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Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Reliance Anil Ambani Group money laundering case: ED attaches fresh assets worth over ₹1,000 cr

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday said it has issued a fresh order to attach assets worth ₹1,021 crore as part of a money laundering investigation against the Reliance Anil Ambani Group. The provisional order, issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), attaches equity shares of Reliance Power held by Reliance Infrastructure and certain loan amount receivable from Sasan Power and Reliance Power, the agency said in a statement. According to the ED, the probe found that public funds worth ₹15,548 crore raised by RHFL and RCFL were "systematically diverted" through a web of "shell" (dummy) and group companies controlled and managed by the Reliance Anil Ambani Group. The ED is investigating multiple cases against the Group in connection with four FIRs filed under the anti-money laundering law, and three under provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). With the latest order, the total value of properties attached in this case has reached at ₹20,367 crore, with the ED filing four chargesheets and arresting eight persons so far. Additionally, properties worth ₹77.86 crore have been attached under the FEMA, according to the ED. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Reliance Anil Ambani Group money laundering case: ED attaches fresh assets worth over ₹1,000 cr
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

"Indian Navy not just a fighting force, but strong guardian of India's economic interests": Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahendragiri, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. | Photo Credit: PIB Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday underscored the importance of the Indian Navy, stating that recent events have once again demonstrated the need for a capable and responsive navy for any nation. While addressing the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahendragiri at Visakhapatnam, the Defence Minister said, "Recent events have once again demonstrated how essential a capable and responsive navy is for any nation." On the Indian Navy's role during the West Asia conflict, Singh said, "After the conflict began in West Asia, the Indian Navy, through Operation Urja Suraksha, safely escorted 18 merchant vessels carrying essential cargo worth over 9,000 crore. This shows that our Navy is not just a fighting force but has also emerged as a strong guardian of India's economic interests." Defence Minister also said that, "Today the eyes of the entire world are on the Indo-Pacific region, and India has a crucial role to play in this part of the world. Our Prime Minister has articulated a vision for this region: MAHA SAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)." "We seek security and development for everyone in the region. India has emerged as a net security provider and a trusted partner across the Indo-Pacific. Time and again, our Navy has demonstrated that it is the region's most reliable partner. Whether it is conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations during natural disasters, taking action against maritime piracy, or safely evacuating Indian and friendly foreign nationals from countries in crisis, the Indian Navy has consistently served as both the first responder and the preferred security partner," he added. Highlighting India's growing self-reliance in the defence sector, Singh said, "Whenever we build an indigenous warship, we are not merely creating a new fighting platform. Our design expertise becomes more mature, our technological base grows stronger, and we develop a highly skilled workforce capable of building even more advanced warships for future generations." Concluding his remarks, Singh said, "Constructing a warship is not just about building a ship; it also creates an entire industrial ecosystem around it. In the years ahead, we have numerous naval projects before us. Our goal is to make India a global hub for shipbuilding and maritime defence innovation. I am confident that, in the coming years, our country will establish a distinct identity among the world's leading nations in this field." Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

"Indian Navy not just a fighting force, but strong guardian of India's economic interests": Rajnath Singh
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Food standards authority issues 9 notices to Swiggy Instamart over consumer complaints

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Saturday said it has issued nine notices to quick commerce platform, Swiggy Instamart after receiving multiple consumer complaints alleging violations of provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It said that consumers complaints have alleged the supply of expired, spoiled, rotten, contaminated and unsafe food products The notices have also raised concerns about seller onboarding, compliance verification, traceability, food quality monitoring, consumer grievance redressal, supervision of food business activities and the adequacy of food safety complaint systems. FSSAI has asked Swiggy Instmart to give detailed explanation and compliance report failing which appropriate legal action will be initiated. When contacted, a spokesperson for Instamart said, “ We are reviewing the flagged listings by FSSAI and are in touch with the authorities to resolve the same.”. Outlining the violations in a social media post FSSAI said, NOICE eggs were reportedly marketed under a brand name not covered under the product categories approved in the existing FSSAI license. “The food business operator was directed not to market the product unless it was covered under the valid licence and to apply for licence modification, if required,” it added. It also noted that according to a consumer complaint “Healthify 100 per cent Whey Protein 1 Kg” and “Noice Homestyle Madras Minute with Peanuts” were allegedly supplied after their expiry date. In another instance, a product named Akshayakalpa Organic Eggs were reportedly found to be expired, rotten and emitting a foul odour with signs of contamination, rendering it unfit for consumption. Similarly, a product named “Kakke da Parantha” was reportedly found spoiled and emitting a foul odour. FSSAI said the company did not take any corrective action in these instances despite escalation. “An infant food formulation was reportedly found in a highly deteriorated and unsafe condition, showing signs of contamination and improper storage and handling. The same product was allegedly re-supplied to the consumer after the defective product had been returned,” the FSSAI’s post stated. The Authority said complaints have also been recieved for alleged delivery of contaminated eggs and milk along with damaged packaged food items through Instamart. The notices have also raised concerns regarding incorrect, invalid or non-existent FSSAI license Number, and food business entities being listed under names different from those reflected in their FSSAI registration. “Some complaints alleged that no satisfactory response, grievance redressal or corrective action was taken despite the complaints being escalated, while one complaint stated that only a refund was offered, without addressing the reported food safety concerns,” FSSAI said. “The notices have also raised concerns about seller onboarding, compliance verification, traceability, food quality monitoring, consumer grievance redressal, supervision of food business activities and the adequacy of food safety complaint systems,” it added. The FSSAI has now directed the quick commerce platform to submit a detailed explanation addressing the alleged instances of non-compliance and the circumstances leading to the reported incidents. It has also directed Swiggy Instamart to submit details of practices adopted for quality assurance, food safety monitoring, inventory management, stock rotation, hygiene, storage and handling and internal controls adopted to ensure food safety compliance. FSSAI has also asked the company to provide details of “corrective and preventive actions, root cause analysis, consumer grievance redressal and measures implemented to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.” Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Food standards authority issues 9 notices to Swiggy Instamart over consumer complaints
Europe
BBC Business

