The Golden Star

Information about recent events or happenings, especially as reported by means of newspapers, websites, radio, television, and other forms of media.

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Vijay Faces Police Complaint Over Controversy at Ramzan Gathering in Chennai

Actor-turned-politician Vijay has found himself at the center of controversy following a police complaint linked to his recent appearance at a Ramzan event in Chennai. The incident, now referred to as the Vijay Ramzan event, has triggered a backlash from a section of the Muslim community who claim the gathering was poorly handled and disrespectful to religious sentiments.

On March 10, 2025, representatives from the Tamil Nadu Sunnath Jamaat submitted a formal complaint at the Chennai Police Commissioner’s office. The organization alleges that the Vijay Ramzan event, held to observe the holy tradition of Iftar during Ramadan, lacked proper planning and included attendees with no connection to the occasion. According to the group, the inclusion of unrelated individuals caused disorder and diminished the sanctity of the religious gathering.

“Such negligence and mismanagement at a sacred event is unacceptable,” stated members of the Tamil Nadu Sunnath Jamaat. “Our aim is not to seek media attention but to ensure that respect for religious customs is upheld in public functions, especially those involving influential figures like Vijay.”

The complaint accuses Vijay of showing disregard for the religious importance of Iftar, citing the event’s chaos and disorganization as evidence. The group has urged authorities to take appropriate action to prevent similar controversies in the future.

Vijay, currently filming his political action drama Jana Nayagan, has yet to respond to the allegations. The actor, who recently launched his political outfit Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, has been under the spotlight for his dual role in cinema and public life.

The incident has sparked heated discussions online, with fans and critics debating the intentions and execution of the Vijay Ramzan event. While some defend the star’s efforts to promote communal harmony, others have called for an investigation into the claims made by the complainants.

As the case awaits possible police action, Vijay’s team has maintained silence, leaving the public eager to see how the situation develops.

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The Inspiring Journey of Faris Aboobcker: From Ordinary Beginnings to Business Success

Introduction In the world of business, there are stories that stand out, tales of individuals who transform from ordinary to extraordinary. Faris Aboobacker is one such remarkable personality. Hailing from Kerala, this businessman and millionaire has captured the attention of many, but his story goes beyond his professional success. It's a story of resilience, determination, and the unwavering pursuit of an extraordinary future.

A Phoenix Rising Faris Aboobacker embodies the age-old proverb "actions speak louder than words." His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and commitment, a narrative that culminates in a remarkable tale of success. Let's dive into the life of this extraordinary individual.

Early Roots Faris' journey begins in Nandi, a quaint village in the Kozhikode district, nestled close to Koyilandy. His educational journey started at a humble school in Poykayil during his formative years. Later, he pursued higher education at the prestigious Farooq College in Kozhikode. Even in his early years, Faris displayed signs of dynamism and passion, traits that foreshadowed his future rise to prominence.

From Directorships to Business Brilliance Faris Aboobacker's success is not limited to a single venture. He holds directorship positions in an impressive 32 companies. His journey as a director commenced with Parrot Grove Private Limited in 2005, and his latest appointment as Director was with Chikmangaloor Real Estates Private Limited in September 2017. Among the companies under his directorship are Petropas Automotive Private Limited, Rusoh Elegant Real Estate Private Limited, Xamorin Real Estate Investment Private Limited, Rusoh City Realtors Private Limited, Cochin Supercity Developers Private Limited, Daram Developers Private Limited, Kadavanthara Realtors Private Limited, Chaitram Developers Private Limited, Kadavanthara Developers Private Limited, and Kadavanthara Properties Private Limited, to name a few.

Faris Aboobacker journey is not just about the number of companies he oversees but the impact he has had on these organizations. He has brought his unique blend of business acumen and industrial expertise to the table, creating a legacy that sets him apart in the world of business.

Conclusion Faris Aboobacker's life is a testament to what can be achieved with determination, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. From his humble beginnings to his current standing as a prominent businessman and millionaire, Faris has shown that ordinary individuals can transform into extraordinary success stories. His journey is an inspiration to us all, reminding us that with the right mindset and unwavering commitment, we can achieve greatness in our own lives.

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Everyone in Ladakh knows China has taken away our land: Rahul Gandhi

On Sunday last, Gandhi had claimed that Modi's statement that not an inch of the land in Ladakh has been taken over by China is not true.

KARGIL: Raking up the border issue, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said every individual in Ladakh knows that China has “taken away our land” and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that not an inch of land was taken away was “absolutely false.”

