Shyam Plastic Industries Right

Laxmi Pharma Eqiupment TOP

Parth Engineers & Consultant Right

Versatile Solution Bottom

Parth Engineers & Consultant Bottom

Versatile Solution Top

Shyam Plastic Industries Top

Shyam Plastic Industries Bottom

Versatile Solution Right

<p>New Delhi&rsquo;s Khan Market has been ranked as 22<sup>nd</sup> most expensive main street globally, retaining its position and continuing to be India&rsquo;s most expensive high street, registering a 7% (year-on-year) rental growth, according to a report on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>
<p>According to a Cushman &amp; Wakefield report, which focuses on rents in 138 urban and luxury retail locations across the globe, rents in Khan Market average $229 per square foot annually (about ₹19,330).</p>
<p>Interestingly, Delhi-NCR now hosts India&rsquo;s top three most expensive retail high streets. Alongside Khan Market, Connaught Place (Delhi) and Galleria Market (Gurgaon) also feature prominently in the APAC rankings, with rentals of $158 (₹13,335) and $156 (₹13,166) per square foot annually.</p>
<p>Bengaluru&rsquo;s Indiranagar saw the strongest rental growth market in the Asia-Pacific region, while Anna Nagar in Chennai as the most affordable in the region, the report stated.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Khan Market&rsquo;s position among the world&rsquo;s top retail destinations underscores the resilience and strength of India&rsquo;s retail sector. Known for its curated mix of premium brands and upscale boutiques, Khan Market attracts affluent shoppers, solidifying its reputation as a high-end retail hotspot,&rdquo; said Saurabh Shatdal, Managing Director, Capital Markets and Head-Retail-India, Cushman &amp; Wakefield.</p>
<p>The limited availability of retail space in the area creates intense competition, pushing rental values higher.</p>
<p>&ldquo;With malls facing supply constraints, main streets across India are thriving, driven by robust demand and strong rental growth. As of YTD 2024, main streets have recorded leasing of 3.8 msf, marking a 11% year-on-year growth,&rdquo; Shatdal added.</p>
<p>Milan&rsquo;s Via Montenapoleone, where rents have risen by nearly a third in the past two years, has overtaken New York&rsquo;s Upper 5th Avenue to be crowned the world&rsquo;s most expensive retail destination, according to the report.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Globally, super-prime physical retail spaces remain central to retailers&rsquo; strategies, highlighting the enduring importance of vibrant shopping destinations like Khan Market. With India&rsquo;s robust economic growth and evolving consumer preferences, the country&rsquo;s retail sector is poised for sustained success,&rdquo; Shatdal added.</p>
<p>Competitive tension for limited space saw rental growth recorded in 57% (79) of the 138 locations tracked, declines in just 14% (19), with the remainder 29% (40) staying flat.</p>
<p>This resulted in a global average rental increase of 4.4%. Americas was the strongest performer regionally at 8.5%, driven by rental growth of almost 11% in the US<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&mdash;</span>more than double the 5.2% recorded last year.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&mdash;IANS</span></p>

The limited availability of retail space creates intense competition, pushing rents up

Khan Market annual rents average ₹19K per square foot; Chennai’s Anna Nagar most affordable

Khan Market is World’s 22nd Costliest High Street

<p>Veteran Bollywood star Shabana Azmi is in France to participate in the 46th Festival des 3 Continents, held annually in Nantes. While strolling down the city streets, she reminisced about legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal. &nbsp;</p>
<p>She took to Instagram, where she posted a picture of herself posing for the camera and wrote: &ldquo;Roaming the streets in #Nantes. Perfect weather. Had screenings of #Ankur and #Mandi to packed audiences. #ShyamBenegal wish you were here.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The festival honours films and filmmakers from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, spotlighting their contributions to the art of storytelling.</p>
<p>Shabana is being celebrated with a special retrospective marking her illustrious 50-year journey in Hindi cinema.&nbsp;The retrospective will feature a selection of her most acclaimed films, including <em>Ankur</em>, <em>Mandi</em>, <em>Masoom</em>, and <em>Arth</em>, paying tribute to her exceptional talent.</p>
<p>Azmi's films have long resonated with audiences in France, where she has previously received acclaim at esteemed venues such as the Centre Pompidou and the Cin&eacute;math&egrave;que, as well as the Nantes Festival des 3 Continents, where her film <em>Godmother</em> was the opening night feature.</p>
<p>Talking about work, Shabana was last seen on screen in <em>Ghoomer</em> in 2023. The film also stars Saiyami Kher and Abhishek Bachchan. The film followed a young batting prodigy Anina, who loses her right hand on the eve of her international cricketing debut. A failed cricketer enters her life and offers her new hope. With innovative training, she becomes a bowler for the Indian cricket team, and they invent a new style of bowling.</p>
<p>She will next be seen in <em>Lahore 1947</em>, a period drama film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan. The film set against the backdrop of the partition of India in 1947 stars Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty and Preity Zinta in lead roles.</p>
<p>--IANS</p>
<p>dc/</p>

