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Gulf Today
21-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Kerala's Azad Moopen among India's top 5 promoter-investors
Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder & Chairman, Aster DM Healthcare is now among India's top five promoter-investors in India in FY25, with a dividend income of Rs2,594 crore. He is the only entrepreneur from Kerala to be featured on the prestigious list, which includes prominent industrialists like Mukesh Ambani, Anil Agarwal, and Azim Premji. The company had declared a special dividend of Rs.118.0 per equity share, a final dividend of Rs.2.0 per equity share and an interim dividend of Rs.4.0 per equity share in FY25. The promoters currently hold 42% stake in Aster DM Healthcare. This milestone reflects not just personal wealth creation, but the robust financial health and operational performance of Aster DM Healthcare-an integrated healthcare organisation built with the mission of providing accessible, high-quality care across India and GCC. The same year Aster also announced its landmark merger with Quality Care India Ltd. (QCIL). The merger positions Dr. Moopen led Aster DM Quality Care Ltd. (the combined entity) backed by Blackstone among India's top three hospital chains, with 38 hospitals and over 10,300 beds across 27 cities. Unlike many other promoters in the list, Dr. Moopen's rise stems from an enterprise that prioritizes clinical excellence and community care. From a single clinic in Dubai in 1987 to 900+ healthcare facilities across India and GCC and employing over 34,000+ professionals across seven countries, Dr. Moopen's journey exemplifies sustainable, impact-driven entrepreneurship. Dr. Moopen is recipient of Padma Shri, 4th highest civilian award by the Government of India in 2011 and has also been honoured with the 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman' by the Government of India. Dr. Moopen's initiatives have played a pivotal role in expanding access to healthcare for underserved communities, underscoring his dual legacy as both a compassionate healer and visionary business leader. Recognising the urgent need for quality medical education and infrastructure in Wayanad, he established Dr. Moopen's Medical College, the first medical college in Kerala to be set up in a hilly, tribal, and backward district, marking a transformative step in uplifting healthcare access in Wayanad. He set up Aster Volunteers in 2016 which has grown to become one of the largest volunteering organisations globally with 85,000+ volunteers working to provide disaster and improve medical access to remote areas. Following the devastating floods in Kerala in 2018, he pledged to rebuild lives by constructing homes for those affected, a promise he fulfilled in 2022 by handing 255 homes across the state. During the 2023 landslides in Wayanad, Dr. Moopen led from the front, directing his team and medical professionals to ensure swift deployment of aid and critical healthcare services. As Aster DM Healthcare enters its next phase of growth, Dr. Moopen's journey stands as a powerful example of how healthcare, rooted in purpose, can also become a powerful engine of sustainable financial value.
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Hunting tourism pumps R44 Billion into South Africa's economy,
Amid global debates on ethical travel and wildlife preservation, a new study from North-West University shines a spotlight on an often-overlooked sector that quietly props up South Africa's rural economy: hunting tourism. In the aftermath of COVID-19, tourism economies the world over struggled to recover. But in South Africa, hunting tourism, both domestic and international trophy hunting, has not only rebounded; it has emerged as a critical economic driver. A new study led by Prof Peet van der Merwe and Prof Andrea Saayman from the North-West University titled Assessing the contributions of hunting tourism to the South African economy: a post‑COVID analysis, calculates hunting tourism's annual contribution to South Africa's economy at a staggering USD2.5 billion, or about R44.03 billion. The figure is not just large, it's transformative. Local hunters, who constitutes mostly middle-aged men from provinces like Gauteng, make up the bulk of this economic activity. With each local hunter spending an average of USD3,594 per season, their collective annual spend tops USD718 million. International hunters, often affluent retirees from the United States, spend far more per trip – an average of USD32,663 – primarily on game, trophies, accommodation, and daily rates. Though fewer in number, their spending adds another USD169 million to the tally. But the significance goes beyond raw expenditure. Employing a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM), the researchers found a production multiplier of 2.97. In lay terms: for every USD1 spent, an additional USD1.97 is generated in economic activity. The ripple effect spreads across agriculture, trade, accommodation, transport, and personal services. Perhaps the most striking finding is employment. Approximately 95 000 jobs in South Africa depend on hunting tourism. Many of these roles such as trackers, farm hands and cleaners require limited formal education, making the sector a vital source of income in a country grappling with a 32.9% unemployment rate. Over 60% of these jobs fall within low-skilled categories, underscoring hunting tourism's outsized impact on South Africa's most vulnerable workers. Hunting tourism's lifeblood flows