The former Congress president’s remarks come after Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a conversation on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Johannesburg.

The conversation was not a structured bilateral meeting and was an informal one.

“I visited the whole of Ladakh on my motorcycle over the past week. Ladakh is a strategic place and when I was at Pangong lake, one thing was clear that China had taken over thousands of kilometers of Indian land. Unfortunately, the prime minister during an opposition meeting makes a statement that not an inch of our land was taken away which is ‘absolutely false’,” he said addressing a public meeting here on the last day of his nine-day tour of Ladakh.

“Every individual of Ladakh knows that China has taken away our land and the prime minister is not speaking the truth,” he alleged.

This is the second time during his Ladakh tour that the Congress leader has raked up the border issue with China.

On Sunday last, Gandhi had claimed that Modi’s statement that not an inch of the land in Ladakh has been taken over by China is not true.

India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Thursday said Modi conveyed to Xi India’s concerns on the “unresolved” issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, underlining that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas was essential for normalisation of India-China ties.

The ties between India and China came under severe strain following the eastern Ladakh border row that began in May, 2020.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

During the public meeting, Gandhi also extending support to Leh-based Apex body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which are fighting for full statehood and safeguards under sixth schedule of the Constitution, and said his party would not allow the BJP to hand over the resource-rich land of the union territory to its corporate friend.

The former Congress president said he was briefed by the people about their demand for political representation, safeguards for land, culture and language, unemployment, non-functional Kargil airport and the problem of cell phone coverage.

“I heard you and want to convey that the Congress is standing with you in your struggle, whether linked to the demand for safeguards or employment issues. All the people know that Ladakh is rich in natural resources. The 21st century is of solar energy and Ladakh has no dearth of it,” he said.

“The BJP knows and understands that if you will be given (political) representation, they cannot snatch your land,” he said and alleged that the “BJP wants to take your land for (industrialist Gautam) Adani and we will not allow this to happen”.

The two powerful bodies are jointly campaigning to press for their four-point demands, including full statehood, safeguards under sixth schedule of the Constitution, creation of two separate parliamentary constituencies for Leh and Kargil districts, recruitment and job reservation for the youth of Ladakh.

Both the Apex body and KDA, which is a separate amalgam of socio-religious, political and youth organisations of Leh and Kargil districts, were formed after the Centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into Union territories of J-K and Ladakh.

The BJP Ladakh unit was also part of the Apex body but later distanced itself after it raised the demand for full statehood.

In an apparent reference to Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Gandhi said, “Some are speaking what is in their heart but I came here to know what is in your heart. One thing is clear that the ideology of Gandhi and Congress exists in the blood and DNA of the people of Ladakh.”

He said migrant labourers from different parts of the country, including Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, told him that they feel that Ladakh is their second home as locals are lending a helping hand whenever they come forward to seek their support.

Referring to his Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 7, 2022 to January 30, 2023, he said the only goal of the foot march was to stand up against the “hatred and violence being spread by BJP and RSS” in the country and spread the message of love and brotherhood.

“The yatra was not supposed to end in Srinagar but in Ladakh. The administration did not allow us to continue the march due to harsh winter and we accepted it. My visit is in continuation of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. I visited every nook and corner of the region on the motorcycle and heard the people,” he said.

He also thanked the people of Kargil for always standing with the country during crisis and war, and said, “All the people in the country, irrespective of their religion, language and culture are equal for us and we all want to live together with love and respect.”

Gandhi described Ladakh as the most beautiful region of the country and assured the people that he will raise both their local and central issues during the next Parliament session.

After his over 15-minute long address, Gandhi walked past the security cover to interact with the gathering amid chants of ‘Jodo Jodo Bharat Jodo’.

Besides the working president of Ladakh Congress Asgar Ali Karbalai, National Conference leader and co-chairman of KDA Qamar Ali Akhnoon, AICC in-charge of J-K and Ladakh Rajni Patel were present at the public rally.

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Girl, 17, kills self over leaked photos in UP's Kaushambi 

The main accused has been identified as Jai Singh, who also used to molest the girl.

KAUSHAMBI: A 17-year-old girl hanged herself in her house in a village here after a neighbour leaked her private photos online, police said on Friday.

Her family members had gone to the youth’s house to complain against him for uploading the girl’s photos online, but they were abused by them, police said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Samar Bahadur Singh said the family had earlier filed a complaint with the police in the matter.

The main accused has been identified as Jai Singh, who also used to molest the girl, he said.