Shabana Azmi is in France to participate in the 46th Festival des 3 Continents

Her 50-year journey in Hindi cinema is being celebrated with a special film retrospective

In Nantes, Shabana Azmi Recalls Shyam Benegal

<div class="node-subtitle">
<div class="field-formatter--string field_subtitle">Gautam Adani, chairman of Indian giant Adani Group and one of the world's wealthiest individuals, has been charged in New York with a multibillion-dollar fraud conspiracy, according to US authorities.</div>
</div>
<div class="node-body">
<div class="field-formatter--text-default field-text-format--wysiwyg text-formatted field_body">
<p>United State's Attorney's Office of the Eastern District New York has issued this press statement</p>
<p>A five-count criminal indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Gautam S. Adani, Sagar R. Adani and Vneet S. Jaain, executives of an Indian renewable-energy company (the Indian Energy Company), with conspiracies to commit securities and wire fraud and substantive securities fraud for their roles in a multi-billion-dollar scheme to obtain funds from U.S. investors and global financial institutions based on false and misleading statements. The indictment also charges Ranjit Gupta and Rupesh Agarwal, former executives of a renewable-energy company with securities that had traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the U.S. Issuer), and Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal and Deepak Malhotra, former employees of a Canadian institutional investor, with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in connection with a bribery scheme also perpetrated by Gautam S. Adani, Sagar R. Adani and Vneet S. Jaain, involving one of the world&rsquo;s largest solar energy projects.</p>
<p>Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Lisa H. Miller, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department&rsquo;s Criminal Division and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the charges.</p>
<p>&ldquo;As alleged, the defendants orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars and Gautam S. Adani, Sagar R. Adani and Vneet S. Jaain lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from U.S. and international investors,&rdquo; stated United States Attorney Peace.&nbsp; &ldquo;My Office is committed to rooting out corruption in the international marketplace and protecting investors from those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the integrity of our financial markets.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;This indictment alleges schemes to pay over $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials, to lie to investors and banks to raise billions of dollars, and to obstruct justice,&rdquo; stated Deputy Assistant Attorney General Miller.&nbsp; &ldquo;These offenses were allegedly committed by senior executives and directors to obtain and finance massive state energy supply contracts through corruption and fraud at the expense of U.S. investors.&nbsp; The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively prosecute corrupt, deceptive, and obstructive conduct that violates U.S. law, no matter where in the world it occurs.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Gautam S. Adani and seven other business executives allegedly bribed the Indian government to finance lucrative contracts designed to benefit their businesses. Adani and other defendants also defrauded investors by raising capital on the basis of false statements about bribery and corruption, while still other defendants allegedly attempted to conceal the bribery conspiracy by obstructing the government&rsquo;s investigation,&rdquo; stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.&nbsp; &ldquo;The FBI maintains its steadfast mission to expose all corrupt agreements, especially with international governments, and protect investors from related harm.&rdquo;</p>
<p>As alleged in the indictment, between approximately 2020 and 2024, the defendants agreed to pay more than $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials to obtain lucrative solar energy supply contracts with the Indian government, which were projected to generate more than $2 billion in profits after tax over an approximately 20-year period (the Bribery Scheme).&nbsp; On several occasions, Gautam S. Adani personally met with an Indian government official to advance the Bribery Scheme, and the defendants held in-person meetings with each other to discuss aspects of its execution.&nbsp; The defendants frequently discussed their efforts in furtherance of the Bribery Scheme, including through an electronic messaging application.&nbsp; The defendants also extensively documented their corrupt efforts:&nbsp; for example, Sagar R. Adani used his cellular phone to track specific details of the bribes offered and promised to government officials; Vneet S. Jaain used his cellular phone to photograph a document summarizing various bribe amounts the U.S. Issuer owed the Indian Energy Company for its respective portion of the bribes; and Rupesh Agarwal prepared and distributed to other defendants multiple analyses using PowerPoint and Excel that summarized various options for paying and concealing bribe payments (Bribery Analyses).</p>
<p>During this same period, Gautam S. Adani, Sagar R. Adani and Vneet S. Jaain allegedly conspired to misrepresent the Indian Energy Company&rsquo;s anti-bribery and corruption practices and conceal the Bribery Scheme from U.S. investors and international financial institutions in order to obtain financing, including to fund those solar energy supply contracts procured through bribery.&nbsp; As alleged, Gautam S. Adani, Sagar R. Adani and Vneet S. Jaain caused the Indian Energy Company and certain of its subsidiaries to raise capital on the basis of false and misleading statements in connection with (i) two U.S. dollar-denominated syndicate loans totaling more than $2 billion from lender groups comprised of international financial institutions and U.S.-based investors; and&nbsp;(ii) two Rule 144A bond offerings for more than $1 billion underwritten by international financial institutions, which were marketed and sold to investors in the U.S., among other places.&nbsp; In addition, Gautam S. Adani, Sagar R. Adani and Vneet S. Jaain caused the Indian Energy Company to make false statements in their consolidated financial statements and to the market and investors regarding the Bribery Scheme.</p>
<p>The indictment further alleges that Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal, Deepak Malhotra and Rupesh Agarwal conspired to obstruct the grand jury, FBI and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigations into the Bribery Scheme.&nbsp; Among other things, those four defendants agreed to delete electronic materials related to the Bribery Scheme, including emails, electronic messages and Bribery Analyses; caused the U.S. Issuer&rsquo;s Board of Directors to initiate an internal investigation into the Bribery Scheme and then withheld material information from that investigation; and falsely denied their participation in the Bribery Scheme to representatives of the FBI, DOJ and SEC at meetings in Brooklyn, New York.&nbsp; For this conduct, Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal, Deepak Malhotra and Rupesh Agarwal are charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice.</p>
<p>The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
<p align="left"><a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/us-attorney-breon-peace-lead-attorney-generals-subcommittee-white-collar-crime">In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General&rsquo;s Advisory Committee (AGAC)</a>.&nbsp; As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including bribery and fraud.</p>
<p>The investigation was conducted by the FBI New York&rsquo;s Corporate, Securities and Commodities Fraud and International Corruption Units.&nbsp; The government&rsquo;s case is being handled by the Business and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Criminal Division&rsquo;s Fraud Section.&nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah M. Evans, Matthew R. Galeotti and Jessica K. Weigel of the Eastern District of New York, Shy Jackson of the Criminal Division, Fraud Section&rsquo;s FCPA Unit and Andrew Tyler of the Fraud Section&rsquo;s Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit are prosecuting the case with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Liam McNett,&nbsp;Angelina Tyler and Nadiya Singh. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters.&nbsp; Additional information about the Justice Department&rsquo;s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/foreign-corrupt-practices-act.</p>
<p>The Department of Justice&rsquo;s Office of International Affairs and the SEC&rsquo;s New York Regional and Boston Regional offices provided valuable assistance during the investigation.</p>
<p><strong><u>The Defendants</u>:</strong></p>
<p>GAUTAM S. ADANI<br>Age: 62<br>India</p>
<p>SAGAR S. ADANI<br>Age: 30<br>India</p>
<p>VNEET S. JAAIN<br>Age: 53<br>India</p>
<p>RANJIT GUPTA<br>Age: 54<br>India</p>
<p>CYRIL CABANES<br>Age: 50<br>France / Australia</p>
<p>SAURABH AGARWAL<br>Age: 48<br>India</p>
<p>DEEPAK MALHOTRA<br>Age: 45<br>India</p>
<p>RUPESH AGARWAL<br>Age: 50<br>India</p>
</div>
</div>

