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R233 billion worth of infrastructure projects currently in construction: Mashatile

R233 billion worth of infrastructure projects currently in construction: Mashatile South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile announced that the country currently has R233 billion worth of infrastructure projects currently in construction, with R170 billion worth in the procurement phase and R10 billion completed. Speaking during the Stakeholder Dinner at the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) on March 18, Deputy President Mashatile underscored the significant opportunities on offer for the private sector in the infrastructure space. With government seeking to close the infrastructure investment gap, mobilizing private-led investment has emerged as a top priority. The Deputy President highlighted that through platforms such as SIDSSA, government can connect private investors to strategic projects, ensuring development leads to job creation, industrialization and long-term economic growth. The activities of the symposium today have set the tone for government accountability, as shown during the media briefing this afternoon as well as through collaboration and partnerships, and through the memorandum of understanding signed between government and private sector partners. Most importantly, this symposium sets the tone for collaboration and cooperation in the continent, stated Deputy President Mashatile. Taking place on March 17-19 at the Century City Conference Center, SIDSSA brings together key stakeholders in South Africa and across the continent with the aim of driving infrastructure development. SIDSSA 2024 serves as a crucial platform for discussions and partnerships in the infrastructure investment landscape, with a focus on accelerating economic activity through strategic infrastructure plans. Energy Capital & Power the leading investment platform for the African energy sector is a media partner for this important platform. For more information, visit https://SIDSAA.org.za. Uniting regional government, global partners and private investors, SIDSSA 2024 brings together critical role-players in the infrastructure investment space, who are galvanized around a key goal of accelerating an infrastructure-led economic recovery plan. The event serves as a springboard for collaboration in Africa. According to Sihle Zikalala, South Africa's Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, We have gathered here from all over the world to learn from each other on what we can do better to unleash a continental wide infrastructure development. We have often said Africa must be connected from Cape to Cairo, and we believe that we should lead the way to connect Africa. To bolster infrastructure development, significant levels of capital are required both in South Africa and regionally. Institutions such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) offer the finance needed to get large-scale projects off the ground. The project pipeline, according to Zodwa Mbele, Group Executive: Chief Financial Officer at the DBSA, was also dependent on institutions like the DBSA who were expected to provide and unveil the pipeline to the potential investors. It's very important that we get [projects] off ground and make sure that the infrastructure is developed because we also know that infrastructure is a [catalyst] for economic development. As such, South Africa's infrastructure development will largely center around public-private collaboration. John Humphrey, the UK's Trade Commissioner for Africa, explained that partnership and collaboration sit at the heart of the UK approach to infrastructure globally, and that's why we're here today, to support the South African Government's National Infrastructure Plan and the priorities outlined in President Ramaphosa's recent address to the nation, including job creation, economic growth, solving the energy crisis, and improving public services. Closing off the evening, South Africa's Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Bernice Swarts underscored that, Getting construction projects off the ground to build social and economic infrastructure is fundamental in building the Africa we want, improving services and creating jobs. (With Inputs from APO)

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 3:14 pm

Admaius partners with Egyptian medicated-cosmetics business Parkville

Admaius partners with Egyptian medicated-cosmetics business Parkville Admaius Capital Partners (Admaius) (www.Admaius.com), an Africa focussed private equity investor operating across several growth markets, today announced a strategic partnership with Parkville Holding Company B.V. (Parkville or the 'Company'), a leading healthcare and wellness company in Egypt operating across several high-growth sub-segments. Admaius' support will enable the Company to expand regionally, leveraging its existing brands, strong pipeline, and Admaius' extensive network. Enabling Parkville's continued growth aligns with Admaius' investment strategy for Africa of finding opportunities in high impact sectors that are the drivers of economic and social progress, including digital infrastructure, financial services, FMCG, healthcare, and education. The consumer healthcare market in Egypt, is characterised by strong and resilient demand growth underpinned by increasing consumer product awareness and evolving patterns of consumption towards locally produced goods. Parkville's industry-leading medical marketing force has direct relationships with physicians, medical centres and pharmacies in Egypt, and has established a high degree of trust amongst the medical community in the quality and efficacy of its product portfolio. Admaius Capital Partners was advised by Matouk Bassiouny. Zilla Capital acted as the sole financial advisor to Parkville Ltd and the Founders. Adsero acted as the legal advisor to Parkville Ltd and the Founders. Commenting on the investment: Marlon Chigwende, the Managing Partner of Admaius, said: This investment in Parkville is emblematic of Admaius' investment strategy. Parkville is a very high-quality business, with skilled and entrepreneurial leadership, growing rapidly in one of Admaius' key target sectors, with the potential for continued strong growth. As an impact aligned investor, we seek businesses able to deliver positive outcomes for key stakeholders including customers and employees. Through its portfolio of high-quality and affordable products Parkville is able to effectively serve the needs of its 80% female customer base. As one of the largest markets in Africa, we continue to see interesting opportunities to back strong Egyptian entrepreneurs who wish to take their business to the next level. Dr. Sherif Bassiouny, Co-Founder of Parkville, said: We are thrilled to welcome Admaius as a partner in our journey towards continued success and innovation. Their extensive experience and resources will undoubtedly help us launch new products to meet gaps in the market, develop our human capital and drive long-term value for our investors and stakeholders. With their support, we are confident that we will not only meet but exceed our expansion goals, enabling us to enhance our regional and international presence, reach new markets and amplify our impact in the MEA region. (With Inputs from APO)

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 3:09 pm

The 10 Under-21 players with the most goals & assists in 2023-24: Bellingham, Palmer

The future looks bright for these stars. The post The 10 Under-21 players with the most goals & assists in 2023-24: Bellingham, Palmer appeared first on Planet Football .

Planet Football 19 Mar 2024 2:13 pm

EXCLUSIVE-Russia's Putin to visit China in May - sources

EXCLUSIVE-Russia's Putin to visit China in May - sources Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China in May for talks with Xi Jinping, in what could be the Kremlin chief's first overseas trip of his new presidential term, according to five sources familiar with the matter. Western governments on Monday condemned Putin's re-election as unfair and undemocratic. But China, India and North Korea congratulated the veteran leader on extending his rule by a further six years, highlighting geopolitical fault lines that have widened since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Putin will visit China, one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. The details were independently confirmed by four other sources, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. Another of the sources said Putin's trip to China would probably take place in the second half of May. Two of the sources said the Putin visit would come before Xi's planned trip to Europe. The Kremlin declined to comment. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China has strengthened its trade and military ties with Russia in recent years as the United States and its allies imposed sanctions against both countries, particularly Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. The two countries declared a o limits partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before the invasion. Foreign diplomats and observers said they expected Putin to make China his first stop after being re-elected. Putin's formal presidential inauguration is due to take place around May 7. Putin told reporters on Sunday that Russia and China shared a similar global outlook, enjoyed resilient relations in part due to Putin and Xi's good personal relations and that Moscow and Beijing would develop ties further in coming years. Xi visited Russia in his first post-pandemic overseas trip in March last year, shortly after commencing his precedent-breaking third term as Chinese president. The two leaders have often touted their close personal friendship and have met over 40 times, most recently in October when Putin was the guest of honour at China's Belt and Road summit in Beijing. China-Russia trade hit $218.2 billion during January-November, according to Chinese customs data, exceeding a goal to increase bilateral trade to over $200 billion by 2024 that was set by the two countries. Xi, in a call with Putin last month, said both sides should resolutely oppose interference in domestic affairs by external forces, indicating the U.S. Chinese vice foreign minister Sun Weidong said bilateral ties were at their best in history when meeting his Russian counterpart in Moscow last month, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout. China is considering taking part in a peace conference aimed at ending the war in Ukraine to be hosted by neutral Switzerland in the coming months, its ambassador to Bern told local media on Monday. Beijing launched a 12-point Ukraine peace plan last year but so far has not taken significant steps to resolve the conflict besides attending Western-led peace talks in Jeddah last summer. China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs Li Hui met officials in five European capitals including Moscow and Kyiv earlier this month.

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 2:12 pm

NTR Jr begins shoot for next phase of his upcoming film 'Devara: Part 1' in Goa

NTR Jr begins shoot for next phase of his upcoming film 'Devara: Part 1' in Goa After completing his hectic schedule in Hyderabad, South superstar NTR Jr has started shooting for the next phase of his highly anticipated film 'Devara: Part 1' in Goa. The shooting in Goa, which started today will last for a week. It also includes filming a song. The film which is set against the coastal lands is helmed by Koratala Siva the film stars Janhvi Kapoor, Jr NTR, and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles. 'Devara' will be released in two parts. The first part of the film will be released on April 5. 'Devara' marks the first collaboration of Janhvi with the 'RRR' actor. The film marks NTR Jr's second big collaboration with filmmaker Koratala Siva after the 2016 hit film 'Janatha Garage'.The makers have earlier shared the release date and poster of the film. Announcing the release date, the makers shared the film's new poster on Friday. In the poster, the 'RRR' star is seen in an intense action mode. The Lord of Fear is unleashing his tsunami of electrifying action on 10.10.24 , the makers captioned the post on social media platform X. Directed by Koratala Siva, 'Devara' will unfold in two parts, with the initial chapter hitting theatres on October 10, 2024, coinciding with the Dussehra weekend. The magnum opus is produced by Yuvasudha Arts and NTR Arts, and presented by Nandamuri Kalyan Ram. The film's music is by Anirudh Ravichander, and the cinematography is by R Rathnavelu. (ANI)

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 2:07 pm

Devara Part 1: Man of Masses NTR Jr heads to Goa to begin new shoot schedule for the magnum opus

After a hectic schedule in Hyderabad, NTR Jr is now in Goa and has commenced the next shoot schedule of the film Devara today; this leg of the shooting includes filming a song. Devara will be released in two parts.

Money Control 19 Mar 2024 2:00 pm

Lala Ki Basti, other slum areas help politicians to win polls: Goa RGP

Panaji, March 19 (IANS) While the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) allege that the migrants staying in Lala Ki Basti and other slum areas help politicians to win elections, the Chief Electoral Officer has said that there will be no chance of double voting this time. The coastal state will go to poll on May 7, []

bhaskarlive 19 Mar 2024 1:47 pm

US Secy Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt for dialogue on Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal

US Secy Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt for dialogue on Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal US State Secretary Antony Blinken is set to visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt to meet with government leaders this week and discuss efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the US State Department said in a statement. The deal will safeguard the release of hostages abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel, the State Department also said. The agreement would also ensure intensified international efforts to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and coordination on post-conflict planning for Gaza, including ensuring Hamas can no longer govern or repeat the attacks of October 7, the State Department statement read. Blinken will also discuss how to end Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Truce negotiations are currently underway in Qatar involving Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Israel's Mossad chief David Barnea, and Egyptian officials. These discussions centre on a potential ceasefire agreement in Gaza, with the condition being the release of hostages held by Hamas, according to a source familiar with the talks as reported by CNN. Blinken's visit will be part of a larger trip, which includes stops in Austria, South Korea, and the Philippines. On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on in which the former warned the latter against the prospect of Israel conducting a major military operation in Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza, where more than a million Palestinians have taken refuge. In their first telephone conversation in over a month, the two leaders spoke about the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including Israel's military operations, increasing humanitarian assistance going to Gaza, and efforts to bring hostages home, the White House said on Tuesday In the call, Netanyahu reiterated Israel's commitment to achieving its war goals, including eliminating Hamas and releasing hostages. The call between Netanyahu and Biden was their 20th since the outbreak of war following Hamas's October 7 attack, but their first since February 15 according to the Times of Israel. (ANI)

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 1:28 pm

'Main Dikkat Yahi Hai': AAP' Somnath Bharti left speechless when voter confront him over Congress alliance

A viral video shows AAP leader Somnath Bharti surrounded by morning walkers in Delhi. They confronted Bharti about AAP's 2024 election alliance with Congress, questioning why AAP, after years of an anti-Congress campaign, has now formed an alliance.The video was shared by BJP spokesperson R P Singh. Locals expressed that AAP's move indicates that Kejriwal has lost touch with the people of Delhi.AAP and Congress will share seats in Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, and Haryana. In Delhi, AAP will contest in four Lok Sabha seats, while Congress will contest in three. In the previous 2019 polls, the BJP emerged victorious in all seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi.

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 1:26 pm

Spurs ace Son back on road to World Cup after turbulent Asian Cup

HONG KONG, CHINA: Son Heung-min and South Korea must move on from their turbulent Asian Cup when they return to World Cup qualifying Thursday, while Japan face North Korea in a double-header that sees them travel to Pyongyang. Asian football is back on the road to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a month after Qatar retained the continental crown on home soil with a 3-1 victory over Jordan. Much has happened since South Korea were dumped out 2-0 by unfancied Jordan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup, including the sacking of coach Jurgen Klinsmann. It emerged that skipper Son and Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder Lee Kang-in had been involved in a fracas on the eve of the match, leaving the Tottenham attacker with a dislocated finger. Legendary German striker Klinsmann was dismissed after having promised to take South Korea to their first Asian title in 64 years. He was replaced on an interim basis by Hwang Sun-hong. Son and Lee have since made up, andHwang included the duo in his squad for the home game with Thailand on Thursday and the return fixture five days later. Lee Kang-in wanted an opportunity to apologise to fans and his team-mates from the bottom of his heart, and Son Heung-min said we should all embrace Kang-in and move forward, Hwang, South Korea's under-23 coach, said. Based on my experience as a national team player, I think issues like this can end up making the team even tighter, he added. Before Klinsmann's departure, South Korea thrashed Singapore 5-0 and won 3-0 in China to top Group C and will be fully expected to collect six more points against Thailand. Japan are also eager to move on from the Asian Cup, where they went out 2-1 to Iran in the quarter-finals and never justified their tag as pre-tournament favourites. Hajime Moriyasu remained coach despite the disappointment and Japan face two matches against North Korea, travelling into the unknown on March 26 when they play at Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang. Moriyasu will have to make do without Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, who looks set to miss the rest of the Premier League season with a back injury. Winger Junya Ito has been left out of the squad after an allegation of sexual assault. He denies the claim and is suing for 200 million yen ($1.3 million) in damages. Japan have a perfect six points from two games with 10 goals scored and none conceded. Qatar skipper bows out China's Asian Cup was also a letdown, bundled out in the group stage with two points and no goals. The Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic took over from Aleksandar Jankovic and China travel to Singapore for his first game in charge. Of the Asian Cup finalists, Qatar will be expected to make it four wins from four in Group A when they play Kuwait home and away. They will do it without Hassan Al-Haydos, who captained them to a second Asian Cup crown in a row last month but retired at the weekend from international duty aged 33. He made a record 183 appearances for his country, scoring 41 goals. While Qatar are on course for the next round of World Cup qualifying, Asian Cup runners-up Jordan sit third behind Roberto Mancini's Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan in Group G on one point from two matches. With only the top two progressing, Jordan need to pick up six points in back-to-back games against basement side Pakistan.

