30,000 Animals Rescued from Illegal Captivity in the Largest Wildlife Trafficking Raid in History

Poaching suspects and the elephant ivory they were holding in Angola – credit, INTERPOL, released

INTERPOL recently executed the largest-ever edition of its annual series of coordinated of raids to dismantle criminal shipments and networks of trafficked and poached wildlife.

Called Operation Thunder, some 30,000 live animals were seized in 4,620 raids across 134 countries, 30% more than last year.

INTERPOL identified 1,100 suspects and issued 69 notices of criminal activity to participating nations’ police forces.

Operation Thunder took place between September 15th and October 15th. It included law enforcement agencies like national police, customs, border security, and forestry and wildlife authorities.

In terms of live animals awaiting transfer or sale into illegal captivity, the operation rescued 6,160 birds, 2,040 terrapins, 1,150 reptiles, 208 primates, 49 pangolins, 10 big cats, and some 19,000 other species, including more infrequently trafficked mammals, fish, amphibians, and a notably larger number of arthropods (insects, arachnids, etc.)

Far larger in number and tonnage was the animal parts and derivates that were seized, such as shark fins, pangolin scales, elephant ivory, tortoise shell, and more.

Encouragingly though, in the largest-ever police bust of wildlife trafficking, merely 7 rhino horns were found amid over 100,000 seized objects, suggesting rhino poaching control is seeing success.

Indeed, large charismatic animals and their body parts are less often found in these annual raids than they used to me. At the same time, increases in exotic arthropods, as well as timber, show the flexibility of poachers. 14,000 tons of illegally logged tree timber were confiscated across the participating nations. This is believed to be as much as one-third of the entire illegal timber market.

Months of preparation for Operation Thunder 2025 centered on the exchange of information, the sharing of actionable intelligence and the coordination of cross-border investigations among participating countries and regions, INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization.

Beyond the immediate arrests and seizures, the intelligence gathered during what is the 9th edition of Operation Thunder will help map global criminal networks. These insights will enable law enforcement agencies worldwide to refine their strategies, anticipate emerging criminal tactics and disrupt illicit supply chain activity, ensuring a sustained and effective response to transnational wildlife crime.INTERPOL did not give estimates on the total valuation of the seizures, but the trafficked goods from just Tanzania exceeded half a million US dollars, suggesting that criminal networks would have lost 7, even 8-figure amounts in illicit revenues. 30,000 Animals Rescued from Illegal Captivity in the Largest Wildlife Trafficking Raid in History

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Thousands of passenger planes need to be fixed to avoid pilots losing control during solar storms

Thousands of the most popular passenger aircraft in the world need immediate maintenance to protect from a problem that injured passengers and caused an emergency landing last month, CNN reported.

Airbus found intense solar storms, like solar flares, could cause pilots to lose control of the Airbus A320 series of planes, including A319, A320, and A321s. About 6,000 of the single-aisle planes, which are the bestselling passenger aircraft in the world, need the repairs.

“Analysis of a recent event involving an A320 Family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,” Airbus said in a statement.

On October 30, JetBlue Flight 1230 - an A320 - was flying from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey when it suddenly dove down in altitude. The pilots made an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida, where about 15 people were taken to the hospital.

Airbus investigated the incident and on Friday told airlines in an “Alert Operators Transmission” that the fix was needed. The company believes it is the only time this specific problem has happened, but says it “proactively worked with aviation authorities… keeping safety as our number one and overriding priority.”

The Airbus A320 series has what’s called fly-by-wire controls: physical movements from the pilot run through computers which, in turn, adjust the plane’s control surfaces.

An airworthiness directive from the European Union requires airlines to make the repairs before the planes can carry passengers again.

Most planes can be repaired in about two hours.b Source: https://www.panorama.am

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Delhi’s air quality deteriorates again, AQI climbs to 385 as cold wave deepens pollution crisis

Noida: Commuters wear face masks to protect themselves amid smog and pollution on Bhangel Road, in Noida on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) Delhi woke up to yet another day of toxic air on Friday, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 385, firmly in the “very poor” category. Air pollution across Delhi-NCR continues to remain hazardous, offering little respite to residents already struggling with a cold wave.

The spike in pollution comes barely a day after authorities lifted the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-III restrictions, which are enforced to curb severe pollution levels. However, the relief was short-lived, as air quality deteriorated rapidly once again. On Thursday, the city’s overall AQI rose sharply to 377, up from 327 the previous day, marking a significant decline in air quality within 24 hours.

Despite the worsening conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has clarified that Stage-III curbs will only be reinstated if the AQI crosses 400, which falls under the “severe” category. Until then, authorities plan to continue monitoring the situation without reimposing stricter curbs.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), pollution levels surged steadily throughout the day on Thursday due to persistently low wind speeds. The AQI, recorded at 351 at 8 am, escalated to 381 by 7 pm, indicating continuous accumulation of pollutants over the region.

Meteorologists suggest that the winds remained almost stagnant for most of the day, with only brief movements at 4–5 kmph, insufficient to disperse particulate matter. Forecasts suggest the national Capital is likely to stay in the “very poor” category over the next few days.

Meanwhile, the ongoing cold wave gripping Delhi and nearby cities is compounding the crisis. The combination of low temperatures, fog, and high pollution levels is worsening public health conditions.

In Delhi-NCR and several cities across North India, temperatures have dropped to minimum levels of 8 to 12 degrees Celsius.

A thick layer of haze blanketed the city from morning hours and returned in the evening, significantly reducing visibility on roads and contributing to slower traffic movement.Health experts warn that breathing in such polluted air can have severe consequences, especially for children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or cardiac conditions. They advise residents to stay indoors as much as possible, avoid strenuous outdoor activities, and step out only when necessary.Delhi’s air quality deteriorates again, AQI climbs to 385 as cold wave deepens pollution crisis | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Public Service Announcement: Young Indian student missing since March 1 in Queens, NY

Flyer on Missing Person Ferin Khoja.

