The News Caravan

Tag: Impact

  • People’s trust is my shield, abuses will have no impact: PM Modi

    People’s trust is my shield, abuses will have no impact: PM Modi

    [ad_1]

    New Delhi: In a stinging attack on the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the trust reposed by crores of people was his protective shield which cannot be breached by abuse and allegations from his detractors.

    Replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in Lok Sabha, Modi said the world was looking at India with hope amid instability in some parts of the globe due to the once-in-a-century pandemic and conflicts.

    “But some people who are neck deep in frustration refuse to accept India’s growth story. They cannot see the achievements of 140 crore Indians,” Modi said, targeting the Opposition.

    The prime minister said people know Modi has come to their help in times of crisis. “How will they agree with your abuses and allegations,” he told the Opposition.

    “People trust in Modi not due to newspaper headlines or TV visuals but due to my years of dedication in the service of the people,” Modi said.

    BJP members broke into chants of Modi, Modi’ as the prime minister listed out the public welfare initiatives of his government. Opposition members raised the slogan of Adani, Adani’ to counter the BJP members.

    Opposition MPs including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had targeted the government while raising the Adani-Hindenburg issue during the debate.

    The prime minister said the Opposition had wasted the past nine years in levelling baseless allegations instead of indulging in constructive criticism.

    “When you lose elections, blame the EVMs, criticise the Election Commission, if the Supreme Court does not give a favourable verdict, criticise the apex court.

    “If corruption is being probed, abuse the investigative agencies. If the Army displays valour, abuse the armed forces, level allegations against them. When there is talk of economic progress, criticise the RBI,” Modi said.

    “In the past nine years, compulsive criticism has replaced constructive criticism,” the prime minister said.

    He described the 10 years of UPA rule as India’s “lost decade”.

    “The decade before 2014 will always be remembered as ‘The Lost Decade’, but the decade of 2030 is India’s decade,” Modi said.

    “No one can forget the attacks of 2008. The lack of courage in acting against terrorism led to a bloodbath and the loss of lives of our innocent citizens. It’s synonymous with the UPA’s misrule,” he said.

    The prime minister said India was emerging as a manufacturing hub and the world now sees its prosperity in the country’s growth.

    He said President Droupadi Murmu’s address to Parliament was an inspiration for everyone.

    Raising slogans, members of the BRS, Left parties and some members of the Congress walked out of Lok Sabha in protest as the prime minister was speaking.

    [ad_2]
    #Peoples #trust #shield #abuses #impact #Modi

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • New I-T system can have adverse impact on taxpayers’ savings, says RSS affiliate SJM

    New I-T system can have adverse impact on taxpayers’ savings, says RSS affiliate SJM

    [ad_1]

    New Delhi: While expressing satisfaction over the growth orientation in the Budget, with focus on rural development, infrastructure and MSMEs, RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) impressed upon the Centre to tweak the tax regime to promote saving by the middle class, which is an essential source of government borrowing and capital formation.

    The SJM also urged the government to increase tariffs on products where there exists sufficient excess capacity, aimed at promoting manufacturing in the country by curbing imports from China.

    Dr Ashwani Mahajan, national co-convenor, SJM said that as expected, the income tax burden (in the new tax regime) has been reduced for the middle class, including for the ultra-rich, which will have an impact on the total revenue of Rs 37,000 crore.

    “Swadeshi Jagran Manch believes that the new income tax system may give relief to the taxpayers in terms of ease in filing returns, with lower tax burden; but it can have an adverse impact on the savings being made by income taxpayers. In today’s era where GST has gone out of the ambit of the Budget; and hardly much possibility of any tweaks in corporate taxation, the allocation of government expenditure is more in the eyes of economic analysts,” he said.

    No doubt, the allocation of government expenditure is the mirror of the policies of the government; and that is perfectly reflected in the Budget. In that context, SJM expresses its happiness over the allocation for infrastructure, rural development, green growth, education and digitization in the budget,” he added.

    The RSS affiliate said that unprecedented imports from China and the trade deficit are a cause of concern.

    “Although it was expected that there will be an emphasis on manufacturing in this budget, SJM expresses its dissatisfaction over the lack of sufficient efforts, including hiking tariffs on products, both final and intermediate products. Today the country is going through unprecedented imports from China and a trade deficit, but the same couldn’t catch sufficient attention of the Finance Minister,” said the SJM.

