#Enforcement Directorate inquiry

[nsebullcom]

sand mining: 'Illegal' sand mining probe: Madras HC stays ED's summons to TN officials

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Tuesday stayed the operation of the summons issued to five district collectors by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with its probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act into alleged illegal sand mining in the state. A division bench comprising Justices S S Sundar and Sundar Mohan granted the interim stay on the petition filed by state public…

[mariacallous]

He wasn’t kidding. Donald Trump really does want to rule as an extremist strongman, with contempt for the planet, for America’s allies and for the rule of law. He’s made that crystal clear this week, announcing one bombshell appointment after another, each one a declaration of intent. Few things tell you more about a president than their hires – personnel is policy, as they used to say in Ronald Reagan’s White House – and Trump is telling us exactly who he is.

The latest name added to the roster is a storied one: Robert F Kennedy Jr, now lined up for the role of health secretary. You may have known of Bobby Kennedy. Bobby Kennedy may be a hero of yours. But, boy, his son is no Bobby Kennedy. Once an admired environmental campaigner, now he is an anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorist who promotes treatments that don’t work – such as hydroxychloroquine for Covid – and rails against those that do, spreading the long-debunked claim that childhood vaccines are linked to autism and opposing fluoridation of water to prevent tooth decay. Apparently unchastened by the pandemic, Kennedy believes US public health officials have been too focused on infectious diseases. Or as he memorably put it: “We’re going to give infectious disease a break for about eight years.” If deadly pathogens could lick their lips, they would.

At least the RFK nod was not a surprise: Trump had long said he wanted to let Kennedy “go wild” with the nation’s health. More of a jawdropper is the new president’s choice for attorney general, the most senior law enforcement officer in the land: Matt Gaetz. For two years, Gaetz was under federal investigation for child sex trafficking and statutory rape. (No charges were brought.) Until this week, his fellow members of the House of Representatives were running their own ethics committee inquiry into Gaetz – handily halted, thanks to his resignation just days before they were about to report – examining, besides the allegations of underage sexual abuse, accusations that he engaged in illicit drug use, displayed to colleagues, on the floor of the House, nude photos and videos of previous sexual partners, converted campaign funds for personal use and accepted gifts banned under congressional rules.

Some wonder if naming such a man as head of the US justice department is a diversionary tactic, designed to distract attention from the clutch of other nominations that are scarcely less outrageous, in the hope that those will look reasonable by comparison. In this view, Trump knows that Gaetz will never be attorney general, that his nomination will be blocked in the Senate where, even though the Republicans have a majority, too many will balk. Gaetz is chum, thrown into the water to satisfy the piranhas, so that Trump can quietly ensure his other nominees get through. And what a rum bunch they are.

As director of national intelligence, overseeing 18 separate intelligence agencies including the CIA and NSA, Trump has turned to Tulsi Gabbard, a fringe Democratic congresswoman before she defected to the Republicans, best known for meeting Bashar al-Assad while the Syrian dictator was busy slaughtering hundreds of thousands of his own people, and for parroting Kremlin talking points.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Gabbard was swift to blame the west, even repeating the Moscow propaganda line that the US had stationed secret biolabs across Ukraine. One of Vladimir Putin’s mouthpiece TV channels took to referring to Gabbard as Russia’s “girlfriend”. When asked if she was, in fact, a Russian agent, the talking head on the Kremlin-backed network replied: “Yes.” Now consider that at the core of the US relationship with its allies – including Britain – is intelligence-sharing and ask yourself whether the likes of MI6 could in all conscience share what they know with such a person.

Her proposed counterpart over at the Pentagon, set to be in charge of the mightiest, richest military in human history, is the weekend host of Fox News’s breakfast show, Pete Hegseth. Admittedly, he served in Iraq and Afghanistan – and as a prison guard in Guantánamo Bay – but Hegseth has never run a whelk stall, let alone one of the world’s biggest organisations, employing close to 3 million people. His rank inexperience would be worrying enough, until you become familiar with what he believes.

He’s covered in tattoos, including symbols favoured by the Christian nationalist far right, among them the slogan Deus Vult and the Jerusalem cross, which celebrates the medieval Crusades when Christians earned their spurs slaughtering infidel Muslims and Jews. These days, he backs the ultra-right Jewish fundamentalists who seek to rebuild the ancient temple on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, the site revered by Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, a move so incendiary it’s a byword for triggering holy war.

Hegseth will find company in Trump’s choice of ambassador to Israel, former Arkansas governor and evangelical Christian Mike Huckabee. Like Hegseth, Huckabee is against a two-state solution, insists on calling the West Bank by its biblical Hebrew name – Judea and Samaria – and is adamant that “There’s no such thing as an occupation.” In 2008 he said, “there’s really no such thing as a Palestinian”.

All of which makes you wonder how those many Arab and Muslim American voters in Michigan and elsewhere, persuaded that Trump had to be a better option for the Palestinians than Kamala Harris, feel now.