United State's Eastern District Federal Court, New York (file photo)

Indictment alleges plans to pay $250 mn in bribes to Indian govt officials for solar contracts

US Court Charges Gautam Adani in Bribery Case

<div>Former Australia batter Mark Waugh opined that Virat Kohli will feel less pressure while playing in Australia than in India as the right hander loves the Australian conditions and has great records against the nation.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Kohli touched down in Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy amidst a form slump as he averaged 20.62 across his 10 most recent Test innings, way below than his average of 54.08 in Tests in Australia and his overall career average of 47.83.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>But having scored some of his landmark centuries in Australia and leading India here to a 2-1 series win in 2018/19 is expected to bring the best out of him in the upcoming five-match series, starting on November 22 at Perth Stadium.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s got a great record in Australia, he loves the conditions. I think he&rsquo;s a better player of pace than spin. He&rsquo;s had a lean trot though, by his standards, and his average has dropped a lot,' Waugh told Fox Cricket.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;Maybe Perth&rsquo;s a good starting place for him, because he made that brilliant hundred on a very, very tricky pitch (in 2018). It&rsquo;s always good when you&rsquo;ve got good memories at certain grounds.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;He&rsquo;ll be under less pressure being in Australia than India. It&rsquo;s so encompassing, playing in India on your home soil. It&rsquo;ll be a fresh start for him, this series," he said.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>For the first time since December 2014, Kohli has fallen out of the ICC Test batting rankings' top 20, but the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy offers him a chance to revive his struggling Test career.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;The Australians would still see him as a big wicket,&rdquo; Waugh continued. They know what he&rsquo;s capable of, and his record in Australia is so good, and he loves the big stage.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;India have beaten us the last four series, so I think it&rsquo;ll bring the best out of Kohli. Whether he&rsquo;s good enough and technically good enough to make runs is a different story," Waugh added.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Formal bowler Brett Lee is also confident that Kohli will produce his best again in Australia this summer and can cause trouble for the hosts.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s got an Australian mentality, a never-say-die attitude. He doesn&rsquo;t mind getting into a scrap. He doesn&rsquo;t mind having a crack. There has been a lot of conjecture around his form recently, but I&rsquo;m not worried about that. I know with Kohli, he&rsquo;s got the experience underneath his belt," Lee told Fox Cricket.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>"He may have only got 90 runs in the three-Test series against the Kiwis, but who cares? When he comes out here, he has a great record in Australia," said Lee.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>--IANS</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

'Maybe Perth’s a good starting place for him. He’s got a great record in Australia’

