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CMA Halts Investigations into Apple and Google App Stores, Awaits New Digital Markets Legislation

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Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has decided to close its ongoing investigations into Apple’s and Google’s app stores, anticipating implementing new legislation to regulate digital markets. The watchdog had previously identified concerns over the companies’ near-monopoly on app distribution in Britain, following a market study conducted in 2022.

The CMA launched separate probes into Apple and Google, suspecting both companies of anticompetitive practices. However, in a recent statement, the agency announced the suspension of these investigations as it awaits the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA), which is expected to come into effect later this year.

Will Hayter, Executive Director for Digital Markets at the CMA, stated that the new digital markets regime would provide enhanced powers to address the identified concerns. Apple and Google have yet to respond to the CMA’s latest decision.

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British Tech Tycoon Mike Lynch and Daughter Among Six Missing After Yacht Sinks Off Sicily

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British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter are among six people missing after their luxury yacht, the 56-meter vessel Bayesian, sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday morning. The yacht, which was carrying 22 people, including British, American, and Canadian nationals, capsized around 05:00 local time after encountering a severe storm that produced waterspouts over the sea. Fifteen people, including a one-year-old British girl, were rescued, while search efforts continue for the missing.

The yacht’s sinking occurred near the Sicilian capital, Palermo, after the anchor reportedly caused the vessel to lose balance and sink during the storm. Authorities have identified wreckage 50 meters below the water’s surface and are conducting rescue operations involving divers and caving teams. The body of one man has been found, though his nationality remains unconfirmed, while Mr. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, has been rescued.

The Bayesian was reportedly on a trip organized by Mr. Lynch for his work colleagues. Survivors are being treated in a Palermo hospital, with reports of injuries among those rescued. The UK Foreign Office is providing support to the affected British nationals and their families, while Britain’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch is conducting a preliminary assessment of the incident.

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Teenager Jailed for Fatal Crash that Killed Three Friends

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A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison after admitting to causing the deaths of three of his teenage friends in a horrific crash near Dumfries in March 2022. Jake Loy, who was just 17 at the time, was driving on the A711 when he lost control of his vehicle and collided with another car. The crash resulted in the deaths of his 16-year-old passengers, Finlay Johns, Ian Cannon, and Tyler Johnston, who were all from Moffat. Three men in the other vehicle were also seriously injured, along with Loy himself.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Loy, who was driving with a provisional license, was unfamiliar with the car and had been driving aggressively. Judge Lord Drummond criticized Loy for his dangerous driving, emphasizing the prolonged nature of his reckless behavior and the severe impact on the victims’ families. The court noted the “almighty impact” of the collision, which split Loy’s Honda in two, and highlighted the significant factors of driver inexperience and excessive speed.

In court, Loy’s defense attorney presented evidence of his client’s profound survivor’s guilt and his wish to have been the one to suffer the fatal injuries instead. Despite these mitigating factors, the judge imposed a prison term and an eight-year driving ban, with Loy required to pass an extended test before being allowed to drive again.

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UK Challenger 2 Tanks Deployed in Ukraine’s Bold Russian Incursion

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UK-donated Challenger 2 tanks have been confirmed as part of Ukraine’s unexpected incursion into Russian territory, a UK source has disclosed. While the UK Ministry of Defence has not specified which weapons are used by Ukraine, it reiterated that the equipment is intended for self-defense against Russian aggression. The use of these tanks in Russia represents a significant escalation in Ukraine’s military strategy, which has also seen the deployment of other Western-supplied armaments such as US Bradley and Stryker vehicles and German Marders.

The use of UK-supplied tanks in this offensive is part of a broader strategy that includes various Western weapons, though Storm Shadow missiles are excluded from targeting within Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously called for the removal of restrictions on long-range weapon use to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The UK Defence Secretary has indicated ongoing discussions about these limitations, but specifics remain undisclosed.