When the girl’s family confronted Jai Singh’s family, they abused them and also threatened to kill them, police said.

Police have booked six people under sections 147 (rioting), 354 ©(Voyeurism), 306 (abetment of suicide), 504 (breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (insulting modesty of a woman) of the IPC and also sections of the POCSO Act.

Police have sent the girl’s body for a post-mortem.

The accused is yet to be arrested.

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Cooperative Bank money laundering case: ED summons CPIM leader Moideen

The CPIM leader and Kerala Minister A C Moideen was asked to appear for interrogation by the ED  on August 31 at its Kochi office in the money laundering case related to the Karuvanannur bank scam.

KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked CPIM leader and former Kerala minister A C Moideen to appear for interrogation on August 31 at its Kochi office in the money laundering case related to the Karuvanannur Service Co-operative Bank loan scandal.

The ED communique from its Kochi office on Friday to Moideen, the MLA from Kunnamkulam, comes a day after it seized 36 properties valued at Rs 15 crore, including Rs 28 lakh in fixed deposits in the names of Moideen and his wife. The ED has also sent notice to four ‘benamis’ of Moideen in the case, asking them to appear at its Kochi office for questioning on August 31.

The scam surfaced after several depositors complained of loans being issued to unknown people using their mortgage documents. Later, an investigation revealed that Rs 150 crore had been siphoned off illegally.

The Central agency, as part of the investigation, received several WhatsApp chats revealing Moideen’s involvement in the case.

The ED officials said that Moideen instructed the bank manager to release loans to non-members of the bank who possessed no proper mortgage documents. Now ED is checking whether these loans were issued illegally to his benamis. On Tuesday, ED searched the residence of Moideen, which lasted for around 22 hours.

Moideen was a minister of Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government from 2016–2021. He handled portfolios of industries, cooperation, local self-government, and tourism.

ED had raided the house of Moideen and his four aides, which ED considers the CPM leader’s benamis, viz., Kiran P P, Rahim C M, Shiju M K, and Satheesh Kumar P. The benamis are also asked to report to the ED office in Kochi for interrogation.

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Maharashtra: 30 students hospitalised after suspected food poisoning in Bhandara school

"We suspect it to be a case of food poisoning as the students took ill after consumption of food served to them at the hostel", said the health officer.

BHANDARA: Thirty students of an ashram school in Bhandara district of eastern Maharashtra were hospitalised due to suspected food poisoning, an official said on Friday.

The incident occurred at Yerali Ashram School in Tumsar town on Thursday, he said.

Talking to PTI, Bhandara district health officer Milind Somkuwar said, “Some students of the ashram school complained of vomiting, abdominal pain and fever on Thursday, after which a team of district health department examined 325 students residing in the school hostel.”

Of them, 30 students were admitted to the sub-district hospital at Tumsar for treatment, he said.

“We suspect it to be a case of food poisoning as the students took ill after consumption of food served to them at the hostel,” he said, adding that all the students are now stable and will be discharged soon.

The health department has collected the samples of food and water for testing, Somkuwar said.

Ashram schools are residential schools that impart education up to the secondary level to children from tribal communities.

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CM Stalin launches expanded breakfast scheme for school children

Already, 1.14 lakh students in Classes 1 to 5 in 1,545 government primary schools are provided breakfast on all working days under the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday launched the expansion of the state government’s breakfast scheme for school children at Tirukkuvalai in this district.

The CM served food to the children at a school here and also joined them for breakfast.

In Chennai, his son and cabinet minister Udhayanidhi Stalin launched the scheme’s expansion.

The Chief Minister had earlier said the order had been issued on June 7, 2023, to extend the breakfast scheme to all the 31,008 government primary schools, across urban and rural Tamil Nadu, aimed at benefiting 15.75 lakh primary students.

Already, 1.14 lakh students in Classes 1 to 5 in 1,545 government primary schools are provided breakfast on all working days under the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme.

The government has embarked on expansion considering the excellent outcome witnessed in the preliminary phase.

The aim is to ensure children attend school without hunger, it said.

Stalin had invited elected representatives to launch the plan’s extension in a government primary school in their respective constituencies.

In his Independence Day address, the CM announced the free breakfast scheme’s expansion.

On September 15, 2022, launching the breakfast scheme in Madurai, Stalin, quoting the late Periyar E V Ramasamy, C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi had said nothing -be it poverty or caste- should be an obstacle to access education.