    SJM said that carrying forward last year’s resolution, the share of effective capital expenditure (including support to state governments for capital formation) has been raised to Rs 13.7 lakh crore, which is 4.5 per cent of GDP.

    “It will benefit infrastructure building and other types of asset creation. Capital expenditure of Rs 2.40 lakh crore for Railways, and the provision of various types of capital expenditure, including logistics of Rs 7,500 crore makes this Budget special. This much capital expenditure is a record not only in terms of quantity but also as a percentage of GDP in recent decades,” it said.

    “Another welcome focus in the Budget is the MSME sector. Extending Credit Guarantee for MSMEs, giving relief to MSMEs who could not fulfil their contracts with the government by releasing their caution money, PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman scheme is a welcome step for empowering artisans, who are at the bottom of the pyramid,” said the SJM.

    [ad_2]
    #system #adverse #impact #taxpayers #savings #RSS #affiliate #SJM

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Will the Union Budget impact your life style?

    Will the Union Budget impact your life style?

    [ad_1]

    Delhi: The 2023-2024 Union Budget was announced and what impact will it make on your life and style in the coming year? While some industries had favourable results that will spur the growth of the sector, others were rather underwhelmed.

    Experts in the field expresses their thoughts to IANSlife…

    Eating out?

    The F&b industry benefits from the personal tax relief measures outlined in the budget. Commenting on the same, Merrill Pereyra, Managing Director, Pizza Hut India Subcontinent said, “The Food Services industry relies heavily on discretionary spending and therefore stands to gain from the personal tax relief measures announced in the budget, which will further catalyze consumption. The focus on domestic tourism will also cascade positively across our sector, by opening up new markets and allowing for greater expansion, especially in unpenetrated locations.”

    While on the other hand, Debaditya Chaudhury, Managing Director of Chowman, Oudh 1590 & Chapter 2 expresses disappointment stating, “I think it’s a little disheartening for the food and beverage industry, that there was no mention of any relief or support for us in the Union Budget 2023-24 declaration. This year, we were hoping for extended moratoriums on interest payable and reduced tax structure to help us regain our balance sheet’s health. Sadly, the government has ignored us even though the industry has been resilient and has recovered from the pandemic on its own. While other sectors are laying people off, the F&B industry has been generating jobs, adding to the GST credit without even any input credit.”

    Your next adventure

    A growth-oriented aimed to help India weather the current global economic challenges says Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & MD, Cygnett Hotels and Resorts. “With the Finance Minister announcing plans to renew 50 additional airports, helipads, water aero drones, and advanced landing grounds, it will boost regional connectivity. Moreover, the announcement to develop 50 destinations for domestic and international tourists will also help to draw attention to the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors. The Finance Minister said that these tourist destinations will be selected through challenge mode. The impetus on Dekho Apna Desh will provide a further boost to the growth of domestic tourism in the country. The Finance Minister also highlighted that states will be encouraged to set up a “Unity Mall” in the capital city or most popular tourist destination for the promotion of the ‘One District, One product’ theme. Such initiatives will also help unleash the potential taped in the tourism sector.”

    Paritosh Ladhani, Joint Managing Director, Sincere Developers, which owns Taj Hotel and Convention Centre Agra said, “The Union Budget 2023-2024 presented by the finance minister highlighted that the Indian economy is on a growth trajectory in spite of the global economic challenges. In her Budget speech, the FM emphasized that the country offers “immense attraction” for both domestic and international tourists. With the government announcing that states will be encouraged to set up a “Unity Mall” in the capital city or most popular tourist destination for the promotion of the ‘One District, one product’ theme, such initiatives will help to unleash the potential vested in the tourism sector. I also expect that the change in tax regime announced in the Union Budget will result in more disposable income in the hands of middle-class consumers – which I expect ultimately will spur consumption in activities like travel. Regional connectivity will see a boost with the plans to renew 50 additional airports, helipads, water aero drones, and advanced landing grounds.”

