Kendrapara: Two Girls Drown In Luna River, One Rescued One Missing

by Manisha Das

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

In a tragic mishap, two girls drowned while taking a bath in the Luna River. The mishap came to the fore from Bandhapada in Mahakalapada in Kendrapara district this morning.

Kendrapara, Apr 27: In a tragic mishap, two girls drowned while taking a bath in the Luna River. The mishap came to the fore from Bandhapada in Mahakalapada in Kendrapara district this morning.

According to the information, two girls of Bandhapada went to take a bath, when the mishap took place.

"Locals saw them drowning and tried to save the girls, but they could save one girl and the other girl is still missing", according to the provided information.

The girl who is still missing is identified as Abhilipsa Behera.

On being informed, fire officials reached the spot and initiated a search operation.

More information on the matter is still awaited.

BJD To Release Its Election Manifesto Today

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, May 9: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday urged the electors to vote for Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidates contesting for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha constituencies in the state.

While addressing a public meeting at Kanishi in Berhampur constituency of Ganjam district, CM Patnaik warned the voters not to cast their votes in favour of candidates with criminal records. Patnaik mentioned various flagship programmes of his government during his brief speech.

Patnaik’s close aide and former bureaucrat V.K. Pandian claimed that BJD will register a strike rate of 90 per cent in the first phase of polls scheduled to be held in four Lok Sabha and 28 assembly constituencies on May 13.

He appealed to the voters to bestow their blessings on CM Patnaik and the candidates of the BJD for the upcoming elections.

Targeting the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Pandian said that the BJP has been trying to get a CM face for the party in Odisha for the last 24 years but couldn't find someone.

The BJD leader also informed in the meeting that CM Patnaik will release Biju Janata Dal’s manifesto for the ensuing general elections 2024.

“Only three days remain for the campaigning in the Berhampur parliamentary constituency. It will be a challenge for the workers of BJD to deliver the promises made by CM Patnaik in the manifesto to every household in the constituency,” said Pandian.

Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1. The results of the polling for both Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha will be out on June 4. (IANS)

Punjab National Bank Clocks 160% Surge In Q4

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, May 9: Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Thursday reported a 160 per cent surge in its net profit to Rs 3,010 crore in the Jan-March quarter of the financial year 2023-24 compared to the corresponding figure of Rs 1,159 crore same quarter last year.

On a sequential basis, the state-run lender's net profit jumped by 35.4 per cent compared to the Oct-Dec quarter

The bank’s board of directors have recommended a dividend of Rs 1.50 per equity share (75 per cent) for the year ended March 31, 2024 subject to requisite approvals, according to a PNB statement.

The bank's gross non-performing assets (NPA) ratio declined to 5.73 per cent of total loans, as against 6.24 per cent a quarter ago, and 8.74 per cent in the same quarter last year.

Its net NPA stood at 0.73 per cent as of March 31, 2024, as against 0.96 per cent in the previous quarter and 2.72 per cent in the year-ago period.

In absolute terms, gross NPA declined by Rs 20,985 crore to Rs 56,343 crore as of March 2024 from Rs 77,328 crore as of March 2023. Net NPA declined by Rs 15,786 crore from March 2023 to Rs 6,799 crore as on March 2024.

The bank’s Net Interest Income (NII) increased to Rs 10,363 Cr in Q4 FY’24 from Rs 10,293 Cr in Q3 FY’24 and Rs 9,499 Cr in Q4 FY’23 showing an improvement of 9.1per cent on Y-o-Y basis.

PNB’s domestic net interest margin stands at 3.25 per cent in Q4 FY24 while the global yield on advances improved year-on-year by 0.5 per cent to 8.44 per cent in Q4 FY24.

PNB also recorded a 3.5 per cent increase in savings deposits to Rs 4.80 lakh crore while current deposits grew by Rs 3,565 crore as of March 2024 to Rs 72,201 crore on Quarter-on-Quarter basis.

Low-cost CASA deposits increased to Rs 5.53 lakh crore recording a on-year growth of 2.7 per cent.

Total retail credit increased by 12.6 per cent to Rs 2.23 lakh crore in March 2024. (IANS)

Rashmika Mandanna Confirms Signing Salman's 'Sikandar'

by Hemanta Pande

Mumbai, May 9: Pushpa 2 actor Rashmika Mandanna has officially announced her collaboration with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in the much-anticipated action thriller 'Sikandar'.

The announcement was made on Thursday morning.

Both the production house and Rashmika herself confirmed the news.

The production house officially announced the news on its social media handles, and wrote, "Welcoming the fabulous @rashmika_mandanna to star opposite @beingsalmankhan in #Sikandar! Can't wait for their on-screen magic to unfold on EID 2025!"

Rashmika took to her Instagram Stories to post, "You guys for a long time have been asking me for the next update and here it is. Surprise!! I'm truly grateful and honoured to be a part of Sikandar."

'Sikandar' marks the reunion of Salman Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala after their previous successful collaborations 'Kick', 'Judwaa', and 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'.

Directed by A.R. Murugadoss, the film is set to release next Eid.

Meanwhile, Rashmika is still basking on the success of her latest movie 'Animal,' where she starred alongside Ranbir Kapoor. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film became a box-office hit.

The actress will next be seen in Pushpa 2: The Rule. The film will feature Allu Arjun and Fahad Faasil in prominent roles. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Muttamsetty Media, the film will be released on August 15, 2024.