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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
105 nabbed for drunk driving in Hyderabad, 17 jailed
AI Image (TIL creatives) HYDERABAD: Traffic police in the Hyderabad commissionerate registered 105 drunk driving cases between July 4 and 5. All the accused were produced before a magistrate. Of them, 17 were sentenced to jail terms and fined Rs 41,000. Another 75 individuals were fined Rs 2,100, while 12 others were penalised Rs 3,100. One person was awarded court rising along with a fine of Rs 3,300. A total fine of Rs 2,39,000 was imposed by the court on individuals caught drunk driving.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Naac to roll out new accreditation system, to end easy-grade era
AI Image (TIL creatives) MUMBAI: Nearly a year after India's accreditation system came under scrutiny for rewarding institutions with questionable ease, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (Naac) is preparing to turn the page. In about 10 days, Naac will formally start its Basic Level Accreditation system —a reset that promises to bring thousands of previously unaccredited colleges and universities into its fold. At the same time, the policy of Maturity Based Graded Level accreditation will be unveiled for public feedback. Unlike the broadbrush grades of the past, this new system divides the climb into tiers, each stacked with parameters that make reaching the summit—Level 4 or 5—a challenge for even the most seasoned institutions, said Naac chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe. Naac has announced accreditation will be a binary process. This means universities and colleges will be tagged as either 'accredited' or 'still-to-be accredited'. While basic accreditation will be open to institutes graded for the first time, those already accredited earlier can opt for Maturity Based Graded Level accreditation. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai 'The new methodology is layered with multiple parameters, making it difficult for institutes to make it to level 4 or 5, the highest an institute can score. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo It is not like the earlier system when it was easy to get an A or an A++,' explained Prof Sahasrabudhe. 'There are strong benchmarks and growing from level 1 to 4, forget 5, will be very tough.' The new methodology was drawn up on the recommendations of Dr Radhakrishnan Committee, which was set up after TOI wrote a series of reports on corruption in grading system. While the future opens up, the past is quietly being put to rest. Around 50 institutions still awaiting accreditation under the old regime will finally receive theirs, after which the old portal will shut down. 'A new accreditation portal for India is ready,' said Prof Sahasrabudhe. He added that this is more than just a procedural update. 'It's a reset in how educational quality is understood — not as a fixed badge of honour, but as an evolving continuum. ' NAAC will release the draft policy of Maturity Based Graded Level accreditation to encourage accredited institutions to 'raise their bar, continuously improve'. The maturity based graded levels will be implemented later in the year.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Artha Global invests Rs 700 crore in Hyderabad's Phoenix Triton project
AI Image (TIL creatives) HYDERABAD: Artha Global Opportunities Fund, a Rs 5,000-crore category III alternative investment fund (AIF) operating out of GIFT City, has made its maiden private credit investment in India with Rs 700 crore to fund the completion of the Phoenix Triton project in Hyderabad. The investment in the 2.8 million square feet commercial real estate project located on a 3.15-acre parcel of land in Financial District, is structured as a four-year non-convertible debenture (NCD). With this investment, the fund said it is pioneering a variable return model that is directly linked to the project's sales performance. With a floor and cap interest rate, the returns ease cash flow pressures on the developer while offering attractive upside potential for investors, it explained. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad "As we debut the first private credit investment from our over Rs 5,000 crore Artha Global Opportunities Fund, we are bringing to the market innovative structures that solve real-world challenges faced by Indian entrepreneurs. This structured funding for the Phoenix Global Spaces project will provide last-mile financing for a Grade A project nearing completion," said Sachin Sawrikar, managing partner, Artha Bharat Investment Managers IFSC LLP.