Ukraine’s incursion has caught both Russia and its allies off guard, with Russia declaring states of emergency in affected regions and evacuating thousands of civilians. The operation appears aimed at diverting Russian forces from Ukraine’s borders. The involvement of Western weapons in the attack has intensified debates about international support and potential escalations in the conflict, as Russia accuses the West of involvement in the assault.

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Mrs South India 2024 Title Bagged by Telangana’s Varsha Reddy

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In a dazzling celebration of grace and empowerment, Varsha Reddy from Telangana emerged as the radiant victor of Mrs. South India 2024, a prestigious title presented by Alcazar Watches and DQUE Soap. Held amidst the grandeur of Le Meridien, Coimbatore, on August 13th, the event saw fierce competition, with Kerala’s own Revathy Mohan and Drishya D Nair capturing the first and second runner-up spots, respectively. The evening shimmered with elegance, as these remarkable women showcased their beauty, talent, and poise, leaving an indelible mark on the South Indian pageant scene.

The winner was crowned by Jebitha Ajit, MD of Pegasus Global Private Limited; the First Runner-Up by Dr. Leema Rose Martin; and the Second Runner-Up by Nalini Periyaswamy, Operations Director of Le Meridien. The results announcement and crowning ceremony were conducted under the leadership of Dr. Ajit Ravi, Founder of Mrs South India and Chairman of Pegasus. 12 contestants were selected from around the South Indian states for the Mrs South India competition. The winners of Mrs South India were presented with a gold crown designed by Preethi Parakkat of Parakkat Jewelers.

Regional Title Winner

Mrs Kerala Global – Revathy Mohan (Kerala)

Mrs Karnataka – Salma Sultana (Karnataka)

Mrs Tamilnadu – Deepikha Krishnaraj (Tamilnadu)

Mrs Telangana – Varsha Reddy (Telangana)

Mrs Andhra – Namratha Nitish (Andhra)

Subtitle Winners

Mrs Congeniality – Drishya D Nair (Kerala)

Mrs Ramp Walk – Varsha Reddy (Telangana)

Mrs Adorable – Salma Sultana (Karnataka)

Mrs Talent – Revathy Mohan (Kerala)

Mrs Humaneness – Varsha Reddy (Telangana)

Mrs Diligent – Ashitha P S (Kerala)

Mrs Solidarity – Revathy Mohan (Kerala)

Mrs Vivacious – Namitha K Bhaskaran (Kerala)

Mrs Inspiring – Sheena V Kunnuth (Kerala)

Mrs Fashionista – Anagha P John (Kerala)

Jaya Mahesh (Model, and Fitness Therapist), Dr K A Kuriachan (Former Rotary Governor and International Corporate Trainer), Rinky Shah (Influencer & Entrepreneur), Lakshmi Atul (Director, Aries Group of Companies) and Reji Bhaskar (Fashion Photographer) were on the judging panel. The winners of the subtitles were selected by a panel of eminent persons. The competition took place in three rounds: Royal Blue Indian Ethnic Wear, Black Cocktail, and Red Gown.

Manappuram Finance Ltd, Saj Group Hotels and Resorts, Naturals Salon, Unique Times and Parakkat Resorts are the Powered by Partners of the event. Aishwarya Advertising, UTWorld, FICF, UT TV, Times New, Kalpana International, Europe Times, DQUE Watches, Crystal, Green Media, Neenu Pro The Sound Experts, JD Institute of Fashion and Technology are the co-partners.

Anagha P John from Kerala, Ananthi M from Tamil Nadu, Ashitha P S from Kerala, Deepikha Krishnaraj from Tamilnadu, Drishya D Nair from Kerala, Namitha K Bhaskaran from Kerala, Namratha Nitish from Andhra, Revathy Mohan from Kerala, Salma Sultana from Karnataka, Shagarika Pasupathi from Tamilnadu, Sheena V Kunnuth from Kerala and Varsha Reddy from Telangana were the contestants.