The New Indian Express 19 Mar 2024 1:24 pm

Cielo Debuts First Generative AI for Talent Acquisition: CLO.ai

Business Wire India Cielo, the worlds leading Talent Acquisition Partner , today debuts the first generative AI (GenAI) for talent acquisition: CLO.ai . Based on a new set of industry principles for responsible AI use, the intelligent tool allows talent leaders to maximize the power of GenAI for better hiring outcomes fast, while protecting candidates' experiences. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240319387916/en/ In a competitive, noisy market with many emerging, and sometimes unproven, methodologies and technologies, Cielo has established a responsible approach to artificial intelligence in human resources & talent acquisition. At Cielo, their data scientists, engineers, and talent acquisition experts collaborate to improve GenAI models, assess data for relevancy and accuracy, and operate in a secure environment, thus contributing to an enhanced experience for their clients and candidates. They are not only navigating the landscape but also handsomely contributing to its future development. Arkadev Basak, Partner at Everest Group Since launching its Digital Accelerators suite last year, Cielo has worked closely with clients and its own experts to build and test AI solutions trained for TA. Cielo knows first-hand the challenges organizations face when adopting GenAI, giving it an unmatched understanding of practical use cases and corporate requirements for risk management. CLO.ai is rooted in five design principles that highlight vital considerations for clients and candidates when using AI in HR and talent acquisition: Offer tangible outcomes Prioritize user experience Retain human expertise Provide actionable insights Facilitate inclusivity We've seen GenAI revolutionize how we engage with talent, allowing us to create personalized experiences at scale. This creates a more intuitive, tailored user experience and enables employers to identify top talent faster, accelerate time to fill, and reduce costs. This is a safe and secure ChatGPT just for talent strategy. Rick Rosario, Vice President Client Services at Cielo By using large language models and relevant data sets including job ads and resumes CLO.ai analyzes themes and gaps to swiftly move through the hiring process with precision. The tool and prompts are designed with input from Cielos ED&I experts to enhance the inclusive element and mitigate bias. It syncs to an organizations tone of voice, matches DEI guidelines and other hiring policies, giving teams more time to engage and hire talent all in a secure environment. The future is now. Find out how CLO.ai streamlines the entire TA process and achieves your recruiting goals, faster. About Cielo Cielo is the world's leading Talent Acquisition Partner. We deliver a better talent experience for everyone through Talent Acquisition, Consulting, Search and Digital Accelerators solutions. With our fresh approach we design and build comprehensive, proven services inspired by technology to find and keep the unique talent that elevates our clients above the competition. Learn more at cielotalent.com . View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240319387916/en/

BusinessWire India 19 Mar 2024 1:12 pm

22000km with my Creta IVT Adventure Edition: 4 pros & 3 cons observed

BHPian vimalvittaladas recently shared this with other enthusiasts.Hyundai Adventure Edition (Petrol) IVT SX(O) . 22000 km review:The Vehicle: Creta AE IVT SX(O) PetrolDate of purchase: 06.10.2023ODO: 22235 as on date(15.03.2024)Every single person have their own hobbies. And here I am who has a passion for driving. All of my road trips after the purchase of my very first vehicle way back in 2009 were meant to enjoy driving. Believe me, I never ever thought of the destinations because, rather than destination, my preference was driving. I spent unaccounted amount of time in driving seat, slept countless number of times in driver's seat in petrol bunks and spent huge amount of money in feeding my vehicles and maintaining them. People call me crazy which I thankfully acknowledge. I started driving at the age of 27 and had been continuously driving for last 10 years(except 5 years of my foreign stay). After the recent trip I am happy to share that I have driven 500000 kms on Indian roads with my 5 vehicles I owned till date. I love all those 5 vehicles the most as each one of them served me the way I was expecting. I treated them as of my own family member with maintaining those as regular intervals, keeping those clean and enjoying every second I sat inside those.A brief history of vehicles used:Maruti Suzuki Wagon R VXI(Petrol) Manual: The very first vehicle I owned was Maruti Suzuki WagonR, way back in 2009 while I was posted in Mumbai. The vehicle was used as a regular commuter in Mumbai from Borivali to BKC on a daily basis. Used the vehicle for 3 years with ODO standing at 134000 kms while I sold it. I did 4 trips to Kerala in those 3 years from Mumbai with my better half and my daughter who was an infant during those days. I sold the vehicle in 2012 as I had to relocate to Hong Kong due to my official obligation. Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXI(Petrol) Manual: I returned back to India in February 2017 and the very first thing I done was purchasing of a car for my usage. The swift was my companion during that time. The vehicle again was used extensively during my ownership tenure of 3 years. It took us across all the south states of KL, TN, AP, KA and GA number of times. Whenever there was an opportunity of long weekend or holidays, we used to take it for a spin. As a result the ODO was at 128000 kms when I decided to sell it in June 2020. Hyundai Creta Phantom Black(SX) Manual 2020: The itch to upgrade from Swift ended up in having a black beauty at home. Creta was full of convenience when I upgraded from Swift. The whole driving dynamics changed for me and the passion for driving increased multiple times due to the purchase of Creta. I was posted at Chennai and Creta became my companion on my every drove to Kerala. The personal responsibilities back home ensured that I had to drive once in a month from Chennai to KL. During my ownership period of 2 years, I drove more than 20 times from Chennai to Cochin by Creta. Moreover we have multiples number of trips to Pandarpur, Mumbai and Goa. All these resulted in Creta clocking 145000 kms in 2 years time. Mahindra Thar HT Petrol MT 2022: Jeep was always a dream vehicle for me and as a result I ended up in owning a Mahindra Thar in June 2022. The vehicle was used for all my fun drives. Even though I was situated at Chennai, I had a Thar group back in Kerala who were mostly engaged in off-roading. Whenever I got opportunity, I made myself available for off-roading camps organised by them across Gods Own Country. It took me to remote places in Kerala, gave high level of driving satisfaction and the most importantly abundance of confidence. Unfortunately I sold it in June 2023 as I was transferred to Mumbai and was looking for a BH registration, with ODO was at 72000 kms. Hyundai Creta 2023 Ranger Khakhi (DT) IVT Petrol: The quest for a new vehicle on transferring to Mumbai ended up with Hyundai Creta AE. My wife fell for it at her first sight plus we already had hassle free experience of owning a Creta. So we decided to go ahead with it and we bought the AE of Creta on 06.10.2023 with BH registration. It is my daily commuter to office at Nariman Point from my residence at Seawoods.Now as on date the vehicle clocked 22200 kms . The car was purchased in October 2023 from Sharyu Hyundai, Navi Mumbai. The delivery experience was good with team providing me every update from the date of booking. PDI was done as per Team BHP provided list and ODO was showing 13 kms while doing PDI. I use the car for my office commute and on a daily basis it is covering 80 kms to and fro. In addition I already did two Mumbai to Trivandrum trips and a couple of Mumbai to Goa trips.Pros:Handling: This is the first non manual car I am owning in life. It was a big relief especially in the notorious Mumbai traffic. The auto hold function is an added advantage too. On the highways, since being a NA engine, I was missing the initial punch. But slowly after gaining speed, the car was a fun to drive. Even at triple digit speeds, handling was good. I never drove it above 110 km/hr and I always love sedate driving with some music on.NVH: Very low levels of NVH of petrol engine ensured the driving at 100 km/hr smooth. The stock JK tyre noise was only the exception when the speed exceeded 100 km/hr.Comfort: The sole reason my family is inclined towards this vehicle. It offers sheer comfort for both front and back occupants. The drive was joyful with soft touch suspension, automatic climate control(chills out cabin fast), The cool glove box, the user friendly and hassle free touch screen and panoramic sun roof(kids enjoying the most). The back seat occupants are also having AC vents and arm rests which added to the convenience.Boot Space: Had sufficient boot space which can easily carry two trolleys and a couple of carry bags.Cons:The vehicle felt a bit of lacking confidence in speeds north of 110(only once tried but never exceeded 120 km/hr). The steering was not generating enough confidence at speeds above 110 km/hr.Hyundai could have used more soft touch materials in the cabin for 20 lakh plus vehicle. Most of the parts in the cabin felt of missing in quality.The notorious 3 star rating of the Creta is always there as a negative which is already discussed a lot here.Overall I and more importantly my family is happy with the vehicle, I am planning to keep this for a bit more time than I kept my previous vehicles. The sedative driving nature of mine is making this purchase a good one. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information,

Team-BHP 19 Mar 2024 1:05 pm

Can you name Man Utds 25 youngest goalscorers since 2000?

Some head-scratchers are included here. The post Can you name Man Utds 25 youngest goalscorers since 2000? appeared first on Planet Football .

Planet Football 19 Mar 2024 12:56 pm

'Kohrra' director Randeep Jha, Alankrita Shrivastava, Gurvinder Singh's projects part of CIFF Market

CHANDIGARH: Projects by Chauthi Koot fame Gurvinder Singh, Kohrra helmer Randeep Jha and Lipstick Under My Burkha director Alankrita Shrivastava will be showcased at the CIFF Market to be held on the sidelines of the inaugural Cinevesture International Film Festival. The film gala, which will take place in Chandigarh from March 27 31, will present 17 feature films and three web series. The line-up includes six fiction feature debuts such as Sacred by Deepa Bhatia, 19 by Vikas Chandra, LalitA by Disha Rindani, Tigdi aka 3-SUM by Roopal Kewalya, Laali by Fahad Mustafa, and Dhundh Saleti by Jasmine Kaur and Avinash Roy. Namrata Joshi, CIFF Market curator, said class divides and conflicts is a running theme through some of the selected projects and host state Punjab is under focus, be it in terms of talent or backdrop. From those requiring funding for research and script development to those with scripts locked and ready to roll. The majority of the projects are by women. And/or women-focused. Queer identity issues also find space. The selection cuts across genresthere's action, thrillers (corporate, police procedurals), drama (human, social, political, coming of age), a folk and mythology-based tale but with a modern spin, epic narrative spanning decades, whimsical romance, and comedy too. Horror makes a striking presence in the selection. That too imagined and created by women. With profound underlying thematic layers, Joshi said in a statement. Jha, who made his feature debut with Halahal and has directed critically-acclaimed shows such as Trial By Fire and Kohrra, is coming up with April Mein Shootout, about a placid academic who vows revenge after his brother is killed in farm dispute but starts to uncover sinister truths about his own family. Shrivastava has adapted Lindsay Pereira's Gods and Ends into Girls of Orlem. Set in the Goan Catholic ghetto of Orlem in Mumbai, the film is described as an intimate and piercing portrait of a mother and daughter, the film also tells a larger tale of the claustrophobia and broken dreams of the ghetto. Bhatia, a noted film editor, is making her feature debut with Sacred, a saga spanning several decades. The story is about four dramatically different women on the cusp of motherhood. The latest offering by Anurag Singh, best known for Jatt and Juliet, is Encounter that revolves around a newly appointed Punjab DSP who is trying to unravel the mystery behind the killings of his late cop father's colleagues. Atika Chohan, known for writing films such as Chhapaak, Guilty and Agra, is coming up with Husky, an eat-the-rich drama, revolving around privileged couple's pet husky, Jordon. Peach No 15 by Ayappa KM, is a darkly funny thriller series about Indra, a conscientious workaholic woman, caught in the middle of a massive clusterf*** of corporate gluttony that will fracture her morality to the core. The Bookkeeper's Wife, by Bauddhayan Mukherji, revolves around a deceased Bookkeeper's wife who uncovers secrets that leave her questioning whether she knew the man she thought she knew. Bhaskar Hazarika, known for Aamis, is directing #JACK, whose logline reads: An unmarked grave. A missing groom. And a cop who won't give up. Rindani is directing LalitA, a feature on police constable Lalit Salve who was mistakenly assigned the female sex at birth and took on the journey to reclaim his identity. Chhaal by Don Palathara (Family) is based on folk writer Vijaydan Detha's story. Mustafa, who made Katiyabaaz, is making his fiction debut with Laali, a story about how an upscale Delhi neighbourhood is rattled when a domestic worker insists on digging their patch of green to retrieve the body of her murdered child. Gurvinder Singh is set to showcase The Trials, a historcial thriller web series. Set in 1930 Lahore, as Durga Devi and her husband prepare a bomb that will set their comrade Bhagat Singh free, we see the story of the trials, tests and tribulations of these heroic revolutionaries as they take direct action against British rule, read the synopsis of the show. Another series in the fold is Kimsi Singh's Schooled Abroad, which follows the life of five students from different parts of India with diverse backgrounds and cultures in Canada. Chandra's coming-of-age debut feature 19 is also part of the CIFF market. It revolves around three friends navigating the last years of their teens. Miss Kumari by Jain is a whimsical romance between a sales lady at an emporium and a baker from Lakshadweep. I.T.A. by Vandana Kataria, who worked as production designer on Dibakar Banerjee's films including Shanghai, is in the horror genre. It is a modern retelling of Henry James' classic The Turn of the Screw. Dhundh Saleti or The Whispering Fog marks the directorial debut of Kaur and Roy. The drama is set in the terror-stricken Punjab of the late 1980s where Roop Sandhu, a radio programmer and a single mother, struggles to balance her personal and professional life. Tigdi aka 3-SUM is Kewalya's debut film, billed as an un chick flick which explores themes of sexuality, stigma and freedom. To Hell With Love, a romance drama by Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (Doob: No Bed of Roses, No Land's Man), is also part of the line-up. Nihaarika Naegi's Feral is an elevated horror film set in 1950s India, where a sadomasochist English Madame has raised two indigenous community sisters to be her servants on a withering colonial estate. But the arrival of Madame's latest lover - a singer/shaman scholar - changes the alchemy of the estate, as the sisters slowly transgress - reclaiming their wild, mystical selves, the festival said.

The New Indian Express 19 Mar 2024 12:53 pm

Vladimir Putin: Russia planning buffer zone to protect against Ukrainian attacks

Moscow: Russia won't relent in its invasion of Ukraine, with one of its forthcoming goals being to establish a buffer zone along the border to help protect against long-range Ukrainian strikes and cross-border raids, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. The Kremlin's forces have recently made battlefield progress as Kyiv's troops struggle with a severe shortage [] The post Vladimir Putin: Russia planning buffer zone to protect against Ukrainian attacks appeared first on Northlines .

The Northlines 19 Mar 2024 11:52 am

eRupee to take 4-5 years for gaining popularity among common people

NEW DELHI: It will take nearly four to five years to make central bank digital currency or eRupee popular among common people, according to banking sources. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had initiated a pilot of the retail CBDC in December 2022, reaching the goal of 10 lakh transactions daily by December 2023. Recently, the RBI announced that Digital rupee users will soon be able to conduct transactions in regions with restricted internet access. RBI is going slow for the full scale implementation of CBDC as it entails a lot of safety, integrity and efficiency, a top banking official said. He also added that there is no urgency for CBDC as payments are happening smoothly via UPI, net banking and other mode of payments. Meanwhile, as per sources, banking officials are divided over relevance of CBDC, as in the current scenario most payments are taking place via UPI and net banking. The main purpose behind introducing eRupee was to curtail cryptocurrency. The government has succeeded in achieving that target. Online transactions are already happening via net banking, UPI and other online modes, so there is no relevance of CBDC, a top official further. Recently, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman underscored the perils linked to unregulated cryptocurrencies. She said the threats of illicit activities like terror funding and drug financing arising from lack of consistent regulations globally. Another banking official, however, said CBDCs can be used in capital account and large scale commercial transactions as there are limitations in net banking and UPI while executing them. Net banking and UPI have their own limitations. In addition, severel other issues like financing of terror actitivities and counterfeiting of currencies can be sorted with the launch of CBDCs, said another official.

The New Indian Express 19 Mar 2024 11:44 am

Jr NTR head to Goa for 'Devara Part 1' shooting schedule

Jr NTR head to Goa for 'Devara Part 1' shooting schedule

India Today 19 Mar 2024 11:33 am

Festivals embodying the essence of Goan traditions

New Delhi, March 19 (IANSlife) Every year, as the winter bids farewell and spring tiptoes in, the vibrant state of Goa in India bursts into a riot of colours and festivities. This traditional Hindu festival Shigmotsav, marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm. The festival is set to be []

bhaskarlive 19 Mar 2024 11:18 am

How do you make 6.3 crore MSMEs globally competitive? A scheme takes a shot

The Zero Defect Zero Effect Scheme has helped small manufacturers get wider recognition in domestic and international markets. But the scheme needs more publicity and involvement of domain experts to realise the Make in India goal especially as a similar scheme for services is on cards.

The Economic Times 19 Mar 2024 11:02 am

Embracing Joy: The Significance of International Day of Happiness

March 20, 2024: In a world often fraught with challenges and uncertainties, it's easy to overlook the importance of happiness. However, on March 20th, the International Day of Happiness serves as a poignant reminder of the value of joy and well-being in our lives. This day, designated by the United Nations, celebrates the pursuit of happiness as a fundamental human goal and emphasizes the importance of promoting happiness in public policy and development initiatives. The significance of the International Day of Happiness lies in its ability to draw attention to the essential role that happiness plays in fostering peace, prosperity, and sustainable development worldwide. It serves as a call to action for individuals, communities, and governments to prioritize policies and actions that contribute to greater well-being for all. At its core, happiness is more than just a fleeting emotion; it encompasses a sense of fulfillment, contentment, and purpose in life. Research in positive psychology has shown that cultivating happiness not only improves individual health and resilience but also enhances social connections and contributes to stronger communities. On this day, people around the globe are encouraged to engage in activities that promote happiness and well-being, whether it's spending time with loved ones, practicing gratitude, or participating in acts of kindness. Social media platforms buzz with messages of positivity and encouragement, spreading smiles across digital networks. In a world grappling with various challenges, including the post-COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and social inequality, the International Day of Happiness serves as a beacon of hope. It reminds us that amidst adversity, there is still room for joy, resilience, and collective action. As we celebrate this day, let us reflect on the things that bring us joy and fulfillment, and let us recommit ourselves to building a happier, more compassionate world for future generations. Because ultimately, happiness isn't just a personal pursuitit's a shared responsibility that binds us together as a global community. National Vaccination Day 2024: All You Need to Know on This Special Day

News Track 19 Mar 2024 11:00 am

Paradeep Phosphates Shares Lowest In Over Two Months After Plant Closures

The company has shut down its amonia and urea plants in Goa because of the breakdown of the synthesis gas compressor, according to an exchange filing.

