World
We will here show case the latest trends in the Globe from different industries and different verticals.
Top Print Advertisers from July to September 23, 23: TAM AdEx, SBS Biotech, Maruti Suzuki, and Kia
In 2023, Top10VPN calculated the worldwide economic impact of shutdowns, which included 79,238 hours of government-mandated internet outages, to be $9.01 billion. This indicates that India was responsible for approximately 6.5% of the total economic damage caused by internet outages worldwide.The cost of these disruptions—which included significant ISP throttling, internet blackouts, and shutdowns of social media—was estimated using a variety of metrics from the US Census, the World Bank, the ITU, and Eurostat.In India, internet outages are not unusual. India experienced 92 internet shutdown occurrences in 2023, and just a few days into 2024, the nation has already recorded another internet outage, according to SFLC.in's internet shutdown tracker. Furthermore, the Center has a history of taking action against particular websites and pressuring social media companies to remove content at their request. Authorities have disagreed with digital rights advocates over shutdowns, despite citing grounds including putting an end to rumors and misinformation.Since many users rely on online services for information and business, internet disruptions come at a high cost since they reduce trade, which has an economic impact.
Yellow Wood Partners will purchase Unilever's Elida Beauty division.
The Elida Beauty division of the Unilever group, which includes the brands Q-tips, Impulse, Caress, Tigi, Timotei, Monsavon, Brut, Moussel, Alberto Balsam, and VO5, has reached a deal to be sold to the Boston-based private equity firm Yellow Wood Partners. In 2022, the company's revenue was approximately EUR 0.8 billion.Due to the fact that these companies are essential to their everyday life, consumers all across the world adore them. "Our previous collaboration with the Unilever team aided us in comprehending Elida Beauty's potential," stated Tad Yanagi, a partner at Yellow Wood Partners.
Moves and win roundup: Week of January 2, 2024
The media agency for Publicis Groupe, Starcom, has announced a new win: starting in 2024, Starcom Indonesia will serve as BMW Group's media agency of record, joining Starcom in China and Singapore, which will continue to hold that title in their respective regions. As the media agency of record in these markets, Starcom will oversee strategic planning, media buying, and business transformation for all of BMW Group's most iconic brands, including BMW and Mini, after a regional media assessment by BMW Group.Former chief marketing and customer officer of AXA Hong Kong Andrea Wong has left the company to become senior vice president of group marketing and communications at Shangri-La Group. As stated in a LinkedIn post, Wong will work with new colleagues “to further strengthen the hotel brands, create impactful marketing campaigns and PR efforts, and further build up the Shangri-La Circle propositions to deliver superior customer experience.” She will report to Kuok Hui Kwong, the chairman of the group. Wong joined AXA in 2008 and has worked there for more than 20 years. She was appointed CMO of AXA Hong Kong and Macau. To improve its social media marketing service, Innocean has formed a social marketing organization called Innocean S, which is scheduled to open for operation in January 2024. Span Wealth is the newest client of Human, an integrated agency based in Mumbai that was created by Imran Khan and Chirag Raheja. The agency's brief calls for giving the brand a fresh look, incorporating classic elegance, and developing an influential, forward-thinking online presence. With more than 500 crores of assets under management, Span Wealth is a wealth management firm situated in Mumbai. Dorothy Peng announced on LinkedIn that she has become a partner at Deloitte Consulting in Singapore. Peng will be focusing on design and customer strategy in Southeast Asia. She spent more than eight years as an employee of RGA before joining Deloitte. In 2015, she started working for the agency as a group account director. In 2022, she received a promotion to SVP managing director Asia.
Anushka Sharma takes Priyanka Chopra's position as Rajnigandha Pearls' brand face for DS Group.
New Delhi: Bollywood star Anushka Sharma has been named the new brand ambassador for the mouth freshener brand Rajnigandha Pearls by DS Group, the company that makes Pulse sweets and Catch spices. Actress Priyanka Chopra, who has been marketing the brand since 2014, is replaced by her. Anushka Sharma was highlighted in a campaign by L&K Saatchi and Saatchi, an advertising agency, that emphasized the brand's innate goodness. In the TV commercial, Sharma saves a fellow model from a wardrobe malfunction by being the show-stopper at a fashion show. The underlying lesson is that even a small deed of kindness can benefit others.