Man nearly sucked out of window mid-air on Ryanair plane, passengers say

A man was nearly sucked head-first out of a cabin window in mid-air on a Ryanair plane, passengers have said. Tracking data shows the plane was in the air for about 10 minutes when it abruptly descended 9,000ft (2,700m), with passengers telling local media they heard "some kind of explosion". A Greek hospital official said a 61-year-old Serbian national was being treated for friction burns. "His wife held onto his legs for around five minutes to stop him from being sucked out," Michalis Giannakos said. In a statement, Ryanair said its Friday morning flight from the Greek city of Thessaloniki to Germany's Memmingen returned "shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged in flight". "The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal. One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki," the Irish budget airline said. It added that "a replacement aircraft was arranged to bring passengers to Memmingen" several hours later. Passengers have told local media the man was left hanging head first out of the window as far as his shoulders before other passengers managed to pull him back inside. Those on board have also said the window was smashed by pieces of the jet's engine - although Ryanair has not commented on this. "We immediately realised there had been a decompression. There were screams... for a moment I thought someone had accidentally opened the emergency door," Christina, a fellow passenger, told Radio Thessaloniki. "The masks dropped and there was a strong smell. The head and shoulders of one passenger were outside the window. Fortunately, he hadn't taken off his seat belt." Another passenger, Sofia, told Radio Thessaloniki: "When the oxygen masks dropped, we had no idea what was going to happen. We didn't know whether we would make it back. We were sitting at the back of the aircraft, and we realised there had been some kind of explosion. "We thought the plane was going down. The decompression was extreme. It felt like we couldn't breathe. The man who was injured was bleeding and then lost consciousness several times, most likely because of the lack of oxygen and the shock," Sofia added.

Man nearly sucked out of window mid-air on Ryanair plane, passengers say
Europe
BBC Business

Major car firms found not to have installed emissions-cheating devices

Image source, Getty ImagesByMarc AshdownBusiness correspondentPublished10 July 2026Vehicles from a host of major car manufacturers did not contain devices alleged to have allowed them to cheat on emissions tests, a judge at the High Court has ruled. More than a dozen manufacturers are being sued by around 1.6 million motorists over claims that several diesel vehicles made from 2009 onwards contained "prohibited defeat devices" (PDDs). The cases involved 20 "sample vehicles" made by five manufacturers: Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Nissan, Ford, and Peugeot and Citroen. The ten-week trial concluded in March and, in a 369-page ruling handed down today, Lady Justice Cockerill said most of the strategies did not constitute PDDs, with the exception of one in Mercedes cars that was removed in 2015, and another used in some Peugeot-Citroen vehicles. The judgement said: "The Court rejected most of the principal allegations advanced against the manufacturers whose vehicles were examined at trial." It added: "In the majority of instances, the Court found that the relevant strategy did not constitute a prohibited defeat device." Mercedes welcomed the ruling but said it disagreed with the court judgement that one of its four sample vehicles was not compliant prior to the software update. The German carmaker said: "In our view, the emission control software functionalities are justifiable on both technical and legal grounds. We are actively considering all of our available options, including a potential appeal." Those taking legal action either bought, leased or otherwise acquired a diesel vehicle made by one of the companies, with most living in England and Wales. Barristers for the motorists told the trial the devices installed in the cars allowed the vehicles to detect when they were being tested and alter the amount of harmful emissions produced so they fell within emissions regulations. However, the court found that not every calibration or emissions-control strategy amounted to a defeat device. "For a defeat device to be found, there needs to be an intention to cause the emissions control system to operate differently when it senses it is being tested," the judge found.