An urgent plea has been broadcast by the family of Ferin Khoja, 25, missing since March 1, 2024. “Please circulate this missing person information to all your groups to help find Ferin Khoja, a 25 year old Indian student who is missing since March 1, 2024 evening after going for a walk near her apartment in Rego Park, Queens, New York.

Identity Card of Missing Person Ferin Khoja. PHOTO: provided by family

Any information anyone has, they can contact the police, the number of the police is on the flyer or they can contact Ferin’s family at 1 (917) 605-2038 or findferin@gmail.com. Public Service Announcement: Young Indian student missing since March 1 in Queens, NY

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EU launches 'illegal content' probe into Elon Musk's X

POOL/AFP/File | TOBY MELVILLE

BRUSSELS - The EU announced "formal infringement proceedings" against Elon Musk's X platform on Monday, under a law cracking down on illegal online content, after identifying disinformation related to Hamas's 7 October attack in Israel.

The action against the company formerly known as Twitter is the first against a major online platform since Brussels implemented the Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping piece of European Union legislation that strengthens online companies' responsibility for content moderation.

"Today's opening of formal proceedings against X makes it clear that, with the DSA, the time of big online platforms behaving like they are 'too big to care' has come to an end," said the bloc's digital enforcer, EU commissioner Thierry Breton.

"We will now start an in-depth investigation of X's compliance with the DSA obligations concerning countering the dissemination and amplification of illegal content and disinformation in the EU, transparency of the platforms and design of the user interface."

The European Commission said a preliminary information-gathering investigation it launched against X in October, which included looking at "the dissemination of illegal content in the context of Hamas' terrorist attacks against Israel", led to Monday's probe.

On the basis of that information, "the Commission has decided to open formal infringement proceedings against X under the Digital Services Act", it said.

The formal probe will examine four areas: the dissemination of illegal content; the effectiveness of X's efforts to combat disinformation; suspected restrictions on giving researchers access to its data; and suspected deceptive practices -- known as "dark patterns" -- related to its Blue Tick subscription product.

In the event of proven infringements, the DSA carries penalties that can include fines going up to six percent of an online company's global revenues.

- Disinformation -

For serious and repeated violations, the EU can ban a platform operating in the 27-nation bloc.

The commission said that, under the formal probe against X, it would now "continue to gather evidence, for example by sending additional requests for information, conducting interviews or inspections".

It noted that the proceedings gave it powers to order X to undertake interim or remedial steps, pending the conclusion of the probe.

There is no deadline for the proceedings to wrap up.

Weeks after starting its initial information-gathering exercise against X, the commission also launched preliminary investigations along the same lines against TikTok, YouTube and Facebook owner Meta.

Those investigations also looked at how the platforms handled disinformation and illegal content related to the Hamas attack.

The Hamas attack on October 7 killed around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, and took an estimated 240 people hostage, according to updated Israeli figures.

Israel retaliated with an intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas.

More than 18,800 Palestinians -- around 70 percent of them women, young children and adolescents -- have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments since 7 October, according to the Hamas government's health ministry, and much of the besieged territory has been reduced to rubble.

- Extremists and conspiracy theorists -

Brussels back in September raised concerns over X's disinfo-fighting capacities after noting its bad score in that regard in a pilot study of several platforms.

Since buying Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, Musk has gutted its content moderation staff, and reinstated accounts of banned extremists and conspiracy theorists.

He has got rid of the platform's system for verifying high-profile users, replacing it with a subscription blue tick offer open to any willing to pay.

Musk rebranded the company X, with ambitions of turning it into a multi-service platform to include identity verification and payment transactions in the mould of China's WeChat.

Last month, he grossly insulted advertisers who have abandoned his platform and declared a tweet espousing an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory to be the "absolute truth".

According to information provided to AFP by market data analysis company SensorTower, as many as half the top 100 US advertisers the company had in October 2022 have already stopped spending altogether on X.

Musk's company is now worth less than half of what he paid for it -- around $19 billion, according to internal documents sent to staff and reported by tech publication The Verge.By Daniel AronssohnEU launches 'illegal content' probe into Elon Musk's X

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How the Israel-Hamas war could affect the world economy and worsen global trade tensions

Global geopolitical tensions often play a pivotal role in shaping people’s perceptions of economic growth. Research shows concern about such issues can cause people and businesses to become more cautious about spending and investing, which can ultimately lead to economic recession.

The recent escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict is no different. Investors around the world are worried about the repercussions of this war – particularly in light of an already bleak picture for global economic growth.

Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel is the latest chapter of a cycle of violence that has been going on in this region for decades and, sadly, seems to have no end in sight. While the reasons behind these events are complex, the conflict’s potential immediate and long-term economic ramifications are easier to grasp.

After all, if the Russia-Ukraine war has taught us one thing, it’s that we should be mindful of the intricate interdependencies that shape the global economic and geopolitical landscape.

How conflicts can affect the economy

Internal and inter-state conflicts often have a significant effect on stock market indices, exchange rates, and commodity prices – sometimes even sending prices higher in the lead-up to hostilities. The longer-term economic impact is typically more complicated to assess, however. The lasting effects of even seemingly dramatic events on investor behaviour can be hard to predict.

Conflicts in the Middle East tend to lead to spikes in oil prices – think of the OPEC oil embargo of 1973-1974, the Iranian revolution of 1978-1979, the Iran-Iraq War initiated in 1980, and the first Persian Gulf War in 1990-91. Since the region accounts for nearly a third of global oil supply, any instability can create market uncertainty based on concerns about interruptions to global oil supply.