MC Stan and MS Dhoni collaborate on Fire-Boltt
Leading Indian smart wearable manufacturer Fire-Boltt releases the #GaleTohMil advertisement, which stars the most unexpected pair—cricket great MS Dhoni and well-known Indian rapper MC Stan. This engaging movie seeks to showcase the exceptional qualities of Fire-Boltt's most recent invention, the ground-breaking Wristphone, which flawlessly blends the endless possibilities of a smartphone with the practicality of a smartwatch. With #GaleTohMil, Fire-Boltt showcases how technology is seamlessly incorporated into daily life while offering a new take on the marriage of sports and music.The video, which was conceptualized and filmed by the innovative powerhouse Moonshot, enthralls viewers with its distinctive fusion of humor, technology, and star power. The narrative takes place at a party, where MS Dhoni is approached by MC Stan and has an embarrassing encounter. As Dhoni struggles to remember Stan's name and songs, tension grows and the scenario takes an unexpected turn. The situation is amusing yet relatable.The story revolves around the Fire-Boltt Wristphone, which plays a pivotal role in saving Dhoni's life by giving him the knowledge he finds difficult to recall. The movie does a good job of conveying how useful the wristwatch is and why it is deserving of the hashtag #TheSmartestSmartwatch. "We are proud to introduce our first-ever Wristphone through this entertaining and engaging ad film featuring two iconic personalities, MS Dhoni and MC Stan," stated Arnav Kishore, CEO and Founder of Fire-Boltt. This wearable technology product is revolutionary, and we think the movie will do a great job of conveying to our viewers what makes it special. To guarantee broad visibility, the advertisement film will be heavily promoted on OTT channels and social media sites. Fire-Boltt wants to engage audiences from a varie
Many items in my business are designed: Piyush Pandey
I spent a brief time working at Ogilvy Mumbai in the early years of my profession. I was definitely looking forward to meeting Piyush and simply watching and learning from his talent. It was the strongest incentive to sign up. However, deep down I was also realistic about it. I was aware that he would never have a conversation with a junior. After joining, I came to the realization that he most likely would have, but I also understood it was impossible given the amount of work he had to accomplish each day. And boy, was I glad I was. Apart from the fact that he is an advertising genius, these are the things I picked up from him during my tenure, even though I never worked directly with him.I learned the power of words from him. On my first day there, I recall being sucked into a film short for a newly launched bank. I expected an assignment when I walked in, but instead I got a really good poem. It was exquisite. The story and the slogan were both brimming with skill. Written specifically for the pitch, Piyush delivered it to the group by reading it aloud. The client gave it their blessing because it was so clever. It was enjoyable to come up with ways to carry it out. That day made me proud to be a copywriter because he demonstrated to me the power of words to accomplish goals that so many rounds of PowerPoints couldn't. I learned from him that leaders are people too.Everyone gathered on the floor to celebrate Piyush's birthday by cutting cakes. He was asked to speak a few words, as custom would have it. He became so overcome by the festivities during his remarks that he started crying. The largest agency leader in our nation displayed weakness during a time when all of them exuded strength and conceit. Furthermore, this was taking place in front of 200 or more workers. And we all cherished it. He taught me early on that leaders are people too and that it's appropriate to occasionally display your feelings as a leader since it's the right thing to do.
Raaya's integrated marketing mandate is won by With & Chai Group.
