A fire started at an empty private camp in the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. This happened just two days after another fire damaged seven tents in an ashram in a nearby area. The new fire broke out in Sector 8 of the Kumbh Mela site, according to the news. We’re still waiting for more information about this incident. Stay tuned for updates!
Category: News
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Supreme Court Delays Hearing on Places of Worship Law to April 2024
On Monday, the Supreme Court decided to postpone discussions about a law that protects places of worship until the first week of April. A group of judges, including Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, said a larger group of three judges would hear the case.
Earlier that day, the court was unhappy with the increase of new cases related to this law, called the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. This law ensures that the religious character of a site remains the same as it was on August 15, 1947. The Chief Justice expressed concern that they might not have enough time to address all the new cases being brought up, mentioning that they might set a later date in March.
In December, the court had paused several lawsuits from Hindu groups wanting to assess the original religious character of certain mosques like the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and others. These petitions were supposed to be heard on February 17, but new petitions continue to be filed. For example, leaders from different political parties, like AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress’s Iqra Choudhary, have requested that this law be enforced fairly to keep peace and harmony among various communities.
Choudhary highlighted that many legal actions against mosques are starting to create tensions. Meanwhile, the court had already agreed to look into a separate case brought by Owaisi, asking for similar protection.
On the other side, a Hindu organization, the Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti, wants to participate in these cases to ensure the law stays valid. Currently, around six main petitions, including one from lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, are challenging parts of the 1991 law, arguing that it limits people’s rights to seek legal action over places of worship.
The law aims to keep the current religious status of worship sites like they were in 1947, not affecting the well-known Ayodhya dispute over the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid. Muslim groups like the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind wish for strict enforcement of this law to maintain peace. They argue some petitioners are trying to exploit the law and file claims about mosques that are currently protected.
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Miami Man Arrested for Shooting Two Innocent Victims in Random Attack
A man in Miami Beach was arrested for shooting two people on Saturday night, leaving them injured. The suspect, 27-year-old Mordechai Brafman, shot the victims while they were in their car. He called them “two Palestinians.”
The shooting happened around 9:30 PM. Video footage shows Brafman driving his truck down Pine Tree Drive. He then turned around when he saw the victims’ car, parked in front of them, got out, and fired 17 shots at their vehicle without any reason. Both victims were hurt: one was shot in the shoulder, and the other in the arm.
After the incident, another camera recorded the victims arriving at a nearby condo, with one of them bleeding.
Brafman later told the police that he shot them because he “saw two Palestinians.” However, the three of them did not know each other. He was arrested and faces two charges of attempted murder. Brafman will appear in court on Monday.
Neighbors who witnessed the police activity were shocked. One resident described the scene as “pretty intense,” noting the large police presence and cleared traffic.
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BJP Challenges US $21 Million Grant for Indian Voter Turnout
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted strongly to a claim made by a US government department, led by Elon Musk’s DOGE, that they canceled a $21 million grant meant to help increase voter turnout in India.
Sanjeev Sanyal, a top adviser to Prime Minister Modi, questioned the trustworthiness of the USAID, the organization responsible for foreign aid, calling it “the biggest scam in human history.” He expressed a desire to know who got the $21 million for improving voter turnout in India, along with other similar funds allocated to Bangladesh and Nepal.
The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claimed in a post that taxpayer dollars planned for several international projects, including the one for India, have been canceled. BJP leader Nalin Kohli raised concerns about foreign agencies interfering in India’s elections, stating that India is a strong democracy and can hold its own fair elections. He pointed out past instances where other political parties like Congress had worked with foreign organizations to influence elections.
BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani insisted that Indian authorities should investigate the money and identify anyone involved in influencing the country’s democracy, suggesting that they should face the law for undermining India.
SY Quraishi, a former Chief Election Commissioner, commented that while there was a past agreement for training, there were no funds involved. Amit Malviya from the BJP reiterated that the $21 million grant was unwanted interference in India’s electoral system
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BJP Challenges US $21 Million Grant for Indian Voter Turnout
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted strongly to a claim made by a US government department, led by Elon Musk’s DOGE, that they canceled a $21 million grant meant to help increase voter turnout in India.