This uncertainty is reflected in the risk premium in oil markets. This is the price paid for oil traded ahead of time in the futures markets versus the real-time price of oil. It reflects the profits that speculators expect to receive from buying and selling oil during a time of conflict, as well as the hedging needs of businesses that produce and consume oil and their concerns about supply and demand.

And so, the effect of the latest Israel-Hamas conflict on global financial markets will depend on the involvement of other major regional powers. If the conflict remains between Israel and Hamas, the effect will probably be limited and arguably exclusive to countries with direct trade exposure to Israel or Palestine.

But if the conflict spreads to major oil-producing nations in the region such as Iran, the global economy could face severe repercussions as energy costs for businesses and households could spike if supply is interrupted.

Higher energy prices would hamper central banks’ efforts to tame inflation pressures in most advanced and emerging economies. If this leads to a “higher for longer” monetary policy that keeps interest rates elevated, it would push up the cost of borrowing and refinancing by governments, companies and people.

History can offer some insights into how the impact on the global economy could unfold under these different scenarios. For instance, the 50-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2014, which killed 2,200 people, mostly civilians, had no significant effect on the global economy or financial markets.

Yet, when Israel and Hezbollah clashed in Lebanon in 2006, oil prices surged globally due to fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.

What to expect this time

Unfortunately, there is another factor to consider at the moment. The escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict has happened alongside the realignment of various global alliances. This slow creep of “deglobalisation” can be seen in a shift in trade policies in recent years.

Countries such as the US and UK are relocating economic activity including sourcing or manufacturing products from different countries out of concern about relying on suppliers in potentially hostile regions, as well as the impact of imports from low-wage countries on struggling local labour markets

At the moment, these shifts can also be seen in the reactions to the Hamas attack on Israel. A two-state solution) to the Israel/Palestine conflict was initially laid out by the United Nations in 1947 and reaffirmed in 1974, with almost unanimous support around the world.

But there has been some nuance in the international reactions to the attack. With most western countries quickly voicing support for Israel’s right to defend itself, while countries like China and Russia called for a ceasefire without taking a stance on Hamas.

This suggests that the issue of Israel-Palestine could tie in with the broader trend towards the new geopolitical divisions that were already starting to emerge before Hamas’s attack.

A prolonged conflict between Israel and Palestine, especially with the involvement of major regional powers, could further accelerate this global realignment and have detrimental consequences for global economic growth.

Under these circumstances, investors are already bracing for increased financial volatility across the board – from stocks and government bonds to commodity markets. So-called safe-haven assets like gold are typically used as protection against overwhelming economic uncertainty. The price of gold has shot up following the latest escalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Financial markets will continue to monitor the conflict between Israel and Hamas for signs of escalation. Anything that pushes oil prices up further will reignite fears of higher inflation.

Unfortunately, this is happening just as many countries were starting to see inflation slow again after two years of persistently high consumer prices.

Daniele Bianchi, Associate Professor of Finance, Queen Mary University of London

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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US court dismisses Westinghouse case against Korea : Corporate

A rendering of two APR1400 units (Image: KHNP)

A US district court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Westinghouse Electric Company seeking to prevent Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and its parent company Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) from exporting the APR1400 reactor design without its permission.

Westinghouse filed the case on 21 October last year with the District Court for the District of Columbia. The suit claimed that the APR1400 design includes intellectual property licensed by Westinghouse and requires its permission before being transferred to other countries considering deploying the design.

The APR1400 is an evolutionary pressurised water reactor with its origins in the CE System 80+ design, which Westinghouse acquired in 2000. Principally designed by Korea Engineering Company, it produces 1400 MWe and has a 60-year design life. It supersedes the standardised 995 MWe OPR-1000 design, of which South Korea built 12. The APR1400 features improvements in operation, safety, maintenance and affordability based on accumulated experience as well as technological development.

In its lawsuit, Westinghouse said KHNP and KEPCO needed its support to comply with US laws restricting nuclear power technology sharing. Under these rules - known as Part 810 requirements - the US Department of Energy must approve the sharing of certain technologies with other countries. Part 810 sets out regulations governing the transfer of technology for development, production or use of nuclear reactors, equipment and materials.

In response, KHNP filed countersuits in the USA calling for Westinghouse to withdraw the case. It claimed that the US Atomic Energy Act grants authority to enforce the law exclusively to the US Attorney General and not to entities as a means of claiming rights through litigation.

In an 18 September ruling, the District Court for the District of Columbia accepted the defendants' argument and dismissed the case.

"The court holds that Westinghouse lacks a private cause of action to enforce Part 810 and therefore has failed to state a claim," the ruling read.

"Westinghouse's dispute with KEPCO/KHNP crosses multiple jurisdictions and covers two issues: compliance with US nuclear technology export control requirements; and KEPCO/KHNP's long-standing obligations to comply with Westinghouse's intellectual property rights that they agreed to contractually," said David Durham, President, Energy Systems, Westinghouse. "The use of Westinghouse intellectual property outside of Korea is the principal dispute between the parties.

"The decision by the US District Court merely holds that export control enforcement resides with the US government. Westinghouse intends to appeal the decision. The decision has no bearing on the ongoing arbitration proceeding against KEPCO/KHNP involving KEPCO/KHNP's non-allowed transfer of Westinghouse's intellectual property outside Korea. Westinghouse is committed to protecting our intellectual property and we fully expect to be successful in the arbitration on all issues."

He noted that the arbitration panel has confirmed that a final ruling is not expected until late 2025.

Under a USD20 billion deal announced in December 2009, four Korean-designed APR1400 reactors have been built at the Barakah site in the UAE by a consortium led by KEPCO. The first three of these units were connected to the grid in August 2020, September 2021 and October 2022, respectively.

