Weakness continued in the local stock market today. The market opened lower on Thursday amid continued weak global cues and investor caution. During trade, Sensex fell nearly 150 points to trade around 84,410, while Nifty fell 40 points to 25,776, below the crucial level of 25,800. Pressure on banking stocks also saw Bank Nifty down more than 100 points at 58,822. Analysts say investors are booking profits after the recent rally, and there is also uncertainty over regulatory changes in some sectors. In this environment, investors will keep a close eye on select stocks. AMC Stocks Worth Watching Market regulator SEBI has approved changes in the Total Expense Ratio (TOV) framework for mutual funds. This decision could have a direct impact on asset management companies. Stocks like Motilal Oswal AMC, HDFC AMC, Nippon Life India AMC, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC and UTI AMC may see movement today. Investors will try to understand the impact of the new rules on the earnings of companies. Axis Bank Axis Bank has launched a co-branded credit card on RuPay network in association with Google Pay. This card will be directly linked to the UPI account of the users and will give instant cashback or rewards on every transaction. This move is seen as positive for the bank in the digital payment and credit card segment. NTPC Green Energy Ltd. NTPC Green Energy has started commercial operation of 37.925 MW solar power capacity at its Khavda solar project in Gujarat. This is the fifth phase of the 300 MW Khavra Solar Project. This stock may remain in focus due to the company’s strong presence in the renewable energy sector. Share this story Tags

Countless astronomical events have occurred on Earth, but one such event is recorded in Indian history, which has the distinction of being the country’s first proposed geological site. This incident is not just a few hundred or a few million years ago, but about 6.5 billion years ago, when there were not even humans on this planet. We are talking about the Ramgarh crater which is present in the Baran district of Rajasthan. This is the place where a large meteorite fell from the sky and created a deep crater in the earth. This raised the ground which eventually turned into mountains. It created a geological structure with a circumference of three and a half kilometers, which not only gave Rajasthan world recognition but also gave India its first geological site. What is the 6.5 billion year old mystery of Ramgarh crater? Located in Kishanganj taluka, about 50 km from the Baran district headquarters, Ramgarh crater is a witness to a meteorite impact that took place about 6.5 billion years ago. It was for the first time in 1865 by the British scientist Dr. Discovered by Frederick Mallet. It is a priceless heritage that has fought a long battle for its existence. After sustained efforts by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the Earth Impact Database Society recognized it as the world’s 200th crater in 2018. This crater is the third constitutionally recognized crater of India and the first constitutionally recognized crater of Rajasthan. In view of its immense geological importance, it has been declared India’s first designated geo-heritage site. ‘Gold mine’ for scientists, why do foreign researchers come? Ramgarh crater is not just a crater but an open page in the changing history of the earth. Since its discovery, many foreign explorers and scientists have come to visit it. Scientific studies have shown that the levels of iron, nickel and cobalt in the soil of this crater are higher than normal. These elements are usually associated with meteorites, supporting the theory that this crater was formed by a meteorite impact. Ramgarh Crater is one of only three confirmed craters in India, the others being the famous Lonar Crater in Maharashtra and Dhala Crater in Madhya Pradesh. Source of alkaline water inside the crater: The forested area of ​​Ramgarh Crater is not only geologically important but it also has a lot of biodiversity and ancient cultural heritage. Pushkar Lake present in the crater is the source of both saline and alkaline water. These lakes are made of wetlands, where many local and exotic birds can be seen playing. This brings a unique beauty and diversity to the ecology of this area. There was also an old fort near the crater, which has now been demolished, but its remaining parts are a witness to the centuries-old cultural heritage of this area. Despite being declared a ‘World Heritage Site’, development has been limited to paper only. It is strange that the historic Ramgarh crater, which has received national and international recognition, seems to be largely ignored in its own state, Rajasthan. Even though it has the distinction of being India’s first geo-heritage site, government apathy prevents it from becoming an attractive tourist destination. The previous Congress government had proposed development projects worth ₹57 crore (₹57 crore), but only ₹6 crore (₹6 crore) was used to build the boundary wall of the lake. Lack of tourist facilities: There are no facilities for accommodation and food for tourists. No tourist center has been built here. The road leading from the village to the well on the mountain is in bad shape and is completely closed during the rainy season.

