Business
$60m funds to conserve Congo Basin, Andes-Amazon
The Wildlife Conservation Society is scaling up conservation efforts in the Congo Basin and Andean-Amazon countries, with $60 million in support from the Bezos Earth Fund to work in partnership with governments, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and other organisations.
The Earth Fund announced $20 million for WCS’s efforts in the Andes-Amazon and $40 million for WCS’s efforts in the Congo Basin to support the conservation and preservation of at least 30 per cent of the planet by 2030, also known as 30×30.
Studies show that protected areas are one of the most cost-effective ways to safeguard nature, protect vulnerable human populations, and tackle climate change, provided they are located in the most important places, are well-managed, and respect the rights and needs of IPLCs.
In addition to protected areas, this funding will explore new mechanisms to support IPLCs in securing and managing their traditional forests. This funding is part of the September 2021, $5 billion Protecting Our Planet Challenge announcement by the Earth Fund and eight other organisations, the largest private funding commitment ever to biodiversity conservation.
“The Bezos Earth Fund commitment to conserving and protecting nature is transformational,” said WCS president and CEO Cristian Samper.
“With this new support from the Earth Fund, we will scale up our work in the Congo Basin and the Andes-Amazon. We will work closely with the governments, IPLCs, and national organisations to support protected and conserved areas as strongholds for biodiversity and nature-positive solutions to combat climate change. We look forward to working with a coalition of Bezos Earth Fund grantees and our partners to ensure this new support advances our collective efforts on behalf of nature and people.”
WCS teams have worked in the Andes-Amazon and the Congo Basin for more than 30 years in some of the regions’ most ecologically intact forests.
The Andes-Amazon is the most biodiverse region in the world and holds some of the most important carbon stocks in South America. The Congo Basin is also the most biodiverse region in Africa and the world’s single largest tropical net carbon sink.
Business
JSW MG Motor India Unveils Cyberster Roadster & M9 Limousine At Bharat Mobility Expo 2025
New Delhi: MG Motor India has made a bold statement at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 with the launch of two groundbreaking electric vehicles—the MG Cyberster, India’s first all-electric roadster, and the MG M9, India’s first electric three-row presidential limousine.
These models, introduced under the new luxury brand channel, MG Select, highlight the company’s vision of bringing intelligent, sustainable, and customer-focused mobility solutions to India.
MG Cyberster: The All-Electric Roadster of the Future
The MG Cyberster takes luxury and performance to new heights as India’s first electric roadster. It features India’s first-ever electric scissor doors, opening and closing in just five seconds via a single-touch button. The built-in Dual Radar sensors ensure safety while opening the doors, while an anti-pinch feature prevents harm when closing.
Under the hood, the Cyberster delivers blistering acceleration, going from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3.2 seconds. The sleek, aerodynamic design is complemented by the industry’s slimmest 77 kWh battery pack, ensuring the vehicle remains both powerful and efficient, setting a new standard for modern roadsters.
MG M9: The Ultimate Electric Limousine
The MG M9 takes luxury to the next level with India’s first electric three-row presidential limousine. Designed for ultimate comfort, it features a touchscreen armrest for controlling reclining ottoman seats with 8 massage modes and 3-zone climate control.
The spacious cabin can accommodate seven passengers and offers features like a panoramic sunroof, front-opening skylight, and advanced audio systems for a theatre-like experience. With an electric-powered design, the MG M9 redefines the concept of luxury on wheels, offering unparalleled comfort and performance for discerning customers.
Business
Internet users to surpass 900 million in India this year, AI a game changer
New Delhi, Jan 16: Driven by the growing use of Indic languages for digital content, the internet user base in India is set to surpass 900 million by 2025, driven by the growing use of Indic languages for digital content, a report showed on Thursday.
The number of active internet users in India reached 886 million in 2024, marking a robust 8 per cent year-on-year growth. Rural India, with 488 million users, leads this growth and now accounts for 55 per cent of the total internet population, according to the report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kantar.