Men's ethnic clothing company Raaya has awarded the marketing mandate to Pune-based advertising firm Wit & Chai Group. Following a multi-agency pitch, the mandate was acquired by Wit & Chai in October 2023.With online and offline promotions, Wit & Chai Group hopes to raise awareness of Raaya and bolster its standing as a high-end menswear brand. "Wit & Chai gave a strong pitch, and we think working with them will help our brand reach new audiences. Our goal is to set Raaya apart as a luxury brand that is reasonably priced and to highlight our exceptional craftsmanship. Preshit Jain remarked, "We are confident that Wit & Chai has our best interests at heart.Furthermore, Wit & Chai Group partner Nahush Gulawani added, "We are thrilled to collaborate with a brand like Raaya that has such an intriguing focus: men's ethnic apparel. We are eager to collaborate with the Raaya team and use our skills to further improve the brand image. Men's ethnic clothing company Raaya has awarded the marketing mandate to Pune-based advertising firm Wit & Chai Group. Following a multi-agency pitch, the mandate was acquired by Wit & Chai in October 2023.With online and offline promotions, Wit & Chai Group hopes to raise awareness of Raaya and bolster its standing as a high-end menswear brand. "Wit & Chai gave a strong pitch, and we think working with them will help our brand reach new audiences. Our goal is to set Raaya apart as a luxury brand that is reasonably priced and to highlight our exceptional craftsmanship. Preshit Jain remarked, "We are confident that Wit & Chai has our best interests at heart.Furthermore, Wit & Chai Group partner Nahush Gulawani added, "We are thrilled to collaborate with a brand like Raaya that has such an intriguing focus: men's ethnic apparel. We are eager to collaborate with the Raaya team and use our skills to further improve the brand image.
Day 20 Box Office Collection for Dunki, Shah Rukh Khans movie is getting about ₹500 crore worldwide.
Day 20 Box Office Collection for Dunki: "Dunki," Shah Rukh Khan's third Bollywood movie of 2023, is doing well at the box office. The Raju Hirani movie saw a drop on its third Tuesday; according to Sacnilk.com, early estimates indicate that the movie made ₹1.30 crore on Day 20. After 20 days after its premiere, the film has reportedly made over ₹219.27 crore in the Indian box officAccording to a Sacnilk.com assessment, the movie's occupancy on its twentieth day was 10.47 percent in Hindi, with morning shows seeing 8.72 occupancy, afternoon shows at 10.29 percent, evening shows at 10.25 percent, and night shows at 12.61 percent.In relation to the worldwide figures, Dunki is currently on track to surpass ₹500 crore worldwide. The industry tracker claims that the SRK film has made ₹430 crore in net revenue globally. According to a recent tweet by Red Chillies Entertainment on X, the movie has made ₹447.70 crore at the global box office.On the day of its release, Dunki brought in ₹29.2 crore net in India; however, Day 2 saw a sharp decline to ₹20.12 crore. Riding high on great word-of-mouth, the movie brought in ₹160.22 crore net in its first week, while the drama about immigration brought in ₹46.25 crore net in its second week in India.
Melissa Niebes is named CEO of Federal Package, effective January 1, 2024.
Melissa Niebes has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Federal Package, a turnkey contract manufacturer with its headquarters located in Chanhassen, MN. Her appointment will take effect on January 1, 2024. Niebes is Federal Package's President and Chief Commercial Officer at the moment. She will take over as CEO from Steve Dakolios, who recently declared his intention to become a Vice Chairman and Senior Advisor at Federal Package."Melissa has a strong track record as a growth-oriented leader in the consumer goods sector. She has given the business new life, direction, and energy. As the business grows, she will keep improving operational effectiveness and organizational procedures. The time is right for new leadership, and Melissa is qualified to advance our long-term plan and quicken
Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast: Moments when explosion rocked food joint | Watch video
Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe Blast: The explosion that took place at the popular eatery in Karnataka's capital city Bengaluru's The Rameswaram cafe was caught on CCTV. The CCTV footage was released by the Karnataka Police. In the CCTV video, people are seen peacefully going about their chores inside the restaurant, until the camera shook indicating a loud blast. Dense smoke can be seen covering The Rameswaram Cafe as customers, staff run away from the establishment to safety. At least nine persons have sustained injuries in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast.Police teams and fire brigade teams rushed to the blast site and were seen analysing the aftereffects of the explosion. Shattered glass and furniture were seen strewn on the floor of the cafe, which drew attention among residents. Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddramaiah said that the blast occurred from a bag that was left behind by a customer at 12pm. Although the immediate cause has not been determined, Karnataka DGP has confirmed the explosion to be a bomb blast, supposedly an IED blast. "I have spoken to the police, they told me about the ongoing investigation. There was a small bag carried by a person. The identity of the person is not known. The cashier at the eatery is being questioned, as the person had gone to the cashier to take the token and ate the food...the same person had placed the bag," said Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah . A team of forensic experts also collected evidence from the site of the explosion in The Rameswaram Cafe. A dog squad also arrived at the site of the explosion. The area around The Rameswaram Cafe was secured by the police and Fire Brigade teams and the injured were hospitalised. Divya Raghavendra Rao, co-founder and managing director of the cafe chain, said she was told there were two explosions within 10 seconds of each other, injuring one customer and three employees. The Rameshwaram Cafe is one of the popular hangouts and is usually extremely crowded during lunch hours. Further details are awaited.