We’ve barely got to Lee Zeldin, Trump’s choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency, despite having repeatedly voted against clean water and clean air legislation, and having expressed doubts over whether climate breakdown is “as serious a problem” as people say it is. Or to the self-confessed puppy killer who will head the Department of Homeland Security. Or indeed the man who will lead the new department reviewing government contracts, including, in an arrangement open to spectacular corruption, contracts with his own companies: namely, Elon Musk.

Still, you get the picture. How, then, to make sense of these choices? Some hope it’s no more than an opening bid by Trump, the arch-negotiator: offer the Senate something obviously unacceptable, then haggle from there. Others wonder if it’s part of a dark, deliberate strategy, by which Trump, the agent of chaos, appoints those who are not so much disruptors as wreckers, men and women who can be relied on to make the agencies they lead collapse in failure. When the federal government is a smoking ruin, then all power will have to reside in the single man at the top.

My own view is simpler. At the heart of it is the quality all would-be strongmen value most: loyalty. Trump knows that a character as tawdry as Gaetz, despised by his own colleagues, would owe everything to him. As attorney general, he would do whatever Trump asked, working his way through Trump’s enemies list, prosecuting whoever had crossed his boss, delivering the retribution Trump yearns for.

What’s more, Gaetz and the rest are a kind of test, one that Putin deploys often. You push your allies to defend what they know cannot be defended, to make concessions they would once have considered unpalatable. As the analyst Ron Brownstein put it this week, “Each surrender paves the way for the next.” It is, he says, “a cardinal rule of strongman dominance”.

So now it is up to the Republicans in the Senate. Will they abase themselves yet further, and nod through this parade of ghouls and charlatans? Or will they at last find their backbone and say no to the would-be autocrat who has taken over their party and now looms over all three branches of the US government? After all we’ve seen these last eight years, what do you think is the answer?

[odinsblog]

How automakers make use of data collected by connected cars is coming under scrutiny in California. On Monday, the California Privacy Protection Agency announced that it will review the data privacy practices of connected vehicle manufacturers. The agency is empowered to do so thanks to a 2018 state law, the California Consumer Privacy Act.

"Modern vehicles are effectively connected computers on wheels. They're able to collect a wealth of information via built-in apps, sensors, and cameras, which can monitor people both inside and near the vehicle," said Ashkan Soltani, CPPA's executive director.

"Our Enforcement Division is making inquiries into the connected vehicle space to understand how these companies are complying with California law when they collect and use consumers' data," he said in a statement.

Connected cars are fast becoming ubiquitous—it may well be impossible to buy a new car, truck, or SUV in 2023 that doesn't have at least one embedded modem in it. In the mid-2010s, many OEMs saw dollar signs at the prospect of monetizing data collected by their deployed vehicle fleets, and unlike with cellphones, it can be hard or impossible to disable location tracking in one's car.

"Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, geolocation is considered personal information. People have the right to say no to being tracked in their cars, but it is unclear if car companies are providing this right," said Justin Kloczko, a privacy advocate at Consumer Watchdog. "These companies know more about us than we know about ourselves, and they’re the ones in control of our personal information, not us," Kloczko said.

(continue reading)

[magickedteacup]

Did I ever tell you about the time I was within the radius of a famous Hollywood director, but because we were at an ashram, and everybody gets to do seva/self-less service, yes even him, he got the VIP experience of… getting personally taken to his seva at the crack of dawn to do gardening. Which in this context and tropical climate meant he was, in his words, “knee deep in rotting coconuts” and getting constantly attacked by mosquitos.

I think he had a good time though, if I recall right, he got to have a peaceful moment of relaxing after all the work was done, enjoying the beautiful morning scenery and drinking coconut juice. This being an area where you couldn’t take 2 steps without running into a coconut tree. Anyway, I was only in his vicinity because my friend there worked at the women’s empowerment research lab/initiative at the university associated with the ashram… the chancellor of the university is the same person as the head of the ashram… so anyway that director was interested in learning about those women empowerment projects, how the lab was doing educational initiatives with law enforcement, etc. I don’t know if anything came of that director’s inquiries, but I feel like it’s a little interesting nugget of a story.

[beardedmrbean]

SEOUL (Reuters) - More than 100 North Koreans have gone missing after being caught by secret police while trying to defect from the isolated country or even for trying to call relatives in South Korea, a Seoul-based human rights group said on Thursday.

The Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) released a report detailing patterns of enforced disappearances through its study based on interviews with 62 North Korean escapees in South Korea.

Tens of thousands of North Koreans have defected in the decades since the Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, with many of those caught or repatriated sent to prison camps or other detention facilities before being released.

The group identified 113 people in 66 disappearance cases, including the cases in an archive run with other international organisations, as well as maps depicting transfer routes.

Of the 113, 80%, or 90, were arrested inside North Korea and the rest in China or Russia, with about 30% disappearing since leader Kim Jong Un took power in late 2011.

