retire in May 2025, and the current CEO will step down in June. The new leaders will need to come up with a solid plan to improve sales if business remains slow.

    Currently, LIC’s shares are trading flat at Rs 743 as of 12:30 pm today.

  • Lithuanian Man Arrested in India for Laundering $96 Billion in Crypto

    Lithuanian Man Arrested in India for Laundering $96 Billion in Crypto

    Aleksej Besciokov, a man from Lithuania, was arrested in India because the United States wants to charge him with serious crimes. Officials say he was trying to run away from the country when they caught him. Besciokov is accused of using a cryptocurrency exchange called Garantex to launder money, including money from ransomware attacks.

    From 2019 to 2025, it’s believed that he helped criminals transfer over $96 billion using Garantex. Many of these groups are involved in illegal activities, including terrorism. Recently, the U.S., Germany, and Finland worked together to shut down Garantex, and two people who ran the exchange were charged.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Kerala Police arrested Besciokov on a request from the United States. They got a special arrest order from a court in Delhi on March 10, 2025. Now, he will be taken to court in India before possibly being sent back to the U.S. for trial.

    The U.S. Department of Justice shared that Besciokov was one of the main people involved in running Garantex, which handled huge amounts of cryptocurrency since 2019. The exchange was punished by the U.S. in April 2022 for being part of illegal financial actions. Besciokov faces three serious charges that could lead to many years in prison if found guilty.

  • Today’s NYT Strands: Solve the Puzzle for March 13, 2025

    Today’s NYT Strands: Solve the Puzzle for March 13, 2025

    Less than a year ago, Wordle, Connections, and Mini Crossword added a cool new game called NYT Strands. In this game, you can choose from different “spangrams” or daily themes. As of Thursday, March 13, 2025, there’s a new puzzle for players to enjoy. If you need some help solving today’s Strands, don’t worry, we’ve got your back!

    Today’s theme hint is: “What goes around comes around.” If you’re stuck, think about words that mean “turnaround.” Here are some hints for a couple of words related to today’s theme:

    – Hint #1: It’s a curved piece of wood that spins back when thrown (think of a boomerang).
    – Hint #2: A bullet that bounces off a surface when it’s fired wrongly (that’s called a ricochet).

  • Wordle Puzzle Hints and Answers for March 13, 2025 – Let’s Play!

    Wordle Puzzle Hints and Answers for March 13, 2025 – Let’s Play!

    Wordle has become a favorite game for word lovers. The challenge is simple: can you guess the right five-letter word in six tries? Every day brings a new Wordle puzzle just waiting for you to solve it!

    Today’s Wordle is extra exciting. Even if you don’t get it right, the fun is in trying. Winning or losing doesn’t matter; the thrill of the challenge is what keeps players coming back. Ready to play?

    Hints for March 13, 2025:
    – The word you need to guess is related to “pursuing.”
    – Each letter is different—no repeating letters!
    – The first letter of the word is C.

    Think you can solve it? If you want to give it a shot, go ahead and start guessing! If you’d rather know the answer, just keep reading.

    The Answer for March 13, 2025:
    Today’s Wordle answer is “Chase.” Don’t worry if you couldn’t guess it—there’s always tomorrow to try again!

    What is Wordle?
    Wordle is a daily word game created by Josh Wardle, a software engineer from Brooklyn. Since October 2021, players enjoy a new puzzle each day, using clues to figure out the word.

    How to Play Wordle:
    The game starts with a grid of boxes for your guesses. Each guess is a five-letter word. The color will help you know how close you are:
    – Green means the letter is correct and in the right spot.
    – Yellow means the letter is in the word but in the wrong spot.
    – Gray means the letter isn’t in the word at all.

    Have fun playing Wordle today!

  • FICCI Calls for Higher Interest on Tax Dispute Deposits

    FICCI Calls for Higher Interest on Tax Dispute Deposits

    New Delhi: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) wants the Income Tax (IT) department to pay taxpayers more interest on their money during disputes. They noticed that the IT department often creates too many legal cases but only wins some of them. In fact, the department wins just 7% of the cases in tribunals, 9% in High Courts, and 15% in the Supreme Court.

    At a meeting about a new Income Tax law, FICCI suggested that instead of the current low interest rates, the IT department should pay 20% to 24% interest on money that taxpayers have to deposit while waiting for a decision on their cases. This change could prevent the department from starting too many legal cases.

    Some lawmakers, including BJP’s Bhartruhari Mahtab, mentioned that assessing officers might need more accountability if they handle a lot of cases. The committee, led by BJP member Baijayant Panda, also talked about the IT department’s ability to look at digital information from taxpayers. This raised concerns about privacy and data safety since the IT department can access a person’s laptop or phone.

    BJP MP Nishikant Dubey defended the department’s actions, saying they simply need these powers to do their job, even if it raises fears about privacy.

  • Nazara Technologies Updates: COO Departure and Q3 Earnings Insights

    Nazara Technologies Updates: COO Departure and Q3 Earnings Insights

    Nazara Technologies is in the spotlight as it announced that its Chief Operating Officer (COO), Sudhir Kamath, will leave the company on April 1 after serving for two and a half years. Kamath is moving to Delhi to be with his family. In a farewell letter to Nazara’s founder, Nitish Mittersain, he expressed gratitude for the experiences he gained and hoped to have helped the company grow.

    In its recent quarterly report, Nazara Technologies reported a decline in net profit, dropping 53% year-on-year to Rs 13.6 crore for Q3FY25. Despite strong revenue growth, where operating income rose by 67% to Rs 534.6 crore compared to last year, the company faced rising costs. Advertising and promotional expenses tripled to Rs 145.3 crore, while employee costs surged 86.5% to Rs 88.6 crore.