Major car firms found not to have installed emissions-cheating devices
Asia-Pacific
The Straits Times

IRAS nabs 279 high-income earners over sham arrangements to pay less tax

The taxman said 279 high-income earners were caught for sham arrangements to avoid paying more tax. SINGAPORE – The taxman has caught 279 high-income earners to date for using sham arrangements such as setting up private companies to receive their income to avoid paying more tax. Out of this group, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) probed 124 cases from 2021 to 2025 and clawed back $49 million in additional tax. All but one of these cases involved taxpayers extracting profits as tax-exempt dividends or interest-free shareholder loans. Unlike tax evasion, which is a crime involving hiding and falsifying income, tax avoidance by channelling funds through various arrangements is not an offence, but these moves can result in additional taxes and surcharges being levied if there is no real purpose for these transactions other than paying less tax. Cases involving such taxpayers were highlighted recently when the High Court dismissed the bid of three doctors to challenge the decision of IRAS to levy more taxes on their total incomes. Some of these errant taxpayers thought they could avoid the higher personal tax rate – 24 per cent for those with income exceeding $1 million – by channelling the bulk of their earnings to their companies because corporate profits are taxed at just 17 per cent here. After-tax profits can be declared as dividends and paid to shareholders, who do not have to pay personal income tax on them. These private outfits paid even less corporate taxes in reality because companies enjoy various concessions aimed at spurring growth and entrepreneurship. But instead of using profits to expand business and hire more employees, these high-income earners merely used the structure to channel “tax-exempt” dividends and even non-genuine “shareholders’ loans” to themselves. To deal with these taxpayers, IRAS took action under Section 33 of the Income Tax Act, which empowers it to disregard or vary any contrived arrangement and claw back the taxes that should have been paid. In the recent dispute, the doctors challenged IRAS’ decision to conduct further tax assessments on their dividends and shareholders’ loans they paid to themselves from 2013 to 2018 through various private companies they had set up.

IRAS nabs 279 high-income earners over sham arrangements to pay less tax
Europe
BBC Business

EasyJet agrees to surprise takeover bid as rival US firm swoops in

Image source, Getty ImagesByNick EdserBusiness reporter Published10 July 2026, 07:30 BSTUpdated 2 hours agoNo-frills airline EasyJet says it has agreed in principle to a £5.7bn takeover proposal from US firm Apollo Global Management - just days after accepting an offer from a rival suitor. The carrier said Apollo's offer delivered "a superior outcome" to investors than the previous bid from US investment firm Castlelake that EasyJet had also agreed to in principle at the weekend. EasyJet is one of Europe's largest airlines. It employs more than 19,000 people, and flies around 1,200 routes across 35 European countries. It was founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 1995 to offer cheap air fares to Europe and, together with other carriers such as Ryanair, has transformed UK air travel. Its first flights took off in November 1995 flying from Luton to Glasgow and Edinburgh, with its first international flights the following year. Sir Stelios and the Haji-Ioannou family still own about a 15% stake in the airline. EasyJet said Apollo's offer was worth £7.15 per share, compared with the £6.90 per share proposal from Castlelake which it said it was now "no longer minded" to accept. Castlelake declined to comment on the latest move. Analysts say EasyJet is an attractive target as it is profitable, has a large fleet of aircraft, and has take-off and landing slots at major airports such as Gatwick and Paris Charles de Gaulle. The most popular slots can be worth tens of millions of pounds when traded between airlines. Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said Apollo was focusing on EasyJet's potential. "While the carrier has been buffeted recently by higher fuel costs and geopolitical turbulence, it has built a resilient European network, a strong balance sheet and, crucially, a fast-growing holidays business. That's likely to be one of Apollo's biggest attractions." "Package holidays generate higher margins and more predictable revenues than airline tickets alone," she added. "For passengers, it's very much business as usual for now, with flights, bookings and loyalty schemes unaffected while any deal works its way through the regulatory process."