Almost 40% of them went missing after being caught trying to flee the country, while 26% took responsibility for another family member's crime. Nearly 9% were accused of being in touch with those in South Korea or other countries.

More than 81% vanished after being transferred to and detained by the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the North's secret police known as "bowibu", according to the report.

An interviewee who defected to the South in 2018 from the Chinese border city of Hyesan said his friend was arrested by the MSS while trying to recover a Chinese mobile phone hidden in the mountains, and was now rumoured to have died.

"Once (the MSS) finds call records with South Korea, they are considered serious offences," the interviewee was quoted in the report as saying.

Kang Jeong-hyun, director of the project, said the report was intended to underscore enforced disappearances committed by the Kim regime as transnational crimes also involving China and Russia.

The report was published just days before the U.N. Human Rights Council is due to issue its five-yearly Universal Periodic Review on North Korea.

The United Nations estimates up to 200,000 people are held in a vast network of gulags run by the MSS, many of them for political reasons. A 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry report said the prisoners faced torture, rape, forced labour, starvation and other inhumane treatment.

Pyongyang has long denounced defectors as "human scum", and Kim has further tightened border controls over the past few years.

The North's Korea Association for Human Rights Studies this month rejected a U.N. report on its human rights violations including forced disappearances, calling them "fabrications" and a conspiracy by the West to escalate confrontation and tarnish the country’s image.

Beijing has denied there are any North Korean defectors in China, instead describing them as illegal economic migrants.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Tabia Lee

Published: Mar 26, 2023

DR TABIA LEE: Accused of 'whitesplaining'. Told students are either 'victims' or 'oppressors'. And then fired as diversity chief... my grim story of how woke extremists are taking over America's colleges

-

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs on college campuses are being turned on their heads.

Instead of promoting creative new ideas, fairness and welcoming spaces, DEI departments have been hijacked by ideological extremists to enforce ideological compliance.

Believe me, I should know.

In August 2021, I was hired to lead an institution wide transformation as a faculty director for the Office of Equity, Social Justice, and Multicultural Education at De Anza Community College in Cupertino, California. As a life-long teacher, dedicated to pursuing diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and equity and equality in education this was a dream come true.

Unfortunately, my dream job quickly became a nightmare. And ultimately, I was fired.

I have now come to recognize that adherents of 'critical social justice theory' at De Anza College, who view all social dynamics through a lens of power and privilege, also use it as a cudgel to beat down and silence anyone with whom they may disagree.

Even I, someone who some may assume would be on the side of so-called 'social justice warriors,' was too heterodox in my thinking. And I was bullied out.

To be clear, I am not a liberal or a conservative, nor a Republican or a Democrat. I don't identify as a radical, progressive, or feminist. I have spent my life avoiding labels. I am an educator, scholar, humanist and critical thinker. And it is people like me who are – sadly – being chased out of education.

During the hiring process at De Anza, I was told that the previous leadership running the Office of Equity was 'too woke' and alienating people. Their approach was apparently very aggressive. They would 'call people out,' and accuse them of racism.

It was a sentiment echoed by multiple individuals in over 60 hours of conversations that I conducted to assess the needs of the campus. Many expressed discomfort with the college's intellectually oppressive culture and rigid ideologies.

So, I assured the hiring committee that my approach would be different. As I have all my career, I pledged to create spaces of inquiry where diverse and even divergent viewpoints could be heard would be welcomed and accepted. It is my belief that through this process, people can find areas of commonality and work together in the best interest of students.

Little did I know that this approach would be considered a threat by De Anza College ideologues. And conflict erupted almost immediately after I was hired.

I discovered that fellow faculty and administrators were using definitions for White Supremacy that I was not familiar with. To me, White Supremacy is associated with White Nationalism, the KKK, and Neo-Nazi organizations.

Instead, at De Anza College, White Supremacy was often associated with qualities, such as being on time, objective thinking, using written communications, setting an agenda, and demonstrating a sense of urgency.

These beliefs were aligned with the work of a scholar named Tema Okun and these re-definitions of White Supremacy were not only perpetuated at De Anza College but throughout the California Community College system.

I set out to engage with the De Anza community to develop a better understanding of various words and practices.

I questioned why De Anza's official communications capitalized some student racial categories and not others. For example, the word 'black' was capitalized, while the word 'white' was not. I questioned the use of terms like 'Latinx' and 'Filipinx' to refer to people of Latino and Filipino descent. In my years of experience working with Spanish-speaking and working-class communities, not once did the community ever use those terms to describe themselves.

I believe that terms like 'Latinx' are manipulations of language that originated in the Ivory Tower of academia.

But when I raised these topics for exploration, there was never constructive engagement. Instead, I was put under the spotlight and accused of being aligned with right-wing extremists.

For attempting to set an agenda for meetings, I was accused of Whitespeaking and Whitesplaining and supporting White Supremacy.

As a faculty director, not an administrator, I assumed that I would be permitted all of the academic freedoms of speech and expression that a tenure track position is usually afforded. I was wrong.