Aus Less Pressure than India for Kohli: Mark Waugh

<div>India has refuted reports in Canadian media regarding the killing of India-designated Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of the alleged plot to assassinate Nijjar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The MEA on Wednesday further emphasized that "smear campaigns" like this only "further damage our already strained ties" and said such reports should be dismissed with the "contempt they deserve".</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>"We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties," a statement by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Wednesday said.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>This comes after a report in Canada-based <em>Globe and Mail </em>newspaper attempted to draw a connection between the death of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar and the Indian government.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Notably, India's ties with Canada have seen sharp deterioration with India repeatedly expressing its deep concern about extremism and the culture of violence and anti-India activities in Canada and has asked Canadian authorities to take action against these activities.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has claimed that he has "credible allegations" of India's hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>India has denied all the allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated" and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The report claimed the Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar were also in the loop about the assassination plot of Nijjar.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Earlier this month, India recalled six diplomats from Canada after they were declared "persons of interest" by the Canadian government in the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Nijjar was killed outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 last year.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>India-Canada ties nosedived last month after Canada linked Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and some other diplomats to the murder.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>India has strongly rejected all the allegations made by Ottawa in connection to the case and subsequently recalled the High Commissioner. The Canadian government had said the Indian diplomats were expelled from the country.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>New Delhi expelled Canadian Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats following Canada's allegations.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>--IANS</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File photo)

‘Ludicrous’ statements in Canadian media only further damage our already strained ties, MEA says

Smear Campaign! India Slams Canadian Nijjar Report

<div>Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan is gearing up for an exciting new role in the family entertainer Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The makers of the film shared the first-look poster featuring Jaya smiling and singing. They also revealed that shooting for the film has begun in Goa. Sharing the poster, the makers wrote, &ldquo;Unlocking Love and Laughter, Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling hitting screens in 2025! Are you ready to turn the key?&rdquo;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Directed by Vikas Bahl, the film also stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Wamiqa Gabbi in the lead roles. Siddhant took to his Instagram to announce the film, posting pictures featuring himself, Jaya, and Wamiqa.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>In the first picture, Jaya is seen beaming with joy as she sings into a microphone while seated on stage. She&rsquo;s dressed in a white shirt paired with a black long skirt and a matching scarf.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Behind her, Siddhant and Wamiqa strike lively dance poses. The &lsquo;Gehraiyaan&rsquo; star looks effortlessly stylish in a red sweatshirt and jeans, while Wamiqa dazzles in a vibrant multi-colored dress.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling&rdquo; is a delightful family entertainer presented by Tips Films Ltd, Baweja Studios Ltd, and Jumping Tomato Studios. A Good Co. production. Directed by Vikas Bahl, the film is produced by Ramesh Taurani, Harman Baweja, Rohandeep Singh, Viraj Sawant, and Ramesh Pulapaka. The family drama also stars Swanand Kirkire in a pivotal role.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>This project marks Siddhant's first onscreen collaboration with Wamiqa. The upcoming film is all set to release in theatres in 2025.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Jaya Bachchan was last seen in Karan Johar's family drama &ldquo;Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani.&rdquo; The 2023 release featured Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Churni Ganguly, Aamir Bashir, and Kshitee Jog. In the film, the veteran actress played the role of Dhanlakshmi Randhawa, Rocky&rsquo;s grandmother.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>--IANS</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Tips releases poster of Dil Ka Darwaza khol Na Darling starring Jaya Bachchan

Jaya Bachchan turns singer in first look of ‘Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling’

<p>Tension has erupted in Beldanga in West Bengal's Murshidabad following clashes between two groups of people as a result of which train services were disrupted in the area for some time.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The incident took place on Saturday night. The district police officials have claimed that although the tension was acute late Saturday, the situation has come under control from Sunday morning because of their timely action.</p>
<p>Although information had spread that tension was over a particular religious festival, the district police officials have claimed that the tension was because of some local issues.</p>
<p>The district police superintendent of Murshidabad, Surya Pratap Yadav rushed to the spot on Saturday night along with a huge police contingent. He also told media persons that the tension broke out because of some local issues.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We are trying to identify those involved behind the tension and book them accordingly. I request everybody to cooperate with the police in maintaining the law and order situation. I request all concerned not to take the law into their own hands,&rdquo; Yadav said.</p>
<p>Following the clashes which extended to the areas adjacent to the Beldanga Station, Bhagirathi Express got stranded at the station for a long time during the early hours on Saturday night. Following the clashes in which sharp weapons were used, district police sources said, some people from both sides received injuries.</p>
<p>Locals claimed that bricks, stone and crude bombs were hurled and some of the local shops were vandalized and set on fire. As a matter of precaution, a huge police contingent has been deployed in the area and constant patrolling was being done by them.</p>
<p>BJP&rsquo;s state president in West Bengal and Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar has claimed that an attack targeting a particular community was made at Beldanga on Saturday night in line with what is happening in Bangladesh.</p>
<p>He also questioned why Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the police Minister of the State are reluctant to tackle such issues.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I appeal to the local people of Beldanga not to indulge in any incitement and incitement at this moment. At the same time, I appeal to the police administration to quickly restore peace in the area," he said.</p>
<p>&mdash;IANS</p>