Nearly all internet users (98 per cent) accessed content in Indic languages, with Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam emerging as the most popular due to their extensive availability.
Over half (57 per cent) of urban internet users prefer consuming content in regional languages, underscoring the growing demand for local language content across platforms, according to the report.
AI has emerged as a significant game changer over the past year. Nine out of 10 internet users have interacted with apps featuring embedded AI capabilities.
“The widespread acceptance and enthusiasm surrounding AI should encourage digital companies to introduce more next-generation AI features in India,” Biswapriya Bhattacharya, Director, B2B and Technology, Kantar Insights–South Asia, said.
The digital gender gap in India is steadily narrowing, with 47 per cent of all internet users in the country being women — so far the highest.
Female internet users now form a significant portion of shared device users in rural India at 58 per cent. This marks substantial progress in making digital access more inclusive and equitable over the years, the report noted.
Rural India dominates online engagement for top activities, including OTT video and music streaming, online communication, and social media usage, outpacing urban users in these categories.
Urban India leads in the adoption of non-traditional devices such as smart TVs and smart speakers, which have grown by 54 per cent between 2023 and 2024.
Concurrently, mobile devices remain the primary means of accessing the internet across both urban and rural demographics, said the report.
Business
Infamous Hindenburg, which targeted Adani Group, faced intense scrutiny from Indian regulators
New Delhi, Jan 16: Infamous short-selling firm Hindenburg Research, which is now being disbanded as per an open letter from its founder Nate Anderson, has been under the radar of Indian regulators like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) over its report against the Adani Group, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court.
The Adani Group always vehemently rejected allegations by Hindenburg Research as “malicious, mischievous and manipulative selections of publicly available information” to arrive at “pre-determined conclusions for personal profiteering with wanton disregard for facts and the law”.
“For a discredited short-seller under the scanner for several violations of Indian securities laws, Hindenburg’s allegations are no more than red herrings thrown by a desperate entity,” according to the Group.
The SEBI last year issued a show-cause notice to Hindenburg Research, Nate Anderson and the entities of Mauritius-based foreign portfolio investor Mark Kingdon for trading violations in the scrip of Adani Enterprises Ltd leading up to Hindenburg Report.
The regulator alleged that Hindenburg and Anderson violated regulations related to fraudulent and unfair trade practices and the code of conduct for research analysts.
According to the show cause notice, SEBI alleged that prior to the report release, short-selling activity was witnessed in the futures of Adani Enterprises and after the report the share lost 59 per cent between January 24, 2023 and February 22, 2023.
The SEBI investigation revealed that K-India Opportunities Fund – Class F opened a trading account and started trading in the scrip of Adani Enterprises before the release of the report. The FPI then squared off the positions in February making a profit of $22.25 million or Rs 183.24 crore.
Hindenburg continued to defend its January 2023 report. The Adani Group denied allegations levelled by the short seller.
The Supreme Court in July last year dismissed a review petition that was filed against its January 3 judgement in the Adani Group-Hindenburg Research case, wherein the court reposed confidence in SEBI’s regulatory powers and ruled that petitioners could not provide enough material to transfer the probe to a special investigation team.
In January last year, the Supreme Court refused to form any SIT or group of experts to conduct an investigation into the Adani-Hindenburg controversy, saying that the media and third-party reports were not conclusive proof.
“SEBI should take its investigation to its logical conclusion in accordance with law. The facts of this case do not warrant a transfer of investigation from SEBI,” held a bench presided over by then CJI, D.Y. Chandrachud.
Despite continuous attacks from Hindenburg Research and other US-based entities in the past, the market cap of the Adani Group has increased to nearly Rs 12.80 lakh crore.
Every attack made the Group even stronger, and every obstacle became a stepping stone for a more resilient conglomerate. In the recent past, there have been many positive developments about Adani Group’s companies that boosted investors’ confidence.
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