On 28 October 2022, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that Westinghouse had been selected for the first part of the country's six-reactor plan to build up to 9 GWe of capacity by 2040.

On 31 October last year, Poland's Ministry of State Assets, South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, ZE PAK, PGE and KHNP signed a letter of intent to develop plans for a nuclear power plant consisting of at least two Korean-supplied APR1400 reactors in Pątnów. Researched and written by World Nuclear News. US court dismisses Westinghouse case against Korea : Corporate - World Nuclear New

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California dentist pleads guilty to stealing $500,000 in COVID-19 relief money

Ranjan Rajbanshi, D.D.S., 46, of Bakersfield and Santa Barbara, California, pleaded guilty August 21, 2023, to stealing $500,000 in COVID-19 relief money.

• The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California Phillip A. Talbert.
• According to the press release which quoted from court records, Rajbanshi ran a dental practice in Bakersfield and Santa Barbara.
• From April 2020 through February 2022, he received more than $850,000 in COVID-19 relief money from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He represented to the government that he would only use the relief money for specified business purposes such as facility costs, payroll, and protective equipment for him and his staff.
• Rajbanshi subsequently used $500,000 of the relief money “for improper personal expenditures such as investments,” the press release said. He has agreed to pay that money back to the government before his sentencing. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba on Dec. 4, 2023, when he faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and fine of $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.The Justice Department said anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at justice.gov.California dentist pleads guilty to stealing $500,000 in COVID-19 relief money

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President Biden issues order restricting technology investments in China

• By Aniket Gupta, On 9 August 2023, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order that enforces restrictions on certain new American investments in China, specifically targeting sensitive technologies such as computer chips. The order also mandates government notification for investments in other technology sectors in China.
• The eagerly anticipated directive grants authority to the US Treasury Secretary to forbid or limit American investments in Chinese enterprises in three key sectors: semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and specific artificial intelligence systems. The order stated that the constraints would be applicable to ‘narrow subsets’ of the three domains, but exact details were not disclosed.
• The presidential order aims to prevent the utilization of American capital and knowledge to advance China's military modernization efforts and pose a threat to America’s national security. It seeks to reduce the involvement of private equity, venture capital, joint ventures, and new business ventures in China.
• The next day, the Chinese government expressed profound concern about the order and declared its right to undertake appropriate actions in response. The ministry said the US should uphold the principles of market economy regulations and fair competition and not artificially impede international economic and trade interactions and collaboration or introduce barriers.
• The proposal centers on investments in Chinese enterprises engaged in the creation of software for computer chip design and the development of manufacturing tools for such chips. The leading countries in this area are the US, Japan, and the Netherlands, while the Chinese government has been actively engaged in developing its own indigenous alternatives.
• According to the White House, that President Biden engaged with US allies over the proposal and took input from G7 nations.
• The executive order will exempt certain transactions and require investors to inform the government about their intentions for other deals. The treasury department indicated it might grant exceptions for specific transactions, which may include publicly traded instruments and transfers between US parent companies and subsidiaries.The order is set to be implemented in 2024 after several rounds of public input, which would include an initial 45-day comment period. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/, Image: https://pixabay.com/

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Silicon Valley Bank, sixteenth-largest US bank, collapses

US banking regulator, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, on Friday shuttered the SVB Financial Group, which operates the Silicon Valley Bank, and seized its assets after the bank closed Friday with a negative cash balance.

The failure of the sixteenth-largest bank in the United States followed a run on the bank with depositors pulling out $42 billion from Silicon Valley Bank on, according to a regulatory filing on Friday.

The run was reportedly sparked by a letter that Silicon Valley Bank chief executive officer Greg Becker sent to shareholders on Wednesday. The bank had suffered a $1.8 billion loss on the sale of US treasuries and mortgage-backed securities and outlined a plan to raise $2.25 billion of capital to shore up its finances.

Customers immediately tried to pull their money, including many of the venture-capital firms. Moreover, fund managers like Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, Coatue Management, Union Square Ventures and Founder Collective advised their startups to pull their cash from the bank, according to reports.

At the close of business on 9 March, the bank had a negative cash balance of $958 million, according to an order taking possession of the bank filed by California banking regulator, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

When the Federal Reserve sent its cash letter — a list of checks and other transactions for the bank to process - to SVB, it failed to pull together enough currency to meet it, according to the California regulator.

“Despite attempts from the bank, with the assistance of regulators, to transfer collateral from various sources, the bank did not meet its cash letter with the Federal Reserve,” the order from Commissioner Clothilde Hewlett said.

The order places the lender into receivership by the state regulator.

As of 31 December 2022, the Silicon Valley Bank had about $209 billion in total assets and about $175.4 billion in total deposits, as per the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

The FDIC said customers will have continued access to their insured funds beginning Monday. However, payments to uninsured depositors will hinge on the sale of bank assets.

According to SVB's own estimates in 2022, 96 per cent of its $173.1 billion in deposits exceeded or were not covered by FDIC insurance.

SVB, which primarily caters to Silicon Valley startups, saw its deposits more than triple from $60 billion in 2019 to over $190 billion by 2022.

This funds came as more venture funds flowed to startups. The start-ups parked their excess money with the bank. The bank in turn parked a major portion of the deposit money into fixed-return mortgage-backed securities as it could not use these funds in unbridled lending.

Since the bank's deposits almost cost nothing, the model was profitable. When government securities yielded 0.5 per cent, the Silicon Valley Bank managed to make 1.5 per cent.

SVB seems to have erred in selecting non-floating interest rate assets at a time when interest rates were poised to rise. The bank was locked into low yields when interest rates on government securities were much higher.

The bank also has unique vulnerabilities in a rising interest regime. The bank had to abandon a capital-raising programme through equity and debt, which wiped off nearly $80 billion worth of shareholder value.