In fact, my tenure review process was subverted by ideological extremists, who used it to harass, bully and eventually fire me.

I now have a better understanding of the dominating ideology at work at De Anza College and throughout many of our California Community Colleges.

Unfortunately, a few bad actors working under a banner of 'Critical Social Justice' are subverting the tenure review processes and creating an ideological litmus test for career advancement.

A tenure review process, or any teacher evaluation process should be an objective, evidence-based process. In my case, it was used as an authoritarian enforcement mechanism.

It is my great fear that if folks pushing Critical Social Justice ideology have their way, faculty in California Community Colleges will be required to profess allegiance to certain rigid ideas.

Faculty will be forced to commit to embedding these ideas into their course curriculum. They will be compelled to state their pronouns and demand that all members of their classroom do the same. They will have to view every student as a victim or an oppressor.

There is a reason why these faux-academics insist on chasing free-thinkers out of their midst – it is because they cannot defend their own ideas.

I hope that by sharing my story, I can shine a light on this issue. And since coming forward, I have been contacted by many people, who say they've experienced the same treatment.

Too many faculty members in California Community Colleges are afraid to question this emerging Critical Social Justice ideology. Too many are afraid to question or resist lest they be labeled a racist or worse. 

History has shown us that authoritarianism advances through a reliance on intimidation and the compliance of a majority that cowers in fear.

To the educators out there, I encourage you to keep asking questions and promoting critical thinking. There are resources out there to protect your civil liberties. And I want you to know that you are not alone.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil: Prosecutors Should Lead Police Killings Inquiries

Prosecutor’s Office Should Ensure That New Guidelines Reflect International Standards

 Brazil should urgently address the chronic problem of police abuse and impunity by ensuring that prosecutors lead investigations and that those investigations comply with international standards, Human Rights said today in a letter to the attorney general, Augusto Aras.

Police killed more than 6,400 people in 2022, according to the nonprofit Brazilian Forum of Public Security, which compiles the data from official sources at the state level. In less than a month between the end of July and August 2023, at least 62 people were killed during police operations in Bahia, Rio, and São Paulo states alone.

“The deadly law enforcement operations in recent months underscore the urgent need to improve investigations into police conduct,” said Maria Laura Canineu, Brazil director at Human Rights Watch. “Prosecutors should carry out effective oversight of the police by leading investigations into police killings and cases of suspected police abuse, instead of relying on the police to investigate themselves.”

While some police killings are in self defense, many result from illegal use of force that goes largely unpunished. Currently, civil police carry out investigations into police abuses. This raises serious questions of impartiality as civil police investigate their own personnel, as well as military police personnel with whom they may have worked in other cases.

Continue reading.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] GG News Bureau New Delhi, 26th Nov. The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on the plea seeking the transfer of the MUDA site allotment scam investigation to the CBI. The petition, filed by activist Snehamayi Krishna, expressed doubts over the credibility of the ongoing Lokayukta investigation. Krishna, in his plea, stated that he lacked confidence in the Lokayukta police, urging the court to hand over the case to the CBI for a more impartial inquiry. The MUDA site allotment case revolves around allegations that compensatory plots were allocated to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, in a high-value area of Mysuru. The plots, it is claimed, were provided as part of a scheme under which 50% of the developed land was given to landowners whose property was acquired for residential layouts. The dispute centers on the legality of Parvathi’s ownership of the 3.16 acres of land in question, which she allegedly did not have legal title over. The Karnataka Lokayukta police and Enforcement Directorate have already initiated investigations into the matter. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, has denied any wrongdoing in the alleged scam. The next hearing on the case is scheduled for December 10. The post Karnataka HC Adjourns Hearing on Plea to Transfer MUDA Scam Probe to CBI appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] GG News Bureau New Delhi, 26th Nov. The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on the plea seeking the transfer of the MUDA site allotment scam investigation to the CBI. The petition, filed by activist Snehamayi Krishna, expressed doubts over the credibility of the ongoing Lokayukta investigation. Krishna, in his plea, stated that he lacked confidence in the Lokayukta police, urging the court to hand over the case to the CBI for a more impartial inquiry. The MUDA site allotment case revolves around allegations that compensatory plots were allocated to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, in a high-value area of Mysuru. The plots, it is claimed, were provided as part of a scheme under which 50% of the developed land was given to landowners whose property was acquired for residential layouts. The dispute centers on the legality of Parvathi’s ownership of the 3.16 acres of land in question, which she allegedly did not have legal title over. The Karnataka Lokayukta police and Enforcement Directorate have already initiated investigations into the matter. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, has denied any wrongdoing in the alleged scam. The next hearing on the case is scheduled for December 10. The post Karnataka HC Adjourns Hearing on Plea to Transfer MUDA Scam Probe to CBI appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates. [ad_2] Source link

[scamsupdateindia]

Himansh Verma, Navrattan Group Chairman, Arrested for ₹1,000 Cr Fraud

In a high-profile case, the Nepal police have apprehended Himansh Verma, the Chairman of Navrattan Group of Companies, who is wanted in connection with a ₹1,000 crore fraud case. Acting on information provided by Punjab Police, Nepal police arrested Verma while he was allegedly attempting to flee the country. Verma, who faces multiple fraud charges in India, including three cases in Jalandhar, had previously managed to escape from police custody in Chandigarh.