Known for its valor and magnificent forts, Rajasthan lies a sacred place in the tranquil Aravali Hills where devotion, not history, has conquered death. Ajari, a small town near Pindwara in Sirohi district, is now a center of faith and mythology. The ancient Markandeshwar Rishi Temple at Ajri bears witness to a thousand-year-old event recounted in Hindu mythology – the return of Yamraj and the immortality of Markandeya. It is not just a temple but a living proof of ‘eternal’ devotion. The mark of devotion to Shiva on the Shivalinga is present even after 7,000 years. The most special thing about this temple is its ancient Shivalinga. According to the story, this is the same Shivalinga that the young sage Markandeya embraced to challenge Yamraj, the god of death. The story goes that when Yamraj came to take him, Markandeya held this Shivalinga tightly with fear and strong faith and invoked Shiva. Local priest Sachin Rawal explains, “This Shivalinga still reminds the devotees of that old memory. It is said that when Markandeya embraced Shiva and bowed his head again and again to the Shivalinga, due to the pressure of his devotion, the old Shivalinga fell back to its original place. Even today, you can clearly see that this Shivalinga is clearly buried in the ground, and the intense pressure on it is clearly visible.” This original mark further confirms the truth of that thousands of years old incident, where Mahakaal himself appeared on the call of a devotee and stopped Yamraj from taking the life of his faithful devotee and gave him the boon of immortality. Due to this divine event, this place came to be known as “Markandeshwar Mahadev”. Story of a short life The story of Markandeshwar begins with the austere penance of sage Mrikandu and his wife Marudavati. Childless, he worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was pleased and gave him two options – either a son with a long life but less intelligence, or a son with a short life (only 16 years) but very sharp and intelligent. The couple chose the second option, and this blessing led to the birth of sage Markandeya. When his old age approached, his father asked him to come to this immortal place and worship Shiva. Markandeya started his deep devotion here. His devotion was so deep that when Yamraj came to take him away, he got lost in the chanting of mantras. The serene and divine atmosphere of the temple complex refreshes even today the memories of that austere penance and the union of Shiva and Shakti. This ancient temple gets crowded every Monday and has become an important center of faith for the devotees of Ajri, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Local resident Kapil explains, “It is not just a temple but a Siddhapeeth. It is believed in our village that prayers offered with a true heart are always answered. Any devotee who comes here with hope, his wish is fulfilled by the grace of Shiva and Markandeya.” Although a large number of devotees visit the temple every day, the crowd is especially high during the month of Shravan and Mahashivratri. Devotees who come from far and wide feel connected to the spiritual atmosphere and mythological stories of the temple. Demand for a new identity for Sirohi Despite being such an important mythological and religious site, locals and devotees feel that the real identity of the place is yet to be formed. The villagers hope that this ancient pilgrimage site will develop as a religious tourist destination. He says if special efforts are made for maintenance and beautification at the administrative level, then this place can give a new and strong identity to Sirohi district on the religious map. It will be a matter of pride not only for the village of Ajri but for the entire Rajasthan.

The 814th Urs of the holy shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, Rajasthan began with the flag hoisting ceremony on Wednesday. The ceremony of hoisting the flag on the historic Buland Darwaza created an atmosphere of devotion and spirituality in the entire Dargah complex. Thousands of devotees were present from all over the country and overseas. As soon as the flag was hoisted, the atmosphere reverberated with slogans of “Khwaja ki Nagari”, marking the formal start of the Urs. Gauri family performed the flag hoisting ceremony. The flag hoisting ceremony at the Dargah of Khwaja Garib Nawaz is performed by the Gauri family of Bhilwara. This year, the Gauri family followed the historical tradition by hoisting the flag at Buland Darwaza. Dargah caretaker Hasan Hashmi said that this ritual has been performed at the Dargah for centuries and every year a flag is hoisted with Aqeedat. He said that with the beginning of Urs, a message is sent from the Dargah that anyone irrespective of their religion can come here and seek their wishes. When did the ceremony of raising the flag at the gate begin? According to the Gauri family, the flag hoisting ritual was started in 1928 by Fakhruddin Gauri’s pir-murshid, Abdul Sattar Badshah. Later, in 1944, this responsibility was handed over to his grandfather Lal Mohammad Gauri. His son Moinuddin Gauri has been performing this ritual since 1991, while Fakhruddin Gauri has been performing the flag hoisting ceremony since 2007. It is said that when the flag was hoisted on the Buland Darwaza, it was visible from distant villages. However, due to increasing population and construction, this view has now declined. Crowds of devotees used to come together to kiss the flag. During the flag hoisting ceremony, people of the Khadim community went to the main gate of the Dargah, accompanied by drums, police band and Sufi songs like “Bhar Do Meri Zoli Khwaja”. A large number of devotees gathered to kiss the flag and accept the rose petals showering from it as blessings. Heavy police force was deployed around Nizam Darwaza and Buland Darwaza to control the crowd. Dedication, discipline and Sufi traditions were clearly visible throughout the program. Share this story Tags

Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is constantly taking action in Rajasthan. ACB team monitors each department and takes action as soon as the complaint is received. The latest case is from Hanumangarh, where a woman Patwari was caught red handed for taking bribe. Sriganganagar ACB team performed in Hanumangarh. The woman Patwari negotiated a bribe of ₹20,000 in a land-related case. He was caught in the act of taking a bribe of ₹5,000. On Wednesday (December 17), following instructions from the ACB headquarters, the ACB outpost Sriganganagar unit arrested a woman red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹5,000 from the complainant in exchange for registering the transfer of land in Chak 3 LGW and Chak 1 PBN. Patwari harassed for bribe of ₹15,000 The ACB post of Anti-Corruption Bureau in Sriganganagar received a complaint from the complainant that the accused Mamta demanded a bribe of ₹20,000 in return for transferring the land bought from Vainama to her mother’s name and registering 3 1 PB and Chak. She took ₹5,000 from the complainant and is now harassing him by demanding the remaining ₹15,000. After receiving the complaint, the ACB team verified it. After verification, a trap was laid to nab the woman Patwari Mamta, who was arrested while taking a bribe of ₹ 5,000. Interrogation and action against the accused is ongoing. ACB will register a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and investigate further. Share this story Tags

Farmers hold a Mahapanchayat on the management of the sugar mill in Bundi, Rajasthan. This decision was taken in the meeting of farmers and the youth. Village-to-village meetings are being held for the Mahapanchayat to be held on December 28 at Aada Gela Balaji Temple. Many big leaders including farmer leader Naresh Meena will participate in it. MPs Hanuman Beniwal, Rajkumar Roat and Atul Pradhan were also called. Farmers in do-or-die mood: Farmers say that the final and decisive decision on the management of the sugar mill will be taken in the Mahapanchayat to be held on December 28. Naveen Shringi, representative of the Joint Farmers Coordination Committee, said that this time the farmers are in the mood for “RR” (decisive) struggle. Young farmer leader, Girraj Gautam, said the farmers of the area have been in debt for the last 20 years. He campaigned for many political parties in the Assembly and Lok Sabha but no one took his basic demand like running the sugar mill seriously. That is why farmers and the youth are now ready to fight their own battle. Big warning regarding sugar mill: Gautam made it clear that sugar mill management is necessary for the bright future of farmers and the youth, to promote sugarcane cultivation and to strengthen the economic condition of the area. He warned that if the government and administration do not take decisions in the interest of farmers, there will be consequences in the Panchayat elections as well. Share this story Tags

Oil prices rose for the second day in a row, with geopolitical risks ranging from Venezuela to Russia outweighing a still negative global supply outlook. West Texas Intermediate crude rose near $57 a barrel, after adding 1.2% on Wednesday, while Brent crude traded above $60. Washington this week imposed a blockade on approved oil tankers coming from Venezuela, at a time when US President Donald Trump accused Caracas of usurping US “energy rights”. The United States is also preparing to introduce a new round of sanctions against the Russian energy sector if President Vladimir Putin rejects a peace deal with Ukraine. Options being considered include increasing pressure on what is known as the “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and traders that facilitate export operations. Supply pressures and developments in Venezuela Oil is set to record an annual loss amid fears that global supply will exceed demand, after West Texas Intermediate crude hit its lowest level since 2021 earlier this week, before tensions gave prices some support. Market indicators from the Middle East to the United States showed increasing signs of weakness. Also read: What does Trump’s beating of the war drums mean for the oil sector in Venezuela? In Venezuela, oil storage facilities and tankers anchored in its ports are filling up quickly, according to people familiar with the situation. If the capacity reaches its maximum, the state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela company, whose production is approaching one million barrels a day, could be forced to close some wells. Speaking on state television, President Nicolas Maduro said he spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday. He added: “The United States is seeking regime change to impose a puppet government that will not last 47 hours, surrender sovereignty and wealth, and turn Venezuela into a colony.” He continued, “It will never happen.”

Gold settled near a record high as investors eyed escalating tensions in Venezuela and awaited U.S. inflation data. The precious metal was trading near $4,340 an ounce, after rising 0.8% on Wednesday. The metal is currently just over $40 away from its all-time high reached in October. Inflation data is due on Thursday, which will be closely watched for indications of how the Fed’s appetite for further rate cuts will be affected. The Federal Reserve last week implemented its third straight cut in interest rates, which was a supportive factor for non-yielding precious metals, but it remained ambiguous about the pace of monetary easing coming next year. Waller supports lowering interest rates. US President Donald Trump has said he supports the sharp cut in interest rates. Currently, traders estimate the probability of a rate cut in January at around 25%. Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Christopher Waller, a candidate to serve as the next Fed chairman, supported further interest rate cuts while stressing that policymakers need not rush. “Because inflation is still high, we can take our time, there is no rush to cut,” he said during a forum on CNBC. Record performance for gold, supported by central banks. Gold has jumped by about two-thirds this year, and is on track for its best annual performance since 1979, after a sharp rise fueled by central bank purchases, and a broader retreat by investors from government debt and major currencies. The amount of gold held in exchange-traded funds has increased by 18% this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Rising geopolitical tensions have also increased gold’s appeal as a safe haven. The precious metal received support this week from developments in Venezuela, where Trump ordered a blockade of all approved oil tankers. The strengthening of the US military presence in the region has also increased pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro, at a time when the leaders of Mexico and Brazil have offered to mediate. Gold closed at $4,337.96 an ounce by 8:42 a.m. in Singapore. Silver rose 0.1% to $66.34, after hitting a record high of $66.8932 on Wednesday. Platinum rose 0.8%, after hitting its highest level since 2008 in the previous session, while palladium fell. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index ended Wednesday’s trading up 0.2%.

