Israeli military says armoured division deployed in Lebanon prepares for Gaza ground operations

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Jerusalem, March 24 (IANS) Israel’s military has said that an armoured division previously deployed in Lebanon is now preparing for ground operations in the Gaza Strip, signalling a possible further expansion of its ongoing air and ground offensive.

In a statement on Sunday, the military said the 36th Division has begun preparations for operations in Gaza “following a situational assessment”.

Video footage released by the military showed about two dozen armoured personnel carriers being deployed near the Gaza border, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the statement, the 36th Division has completed its operations in Lebanon.

The potential reinforcement came as Israel resumed strikes in Gaza on Tuesday after a ceasefire with Hamas that began on January 19 unraveled.

Israeli forces subsequently launched ground operations across southern, northern, and central Gaza.

Also on Sunday, Israel’s military and Shin Bet domestic security agency said in a joint statement that they had killed Ahmad Salman ‘Awj Shimali, deputy commander of Hamas’ Gaza Brigade, who was responsible for operations, strategy planning, and forces building ahead of the October 7 attack.

Jamil Omar Jamil Wadiya, commander of Hamas’ Shuja’iyya Battalion, was also killed, the statement said. They were the latest in a string of senior Hamas figures targeted by Israel.

The Israeli assault on Gaza has killed at least 50,021 people and injured 113,274 others since fighting erupted in early October 2023, according to an update from Gaza-based health authorities.

Earlier, Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with an Israeli infantry force trying to infiltrate the town of Odaisseh in southern Lebanon, marking the first direct clash between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces since Israel announced the invasion.

The Lebanese group said it inflicted losses and forced Israeli forces to retreat.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza last October.

Israel says the operation’s goal is to allow nearly 60,000 displaced people to return to their homes across northern Israel after a year of simmering cross-border fighting.

Hezbollah began firing on Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian allies a day after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the new war in Gaza and now threatens to drag in Iran and the US.

–IANS

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$60 billion investment flowed into India’s Data Centre market in last 6 years: Report

New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) India’s burgeoning Data Centre market has attracted USD 60 billion from both domestic and international investors between 2019-2024 and given the current growth curve is expected to surpass USD 100 billion in cumulative investment commitments by the end of 2027, according to the latest report by real estate consultant CBRE South Asia.

Mumbai continues to dominate data centre stock, followed by Chennai, Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru, accounting for 90 per cent of the country’s total data centre stock as of September. Currently, India’s total DC stock stands at around 19 Mn. Sq. ft. (land area), which is expected to reach 31 Mn. Sq. ft. by the end of 2025, the report states.

The sector is poised for significant growth in 2025, with nearly 475 MW of capacity under construction across major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi-NCR. Key demand drivers for the year ahead include BFSI and Technology companies, it observes.

Tier-II cities like Ahmedabad, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, and Lucknow are gaining traction as key locations for data centres, driven by regional data consumption growth and cost-efficiency advantages, the report points out.

State-wise Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal emerged as the leading states in terms of cumulative investment commitments.

India’s current data centre capacity stands at around 1,255 MW, and it is projected to further expand to 1,600 MW by the end of 2024. The country’s accelerated technology proliferation, digital transformation, increased Internet penetration, policy enablers, and growth in AI-generated data workload will pivot this growth, the report observes.

As sustainability becomes a critical priority, there is a growing focus on integrating renewable energy solutions and advanced cooling technologies, which are helping enhance energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of India’s data centres, the report points out.

Additionally, with AI workloads expected to surpass traditional cloud computing demands, data centre operators are making significant upgrades to their infrastructure to accommodate the evolving needs of AI-driven applications, ensuring they can support the next generation of digital transformation, the report adds.

–IANS

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After two decades, MP to revive public transport system

Bhopal, March 5 (IANS) After nearly two decades, Madhya Pradesh is set to revive its road transport system, primarily to benefit rural communities.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government, under the leadership of then Chief Minister Babulal Gaur, had previously ordered the cessation of the State Road Transport Corporation, which operated buses across the state.

