Tag: llv news

  • ASI to Renovate Shahi Jama Masjid Following Court Order

    ASI to Renovate Shahi Jama Masjid Following Court Order

    On Thursday, a team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) visited the Shahi Jama Masjid to take measurements for upcoming renovation work. This decision comes after the Allahabad High Court instructed the ASI to finish whitewashing the mosque within a week.

    Zafar Ali, the head of the Jama Masjid committee, told reporters that the ASI team was assessing what needed to be done and preparing a cost estimate. He said, “We are fully cooperating with the team, and everything is going well. Once they finish taking measurements and get approval, the painting work will start soon.”

    Ali explained that if the approval comes on Thursday, painting might start right away. If not, since Holi is coming up, it will begin the day after the holiday. The mosque committee will supervise the painting under the ASI’s rules and guidance.

    Earlier, the Allahabad High Court asked the ASI’s lawyer to explain what problems whitewashing the mosque might cause. The mosque committee’s lawyer, SFA Naqvi, pointed out that the ASI had not denied the request for whitewashing or outdoor lighting. He even showed colored photos showing that the mosque clearly needs a paint job.

    Last November, riots broke out in Sambhal when locals protested a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. They claimed the mosque was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple destroyed during the Mughal era. The protest turned violent, leading to clashes with the police that resulted in four deaths and many injuries.

  • Puma Jobs Cut: Store Closures Due to Weak US Sales

    Puma Jobs Cut: Store Closures Due to Weak US Sales

    Puma, the famous sportswear brand, announced on Wednesday that it will lay off 500 workers around the world and shut down some stores that are not making money. This decision comes as Puma faces problems with sales in the US, where people are not buying as much due to economic worries. The company’s shares dropped by 23% after it shared disappointing forecasts about its sales and profits.

    Puma’s CEO, Arne Freundt, noted that many of their customers in the US are holding back on spending because they are worried about the economy. This news follows a weak report of quarterly sales and overall profits, raising fears about how well Puma can compete with bigger brands like Adidas and Nike, as well as newer brands like On Running and Hoka.

    Moreover, about 10% of the shoes that Puma sells in the United States come from China, which now has new tariffs set by President Donald Trump. To deal with this, Puma is asking its suppliers to find other countries, like Indonesia, to produce their shoes.

    Puma expects its sales to grow slowly this year, in the low to mid-single-digit range, compared to a 4.4% increase in 2024. Meanwhile, Adidas, one of Puma’s biggest competitors, is doing well and is taking a careful approach for 2025.

    What worked for both Puma and Adidas last year were retro shoe styles that they brought back. Puma is planning to sell 4 million to 6 million pairs of its retro “Speedcat” sneakers, which are inspired by motor racing.

  • Puma Cuts 500 Jobs Amid Weak US Sales

    Puma Cuts 500 Jobs Amid Weak US Sales

    Puma, the sportswear company, announced on Wednesday that it will be cutting 500 jobs and closing some stores because US customers aren’t buying as much. This news came after Puma shared disappointing sales results, which caused its stock price to drop by 23%.

    Puma’s CEO, Arne Freundt, explained that people in the US are worried about the economy and are spending less money. This bad news followed a report of weak sales and profit in January. It raised concerns about how Puma can compete against larger brands like Adidas and Nike, as well as newer brands like On Running and Hoka.

    Additionally, Puma mentioned that about 10% of the shoes imported to the US come from China, which now face new tariffs set by former President Donald Trump. Because of this, Puma is asking suppliers to move production to other countries, like Indonesia.

    The company estimates its sales will grow slowly this year, aiming for a low to mid-single-digit percentage increase, compared to a 4.4% growth in 2024. On the other hand, Adidas performed well in 2024 and is being careful about its plans for 2025.

    One successful product for both Puma and Adidas last year was the revival of classic shoe designs. Puma confirmed that it still plans to sell between 4 to 6 million pairs of its popular “Speedcat” sneakers, inspired by motor racing.

  • 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.

  • The Diplomat” Review: A Thrilling Story with John Abraham and Sadia Khateeb

    The Diplomat” Review: A Thrilling Story with John Abraham and Sadia Khateeb

    The Diplomat” is a new thriller that has some exciting moments, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark to be a perfect movie. Directed by Shivam Nair, who made “Naam Shabana,” and featuring John Abraham and Sadia Khateeb, this film tells the real-life story of Uzma Ahmad. Uzma was brought back to India in 2017 after being tricked by a Pakistani man. She claims she was forced to marry him at gunpoint and was abused.

    What Works Well:
    The movie pulls you in from the start. Uzma seeks help from the Indian Embassy in Pakistan, creating a tense atmosphere. John Abraham plays diplomat JP Singh, but instead of being a tough guy, he is more restrained in his acting. While his character’s past does add some depth, it feels a bit unnecessary.

    The film has a strong pace, especially in the second half with thrilling car chases and intense moments. The ending gives a satisfying answer to how Uzma returns home across the India-Pakistan border.

    What Could Be Better:
    However, some choices in the film are puzzling. John’s character is given a sad backstory and a family, which seems to slow things down. There are also moments where the film tries to make digs at Pakistan, which feels out of place since this isn’t just a patriotic movie.

    Among the actors, Sadia shines as Uzma, showing her fear and pain convincingly. Revathy, playing the former minister Sushma Swaraj, makes a strong impression despite limited screen time. Other actors like Sharib Hashmi and Jagjeet Sandhu add to the mix but don’t have as much impact.

    Overall, “The Diplomat” has the right elements to be a great thriller but doesn’t quite pull it off. It deserves 3.5 stars for its effort.

  • 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.