Bloomberg Quint 19 Mar 2024 10:50 am

Its a really big threat: Portuguese communities on the rise of the far right

After scapegoating minorities and migrants, the Chega party appears poised to play a prominent role For years, Evalina Dias has diligently worked to combat racism in Portugal. But just how much remains to be done was brought into sharp relief last Sunday, she says, as the far-right Chega party led by a politician whose views have been described by one opponent as often xenophobic, racist catapulted into the countrys top echelons of power. I couldnt believe it, says Dias, a board member with Djass, Portugals Association of African Descendants. We had no idea that there were so many racists in Portugal. Its like they were hidden. Continue reading...

The Guardian 19 Mar 2024 10:30 am

SAMCO Securities Takes a Stand for Traders

Business Wire India Traders ka andekha sach | A tribute to all traders Trading in the financial markets was originally a domain dominated by institutional giants. However, over the past decade, the Indian bourses have been recording rising retail trader activity. The momentum has been particularly high in the last 5 years or so because individual trader participation in the F&O segment alone grew by over 500% from FY19 to FY22. Additionally, in 2023, the F&O market recorded over 85 billion trades in options contracts from Indian traders which is significantly more than the volume in any other global market. Most analysts and experts view this as an optimistic sign. After all, increased individual investor activity in the markets particularly in volatile segments like the options and futures market may indicate more disposable capital in the hands of the average Indian trader. However, a parallel narrative runs alongside this favourable development where traders are often perceived (and misunderstood) as gamblers who are only looking for an opportunity to earn a quick buck. This may be true for a small margin of traders, who are mostly beginners with little to no awareness of the science behind stock and security trading. But for the vast majority of traders who are committed to the practice of studying the markets and making calculated transactions, this stigma is a cross they have to unfairly bear. What Drives the Misconception that Options Trading = Gambling Options trading is frequently misunderstood by the general public, and this perception stems from a variety of reasons. Primarily, the complex nature of options and the high volatility associated with them can lead to quick, significant losses or gains. Another factor is the short-term trading strategies often employed in options trading. Nilesh Sharma, President & ED at SAMCO Securities , pinpoints other crucial factors driving such myths about the calculated science of options trading. The terminology used in options trading also contributes to its gambling-like image. Terms such as betting, speculating, or playing the market are commonly used in trading circles. This language naturally evokes gambling connotations, making it easy for the uninitiated to draw parallels between the two activities. It also doesnt help that the portrayal of options trading in media and popular culture often emphasises its most dramatic aspects like overnight fortunes made or lost. This further reinforces the gambling stereotype. Such stories highlight the volatility and unpredictability of options trading without providing the context of careful research, risk management and strategy that successful traders employ. While the reasons driving this false perception may be many, its impact on committed traders is singularly discouraging. The Impact of This Misconception on Committed Traders The growing stigma around trading in general (and options trading in particular) affects the morale and societal standing of those who trade professionally or full-time. Simply someone whos always sitting around at home, affect the individual self-esteem of traders and reflect the deep-seated scepticism around options trading. This stigma also indicates that the uninformed often believe traders engage in reckless speculation without any real contribution to the economy or society. Such a view disregards the critical role traders play in financial markets like enabling liquidity, facilitating price discovery, and promoting risk management. The constant battle against this stereotype challenges the professional identity of traders and can lead to a sense of isolation or disillusionment. Moreover, the misperception of trading as a skilled profession hinders its recognition as a legitimate career. Many traders dedicate significant time to education, market analysis and strategy development. They employ sophisticated tools and models to make informed decisions. However, the narrative that reduces their work to mere chance diminishes the value of their skills and expertise. The Myth vs the Truth: Trading is a Science and an Art Contrary to the perception of traders as reckless speculators, options trading is both a science and an art. It requires a blend of analytical skills, rigorous discipline and data-driven insights. This duality is crucial for understanding the professional approach many traders in India and around the world adopt towards their craft. The scientific aspect of trading is rooted in its reliance on quantitative analysis, statistical models and algorithmic strategies. Traders employ a variety of tools to analyse market data, financial trends and economic indicators. Additionally, traders also need to keep up with the economic developments around the world. These aspects bring to light the seriousness with which they approach their profession. It tells us that trading is a serious business. Options BRO from SAMCO Securities Emerges as the Knight in Shining Armour Amidst the rising stigma against short-term stock or options trading, SAMCO Securities has taken a stand for traders and launched a compelling film that pays a touching tribute to this community. The brand film takes us through a day in the life of a professional trader, the slights he has to endure from those in his social circle and the many misconceptions that even otherwise educated people seem to hold on to. The story also reveals the truth rather, the hidden truth or the Andekha Sach about what trading truly entails. Speaking of this brand film and the tribute it attempts to pay traders, Nilesh Sharma shares his views on the need of the hour for active and interested traders. Traders invest an immense amount of effort and skill to navigate the complexities of the market. Their aim is not just personal gain but securing a future where their families can attain significant milestones with greater ease. The journey of a trader is one of profound commitment, where each decision is a step towards creating a stable foundation for themselves and their loved ones. At SAMCO, our goal is to empower traders in particular and the society at large to transcend the simplistic and erroneous narrative of trading as gambling. To this end, we are committed to providing traders access to sophisticated scientific and analytical tools. These resources are designed to empower our clients to make calculated, well-informed decisions. To this end, the latest offering from SAMCO Securities is Options BRO, a revolutionary tool that SAMCO created to empower the trading community. Available free of cost to customers using the SAMCO trading app, this options strategy builder makes it easy for traders to build, research and optimise their trading strategies before entering the market. Whats more, traders can use different filters to sort through strategies based on the maximum profit or loss, probability of profit, risk-reward ratio and margin required. Options BRO also factors in all essential technical indicators like delta, gamma, theta, vega, implied volatility and open interest, so the strategies suggested align with the traders market outlook and risk profile. This level of in-depth analysis is completed within just a few seconds, so traders can capitalise on market opportunities as and when they arise all while employing strategies backed by real-time market data. Ultimately, what Options BRO does is simple yet revolutionary. It takes data that is not always easily accessible to traders, analyses and evaluates them within record times and creates a framework of options trading strategies that can be customised to each traders risk-reward profile. It marks conscious and deliberate trading decisions driven by data and information. By promoting awareness about this among traders and those who misjudge them, SAMCO Securities is steadily bringing the truth to light one successful trader at a time. About SAMCO Securities SAMCO Securities was incorporated by Mr Jimeet Modi, Founder & CEO of SAMCO Group in 2015. As the countrys leading flat-fee brokerage and wealth-tech platform, SAMCO Securities provides retail investors access to sophisticated financial technology and makes their wealth-creation journey simple, informed, and cost-effective. SAMCO Securities' mission is to eliminate the existing challenges faced by traders and investors and democratise access to the wealth management process for every Indian. With customer centricity at SAMCOs core, we implement a quantitative approach to provide differentiated solutions that empower our customers in acing the capital markets. SAMCO Securities is pioneering the stock market trading by introducing industry-first features like My Trade Story, Personal Index and Trade Spread Sheet to name a few under its CRP strategy.

BusinessWire India 19 Mar 2024 9:30 am

Cricket Australia announces venues for 5-match Test series against India

Cricket Australia announces venues for 5-match Test series against India Cricket Australia announced the venues for the upcoming five-match Test series against India with Perth's Optus Stadium to host the first Test likely to take place in November despite having a low attendance in a recently concluded match against Pakistan. Cricket Australia along with Western Australia will work together and try their best to improve the attendance in Perth's stadium. Sources close to the board, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the schedule has yet to be officially revealed, said that improving Test cricket in Perth was a top goal for the governing body. The new 60,000-seat Perth Stadium has been barely occupied for Tests in previous seasons, although it is much busier during Perth Scorchers BBL matches. The highest attendance at the stadium was during the Perth Scorchers match in the Big Bash League which was 28,494 and the lowest was during the Test series against Pakistan (17,666). With India and England set to travel to Australia over the next two years, Perth's Test attendance figures are expected to rise. The sources further revealed that playing the series opener in Perth, with a three-hour time difference, and the day-night Test in Adelaide would provide cricket with a primetime lead-up to the Big Bash on Channel Seven and Fox. The Twenty20 competition could potentially continue uninterrupted from mid-December until the end of January. The second match of the series will be played at Adelaide Oval and Brisbane's The Gabba will host the third Test match. The Boxing Day Test will be held at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground and the last match of the series will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Cricket Australia has yet to release the schedule for next season, with an announcement likely at the end of the month. However, the board has announced the complete details of upcoming season of Men and Women's Big Bash League. The schedule is yet to be finalised, a Cricket Australia spokesman asserted as quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald. (ANI)

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 9:23 am

After layoff of nearly a year, Tyler Adams back with US and hopes to play vs Jamaica

After layoff of nearly a year, Tyler Adams back with US and hopes to play vs Jamaica American captain Tyler Adams thinks he can play at least 45 minutes when he returns to the U.S. national team for the first time since the 2022 World Cup for a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Jamaica on Thursday. Adams tore his right hamstring in training with Leeds last March and was limited to one match and 21 minutes over the next year. He returned Sept. 27 and reinjured the leg in his Bournemouth debut, requiring a second operation. Adams made it back on the field last week, playing 20 minutes against Luton. The rehab process was a long and enduring one, Adams said Monday during a Zoom news conference from training camp in Arlington, Texas. You learn a lot about yourself in those tough moments because in those moments there's no headlines about you. There's no people talking about you anymore, he said. ''All of a sudden you like fall off a cliff and you're kind of irrelevant in that moment. But for me I kind of enjoyed that, if I'm being completely honest with you, after such a whirlwind of a season, after the World Cup, after everything, my world kind of flipped upside down for a brief moment. And being injured I just had a moment to regroup. A 25-year-old midfielder from Wappinger, New York, Adams played every minute of the Americans' four World Cup matches and impressed with his respectful and unflappable demeanor when asked political questions at a news conference ahead of the game against Iran. Tyler is obviously a huge part of this team, a huge part of our culture, goalkeeper Matt Turner said. Adams made his U.S. debut in 2017 and has 36 international appearances, providing steadiness in a defensive midfield role and forming the core of this generation of American players with Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. He had just played for Leeds on March 11 last year when he ruptured his hamstring while making a backheel pass in training ahead of a March 18 match against Wolverhampton. Doesn't really happen that you end up rupturing your hamstring in that way, Adams said. Then I had surgery maybe a week later. Injured it eight weeks in, again passing the ball, which doesn't happen frequently. Waited 12 weeks again. Did it again passing the ball, then had another operation and then now here we are. Leeds was relegated to the second-tier League Championship in Adams' absence and he transferred to Bournemouth in August. Adams missed 10 national team matches with the full player pool. The U.S. is close to full strength for the match at AT&T Stadium. The winner advances to the championship on Sunday against Mexico or Panama. ''It's not obviously come flying out of the gates, but, yeah, I know I can contribute 45-to-60 minutes, he said.

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 9:07 am

Crown Bioscience Recognized Once Again as T+ Employer for the Third Year in a Row

Business Wire India Crown Bioscience , a global contract research organization (CRO) and JSR Life Sciences company, solidifies its stature as a frontrunner in the global healthcare sector by securing the T+ Employer certification for healthcare excellence every year since the award was inaugurated in 2020. This prestigious accolade, awarded by the Health Human Resources Development Center of the National Health Commission of China and MedTalent, highlights the company's unwavering dedication to fostering a landmark corporate culture marked by inclusivity, innovation, and a seamless customer service. The T+ Employer certification celebrates Crown Bioscience's impactful values and trendsetting role within the pharmaceutical, medical, life science, and virtual healthcare industries. This recognition is a testament to its pioneering leadership, which is validated through rigorous evaluation that includes enterprise research, professional public surveys, insights from key opinion leaders, and campus studies. Company-wide initiatives such as significant contributions to oncology research and promoting cross-regional departmental collaboration via digitization and human systems have distinguished Crown Bioscience as a paradigm of employer excellence. Shirley Huang, MBA, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, said: The reaffirmation of the T+ Employer certification is more than an accolade, it symbolizes the commitment of our talented team and the harmony with our values. In an ever-evolving industry landscape, this award is a testament to our ongoing efforts to merge our business goals with a supportive and thriving work culture. Launched by the MedTalent and Med+ Institute as the healthcare industry's inaugural employer certification, the T+ Employer certification has become a symbol of employment distinction and a beacon for healthcare businesses aspiring to excellence. This achievement underscores Crown Biosciences dedication to setting high standards and pushing the boundaries of innovation across all facets of its business. It reflects the company's strong resolve to enrich the work environment, consistently deliver beyond client expectations, and elevate industry standards. About Crown Bioscience Crown Bioscience, a JSR Life Sciences company, is a global Contract Research Organization (CRO) partnering with biotech and pharmaceutical companies to rapidly advance the discovery and development of oncology drugs. As the exclusive preclinical CRO providing tumor organoid services with the well-established Hubrecht Organoid Technology, we offer over 600 organoid models spanning 22 cancer indications. Furthermore, we have developed the worlds largest commercially available PDX collection. Our focus on helping our customers develop novel therapies aims to ensure that patients receive the right treatment at the right time. Founded in 2006, we have 13 facilities across the US, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.crownbio.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318198586/en/

BusinessWire India 19 Mar 2024 9:06 am

4 players from Argentina's Vlez Sarsfield club arrested in a rape investigation

4 players from Argentina's Vlez Sarsfield club arrested in a rape investigation Four players from Argentina top-flight club Vlez Sarsfield were arrested on Monday in connection with a rape case. Goalkeeper Sebastin Sosa, defender Braian Cufr, midfielder Jos Ignacio Florentn and striker Abiel Osorio were arrested. That followed a request from case prosecutor Mara Eugenia Posse in San Miguel de Tucumn, 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) north of the capital Buenos Aires. The alleged victim told authorities that on March 3 she agreed to join one of the players in a hotel room and three other men were there. The woman said she drank alcohol with the players, fell asleep in one of the beds, and was allegedly raped. Patricia Neme, a lawyer for the alleged victim, told Argentine media that Sosa made contact with her client and invited her to the hotel. Sosa denied any wrongdoing. Vlez, a historic club with 10 national titles and the 1994 Copa Libertadores trophy, said it suspended the contracts of all four footballers after they were arrested. This club stresses its deepest concern for the denounced facts, which are clearly against the principles and values of our institution,'' Vlez said in a statement.

