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President Biden announces ceasefire to end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah

President Biden announced a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, effective Wednesday, to end a year-long conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced many in Lebanon and Israel. Under the agreement, the Lebanese Army will regain control, and Israeli forces will gradually withdraw, aiming for a permanent cessation of hostilities while retaining Israel’s right to self-defense. Biden emphasized that the ceasefire does not cover ongoing conflict with Hamas, and violations by Hezbollah would prompt severe Israeli retaliation.

Fed officials see interest rate cuts ahead, but only ‘gradually,’ meeting minutes show

Federal Reserve officials expressed optimism that inflation is gradually easing while the labor market remains strong, paving the way for potential interest rate cuts at a measured pace. Despite inflation staying above the 2% target, they felt comfortable with its current trajectory and emphasized the importance of maintaining maximum employment. Officials suggested that future rate cuts would depend on economic data aligning with expectations, supporting a cautious move toward a neutral monetary policy stance.

Is the Microsoft outage fixed? Company says it has 'restored functionality' to most services

Microsoft announced that it has restored most application services, including Outlook and Teams, after widespread outages began Monday morning, though some users are still experiencing issues with Outlook on the web and mail queueing delays. The outages, which started around 8 a.m. ET and affected users globally, were widely reported on platforms like DownDetector and social media. Microsoft is investigating the remaining issues while functionality for most impacted services has been restored.

"Everest Of Corporate Turnarounds": Air India CEO On Company's Revival

Air India MD and CEO Campbell Wilson acknowledged ongoing challenges in the airline's multi-year transformation, including service standards, staff disputes, and legacy issues. Now in the second year of a five-year program, the integration of Vistara, Air India Express, and AirAsia India has faced hurdles such as staff strikes over contracts and management issues. Despite these setbacks, Wilson highlighted progress, including workforce rejuvenation, fleet expansion, and enhanced training facilities, while stressing the need for systemic improvements and regular safety audits.

Adani deal: Jagan to sue pro-TDP media for Rs 100 cr

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy plans to file a defamation lawsuit for ₹100 crore against pro-TDP media houses, accusing them of spreading false allegations regarding a power purchase agreement involving the Adani Group. This follows recent reports claiming impropriety in a power deal by the state government with Adani. Jagan's administration has strongly denied these allegations, asserting the reports are politically motivated to tarnish his image and mislead the public

Movie News

Allu Arjun Too Follows The Trend!

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy urged Telugu film industry stars to support the state’s anti-drugs campaign. Responding to this call, Allu Arjun has released a public awareness video advocating for reporting drug-related issues to the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau. Sharing the video on X (formerly Twitter), Allu Arjun emphasized the importance of creating a safer society and expressed pride in joining the initiative led by the Telangana government.

Revanth Reddy previously encouraged the film industry to collaborate on such social campaigns before seeking government support for ticket price hikes or additional show permissions. Other stars, including Chiranjeevi and Prabhas, have also contributed to the campaign. With Allu Arjun’s involvement, it is anticipated that the government may back the promotions of his upcoming film Pushpa 2: The Rule, slated for release on December 5, by granting additional shows and ticket price adjustments.

Massive birthday surprise loading for Rajinikanth fans?

Superstar Rajinikanth, currently filming Coolie under Lokesh Kanagaraj's direction, has sparked excitement with reports of his next big project. It is rumored that he will shoot a promo for Jailer 2 in Chennai on December 5, 2024, coinciding with his birthday celebrations. The promo will reportedly serve as the official announcement for the sequel and a special treat for his fans.

Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, Jailer 2 is anticipated to revive major characters from the original movie, building on the success of Jailer. Fans are eagerly awaiting more updates on this much-anticipated project, which promises to add to Rajinikanth's legacy.

Overseas Market: A Harsh Reality Check for Tollywood Heroes

The Telugu film industry's mid-range stars are facing significant challenges in the US box office market, which once offered reliable returns due to star power. Recent films like Varun Tej's Matka, Vishwak Sen's Mechanic Rocky, and Nikhil Siddhartha's Appudo Ippudo Eppudo have failed miserably in terms of collections. Additionally, attempts by actors like Satyadev (Zebra) and Suhas (Janaka Aithe Ganaka), along with others like Nithiin, Ram Pothineni, and Naga Shaurya, have also met with disappointing results.

This trend signals a shift where crowd-pulling ability alone no longer guarantees success in the overseas market, particularly in the US. However, actors like Naveen Polishetty are seen as having the potential to become reliable choices for these audiences. Other stars, such as Nikhil Siddhartha, might also succeed with high-concept or event films like Swayambhu and The India House. If this trajectory continues, Tollywood might need to re-evaluate its strategy for the overseas market, focusing on rare and genre-specific films led by prominent names.

Theatre Releases

Source: Filmibeat