Sharp weapons came into play on November 16

Local issues, not religious festival triggered violence in Murshidabad's Beldanga: Police

Group Clash Puts West Bengal On Edge

<p class="MsoNormal">Big corporations have found a slick new way to look environmentally friendly without actually doing anything much<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&mdash;</span>they<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&rsquo;</span>re buying carbon offsets for as little as $4 a tonne&nbsp;(for context, that<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&rsquo;</span>s a little over ₹330, or the cost of a decent cup of coffee in most Indian cities). Sure, companies can claim they<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&rsquo;</span>re <span style="font-family: Georgia;">&ldquo;</span>doing their part<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&rdquo;</span>&nbsp;for the planet while basically paying someone else to handle their climate homework. But that<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&rsquo;</span>s like telling your doctor you<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&rsquo;</span>re on a diet because you paid a stranger to eat salad.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sounds ridiculous, right?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It&rsquo;s not just ridiculous, it&rsquo;s dangerous.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">An article in The Conversation quotes a 2023 forecast by investment banking firm Morgan Stanley that said the voluntary offset market would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/carbon-offset-market-growth"><u><span class="15">grow to about US$100 billion</span></u></a>&nbsp;by 2030 and to around $250 billion by 2050.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since Article 6 of the Paris Agreement introduced guidelines for carbon markets and global collaboration on emissions targets, implementing these principles has remained a complex task.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to a recent study from the University of Florida, many low-cost global carbon-offset projects sold on voluntary carbon markets, which have few rules that can be enforced consistently,&nbsp;fail to deliver.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many &ldquo;support<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&rdquo;</span>&nbsp;initiatives<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&mdash;</span>mostly in the Global South<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&mdash;</span>that are already underway, like installing solar panels in regions already transitioning to renewables, or poorly planned reforestation projects, where the trees die prematurely.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yet, companies continue to slap <span style="font-family: Georgia;">&ldquo;</span>net-zero<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&rdquo;</span> labels on their products, confident that consumers will buy into their greenwashing, their illusion of sustainability.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But what does this mean?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At $4 a tonne, $100 billion<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&mdash;</span>the projected value of the market in 2030<span style="font-family: Georgia;">&mdash;</span>could buy 25 billion tonnes of carbon credits. So why would companies actually work towards cutting emissions, when they can simply buy their way out of the mess?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cheap offsets are a convenient story for corporations, but they&rsquo;re not a real solution.&nbsp;Worse, it lulls the public into believing meaningful progress is being made, even as emissions remain stubbornly high.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Companies must prioritize reducing their own emissions before relying on offsets to fill the gap.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With its spotlight on Article 6, the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, could finally end this corporate charade.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The climate crisis demands more than half-measures&mdash;it calls for bold, systemic change.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Leaders have a choice: force companies to slash emissions or let them continue outsourcing responsibility. The planet&rsquo;s clock is ticking and&mdash;unlike offsets&mdash;time can&rsquo;t be bought.</p>

Executive Secretary of UNFCCC Simon Stiell in Baku, Azerbaijan

Unregulated cheap offsets let companies claim net-zero status, but the planet pays the price

Carbon Offsets: Greenwashing in Disguise?

<p>The investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast incident has revealed the jailed suspected terrorists&rsquo; link to Pakistan and global terror outfit ISIS, sources confirmed on November 15.</p>
<p>Sources further stated that NIA found a connection of jailed terror suspects to Pakistan and they also received instructions from Pakistan to carry out subversive activities in India.</p>
<p>The main operative in the cafe blast case is reportedly still missing and is suspected to be in Pakistan, sources confirmed.</p>
<p>The probe has revealed that a group of six persons were involved in the blast case and all of them were connected to ISIS. Among them, four were trained to prepare bombs by ISIS.</p>
<p>Jailed terror suspects in the Bengaluru Cafe blast case Mussavir Hussain Shazib, Abdul Matheen Taha, Maaz Muneer Ahmed and another were trained in preparing bombs. The complete training was given online and in a week, sources stated.</p>
<p>The accused had purchased raw materials online and prepared the bombs planted at the Bengaluru Cafe and near BJP headquarters in a week.</p>
<p>The suspected terrorists would first finalize the place to plant the explosives and then would prepare bombs with 90-minute timers to the bombs, sources said.</p>
<p>Abdul Mateen Taha, one of the terror suspects in the cafe blast case from Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district, had come to Bengaluru in 2012 for engineering studies at Whitefield locality. In the second year, he dropped out, moving to Gurappanapalya. Through the internet, he became involved with jihadist ideologies.</p>
<p>Taha was connected with Shoaib Ahmed Mirza, who was accused in a 2012 targeted killing case and was sentenced to five years of imprisonment by an NIA Special Court. After his release in 2017, Taha met Shoaib again, expressing an interest in joining ISIS.</p>
<p>Taha reportedly contacted the jailed terror suspect Faizal known as Mohammad Shahid Faizal through the dark web, and in 2018, got involved with an organisation called Al Hind Trust, which aimed at radicalising youth.</p>
<p>Taha radicalised his friend Hussain Shazib from Thirthahalli. The two began working for Al Hind Trust, actively recruiting others for the organisation&rsquo;s agenda. In 2020, after a case was registered against Al Hind Trust for alleged terrorist activities, both Taha and Shazib left Bengaluru.</p>
<p>Shazib and Taha planned to set off bombs near BJP offices in Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, on January 22, 2024, coinciding with the Ram Mandir inauguration. The attempt was foiled as the area had a heavy police presence. However, the bomb planted at the BJP office did not explode and was also not found.</p>
<p>After failed attempts in other locations, the suspects targeted a popular cafe in Bengaluru. Mussavir Hussain Shazib was captured on CCTV entering the cafe on February 29, carrying a bag with an IED set with a 90-minute timer. He left the cafe at 11.55 a.m., and the bomb exploded at 1.07 p.m., injuring several people.</p>
<p>The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on September 9 filed a chargesheet against four accused in connection with the blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe that took place on March 1.</p>
<p>Four accused&mdash;Mussavir Hussain Shazib, Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taaha, Maaz Muneer Ahmed and Muzammil Shareef&mdash;have been charged under sections of IPC, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) UA(P) Act, Explosive Substances Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (PDLP) Act.</p>
<p>"Taaha and Shazib were funded by their handler through cryptocurrencies, which Taaha converted through Faisal with the help of various Telegram-based platforms," the NIA chargesheet read.</p>
<p>The funds were used by the accused to perpetrate various acts of violence in Bengaluru, the investigation further revealed.</p>
<p>All four accused have been arrested, and are currently in judicial custody in the Bengaluru Cafe blast case. The IED explosion, which took place on March 1 this year at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Brookfield, Bengaluru, had left nine persons injured besides causing damage to the interior and infrastructure at the hotel.</p>
<p>&mdash;IANS</p>