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UP woman jumps in front of train with toddler, kin claim dowry torture

Arju's father Dev Singh has accused her husband Mukesh of harassing his daughter over his dissatisfaction with the dowry he received during his marriage.

A woman allegedly jumped in front of a moving train along with her two-year-old daughter in Uttar Pradesh, according to media reports. The woman died on the spot while the daughter’s condition is stated to be critical.

Police said the deceased, Arju, sent a video to her friend before jumping in front of the train on August 21. In the video, she says her husband and in-laws are responsible for her decision to end her life. The video came to light on Thursday.

“I am dying in front of the train today with my two-year-old daughter. I am sending you this video so that you can tell the world that I have not eloped with anyone, but my daughter and I have died by suicide because of Mukesh (her husband) and his sister,” Arju said in the video as reported by a Hindi news outlet.

Arju’s father Dev Singh has accused her husband Mukesh of harassing his daughter over his dissatisfaction with the dowry he received during his marriage. Arju married Mukesh on February 18, 2020.

Rohit Arya, in charge of Achhnera police station, said that the matter is in his notice but that no FIR has been received so far. Further action will be taken once the FIR is done, he said.

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Retired police sergeant who killed 3 at California bar shot his estranged wife first

John Snowling, a retired police sergeant, was married to Marie for more than three decades, They have two adult children. He killed three people, including his wife's dining companion and a man.

TRABUCO CANYON: The retired police sergeant who opened fire during a lively Wednesday evening at a popular Southern California biker bar had traveled from Ohio to confront his estranged wife, shooting her in the face before turning his gun on the crowd, authorities said.

John Snowling killed three people, including his wife’s dining companion and a man who approached him as Snowling retrieved additional guns from his truck, and wounded six others, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said Thursday. He was fatally shot by deputies within minutes of the rampage.

The shooting unfolded as a cover band entertained guests during the bar’s popular weekly spaghetti night. Snowling entered the bar, walked up to Marie Snowling and immediately shot her without saying a word, authorities said. Some patrons froze and others ran as bullets flew inside the bar before Snowling went out to the parking lot and continued to fire, witnesses and authorities said.

As the shooting began, M Street band keyboardist Mark Johnson hid behind a speaker with his wife, singer Debbie Johnson.

“Once he started shooting, it was very indiscriminate,” Mark Johnson said.

Snowling, 59, was a retired police sergeant with the Ventura Police Department in Southern California. His wife, Marie Snowling, had filed for divorce in December 2022, citing irreconcilable differences. The proceedings were ongoing and the case was scheduled for a mandatory settlement conference in November.

Married for more than three decades, they have two adult children.

Officials said John Snowling traveled from Ohio, where he had been living on a 7-acre property with his dog, according to his divorce lawyer, Tristan teGroen. It was unclear when he arrived in Southern California, where he still owns property in Camarillo. There was “no murmur of domestic violence or threats or anything like that from the other attorney,” teGroen said.

John Snowling used two guns at the beginning of the shooting and then retrieved two more from his truck. All four — three handguns and a shotgun — were purchased legally, Barnes said.

Authorities identified one of the dead as John Leehey, 67, of Irvine, California. The other two weren’t named, including the woman dining with Marie Snowling. After being shot, the woman exited the bar and was able to make it to the roadway before dying, Barnes said.

All nine people shot were adults. Marie Snowling was conscious and speaking but remained hospitalized Thursday, Barnes said.

Her father, William Mosby, of Lake Forest, told The Orange County Register, that John Snowling could not “deal with the divorce.”

Kenneth H.J. Henjum, Marie Snowling’s attorney, said in an email that her family was in shock and was requesting privacy.

John Snowling had worked for the police department in coastal Ventura, northwest of Los Angeles, from 1986 to 2014. Ventura Police Chief Darin Schindler issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families, the survivors and the responding deputies.

Cook’s Corner has long been a place for motorcyclists to gather for bands, open-mic nights or just a cold beer after a long ride. It calls itself the oldest motorcycle bar in Southern California and sits at the intersection of two picturesque highways in an area of scrubby hills and bicycle trails. It attracts everyone from motorcycle riders on choppers to avid cyclists in Lycra and families with young children.

“It’s a Disneyland for bikers,” said Kamran Amiri, who has been a Cook’s Corner regular for two decades.

Amiri, who was there Wednesday but left before the shooting, said the bar is “just full of the friendliest people” who go there to chat over a drink, listen to music or show off their motorcycles.

Hours before the shooting, rows of motorcycles and bikes framed the gravel entrance.