"Fit Is Not Healthy": Entrepreneur Dilip Kumar After Zerodha CEO Suffers Mild Stroke
Entrepreneur Dilip Kumar recently addressed the "crazy theories" that surfaced online after Zerodha co-founder and Chief Executive officer (CEO) revealed that he suffered a mild stroke six weeks ago. Taking to X, Mr Kumar, who claims to have worked with Mr Kamath "closely", debunked a popular myth by explaining that "being fit is not equal to being healthy". He also clarified that fitness is about the ability to perform physical activities such as endurance, stamina, flexibility, power and speed. "Okay, about the recent post by Nithin and all the crazy theories being spread around - there are a few things people should know. First, I work with Nithin closely. We have done workouts and races together. I know him a little more than others making opinions and commentary on social media. So, what should be the takeaway from his post?" Mr Kumar tweeted. In the following post, the entrepreneur explained how one's health encompasses a broader spectrum, including physical, mental and social well-being, where the body's systems operate in harmony. "Being fit is not equal to being healthy. Most people believe being healthy and being fit are one and the same. It's not. They are not synonymous and are distinct states of physical well-being," Mr Kumar wrote. "Being fit means your ability to perform physical activities such as endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power & speed. These are a set of attributes that people have or develop to perform a physical activity," he continued. Further, Mr Kumar went on to debunk more misconceptions. "We often look at athletes or movie stars as fit and healthy. But often they are not," he wrote. "You may be a runner, go to gym regularly or get your ten thousand daily steps. Fitness doesn't guarantee health. While being fit can contribute to overall health, it's possible for someone to be physically fit but still experience health issues due to poor nutrition, stress, lack of sleep, or underlying medical conditions,' he explained. Mr Kumar emphasised the importance of a balanced approach to fitness and health in his post as well. "The gap between being healthy and looking fit is a modern-day confusion caused by social media. Fitness is important and can be achieved through specific physical activities. Health considers various dimensions of well-being and is achieved by sustainable long-term practices," he tweeted. "Striking a balance between fitness and health is essential," he added. Notably, Mr Kamath revealed that he suffered a mild stroke six weeks ago. He said although he does not know what exactly caused it, he thinks that a combination of factors including his father's death, poor sleep, exhaustion and overworking could be the reasons.
"Assured Us, But...": Tunnel Rescue Heros SOS After House Demolished
One of the houses that was razed in the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) recent demolition drive belonged to Vakeel Hasan, a rat-hole miner who played a key role in the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue operation last year. The DDA said that the demolition on Wednesday was part of a broader effort to clear illegal encroachments in the Khajuri Khas area of northeast Delhi.However, Hasan and other residents argue that they were not given any prior notice. Hasan expressed his dismay, stating, "I am Vakeel Hasan. The reward we got for saving 41 from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel was that our house had been demolished. I need help. They have caught me, and my children, and are keeping us in a police station. They have also beaten some of us." Munna Qureshi, another miner involved in the rescue operation, echoed Hasan's sentiments, saying, "The government had assured us that they would give us the privilege of sitting at home, but they have snatched our team member's home." The DDA countered these claims, asserting that prior information had been given to all the residents. Officials also said that the land was designated for planned development. The Silkyara-Barkot tunnel rescue operation gained widespread recognition for its use of rat-hole mining, a practice banned for safety reasons. The miners, including Vakeel Khan and Munna Qureshi, stepped in when high-tech, imported machines failed during the operation in November 2023. Mr Khan, a rat-hole miner employed by a Delhi engineering services company, vividly described the moment of the successful rescue. "They hugged me, cheered in applause, and thanked me profusely," he had said after the trapped workers who spent 17 days in the tunnel were successfully brought out.