    “The government’s focus on tourism in the budget by giving it a top priority is commendable. The allocation of resources highlights the importance placed on boosting employment through the tourism sector,” said Asif Fazlani, Managing Director, of Fazlani Nature’s Nest. “The budget demonstrates the government’s commitment to the holistic development of the industry. The plan to develop 50 tourist destinations for both domestic and international tourists will revolutionize the tourism industry in India.”

    About the provisions of the tourism industry in the Union Budget 2023-2024 Priya Thakur, founder, Larisa Hotels and Resorts said, “We are very pleased to see that the Union Budget for 2023-2024 includes funding for the development of tourist sites in India for both domestic and foreign visitors. With LaRiSa’s strong presence in popular tourist areas like Goa, Manali, Shimla, and Mussoorie, we hope to see an increase in travelers. With a boost in infrastructure and enhanced air connectivity, we hope to welcome guests from varied locations. LarRiSa has always supported and endorsed the spirit of uplifting the local community. With the promotion of local tourist spots and spaces, it will not only result in the upliftment of these cities but will also provide more jobs and opportunities for the locals all around the year.”

    Sandeep Arora, Director of Brightsun Travel India added, “Indian economy is expected to increase by 7 per cent in the year 2023 and tourism is one of the major areas that contribute to it. Development of tourist infrastructure is the need of the hour so the announcement that 50 tourist destinations will be developed for domestic and international tourism is a positive step. Plus, the border village tourism initiative will bring tourists to these far corners helping the local communities earn livelihood and prosper. This year’s budget also saw the highest-ever capital outlay of 2.5 crores for the railways which may provide the push needed for the growth of domestic tourism in the country. Air travel is also expected to rise. Specific focus is needed for the tourism industry to rebound back to pre-pandemic levels and we hope that these initiatives will provide much awaited-relief to the Indian tourism sector.”

    All those gems

    The budget for Gems and Jewellery now has more room for discretionary spending, increasing consumer purchasing power. Amit Pratihari, Vice President, De Beers Forevermark said, “For natural diamonds, we’ve seen an encouraging trend over the past few months where consumers are purchasing items that hold meaning and value. Natural diamonds continue to be sought after due to their inherent preciousness. Pricing has also remained steady, and we are optimistic it will become stronger. As customers continue to value what is natural and genuine, diamonds will always be in demand.”

    “Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) applauds the pro-reform and export growth-oriented budget by Hon. Finance Minister… In the first Budget of Amritkaal, Hon. Finance Minister has listed 7 priorities as she outlined people-centric agenda of ease of living and doing business to take on global challenges as well as for stimulating exports… GJEPC welcomes the reduction of Customs Duty on LGD seeds to zero from 5 per cent. It will ensure India’s end-to-end world leadership in rough-to-finished lab-grown diamond and jewelry manufacturing. In addition to that government. has also accepted to have clear segregation Customs (IT HS) codes for Silver and Platinum studded Lab grown jewelry for better differentiation and identification at the consumer level,” added Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC.

    Hot Wheels

    “The Union Budget 2023-2024 announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is progressive, prudent, and growth-led, with an eye to providing impetus on the savings of the public,” said Banwari Lal Sharma, CEO, of Consumer Business, CarTrade Tech Ltd. “It is a ‘green budget’ for the automotive and mobility sectors. The sustainability measures taken through announcements on green hydrogen and other energy sectors will help in furthering the government’s target of carbon neutrality by 2070. The increased Capex outlay on energy transition is likely to spur investments and skill development in a green economy. The viability gap funding for battery energy storage systems is also likely to create critical infrastructure, while custom duty reduction on capital goods for Lithium batteries manufacturing will facilitate faster adoption of EVs. An increase in spending on infrastructure, the setting up of 50 new airports and heliports, and the creation of 100 transport infrastructure projects are welcome moves, in addition to the central support for replacing old vehicles. All of these should drive consumption and overall demand of vehicles.”