Economic Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
As EU's green trade rules kick in, India works policy shifts
TIL Creatives Representative AI Image New Delhi: While India and the European Union (EU) are ready to close a key trade pact, various Indian ministries are working on several rulebook shifts to align with a slew of new, stricter 'green' regulations by the EU that will come into effect within a year and are bound to impact Indian trade across sectors from coffee export to import of scrap. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change is at the forefront of the exercise, readying rulebook shifts and mechanisms to align with the incoming 'green' regime at the EU. Packaging for EU - no antibiotics to boot The latest niggle is the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR) that will regulate the types of packaging acceptable across the EU markets from August 2026 onwards. Bound to have a huge impact for all Indian exports to the EU, the regulations have triggered deliberations across industry as well as several stakeholder ministries to prepare for a comprehensive overhaul of packaging systems. Reason: the new rules call for several restrictions on the manufacturing, composition, and reusable nature of packaging. These range from barring use of single-use plastics for pre-packed fruit and vegetables to packaging of condiments, sauces, and sugar. They also go into aspects like weight and volume of packaging to minimise unnecessary packaging. Deadlines of 2030 and 2040 have been set to ensure a minimum percentage of recycled content in packaging, all of which will require major shifts for Indian industry. The next one, under advanced discussion in the Indian government, is regarding EU's 2018-19 ban on 'non-therapeutic antibiotic use in livestock' and animal products. ET gathered that the EU earlier this year warned India that unless it completely bans nearly 30 such antibiotics for animal use, several animal products from India would not be permitted into the EU from a specific date later this year. An older India advisory has been found inadequate. ET has learnt that the ministries of health, agriculture and commerce are finally close to issuing a full-fledged notification on the issue to align with the EU rulebook requirement. 'Deforestation free' products A third regulation of concern is the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) which will come into full effect between December 2025 to June 2026 with significant implications for export of coffee, palm oil, rubber, wood, soy and cattle and related products from leather to furniture. The EUDR requires exporters to assure and certify that their products are 'deforestation free' - not sourced/produced from deforested or degraded land. Companies will need to trace products back to their 'origin,' with geolocation and 'due diligence' procedures to ward off a stiff penalty. The Indian environment ministry is currently working on state-level mechanisms to bring in the 'due diligence' certification regime to prove 'origin of wood' involved, ET has geo-tagging of plots is being worked upon for coffee plantations to vineyards to secure compliance to export to the EU. The Wasteland The EU Waste Shipment Regulation (EU WSR) comes next and will take effect from May 2026. It demands that all waste exported out of the EU must be processed in an environmentally responsible manner - through a verifiable, third party audit based mechanism. With India importing over 3.5 million tonnes of waste from the EU - iron scrap to tyre waste and paper- the WSR will require a significant shift of mechanisms at India's growing waste processing industry. Citing the new WSR rulebook, the EU earlier this year asked India to share a list of waste products it would like to import. India is learnt to have indicated over 26 categories of waste it is keen to import. ET gathers that hectic work is on to strengthen standards and quality control measures ahead of the 2026 deadline.
Economic Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
'This is how World War III begins': As missiles rain on Tel Aviv, analysts say the next strike could drag the world in
TIL Creatives Representative AI Image Israel has vowed a harsh response after three civilians were killed near Tel Aviv in Iranian missile strikes. In a statement that drew immediate global concern, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared, 'If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn.'Katz accused Iran of using its citizens as shields for its aggression, saying, 'The Iranian dictator is taking the citizens of Iran hostage. It is bringing about a reality in which they, and especially Tehran's residents, will pay a heavy price for the flagrant harm inflicted upon Israel's citizens.'Iran, in turn, issued threats to Western nations, warning that any support for Israel could make them targets. Mehr News Agency, a state-run Iranian outlet, stated: 'Any country that participates in repelling Iran's attacks on Israel will be subject to Iranian forces targeting all regional bases of the complicit government, including military bases in the Persian Gulf countries and ships and naval vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.'Overnight, Israel launched what officials are calling Operation Rising Lion, a large-scale military response to Iran's prior provocations. Israeli military spokesperson Brig Gen Effie Deffrin said, '200 Israeli fighter jets participated in the operation overnight, striking some 100 targets,' while Iran responded by launching around 100 drones toward Israeli territory. As reported by the Mirror, security expert Professor Anthony Glees, a lecturer at the University of Buckingham, said the nature and scale of Israel's response may be 'a blueprint' for how a third world war would unfold. In comments to the Mirror, he outlined two likely scenarios that could drag Europe into a broader conflict, 'First, that Iran hits back hard, is supported by its admittedly weakened proxies, Hezbollah, the Houthis and what's left of Hamas, as well as its chums in the region and beyond.' Glees also warned that authoritarian leaders such as Putin, Kim Jong-Un, and Xi Jinping could view a distracted and weakened United States as an opportunity to act. 'We recall that Putin is firing Shahed drones at Ukraine,' he said. 'Now is the time to pursue their own bugbears in Ukraine, South Korea and Taiwan.'The situation has drawn strong responses across the international spectrum. Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to a Downing Street readout, they 'discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate.' The statement added, 'The UK is poised to work closely with its allies in the coming days to support a diplomatic resolution.'Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump confirmed that embassy staff had been moved out of Iraq, and voluntary departures were authorised in Bahrain and Kuwait. Speaking on Wednesday, he said, 'They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens.' He added, 'They can't have a nuclear weapon. Very simple—we're not going to allow that.'Professor Glees painted a chilling picture of how modern warfare could unfold in Europe. The first stage, he warned, would be cyberattacks. 'There's no doubt our primary enemy would be Putin's Russia,' he said. 'It will not only knock out our digital communications networks... normal life in the UK would grind to a rapid halt and there will be panic.'Glees described how Israel reportedly sent mobile alerts to every citizen at 3am—even to phones switched off. 'I've no doubt the Israelis took down the Iranian digital networks a few seconds afterwards,' he would be followed by drone attacks on intelligence and military leadership. 'We here will likely see a massive drone attack taking out our top military brass, the heads of MI6, MI5 and GCHQ,' he said, even referencing current political staff as potential targets.'MI6 currently flying the Pride flag would make it a doubly attractive target to Putin who thinks we're all sexually confused and obsessed.'British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the UK is moving fighter jets and other 'assets' to the Middle East. 'We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support,' he told reporters en route to the G7 summit in said he had spoken with both US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu, describing the talks as 'constructive.' He added, 'Our constant message is de-escalate.'Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed the call. 'We must urgently de-escalate & prevent any further harm to civilians,' he posted on social media, adding that he had spoken with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi 'to urge calm.'Back in the Middle East, time may be running out. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing for a military strike on Iran regardless of US support. NBC News cited sources saying Israel may move within weeks if nuclear talks go Trump continues negotiating with Tehran, Israeli officials fear any deal that allows uranium enrichment could be exploited by Professor Glees, the lesson is stark. 'A pre-emptive strike may become the best option,' he said. 'Our PM (and I think Starmer would be up for this) would order a pre-emptive hit on Moscow. We'd do to them exactly what they were hoping to do to us. And we'd end up secure for the next decade.'As diplomacy battles against timelines and missiles, the world now faces a question that grows louder each day: can this be stopped before it's too late?Israel struck more than 150 targets across Iran for a second straight day on Saturday, destroying key nuclear and military infrastructure and prompting Tehran to call off diplomatic talks with Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were only the beginning. 'We will hit every site and every target of the Ayatollahs' regime, and what they have felt so far is nothing compared with what they will be handed in the coming days,' he said in a recorded statement. The offensive, which began Friday, followed Israel's targeted killing of several top Iranian commanders. It has already claimed more than 70 lives, including nine nuclear scientists and multiple senior Revolutionary Guard officers. Iranian officials said 78 people were killed on the first day of Israeli attacks, and scores more on Saturday. One missile destroyed a 14-storey residential block in Tehran, killing 60, including 29 children. Iranian state TV showed the building's crumbled remains and damaged homes nearby.'Smoke and dust were filling all the house and we couldn't breathe,' said Tehran resident Mohsen Salehi, speaking to Iranian outlet WANA after an overnight response came swiftly. On Friday night, it launched over 200 ballistic missiles and drone swarms at Israeli cities. Three people were killed, and 174 injured, many in Tel Aviv. Air raid sirens blared through the night. In cities like Rishon LeZion, homes were reduced to rubble.'We're still trying to anticipate what will happen this evening. It's better to play it safe,' said Jordan Falkenstein, a resident in Tel military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin warned the public on Saturday night that more attacks could follow and urged vigilance.A senior Israeli military official confirmed that significant damage was inflicted on Iran's nuclear programme. Strikes targeted the Natanz enrichment plant, Isfahan, and a military hangar at Mehrabad airport in Tehran. Aboveground structures were flattened, while uranium enrichment sites were reportedly official claimed Israel had 'eliminated the highest commanders of their military leadership' and described the nine scientists killed as 'main forces driving forward the [nuclear] programme.'The UN nuclear watchdog confirmed damage at Natanz and reported contamination, though Rafael Grossi, its chief, said the leak was 'manageable.'Diplomatic talks between Iran and the US, scheduled for Sunday in Oman, have been cancelled. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said talks were 'unjustifiable' while Israel's 'barbarous' attacks Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, added: 'It is obvious that in such circumstances... it will be meaningless to participate in dialogue with the party that is the biggest supporter and accomplice of the aggressor.'Despite not joining the attack, the US has backed Israel's actions. President Donald Trump said the strikes gave Washington more leverage and warned Iran of 'much worse to come' unless it abandoned its nuclear Saturday, Israeli bombs reportedly hit Iran's South Pars gas field in Bushehr province, causing a fire and partial suspension of gas output. This marks the first time Iran's energy infrastructure has been hit in the current oil prices surged by 7% on Friday over concerns of regional supply disruptions.A senior Iranian commander, Esmail Kosari, said Tehran was considering shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil scale of Israel's attacks and the weakness of Iran's defence systems have rattled Tehran. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei faces growing pressure. If he escalates, he risks drawing in the US. If he retreats, it may look like Defence Minister Israel Katz warned, 'If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn.'Iran has also warned US-allied bases in the region they would be targeted if involved in intercepting Iranian traditional allies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, are now depleted after fighting in Gaza and Lebanon. Their absence weakens Iran's capacity to respond through pleas from world powers for restraint, both countries appear set for a prolonged declared that the campaign would continue 'for as many days as it takes.' The consequences, already severe, could soon spiral into a wider war.