"Assured Us, But...": Tunnel Rescue Heros SOS After House Demolished
One of the houses that was razed in the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) recent demolition drive belonged to Vakeel Hasan, a rat-hole miner who played a key role in the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue operation last year. The DDA said that the demolition on Wednesday was part of a broader effort to clear illegal encroachments in the Khajuri Khas area of northeast Delhi. However, Hasan and other residents argue that they were not given any prior notice. Hasan expressed his dismay, stating, "I am Vakeel Hasan. The reward we got for saving 41 from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel was that our house had been demolished. I need help. They have caught me, and my children, and are keeping us in a police station. They have also beaten some of us." Munna Qureshi, another miner involved in the rescue operation, echoed Hasan's sentiments, saying, "The government had assured us that they would give us the privilege of sitting at home, but they have snatched our team member's home." The DDA countered these claims, asserting that prior information had been given to all the residents. Officials also said that the land was designated for planned development. The Silkyara-Barkot tunnel rescue operation gained widespread recognition for its use of rat-hole mining, a practice banned for safety reasons. The miners, including Vakeel Khan and Munna Qureshi, stepped in when high-tech, imported machines failed during the operation in November 2023. Mr Khan, a rat-hole miner employed by a Delhi engineering services company, vividly described the moment of the successful rescue. "They hugged me, cheered in applause, and thanked me profusely," he had said after the trapped workers who spent 17 days in the tunnel were successfully brought out.
Can Reassess Red Sea Attacks If "Israel Stops Gaza Aggression": Houthis
Yemen's Houthis said on Tuesday they could only reconsider their missile and drone attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea once Israel ends its "aggression" in the Gaza Strip.Asked if they would halt the attacks if a ceasefire deal is reached, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam told Reuters the situation would be reassessed if the siege of Gaza ended and humanitarian aid was free to enter. "There will be no halt to any operations that help Palestinian people except when the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the siege stop," he said.Shipping risks have escalated due to repeated Houthi strikes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait since November in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians against Israel in the Gaza war. U.S. and British forces have responded with several strikes on Houthi facilities but have so far failed to halt the attacks.Top global container line Maersk on Tuesday told its clients in a statement that they should prepare for disruptions in the Red Sea to last into the second half of the year and to build longer transit times into their supply chain planning. Seafarers remain in the firing line and have signed agreements to receive double pay when entering the high-risk zones and have the right to refuse to sail on ships passing through the Red Sea. Galaxy Maritime Ltd, the UK-registered owner of car carrier Galaxy Leader which was hijacked by the Houthis on Nov. 19 with its 25 crew members, said on Tuesday that the mariners from Bulgaria, Ukraine, Mexico, Romania and the Philippines had "nothing whatsoever to do with the conflict in the Middle East". "From the few permitted phone calls they are allowed, crew members are becoming increasingly concerned about their loved ones at home," Galaxy Maritime said in an update. "Families of those being detained are now calling on the international community to take action to secure the immediate release of the crew."Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization (IMO), called for "collective action to fortify the safety of those at sea" and for the release of the Galaxy Leader.