The crisis that enveloped the bank also triggered a global sell-off in banking stocks after it launched a rescue share sale to plug a near-$2 billion gaping hole in its finances.The collapse of SVB is likely to spell trouble for Silicon Valley, as the bank is one of the biggest lenders to startups and V C funds in the US. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/

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CBI Court convicts 09 accused including AGM, Assistant Manager of IDBI Bank for causing 99 Lakh loss to Bank

Visakhapatnam, Feb 17: The Special Judge, CBI Cases, Visakhapatnam has convicted 9 accused including then AGM, Assistant Manager, both of IDBI Bank, 5 private persons & 2 private firms.

The Court sentenced Sri Surendranath Datti, then Assistant General Manager-cum-Centre Head, IDBI Bank Ltd., Vizag Retail Asset Centre, Siripuram Junction, Visakhapatnam to undergo two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.60,000/-; Sri Dwibhashyam Karthik, then Asstistant Manager, IDBI Bank Ltd., Vizag Retail Asset Centre, Siripuram Junction, Visakhapatnam to undergo two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.30,000/-; and private persons Sri Buddha Srinivasa Rao, Civil Contractor & Construction Business, Anakapalle, Visakhapatnam District to undergo one year Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.30,000/-; Smt Buddha Nirmala, Anakapalle, Visakhapatnam District to undergo one year Rigorous Imrisonment with fine of Rs.30,000/-; Sri Kotha Kama Raju, Panel Valuer of IDBI Bank Ltd. & Proprietor, M/s. R.K. Engineers, Visakhapatnam to undergo one year Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.20,000/-; Sri Belagam Srinivasa Rao, Panel Valuer of IDBI Bank Ltd, Visakhapatnam to undergo one year Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.20,000/- & Sri Raghupathruni Kanaka Lakshmi Prasad, Panel valuer of IDBI Bank Ltd., Srikakulam to undergo one year Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.20,000/-.

The Court has also imposed fine of Rs.60,000/- on M/s Nimble Corporate Services Private Limited, Hyderabad and Rs.30,000/- on M/s Dharshan Management, Visakhapatnam.

CBI had registered a case on the allegations that Sri Surendranath Datti, then Assistant General Manager-cum-Centre Head and Sri Dwibhashyam Karthik, then Assistant. Manager, IDBI Bank Ltd., Vizag Retail Asset Centre, Siripuram Junction, Visakhapatnam in connivance with the borrowers, Panel Valuers & others had sanctioned & disbursed the loans to ineligible borrowers by accepting fake income tax returns, ignoring adverse CIBIL Reports, violating the laid down procedures & norms of IDBI Bank and failing to ensure property security.Thus, the accused caused a total loss to the tune of Rs.99.21 lakh to the IDBI Bank Limited. Source: https://www.crosstownnews.in/

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"Energized and excited": Chris Hipkins becomes 41st Prime Minister of New Zealand

On January 25, Chris Hipkins succeeded Jacinda Ardern as prime minister of New Zealand after the latter's 'shock' resignation on January 19.

At the swearing-in ceremony in Wellington, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, King Charles III's representative, appointed Hipkins prime minister and Carmel Sepuloni the first Pasifika New Zealander deputy prime minister.

Hipkins, 44, was elected to replace Ardern as leader of the Labour Party unopposed on January 22. He is expected to lead the party into the October elections amidst economic challenges and two years of declining Labour popularity against a stronger conservative opposition.

In his first speech as prime minister, Hipkins, who under Ardern led New Zealand's response to COVID-19, said: "This is the biggest privilege and responsibility of my life [...] I’m energized and excited by the challenges that lie ahead."

Hipkins said the cost of living was an "absolute priority" for the new ministry but ruled out announcing specifics "only a couple of hours into the job". Quarterly consumer spending figures published that morning showed New Zealand's inflation rate remained high at 7.2%, led by increases in housing and food costs.

"New Zealanders will absolutely see in the coming weeks and months the cost of living is right at the heart of our work program [...] It is the number one priority that we are facing as a government and they will see tangible evidence of this", he told reporters, but said "I’m not going to be so hasty as to make things up on the fly".

Sepuloni expressed her gratitude for the position and saluted Hipkins' victory. On Sunday, Sepuloni, of Samoan, Tongan, and New Zealand European descent, said she "want[s] to acknowledge the significance of this for our Pacific community".

On Sunday, Hipkins pledged to fight what he described as a "pandemic of inflation": "COVID-19 and the global pandemic created a health crisis. Now it’s created an economic one and that’s where my government’s focus will be". But he said focusing on the economy won't detract from other priorities, including climate change, which remains "one of the biggest intergenerational challenges that we face."

Christopher Luxon, the Leader of the Opposition, said he texted Hipkins and Sepuloni his congratulations, but declared the Ardern government "failed spectacularly", and Hipkins promised only 'more of the same'.

Despite previous cabinet positions as Minister of Education and Minister of Police, Hipkins became known as the 'architect' behind New Zealand's COVID-19 policy. Nevertheless, according to the Associated Press, he and other party members were obscure compared to Ardern, a "global icon for the left".

Ardern said she resigned after serving almost fifteen years as a member of parliament because she didn't "have it in the tank [to continue]." She is expected to remain an MP before resigning in April, to prevent a by-election before the October vote.

Ardern was elected prime minister in a coalition government in 2017 and won a landslide re-election three years later. She has governed during the nation's deadliest terrorist attack, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In her last event as prime minister on Tuesday, Ardern said people were "the joy of the job". On Wednesday morning, staffers and supporters gathered to say goodbye and hug her as she walked out of the Parliament building.