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16th Manappuram MBA Award Celebrates 15 Years, Highlights Tamil Nadu’s Leading Business Figures

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The 16th edition of the prestigious Manappuram Multibillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) Award ceremony, conceptualized by Dr. Ajit Ravi Pegasus, was held on 13th August 2024 at Le Meridien, Coimbatore, honoring exceptional business leaders for their significant financial accomplishments and contributions to social welfare. The event, led by Pegasus Chairman and MBA Award FICF Founder, Dr. Ajit Ravi was graced by Padma Shri Dr. D R Karthikeyan, President of the Foundation for Peace, Harmony and Good Governance (Age Care India) and Former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation as the Chief Guest, with Dr. E Balagurusamy, Chairman of the EBG Foundation and Academic Adviser to the Governor of Jharkhand serving as the Guest of Honour and Dr Kuriachan K A, Former District Governor, Rotary International & International Corporate Trainer. The award winners are Shri Soundararajan Bangarusamy (Chairman, Suguna Foods and Suguna Holdings), Shri C K Kumaravel (Co-founder and CEO, Groom India Salons), Shri V C Praveen (Vice Chairman, Sree Gokulam Group of Companies), Dr. Arun N Palaniswami (Executive Director, KMCH group of hospitals), and Shri V R Muthu (Chairman & Co-founder, Idhayam Group).

Marking the MBA Award’s 15-year milestone the initiative has now expanded to other states to recognize 15 outstanding business leaders . As part of this expansion, five leaders from Tamil Nadu has been honored this time, with an additional ten recipients to be recognized in the coming months, as announced by Dr. Ajit Ravi, FICF founder and Chairman of Pegasus. He also mentioned that moving forward, only one recipient will be selected annually for the MBA Award. The MBA Award, which celebrates individuals with assets surpassing Rs 1000 crore, proudly inducted five new laureates from Tamil Nadu into its prestigious ranks. These distinguished winners are now members of the Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF), an exclusive network of industry leaders with significant assets. The FICF provides a platform for collaboration, innovation, and advocacy, focusing on impactful causes beyond financial achievements.

This year’s awardees join an illustrious group of previous MBA Award recipients, including luminaries such as Shri V P Nandakumar of Manappuram Finance Ltd, Shri Joy Alukkas of Joy Alukkas Group, Shri M A Yusuf Ali who heads the EMKE Group, Shri T S Kalyana Raman of Kalyan Jewellers, Shri P N C Menon of Sobha Developers, Shri Gokulam Gopalan of Gokulam Group, Dr. Ravi Pillai, Founder & MD, R P Group of Companies, Shri M P Ramachandran, Managing Director and Chairman of Jyothy Laboratories, Shri Kochouseph Chitilappilly, Founder, Chairman & CEO of V-Guard Industries Ltd, Shri Sabu M Jacob, MD, Kitex Garments Ltd, Shri Viju Jacob, Managing Director of Synthite Industries Ltd, Dr. A V Anoop, Managing Director, AVA group of companies, Dr. Varghese Kurian, Chairman, VKL Holdings and the Al Namal Group of Companies, Adv Dr P Krishnadas, Chairman & Managing Trustee, Nehru Group of Institutions and Dr. Hafeez Rahman, Chairman, Sunrise Hospitals.

Each member of this esteemed group embodies entrepreneurial spirit and social responsibility, leaving a lasting impact on both the business world and society. As the MBA Award enters its 16th year, the ceremony continues to celebrate business excellence and societal contribution, inspiring future generations of business leaders to follow in the footsteps of these visionaries.

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Iran Rejects European Calls for Restraint, Citing International Law Violations

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Iran’s foreign ministry has strongly criticized calls from France, Germany, and Britain urging restraint in response to Israel, labeling these demands as lacking political logic and contradicting international law. The European nations issued their appeal after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s political chief, in Tehran last month, an act for which Tehran and its allies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, hold Israel responsible.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, condemned the European stance, arguing that it ignores Israel’s alleged violations of Iranian sovereignty and territorial integrity. He asserted that Tehran remains committed to deterring Israel and urged the European nations to oppose the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel’s actions.