Video: When PM Modi Stepped Into Gujarat Legislature As MLA For 1st Time
Rajkot will always have a very special place in my heart, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, sharing a throwback video of him campaigning for his first electoral battle in the city.The throwback video was shared by Modi Archive, a Twitter handle that narrates the life journey of the Prime Minister through archival photos, videos, and newspaper clips. On this day in 2002, PM Modi became a member of the Gujarat assembly for the first time, winning his first election from Rajkot. He was already sworn in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat the previous October and was required to become a member of the legislative assembly within six months to continue in the post. This Rajkot by-election gave him his opportunity. Sharing it, PM Modi said, "Rajkot will always have a very special place in my heart. It was the people of this city who put their faith in me, giving me my first-ever electoral win. Since then, I have always worked to do justice to the aspirations of the Janta Janardan." He also pointed out the "happy coincidence" that he is in Gujarat for two days, during which one of his programmes will be held in Rajkot. From here, five AIIMS will be dedicated to the nation, added the Prime Minister. The video is a montage of clips and images of him filing nomination, campaigning, and giving speeches in Rajkot.
Germany Votes To Legalise Cannabis But Theres A Catch
The German parliament voted Friday in favour of legalising the possession and controlled cultivation of cannabis starting in April, despite fierce objections from the opposition and campaign groups.Under the new law, it will be possible to obtain up to 25 grams of the drug per day for personal use through regulated cannabis cultivation associations, as well as to have up to three plants at home. However, possession and use of the drug would remain prohibited for anyone under 18.Ahead of the vote, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach called on members of parliament to back the controversial law, arguing that "the situation we are in now is in no way acceptable". Germany has seen a sharp rise in the number of young people using cannabis obtained on the black market, with no guarantees over the drug's composition, said Lauterbach, a member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats. But Simone Borchardt of the opposition CDU said the new law would only increase health risks for young people, calling Lauterbach's assurances "no more than mere lip service".In their coalition agreement, the three parties had pledged to go further and allow cannabis to be sold in shops, only to be slapped down by the European Union. Borchardt accused the three parties in Scholz's coalition government of "making policy for their ideology and not for the country".The cannabis law has also been the subject of bitter wrangling within the coalition of Scholz's Social Democrats, the Greens and the liberal FDP. The new law has also been widely criticised by medical associations and health groups. The German public is divided on the issue: According to a YouGov poll published on Friday, 47 percent are in favour of the plan and 42 percent are against.
Meet Shazza, the Singaporean singer who went viral after a Crash Adams TikTok
It was 1.30pm when the 23-year-old, whose real name is Shareefa Aminah, saw her phone blowing up with messages from her friends and social media pages. I got a bit worried for a moment because sometimes, social media is not the nicest space and I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was very happy to see that it was all positive stuff about the video,” said the singer. The video in question, posted by Canadian pop duo Crash Adams, featured Shazza singing a freestyle verse for their latest single Good Side. Since its release on Feb 6, it has garnered over 17 million views on TikTok and another 6.8 million on YouTube at the time of writing. Thanks to the viral video, Shazza's Instagram followers shot up from about 2,000 to over 90,000 in just one week. As for how the collaboration came about, she said: “It was a right place, right time kind of thing that really worked out in my favour.” Crash Adams came to Singapore to perform at Mediacorp’s Let’s Celebrate 2024 at The Promontory at Marina Bay on Dec 31 last year. While Shazza sang at the same event, she didn’t get to talk to them as it was too hectic backstage. Having seen some of their previous videos, she thought it would be a fun opportunity. So, she took it and sang Good Side live at Marina Bay Sands.
China tightens grip on stocks with net sale ban at open, close: Report
China has banned major institutional investors from reducing equity holdings at the open and close of each trading day, part of the government’s most forceful attempt yet to prop up the nation’s $8.6 trillion stock market. The order from China’s securities watchdog was recently delivered to major asset managers and the proprietary trading desks of brokerages, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. The China Securities Regulatory Commission, led by newly appointed Chairman Wu Qing, has also created a task force with the nation’s stock exchanges to monitor short selling and issue warnings to firms that profit from the wagers, the people said. While authorities have been ratcheting up curbs on bearish bets for months, the ban on net selling at the open and close represents a notable tightening of the government’s grip on market activity that risks upending popular strategies used by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Firms affected by the ban are unable to sell more shares than they buy during the first and last 30 minutes of trading, the people said. It’s unclear how widely the ban is being applied across the financial industry, and there’s no indication it will affect individual investors who account for a large portion of volume in Chinese stocks. Still, the sidelining of major institutions during two of the most closely watched parts of the trading day may make it easier for government-backed funds to influence the market — especially the closing levels for benchmark indexes. The CSRC didn’t immediately respond to a faxed request for comment. Known for his tough clampdowns on brokerages as a CSRC official in the mid-2000s, Wu is resorting to more drastic measures to prevent the stock-market slump from extending into a fourth year. The selloff, which pushed China’s benchmark CSI 300 Index to a five-year low earlier this month, has become one of the most visible symbols of waning confidence in President Xi Jinping’s ability to revive an economy struggling with deflation and a persistent property crisis.The CSI 300 rose 1.4 per cent on Wednesday, extending its rebound from this year’s closing low to 8.7 per cent. It’s still down about 17 per cent over the past year.