    The company’s esports division remained its biggest money-maker, growing 20% this quarter. The gaming segment also performed well, seeing over a 50% increase in revenue to Rs 154.9 crore.

    Looking at Nazara’s stock, it closed at Rs 937.7 on Wednesday, up 0.44%, while the market as a whole dipped slightly. Despite a 7% decline over the last three months, the stock has jumped 81% in the past two years. Currently, analysts give it a “Hold” rating, with an average target price of Rs 968, suggesting a 3% upside from its current value. The company’s market capitalization is now Rs 8,209 crore.

  • Kerala Students Hospitalized: Possible Viral Meningitis Outbreak

    Kerala Students Hospitalized: Possible Viral Meningitis Outbreak

    In Ernakulam, Kerala, five young students were taken to the hospital after showing signs of a viral illness that might be meningitis. They are all in classes 1 and 2 at a private school in the Kalamassery area of Kochi and are now in different hospitals in the city.

    A medical officer said, “We think it’s a viral infection, but we need to find out what type of virus it is. The symptoms look like meningitis.” The doctor mentioned that they’ve collected samples from the students’ bodies and sent them to the National Institute for Virology in Alappuzha for testing.

    While they are waiting for the test results, the school has been told to stop classes until March 16. The good news is that all the children are currently stable.

    Viral meningitis affects the area around the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms like a stiff neck, fever, vomiting, and headaches.

  • Duterte Takes Responsibility Amid ICC Charges: What Happens Next

    Duterte Takes Responsibility Amid ICC Charges: What Happens Next

    Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte recently shared a video on Facebook where he said he takes full responsibility for his “war on drugs.” This comes as he prepares to face legal charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. In the video, which gained 10 million views, Duterte spoke while on a plane, wearing a plain white shirt. He reassured his supporters that he is fine and will continue to serve his country.

    Duterte was arrested in Manila on serious charges of murder connected to his anti-drug campaign, which led to thousands of deaths. He stated, “Whatever happened in the past, I will protect our law enforcement and military.” The ICC has accused him of creating and funding death squads that killed many people suspected of drug use or dealing.

    At 79 years old, he could become the first former Asian leader to go on trial at the ICC. While Duterte faces a long legal battle, he remains optimistic about his future. His daughter, Sara Duterte, who is also the current vice president, is already in The Hague to support him during this challenging time.

  • India’s Bond Market Insight: Future Predictions and Investment Tips

    India’s Bond Market Insight: Future Predictions and Investment Tips

    Recently, India’s bond market has been in the spotlight due to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) efforts to help the economy grow. While other countries faced market ups and downs, India’s bond market stayed stable. In February, the yield on the 10-year government bond increased slightly by 3 basis points (bps), while US Treasury yields dropped significantly as worries about slow global growth intensified.

    Experts believe that Indian bond yields will likely go down in the coming months because of the RBI’s actions. A report from Axis Mutual Fund suggests that we could see small interest rate cuts of 25-50 bps over the next 6-12 months, starting with a 25 bps cut in the April meetings.

    The RBI has also decided to delay new liquidity rules until March 2026, giving banks more time to manage their cash flow without any major disruptions.

    What Happened in February?

    February was an important month with many policy changes. The RBI took steps to improve liquidity by auctioning $10 billion in currency swaps. They also cut the repo rate by 25 bps, starting a trend toward lower interest rates.

    Despite these positive measures, the 10-year Indian government bond yield rose slightly, showing that investors are still cautious. On the global scale, US Treasury yields dropped by 33 bps to 4.21% due to worries about slowing US growth. Additionally, the rupee fell by 1% against the US dollar, mainly because of Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) outflows and a stronger dollar. However, Axis Mutual Fund believes the rupee may stabilize around these levels.

    Key Economic Highlights

    – Inflation is Decreasing: The general price rise (inflation) fell to 4.3% in January from 5.2% in December 2023, thanks to cheaper food prices. Core inflation has stayed below 4% for over a year and may decline further to 3.8% by the end of the year.

    – GDP Growth is Improving: India’s economy showed a growth rate of 6.2% in Q3FY25 (up from 5.6% in Q2FY25), fueled by strong consumer spending and government expenses.

    – US Treasury Yields Are Down: US Treasury yields decreased by 35-40 bps in February as slow economic growth raised concerns, with the Federal Reserve reducing its bond supply by $40 billion monthly.

    What Lies Ahead for India’s Bond Market?

    Looking forward, Axis Mutual Fund predicts that investors expect more rate cuts and additional support for the economy from the RBI. The RBI is likely to work on keeping overnight interest rates stable, ensuring favorable liquidity conditions. With the current 10-year G-Sec yield around 7.08%, it’s expected to drop to around 6.5% over the next six months. Demand for government bonds remains strong, which should help boost their prices.

    Advice for Investors

    With interest rates expected to fall and economic conditions remaining stable, long-term bonds could be good investments. Axis Mutual Fund advises investors to maintain a longer duration in their portfolios, as yields are likely to decrease gradually. For those looking for extra gains, longer bonds could see significant price increases after further rate cuts.

    Investors should consider focusing on short- to medium-term funds with a tactical approach toward government bonds, as yields are predicted to stay attractive soon.

    Potential Risks Ahead

    While the outlook for India’s bond market appears good, there are some risks to consider:

    1. Currency and Liquidity Issues: Short-term changes in the rupee’s value and ongoing lack of liquidity could be problematic.

    2. US Inflation Policies: If the US adopts inflationary measures, it might strengthen the dollar and lead to capital leaving emerging markets like India.

    3. China’s Economic Recovery: A booming economy in China could draw global investments away from India, affecting liquidity and future growth.

    (Disclaimer: The opinions, views, and suggestions made in this article are those of the experts and do not reflect the views of Thellv.news)