William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, tweeted Ardern and her family their gratitude "for your friendship, leadership and support over the years, not least at the time of my grandmother’s death." Source: https://en.wikinews.org/, Under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License

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Global recession risk up in 2023 amid parallel rate hikes: World Bank

The world may be edging toward a global recession in 2023 and a string of financial crises in emerging markets and developing economies that would do them lasting harm as central banks across the world simultaneously are hiking interest rates unusually fraught circumstances in response to inflation, according to a comprehensive study by the World Bank.

Central banks around the world have been raising interest rates this year with a degree of synchronicity not seen over the past five decades—a trend that is likely to continue well into next year, according to the study report.

Yet the currently expected trajectory of interest-rate increases and other policy actions may not be sufficient to bring global inflation back down to levels seen before the pandemic.

Investors expect central banks to raise global monetary-policy rates to almost 4 per cent till 2023—an increase of more than 2 percentage points over their 2021 average, the World Bank said in a release citing the report.

Unless supply disruptions and labor-market pressures subside, those interest-rate increases could leave the global core inflation rate (excluding energy) at about 5 per cent in 2023—nearly double the five-year average before the pandemic, the study found.

To cut global inflation to a rate consistent with their targets, central banks may need to raise interest rates by an additional 2 percentage points, according to the report’s model.

If this were accompanied by financial-market stress, global GDP growth would slow to 0.5 per cent in 2023—a 0.4 per cent contraction in per-capita terms that would meet the technical definition of a global recession.

The world’s three largest economies—the United States, China and the euro area—have been slowing sharply. Under the circumstances, even a moderate hit to the global economy over the next year could tip it into recession, the press release said.Central banks should persist in their efforts to control inflation—and it can be done without touching off a global recession, the study finds. But it will require concerted action by a variety of policymakers. Source: https://www.fibre2fashion.com/

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Shakira to stand trial in Spain for tax evasion

Colombian music star Shakira will stand trial in a Spanish court for allegations of tax fraud amounting to 14.5 million Euros. A Barcelona court has ordered the singer to stand trial for six alleged tax crimes, although a date has not yet been set. Spanish prosecutors want to jail the superstar for eight years and fine her 23.8 million Euros if she is found guilty.The 45-year-old has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Source: https://www.fijivillage.com/

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Suu Kyi gets 3 years in prison for breaching state secrets

A court in Myanmar today sentenced the country’s ousted pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to three years in prison for breaching state secrets. The news agency AFP reported this information on Thursday (September 29), citing a source related to this case. According to the report, Aung San Suu Kyi and Australian citizen Sean Turnell were sentenced to three years in prison for the Official Secrets Act case. On February 1, 2021, the junta government overthrew the elected government in Myanmar and seized power. The country’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, along with the top leaders of her party, were imprisoned. After that, the military government filed a case against the Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader one by one.Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged with at least 18 crimes, including violations of corruption, election laws and state secrets laws, which could lead to up to 190 years in prison if convicted. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/

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France, US hail PM Modi's advice to Putin over Ukraine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hailed at the United Nations General Assembly for his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war, by the US and France at the UNGA meeting in New York. On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand on September 16, PM Modi had said "today's era isn't of war" while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. France President Emmanuel Macron and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday (local time) welcomed PM Modi's statement to Putin on Ukraine. "Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India was right when he said the time is not for war. It is not for revenge against the West, or for opposing the West against the east. It is the time for a collective time for our sovereign equal states. To cope together with challenges we face," Macron said. Sullivan in a White House statement said: "I think what Prime Minister Modi said -- a statement of principle on behalf of what he believes is right and just -- was very much welcomed by the United States and for the Indian leadership, which has longstanding relationships in Moscow, from the very top all the way through the Russian government, to continue to reinforce that message that now is the time for the war to end". Apart from the UNGA, PM Modi's statement became popular and was praised by international media. American network CNN praised PM Modi's hold on world politics and reported, "Indian leader Narendra Modi tells Putin: Now is not the time for war." While another US publication The Washington Post's headline was "Modi rebukes Putin over the war in Ukraine". "India's Leader Tells Putin That Now Is Not an Era for War," The New York Times said in its headline. It was the lead story on the webpage of both The Washington Post and The New York Times. Meanwhile, Russian President Putin had said that he knows about India's position on the Ukraine conflict. "I know about your position on the Ukraine conflict. I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible," Putin said. "But the other party, the leadership of Ukraine has claimed... that they refuse to engage in the negotiation process. They said they want to achieve their objectives, as they say, on the battlefield militarily. We will keep you abreast of everything that is happening over there," he added. "The rare reproach showed the 69-year-old Russian strongman coming under extraordinary pressure from all sides," the Post said. Putin said that relations between Russia and India are in the nature of a privileged strategic partnership and continue to develop very rapidly. Copyright © Jammu Links News Source: Jammu Links News

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Argentina regulator’s commitment to nuclear safety praised by IAEA : Regulation & Safety

The Atucha plant site (Image: Nucleoelectrica Argentina)

A 13-day International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission to Argentina concluded that the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) "demonstrated a long-standing commitment to enhancing and promoting nuclear safety", and also recommended areas for improvements.

Argentina has three nuclear power plants in operation - Atucha I and Atucha II and Embalse. Together they generate up to 10% of the country’s electricity. A prototype small modular reactor, the CAREM 25, is also being built. It also has research reactors and fuel cycle facilities.

The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team was made up of 19 experts from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, France, Germany, Hungary, India, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. There were also four IAEA staff members and two observers.

IRRS missions are aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of a country’s nuclear and radiation safety regulatory infrastructure. This mission also included the regulatory implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to meetings and reviewing documents, the missions visited the Embalse plant, a fuel cycle facility, a research reactor, laboratories, a radiotherapy facility and a radioactive waste management facility at the Atucha site.