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 9:03 am

Chevron and JX Sign MOU for Collaboration on Development of CCS Value Chain

Business Wire India JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation (JX; President & CEO: Toshiya Nakahara) and Chevron New Energies (Chevron), a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc., have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) that provides a framework to evaluate the export of Carbon Dioxide (CO) from Japan to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects located in Australia and other countries in the Asia Pacific region. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318404227/en/ Pictured left to right, Jeff Gustavson, President, Chevron New Energies; Chris Powers, Vice President, CCUS, Chevron New Energies; Tetsuo Yamada, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Assistant to President, JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corp; and Toshiya Nakahara, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Digital Officer, President, JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corp., signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) that provides a framework to evaluate the export of Carbon Dioxide (CO) from Japan to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects located in Australia and other countries in the Asia Pacific region. (Photo: Business Wire) The main objective of the MOU is to evaluate the feasibility of the CCS value chain, including capture of CO emitted from industries located in Japan, including JXs affiliates, and transportation by ship from Japan to Chevrons greenhouse gas storage portfolio in Australia. The collaboration will also explore the opportunity to develop suitable transboundary policies and the potential development of CO storage sites in other countries in the Asia Pacific region. We look forward to building off our long-standing relationship with JX and ENEOS Group, the largest Japanese global petroleum and metals conglomerate, and hope that this joint study ultimately contributes to the further development of large-scale CCS hubs throughout the Asia Pacific region, said Chris Powers, Vice President of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) at Chevron. We believe large-scale CCS value chain projects will play a key role in advancing Asia Pacifics lower carbon aspirations, and that long-term collaborations are necessary to meet these aspirations. This MOU is achieved thanks to the significant oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) relationship with Chevron that we have had over seven decades, and further demonstrates the commitment and dedication of the companies in helping advance lower carbon solutions, said Tetsuo Yamada, Executive Vice President of JX. JX has positioned CCS as an important initiative in its business strategy under its 'Two-Pronged' approach, in which, in addition to the conventional oil and natural gas development business, decarbonization initiatives centered on CCS/CCUS are another prong of the company's operations such as the Petra Nova CCUS project in Texas, USA. JX will contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society by leveraging the knowledge we have accumulated through our various CCS/CCUS-related businesses, Yamada added. About Chevron Chevron is one of the worlds leading integrated energy companies. We believe affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy is essential to enabling human progress. Chevron produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and additives; and develops technologies that enhance our business and the industry. We aim to grow our oil and gas business, lower the carbon intensity of our operations and grow lower carbon businesses in renewable fuels, carbon capture and offsets, hydrogen and other emerging technologies. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com . CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to Chevrons operations and lower carbon strategy that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections about the petroleum, chemicals and other energy-related industries. Words or phrases such as anticipates, expects, intends, plans, targets, advances, commits, drives, aims, forecasts, projects, believes, approaches, seeks, schedules, estimates, positions, pursues, progress, may, can, could, should, will, budgets, outlook, trends, guidance, focus, on track, goals, objectives, strategies, opportunities, poised, potential, ambitions, aspires and similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but not all forward-looking statements include such words. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the companys control and are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. The reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Unless legally required, Chevron undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are: changing crude oil and natural gas prices and demand for the companys products, and production curtailments due to market conditions; crude oil production quotas or other actions that might be imposed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producing countries; technological advancements; changes to government policies in the countries in which the company operates; public health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics, and any related government policies and actions; disruptions in the companys global supply chain, including supply chain constraints and escalation of the cost of goods and services; changing economic, regulatory and political environments in the various countries in which the company operates; general domestic and international economic, market and political conditions, including the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the war between Israel and Hamas and the global response to these hostilities; changing refining, marketing and chemicals margins; actions of competitors or regulators; timing of exploration expenses; timing of crude oil liftings; the competitiveness of alternate-energy sources or product substitutes; development of large carbon capture and offset markets; the results of operations and financial condition of the companys suppliers, vendors, partners and equity affiliates; the inability or failure of the companys joint-venture partners to fund their share of operations and development activities; the potential failure to achieve expected net production from existing and future crude oil and natural gas development projects; potential delays in the development, construction or start-up of planned projects; the potential disruption or interruption of the companys operations due to war, accidents, political events, civil unrest, severe weather, cyber threats, terrorist acts, or other natural or human causes beyond the companys control; the potential liability for remedial actions or assessments under existing or future environmental regulations and litigation; significant operational, investment or product changes undertaken or required by existing or future environmental statutes and regulations, including international agreements and national or regional legislation and regulatory measures related to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change; the potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation; the ability to successfully integrate the operations of the company and PDC Energy, Inc. and achieve the anticipated benefits from the transaction, including the expected incremental annual free cash flow; the risk that Hess Corporation (Hess) stockholders do not approve the potential transaction, and the risk that regulatory approvals are not obtained or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated by the company and Hess; uncertainties as to whether the potential transaction will be consummated on the anticipated timing or at all, or if consummated, will achieve its anticipated economic benefits, including as a result of regulatory proceedings and risks associated with third party contracts containing material consent, anti-assignment, transfer or other provisions that may be related to the potential transaction that are not waived or otherwise satisfactorily resolved; the companys ability to integrate Hess operations in a successful manner and in the expected time period; the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits and projected synergies of the potential transaction will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the companys future acquisitions or dispositions of assets or shares or the delay or failure of such transactions to close based on required closing conditions; the potential for gains and losses from asset dispositions or impairments; government mandated sales, divestitures, recapitalizations, taxes and tax audits, tariffs, sanctions, changes in fiscal terms or restrictions on scope of company operations; foreign currency movements compared with the U.S. dollar; higher inflation and related impacts; material reductions in corporate liquidity and access to debt markets; changes to the companys capital allocation strategies; the effects of changed accounting rules under generally accepted accounting principles promulgated by rule-setting bodies; the companys ability to identify and mitigate the risks and hazards inherent in operating in the global energy industry; and the factors set forth under the heading Risk Factors on pages 20 through 26 of the companys 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this news release could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements . View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318404227/en/

BusinessWire India 19 Mar 2024 8:56 am

Griezmann Record Run Ends With France Forward Injured For Friendlies

Lazio's Matteo Guendouzi has been called up for the first time since the last World Cup in place of 127-cap Antoine Griezmann, who has scored 44 goals for France.

NDTV 19 Mar 2024 8:50 am

Keralas digital land resurvey sets model

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keralas digital land resurvey is drawing nationwide attention for its accuracy and low complaint rate. Officers teams from some south Indian states visited Kerala to study the innovative technologies used in the process. During their visit, teams from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry had interactions with top officers of the Survey department. They also visited survey sites to get first hand experience. Andhra Pradesh government has requested the state to provide software solutions for digital survey and data management. Some other states are in talks for consultation and field visits. High accuracy is a highlight of our digital resurvey. Modern technologies help us to maintain accuracy within 0 to 5 cm. We have built an end-to-end digital land survey solution without any physical touch points. This is the first such solution in the country. Not surprisingly, the complaint rate is low. The rate of appeal land complaints (ALC) is just 0.39 pc, says Survey Director Seeram Sambasiva Rao. Initially, the ALC was about 13 pc and we brought it down through various strategies for community participation. People can view the draft survey map and records during the survey, he added. The digital resurvey will cover the states 1,550 villages in phases. 400 villages were selected in the first two phases. So far, 2.75 lakh hectares (21,72,804 land parcels) have been surveyed. Draft maps were notified for 90 villages and over 90 pc of works are complete in another 25 villages. The notification gives one-month time for the land owners to raise complaints. Next step is to notify the final map under Section 13 of the Kerala Survey and Boundaries Act. Through the digital resurvey, the government aims to create an Integrated Land Information and Management System (ILIMS). Its public interface would be the Ente Bhoomi single-window portal providing all land-related services from the government, a pioneering initiative in the country. They include services from the Revenue, Registration and Survey departments. Under this, a common deed format, including pre-mutation sketch, will be introduced for property registrations. Revenue and survey departments will get real-time information on ownership change from the Registration department. The online services include mutation, tax payment and various certificates. The trial run of the ILIMS developed by the National Informatics Centre is progressing. A three-tier monitoring system at the state, district and village levels is in place for the digital survey. The state-level monitoring team gets information from a daily progress dashboard where live details of the survey, including number of personnel at work, their exact location and even battery level of the equipment are available Personnel 773 government surveyors 1,378 contract surveyors 2,012 contract helpers Progress Draft maps ready for 90 villages 2.75 lakh hectares (21,72,804 land parcels) covered Purely ground-based survey Kerala has adopted a purely ground-based survey. Drones are not used for actual surveys since their accuracy level is 10-15 cm as against the goal of 0-5 cm. Still, wherever a drone is flown, the images are used to create a base imagery

The New Indian Express 19 Mar 2024 8:34 am

Times when PC-Nick gave us #ParentGoals

Each time Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have affirmed their excellence as parents to daughter Malti Marie

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 8:00 am

Central govt directs states to maintain separate records for pet and stray dog bites

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid a rise in dog bites across the country, the Union government has directed the states to maintain separate records for pet dog bites and stray dog bites. The move is aimed at strengthening the rabies surveillance system and to achieve the goal of making India a rabies-free country by 2030, according to the order issued on March 7 by the Directorate General of Health Services under the ministry of health and Family Welfare. The Centre has asked the state health authorities to provide quality data on the number of animal bites from all primary health centres, community health centres, district-level hospitals and tertiary care facilities with specific details on bites by pet dogs and stray dogs. Separate records have to be maintained for new and follow-up patients in the animal bite exposure register. Welcoming the decision, Minister for Animal Husbandry J Chinchu Rani said that keeping distinctive data on pet dog bites and stray dog bites is a good thing. Animal bite incidents recorded inaccurately We have data on the population of stray dogs and domestic dogs in the state. The state has already taken several measures for animal welfare, especially dogs. We are devising measures to enforce responsible pet parenting by mandating pet licensing, Chinchu Rani said. The direction comes in the wake of a letter written by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to the National Centre for Disease Control, urging a direction to all hospitals and medical institutions to record dog bite cases distinctively. The AWBI highlighted that clear reporting would help create a comprehensive understanding of dog bite incidents. Animal rights activist M N Jayachandran, a former member of the state animal welfare board, said animal bite incidents are being recorded inaccurately. There are no specific details as all bite and even scratch incidents involving cats are recorded as dog bite incidents, which is wrong. Distinctively recording the bite incidents will help identify potential areas where street dog populations may be more concentrated, said Jayachandran. Advantages of separate records on dog bites Will help formulate targeted interventions such as vaccination campaigns, public awareness programmes Understanding the source of dog bites will help identify potential areas where street dog populations are high. This can aid in implementing targeted sterilisation and vaccination Will help avoid misinformation surrounding incidents of dog bites

The New Indian Express 19 Mar 2024 7:30 am

Autel Energy to Launch EVergreen Global Tree Planting Initiative to Propel ESG Goals

Business Wire India Autel Energy, a leading global provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging products and services, is proud to announce the launch of its EVergreen global tree planting initiative, a program that aligns with and develops the company's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. Autel will invite key customers to actively participate in this tree planting initiative, fostering a collaborative effort towards a sustainable future. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318239799/en/ Autel Energy to Launch EVergreen Global Tree Planting Initiative to Propel ESG Goals (Graphic: Business Wire) Positioned as a frontrunner in the EV charging sector, Autel Energy not only provides comprehensive, one-stop EV charging solutions but is firmly committed to advancing its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. It operates manufacturing plants in U.S., Vietnam, and China with a focus on sustainable practices to minimize detrimental environmental impact. The efficient facilities eliminate the need for air purifiers, sewage treatment, or noise protection devices. In product development, recyclable materials are used in packaging, and products are designed for longevity, surpassing 10 years of use. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Autel donated crucial testing equipment, contributing resources and supporting the global communitys response to the pandemic. This community centric focus is further exemplified by their 2022 partnership with the Greening of Detroit to plant trees jointly, fostering a more environmentally friendly community. Autels ESG goals align with its vision of a greener future. The company commits to achieve Full Cycle Net Zero by 2035, taking into account its upstream and downstream processes across its value chain. These commitments encompass impactful measurement and emissions reductions in 2023, achieving a carbon-free internal footprint from its facilities by 2028, and ultimately reaching Net Zero by 2035. At Autel, green is in its DNA and it believes that intelligent charging solutions are one of the best ways to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. It strives to create a green future beyond just EVs, a future that incorporates renewable energy and creates sustainable life for generations to come. Looking ahead, Autel Energy will remain dedicated to leveraging technological innovation to improve the environment while exploring new materials and advancing functional charging technologies. The company acknowledges its corporate responsibility and intends to leverage its industry-leading influence to encourage partners and communities to join the lifelong mission of environmental protection. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318239799/en/

BusinessWire India 19 Mar 2024 7:19 am

Be ready for a surprise result coming from Bengal: Prashant Kishor

The BJPs target of 400 seats is psychological warfare and the party on its own is highly unlikely to win 370 seats, said ace political strategist Prashant Kishor. Speaking at the Hyderabad Dialogues organised by this newspaper, he nevertheless said that the BJP is currently in pole position and predicted that it will outperdo better than the Trinamool in West Bengal. Kishor highlighted PM Modis frequent visits to Tamil Nadu and noted the party will increase its vote share in the southern state. Excerpts: PM Modi is on campaign mode. Does the BJP look more set for the race than anyone else in the fray? Do you therefore see 2024 as a foregone conclusion? I dont think they have done anything that they have not been doing in the last five years. He (PM Narendra Modi) is in campaign mode forever. So to that extent, I dont see this as an aberration. I dont have a crystal ball to make a prediction about who is going to win, but one can make an informed guess. The BJP-led NDA, for sure have a massive advantage over their opponents. Not necessarily because they are early with their campaign, not necessarily because he (Modi) is hugely popular, not only because they have huge electoral muscle. It is because the Opposition has not been able to put their act together, certainly not well in time to raise a challenge. In a democracy, especially in a country like India, one should never underestimate the size or the opportunity for the Opposition. A majority of Indians are always in opposition. No party gets more than 40% of the vote. It is not a subjective assessment. Just look at data from the last 75 years. Nobody has been able to get 50% or more votes in India. Meaning, whoever went to vote, more than half were not convinced with who you are, your policies, your promises, your ideology. So, the Opposition is never weak in India. When you have close to 700 million people still not making `100 a day, you must not take the Opposition lightly. What we are seeing is Opposition parties, or the formation of Opposition parties, could be weak. The Opposition, per se, is not weak in this country. And that is why a leader like Modi perpetually appears to be in campaign mode. If elections were to happen tomorrow, there is no prize for guessing that the BJP-led NDA would have a huge advantage. Sitting in the Deccan plateau, how realistic does BJPs Mission South look like? Theres a tendency to say the South is terra incognita for the BJP. But in reality, it is emerging as a force in Telangana with a 14% vote share, making deft moves in Andhra Pradesh, and has run governments in Karnataka. Firstly, in a pan-South sense, what do you think of the typology of the whole region having a reflexive anti-BJP politics of seeing them as a northern party? I think it is an oversimplification. I have never subscribed to this idea of North-South from the BJPs politics point of view, because in Karnataka for almost 20 years now, they have been either the ruling party or principal opposition. So this North-South thing does not hold. What does hold is the whole country, you can make a division East and South, and West and North. When I say East and South, I start from Bihar. Then I go to Bengal, Odisha and come down to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. This East and South roughly accounts for 210 seats. For the BJP, even with their great performance in last election in Bengal, Odisha, and in Bihar with 100% strike rate, total count is less than 50 including 17 in Bihar, and 18 in Bengal. A lot of people think that the BJP has swept Bihar. But the BJP fought only 17 out of 40 seats, and they won 17. In Bengal, they won only 18 seats. Out of these around 210 seats, the BJPs total count is less than 50. If you are a BJP supporter, youd like to see whether your graph is increasing in East and South or not. One can safely say that their graph is increasing. It may not immediately translate into a dramatically higher number of seats, but definitely this tally is going to go up. From Bihar, Bengal, Odisha, Andhra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, the total tally of BJP vis-a-vis what they got in 2019 is going to go up. How much I dont want to make a guess, but it would be up by a few seats at least. What would be important to understand is their vote share will go up dramatically. I have already said, and I repeat myself, that in Tamil Nadu, I see BJP breaking into double-digit vote share. That would be a massive development politically, like what we have seen in Telangana, 14%. So in a state like Tamil Nadu, if the BJP breaks into double-digit vote share, even if they get no seats, that would be a moment of significance. In Odisha, they are already number one. In Bengal, again, I dont want to make a prediction, but unlike most people, Im predicting that the BJP will do better than the TMC in all likelihood. Be ready for a surprise result coming from Bengal in favour of the BJP. Theyre increasing seats in all other states, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra. I dont know if they would be able to add seats in Tamil Nadu or Kerala, but certainly there will be an increase in vote share. So from that point of view, they are the rising political force. It may take five years, it may take 10 years, but they will gain in this area. They are cognisant of this fact that this is the area where they need to build. Theyre investing time, energy. Look at the number of visits the PM has made to Tamil Nadu alone in the last five years. Tamil Nadu now ranks third, I believe, only after Gujarat and because of the recent visit to Maharashtra, now Tamil Nadu has gone to number three. From the opposition point of view, the problem lies in North and West: The remaining 310, 320 seats, where opposition has a strike rate against the BJP in single digits. When I say the opposition, its not only the Congress, but four parties. The Congress is taking the BJP head on between 220 and 250 seats. In Uttar Pradesh, the SP is taking on the BJP head on in almost 6570 seats. Then the RJD in Bihar, they are supposed to take on the BJP in 40 seats. And then finally, the NCP in Maharashtra. Until and unless these four parties, the Congress, SP, RJD, NCP, and now Shiv Sena Unless they get their strike rate against the BJP to at least 25-30%, there is no way you can defeat it at the India level. But in the same statement is hidden the secret of how you can defeat the BJP. If you get 50% seats in West and North, then 150 MPs would have won either from a platform opposed to the BJP or neutral to any formation, they come into play. Another 150 non-BJP MPs from East and South, club it with [at least] 100 coming from West and North, and you have a game. The PM is making very frequent trips to Tamil Nadu. It could be that he is so confident of the BJPs performance in the North and Gujarat that he can focus on TN, just to increase vote share, which seems to be a certainty. Do you think he sees a collapse of the AIADMK-DMK binary? First, the two Dravidian parties which have been in ruling formations in the last 3040 years, their combined vote share is going down below 70% now. And this has been the case for the last 1015 years. For the first time, I see its going below 65% or 60%. That means more than one-third of Tamil voters are looking for some options. Why would the BJP like to invest so much in Tamil Nadu? Its not because there is a collapse of the DMK or AIADMK, which is not happening by the way. Its simply because, like you cannot dominate the politics of North unless you win UP and Bihar, you cannot dominate the politics of South until and unless you start being a major force in Andhra and Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is the UP of south. So Karnataka, they have been winning for 15, 20 years. Still, you are calling them a North party. Karnataka is very much South. Its because in the minds of people, the nerve centre of the South is Tamil Nadu. So from that point of view, theres a strategic, psychological and political game that a long-term player would like to invest in. And I see the BJP, like any other national party, they are long-term players, so they would invest, even if it means 2% or 4% of incremental vote share. Forget about the seats and all. They have enough seats, but they want to expand. And it also gives them cover in 10 years time. Sooner or later, someday, somebody will defeat them in Bihar or UP. They want a cover. That cover will come only from United Andhra or Tamil Nadu. You cant cover for a possible defeat in UP or Bihar by winning Mizoram or Goa. You have to win a large state somewhere else. Thats why they are investing this much. How do you see the re-emergence of Congress in Telangana? I dont subscribe to this thought process that the Congress was finished in Telangana and all of a sudden they have emerged. Again, when you are looking at data, tell me when the Congress went down below 35% vote share in Telangana ever. Its just that after the victories, most of their MLAs deserted the party and went to the BRS, what used to be the TRS. Even in the last Assembly elections, the Congress did reasonably well. They were the principal opposition. The Congress was a party with a constant 35% vote share, which refused to go down no matter how hard the BRS tried. So the Congress was not a dead political force, as it is in Tamil Nadu or West Bengal or Bihar or UP, where their vote share has gone down to single digits, 5%, 6%, 7%, over 20-30 years and has not moved to double digits. Can BJP emerge as a force in Kerala if either the LDF or the UDF collapses? Again, the question is based on the existing political parties or formations. I would look at Kerala as a society. Why the BJP has found it tough to break into Kerala is because of the huge population of Muslims and Christians. Now if the BJP were to break into Kerala whether its the LDF or UDF, forget about that you have to have substantial support coming from Hindus, OBCs and they have tried that strategy when they played this temple issue in a big way last time. But thats not enough. Unless they break into the Christian vote and a substantial segment of Christian society starts accepting the BJP as an acceptable political ally or a platform, they would find it difficult to win Kerala. So their strategy would be to consolidate or be the dominant player among Hindus and isolate Muslims. Till now it has not happened but they are in that direction. Language is also a major barrier. If you look at this East and South corridor I talked about, what is distinct is the language. So if you are in Bihar, how do you introduce yourself? Okay Im Indian and I belong to so-and-so caste. Im UPite or I am from Madhya Pradesh, but there is no sub-regional identity. But if you are a person from Odisha, youll say Im Indian, Im Odia and then the caste or the class becomes the third layer. So Odisha, Kerala, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, in all these states, the language is one additional barrier which the BJP, or for that matter, any Hindi-speaking party has to overcome in order to become a dominant political force. PM Modi is claiming that his party will win 370 to 400 seats. Your take. Well, this is part of psychological warfare. Just see how the public narrative has been shifted from whether BJP/NDA is winning or losing versus whether they are going to get 370 or not. So the prime minister making that statement on the floor of Parliament has made people, even those who are skeptics, take notice. The BJP appears to be in pole position, they have a massive lead over the opposition formation. But the BJP on its own, going to 370, meaning additional 70 odd seats for them is highly unlikely.