M Street had performed in Cook’s Corner’s outdoor area before, but this was the band’s first time on the stage inside, Mark and Debbie Johnson said.

Two people in the crowd were celebrating birthdays, and the band promised a special song later in the evening, Debbie Johnson said.

It never came.

“We launched into our next song and somewhere in the middle of it this man just walks in, doesn’t say a word, and just starts shooting,” she said.

Some bargoers ran up a nearby hill.

Mark Johnson said that once the gunman went outside, he and about 30 others shut the doors and hunkered down inside. Johnson called 911.

“We opened the back gate to see where he was and he immediately started shooting,” he said.

He and his wife said two of their fellow bandmembers were wounded and were expected to survive. The fifth member wasn’t injured.

“I have never been so happy to see dozens of police cars heading my way,” Debbie Johnson said. “We were fish in a very small barrel.”

[thegoldenstar]

300 stranded in landslide near China border in Uttarakhand

According to sources, “A vehicle was damaged due to debris falling on a dumper near Guhiya Valley on Jakho- Sankri Motorway in Uttarkashi. No casualty was reported.”

DEHRADUN: A 100-metre road has been washed away due to heavy landslides along the Lipulekh-Tawaghat border road connecting the China border as well as rocks on the road. Around 300 passengers are stranded in the Dharchula and Gunji areas due to the disruption of connectivity on the route.

Administrative officials engaged in clearing the road have expressed hope that traffic will be restored by Friday morning.

Dharchula Deputy Superintendent of Police Narendra Pant told this daily, “Border Road Organisation (BRO), police, PWD and other departments are working relentlessly to open the blocked road and hope that the route will be cleared by Thursday evening or latest Friday morning”.

According to sources, “A vehicle was damaged due to debris falling on a dumper near Guhiya Valley on Jakho- Sankri Motorway in Uttarkashi. No casualty was reported.”

State Meteorological Department issued a message asking passengers travelling to hilly areas to travel after getting information about the weather forecast.

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PM Modi meets Xi Jinping on sidelines of BRICS

The two leaders also agreed to direct relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation, the foreign secretary said.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday raised the unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a brief interaction between the two on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday.

“The prime minister underlined that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas, and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China relationship,” foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said at a press briefing.

Following this, the two leaders agreed to direct relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation, the foreign secretary added. The two leaders were also seen shaking hands and exchanging courtesies after the joint conference of the BRICS leaders.

However, there was no official word on whether President Xi confirmed his in-person participation in the upcoming G20 Summit in Delhi. In Johannesburg, the leaders of the BRICS nations decided to admit six more countries to the grouping — Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The new members will become part of BRICS with effect from January 1, 2024.

“We have taken the decision to expand this forum. India has always fully supported the expansion as it will make BRICS stronger and effective,’’ said Prime Minister Modi while welcoming the new members. Earlier in the day, Modi held bilaterals with leaders of South Africa, Iran, Ethiopia, the UAE, Mozambique, and Senegal.

Russia will host the next BRICS meet in 2024 in the Russian city of Kazan. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the Johannesburg meet virtually. Putin faces arrest if he travels abroad following an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes.

Meanwhile, among the 94 points that were listed in the Johannesburg Declaration, there were mentions of seeking reforms in the UN, trade in local currencies, the G20 Summit and countering terrorism.

“We support a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships,’’ said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

No double standards on terrorism: BRICS The BRICS nations on Thursday rejected “double standards” in countering terrorism and vowed to work towards confronting the menace including cross-border movement of terrorists. The grouping called for expeditious adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework

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Motia’z Gill Estate Best Builder in Zirakpur – Motia Group Offers Residential Plots In The Mohali - Ropar Highway

Motia Group is one of the most reputed names in the domain of residential and commercial real estate developers. From conceptualization to design to the implementation, Motia Group’s projects always strive for perfection and excellence. Motia Group has 17 years of experience in building flats in Zirakpur, Chandigarh and had completed more than 15 projects both ranging from residential spaces to villas and office spaces.

Motia Group launches the State of Art Township in Kurali spread across 21 acres and that too right on Mohali - Ropar Highway. The well-planned amenities are strategically located and spread across the community to ensure that no matter where you buy your home, the distances are easily bridged. The exclusive design highlights the collaboration of premium quality and top-notch design to bring peace and harmony in the living environment.