A Complex Network of Fraudulent Companies

Himansh Verma, reportedly a shrewd operator, established several companies with direct dealings with government entities. His connections extended to influential politicians, granting him a reputation and a network across several cities, including Jalandhar, Chandigarh, and various locations in Maharashtra. His company is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) due to its involvement in a ₹1,250 crore financial scam. Furthermore, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him on January 5, 2022.

Involvement with CBI and Attempt to Escape Abroad

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also conducted inquiries into Verma's activities, resulting in an LOC against him. Facing over ten criminal cases, Verma was allegedly planning to escape to a foreign country through Nepal. He has also been implicated in the high-profile Syndicate Bank fraud case of 2016, amounting to ₹1,800 crore. Despite summons from the ED in Jaipur over the past five years, Verma, his mother Chandar Kanta, and his sister Pallavi Verma have failed to appear for questioning.

Extradition Proceedings: Punjab Police to Bring Him Back

Following his arrest, Punjab Police is expected to begin extradition proceedings to bring Himansh Verma back to India. His return is anticipated to expedite the judicial process against him and reveal further insights into the workings of his alleged fraudulent operations.

Declared as a Wanted Criminal by Jalandhar Police

The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police had previously declared Himansh Verma as a wanted criminal and offered a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to his capture. Verma, along with his mother Chandar Kanta, was named in a case registered at the New Baradari police station in Jalandhar. His company’s travel agency offices, located in Jalandhar, allegedly defrauded several clients by promising them overseas placements. In 2021, based on multiple complaints, three cases were registered against Verma. His arrest is expected to bring closure to his victims and shed light on the extent of his operations.

Key Points

Accused of ₹1,000 Crore Fraud: Himansh Verma, Chairman of Navrattan Group, was apprehended in Nepal for his alleged involvement in a massive financial scam.

Multiple Cases and LOC: Verma is implicated in numerous cases across Jalandhar, Chandigarh, and Maharashtra, with the ED and CBI issuing Look Out Circulars.

Attempts to Flee Abroad: Facing over ten criminal cases, Verma tried to escape through Nepal to evade arrest.

Reward for Capture: Jalandhar Police had declared Verma as a wanted criminal, offering ₹1 lakh for information on his whereabouts.

This arrest serves as a crucial step toward justice in one of the most significant fraud cases, highlighting the cooperation between Indian and Nepalese authorities in addressing cross-border financial crimes.

[forblogmostly]

Eraaya Lifespaces Unveils Strategic Restructuring Following Acquisition of Ebix Inc., Investigates Financial Irregularities, and Initiates Leadership Changes

Eraaya Lifespaces Limited, a premier lifestyle and hospitality company, has taken significant steps toward transforming its business operations following its recent acquisition of Ebix Inc., a global provider of on-demand software and e-commerce services. On September 30, 2024, the company announced a strategic restructuring initiative aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring seamless integration, and investigating potential financial irregularities within the company.

The acquisition of Ebix Inc. and its global subsidiaries positions Eraaya Lifespaces as a formidable player in the business world, reinforcing its commitment to long-term growth, continuity, and corporate governance. This acquisition marks a crucial milestone in the company's history, setting the stage for transformative changes that will shape its future trajectory.

As part of this restructuring, Eraaya Lifespaces has introduced a new leadership team to steer the company toward sustained success. The board of directors has appointed prominent industry leaders, including Dr. Thomas Mathew, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer with close ties to business magnate Ratan Naval Tata, and Himanshu Mody, the current Chief Financial Officer of Suzlon Energy Limited and recipient of "The Turnaround CFO of the Year 2024" award. Additionally, Karan Bagga, a seasoned ex-banker with over 25 years of experience in strategic roles at major Indian private banks, has been appointed as a non-promoter, non-independent director.

In addition to the leadership changes, Eraaya has also established an advisory board composed of distinguished industry experts and professionals to provide counsel on key strategic decisions. Notable members of this advisory board include Karnal Singh, an ex-Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and former Director of the Enforcement Directorate; G.N. Bajpai, former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI); Ashok Kumar Mehta, a former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer; and Dr. Girish Ahuja, a leading taxation expert.

As part of its strategic integration with Ebix Inc., Eraaya has appointed Himanshu Mody as a director on the board of Ebix Inc. and all its global subsidiaries. Amit Dhuria has been designated as the company's treasurer, ensuring alignment of strategic objectives and continuity in governance. These appointments underline Eraaya's commitment to effective leadership and governance during this transitional phase.