The New Indian Express 19 Mar 2024 7:11 am

US IRS chief sees workforce topping 100,000 within three years

US IRS chief sees workforce topping 100,000 within three years Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Danny Werfel said on Monday that the tax agency will need to boost its workforce to over 100,000 people over the next three years to achieve its modernization, service and enforcement goals and additional funding will be needed to maintain that extra capacity. Werfel told reporters on his first anniversary in the IRS' top job that near-term hiring will focus on improving taxpayer services and on handling complex audits. He added that the IRS will detail its hiring plans next month in an update to its strategic operating plan for deploying some $60 billion in supplemental funding over a decade from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. We're at 90,000 now. I think to get into a right-size position over the next two to three years, we need to be above 100,000, but not that much above 100,000, Werfel said. That figure would represent a more than 20,000 full-time-equivalent staff increase over the fiscal 2022 level of 79,070, which was about 9.1% below the 2013 level of 86,974, according to IRS data. IRS employment dipped to 73,519 in 2019 after years of budget cuts, mostly passed by Republican-controlled Congresses. The overall level of increase in the IRS' staffing would be far less than Republican accusations that the agency is building an army of 87,000 agents, many of them armed. That figure was derived from a 2021 Treasury report that estimated gross hiring needs to overcome a wave of IRS retirements and rebuild the workforce, but it has motivated Republicans to try to claw back funding. A top-line fiscal 2024 spending agreement is set to cut the original $80 billion in funds back to $60 billion. As congressional negotiators wrangle over another partial government shutdown deadline on Friday, in the midst of tax filing season, Werfel warned of potential disruptions for taxpayers in receiving refunds. He said the agency would work within the law to keep as much open as we can, but we can't keep everything open. FUTURE FUNDS President Joe Biden's fiscal 2025 proposed budget includes a request for an additional $104 billion in IRS funding, which Werfel said would cover later years of the 10-year budget window. Even though the supplemental funding has been cut by $20 billion, IRS will continue making near-term investments in technology at the current pace, he said. Werfel added that there would not be enough funding in the separate, annual operating budget for the IRS to support a ew baseline for the IRS, with the additional employees, to continue to pursue sophisticated audits and continually upgrade technology. So we so if we don't add funds, then at some point we're going to hit a cliff and we're going to have to lose some of that capacity, he said.

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 6:22 am

Deeply concerned about prospective Israeli operation in Rafah: Biden tells Netanyahu

Deeply concerned about prospective Israeli operation in Rafah: Biden tells Netanyahu US President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he is deeply concerned about the prospect of Israel conducting major military operations in Rafah on the lines of those in Gaza City and Khan Younis, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. During his telephonic conversation with Biden on Monday, Netanyahu agreed to send an inter-agency team of Israeli officials to Washington to hold discussions on an alternative approach to target key Hamas elements in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a major ground invasion, Sullivan said at his daily press conference on Monday. This was the first time in a month that the two leaders spoke on phone. Sullivan said Biden and Netanyahu spoke at length about Rafah. ''The President explained why he is so deeply concerned about the prospect of Israel conducting major military operations in Rafah of the kind it conducted in Gaza City and Khan Younis,'' the NSA said. More than a million people have taken refuge in Rafah. They went from Gaza City to Khan Younis and then to Rafah. They have nowhere else to go. Gaza's other major cities have largely been destroyed, he said. And Israel has not presented the US or the world with a plan on how or where it would safely move those civilians, let alone feed and house them and ensure access to basic things like sanitation, he added. Sullivan said Rafah is a primary entry point for humanitarian assistance into Gaza from Egypt and a military operation in the city would shut it down. ''Rafah is on the border with Egypt, which has voiced its deep alarm over a major military operation there and has even raised questions about its future relationship with Israel as a result of any impending military operation,'' he said. ''Now, the President has rejected, and did again today, the strawman that raising questions about Rafah is the same as raising questions about defeating Hamas. That's just nonsense. ''Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven in Rafah or anywhere else. But a major ground operation there would be a mistake. It would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza, and further isolate Israel internationally,'' he said. ''Most importantly, the key goals Israel wants to achieve in Rafah can be achieved by other means,'' he said. During the call, Biden asked Netanyahu to send a senior inter-agency team comprising military, intelligence and humanitarian officials to Washington in the coming days to hear the US' concerns about Israel's plans for Rafah and to lay out an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in the city and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a major ground invasion, according to Sullivan. Netanyahu agreed to send a team. ''Obviously, he has his own point of view on a Rafah operation but he agreed that he would send a team to Washington to have this discussion and have this engagement. And we look forward to those discussions,'' Sullivan said. He said the two leaders also discussed the ongoing negotiations for an immediate ceasefire for several weeks in return for the release of hostages currently being held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza. ''We would look to build on that ceasefire into something more enduring and use the space created by a cessation of hostilities to surge humanitarian assistance at a vital moment. So far, this deal has been more elusive than we would have hoped. But we will keep pressing because we regard this as an urgent priority,'' the NSA said. Biden emphasised his ''bone-deep commitment'' to ensuring the long-term security of Israel and affirmed, as he did in the State of the Union address, that Israel has a right to go after Hamas, the perpetrators of the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Sullivan said. The NSA noted that Israel has made significant progress against Hamas. ''They've broken a significant number of Hamas battalions, killed thousands of Hamas fighters, including senior commanders. Hamas' number three, Marwan Issa, was killed in an Israeli operation last week. The rest of the top leaders are in hiding, likely deep in the Hamas tunnel network and justice will come for them too, and we are helping to ensure that,'' Sullivan said. At the same time, more innocent civilians, including thousands of children, have died in this conflict than in all of the wars in Gaza combined. A humanitarian crisis has descended across Gaza and anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared but not stabilised, he added. The President, Sullivan said, has repeatedly made the point that continuing military operations needs to be connected to a clear strategic endgame. Biden told Netanyahu again that they share the goal of defeating Hamas. ''But we just believe you need a coherent and sustainable strategy to make that happen,'' Sullivan said. ''Now, instead of (a) pause to re-evaluate where things stand in the campaign and what adjustments are needed to achieve long-term success, instead of a focus on stabilising the areas of Gaza that Israel has cleared so that Hamas does not regenerate and retake territory... the Israeli government is now talking about launching a major military operation in Rafah,'' he said.

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 6:18 am

Will press for ST quota after LS elections

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 4:20 am

Soccer-Four Velez Sarsfield players arrested on sexual assault charges

Soccer-Four Velez Sarsfield players arrested on sexual assault charges Four players for Argentine soccer club Velez Sarsfield were arrested on Monday by order of the Argentine courts after they were accused of sexual assault. Defender Braian Cufre, striker Abiel Osorio, goalkeeper Sebastian Sosa and midfielder Jose Florentin were accused earlier this month by a 24-year-old woman over an incident that allegedly took place in the Tucuman hotel where the team stayed after their league match at Atletico Tucuman on March 2. The prosecutor announced that the four people who had come to this trial as defendants were going to be remanded in custody, said Juan Robles, one of the complainant's lawyers. The woman's defence said the case was classified as sexual assault with aggravated intercourse by two or more persons. Sosa denied the allegations on his Instagram account on March 8. I repudiate violence of any kind. I respect the physical and sexual integrity of every person. I trust in the swift action of justice, he wrote. The other three players have not commented. Velez suspended the four players after prosecutors launched an investigation and suspended their contracts on Monday following the court's decision. (Report by Ramiro Scandolo, writing by Janina Nuno Rios; edited by Javier Leira and Ken Ferris)

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 4:19 am

Place report on cop in public domain: AAP

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 4:18 am

Fly91s maiden commercial flight takes off from Mopa

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 4:17 am

Carry docus for cash above Rs 50k, say election officials

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 4:16 am

Dry grass fires at Bicholim

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 4:15 am

Fire scare aboard Divar ferry boat

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 4:13 am

Leverkusen keep 10-point lead over Bayern in German title race

FREIBURG, March 18: Patrik Schick scored his first Bundesliga goal in three months as Bayer Leverkusen beat Freiburg 3-2 to stay 10 points clear of Bayern Munich in the German title race on Sunday. With coach Xabi Alonso rotating his squad after a busy run of games, unbeaten Leverkusen survived a late Freiburg comeback to [] The post Leverkusen keep 10-point lead over Bayern in German title race appeared first on The Shillong Times .

The Shillong Times 19 Mar 2024 3:47 am

Farhan reveals he got dumped by a gf in Goa

Farhan Akhtar recalled a memorable moment in his life when he was dumped by his girlfriend during a Goa trip and he had to return alone. It was the longest journey for him ever and that served an inspiration for a scene in Dil Chahta Hai...

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 2:29 am

Soccer-Boa Morte to leave Fulham at end of season to coach Guinea-Bissau

Soccer-Boa Morte to leave Fulham at end of season to coach Guinea-Bissau Luis Boa Morte will leave his role as Fulham first team coach at the end of the season to take over as Guinea-Bissau manager, the Premier League club said on Monday. Boa Morte, who played for Fulham from 2000-2007, returned to Craven Cottage in 2021 following the appointment of Marco Silva as manager to form part of his coaching team. Everyone at Fulham would like to thank Boa for his efforts since his return to the Club, and wishes him the best of luck in this next chapter when he departs following our season finale away to Luton Town, Fulham said in a statement. The 46-year-old former Portugal international, who also played for Arsenal, Southampton and West Ham United in the Premier League, scored 54 goals in 250 games for Fulham.

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 1:57 am

Israel team to visit US over Biden concerns on Rafah, Gaza 'anarchy'

Israel team to visit US over Biden concerns on Rafah, Gaza 'anarchy' U.S. President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that an Israeli military operation in Rafah would deepen anarchy in Gaza and they agreed that teams from each side would meet in Washington to discuss it, the White House said. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the two countries would have a comprehensive discussion on the way forward in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is raging after six months of fighting. The meeting could happen this week or next, Sullivan said, and no Rafah operation would proceed before the talks. Anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared, but not stabilized in Gaza and a humanitarian crisis would deepen if Israel were to go ahead with an offensive in Rafah, Sullivan said, summarizing Biden's message to Netanyahu. We've had many discussions in many different levels between our military, our intelligence, our diplomats or humanitarian experts, but we have not yet had the opportunity to have an all-encompassing comprehensive, integrated, strategic discussion..., he said. The two leaders have had increasingly tense relations over Gaza. Sullivan described the conversation as usinesslike and said it did not end abruptly. Biden did not threaten to limit U.S. aid to Israel, he said. Biden told Netanyahu that he needs a coherent strategy for Gaza, Sullivan said, ather than Israel go smashing into Rafah. He reiterated U.S. support for the Israeli effort to destroy Hamas militants who attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7. Sullivan also confirmed that Marwan Issa, the No.3 leader within Hamas' ranks, was killed in an Israeli operation last week. Hamas has not commented. The call was the first between the two leaders since Feb. 15 and comes amid sharp tensions between Israel and its most steadfast ally over Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza. Netanyahu said the two men discussed Israel's commitment to achieve all the targets it had set out for the war: eliminating Hamas, releasing all the hostages and ensuring Gaza would no longer pose a threat to Israel. This would be done while providing the necessary humanitarian aid that helps achieve those goals, he said in a statement. In a speech on Thursday, Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer, a longtime supporter of Israel and the highest-ranking Jewish elected official, called for new elections in Israel and said Netanyahu was an obstacle to peace. Biden praised the speech the following day and said that Schumer had echoed the concerns of many Americans. Netanyahu responded harshly on Sunday, telling CNN in an interview that Schumer's speech was otally inappropriate. Netanyahu reaffirmed to a cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israeli forces would thrust into Rafah, the last relatively safe place in the tiny, crowded enclave, despite international pressure for Israel to avoid further civilian casualties.

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 1:50 am

Save $562 on Goal Zeros Yeti 1500X 1,516Wh power station at $1,239 low

The official Goal Zero Amazon storefront is offering its Yeti 1500X Portable Power Station for $1,238.50 shipped. Regularly $1,800, this particular model didnt receive any discounts in 2023 until September, with major price cuts occurring during Black Friday and Christmas holiday sales. Todays deal comes in as a 31% markdown off the going rate, giving you $562 in savings and marking a new all-time low. It even beats out Goal Zeros website where it is listed at a higher discounted rate of $1,300. more

9To5Toys 19 Mar 2024 1:11 am

5 things we learnt when Barca thrashed Atltico

After the win, eight points separate La Liga leaders Real Madrid (72 pts) and secondplaced Barcelona (64 pts) after 29 matches apiece with nine to play.Real, though, have an 18-point goal difference advantage 44 to 26. Real look set for a 36th ti- tle and only a miracle could hand the Catalans their 28th. Both teams meet on April 21 at the Santiago Bernabu Stadium for a cracker of an El Clasico

The Economic Times 19 Mar 2024 12:56 am

Soccer-Injured Griezmann's record run over as he pulls out of France friendlies

Soccer-Injured Griezmann's record run over as he pulls out of France friendlies France will be without Antoine Griezmann for this month's friendlies against Germany and Chile after the forward suffered an ankle injury, the national team said on Monday, ending his world record run of 84 straight games for his country. The 32-year-old Atletico Madrid player, France's fourth-highest scorer with 44 goals in 127 appearances, will be replaced by midfielder Matteo Guendouzi following his withdrawal from the 23-man squad. Guendouzi, 24, plays for Serie A club Lazio, on loan from Olympique de Marseille, and has been capped seven times for France. France host Germany at Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Saturday, followed by Chile at Stade Velodrome on March 26.