Kanaani further criticized the United Nations Security Council and Western governments, blaming their support for Israel as the primary driver behind the ongoing crisis in Gaza. He called on Paris, Berlin, and London to take a firm stand against what he described as Israel’s warmongering in the region.

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European Privacy Group Files Complaints Against X for Unauthorized Use of User Data

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Vienna-based privacy advocacy group Noyb has lodged complaints against Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) in eight European countries, alleging the company unlawfully utilized users’ personal data to train its artificial intelligence technology without their consent. The complaints come in the wake of similar legal actions by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), which had previously initiated court proceedings over X’s data collection practices.

Noyb claims that X began “irreversibly feeding” the personal data of over 60 million European users into its Grok AI system without notifying them or seeking their approval. The group criticized X for failing to inform users proactively, with many learning about the new data processing practice only through a viral social media post.

In response, the DPC has reportedly secured an agreement from X to halt its controversial data processing. However, Noyb founder Max Schrems argues that the DPC’s actions address only the superficial aspects of the issue, calling for a comprehensive investigation into the legality of X’s data processing. Noyb has now requested an urgent review from data protection authorities in Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain to ensure full compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

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Celebrating Excellence: The 16th Manappuram Multibillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) Award Ceremony

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On August 13, at the Le Meridien Hotel in Coimbatore, the 16th Manappuram Multibillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) Award will celebrate five distinguished business leaders from Tamil Nadu. This prestigious accolade grants recipients membership in the Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF), an elite network for the world’s wealthiest individuals, each possessing assets of at least ₹1000 crore. The FICF is known for its members’ exceptional business achievements and commitment to social responsibility, encouraging them to use their entrepreneurial prowess for social progress.

Commemorating the MBA Award’s 15-year milestone in Kerala, the initiative now extends to other regions, recognizing 15 leading business figures from each area. This year, Tamil Nadu’s honorees include Shri Soundararajan Bangarusamy (Suguna Foods), Shri CK Kumaravel (Naturals), Shri VC Praveen (Sree Gokulam Group of Companies), Dr. Arun N Palaniswami (KMCH Group of Hospitals), and Shri VR Muthu (Idhayam Group). An additional ten recipients will be acknowledged in the coming months, with Dr. Ajit Ravi, FICF founder and Chairman of Pegasus, announcing a future shift to honoring one recipient annually.

Previous MBA Award winners include Shri VP Nandakumar, Shri Joy Alukkas, Shri MA Yusuff Ali, Shri TS Kalyanaraman, Shri PNC Menon, Shri Gokulam Gopalan, Dr. Ravi Pillai, Shri MP Ramachandran, Shri Kochouseph Chittilappilly, Shri Sabu M Jacob, Dr. Viju Jacob, Dr. AV Anoop, Dr. Varghese Kurian, Adv. Dr. P Krishnadas, and Dr. Hafeez Rahman.

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Chelsea’s Fernandez Apologizes for Controversial Video, FIFA Investigates

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Chelsea footballer Fernandez has issued a public apology after a video surfaced featuring members of the Argentina squad singing a controversial song about France’s black players. The video, posted during celebrations of Argentina’s Copa America victory, prompted widespread condemnation for its racially offensive content. In response, FIFA has launched an investigation into the incident, with both the French Football Federation (FFF) and anti-discrimination organizations expressing outrage and calling for accountability.

In his apology, Fernandez, Chelsea’s £107m record signing, expressed regret for his involvement in the video, stating that the words used do not reflect his beliefs or character. Chelsea Football Club has initiated an internal disciplinary procedure, and anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out has emphasized the need for educational measures and accountability beyond mere apologies. The FFF has announced plans to file a complaint with FIFA against the Argentine Football Association, condemning the remarks as contrary to the values of sport and human rights.

FIFA, in response to the incident, has strongly condemned all forms of discrimination and is actively investigating the matter. The controversy underscores ongoing concerns about racism in football, prompting calls for comprehensive action to address such behavior both within clubs and at international levels.

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