Incentivizing its employees is another key focus of Eraaya's restructuring. The board has granted in-principle approval for the implementation of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Sweat Equity programs, and Share Appreciation Rights schemes to reward and motivate key personnel across the company. These initiatives are designed to align employee contributions with the company's long-term vision and promote inclusive growth.

However, the company's restructuring efforts have not been without challenges. Eraaya Lifespaces has initiated an investigation into financial irregularities involving Mr. Robin Raina, an important figure in the company. In response to reports of potential misconduct, the board has suspended Mr. Raina from all key functional positions pending the outcome of the investigation. A high-powered steering committee will oversee the inquiry to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the process.

Despite these challenges, the leadership of Ebix Inc. and its subsidiaries will continue to operate as usual under the interim leadership of Karan Bagga, who has been designated as the officiating CEO of Ebix Inc. Eraaya Lifespaces is confident that its commitment to governance, coupled with the strength of its leadership team, will enable the company to overcome obstacles and achieve its long-term goals.

To further bolster its operations and enhance integration efficiency, Eraaya has engaged TPO Bharat, a respected external expert group, to provide valuable insights and guidance. The company has also appointed M/s. M M NISSIM & Co. LLP, a 100-year-old firm with a distinguished clientele, as its new internal auditor for the financial year 2024-2025. These steps reflect Eraaya's dedication to maintaining robust financial oversight and optimizing resources for sustained growth.

The decisions outlined in Eraaya's restructuring plan have been unanimously approved by the board of directors and endorsed by the company's members during the 58th Annual General Meeting. As Eraaya Lifespaces embarks on this transformative journey, it reaffirms its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and governance.

Alongside these developments, Eraaya Lifespaces provided an update on its subsidiary, Ebix Travels, a leading player in the travel industry. Ebix Travels has maintained a dominant position in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and the Philippines, where its brands "Via" and "Mercury" are known for their exceptional service. With a network of approximately 500,000 registered agents, Ebix Travels continues to thrive in corporate and business travel, securing partnerships with prominent clients such as the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India and the DS Group. The company also plans to cater to over 15,000 participants for its upcoming Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) events.

In addition, Eraaya has relaunched "The Deccan Odyssey," India's premier luxury train, in partnership with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). With promising occupancy rates, this iconic train is set to provide passengers with a unique and luxurious travel experience, further cementing Eraaya's reputation as a leader in the hospitality industry.

Looking ahead, Eraaya Lifespaces remains focused on optimizing operations, enhancing governance, and integrating Ebix Inc. into its business portfolio. The company is committed to leveraging advanced technologies and best practices to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and deliver exceptional service. By fostering collaboration, creative problem-solving, and a culture of excellence, Eraaya aims to drive sustainable growth and create value for all stakeholders.

With this transformative restructuring, Eraaya Lifespaces is poised to expand beyond its current scope, exploring new business opportunities and mergers and acquisitions to diversify its portfolio and maintain its relevance in an ever-evolving market. As the company navigates this dynamic landscape, it is determined to redefine its role in the industry and set new performance benchmarks.

The acquisition of Ebix Inc. and Eraaya's subsequent strategic restructuring underscore its commitment to innovation, growth, and excellence. As the company moves forward, it will continue to prioritize transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement to ensure its long-term success and resilience in the global market.

[mariacallous]

Team Navalny accuses former Yukos executive Leonid Nevzlin of ordering attacks against exiled Russian opposition figures

Activists at the Anti-Corruption Foundation and a handful of journalists recruited to verify their findings have published evidence that billionaire former Yukos top executive Leonid Nevzlin hired thugs to attack three anti-Kremlin opposition figures and possibly try to kidnap one to hand over to Russian federal agents. Like his apparent enemies among Alexey Navalny’s old entourage, Nevzlin is a fugitive from the Russian authorities. He fled the country more than two decades ago when state investigators launched a sweeping criminal case against the oil company Yukos. In 2008, a Russian court sentenced Nevzlin in absentia to life imprisonment on charges of organizing five murders, five assassination attempts, and an armed robbery. To this day, he remains close friends with Yukos founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Who were Nevzlin’s alleged targets?

Former Anti-Corruption Foundation board chairman Leonid Volkov in Vilnius, foundation director Ivan Zhdanov in Geneva, and Alexandra Petrachkova (the wife of economist Maxim Mironov) in Argentina.

What’s the Anti-Corruption Foundation’s source?

The foundation reportedly received an email sent to its general inbox proposing a conversation about the March 2024 attack on Volkov outside his home in Vilnius by an assailant who sprayed him with mace and beat him with a hammer, breaking one of Volkov’s arms and bruising his legs. The inquiry came from a man who identified himself as Andrey Matus, whom the foundation describes as a “fixer” who uses his connections to law enforcement to “fix problems” for money. Matus claimed that Mikhail Khodorkovsky employed him in this capacity for the past three years.