Areas of good performance, the IRRS team said, included ARN’s capability to make its regulatory decisions based on measurements and radiological safety evaluations carried out in its own laboratories, and recognised "the excellent preparatory work done by Argentina, including the identification of a number of findings during its self-assessment that were later confirmed by the IRRS mission".

The mission "recognised that ARN has been successfully implementing a comprehensive education and training programme in radiation and nuclear safety for more than 40 years for countries in the region".

The main challenges identified for ARN "is to revise or develop several regulatory regulations and guides, which can be a lengthy process".

Other recommendations include establishing a fiduciary fund for decommissioning activities, radioactive waste and used fuel management; establishment of a process to review and revise standards and guides to keep them up to date; further strengthening of the formalisation of the national plan for response against nuclear and radiological emergencies.

Javier Zarzuela, technical director at Spain's Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) and the IRRS team leader, said: "The review has permitted the team to develop a broad understanding of the governmental, legal and regulatory framework, resulting in recommendations and suggestions that should benefit nuclear and radiation safety in Argentina. By inviting this international full scope peer review, Argentina shows openness, transparency and commitment to continuous improvement."

Agustín Arbor González, President of the Board of Directors of ARN, said: "Argentina has a long-standing commitment to nuclear safety. Having completed a self-assessment prior to this mission, we are satisfied that, overall, our regulatory system, which is predominantly based on performance criteria, complies with IAEA safety standards. There are some topics that need further work, and we are committed to making improvements."

The final mission report will be provided to the government in about three months.Researched and written by World Nuclear News, Source:  World Nuclear News

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French President Emmanuel Macron congratulates India on its Independence Day

AUG 15, 2022 French President, Emmanuel Macron congratulated India on its 76th Independence day as he assured strengthened bilateral ties with the country. Hailing India's stunning achievement for the last 75 years, Macron said, "Dear friend @NarendraModi, dear people of India, congratulations on your Independence Day! As you proudly celebrate India's stunning achievements in the past 75 years, you can count on France to always stand by your side," taking to Twitter. India and France have traditionally close and friendly relations. The areas of Defence and Security Cooperation, Space cooperation, and Civil nuclear cooperation constitute the principal pillars of our Strategic Partnership with France. India and France are increasingly engaged in new areas of cooperation like security in the Indian Ocean region, climate change including the International Solar Alliance, and sustainable growth and development among others. India and France share a close degree of convergence on a range of regional and global issues. In the economic domain, while there exists vast potential, French economic capacities, it's business and industry, its capital, and technologies have forged linkages with the Indian economy and India's developmental goals.n Copyright © Jammu Links News , Source: Jammu Links News

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India is a strong defense power in the world and now its impossible to become a defense threat against India.

India will be celebrating 75 years of Independence on August 15, 2022, now India has become a strong defense power in the world in the every area of defense developments and its hard for any country to fight against India as India is being with weapons of all the class. so threat from China & Pakistan is the talk of past now they can create only propaganda of fight and conducts useless defense meetings but the reality is only that they cant fight against India. just take a look in the defense capacities of India.  

• List of Countries with nuclear weapons

1. Russia 5,977 

2. United States 5,428 

3.China 350 

4.France 290

5. United Kingdom 225 

6. Pakistan 165 

7.India 160 

8.Israel 90

9.North Korea 20

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

• Top 10 Countries with the Highest Number of Active-Duty Military Personnel (in members):

1. China: 2,185,000
2. India: 1,455,550
3. United States: 1,388,100
4. North Korea: 1,280,000
5. Russia: 1,014,000
6. Pakistan: 654,000
7. Iran: 610,000
8. South Korea: 599,000
9. Vietnam: 482,000
10. Egypt: 438,500

• Top 10 Countries with the Highest Number of Active-Duty and Reserve Military Personnel (in members

1. Vietnam: 5,482,000
2. South Korea: 3,699,000
3. China: 3,355,000
4. Russian Federation: 3,014,000
5. India: 2,610,550
6. United States: 2,233,050
7. North Korea: 1,880,000
8. Taiwan: 1,820,000
9. Brazil: 1,706,500
10. Pakistan: 1,204,000

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com

• Largest militaries in the world by budget (Military Budget 2021 (in USD billions)

1. United States: 778.0

2. China: 252.0

3. India: 72.9

4. Russia: 61.7

5. United Kingdom: 59.2

6. Saudi Arabia:: 57.5

7. Germany: 52.8

8. France: 52.7

9. Japan: 49.1

10. South Korea: 45.7

11. Italy: 28.9

12. Australia: 27.5

13. Canada: 22.8

14. Israel: 21.7

15. Brazil: 19.7

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

• Top 10 Largest Air Forces in the World (by number of Military Aircraft) - Flight International 2022:

1. United States Air Force - 5,217
2. Russian Air Force - 3,863
3. People's Liberation Army Air Force (China) - 1991
4. Indian Air Force - 1,715
5. Egyptian Air Force - 1,062
6. Korean People's Army Air Force (North Korea) - 946
7. South Korean Air Force - 898
8. Pakistan Air Force - 810
9. Japan Air Self-Defense Force - 746
10. Royal Saudi Air Force - 690

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/-

• Top 10 Largest Navies in the World (by total number of warships and submarines - 2020):

1. China - 777
2. Russia - 603
3. North Korea - 492
4. United States - 490
5. Colombia - 453
6. Iran - 398
7. Egypt - 316
8. Thailand - 292
9. India - 285
10. Indonesia - 282

• Foreseeing the future: The top 5 navies in the world by 2030

While the present day is obviously important, some military analysts are already looking toward the future. A 2021 piece on NationalInterest.org revealed expert picks for the top 5 navies of 2030, based upon the state of each country's current fleet, production/manufacturing plans, and overall naval budget.