Motia Group Top Builder in Zirakpur, Motia’z Gill Estate has been planned around the topography with the most sought-after locations to dwell on. Motia'z Gill Estate has plot variants of 75 / 120 / 175 / 275 Sq. Yards. It also has 42 Commercial units facing the highway to support daily & other household needs of the residents. It is a state-of-the-art township in Kurali that offers a truly royal experience with round the clock amenities and exemplary services.

Contact Information :-

Corporate Office: Chandigarh-Ambala Highway, Zirakpur, Chandigarh For Sales: Sales Representative: [phone] For Marketing: Ashwani K Sharma: [phone] For general/other services: Helpdesk: [phone], [phone] Email : [email protected] Website : http://motiagroup.com/

The estate is located on 200 Ft. wide Chandigarh - Kurali Highway. Motia Group Best Builder in Zirakpur, Motia'z Gill Estate is only at a distance of 15 minutes to Chandigarh. Airport is also only at a distance of 25 minutes from the estate. The property has 40 Ft. wide internal roads, interlocking tiles on internal roads, EWS wide internal roads, 60 feet wide main entrance and 30 feet wide second entry. Other facilities include greens parks, large frontage, gated CCTV monitored entry, 24x7 security, sewerage treatment plant, well-lit streets, water storage tank, rain / fluid water drainage and approx. 17 feet wide parking in front of commercial units.

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U.S. home builder sentiment plunges, services activity in New York region stalls

U.S. home builder sentiment plummeted in July to its lowest level since the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, as high inflation and the steepest borrowing costs in more than a decade brought customer traffic to a near standstill.

At the same time, a gauge of activity in the services sector activity in the U.S. Northeast turned negative this month for the first time in a year, and firms there do not see an improvement over the next six months.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index fell for a seventh straight month to 55, the lowest level since May 2020, from 67 in June, NAHB said in a statement on Monday. Readings above 50 mean more builders view market conditions as favorable than poor.

July's reading was below all 31 estimates in a Reuters poll of economists, which had a median expectation for a decline to 65. Moreover, the 12-point drop was the second-largest in the history of the series dating to 1985, exceeded only by the 42-point plunge in April 2020 when most of the country was under a COVID-19 lockdown.

"Production bottlenecks, rising home building costs and high inflation are causing many builders to halt construction because the cost of land, construction and financing exceeds the market value of the home," NAHB Chairman Jerry Konter, a home builder and developer from Savannah, Georgia, said in a statement. "In another sign of a softening market, 13% of builders in the HMI survey reported reducing home prices in the past month to bolster sales and/or limit cancellations."

The component for current sales of single-family homes fell to 64 from 76. The gauge of single-family sales expectations for the next six months fell to 50 from 61, while the prospective buyer traffic index tumbled to 37 from 48.

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TOP 10 BUILDERS IN THE USA – WHO’S CRUSHING IT IN 2021?

Builder Magazine has released its list of the top 10 builders in the USA for 2021, based on 2020’s final numbers. There are plenty of familiar names on the list and once again, D.R. Horton is at the top. In fact, 9 out of the top 10 builders remain unchanged from the previous year.

Trends to Watch from the Top 10 Builders in the USA The number of total closings across the board is up, including 3 of the top 10 rising more than 25% Overall revenue is up across the board, with 3 of the top seeing over 25% growth Average revenue per closing is mixed Toll Brothers dropped off the board from the #8 spot in our 2020 list to #11 TOP 10 BUILDERS IN THE USA 2021

10 LGI Homes, The Woodlands, TX

9,339 closings (up 21.4%) $2.37 billion in revenue (up 28.9%) Average revenue per closing: $253,560 LGI moves maintains its spot, having earlier taken it over from Hovnanian Enterprises, which slipped to #14. LGI builds homes across the Midwest, South, and West focusing on a variety of entry-level, mid-level, and luxury homes to establish a broad resume`.

With home prices reaching levels that are out of reach for younger families, their $256,987 average revenue per closing is the most attractive in the top 10 for younger homebuyers. They picked up more than $600 million in revenue over 2019.

9 Century Communities, Greenwood Village, CO

9,453 closings (up 18.2%) $3.0 billion in revenue (up 22%) Average revenue per closing: $320,216 Century Communities is one of our big movers this year, surging from 16th overall into the #9 slot with revenues increasing more than $500 million over 2017. Covering the Midwest, South, and West, they primarily focus on entry-level and mid-level homes.