EasyJet agrees to surprise takeover bid as rival US firm swoops in
Europe
The Guardian

This program gives Black single moms $1,000 a month for a year. The results are undeniable

Amaya Jones and her two children. Photograph: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today/Courtesy of Springboard to OpportunitiesView image in fullscreenAmaya Jones and her two children. Photograph: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today/Courtesy of Springboard to OpportunitiesMississippiThis program gives Black single moms $1,000 a month for a year. The results are undeniableThe Magnolia Mother’s Trust is the first to target low-income families led by Black mothers in Jackson, Mississippi Three months after giving birth to her son, Amaya Jones moved into a new apartment complex. She knew no one else in the building, but it was a fresh start for her and her two children. One day, someone put up a flyer on her unit’s door, notifying her about a program called the Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT). Launched in 2018, the MMT is the longest-running guaranteed income program in the country, and the first to target extremely low-income families headed by Black mothers in Jackson, Mississippi. With no strings attached, the program provides mothers with $1,000 a month for 12 months. While she was pregnant, Jones experienced homelessness. She applied for the program, knowing that it could be life-changing. When she found out that she had been selected for that year’s cohort, Jones “burst out into tears”, she said. “I went from full-time to part-time to barely making ends meet. I was like: ‘Oh, my God. Lord, you hear my cry.’ It was rainbows after bad weather.” When Jones’s son was younger, he was frequently sick, and the family was living paycheck to paycheck. Missing a day of work, even to care for an infant, meant that her check would be short, and Jones struggled to ensure she was covering the day-to- day expenses for her children. View image in fullscreenAllonnah Hawkins, seven; Alonzo Hawkins, nine; and their mother, Cheryl Gray, in their apartment in Jackson on 6 August 2019. Gray received support from Springboard to Opportunities and was working on buying a house through Habitat for Humanity. Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty ImagesNow, she’s able to exceed it. “It was a sigh of relief,” Jones says of the guaranteed income. “I was actually able to take my kids out of town, stuff I wouldn’t be able to do. It’s more time with my children. It’s still helping me today because I’m not struggling and I can prepare myself for the future. My kids are still taken care of.” Being in a cohort with other single moms who receive assistance from MMT has also helped her build community. The MMT is “bigger than the money”, Jones said. “We had meetings. We talked about mental health,” she said. “I found new people who lived in the apartments, because I knew no one. It’s like a very big sisterhood and familyhood to this day. “When my baby was in the hospital, they would check on my baby: ‘Do you need anything?’ Even if I didn’t reply, they would text me again. Some people don’t like to talk about their problems. Some people don’t like to talk about things that they may be going through … But when they say this is an open space, everything stays in this room. We’ve talked about so many things. If you need a little free time, bring the kids to me. We build relationships and friendships. That’s what the trust is.” The MMT is an initiative from Springboard to Opportunities, a non-profit organization that Aisha Nyandoro, from Mississippi, co-founded in 2013. Springboard works directly with families who live in federally supported affordable housing in Jackson. Nyandoro calls it a “radically resident-driven approach”. But by 2017, Nyandoro became concerned that Springboard wasn’t moving the needle enough on poverty. Though the organization has after-school programs, workforce development, reading circles and other programing, she started wondering what else they needed to offer.

This program gives Black single moms $1,000 a month for a year. The results are undeniable
Europe
BBC Business

Vapes to have less enticing names and flavours to protect children

Image source, Getty ImagesByMichelle RobertsDigital health editorPublished10 July 2026, 03:15 BSTUpdated 2 hours agoVapes with colourful packaging, or with names or flavours inspired by sweets and cocktails, could be banned as part of plans to stop them being marketed to children. The government is launching a 12-week consultation, external about its plans "to make vaping less attractive for children and young people". Health Secretary James Murray said it was clear too many were being lured into experimenting. Under the new proposals, packs would need to be plain with strict limits on branding and only simple flavour descriptions like "apple" or "cola" used. Other restrictions would move vapes out of sight in shops, similar to how cigarettes and tobacco are currently sold. There is no legitimate reason for nicotine products to come in neon packaging, feature cartoon images, or use flavours and branding designed to catch a child's eye, say health experts. Murray said: "The evidence is clear: there are too many young people experimenting with vapes, attracted by the array of flavours, bright colours and marketing displays. "Vapes are less harmful than cigarettes and can play an important role in helping adult smokers to quit, but they should never be designed or marketed in ways that tempt children. "These proposals are about striking the right balance and I urge everyone to have their say." The 100 day consultation follows the recent passing of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which sets out proposals to create the UK's first smoke-free generation, protecting children from nicotine addiction, while ensuring adult smokers can still access vaping products to help them quit. Children aged 17 or younger now face a lifelong ban on buying cigarettes, since it will be illegal for shops to sell tobacco to anyone born after 1 January 2009. And it gives the power to ban vaping in cars carrying children, in playgrounds and outside schools and at hospitals, expanding smoke-free laws. It follows a ban on single-use vapes and comes ahead of future bans on the sale of vapes from vending machines and a planned end to the advertising and sponsorship of vapes.

Vapes to have less enticing names and flavours to protect children