Mamata Banerjee Hits Out After BJP Workers "Khalistani" Jibe At Cop
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the BJP today after a video surfaced that showed a confrontation between BJP protesters and the state police, after a Sikh officer was called "Khalistani".. Accusing the BJP of practicing "divisive politics", the Chief Minister said she condemns it."I VEHEMENTLY CONDEMN this audacious attempt to undermine the reputation of our SIKH BROTHERS & SISTERS, revered for their SACRIFICES and UNWAVERING DETERMINATION to our nation," read her post on X, formerly Twitter. "We stand firm in protecting Bengal's social harmony and will take stern lawful measures to prevent any attempts to disrupt it," she added.Led by Leader of the Opposition in Bengal Assembly, Subhendu Adhikari, the protesters were on way to Sandeshkhali, when they were stopped by the police. In the confrontation that followed, one of the protesters apparently called a senior police officer on duty at the spot a "Khalistani".The BJP workers remained unfazed. "You do your job... you just butter them up. you are sycophants," a woman is heard shouting. The BJP workers were on way to south Bengal's Sandeshkhali after a court order allowed the visit, setting aside the roadblocks imposed by the administration.The island in Sundarbans, close to Bangladesh border, has been in the eye of a political storm since the locals accused a Trinamool Congress strongman of sexual exploitation and land grabbing.
Anupamaa Actor Rituraj Singh Dies Of Cardiac Arrest At 59
Noted actor Rituraj Singh, who appeared on television shows such as Anupamaa as well as several films, including Badrinath Ki Dulhania, passed away at his home early Tuesday following a cardiac arrest, a close friend said. He was 59.“He had been hospitalised due to some stomach issues and was discharged a few days ago. He passed away around 12.30 am at his home due to a cardiac arrest,” Amit Behl told PTI. Singh is survived by his wife and two children. Singh was a familiar face TV serials, films as well as OTT shows.His television roles include Banegi Apni Baat, Hitler Didi, Shapath, Adaalat and Diya Aur Baati Hum. Besides, he appeared in supporting roles in Hindi films and in OTT shows such as Bandish Bandits, Made in Heaven, and Indian Police Force. Amit Behl said he learnt of the death from actor Pallavi Joshi. Details of the funeral are not known yet.
"Historic Step": Zelensky Signs Security Pact With Germany
Volodymyr Zelensky will also seal a similar deal with France later on Friday as he seeks to shore up help for his forces, who are struggling to hold off Russian attacks on the frontline city of Avdiivka.Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a security deal with Germany on Friday in Berlin, hailed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a "historic step" anchoring support for Kyiv in its raging battle against Russia.Zelensky will also seal a similar deal with France later on Friday as he seeks to shore up help for his forces, who are struggling to hold off Russian attacks on the frontline city of Avdiivka. With the Ukraine war about to enter a third year, the president was set to make a new plea for sustained help with financing and armaments at the Munich Security Conference, where leaders like US Vice President Kamala Harris have gathered.Zelensky's European tour comes at a critical time with Ukraine facing mounting pressure on the eastern front lines because of ammunition shortages and fresh Russian attacks. Fierce fighting raged around beleaguered Avdiivka, on the eastern front line, which has become a main Russian target ahead of the February 24 invasion anniversary.The long-term future of billions of dollars of Western aid is meanwhile in doubt, with the biggest contributor, the United States, in the throes of an election year.