United States - The U.S. is expected to remain the dominant global naval power in 2030, thanks to an unmatched combination of sheer tonnage and technological advancement. The U.S. Navy doesn't just have many ships, it has many massive, cutting-edge ships.
United Kingdom - While the U.K.'s total number of ships is expected to decline, the addition of two new aircraft carriers and the progressive updating of its submarine fleet should establish the U.K. as the #2 maritime power.
China - The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fleet is older, but larger in number (if not tonnage) fleet than the U.S. Navy fleet, and the PLAN has ambitious plans to keep adding more and more vessels.
India - Another Asian country expanding its naval presence, India should have three operating aircraft carriers by 2030, collectively capable of deploying 110-120 aircraft.
Russia - This superpower's aging fleet is likely to suffer some budget constraints as older equipment is decommissioned, but Russia is still expected to have eight ballistic missile submarines (with 20 missiles each) patrolling the seas in 2030.

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/

• India: Land-based ballistic missiles 

1. Prithvi-I Short-range ballistic missile: Range 150 KM. 
2. Prithvi-II Short-range ballistic missile: Range 250–350 KM 
3. Prithvi-III Short-range ballistic missile: Range: 350–600 KM 
4. Agni-I Medium-range ballistic missile: Range: 700 KM 
5. Shaurya Medium-range ballistic missile: Range: 700-1900 KM 
6. Agni-P Medium-range ballistic missile: Range: 1,000–2,000 KM 
7. Agni-II Medium-range ballistic missile: Range: 2,000–3,000 KM 
8. Agni-III Intermediate-range ballistic missile: Range: 3,500–5,000 KM 
9. Agni-IV Intermediate-range ballistic missile: Range: 4000 KM 
10. Agni-V Intercontinental ballistic missile: Range 5,000–8,000 KM 
11. Agni-VI Intercontinental ballistic missile & MIRV capable: Range: 8000–12,000 KM, Under development

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/

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Explained: Why Michael Jackson's Three Songs Got Removed From Streaming Services?

The three contested songs from his posthumous album have been removed from streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify

By: Sourit Sanyal, Michael Jackson has left a legacy in the musical world of pop. Often referred to as the 'King of Pop', the singer-dancer died on June 25, 2009, due to a cardiac arrest. A significant pop cultural figure, Jackson's hit songs like Billie Jean, Beat, and Thriller continue to be some of the most popular 80's pop songs across various streaming platforms.

Following his death, a posthumous album called 'Michael' was released in 2010 that consisted of some old unreleased songs that Jackson recorded before his untimely death. From this album, three songs, namely Monster, Breaking News and Keep Your Head Up made headlines after the songs were removed from streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music on July 5.

Why Were These Songs Removed?

The three songs that featured in his posthumous compilation album Michael have been removed after facing persistent backlash and claims that the songs feature fake vocals. From his loyal fan base to critics, musicologists and even musicians, there has been a decade-long suspicion that the songs do not feature Michael Jackson's actual voice.

A fan filed a court case claiming that the vocals in the songs are by a session singer. The songs were removed from streaming platforms by Sony Music and the Estate of Michael Jackson together. According to them, the removal of the songs has got nothing to do with the authenticity but to end the controversies surrounding the songs.

In a statement, they said their action is "the simplest and best way to move beyond the conversation associated with these tracks once and for all". They also said, "The album's remaining tracks remain available. Nothing should be read into this action concerning the authenticity of the tracks – it is just time to move beyond the distraction surrounding them".

With this, they also mentioned how "the focus remains where it belongs - on the exciting new and existing projects celebrating Michael Jackson's legacy". This includes the Broadway musical titled, 'MJ: The Musical' and a biopic produced by Graham King.

Also Read: KCR Says Cloudburst Is 'Foreign Conspiracy'. But Can It Be Artificially Created?

The Controversy Regarding 'Michael'

After his death due to a cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, many, including Jackson's family began to question if the late singer himself had performed on the songs. According to MJ's sister La Toya, "It doesn't sound like him". Before this, Jackson was working on an album after almost ten years following his success in 'Invincible', released in 2010.

The posthumous album 'Michael' was completed by Jackson's friends, musicians and Sony Music. Many critics and musicologists pointed out that the album was highly edited, using fragments from his previous verses that got combined with powerful orchestral music.

While Sony claims the album to be authentic, with a statement saying that it had "complete confidence in the results of our extensive research, as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael, that the vocals… are his own."

The back cover of the posthumous album said, "This album contains nine previously unreleased vocal tracks performed by Michael Jackson. These tracks were recently completed using music from the original vocal tracks and music created by the credited producers". If the songs are found to be fake, there's a lot in line for both the Estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music besides just credibility.

Also Read: Business As Usual For Facebook, As Hateful Content Thrives In India: Study

The Vera Serova Court Case, 2014

In 2014, Vera Serova, a Michael Jackson fan filed a class-action lawsuit under California's Unfair Competition Law and the Consumers Legal Remedies Act against Cascio, Angelikson Productions (Cascio's production company), Porte, John Branca (the co-executor of Jackson Estate), MJJ Productions (Estate's music label) and Sony Music.

Serova alleged that Porte, Cascio and Agelikson committed an "elaborate artistic fraud" where they sold tracks to the Estate of Michael Jackson for millions of dollars. But after Sony Music and Estate denied the allegations in 2018, the California court dismissed Serova's appeal.

With speculations going around the songs, Sony Music and the Estate of MJ decided to remove the songs. But many claim that if the songs had been originally sung by Jackson, they wouldn't have been removed by the label. Meanwhile, both Sony Music and the Estate aim to be looking for stopping the conversation and further speculations once and for all.

While the three songs: Monster, Keep Your Head Up and Breaking News are officially unavailable across streaming platforms like YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify, the internet has still got unofficial uploads of the removed songs.

This article is republished from BOOM under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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