At a face-to-face meeting in Montenegro, Matus later gave Leonid Volkov and Ivan Zhdanov records of his alleged correspondence with Nevzlin, where they discussed details of the hired attacks never released to the public (Nevzlin and Matus apparently even shared videos of the assaults of Zhdanov and Petrachkova that were never published anywhere). Investigative journalists Mikhail Maglov and Christo Grozev studied the writing style, personal information, screen names, screenshots, and hyperlinks present in these messages and confirmed their authenticity. 

The Volkov attack plan

In the correspondence provided to Volkov and Zhdanov, the person presumed to be Leonid Nevzlin orders the attack on Volkov through someone whose personal data in the messages suggest he is an attorney named Anatoly Blinov. According to journalists at Agentstvo Media, Blinov once served on Gazprom-Media’s board of directors and now lives in Poland. 

The initial plan for Volkov was even more outrageous than the hammer assault that ultimately took place. The correspondence apparently between Nevzlin and Blinov describes a scheme to kidnap Volkov in Lithuania and transport him to Russia by boat to hand him over to the Federal Security Service. In numerous messages in October 2023, the man hired to organize the scheme refers to Volkov as “the package.” He asked for 12,000 euros ($13,300) to rent two boats in Riga and fuel them for the journey, plus an unspecified labor fee. The same man tracked Volkov to the United States in November 2023, also planning to abduct the opposition figure in a manner that would land Volkov “in a wheelchair.” During the New York City visit, however, the assailants couldn’t find a good moment to pounce. Volkov returned to Lithuania and was finally jumped outside his home, the following March.

According to what Andrey Matus told Volkov and Zhdanov in Montenegro, Nevzlin was unhappy with the attack on Volkov and refused to pay the negotiated $250,000 fee. “I could have fucked him up that badly myself. I needed him to be teasing the birds [through his cell bars] for the rest of his life, but you left him with just a couple of bruises,” Nevzlin allegedly complained. Matus said the disagreement over money led to a falling-out between Nevzlin and Blinov, at which point Nevzlin instructed Matus to take back the phones issued to Blinov and his associates to coordinate the attack on Volkov.

How Russia Today fits into the story

Roughly a week before the Anti-Corruption Foundation and its media partners revealed their findings about Leonid Nevzlin, the Russian state propaganda outlet RT published the same correspondence shared with the foundation by Andrey Matus. Russia Today claimed that it received the messages from a certain “source in the opposition” based in Lithuania. RT’s source claimed that he got the records from Anatoly Blinov, who supposedly “fears for his life” due to threats from Nevzlin’s associates.

Activists at the Anti-Corruption Foundation say they never understood why Matus came to them with the evidence against Nevzlin. After meeting with Volkov and Zhdanov, Matus promised to send them audio recordings of his calls with Nevzlin, but he suddenly stopped communicating with the foundation’s team. “He quickly realized that selling all these materials to us wouldn’t work. We simply don’t have the money he wanted,” the Anti-Corruption Foundation wrote in its investigation. 

Nevzlin denies all allegations that he hired anyone to attack Volkov, Zhdanov, or Petrachkova. He calls the charges “absurd” and says his accusers are knowingly spreading Kremlin propaganda that first appeared on RT. Nevzlin’s longtime friend and former Yukos colleague Mikhail Khodorkovsky has criticized the Anti-Corruption Foundation for trying to “tarnish” his reputation by insinuating connections to Nevzlin’s alleged actions. “Either it’s true, and in that case, Leonid Nevzlin has lost his mind. Or it’s an FSB provocation and a fake, on which a lot of money was spent,” Khodorkovsky wrote on Telegram, describing the allegations against his friend as “based on information published by Russia Today.”

[starbiopic]

Elvish Yadav Faces ED Investigation for Hours: Phone Seized for Inquiry

Famous YouTuber and Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner, Elvish Yadav, is once again in the spotlight, but this time for all the wrong reasons. His legal troubles seem to be increasing as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) continues its investigation against him. Recently, Elvish was summoned by the ED in connection with a rave party case. According to reports, he was called to the Lucknow office for…

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Hoover Takes Prison Action," The Parsons Sun (Kansas). August 6, 1929. Page 1. ---- To Relieve Crisis Brought On By Convict Riot at Leavenworth ---- 5 Million for New Prison and Additions to Overcrowded Institutions ---- WASHINGTON, Aug. 6- (AP) -President Hoover has determined upon a program to relieve overcrowded conditions in federal prisons which includes a request to congress for additional funds.

The program contemplates an increase in appropriations of $5,000,000 for enlargement of the prisons at Atlanta, and Leavenworth and the construction of a new prison in the northeastern section of the country.

Mr. Hoover has discussed the situation at length with Attorney General Mitchell and Sanford Bates, superintendent of federal prisons, and has statistics to show that the Atlanta institution is housing 120 per cent inmates more than its estimated capacity and Leavenworth 87 per cent.

This condition is regarded as the cause of demoralization and outbreaks of the prisoners.