8 Clayton Properties Group, Maryville, TN

9,475 closings (up 28.6%) $2.98 billion in revenue (up 27.1%) Average revenue per closing: $314,828 Clayton Properties Group displaced Tool Brothers to take the #8 spot (from #11 last year). This Berkshire Hathaway company splits its time between luxury and custom “move up” homes and building properties for active adult communities and even subsidized properties.

7 KB Home, Los Angeles, CA

10,672 closings (down 10.1%) $4.17 billion in revenue (down 8.2%) Average revenue per closing: $390,461 Dropping a couple of positions in our Top 10 Builders in the USA list to #7, KB Home is still the first on our top 10 list to break 10,000 closings in 2020 with 10,672. Their South and West market areas hit entry-level, mid-level, and active adult communities. With modest gains in their number of closings and revenue, it’s business as usual for the popular firm.

6 Meritage Homes, Scottsdale, AZ

11,834 closings (up 27.7%) $4.44 billion in revenue (up 23.1%) Average revenue per closing: $375,021 Meritage is a name you’ll find in the South and West parts of the country. Their broad focus includes entry-level, mid-level, luxury, and active adult sectors. The Scottsdale-based company maintains its #6 slot from last year, improving revenue a bit more than $800 million.

5 Taylor Morrison, Scottsdale, AZ

12,524 closings (up 25.7%) $6.13 billion in revenue (up 32.6%) Average revenue per closing: $489,380 Taylor Morrison hits entry-level, mid-level, luxury, active adult, and vacation home construction, mainly in the Midwest, South, and West parts of the US. Another Scottsdale, AZ firm, they keep their lead over Meritage with just a couple hundred more closings and larger average revenue. They picked up some $1.5 billion in revenue from 2019.

4 NVR, Reston, VA

19,766 closings (almost no change) $7.33 billion in revenue (up 1.5%) Average revenue per closing: $370,737 NVR finishes with modest revenue gains, maintaining their number of closings and seeing respectable revenues per closing. The Virginia-based firm serves the Northeast, Midwest, and South.

FINAL 3 OF THE TOP 10 BUILDERS IN THE USA FOR 2021

3 Pultegroup, Atlanta, GA

24,624 closings (up 6.0%) $9.92 billion in revenue (almost no change) Average revenue per closing: $402,656 Pultegroup notched up its closings by 6% while maintaining revenues at 2019 levels. Pultegroup builds entry-level, mid-level, and active adult homes across the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West.

2 Lennar Corporation, Miami, FL

53,376 closings (up 3.7%) $20.8 billion in revenue (up 1.4%) Average revenue per closing: $390,047

Lennar neds to add more closings to achieve that coveted to spot in our Top 10 Builders in the USA list. The company posted some monster numbers in 2018 thanks to their acquisition of CalAtlantic. 2019 saw modest gains in the number of closings and minimal revenue growth. In terms of gross revenue, Lennar is double (more than $10 billion) ahead of #3 Pultegroup.

Lennar builds entry-level, mid-level, and active adult communities in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West.

1 D.R. Horton, Ft. Worth, Texas

71,292 closings (up 22%) $21.6 billion in revenue (up 24.2%) Average revenue per closing: $302,671 D.R. Horton tops the list of top 10 builders in the USA thanks to dominating (by almost 18,000) in the number of closings. Their $300,000+ average revenue per closing is some $88,000 less than Lennar, but they still snatched the top spot for overall revenue as well. At $21.6 billion, it’s good to be the king.

The Ft. Worth, Texas firm covers nearly every part of the US with homes in the entry-level, mid-level, luxury, and active adult sectors. Of the top 10, they’re the only firm that covers the Pacific area of the US.

[thegoldenstar]

Anurag Batra Businessworld Presents the 2022 Edition of the Fastest Growing Companies Study

Anurag Batra BW is a serial entrepreneur, media mogul, a journalist and an eternal optimist rolled into one. He is a B. Tech in Computer Sciences, a degree, which he acquired before joining Management Development Institute MDI, one of India's leading Business School. He is a first-generation entrepreneur and after acquiring the iconic business media and magazine brand BW Businessworld, a 36-year strong media brand as well as most respected business publication in the country.

Anurag Batra also founded the exchange4media group. Annurag Batra is also appointed by Government of India as the Chairman of an industry committee formed to come up with a vocational training framework for the media, communication and entertainment industry. BW Businessworld presents the 2022 edition of the Fastest Growing Companies study after a deep-dive into the financials of the listed companies followed by intelligent number crunching. Anurag Batra in his latest article reflects on the Growth Mantra of these companies.

