Category: News

  • Shahjahanpur’s ‘Laat Sahab’ Procession: A Colorful Tradition

    Shahjahanpur’s ‘Laat Sahab’ Procession: A Colorful Tradition

    In Shahjahanpur, some kids threw stones at the ‘Laat Sahab’ during a celebration on Friday, but the police quickly stopped them. Superintendent of Police Rajesh S explained that the ‘Laat Sahab’ celebration started at Kunchalal, went by Phoolmati Mandir and Town Hall, and ended back at Kunchalal. At the Khirni Bagh intersection, a group of five or six kids threw colorful powder (gulal) and even shoes at ‘Laat Sahab’ before throwing a stone. The police were there and chased the kids away.

    When asked if the police used force, the SP said no. He mentioned that the procession first went to the Phoolmati Temple for prayers and then to the Kotwali, where ‘Laat Sahab’ was honored. During the event, ‘Laat Sahab’ asked a police officer about the crimes that happened throughout the year, and the officer gave him a bottle of liquor and some cash.

    Many people joined in the celebration, throwing shoes while cheering for ‘Laat Sahab.’ The police set up strong security around ‘Laat Sahab’s bullock cart. The SP also noted that there were 18 other processions during this celebration, with two being especially important.

    To ensure the mosques along the route stayed clean, about 20 of them were covered with tarps, and barriers were put near mosques and electrical transformers. For the first time, a special celebration took place in the district jail, where they made a statue of ‘Laat Sahab’ after prisoners requested it. They had fun throwing colors at each other.

    This celebration began in 1728 when Nawab Abdullah Khan played Holi with the people of Shahjahanpur. Over time, the tradition changed to picking an unknown person as ‘Laat Sahab,’ painting their face black, and parading them on a bullock cart while throwing shoes. Historian Dr. Vikas Khurana mentioned a court case in 1990 to stop the parade, but the court allowed it to continue, calling it an old tradition

  • Tragic Chapra Accident: 7 Lives Lost After SUV Crash

    Tragic Chapra Accident: 7 Lives Lost After SUV Crash

    Kolkata: Tragedy struck in Chapra, Nadia district, West Bengal, on Friday when a terrible accident killed seven people, including two women and one child. Three others were hurt.

    A big SUV was driving from Kalyani to Karimpur when it lost control and crashed into two e-rickshaws coming from the other direction. After the crash, the SUV flipped over and fell into a ditch by the side of the road. The police believe the driver and the passengers in the SUV had been drinking and were intoxicated during the accident, which happened around 11 am.

    There were ten people in the two e-rickshaws. Sadly, seven of them died immediately, while three others were seriously injured and taken to the hospital. The police have opened an investigation to find out more about the crash.

    Fortunately, the driver and passengers of the SUV only received minor injuries.

  • Master the NYT Connections Puzzle: Tips & Answers!

    Master the NYT Connections Puzzle: Tips & Answers!

    The New York Times has a fun daily word game called Connections. It is perfect for anyone who loves words and puzzles. In this game, players get 16 words every day. The goal is to divide these words into four groups, each with four words that have something in common.

    In the March 14, 2025 puzzle, puzzle #642, you would find words that needed to be sorted by their themes. Here’s a little help to get you started with today’s categories:

    – Yellow Group: Words related to penalties.
    – Green Group: Items you might grab quickly while in line at the checkout.
    – Blue Group: Different types of movie lengths.
    – Purple Group: Words that go with “Road” in common sayings.

    Answers for Puzzle #642

    If you want to know the correct answers for the March 14 puzzle, here they are:

    – Yellow: Assess, Charge, Fine, Levy (Words about penalties)
    – Green: Candy, Chapstick, Charging Cable, Magazine (Impulse buys at checkout)
    – Blue: Epic, Feature, Film Series, Short (Different movie lengths)
    – Purple: Dirt, High, Rocky, Silk (Words that go with “Road”)

    Tips for Solving the Connections Puzzles

    To improve at Connections, try these tips:
    1. Look for Obvious Groups: Find words that clearly fit together, like synonyms, or items in the same category.
    2. Eliminate Incorrect Groups: When you make a correct group, cross those words off your list to focus on the others.
    3. Think Outside the Box: Some connections may not be obvious, so consider phrases or familiar pairings.
    4. Learn from Your Mistakes: Each wrong guess helps you understand better for the next time.

    Other NYT Games to Try

    If you enjoy Connections, check out other fun games by The New York Times, such as:
    – NYT Mini Crossword: A quick and fun crossword puzzle.
    – Spelling Bee: Create as many words as you can from seven given letters.
    – Wordle: Guess a five-letter word in six tries.
    – Strands: A unique word search game that uses zig-zag solutions.

    FAQs
    – What is the NYT Connections puzzle? It’s a daily word game from The New York Times where players group 16 words into four themed categories.
    – What were the answers for March 14, 2025? They were about penalties, impulse buys, movie lengths, and “Road” phrases.