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 12:41 am

Biden and Netanyahu Discuss Gaza War Developments

Earlier today President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed developments in the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian aid in Gaza. Netanyahu stated on X that Israel remains committed to achieving its goals of eliminating Hamas, securing the release of hostages, and ensuring Gaza will no longer threaten Israeli security. Netanyahus statement posted on ... The post Biden and Netanyahu Discuss Gaza War Developments appeared first on The New American .

thenewamerican 19 Mar 2024 12:07 am

Govt revives Bandodkar Trophy, sanctions 1.3cr grant to GFA

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 12:00 am

Startup Mahakumbh's AI & SaaS Pavilion: A Glimpse into the Future of Technology and Innovation

Business Wire India Startup Mahakumbh, nations biggest celebration of the startup ecosystem, commenced today, at Bharat Mandapam, setting the stage for three days of collaboration, inspiration, and transformative discussions. The event saw an inaugural address from Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOC&I), Government of India (GoI), highlighting the significance of startups in the overall pie of the Indian economy. Post-inauguration, day one witnessed a diverse range of activities and sessions across 10 pavilions including AI + SaaS, D2C/Consumer brands, Agritech, Fintech, Deep Tech, Biotech & Pharma, Incubators, Climate Tech, E-sports, and B2B Manufacturing. Moderated by Umaka nt Soni, Chairman, AI Foundry, Co-founder & former founding CEO, ARTPARK , the AI & SaaS pavilion's keynote session, The Future of AI/SaaS, featured visionary speaker Srikanth Velamakanni , Co-Founder, Group Chief Executive, Executive Vice-Chairman, Fractal.ai, who delved into the transformative power of AI. Velamakanni emphasized the burgeoning intelligence economy, predicting the integration of 7.5 billion people and 30 billion intelligent things by 2030, creating an unprecedented $15.7 trillion in new economic value. This evolution heralds a new era where AI and human collaboration will redefine productivity, innovation, and personalization across industries. Highlighting real-world applications, Velamakanni shared compelling examples from various sectors, including insurance, customer service, and idea generation, illustrating AI's capacity to enhance efficiency and outcomes. He also underscored the significance of language as a tool for communication and collaboration, championing the development of AI systems that understand and interact in native languages. The pavilion also spotlighted the integration of AI in SaaS, with insights from industry leaders on leveraging digital public infrastructure, enhancing user experience with generative AI, and the critical role of AI in achieving sustainable development goals. Notable companies like Bhashini, which facilitates multi-lingual communication for government services, Zomatos adoption of AI in customer service and operational efficiency, were highlighted as benchmarks of innovation. Today's event highlighted AI's potential to revolutionize industries, much like how electricity did. We're seeing a shift where jobs evolve, and new ones emerge, allowing us to do more in less time. India is uniquely positioned to lead in this AI revolution, thanks to our tech entrepreneurs and innovators. The winners of AI for Public Good contest featured standout companies like eVerse.AI , B.A.E and Bodhi, all showcasing AI-driven solutions tailored for India, solving real problems. It's inspiring to see such creativity and application of AI in our entrepreneurial landscape, said, Hari Balasubramanian, Angel Investor & Mentor. Startup Mahakumbh onboards top unicorns in the sponsors list, with Games 24X7, Oyo and Info Edge as Unicorn Gold sponsors, Dream11, Flipkart, Infra Market, Moglix, Nykaa as Unicorn Silver sponsors, BharatPe and Razorpay as Unicorn Bronze sponsors. The list of AIF sponsors includes Accel, Rukam Capital and Peak XV in the gold category, Aavishkar Group, Elevation Capital, Iron Pillar in the silver sponsorship category and Avendus Capital, Chiratae Ventures, Fireside Ventures, IvyCap Ventures and Sorin Investments in the bronze category of AIF sponsors. The event also aims to connect Indian startups with event partners including Dalmia Bharat & Google (silver partners), Acko, Captain Fresh, Mobile Premier League (MPL), Jetsynthesis, Tally (bronze partners), IAN & Blume Ventures (session partners), IDFC First Bank (Bank partner), MM Active & India Mobile Congress (IMC) (Event partners) and Indian School of Business (ISB) (Academic partner). About Startup Mahakumbh Startup Mahakumbh is a first-of-its-kind event bringing together the entire startup ecosystem of India including startups, investors, incubators and accelerators, and industry leaders from several sectors. Spearheaded by the collaborative efforts of ASSOCHAM, nasscom, Bootstrap Incubation & Advisory Foundation, TiE, and Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), the event will have sector-focused pavilions, which will showcase India's most innovative startups. With the central theme, Bharat Innovates, the event will also feature mentorship clinics, pitch competitions, and a multi-track conference featuring leadership talks, panel discussions, workshops, and a host of exciting activities for startups as well as future entrepreneurs. The event will also host Future Entrepreneurs Day on March 20, with a focus on cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit among students. The Future Entrepreneurs Day is expected to gather close to 3,000 individuals handpicked by colleges and incubators nationwide for their inclination towards entrepreneurship. With the purpose of enabling handshakes and connecting startups with a spectrum of inventors such as VCs, angel investors, family offices, and HNIs- as well as potential corporate partners, the event is expected to host 2,000+ startups, 100+ unicorns, 10+ thematic pavilions, 1,000+ investors, 300+ incubators & accelerators, 3,000+ conference delegates, 10+ country delegations, and 50,000+ business visitors over the span of three days. For more details, please visit : https://startupmahakumbh.org/ Social Media Handles: X - https://www.twitter.com/startupmhakumbh LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-mahakumbh/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO4pAOC7tInsq6xLjZQKoVg Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/startupmahakumbh/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556445474740

BusinessWire India 18 Mar 2024 11:24 pm

Knowledge economy means student safety

Last week, five students from African countries, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan were reportedly beaten up inside Gujarat University for allegedly offering namaz, highlighting the importance of reputation. The incident, though unfortunate, underscores how foreign guests' treatment can impact a country's image. India's response, with arrests made and promises of strict action, is necessary. With a goal to enroll half a million international students by 2047, incidents like this threaten India's ambitions to be a knowledge economy and hinder deeper engagement with countries in Africa and Central and Western Asia.

The Economic Times 18 Mar 2024 10:50 pm

Late Soucek goal is disallowed as Aston Villa salvages 1-1 draw at West Ham

Aston Villa moved three points clear of Tottenham in the race for fourth place after a 1-1 draw against West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday. Nicolo Zaniolo struck an equalizer in the second half to secure what could be an important point in Villas bid for Champions League...

newdelhitimes 18 Mar 2024 10:40 pm

Fossil fuel sector should pay climate finance, EU ministers say

Fossil fuel sector should pay climate finance, EU ministers say The fossil fuel industry should help pay for fighting climate change in poorer countries under a United Nations target, European Union countries' foreign affairs ministers said on Monday. This year's U.N. climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November, is the deadline for countries to agree a new global target for how much wealthy, industrialised nations should pay poorer ones to cope with the most severe impacts of climate change. To attempt to address the spiralling costs of deadly heatwaves, droughts and rising sea levels, the European Union is preparing to argue that the new climate finance goal cannot be made up of public funding alone. The EU calls for additional, new and innovative sources of finance from a wide variety of sources, including from the fossil fuel sector and other high-emission sectors, to be identified and utilised to provide climate finance, EU member state foreign affairs ministers said in a joint statement, published during a meeting in Brussels on Monday. The statement, a draft of which was previously reported by Reuters, said the EU will also continue to demand that large emerging economies and those with high CO2 emissions and per-capita wealth - like China and Middle Eastern states - should pay towards the new U.N. climate finance goal. All countries according to their financial capabilities, including emerging economies should contribute, it said. Beijing has opposed this in past U.N. climate talks. The question of which countries must pay is expected to be a core issue at this year's COP29 climate summit. The new climate finance target is expected to be far larger than the existing U.N. commitment of rich countries to spend $100 billion per year from 2020, a target they failed to meet on time. The OECD has said poor nations' actual climate investment needs could total $1 trillion per year by 2025.

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 10:32 pm

Kriti Kharbanda-Pulkit Samrat will get married in this grand hotel of Manesar, know what its specialty is

Bollywood's lovely couple PulkitSamrat and KritiKharbanda are going to get married soon. The couple's wedding functions have started. In such a situation, everyone wants to know about the location of the couple's wedding. Actually, instead of getting married in big places like Rajasthan-Goa, the couple has decided to get married in a hotel in Manesar, Haryana. After all, what is so special about this hotel is that the couple has chosen this place for their wedding. In today's article, we will give you all the detailed information about this hotel. What is the speciality of this hotel in Manesar? View this post on Instagram A post shared by ITC Grand Bharat, Gurugram (@itcgrandbharat) This hotel in Manesar, Haryana is situated amidst the Aravalli hills. The name of the hotel is ITC Grand Bharat Palace. The couple's pre-wedding function is also going on in the same hotel. The hotel is spread over a total of 300 acres. A beautiful view of the mountains can be seen from this hotel. This place is located in a quiet place away from the city. The hotel has 4 presidential villas, 100 deluxe suites, a bar and a swimming pool. The hotel is surrounded by lush green areas on all sides. The design of this hotel is no less than a palace. Apart from this, you will also get to see a lake in the hotel park. Where you can spend relaxing moments sitting with your partner in the evening. Also, you can see the beautiful view of sunset and sunrise from the hotel. Why did the couple decide to get married in this hotel? In the hotel, you will get many facilities like a spa, golf course, and large parking area. For the first time, a Bollywood couple is going to get married in this hotel. The couple will get married among their friends and family members. It is believed that the couple decided to get married in this location because both the stars are residents of Delhi. Both were born and brought up in Delhi NCR. One night hotel rental If you book a deluxe suite in this hotel, you will have to pay Rs 21,500 for one night. In this, you will get only breakfast. If you want a pool along with luxury rooms, then you will have to pay Rs 26,550 for one night. Breakfast is included in this package. If you want to have both lunch and dinner, you will have to pay separately. Image Credit- Freepik

Kalam Times 18 Mar 2024 10:24 pm

Inter student drowns while rescuing his friend from lake in Hakimpet

Hyderabad: In a touching incident, a 19-year-old Intermediate second year (CEC) student of Pragnya Junior College drowned while saving a 12-year-old friend of his in Shikarikunta cheruvu in Hakimpet. The victim G. Pavan Raj, along with Nitin Kumar, Venkat and Sunny went for a swim in Shikarkunta lake around 3.30 pm on Sunday, said G. Anjaiah, Pavans uncle. On the ill-fated day, Pavan, who was busy tying goats on the banks of the lake, turned around and saw Nitin Kumar slip and fall into the lake. In an instant, he jumped into the water and pushed him to safety. While in the rescue act, he drowned and screamed for help. I was there. I swam across to reach out to the boy but it was too late. His body was lost in the 18 feet deep water. I immediately rushed to Nitin and pumped out water from his lungs said Syed Abdullah, a local fisherman. Pavan's father G. Srinivas Raj and many locals rushed to the lake on getting the news and made vain bids to trace the body.I immediately dialed 100 and informed the police that my son had drowned, Srinivas Raj said. We alerted six DRF and NDRF teams and went there along with local divers by 4.30 pm. We made an extensive search for the boys body but to no avail, said M. Srinivasulu, inspector of Filmnagar police station. However, the body was retrieved Monday afternoon. The lake that is over 25 feet deep and has a radius of more than 100 metres is one of the oldest lakes in the city. Only people who are familiar with the lake come for fishing and swimming and only they know that there are four deep wells under the lake. This was perhaps why the rescue teams were not able to locate Pavan's body, said M. Lakshman, a resident of BJR Nagar. Recalling a sombre moment, Srinivas Raj said in a choked tone, Pavan, my eldest son, was preparing for his supplementary exams. A few months back he told me that as I was working hard as a daily-wage painter to run the family, he wished to lend a helping hand by working so that the money could be used to take care of the education needs of my three children. Initially I refused but relented after coming to know that he had started working in hotels and packing units and was earning between `600 and `800 a day. He gave a part of the earnings to his mother for his siblings and saved the remaining amount for his college fees. An avid lover of birds and animals, Pavan had two tortoises, two dogs and a few birds as pets at his house in BJR Nagar. Pavans friend Lalit said He used to work very hard. He had only a few friends. In the mornings, he used to work in packing centers and tiffin centers and save money for his own education fees and that of his brother Akshit and sister Harshita. Akshit Raj, 17, is pursuing his Intermediate first year, while Harshita, 16, was not able to attend her SSC examination on Monday as she was shattered by her brothers tragic death. Meanwhile, the rescue teams fished out the body Monday afternoon after 22 hours of intense searching. Filmnagar police registered a case of suspicious death and shifted the victim's body to OGH for postmortem.

Deccan Chronicle 18 Mar 2024 10:08 pm

Farhan Akhtar Recalls Getting Dumped By A Girlfriend During His Goa Trip: 'I Drove Myself Back...'

Farhan Akhtar recounted the craziest Goa trip story when he got dumped by his girlfriend and he had to drive back.

News18 18 Mar 2024 9:47 pm

Barcelona outclass Atletico Madrid in 3-0 win to climb second

Lewandowski extended the advantage two minutes into the second half as Raphinha stole the ball from Atletico's Rodrigo de Paul to set up the Pole for his 13th league goal of the season

The Hindu 18 Mar 2024 9:30 pm

Explainer: What is famine and how is it declared?