Nine people were injured in the blast at the popular Brookfield eatery

Jailed terror suspects received orders from Pak; all six involved in Bengaluru blast connected to ISIS, NIA investigation says

Rameshwaram Cafe Blast Tied to Pak, ISIS

<p>According to former head coach Ravi Shastri, India would be better off with having returning fast-bowler Mohammed Shami back in the team as soon as possible for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.&nbsp;</p>
<p>After being out of competitive cricket action for 360 days due to an Achilles injury needing surgery, Shami made a successful return to competitive action for Bengal in their ongoing Ranji Trophy clash against Madhya Pradesh at Holkar Stadium in Indore.</p>
<p>Shami bowled for 19 overs and took an impressive 4/54 to signal that he&rsquo;s slowly getting back to being at his best. "If anything, I would have wanted a little more support for Jasprit (Bumrah) in the pace-bowling attack. So the quicker Mohammed Shami gets fit and is on a flight, I think it's better for India," said Shastri on the ICC Review show.</p>
<p>If all goes well, then Shami will most likely be available for the second half of India&rsquo;s trip for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting on November 22 in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney till January 7, 2025.</p>
<p>India need to win four of the five Tests in Australia to have a big shot at sealing their place in a third straight World Test Championship final. Shami has taken 229 wickets in 64 Tests, and has established himself as an integral member of India&rsquo;s fast-bowling line-up fetching the team massive success in home and overseas games.</p>
<p>Shami had played a pivotal role in India&rsquo;s first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018/19, where he picked 16 wickets in four matches at an average of 26.18, as the visitors&rsquo; won 2-1. Though he didn&rsquo;t play after the first Test in Adelaide on the 2020/21 tour due to a fractured right forearm, India managed to secure an unforgettable 2-1 triumph.</p>
<p>--IANS&nbsp;</p>

The fast-bowler is just returning to competitive cricket action after a 360-day break due to an Achilles injury

Fast-bowler will likely be available for the second half of India's trip for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins November 22 in Australia

'The Quicker Shami Gets Fit, the Better for India'

<p class="MsoNormal">Amid the escalating violence, a top Army officer on Monday visited various tribal inhabited areas, reviewed the situation and urged the soldiers to remain vigilant and proactive in the face of any challenges, assuring them of his full support in all operational endeavours, officials said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Defence sources said that Lt Gen Abhijit Pendharkar, General Officer Commanding, Spear Corps visited Assam Rifles sector headquarters at Kakching and Churachandpur and reviewed the prevailing security situation in the tribal-dominated areas.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The sources said that during his visit, the GOC conducted an in-depth assessment of the ground realities, interacted with troops deployed in the field, and lauded their unwavering dedication and professionalism.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He emphasised the importance of maintaining high levels of operational readiness and continuing their exemplary efforts to uphold the safety and security of the region.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The GOC also engaged with ex-servicemen of the area, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to society and the nation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Addressing the veterans, he reaffirmed the Army&rsquo;s resolve to support and remain connected with its retired personnel, recognising their role as vital members of the defence fraternity.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition, the GOC met various Civil Society Organisations and highlighted the importance of collaboration between the armed forces, local communities, and civil societies to effectively address security challenges.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">GOC complimented the troops for their steadfast commitment and efforts in ensuring peace and stability.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The visit underscored the Assam Rifles' commitment to ensuring peace, stability, and coordination in the area of Churachandpur, Kakching and Thoubal districts, the defence spokesman said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, in a significant display of dedication and quick response, Assam Rifles provided crucial medical help to 130 children (22 boys and 108 girls) on Sunday following a severe food poisoning outbreak at Eklavya School, Moreh in Tengnoupal district.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A defence spokesman said that alerted by the Primary Health Centre, Moreh, the Assam Rifles medical team immediately swung into action, rushing to the site with essential medicines and medical supplies.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Guided by the Assam Rifles medical officer and in coordination with the Tengnoupal Chief Medical Officer, the team worked tirelessly alongside PHC staff to stabilise the affected children.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Personnel from the Moreh Battalion of Assam Rifles ensured seamless coordination and effective care.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This joint effort by Assam Rifles and medical authorities resulted in the timely stabilization of all 130 young lives, turning a potential tragedy into a testament of hope and resolve, an Assam Rifles statement said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">&mdash;</span></strong><strong>IANS</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>