  • Missing Student Sudiksha Konkani: What Happened in Dominican Republic

    Missing Student Sudiksha Konkani: What Happened in Dominican Republic

    A 22-year-old Indian-American student named Sudiksha Konkani went missing while on spring break in the Dominican Republic. Joshua Ribe, the last person seen with her, is now a person of interest in her case. The two were at the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana, where many guests went to the beach after a power outage on March 6.

    Before she disappeared, Sudiksha and Joshua were seen swimming together. Joshua told police that they got caught in big waves, and he tried to bring her back to the shore but lost her in the darkness. He said, “A big wave came and swept us both out to sea.” He also mentioned that they shouted for help, but no one was around to hear them.

    After swimming back to the beach, Joshua said he felt sick and didn’t see where Sudiksha went. The search for her is now being joined by U.S. agencies, including the FBI. Dominican President Luis Abinader expressed concern about the situation and reassured the public that all government agencies are involved in the search.

  • UK Economy Faces Struggles: What It Means for Growth and Taxes

    UK Economy Faces Struggles: What It Means for Growth and Taxes

    In January, the British economy shrank unexpectedly, creating challenges for Treasury Chief Rachel Reeves. Instead of growing, the economy, which is one of the largest in the world, fell by 0.1%. This is surprising because many experts thought it would grow a little after a solid increase of 0.4% in December.

    According to the Office of National Statistics, the drop in the economy was mainly due to bad weather impacting industries like manufacturing and construction. However, the services sector, which makes up about 80% of the economy, performed well.

    Despite being only a monthly report, which can change later, this decline highlights the difficulties faced by the Labour government that took charge last July after being out of power for 14 years. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that boosting the UK’s economic growth is his top priority over the next five years. Since the financial crisis in 2008-2009, the economy has struggled to grow.

    Starmer wants to improve living standards and find money for public services. But with growth proving to be a challenge, the Labour Party’s popularity has dropped since they won the elections in July. Critics argue that Rachel Reeves has played a role in slowing down the economy by being too negative and increasing taxes, especially for businesses.

    After the disappointing numbers for January, Reeves promised to improve the economy’s poor performance, saying the government would work harder to encourage growth. Recently, she proposed various plans to help, such as supporting a third runway at Heathrow Airport, creating a tech hub between Oxford and Cambridge, and rethinking the UK’s economic relationships after Brexit. She also mentioned the positive effects of increasing defense spending.

    The decline in January is a tough situation for Reeves, especially with a budget statement to Parliament coming up on March 26. Since growth isn’t generating the expected tax money and borrowing costs are high, she may need to announce cuts in spending to stick to her budget rules. Mel Stride, a spokesperson for the main opposition Conservative Party, criticized the government for being a “growth killer,” blaming tax increases and proposed changes to employment rights.

  • Shiv Sena Leader Shot Dead in Moga: Protests Erupt for Justice

    Shiv Sena Leader Shot Dead in Moga: Protests Erupt for Justice

    In Moga, a Shiv Sena leader named Mangat Rai, also known as Manga, was shot and killed on Thursday night. He was the president of the local Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The attack happened when Manga stepped out of his house to buy groceries around 10 PM. Three strangers approached him and shot at him. Their first shot missed and hit a 12-year-old boy who was walking by. Manga quickly got on his motorcycle to escape, but the attackers chased him and shot him again. He was taken to the hospital but sadly, the doctors declared him dead.

    The young boy who got hurt was taken to Moga Civil Hospital and then moved to a better hospital for treatment. Manga’s wife reported the attack, leading police to book six suspects and others who are still unknown. Investigations are ongoing. Although police think this may be due to a personal feud, Manga’s family insists he never had any enemies. His family and some local groups protested at Pratap Chowk, demanding justice and the arrest of those responsible. They shouted slogans against the government, blaming it for the poor safety situation in Punjab.

    Manga’s daughter shared that her father left home around 8 PM to buy milk and she learned of his death around 11 PM. They want justice and are determined to seek it. In a separate but related incident, three men on motorcycles entered a salon that night and shot at the owner, Devender Kumar, injuring him in the leg. He was also treated at the hospital, where an investigation is taking place.

  • Stocks Steady Amid Trade Tensions: Major Drops for BMW and UMG

    Stocks Steady Amid Trade Tensions: Major Drops for BMW and UMG

    European stocks stayed steady on Friday, but they are expected to drop for the week because of worries about trade tensions between countries. The STOXX 600, which includes many companies from Europe, was slightly up by 0.09% in early trading. However, it went down on Thursday after the President of the U.S. threatened to impose a big 200% tax on wine and other drinks from the European Union. This was in response to the EU’s taxes on American whiskey. So far this week, the index is down more than 2%.

    President Trump’s changing stance on tariffs is making investors and consumers nervous, creating a lot of uncertainty in the market. BMW saw its profits drop more than a third in 2024, causing its stock to fall by 3.7%. The auto industry index decreased by 1.3%, with Renault down 1.4%, Volkswagen down 1%, and Stellantis losing 1.2%.