Sanjeev Sanyal, a top adviser to Prime Minister Modi, questioned the trustworthiness of the USAID, the organization responsible for foreign aid, calling it “the biggest scam in human history.” He expressed a desire to know who got the $21 million for improving voter turnout in India, along with other similar funds allocated to Bangladesh and Nepal.
The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claimed in a post that taxpayer dollars planned for several international projects, including the one for India, have been canceled. BJP leader Nalin Kohli raised concerns about foreign agencies interfering in India’s elections, stating that India is a strong democracy and can hold its own fair elections. He pointed out past instances where other political parties like Congress had worked with foreign organizations to influence elections.
BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani insisted that Indian authorities should investigate the money and identify anyone involved in influencing the country’s democracy, suggesting that they should face the law for undermining India.
SY Quraishi, a former Chief Election Commissioner, commented that while there was a past agreement for training, there were no funds involved. Amit Malviya from the BJP reiterated that the $21 million grant was unwanted interference in India’s electoral system
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Delhi Hit by 4.0 Earthquake: Prepare for Aftershocks
On Monday morning, Delhi and nearby areas experienced a strong earthquake that measured 4.0 on the Richter scale. The earthquake struck at 5:36 AM and was felt strongly because it was close to the city, just 9 km east of New Delhi, and at a shallow depth of 5 km.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Earth Sciences Minister, urged everyone to remain calm and be ready for possible aftershocks. He emphasized that residents should follow safety precautions and be prepared in case more tremors occur. The government is monitoring the situation closely, and experts are keeping a watchful eye on the developments.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also advised people to stay calm and be alert for further aftershocks. He reassured everyone that the authorities are on top of the situation and sharing updates through social media.
Residents shared their feelings after the earthquake, describing it as shocking and scary, with many rushing out of their homes during the tremors.
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Radhika Gupta’s Smart Tips for Safe Investing During Market Volatility
Radhika Gupta, the CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, has important advice for investors during this shaky time in the market. She says, “Don’t just go along with what others say—make smart choices!” If you’re looking for safe options, consider hybrid or debt mutual funds instead of riskier stocks.
Lately, many people have stopped their regular investments called SIPs because they’re worried about the market. Some think that switching to index funds is safer, but Gupta wants to clear up this misunderstanding. She explains that moving from a small-cap mutual fund to a small-cap index fund doesn’t lower your risk. Both types invest in small companies, which can be very volatile.
Gupta pointed out that the main difference is that actively managed funds have managers who can make them perform better—or worse—than the index. “Index funds are not less risky; they carry the same risks as active funds for small-cap investments,” she said.
Earlier, Gupta reminded everyone that tough times don’t last forever, but smart investors do! Just like in previous crises, we can weather the storm by staying committed to our investment plan. She believes that investing is a long-term journey and encourages everyone to keep going with their SIPs, so they can see their money grow over time.
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Zen Technologies Shares Dive 20%: What You Need to Know
On Monday, shares of Zen Technologies went down by 20%, closing at Rs 1,079.35 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). This drop happened after the company announced that its profits and sales decreased compared to the previous quarter.
In the third quarter that ended in December 2024, Zen Technologies made a net profit of Rs 38.62 crore, which is 22% more than the same time last year. This increase was mainly due to higher income from other sources. However, when compared to the previous quarter, profits dropped by a big 40.8% from Rs 65.24 crore. This has left investors worried.
The company’s revenue from operations grew by 44% year-on-year to Rs 141.52 crore, but it fell sharply by 41.44% from Rs 241.69 crore in the earlier quarter. The company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) also dropped 33.18% from the previous quarter to Rs 58.69 crore, although it was up 21% from last year. The EBITDA margin was 35.90%, down from 47.34% last year, but a bit higher than 35.12% in the previous quarter.