According to Mr. Anurag Batra, sustaining a steady growth momentum for listed companies is in itself a creditable performance. “We at BW Businessworld are happy to present our annual special issue capturing the Fastest Growing Companies, based on an in-depth study and after a deep-dive into the financials of listed companies followed by intelligent number crunching”, Anurag Batra says in his latest article. The research was carried out by the knowledge partner of BW Businessworld, TechSci Research.

The period under review are the five financial years between 2017-18 and   2021-22. The list is based on a study of revenue and profitability data for these last five financial years. As per Mr. Anurag Batra’s view, companies in sectors like steel, cement, energy, chemicals, packaging, telecommunication, biotech and healthcare have emerged as the fastest growing in each of the financial categories. In the ‘Super Heavyweight’ category, in which companies had net sales of Rs 50,000 crore and above, the companies on the top rung include JSW Steel, UltraTech Cement, Grasim Industries, Tata Steel and Bharti Airtel.

In the ‘Heavyweight’ segment, where net sales are between Rs 10,000 crore and Rs 49,999 crore, Deepak Nitrite, AGC Networks, Godawari Power & Ispat and J.K. Lakshmi Cement were in the forefront, Anurag Batra points out. “The 'Middleweight' category had companies with revenue between Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 4,999 crore. It had Apollo Healthcare, Indus Towers, Gokul Agro Resources, Gujarat Gas and APL Apollo Tubes showing the fastest rate of growth”, said Mr. Batra.

In the 'Welterweight’ category of companies with net sales between Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 4,999 crore, Kirloskar Ferrous, Laurus Labs, TinPlate Company, Narayana Health and Cosmo First bagged the top ranks. Anurag Batra also highlighted that several profiled companies clocked record growth numbers in FY2022 while maintaining a healthy growth rate in the previous two fiscal years despite the Covid-induced challenges.

In another special feature, Anurag Batra Businessworld also brings to you reports on how the government, public and private enterprises are preparing to meet India’s Net Zero 2070 target to usher in a “green economy”. Experts including Anurag Batra, says that the Net Zero emissions goal could actually bring tangible benefits not just to the environment, but also to the Indian economy, by boosting the growth momentum by about 4.7 per cent by 2036, and 3.5 per cent by 2060.

Both public and private enterprises are investing in technology to reduce their carbon footprint in manufacturing, logistics and other aspects of the supply chain. Anurag Batra also explains how crucial the switch to electric vehicles (EV) is and the views of industry leaders on what the automotive industry is doing to adopt the EV 30@30 goal.

[thegoldenstar]

Thousands still without power weeks after Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico

Alexis Robles has slept a mere three hours a night since Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico on 18 September, causing a total blackout across the Caribbean island.

Robles, 52, a systems analyst in the seaside town of Cabo Rojo in south-west Puerto Rico, has been living without power for 25 days.

At night, the temperature barely dips below 80F, and Robles wakes up after an hour or two covered in sweat. The days are marked by high temperatures and rain, and without a fan or air conditioning the mosquitoes are unbearable.

Robles lives in an 80-apartment condominium complex with a backup generator that produces only enough electricity to power the water pump and light the communal areas after dark. Those with somewhere else to go have left, he says; the remaining residents are just trying to get by.

Read More : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/12/power-outages-puerto-rico-hurricane-fiona

[thegoldenstar]

Gerald Butt obituary

When Gerald Butt arrived in Beirut in early 1983 as the BBC’s Middle East correspondent, those supposedly in the know assured him and his wife, Lynne, that the civil war was over: that the Israelis were unwinding their 1982 Lebanon invasion-occupation; that western armies were there to keep the antagonists apart and to hold Syria and its allies at bay; and that the PLO and its fighters had left town. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

The Butts had been misinformed (as Gerald no doubt intuited). All those elements and more fused to reignite the civil war. Within weeks Gerald and his family were in the midst of renewed street warfare and inter-suburban shelling. In April 1983 an Islamist suicide bomber blew up the US embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people; six months later another jihadist killed 241 American servicemen at the US Marines’ base on the southern shores of Beirut, and 58 French servicemen died when their barracks in the city were similarly bombed. Hezbollah was in the making.

For his brave and expert coverage of this, and of Yasser Arafat’s final departure from Lebanon, chased by the Syrians and their militias, in late 1983, Gerald, who has died of cancer aged 72, won the Sony radio reporter of the year award in 1984.

READ MORE : https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/oct/11/gerald-butt-obituary