Explainer: What is famine and how is it declared? Amid growing global concerns over alarming hunger spikes in conflict-affected communities and talk of intensifying levels of food insecurity possibly leading to famine, we looked into how and when a famine is classified. With the release of the latest food security report from the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) on war-ravaged Gaza since December, World Food Programme (WFP) chief economist Arif Husain walked _UN News_ through the process. ## **When is famine declared?** Famine is essentially a technical term, referring to a population that faces widespread malnutrition and hunger-related deaths due to a lack of access to food. ~~~~ We say there is a famine when three conditions come together in a specific geographic area, whether a town, village, city, even a country, Mr. Husain explained. * At least 20 per cent of the population in that particular are facing extreme levels of hunger; * 30 per cent of the children in the same place are wasted, or too thin for their height; and * The death, or mortality, rate has doubled, from the average, surpassing two deaths per 10,000 daily for adults and four deaths per 10,000 daily for children. You can clearly see that in a way, famine is admission of collective failure, he said. We should act way before the famine, so people dont starve, children are not wasted and people dont die of hunger-related causes. ![A mother and her child rest at a relief centre in Bati, Ethiopia, in 1984. (file)](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/06-11-2023-UN- Photo-Ethiopia.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg) UN Photo/John Isaac A mother and her child rest at a relief centre in Bati, Ethiopia, in 1984. (file) ## **How is hunger tracked?** Famines today are different than those experienced in the 1970s or 1980s, when drought was the main driver in Ethiopia and other nations, Mr. Husain told _UN News_ , adding that years ago, when a famine occured, we could say, Im sorry. I did not know. If I had known, I would have done something about it. Today, we see crises in real time, so we cannot say we did not know, he explained. The onus is much higher today than it has ever been before. Climate-related food insecurity is now closely monitored thanks to a detailed tracking system used by international humanitarian agencies wherever they work, and today, famines or risks of one developing are now largely driven by conflict, as seen in South Sudan, Yemen and now in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In the 21st century, climate-related famines have largely been averted thanks to an innovative tool to track acute hunger, developed during the crisis in Somalia in 2004 by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and now used by humanitarian agencies worldwide. This initiative is called the Integrated Security Phase Classification, or IPC. ![A family shares a meal in Yemen with food provided by the UN World food Programme (WFP).](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Libraries/Production%20Library/04-05-2022_WFP_Yemen.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg) WFP/Saleh Hayyan A family shares a meal in Yemen with food provided by the UN World food Programme (WFP). ## **What is the IPC?** The IPC is an innovative multipartner initiative for improving food security and nutrition analysis and decision making. The IPC classification and analytical approach facilitates governments, UN Agencies, non-governmental organizations, civil society and other relevant actors in working together to determine the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity and acute malnutrition situations in a country according to internationally recognised standards. Originally developed in 2004 to be used in Somalia by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the initiative spread to over 30 countries, and a global partnership of 19 organisations is leading the development and implementation of the IPC at global, regional and country levels. With over 20 years of application, the IPC has proved to be one of the best practices in the global food security field. It is also a model of collaboration in over 30 countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The IPC tracks hunger but can also raise alarms ahead of potential widespread acute malnutrition before it transforms into more serious life-threatening conditions. ## **How does the IPC work?** The IPC itself does not collect data. The information comes from its humanitarian partners operating on the ground. The information can cover food security, nutrition, mortality and peoples livelihoods as well as calorie intake, what kind of coping strategies people are using to find food and the measurements of childrens arms to monitor malnutrition, known as the middle-upper arm circumference, or MUAC. Data collection does not stop, even in war zones, Mr. Husain said. In cases where locations are unreachable, mobile phone surveys are deployed to get information, and if that is not possible, satellites can generate information. ![The UN continues to provide lifesaving food assistance in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/04-05-2023_WFP_Ethiopia- Tigray.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg) WFP/Claire Nevill The UN continues to provide lifesaving food assistance in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Technical experts from IPC partners crunch a large volume of data to better inform decision makers who can effectively address needs on the ground, with a view to avoiding a worst-case scenario. IPC experts then gather to analyse the data, classifying populations into five categories: phase one is minimal or no stress reported; phase two sees people facing stress in finding food; phase three is a food crisis; phase four is an emergency; and phase five is considered to be a catastrophe or famine. Based on the share of the population in each of the five phases, geographical areas are given a severity phase as well, presented by different colours on the IPC map, from the least severe to the most severe phase (minimal, stress, crisis, emergency and famine). Each of these geographic area phase classifications has important and distinct implications for where and how best to intervene, and therefore influences priority response objectives. ![Displaced children search for food near the tents where they are staying with their families in Rafah in southern Gaza.](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/14-03-2024-UNICEF- Gaza.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg) UNICEF/Eyad El Baba Displaced children search for food near the tents where they are staying with their families in Rafah in southern Gaza. ## **Famine Review Committee** In the case of a suspected famine, there is an additional step, which calls upon the IPC Famine Review Committee. Comprising globally recognized experts in their fields, from nutrition and health to food security, the committee convenes when more than 20 per cent of the affected people are experiencing IPC phase five, meaning famine or catastrophe conditions. The consensus-based process requires all partners to agree on a conclusion that the Famine Review Committee verifies. The committee meets and examines all the data and analyses provided by IPC partners to determine whether the findings are credible and to see whether the data justifies a famine classification or a plausible famine classification. The experts then outline what is happening now and offer projections for the next three- or six-month periods, like in the IPC report on Gaza in December. ![Somalias drought has left more than two million people facing severe food and water shortages.](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Libraries/Production%20Library/19-11-2021_UNDP_Somalia.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg) UNDP Somalia Somalias drought has left more than two million people facing severe food and water shortages. ## **How aid agencies respond to hunger alerts** Humanitarian agencies use these invaluable IPC classifications to plan and to help people from the phase three crisis level onwards, with the specific goal of avoiding a famine. What we try to do is to get to the people, so we never have to deal with the famine like situation, or IPC phase five, Mr. Husain said. We work very, very hard at the crisis level and definitely at the emergency level to save peoples lives so that they dont get to IPC phase five, which is classified as a famine. That includes ramping up food aid. When we do that, we can save lives, he said. ![Children are taken by their mothers for nutrition screening in the Delams neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/14-02-2024_UNICEF_Haiti-02.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg) UNICEF/Herold Joseph Children are taken by their mothers for nutrition screening in the Delams neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. ## **For us, famine is the F word** While needs remain high, according to WFP estimates, 309 million people in 72 countries face a level of hunger that is at the crisis level or worse. For us, famine is the F word, Mr. Husain said, emphasizing that the end goal is prevention. If we are going to avoid these famines, the easiest way would be to stop the conflicts, Mr. Husain said, but if that is going to take time, then it is our responsibility that we are able to feed the innocent people, are able to provide the water and necessities like medicine to those people who are stuck in those places or may be displaced from those places. ### **New IPC report on Gaza: Famine is imminent** The new IPC Famine Review Committee released it latest report on 18 March on the worsening situation in Gaza, where UN teams on the ground have long warned of an imminent famine against a backdrop of the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza sparked by Hamass 7 October attacks against Israel. Read our news story on the launch here. ![Mohammad is getting measured as part of a malnutrition screening at a UNICEF-supported pediatrician clinic tent in Rafah city, south of the Gaza Strip.](https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/13-03-2024-UNICEF- Gaza-01.jpg/image1024x768.jpg) UNICEF/Eyad El Baba Mohammad is getting measured as part of a malnutrition screening at a UNICEF- supported pediatrician clinic tent in Rafah city, south of the Gaza Strip. Israels ground invasion has killed over 31,000 Gazans and, along with restrictions on aid entering the bombarded and besieged enclave, has triggered widespread hunger and growing numbers of deaths from starvation. Since February 2024, Gazas entire population 2.2 million people had been classified at the IPC phase three crisis level or worse, the highest share of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity that the IPC initiative has ever classified for any given area or country, the group said. The initial clarion call came from UN agencies and partners soon after the Israels October invasion following which the IPC Famine Review Committee produced its first report on Gaza at the end of 2023. With keys drivers of food insecurity persisting, a second one was produced in March 2024. Here are some highlights from the latest report: * The conditions necessary to prevent famine have not been met and the latest evidence confirms that famine is imminent in the northern governorates and projected to occur anytime between mid-March and May 2024 * 88 per cent of Gazans now face food insecurity levels classified as IPC level four or above, which corresponds to an emergency level or worse * Among this population, about 50 per cent (1.1 million people) are in a catastrophe situation, or IPC phase five * The level of acute malnutrition is expected to surpass the famine threshold (30 per cent) in northern Gaza, with the steep increase of wasting prevalence, from 0.8 to 15 per cent, over several months * The upward trend in non-trauma mortality is also expected to accelerate, resulting in crossing the famine threshold imminently by May 2024. * The increased nutritional vulnerability of children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly is a particular source of concern * Projections for March through July indicate that 100 per cent of Gazas population, or 2.23 million people, will faces crisis levels of food insecurity Visit UN News for more.

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 9:16 pm

No major concern in small-cap stress test, says Birla MF chief

Investors should focus on long-term investment goals and not overreact to stress test outcomes

The Hindu Businessline 18 Mar 2024 8:47 pm

Striker Sanvi stars for Mumbai District in Jalgoan

Young Chaubey, who scored a brace in final, credits teams collective effort for their success at WIFA Inter-District Sub-Junior Girls Football Championship

Mid Day 18 Mar 2024 8:21 pm

Barcelona, Lyon headline Women's Champions League quarterfinals. Hayes' Chelsea targets quadruple

Barcelona, Lyon headline Women's Champions League quarterfinals. Hayes' Chelsea targets quadruple The Women's Champions League resumes this week with the lineup for the quarterfinals including reigning champion Barcelona, record eight-time champion Lyon, quadruple-chasing Chelsea and two newcomers to this stage in Benfica and Brann. It's Ajax vs. Chelsea and Benfica vs. Lyon on Tuesday, and Hcken vs. Paris Saint-Germain and Brann vs. Barcelona on Wednesday. Ahead of the first legs, here are some things to know about the teams: REPEAT FOR BARCELONA? Barcelona is seeking to win the competition for the third time in four years and keep up its country's dominance of the club and international game. After all, Spain is the current world champion and won the inaugural edition of the Women's Nations League last month. Domestically, Barcelona is Spain's shining light and was the top scorer (27 goals) in the group stage, while also gaining more points (16) than any other team. Its lineup contains Spain stars Aitana Bonmati, who won the Ballon d'Or last year, and Alexia Putellas. CHELSEA'S QUADRUPLE BID Emma Hayes' final season at Chelsea before taking charge of the United States women's team could be momentous. Chelsea is still alive in four competitions, with Hayes' team leading the Women's Super League on goal difference, recently advancing to the March 31 final of the League Cup and in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Chelsea has never won the Women's Champions League and, as England's only remaining representative, is looking to become the country's first women's European champion since Arsenal in 2007. Australia star Sam Kerr is not available, however, because of an ACL injury. SCANDINAVIAN OUTSIDERS Scandinavia is represented by two teams in the quarterfinals: Swedish champion Hcken and Norwegian champion Brann. While Hcken has twice got to this stage before but no further, Brann is a newcomer to the quarterfinals in just its second season in Europe after being the weakest team in the group stage, according to UEFA's coefficients. Brann qualified from its group along with Lyon to become the second Norwegian quarterfinalist in 14 years, despite playing almost the entire group stage in its offseason. Hcken was known as Gteborg FC the last time it reached the last eight, in 2013, and qualified ahead of Real Madrid. FRENCH HOPES Lyon, the most dominant team in the tournament's history, and two-time finalist PSG are the French hopes and have been drawn in the same half, setting up a potential meeting in the semifinals. Lyon, which won its first 11 quarterfinals but lost at this stage in two of the last three seasons, travels to first-time quarterfinalist Benfica and that puts coach Sonia Bompastor in a sticky spot. She was born in France to Portuguese parents. My entire Portuguese family supports Benfica and has this club in their blood, Bompastor said. We played two years ago, my family had the opportunity to travel and will be there again.

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 8:10 pm

Curcumin: Turmeric can help in increasing good bacteria in the intestine, claims latest research.

Known for its bright yellow color and delicious aroma, turmeric is an integral part of an Indian kitchen. But do you know that turmeric is not only delicious but also extremely beneficial for health? In recent research, scientists have found that 'curcumin', the main element found in turmeric, can help in increasing the good bacteria in the intestine. Brazilian scientists have discovered a link between curcumin and intestinal health. This research has been done by researchers from the University of Western Sao Paulo (UNOESTE) and Sao Paulo State University, the results of which have been published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics. Learning outcome The study found that curcumin solution given in the form of nanoemulsion increased the amount of Lactobacillus bacteria in rats by 25%. Lactobacillus bacteria are commonly found in probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and are known to have good effects on gut health. Expert's statement Professor at the University of Western Sao Paulo and lead researcher of this research, Lijgian Cratli Winkelstretter Eller, explained the importance of this discovery and said that this nanoemulsion changed the intestinal microbiota of mice by increasing the number of good bacteria, which increased the bioavailability of curcumin. (bioavailability) also improved. For whom can it be beneficial? The researchers' goal was to address the low bioavailability of curcumin, especially for patients suffering from inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Researchers gave curcumin nanoemulsion orally for 14 days to artificially induce intestinal inflammation in rats. After treatment, they observed positive results such as improvement in intestinal microbiota and better bioavailability of curcumin. Although the nanoemulsion did not significantly improve intestinal inflammation, the amount of Lactobacillus bacteria was found to be significantly higher in mice treated with curcumin nanoemulsion compared to the control group. The study authors stressed the importance of developing new formulations to maximize the potential of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Curcumin may emerge as a promising alternative to existing treatments, which are often expensive and may have serious side effects. This research highlights the ability of curcumin to promote gut health and offers hope for the development of better treatments for inflammatory bowel disorders. (PC: Freepik)

Kalam Times 18 Mar 2024 8:10 pm

Bit tough to popularise poll symbol of INDIA bloc nominees among Goa unit workers: AAP

Goa Aam Aadmi Party unit chief Amit Palekar told PTI that the candidate selection is little delayed as the constituents of the opposition alliance have given various suggestions to Congress on prospective contestants.

The Economic Times 18 Mar 2024 7:50 pm

The math behind BJP's goal to win 370 seats in 2024 polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has linked the target of 370 with the removal of Art. 370 in the erstwhile state J&K. The Modi government had scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded special status to the erstwhile state in August 2019 soon after returning to power for a second time.

The Economic Times 18 Mar 2024 7:46 pm

Jimmy Jean-Louis On His Experience Of Working In India & On 'The Goat Life' | EXCLUSIVE

Jimmy Jean-Louis, in conversation with Showsha's Nishad Neelambaran, talks about his experience of working in India and on 'The Goat Life', and sharing the stage with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Watch the EXCLUSIVE interview for more.

News18 18 Mar 2024 7:42 pm

'Thalapathy' Vijay returns to Kerala for 'GOAT' after 14 years

South sensation Thalapathy Vijay is all set to film the climax of his forthcoming movie Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in Trivandrum, Kerala.

NewsBytes 18 Mar 2024 6:49 pm

Bruno Fernandes calls for rule change on yellow cards for removing shirt

Manchester United captain says rule has to change Amad Diallo received second yellow for FA Cup celebration Bruno Fernandes has said the rule that earns a player a yellow card for taking off their shirt when celebrating a goal has to change after the Manchester United winger Amad Diallo was sent off for a second caution after scoring a dramatic late winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup. The 21-year-old had come on in the 85th minute with United a goal down but Antony made it 2-2 with three minutes remaining and Erik ten Hags side went on to win the quarter-final in extra time, Amad scoring in the 121st minute to send them through. Continue reading...

The Guardian 18 Mar 2024 6:40 pm

GATE 2024 Toppers' List: Check names, marks and scores of AIR 1 candidates at gate2024.iisc.ac.in

Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bengaluru has released the GATE 2024 Toppers' List on March 18. Applicants can check All India Rank (AIR) 1 candidates in GATE 2024 test papers on the GOAPS portal. Read the article below to find out more details and information related to the GATE 2024.

The Times of India 18 Mar 2024 6:37 pm

Farhan Akhtar on his worst Goa trip: My girlfriend dumped me

Farhan Akhtar on his worst Goa trip My girlfriend dumped me

India Today 18 Mar 2024 6:28 pm

Enjoy Taste And Health - Pair Your Meals With This High-Protein Dip

Incorporating high-protein recipes like this homemade dip/sandwich spread into your diet is a simple yet effective way to boost your protein intake and support your health and fitness goals.

NDTV 18 Mar 2024 6:11 pm

Prithviraj Sukumaran opens up on filming 'Salaar 2' with Prabhas

Esteemed actor Prithviraj Sukumaran is gearing up for the launch of his upcoming ambitious film, Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) set to hit screens on March 28.

NewsBytes 18 Mar 2024 6:08 pm

DJ Group of Institutions Inaugurates Its Undergraduate Hostel with Capacity of 600 Students

Business Wire India DJ Colleges UG Hostels evening view Virtual tour of the renovated undergraduate hostel complex DJ Group of Institutions , Niwari Road, Modinagar, Delhi NCR, launched its new undergraduate hostel recently. The hostel was inaugurated by Mr. Rakesh Sharma, General Manager of Bank of Baroda who also presided over the inauguration ceremony as its Chief Guest. Mr. Rakesh Sharma currently heads the New Delhi zone that includes Delhi and National Capital Region territories such as Gurgaon, Noida, and Ghaziabad. Delivering his address, Mr. Rakesh Sharma congratulated the students, faculty and management of Jassar Dental Medical Education Health Foundation on the inauguration of the new hostel block. He invoked the memory of the Founder-Chairman, Mr. Ajit Singh Jassar. Mr. Jassar is the person who transformed the identity of Modinagar. The city was earlier known as the place with just the Modi Mills. Through his tireless eorts and vision, he gave Modinagar a new lease of life as an education city. His wife and Chairperson, Mrs. Sarabjit Kaur Jassar, his daughter who is now the CEO, Dr. Smiti Klaire, and his son, Rhitik Jassar have done a commendable job of building on his legacy.Mr. Sharma also pledged Bank of Barodas support for all future and ongoing projects of the Jassar Dental Medical Education Health Foundation. Senior ocials of Bank of Baroda serving in important capacities at the zonal and regional level including Mr. Atul Karn, Deputy General Manager, Mr. K.D. Arora, Assistant General Manager, Mr. Salesh Kumar, Regional Head Noida, Mr. Santosh Dhyani, Chief Manager, SME Division Noida and Mr. Avneesh Upadhyay, Chief Manager, Modinagar branch attended the program as eminent guests. Mr. Pawan Kumar, Regional Head Ghaziabad, and Mr. Mohit Tyagi, Branch Head, Modinagar from the HDFC Bank also attended the inauguration. Mr. Suman Kumar, Administrator, DJ Group of Institutions shared that The undergraduate hostel has capacity to house a total of 600 students with two separate wings for 300 girls and 300 boys. We have multiple types of rooms that students can opt for, ranging from twin-sharing, triple-sharing, and multi-sharing dorms. Students can also opt for AC and Non-AC rooms within any sharing category. Mr. Shalabh Sharma, Chief Engineer of DJ Group of Institutions added We have built this hostel keeping in mind the standards used in the construction of a multi-story modern residential complex. We have built a 300 KLD STP that will ensure hygiene and sanitation. The objective was to create a building that would further the goal of a smart, automated, and sustainable campus. With ground floor barricading of windows, 35 CCTV cameras, and an advanced fire safety system, this hostel building will be synonymous with the highest degree of student safety and security. In addition to this, we have designed each floor with in-built fiber cables to ensure ultra-high speed internet. Drawings, interiors, and services of the undergraduate hostel were planned by Prospective Designs , a Delhi based, leading architecture firm, led by its founder, Ms. Priyanka Chaudhary. Rhitik Jassar, COO, DJ Group of Institutions, commented that Our intention was to create a space where students would have everything they could possibly need, for recreation andacademics. He added We have provided an indoor sports complex for badminton and table tennis. There is also a 24-hour library and study room that is sound-proof to ensure students can study free from any distractions. Anannexe block adjacent to the hostel houses the wardens oce on the first floor and the parents and visitors lounge on the ground floor. We are also working on creating an app that will enable contactless services for everyday essentials such as laundry, and also have provision to resolve maintenance related complaints of students. DJ Group of Institutions has a campus of 75 acres and is located in Modinagar, an hours distance from Delhi. The campus has 6 residential towers with a total capacity of housing 1600 persons. The group is currently working on building a medical college and a 1000 bedded hospital facility, a first of its kind in Western Uttar Pradesh. It is run by Jassar Dental Medical Education Health Foundation.