Ashok Atluri, the Chairman and Managing Director of Zen Technologies, said that profits went up this quarter because of increased other income. He also expressed confidence that the company will reach an EBITDA target of 35% and profit margins of 25% by the end of this financial year. As of December 2024, the order book was valued at Rs 816.91 crore.
The stock’s fall came despite Zen Technologies announcing investments in two companies: Vector Technics and Bhairav Robotics. These moves aim to improve its capabilities in drones and robotics. The company now owns 51% of Vector Technics and 45.33% of Bhairav Robotics, focusing on aerospace and defense improvement.
Finally, Zen Technologies’ shares have been struggling, losing about 51.72% in just the last month and 35.03% in the last week. In the past six months, the stock has dropped 36.58%, though it remains 33.27% higher compared to a year ago.
Despite this downturn, many analysts still believe Zen Technologies has a good future. According to Trendlyne data, the average target price for the company’s shares is Rs 2,495, with all three analysts recommending a ‘buy’ rating.
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Xi Jinping’s Symposium: A New Hope for China’s Private Sector Growth
Beijing – China’s President Xi Jinping recently spoke at a special meeting focused on private businesses, according to the official news agency, Xinhua. This meeting is important since China is facing economic challenges and tensions with the United States. Xi listened to leaders from private companies and gave a speech afterwards, although details about who attended were not shared.
Sources reported before the meeting that Xi intended to encourage business leaders, including Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma, to strengthen their companies both in China and abroad. This move is seen as necessary, especially as China competes with the U.S. in technology.
In the past, Xi had promised things like tax cuts and financial support for private businesses at a similar meeting in 2018. Now, with new AI technology from a company called DeepSeek making waves, there are hopes that it could help China’s tech industry recover.
Xi has emphasized that it’s crucial for China to become self-sufficient in making computer chips. However, U.S. export controls on chips make this difficult, as the U.S. fears China could use advanced technology for military purposes. According to a China expert, this meeting shows that the Chinese government understands it needs private businesses to stand strong against the U.S.
Recently, tech stocks in Hong Kong have been rising, helped by excitement over DeepSeek’s AI advancements and a more friendly attitude from Chinese authorities towards internet companies. An index measuring these companies reached a three-year high recently, boosted by news of Xi’s meeting.
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Taiwan’s Ongoing Battle Against the Growing Iguana Population
In Taiwan, bounty hunter Wu Cheng-hua, 25, is using a slingshot to help control the growing iguana population. These green lizards were brought to Taiwan from Central and South America over 20 years ago as pets. Many have escaped or been released, and now there are too many of them, harming gardens and crops.
Wu works with a team of hunters hired by the Pingtung County government. They can earn up to NT$500 for every iguana they catch. Some days they catch hundreds of iguanas, while other days, just a few. They often miss their targets, shooting at iguanas high in trees, trying to capture them with harpoon slingshots used for spearfishing.
Despite the hard work, experts say it’s almost impossible to rid Taiwan of these reptiles completely. The iguanas are also causing problems in other countries, including the United States. Estimates suggest there could be up to 200,000 iguanas in Taiwan. A female iguana can lay dozens of eggs each year, making their numbers keep rising.
Climate changes, like warmer winters and less rainy seasons, have helped iguana survival and reproduction, creating what experts call a “perfect storm” for their population to grow. Local farmers, like Cheng Hui-jung, struggle to protect their crops from these hungry lizards. Even with nets, it’s hard to catch them.
The local government is asking residents to help catch iguanas. Hsin Tseng-kuan, 58, says she was scared of iguanas at first but learned to catch them with training from the government. Many people are now learning how to deal with these creatures.
Animal rights group PETA has suggested that Taiwan should use non-lethal methods to control iguana numbers. Some hunters wish they could use air guns to make their hunting more effective and humane. After a long day of hunting, Wu and his team caught 14 iguanas, some still alive and in pain. They have to euthanize the iguanas and keep them frozen until the government can incinerate them.
Wu finds hunting tougher than his cooking job but enjoys helping farmers save their crops. “If we don’t help, everything they grow will be eaten,” he said.