Lt Gen Pendharkar, General Officer Commanding, Spear Corps visited Kakching and Churachandpur

Lt Gen Pendharkar emphasizes need to maintain op readiness amid violence

Manipur: Army Urges Troops to Stay Alert

<p class="MsoNormal">The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken serious note of the fire that claimed the lives of 10 infants at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Deeming the incident a&nbsp;<span style="font-family: sans-serif;">&ldquo;grave violation&rdquo; of human rights</span>, the body has issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary and Director General of Police. State authorities have been asked to submit a detailed report within a week&nbsp;on the negligence that caused the fatal fire.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a statement released on November 16, the commission described the reports of the tragedy as &ldquo;disturbing&rdquo; and indicative of negligence by the hospital authorities. It observed that the victims were under the care of a government institution, which failed to ensure their safety.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Preliminary investigations suggest that an electrical short circuit may have triggered the fire late Friday (November 15) night, engulfing the NICU where 54 infants were admitted at the time.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The commission has emphasized&nbsp;the critical need for accountability and detailed clarity on the circumstances leading to the disaster.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It has asked the state government to include in its report steps taken to ensure justice for the victims and measures adopted to prevent such tragedies in the future.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on instructed senior officials, including the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General of Police in Jhansi, to submit a preliminary report on the incident. UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, accompanied by Principal Secretary, Health, Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, visited the site on to oversee rescue operations and assess the damage. Earlier in the day, the hospital officials reported that 16 of the 45 rescued infants remain in a critical condition.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&mdash;IANS</p>

UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak visited the site of the fire on November 16

Chief Secretary, DGP to respond on ‘grave violation’ of human rights due to negligence in a week

Jhansi Fire: NHRC Seeks Detailed Report

<p>Drawing on the first comprehensive dataset of more than 2,300 renewable energy start-ups across Africa and South Asia, a team led by the University of Oxford on Friday revealed India and South Africa among solar 'business hotspots'.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The analysis also investigates why some countries, such as Chile and Namibia, produce more solar energy relative to their potential while others fall short&mdash;even when factors such as hours of sunlight, availability of fossil fuels or hydropower, and GDP are accounted for.</p>
<p>"Our report identifies the countries where&mdash;all other things being equal&mdash;proactive policies and simple social affinity have created a better-than-expected environment for solar energy," said lead author Lorenzo Agnelli.</p>
<p>By comparing start-up activity with the cost of electricity, the report further identifies: Business hotspots: such as India and South Africa, which combine vibrant start-up ecosystems with low solar costs.</p>
<p>Business headwinds: in countries, such as Nigeria, where entrepreneurial activity is high there are challenges such as low energy access rates.</p>
<p>Dormant opportunities: in countries including Botswana and Namibia, with favourable conditions for solar but limited start-up activity.</p>
<p>Bleak business outlook: for example, Chad and Malawi, have difficult conditions and limited start-up activity&mdash;but where strategic support could unlock entrepreneurship in the future.</p>
<p>"The global energy transition is not just about new technology&mdash;it is about new, often more inclusive ways of providing energy," says Sam Fankhauser, Professor of Climate Policy at the Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Across the Global South, it has empowered agile, dynamic entrepreneurs. And the business opportunities only tell part of the story&mdash;often these new business models are uniquely suited to drive electrification and energy access."</p>
<p>The report highlights concrete actions to overcome challenges to renewable energy entrepreneurship, including localizing supply chains, holding renewable energy auctions, and adopting alternative consumer payment systems.</p>
<p>"The energy transition is happening, but it's not happening fast enough, or equitably enough. With ambitious (but non-binding) targets already in place at a global level to treble renewables by 2030, now is the time for an acute focus on the practical steps required to unlock the necessary investment on the ground in a way that leaves nobody behind, especially the Global South," says Sam Peacock, MD Corporate Affairs, Regulation and Strategy, SSE.</p>
<p>"As this latest report makes clear, there will be vital roles in this for everyone from local entrepreneurs to large international players and investors. We are pleased to have been able to support the Oxford Smith School to develop this latest contribution to the debate."</p>
<p>The report concludes by identifying countries with particularly innovative start-up ecosystems that may serve as a blueprint for others. One such example is from Pakistan, where female solar power engineers are being trained and empowered through a collaboration between the professional network 'Women in Energy' and local entrepreneur, Shams Power.</p>
<p>"Solar power is not just a cleaner, more affordable energy source, it's a catalyst for social change," says Fatima Khushnud, Senior Associate, Oxford Net Zero.</p>
<p>"Initiatives like Pakistan's Women in Energy programme show how empowering women in the renewable sector can break down gender barriers, boost economic opportunities, and foster inclusivity, ultimately driving both sector growth and energy security."</p>
<p>&mdash;IANS</p>