into rural economies, often bypassed by mainstream tourism. Provinces like Limpopo benefit enormously from the inflow, with private game farms – many converted from struggling livestock operations – thriving through sustainable use. Notably, South Africa's wildlife population on private land now exceeds that in national parks, and the study argues that hunting revenue has underwritten significant rewilding efforts. The researchers also point to a powerful conservation dividend. Contrary to popular belief, regulated hunting creates financial incentives for landowners to protect and repopulate wild species. Without such incentives, many might revert to traditional farming, leading to habitat loss and diminished biodiversity. To some, hunting remains morally fraught. But the study emphasises that economic survival for many rural communities hinges on this industry. Importantly, the research does not gloss over ethical concerns. Instead, it calls for measured policy, recognising hunting tourism's proven contribution to jobs, conservation, and poverty alleviation. Moreover, the sector's resilience post-COVID is telling. As international travel resumes, South Africa has found in hunting tourism a niche that not only endures but thrives. It speaks to a broader shift in post-pandemic tourism: towards immersive, exclusive, and, at times, controversial experiences. With sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and logistics all feeding off the hunting economy, the study urges policymakers to acknowledge and protect this value chain. Legislation around land use, conservation, and hunting quotas must be grounded in economic realities, not just ideological preferences. Missteps could jeopardise both wildlife and livelihoods. Hunting tourism may not be everyone's idea of a sustainable economy. Yet, in South Africa's post-pandemic landscape, it is delivering where others have faltered. It supports rural economies, funds conservation, and employs tens of thousands, many of them low-income workers with few alternatives. In a world seeking green growth with social equity, the rifle may be a more unexpected ally than critics care to admit. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Powys County Times
01-07-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
Rise in births in England and Wales helped by ‘notable' jump in older fathers
The number of births in England and Wales rose last year, the first increase since 2021, helped by a 'notable' jump in babies born to fathers aged 60 and over. Some 594,677 live births occurred in 2024, up 0.6% from 591,072 in 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Births remain at historically low levels, with 2024 ranking as the third lowest total since 1977. But the small rise means the broad downwards trend seen in recent years has, for the time being, come to a halt. The latest increase in births is not reflected across all parts of England, with five regions seeing a year-on-year fall, including a drop of 1.4% in the North East. The largest jumps were in West Midlands, up 3.4%, and London, up 1.8%. While England overall saw a rise of 0.7% in live births, Wales experienced a fall of 2.0%. There was a 'notable increase' in live births to fathers aged 60 and over, the ONS said. The number jumped by 14%, from 942 births in 2023 to 1,076 in 2024. By contrast, births to young mothers and fathers fell, continuing a long-term trend that has seen the average age of parents rise steadily for the last 50 years. Babies born to mothers under the age of 20 dropped year on year by 4.6%, with a 2.4% fall for those aged 20 to 24, while those born to fathers under 20 fell by 0.5% and 3.2% respectively. Greg Ceely, ONS head of population health monitoring, said: 'In 2024, the annual number of births in England and Wales reverses the recent trend of declining births, recording the first increase seen since 2021. 'Despite this overall rise, the number of births to mothers under 30 fell, as people continue to put off having children until later in life. 'The largest decrease is seen amongst those under 20 years old, which fell by almost 5%, while the number of mothers aged 35-39 grew the most. 'A couple of other long-term trends are continuing, such as seeing around half of live births within marriage or civil partnership, and an increase in births to non-UK-born mothers.' The figures come a day after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called on Britons to consider having more children and having them sooner, warning of the 'worrying repercussions' posed by a decline in fertility rates. 'A generation of young people have been thinking twice about starting a family, worried not only about rising mortgage and rent repayments, wary not only of the price of fuel and food but also put off by a childcare system simultaneously lacking in places and ruinously expensive,' she told The Daily Telegraph. The ONS did not publish an update of fertility rates alongside the latest birth numbers, as population estimates for 2024 are not yet available. This data will be released later in 2025. In 2024, there were 594,677 live births in England and Wales, an increase of 3,605 (0.6%) compared with 2023 (591,072). This is the first increase since 2021, although it is smaller than the 1.8% increase from 2020 to 2021 ➡️ — Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) July 1, 2025 Some 39.5% of live births in England and Wales last year had either one or both parents born outside the UK, up from 37.3% in 2023 and 32.5% a decade earlier in 2014. At a regional level, the proportion in 2024 ranged from 22.6% in north-east England to 68.3% in London, with 19.4% for Wales. The local areas with the highest percentage of live births where one or both parents were born outside the UK were all in London, led by the City of London (84.4%), Brent (83.9%), Newham (82.4%) and Harrow (82.2%). The highest area in Wales was Cardiff (40.6%). The area with the lowest proportion was Torridge in Devon (6.3%), followed by Staffordshire Moorlands (8.5%), Caerphilly in Gwent (8.9%) and Rochford in Essex (9.2%). The ONS stressed that data showing parents' country of birth does not give a full picture of a family's ethnicity or migration history, or reflect any recent trends in immigration.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets start 3-game series against the Nationals