The decision was attributed to the significant financial losses incurred by the Corporation.

“A team of officials is working on it and it would come up in any next Cabinet meeting,” a government official told IANS.

The decision of the earlier government had created a vast gap in the road transportation network in the state.

Despite the arrival of private bus operators, only select routes are available to commoners, particularly majority of villages and rural masses remained bereft of any form of public conveyance.

The restoration of the transport facility, especially in rural areas, is set to revitalise economic activities in tier-II towns and villages.

Additionally, it will provide essential connectivity to medical facilities and educational institutions, ensuring access and opportunities for the rural populace.

Within the bounds of Madhya Pradesh, only the cities of Bhopal and Indore are privileged to possess urban bus services.

The rest of the state in rural areas relies on private operators, who pick only profitable select routes.

“It is also a matter of equity, for the less privileged have as much entitlement to travel the state’s thoroughfares as those who possess automobiles,” the officials said.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had already granted an in-principle approval and asked the relevant departments to devise an appropriate model that may be institutionalised, which, upon receiving the approbation, will be presented to the Cabinet for execution.

In this endeavour, the departments of Transport, Finance, Public Works (PWD), and Rural Development were engaged in a comprehensive study.

Madhya Pradesh besides Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand stand unique in India as these states lack state-owned or state-sponsored public road transportation network.

According to the official there are three models on drawing board.

The first entails the state government both owning and operating a transport corporation; the second involves the state owning the buses and infrastructure while outsourcing the operations.

The third and most probable option is the enlistment of private operators to extend their services to unprofitable routes through a Viability Gap Funding model, thereby covering all districts of the state.

–IANS

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Canada’s next PM Carney wants to ‘rebuild’ ties with India after Trudeau’s exit

Ottawa, March 10 (IANS) Mark Carney, a leading economist and former Governor of the Bank of Canada who has been chosen by Canada’s Liberal Party as Justin Trudeau’s replacement, had pledged to “rebuild” the strained ties with India during his recent election campaign.

The 59-year-old won the race to become the next Canadian Prime Minister by winning over 85 per cent of the vote of Liberal Party members.

He will stay in power till the scheduled General Election in October, in all probability facing Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in the ultimate battle.

India-Canada ties had nosedived last year as Trudeau made “ludicrous statements” repeatedly, further damaging the already strained ties.

However, while pitching himself as the frontrunner to replace Trudeau, Carney has given signals to mend the relationship.

“What Canada will be looking to do is to diversify our trading relationships with like-minded countries, and there are opportunities to rebuild the relationship with India,” said Carney during an interaction in Calgary recently.

India’s ties with Canada have seen sharp deterioration with India repeatedly expressing its deep concern about extremism and the culture of violence and anti-India activities in Canada and has asked Canadian authorities to take action against these activities.

Trudeau had claimed that he had “credible allegations” of India’s hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year.

India denied all the allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated” and accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country.

Carney, who started his career in finance before joining Canada’s public service, has engaged with India in his previous roles.

“As Governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis, he guided Canada through one of the most turbulent economic periods in modern history, protecting jobs and helping ensure that Canada came out stronger,” Carney’s website states.

In 2013, he was recruited to lead the Bank of England, stewarding the United Kingdom’s economy through Brexit and the economic and political crises that followed. And in 2020, he began serving as the UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance — helping rally the world to build stronger economies as we fight climate change.

“Mark offers the proven leadership and real plan we need to deliver change for our party and our country, and to build the strongest economy in the G7. We are a proud nation of builders — and now, it’s time to build. Let’s build together,” reads the leader’s profile on the website.

Last week, Carney presented a new economic plan to create higher paying jobs, improve affordability, and strengthen Canada’s national security.

“We are masters of our own economic destiny. Canada is stronger when it is united, which is why we need to create one Canadian economy instead of 13,” he said suggesting that tariffs imposed by the US have renewed the urgency to address the long-standing barriers that have fragmented the Canadian economy.

–IANS

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