    Universal Music Group (UMG) dropped 10.5% after investor Bill Ackman’s company sold some of its shares. Luxury brand Kering also fell by 9.5% when Gucci announced a new artistic director, Demna, from Georgia. On the bright side, Daimler Truck’s stock went up 4% after the company predicted that its profits would grow by 5% to 15% by 2025 and started a cost-cutting program in Europe due to last year’s poor performance.

  • Four Militants Arrested in Manipur: Details of the Operations

    Four Militants Arrested in Manipur: Details of the Operations

    On Thursday, police arrested Thokchom Ongbi Anita Devi, a 46-year-old woman, from her home in Sago band Sayang Kurao Makhong, Imphal West. They found a pistol, 33 bullets, five SIM cards, and six mobile phones in her possession.

    Another arrest was made near the India-Myanmar border where they caught Moirangtham Ricky Singh, a 22-year-old member of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF-K), from Khurai Chairenthong in Imphal East.

    Additionally, Laishram Bishorjit Meitei, a 33-year-old involved in extorting local businesses, was arrested from Sekmaijin Ningolkhong in Kakching district.

    Lastly, Yumnam Premjit Meitei, a 54-year-old man connected to the Kangleipak Communist Party (Apunba), was arrested for taking money from trucks carrying timber. He was caught at a furniture shop in Kakwa, Imphal West.

  • Columbia Student Detained: Khalil’s Fight for Freedom and Free Speech

    Columbia Student Detained: Khalil’s Fight for Freedom and Free Speech

    NEW YORK — Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student, felt like he was kidnapped when U.S. agents took him from New York to Louisiana last weekend. His lawyers are trying to get him released. Khalil, a Palestinian activist, described being treated poorly during the journey; he didn’t even have a pillow or blanket to sleep on when he arrived at a detention center. This happened after he spoke out against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

    His lawyers filed a lawsuit, saying Khalil felt like he was being kidnapped throughout the process. A judge allowed them to speak with him, and his lawyers shared details about what happened since he was arrested. They claim he asked for a lawyer but did not get help when he was taken by agents from the Department of Homeland Security.

    President Donald Trump praised Khalil’s arrest, saying it was the first of many similar actions against students he believes support terrorism. Khalil’s lawyers are also suing Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, claiming they were wrong to detain him. Government lawyers want to move the case to a different court, arguing it must happen where Khalil has been held.

    Khalil was arrested after dinner with his wife and taken to a detention center in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he waited in a cold room without a blanket. He was then transported by van, handcuffed, and shackled, with messages sent to agents that he shouldn’t use his phone. He was flown to Louisiana on an American Airlines flight. Now, he worries about his pregnant wife and missing the birth of their first child.

    Khalil was supposed to start a new job and receive health benefits to help with the baby’s costs. He wants to continue speaking out for Palestinian rights and was even going to speak at a documentary premiere in Copenhagen, Denmark. During the hearing, Khalil’s lawyers said they couldn’t talk to him until 10 days after his arrest, but the judge allowed them a conversation.

    This whole situation has drawn a lot of attention because it raises questions about free speech and the treatment of students who speak out on political issues.

  • Indian AC Industry Poised for Growth Amid Supply Challenges

    Indian AC Industry Poised for Growth Amid Supply Challenges

    The Indian air conditioning (AC) market is off to a great start this summer, building on last season’s strong performance. After a tough time with shortages of important parts like compressors and copper in early this year, companies have found ways to solve these issues. They secured backup suppliers and are slowly but surely getting back on track.

    The hot temperatures and more people having extra money to spend are making more folks want to buy ACs. It’s predicted that demand will grow by about 19% each year, which means there will be a bigger need for compressors and copper parts as well. Although there were some hiccups in production this January, many businesses managed their inventory well thanks to alternative sources, like Highly and GMCC. Some big names like LG and Daikin, which make their own compressors, are in a better spot.

    To keep going, the industry is importing parts from places like Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand, and they are hopeful about getting supplies from China soon. They also asked the government to extend some certifications until local manufacturers can meet the demand.

    India is set to become a major player in electronics manufacturing soon, thanks to increasing local demand and better export opportunities. The electronic manufacturing services (EMS) industry is growing, with many big companies planning to expand under a government program called PLI for white goods. Since the PLI scheme started, the local value of products has increased from 25% to 45%, and it’s expected to reach 60-70% by FY27 as even more parts are made locally. We anticipate a growth rate of 14% for the RAC industry from FY24 to FY27, mostly thanks to more people buying ACs and rising incomes.

    Company Highlights:
    – Voltas: Target price is Rs 1640 (current price Rs 1400) with an upside of 17%. In 3QFY25, Voltas had an 18% revenue increase to Rs 31.1 billion. Although one segment saw lower profit margins, the company is positive about the hot summer and expects strong growth ahead.

    – Amber Enterprises: Target price is Rs 7800 (current price Rs 6340) with an upside of 23%. It saw a 65% revenue increase this quarter, driven mainly by its AC and electronics divisions. While the railway segment is facing delays, the company is ready to take advantage of increasing AC demand.

    (Note: The author is the head of research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of thellv.news)