Washington Nationals (30-35, third in the NL East) vs. New York Mets (42-24, first in the NL East) New York; Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (3-5, 2.87 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 108 strikeouts); Mets: Griffin Canning (6-2, 2.90 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 57 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Mets -162, Nationals +134; over/under is 7 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets begin a three-game series at home against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. New York has a 42-24 record overall and a 24-7 record at home. The Mets are 32-9 in games when they record at least eight hits. Washington has a 30-35 record overall and a 15-17 record in road games. The Nationals have gone 17-11 in games when they did not give up a home run. The teams meet Tuesday for the fifth time this season. The season series is tied 2-2. TOP PERFORMERS: Pete Alonso leads the Mets with 17 home runs while slugging .594. Francisco Lindor is 13 for 40 with a double, four home runs and seven RBIs over the past 10 games. Advertisement James Wood has 16 doubles and 16 home runs for the Nationals. Luis Garcia is 15 for 41 with five doubles, a home run and eight RBIs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Mets: 8-2, .268 batting average, 2.70 ERA, outscored opponents by 31 runs Nationals: 5-5, .229 batting average, 4.10 ERA, outscored by four runs INJURIES: Mets: Francisco Lindor: day-to-day (toe), Mark Vientos: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jesse Winker: 10-Day IL (side), Danny Young: 60-Day IL (elbow), A.J. Minter: 60-Day IL (lat), Frankie Montas: 60-Day IL (lat), Brooks Raley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Sean Manaea: 60-Day IL (oblique), Jose Siri: 10-Day IL (shin), Nick Madrigal: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Drew Smith: 60-Day IL (elbow), Christian Scott: 60-Day IL (elbow) Advertisement Nationals: Dylan Crews: 10-Day IL (back), Paul DeJong: 10-Day IL (face), Orlando Ribalta: 15-Day IL (biceps), Derek Law: 15-Day IL (forearm), DJ Herz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Mason Thompson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Josiah Gray: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. The Associated Press
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets start 3-game series against the Nationals
Washington Nationals (30-35, third in the NL East) vs. New York Mets (42-24, first in the NL East) New York; Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (3-5, 2.87 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 108 strikeouts); Mets: Griffin Canning (6-2, 2.90 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 57 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Mets -162, Nationals +134; over/under is 7 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets begin a three-game series at home against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. New York has a 42-24 record overall and a 24-7 record at home. The Mets are 32-9 in games when they record at least eight hits. Washington has a 30-35 record overall and a 15-17 record in road games. The Nationals have gone 17-11 in games when they did not give up a home run. The teams meet Tuesday for the fifth time this season. The season series is tied 2-2. TOP PERFORMERS: Pete Alonso leads the Mets with 17 home runs while slugging .594. Francisco Lindor is 13 for 40 with a double, four home runs and seven RBIs over the past 10 games. Advertisement James Wood has 16 doubles and 16 home runs for the Nationals. Luis Garcia is 15 for 41 with five doubles, a home run and eight RBIs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Mets: 8-2, .268 batting average, 2.70 ERA, outscored opponents by 31 runs Nationals: 5-5, .229 batting average, 4.10 ERA, outscored by four runs INJURIES: Mets: Francisco Lindor: day-to-day (toe), Mark Vientos: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jesse Winker: 10-Day IL (side), Danny Young: 60-Day IL (elbow), A.J. Minter: 60-Day IL (lat), Frankie Montas: 60-Day IL (lat), Brooks Raley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Sean Manaea: 60-Day IL (oblique), Jose Siri: 10-Day IL (shin), Nick Madrigal: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Drew Smith: 60-Day IL (elbow), Christian Scott: 60-Day IL (elbow) Advertisement Nationals: Dylan Crews: 10-Day IL (back), Paul DeJong: 10-Day IL (face), Orlando Ribalta: 15-Day IL (biceps), Derek Law: 15-Day IL (forearm), DJ Herz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Mason Thompson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Josiah Gray: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