A private video is currently doing the rounds on social media platforms, with claims that the woman seen in it is Payal Gaming. Various screenshots of the viral MMS and clips of the influencer are also being circulated online. Payal Gaming, whose real name is Payal Dhare, started her YouTube journey in 2019 (Instagram) Influencer and YouTuber Payal Dhare, popularly known as Payal Gaming, found herself at the center of an MMS scandal. Several netizens are speculating that the woman in the private video circulating on social media is Payal. But her fans claim it is a deeply fake footage “created to attract views”. However, there is no confirmation of any of the claims yet. Who is Payal Gaming? Payal Gaming, whose real name is Payal Dhare, started her YouTube journey in 2019 and quickly became a prominent figure among Indian gamers. She posts engaging gameplay videos and live streams for popular games including BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India), PUBG, GTA V, and others. By 2021, her YouTube channel surpassed 1 million subscribers – thanks to her recognizable personality and interactive style. Payal has since become the first Indian female gamer to cross 3 million subscribers on YouTube. The gaming influencer is also affiliated with S8UL Esports, one of India’s leading gaming organizations. In 2024, Payal won an international award at the MOBIES (Mobile Gaming Awards), becoming one of India’s first female gamers to achieve such recognition. She also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year to discuss the future of gaming in the country. She was the only female player at the table. She told the prime minister that gaming is a “stable career option” for women who face family restrictions and are not allowed to leave home for work. Payal Gaming: MMS Controversy A private video is currently doing the rounds on social media platforms, with claims that the woman seen in it is Payal Gaming. Various screenshots of the viral MMS and clips of the influencer are also being circulated online. However, referring to the multiple videos, such as the ’19 minute viral clip’ and the ’40 minute video’, which are going viral on social media, Payal’s fans urged people to stop sharing unverified content. The increase in such viral videos has raised concerns about the safety of online platforms. Authorities have strictly warned against sharing these videos on social media platforms as the authenticity of all these clips remains unknown. Payal’s fans also appealed to social media users to act responsibly and refrain from sharing unverified content, noting that this is not the first time that a creator’s name has been dragged into a viral controversy without evidence. Her fans believe that Payal is a victim of deepfake, where AI tools and viral rumors are used to falsely link creators to explicit content. Payal Gaming has yet to issue any confirmation or statement regarding the viral video.

The U.S. government has admitted in a federal court filing that it is liable for damages from a deadly collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines Group Inc. regional jet near Washington earlier this year, one of the deadliest accidents in decades. U.S. admits liability in helicopter-jet collision over Potomac River (Bloomberg) — The U.S. government has admitted in a federal court filing that it is liable for damages stemming from a deadly collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines Group Inc. regional jet near Washington earlier this year, one of the deadliest accidents. “The United States admits it owed a duty of care to plaintiffs, which it breached, thereby causing the tragic crash on Jan. 29 that killed 67 people,” Justice Department lawyers wrote in a court document Wednesday in one of about two dozen lawsuits filed over the crash. The US CRJ-700 jet and the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collided when the Ronald Reagan plane approached Washington National Airport, with both planes carrying 60 passengers and four crew members on Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas. Family members of the victims sued the government and one of its subsidiaries, the Justice Department’s Robert Clifford represented one of the passengers killed in the crash, said in a statement that the U.S. military acknowledged its “responsibility for the unnecessary loss of life,” as well as the Federal Aviation Administration’s “failure to follow air traffic control procedure.” However, the government was only “one of several causes,” Clifford said, noting that American and PSA had tried to dismiss the complaints. American declined to comment on its previous filing motion to dismiss the case against him. In that motion, the airline said it was “sympathetic to the plaintiffs’ desire to seek redress for this tragedy,” but “plaintiffs’ proper remedy is not against America. It’s against the U.S. government.” The FAA referred questions to the Justice Department. The U.S. military did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment after normal business hours. The collision was followed by several other aviation accidents, including crashes and near misses, that led to widespread concern among the flying public. Since then, the Federal Aviation Administration has tightened security measures at the busy Reagan Airport and restricted non-essential helicopter operations. The case is Crafton vs. American Airlines, 25-cv-03382, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (Washington) More stories like this one are available on bloomberg.com ©2025 Bloomberg LP