The report also highlights a solar start-up in Pakistan where women are being trained

Oxford study on 2,300 start-ups in Africa, South Asia lauds the two countries' mix of vibrant start-up ecosystems with low solar costs

India, SA among solar 'business hotspots'

<p>Generative Artificial intelligence (AI) models like ChatGPT and Bard can boost patient flow and reduce paper use but may not help hospitals avoid huge carbon emissions, according to research released at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Friday.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The study by Australian and UK researchers probed the impact of AI in healthcare using large language models.</p>
<p>The paper, published in the <em>Internal Medicine Journal</em>, showed that ChatGPT can easily process thousands of patient records daily and substantially reduce resource consumption. But their energy consumption may be huge.</p>
<p>Hospitals must think and use AI carefully as well as responsibly, including using shorter prompts to summarize patient data, the researchers suggested.</p>
<p>&ldquo;By the end of a hospital stay, it is possible to accumulate tens of thousands of words to your name. Unlike busy healthcare staff, private large language models similar to ChatGPT have time to read through and process this information,&rdquo; said Oliver Kleinig, who led the research from the University of Adelaide.</p>
<p>&ldquo;However, a single AI query uses enough electricity to charge a smartphone 11 times and consumes 20 millilitres of freshwater in Australian data centres. ChatGPT is estimated to use 15 times as much energy as Google,&rdquo; Kleinig added.</p>
<p>Kleinig noted that the environmental consequences of implementing large language models may be &ldquo;very significant&rdquo;. More than the household emissions due to ChatGPT, &ldquo;healthcare AI systems would likely have an even larger footprint&rdquo;</p>
<p>Further, the hardware needed for these AI systems requires extensive rare earth metal mining. This could potentially lead to habitat destruction. The manufacturing process alone can double the carbon footprint of AI operations, the team said.</p>
<p>The study, however, suggests that AI could reduce healthcare's environmental impact by improving patient flow and reducing paper use.</p>
<p>--IANS&nbsp;</p>

Hospitals must think and use AI carefully as well as responsibly

Not really. A single AI query uses enough electricity to charge a smartphone 11 times. But they can help with patient flow and reduce paper use

Can Generative AI Help Cut Hospital Emissions?

<p>Film-maker Payal Kapadia, who won the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for her directorial&nbsp;<em>All We Imagine As Light</em>, has lauded her actress in the film, Chhaya Kadam. She also said that the actress brings her own lyricism to the dialogues and improves what&rsquo;s written on paper to make it sharper and better.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Chhaya Kadam is a phenomenal performer, and boasts of a diverse filmography that cuts across the audience. She has done <em>All We Imagine As Light</em>, <em>Fandry</em>, a commercial potboiler comedy like <em>Madgaon Express</em>, <em>Andhadhun</em>, and India&rsquo;s Oscar entry <em>Laapataa Ladies</em> among others.</p>
<p>Talking about the actress, Kapadia told IANS, &ldquo;I have been a fan of her for 10 years. So, when I approached her, I was a little scared. Will she agree? What will she say? But the first meeting itself was really friendly.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Payal then revealed that Chhaya is actually from the region from which her character Parvati hails.</p>
<p>The filmmaker said, &ldquo;She is from (the) Konkan (region), she is from Ratnagiri. And, her father used to work in the mills in Mumbai. So she knew this history very well. So many people came from Ratnagiri over the course of the 20th century to work in cotton mills. And so many people lost their houses. After the strikes. And the mills shutting down. So I think she was very well aware of that history. And the connection between the two spaces. So immediately she felt connected. She is a genius&rdquo;.</p>
<p>Payal further mentioned, &ldquo;If I had written a line, she would make it her own. She brings her own kind of lyricism. Like, &lsquo;Ekta Jeev Sadashiv&rsquo;. I had only written that 'I want to be alone&rsquo;. Ekta Jeev Sadashiv, I can make t-shirts out of this. She has that quality.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;There is only one song in the film, Asha Parekh's song. She suggested that, &lsquo;We will dance to that song&rsquo; because the lyrics were so funny&rdquo;, she added.</p>
<p><em>All We Imagine As Light</em>&nbsp;is set to release in cinemas on November 22.</p>
<p>&mdash;IANS</p>

From left: Chhaya Kadam, Payal Kapadia, Divya Prabha, Kani Kusruti

Award-winning film-maker says the actress brings her own lyricism to dialogue