BusinessWire India 18 Mar 2024 5:53 pm

Video: Thalapathy Vijay in Kerala after 14 years, set to shoot for 'GOAT'

Video Thalapathy Vijay in Kerala after years set to shoot for GOAT

India Today 18 Mar 2024 5:50 pm

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: Observations driving back to Faridabad

BHPian Amity recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Recently, I travelled from Faridabad to Jaipur and back on the Delhi-Mumbai expressway. Here are my observations: I completed the onward journey of more than 270 Kms in around 3.5 hours (excluding a break at one of the rest stops and some Google Maps misdirections). The return journey from Nahargarh Fort to Faridabad took almost 4.5 hours due to Google Maps, a jam on the entry ramp from Jaipur and unruly traffic at Ballabhgarh. The entry onto Faridabad bypass from Mathura Road (NH19) is not properly marked on Google Maps and it will just make you go in rounds. Instead of taking the correct exit onto the service road and then a U-turn under the bypass flyover to get onto the ramp, Google Maps takes you in the wrong direction and then asks you to get onto the bypass where there is no ramp at all and it will keep asking you to go in circles. The surface of the Faridabad bypass road is much better than the actual expressway. There are much fewer undulations and it is predictable. However, patrolling is not proper as I saw two-wheelers on this stretch. Though there are street lights on the Faridabad bypass stretch, the majority of them were not switched on. The expressway, though wide and properly marked, does not boast of a good surface. There are a lot of undulations and jolts on the expressway, especially near flyovers or bridges. It is not a completely smooth ride. Already I could see many patchworks in the expressway and repair works were also going on. This doesn't bode well for a flagship project. There is almost negligible patrolling on the whole stretch as I didn't see patrolling vehicles during my travel. I believe there should be round-the-clock patrolling on this stretch as it passes through isolated areas. The boundary wall is already broken in many places and people were grazing goats in the area between the boundary wall and the main carriageway. This makes it risky for everyone and something which could be prevented if there was proper enforcement and regular patrolling. Local people were sitting on the railings of the expressway taking pictures or talking on phones as if it was some community park. It was a common feature throughout the expressway which shows a lack of willingness on the part of authorities to prevent such things. There are some rest stops along the expressway but all of them are not functional. Some have coming soon boards showing for Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Domino's Pizza, etc. at the rest stops. Hopefully, it'll be better by the time the complete expressway opens up. The washrooms at one of the normal rest stops (IIRC 99 km rest stop while going towards Jaipur) were much much cleaner than McDonald's washrooms (coming from Jaipur) on the expressway. NHAI had constructed basic buildings for rest stops and now the same are being brought down/ refurbished by restaurants to bring it to their own designs. This I feel is a waste of time and money as NHAI could've just allotted some open slots to restaurants to bring up their own buildings. By constructing such basic buildings, NHAI must've paid contractors which must have been part of the consideration for deciding the toll amount and now the same is being brought down by restaurants as per their convenience. I believe it would've been much cheaper to just allot blocks and let restaurants construct their own buildings. Alongside those boundary walls, locals have opened shops/ dhabas and truck drivers park their trucks on the shoulder to fetch something or have food. There were many trucks at such stops, sometimes more than 5 also. Such illegal stops are risky for everyone on an expressway and again highlight the lack of patrolling and enforcement on the expressway. I do hope that economical options are made available to truck drivers at the rest stops as it may not be feasible for them to otherwise have meals at eateries at rest stops. I saw trucks making a U-turn in the middle of the expressway and then driving on the wrong side at full speed, likely to one of the illegal shops/ dhabas they missed. There is no lane discipline on the expressway as trucks were there on all 4 lanes and cars had to zigzag through it all. This again shows a lack of patrolling and enforcement on the expressway. The connectivity from the expressway to Jaipur city is not good. It takes you through the crowded parts of the city and wastes a lot of time. I saw that construction has already started on Greenfield Road to connect with Jaipur. I hope it is completed very soon as it will further reduce the time by at least 30 minutes. The entry ramp for the expressway while coming from Jaipur is very small and the toll plaza is almost at the start of the ramp. While returning, most of the toll booths on this ramp were non-functional due to so be technical faults and traffic was already stretching to the highway from the ramp. The staff at the toll plaza was completely clueless about dealing with it. They let us pass after keeping us waiting for more than 5 minutes. One surprising thing I noticed was that there is no separate toll plaza while entering from Faridabad bypass or exiting from the expressway to Faridabad bypass. I am guessing the toll plaza at Faridabad bypass ( which charges INR 50 for every single journey) doubles up as an entry/ exit toll plaza for the Expressway. It appears that our tag was not scanned at the entry ramp at Jaipur and therefore, no amount was deducted from the Fastag account when we exited the expressway onto the Faridabad bypass. Most of the speed cameras were not working on the expressway. Also, the speed shown on the cameras was almost 2 km/h less than the speed shown on the car speedometer. The exit ramp at Ballabhgarh onto NH 19 is very narrow and the service road where the ramp merges, itself is narrow. This was made worse by wrong side local traffic on the service road and caused a jam for at least half an hour, with no police to control it. I believe it's a good effort but needs a lot of support from people and law enforcement agencies to improve its standards. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Team-BHP 18 Mar 2024 5:30 pm

LS polls: Goa Police intensifies checking at borders, constituencies

Panaji, March 18 (IANS) Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, intensive checking at the six check posts in North Goa has begun in order to curb illegal activities, along with monitoring of movement with the aid of CCTVs, an official said on Monday. The coastal state will go to polls on May 7, in the []

bhaskarlive 18 Mar 2024 5:28 pm

Can you name every team Kylian Mbappe has scored 5+ goals against?

Mbappe has scored five or more against 23 different opponents. The post Can you name every team Kylian Mbappe has scored 5+ goals against? appeared first on Planet Football .

Planet Football 18 Mar 2024 5:24 pm

Putin says Russia is planning a buffer zone to protect against Ukrainian cross-border attacks

Putin says Russia is planning a buffer zone to protect against Ukrainian cross-border attacks Russia won't relent in its invasion of Ukraine, with one of its forthcoming goals being to establish a buffer zone along the border to help protect against long-range Ukrainian strikes and cross-border raids, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. The Kremlin's forces have recently made battlefield progress as Kyiv's troops struggle with a severe shortage of artillery shells and exhausted front-line units after more than two years of war. The front line stretches over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of eastern and southern Ukraine. But the advances have been slow and costly, while Ukraine has increasingly used its long-range firepower to hit oil refineries and depots deep inside Russia. Also, groups claiming to be Ukraine-based Russian opponents of the Kremlin have launched cross-border incursions. In view of the current tragic events, we will be forced at some point, when we consider it necessary, to create a certain sanitary zone' on the territories controlled by the (Ukrainian government), Putin said late Sunday. He spoke at a news conference following the release of election returns that showed him securing a fifth six-year term by a landslide in an election devoid of any real opposition that followed his relentless crackdown on dissent. The announcement came on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula, which set the stage for Russia to invade its neighbor in 2022. Putin has been vague about his goals in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022 floundered. But he said one of Russia's aims now is to create a security zone that would be quite difficult to penetrate using the foreign-made strike assets at the enemy's disposal. Putin again warned the West against deploying troops to Ukraine. A possible conflict between Russia and NATO would put the world a step away from World War III, he said. French President Emmanuel Macron recently said that sending Western troops into Ukraine shouldn't be ruled out, though he said the current situation doesn't require it. Commenting on the prospects for peace talks with Kyiv, Putin reaffirmed that Russia remains open to negotiations but won't be lured into a truce that will allow Ukraine to rearm. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to shut the door to talks, saying Putin must be put on trial at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which last year issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crime charges.

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 5:12 pm

Empowering Women, Transforming Communities: Gunadamin Elephant House, USAID, and Viridis Drive Recycling Innovation in Batticaloa

Gunadamin Elephant House of Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Viridis Recycling recognized the contributions of women waste collectors to economic empowerment and environmental wellbeing at a ceremony at the Selvanayagam Memorial Hall in Batticaloa. The event, which celebrated Sri Lankas first women-led plastic recyclable collection network and material recovery facility (MRF), featured the handover of e-bikes for plastic waste collection. Funded by Gunadamin Elephant House, these e-bikes mark a significant step forward in enhancing waste management efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Speaking at the event, Mr. Daminda Gamlath, President, Consumer Foods Sector John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) said, This e-bike represents our commitment to innovative solutions in environmental stewardship and community empowerment. We believe these initiatives will sustainably increase plastic collection and affirm our commitment to ESG goals, as exemplified by our partnership with Kaviya Self Development Womens Centre. The half-day event saw the attendance of dignitaries to support these womens achievements, including Douglas E. Sonnek, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy; the Governor of the Eastern Province, Hon. Senthil Thondaman; and other senior government officials. A plastic collection drive and a street drama performance with the theme of transforming waste into wealth took place before the ceremony. Douglas E. Sonnek, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, stating, U.S. assistance to increase income generation opportunities for Sri Lankan women strengthens prospects for economic growth and benefits families, communities, and the country. The United States is partnering to provide equal economic opportunities to unleash womens full potential, because womens economic security and inclusion are key to breaking the cycle of poverty. The Governor of the Eastern Province, Hon. Senthil Thondaman, echoed these sentiments, expressing appreciation for the organizations involved and applauding the women in Batticaloa for their efforts. His support underscores the projects significance as a powerful example of community-led efforts driving significant environmental and social change. Active across five coastal provinces, these plastic waste collection networks have significantly improved the economic status of rural women. Demonstrating a circular economic model, this activity emphasizes the efficient and sustainable use of resources, recovery, and regeneration. Supported by Gunadamin Elephant House, USAID, and Viridis, the initiative trains women to identify and collect recyclable waste, John Keells Group Confidential including plastics, and incorporate them into the recycling chain. It has created approximately 200 income generation opportunities and increased the household incomes of women waste collectors. In a testament to the projects impact, Rohini Dharshan, a woman waste collector from Batticaloa supported by the Kaviya Self-Development Womens Center, which played a pivotal role in encouraging local women to join this initiative said, This project turned trash into an unexpected source of income for me. I am now not just tidying up the environment, I am also earning by doing it.

ADAderana 18 Mar 2024 5:00 pm

India announces 27-member Indian Men's Hockey Team for five-match Australia Tour

India announces 27-member Indian Men's Hockey Team for five-match Australia Tour Hockey India on Monday named the 27-member Indian Men's Team for the upcoming five-match hockey away Test series against Australia starting on April 6 in Perth, Australia. The team will be playing matches starting 6th April, with their second match on 7 April followed by a match on April 10, 12 and 13. The Indian team will leave from New Delhi on April 1st and will return on April 15, 2024. The Indian Team will be led by ace drag-flicker and defender Harmanpreet Singh and vice-captained by midfielder Hardik Singh in the five-match tour which will be a litmus test for the team in their preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The team will feature PR Sreejesh, Krishan B Pathak, Suraj Karkera, Harmanpreet Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Mandeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Hardik Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Jugraj Singh, Vishnukant Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Boby Singh Dhami, Nilakanta Sharma, Sumit, Sanjay, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Amir Ali, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, Jarmanpreet Singh and Amit Rohidas. Chief Coach Craig Fulton has opted to go with the almost entire core group in order to give players optimum chance to showcase their potential before the final 16-member team is selected for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This will be a very important tour for us as it will not only ascertain the level we are at and the areas we want to get better ahead of the Paris Olympics but this is also an important tournament for the players. We chose to go with the almost entire core group so that each player gets enough opportunity to showcase their full potential and also it is a good tour to test different combinations, Fulton said as quoted by a release from Hockey India. Playing against a team like Australia who are one of the potential podium finishers in Paris will be challenging and at the same time an enriching experience for the level of competition they bring to the matches. It will be a good exposure trip and we are looking forward to it, he added. Indian Men's Hockey Team for Australia Tour: GOALKEEPERS: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, PR Sreejesh, Suraj Karkera. DEFENDERS: Harmanpreet Singh (C), Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Amir Ali. MIDFIELDERS: Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh (VC), Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Rajkumar Pal, Vishnukant Singh. FORWARDS: Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek, Dilpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, Boby Singh Dhami, Araijeet Singh Hundal. (ANI)

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 4:21 pm

Can Walking 15,000 Steps Daily Boost Life Span?

Walking 15,000 steps daily can be a beneficial and achievable goal for improving health and well-being, here's how.

NDTV 18 Mar 2024 4:21 pm

Indian Army establishes elite tech unit STEAG to research future communication technologies

The Indian Army has formed the Signals Technology Evaluation and Adaptation Group (STEAG), a specialized unit focusing on researching advanced communication technologies such as 6G, AI, machine learning, and quantum computing for military use. STEAG aims to bridge the gap between the armed forces, industry, and academia while fostering self-reliance in high-end communication technologies. This move aligns with the Army's goal of acquiring new technologies to enhance operational capabilities in modern warfare.

The Economic Times 18 Mar 2024 4:17 pm

Vygr Media Launches the revolutionary PAABA: Building Podcast IPs for Brands as key Business Asset

Vygr Media Launches the revolutionary PAABA: Building Podcast IPs for Brands as key Business Asset PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 18: Vygr, a forward-thinking media company, is excited to announce the launch of its innovative service, PAABA (Podcast as A Business Asset), designed to empower brands with the tools and insights needed to launch and sustain successful podcast channels. Within just the first week of its introduction, PAABA has seen an unprecedented success rate, with 90 per cent of pitched clients choosing to engage with the service, underscoring the demand for specialized podcasting support in the market. PAABA is a comprehensive service tailored for brands looking to explore podcasts as a dynamic component of their marketing strategy. Under the PaaBA Offering, Vygr will provide an end-to-end solution for a Brand looking to setup a podcast property for itself on its own handles - Services will include selecting a compelling podcast name to securing engaging guests from Vygr's vast network, shooting the entire conversation, post-production and go-live and then promotion of the entire podcast series for engagement and reach. Vygr believes understanding audience interests and then devising the conversation flow is a meticulous task and being from the News media space, Vygr is well equipped to bring a unique combination of Brand visibility and superb content together - The holy grail of most Brand Outreach endeavours. The launch of PAABA represents a significant milestone for Vygr as we continue to innovate at the intersection of media and brand storytelling, said Sonam Bhagat, Founder at Vygr. The phenomenal uptake rate we've experienced is a testament to the untapped potential brands see in podcasts as a medium to connect with their audience on a deeper level. The success of PAABA within its first week highlights the efficacy of Vygr's approach, combining strategic insight with creative expertise to elevate brands in the podcasting space. This venture is not just about creating podcasts; it's about crafting a unique voice and platform for brands to share their stories, educate, and engage with their audience in meaningful ways. Looking to the future, Vygr is committed to expanding PAABA, continuously refining its offerings to meet the evolving needs of brands and their audiences. With the vision of becoming the go-to partner for brands looking to leverage podcasts effectively, Vygr is set on pioneering innovative solutions that not only meet but exceed client expectations. We are thrilled with the initial success of PAABA and are incredibly optimistic about its future. Our goal is to redefine brand engagement through podcasts, making it a pivotal aspect of digital marketing strategies across industries, added Prashant Pandey, Head of Business & Sales, Vygr News & Vygr Media. For brands ready to embark on a transformative podcasting journey, PAABA by Vygr offers the expertise, support, and vision to make it a reality. Abhishake Das, Head of Content at Vygr News & Vygr Media commented, All the way from conceptualizing a podcast series for a brand to executing it, promoting it and making it successful - an end-to-end solution like this is similar to the Event Management industry. The Podcast space has seen individuals working on brilliant ideas. Making this a mainstream asset for a brand which may be a cost of Brand visibility to begin with but then becomes a revenue-generating potential avenue is unheard of. Vygr is a News Media Company founded in August 2022 by Ms. Sonam Bhagat with an aim to capture the attention of tech-savvy Indian audiences with meaningful informational content - both generated inhouse as well as uploaded by informational creators across the Nation. As part of its media business, Vygr Media has been at the forefront of digital storytelling and innovative content solutions making it one of the most promising new media brands of 2024. The Podcasts and Video-enriched content that Vygr leads with on all kinds of informational content for its users as well as its advertisers has heralded a new space for India's informational creators with keen interest in Business, Tech, Entertainment, Politics and Sports. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 4:10 pm