Blame Crime Increase The large prison population, it was said, was attributed to an increase in crime in general which caused the President to appoint the commission now making an inquiry into the law enforcement situation.

Statistics which have been presented to the President show that 33 per cent of the prisoners at Leavenworth and Atlanta are serving terms for violations of the narcotic laws: 14 per cent for violations of the prohibition laws and the remainder for other offenses.

Bates has proposed an increase in the number of probation officers, as he believes that mors prisoners can be placed on probation. Present appropriations, however, he said, will not permit any additional officers. In this Bates had the President's support.

President's Comment The President's comment on the prison situation in response to questions from newspaper correspondents was as follows: "I have one question this morning that I can comment on. I arises out of the incident at Leavenworth and the situation of the federal prisons.

"I have had an opportunity for lengthy discussions with the attorney general and I have the recommendations of Mr. Bates who is the new director of prisons, and I have accepted their view that further federal accommodations for prisoners cannot be any longer delayed. We will ask congress at the regular session to give us the necessary authority and appropriations to revise the system.

"Atlanta is 120 per cent over capacity in inmates at the present time, and Leavenworth 87 per cent, all of which is the cause of infinite demoralization and, the direct cause of outbreaks and trouble.

"Dope" Fiends Mostly "Of course, the increased number of prisoners is due to the general increase of crime, the largest item in our federal prisoners being the violators of the narcotics act. They comprise now about 30 per cent of the inmates at Leavenworth and Atlanta. Prohibition contributes about 14 per cent. The balance is made up of increases all along the line.

"Our plans necessitate an expenditure of about five millions of dollars, and will comprise some additions and revisions of the old prisons, and probably a new prison somewhere in the northeastern states.

"It is proposed also to ask authority of congress to increase the number of probation officers, as Mr. Bates is convinced he can find a larger number of prisoners who merit probation, and not only their own good but the good of the federal government will be served by having them out, but we have no staff now adequate to take care of increased probation. So that a new appropriation we hope to get some later."

[bllsbailey]

Sen. Hawley: DHS Must Respond to New Whistleblower Claims

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has called for an investigation into alleged security failures occurring on the day of Donald Trump's attempted assassination due to new whistleblower information.

Hawley sent a letter on Monday to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers based on new whistleblower information suggesting that law enforcement personnel were assigned to be on the roof of a building during Trump's attempted assassination but abandoned the post.

"Contrary to [Secret Service] Director [Kimberly] Cheatle's public statements about the 'safety' of the sloped roof of American Glass Research Building 6," wrote Hawley, "one whistleblower with direct knowledge of Secret Service planning for the event alleges that there was supposed to be a law enforcement presence on the roof that day [...] but this person abandoned his or her post due to the hot weather.

"The whistleblower further alleges that concerns over the heat prompted law enforcement to forgo patrolling Building 6 and instead to station security personnel inside the building," Hawley continued.

On Friday, Hawley visited the scene in Butler, Pennsylvania, following the attempted assassination of Trump. Multiple whistleblowers have confirmed that the event was considered a "loose" security event.

Consequently, Hawley has requested that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee conduct a detailed and open inquiry into the incident, which would involve testimony under oath from DHS and Secret Service officials.

Hawley's push for a comprehensive investigation seeks to guarantee accountability and transparency from these agencies.

Jim Thomas ✉

Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.

© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

[worldtodaysposts]

'Senior and highly experienced' SA officials in Malawi to testify in Bushiris' extradition hearing

A delegation of officials from South Africa, led by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, has arrived in Malawi to provide evidence in the case to have self-proclaimed "prophet" Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, extradited to South Africa.

The couple face charges of fraud and money laundering.

Department of Justice and Correctional Services spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said the hearing was scheduled for 30 May.

He added that the delegation consisted of "senior and highly experienced" prosecutors from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Investigative Directorate (ID), and investigators from the SA Police Service.

"In leading this delegation, the department is fulfilling its role as a central authority," Phiri said.

"In the extradition context, a central authority is a designated government department that has the responsibility for receiving, managing and executing extradition requests."

Bushiri, who is the leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church, and his wife, skipped bail in November 2020, after being arrested for fraud and money laundering to the tune of R102 million linked to an investment scheme.

In February, the High Court in Lilongwe ruled that South African witnesses in the extradition case would be required to travel to Malawi and give their testimonies in person.

However, the justice department clarified the "misinterpreted" judgment and said that no witnesses would have to go to Malawi to testify, and that the court had only asked state and law enforcement officials to testify in the extradition hearing.

The department said at the time that the judgment spoke for itself, adding that "an extradition hearing is not a trial".

"The judgment also resolves the question of what type of witnesses are required for the extradition hearing as follows: 'Witnesses to a preliminary inquiry/extradition hearing are representatives/agents of the requesting state who will be able to answer questions and be cross-examined by the fugitive on the issues'," it said.

Phiri added that the court was asking officials to testify on a set list of questions about the extradition hearing only.