    Tech And E-Commerce

    Abhijit Bhattacharya, Founder & CBO, OneGreen said, “The Union Budget has sent the right signal to investors, businesses, and citizens that green growth is a priority for India. At OneGreen, we are extremely thrilled with the government’s focus on the environment and ensuring that people switch to a more sustainable way of life for without this, the health and wellness of the nation in its truest sense can never be achieved. We are encouraged by the focus on sustainable agriculture practices, including organic farming initiatives backed with incentives for over 1 crore farmers which will help ensure that chemical-free food ingredients are used in food and related products. The Green Credit Programme under the Environment (Protection) Act to incentivize environmentally sustainable and responsive actions by companies, individuals and local bodies will help each and every one of us inculcate sustainable habits and increase investments in the sector. We also welcome the government’s move to increase its expenditure on building sources of renewable energy. Further tax exemptions such as the reduction of GST rates on electric vehicle components and waivers or subsidies given out to households using renewable energy systems will contribute greatly towards creating an environment-friendly infrastructure in India. Indians in the post-pandemic era have understood the importance of living a green and clean life and this budget with its focus on behavior change will steer the population in the right direction. We look forward to seeing how this budget shapes India’s future trajectory toward sustainable development goals!

    “Union Budget 2023 is very promising for the financial sector and carves out an excellent path for the future with a focus on growing the MSME sector, pushing infrastructure development, and enabling personal consumption. Extension of the ECLGS scheme along with other measures would have a huge impact on promoting growth. The finance minister has taken substantial steps to reduce credit costs for the sector which would help in promoting employment and growth. Boosting MSMEs through easier credit would aid growth, ease tax liability, and promote consumption. Focus on reducing credit costs would also boost profitability and help create more jobs. Additionally, increased expenditure on infrastructure and personal tax reforms would aid create a positive sentiment in the economy and put India on a path for rapid development,” added Saurav Ghosh, Co-founder, Jiraaf.

    Healthcare

    Technology integration an advantageous effect on the healthcare industry that will encourage its expansion. Snehal Shah, CEO at Fullife Healthcare Private Limited said, “Integration of technology has a definitive impact on our future prospects. Greater awareness towards healthcare and a focus on boosting exports for the sector of innovative products in Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceuticals are outstanding long-term initiatives that were being talked about in this year’s budget. The Indian industry is well-poised with a good ecosystem, and companies like Fullife that focus on innovation lead delivery dosage forms will be highly encouraged in such a supportive environment. This year, the Centre has also increased its allocation to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and has invested in focus on natural products like Millet and healthcare, we see continued growth in concepts that associate with good health. Being a company from India that exports nutraceutical products across 30+ countries now, a simplified tax structure will help towards the promotion of exports and boost domestic manufacturing.”

    In this Union Budget, the government has focused on some of the core needs of the health and wellness sector. “The plan to establish 157 nursing colleges as collocated facilities alongside medical colleges will help cover the shortage of trained healthcare workforce and lead to greater healthcare coverage of the out-of-hospital medical services. The plans to provide access to ICMR labs and other R&D facilities as well as a collaborative approach to pharmaceuticals research and encouragement of private sector investments, multi-disciplinary training for R&D and manufacturing of high-quality medical devices, and various other such measures are going to augur well for the overall universal healthcare access and quality in India,” said Meena Ganesh, Co-Founder & Chairperson, of Portea Medical.

    “However, it is also important to note that while various aspects of healthcare and health tech have been touched upon, we looked forward to some announcements in the area of accessibility and affordability of personalized care for the masses. A crisis situation like the pandemic toppled healthcare systems globally and some clarity on how the country will handle a similar situation in the times to come was needed.”

    (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

    [ad_2]
    #Union #Budget #impact #life #style

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Saudi Arabia: Will football become a major factor in making an impact on the world map?

    Saudi Arabia: Will football become a major factor in making an impact on the world map?

    [ad_1]

    Dubai: Till now, the economic and social impact of football was largely visible only in Latin American countries, but after the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup by Qatar, the way Arab countries have realised the power of this game and started working in that direction is commendable and also going to become an example of foresight.

    Football is an important part of Saudi Arabian culture and has been played for many years. With the recent signing of football superstars like Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia’s Al Nasr Club has signed a deal worth Rs 170 billion, indicating that Saudi Arabia wants to use football to promote tourism and culture in the country.

    The manner in which Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a luxurious 5-star suite of 17 rooms to live in, as well as exemption from the law which prohibits unmarried cohabitation, it is clear that the purpose of this agreement and its effect is not going to be limited to playfield.

    Two of Saudi Arabia’s biggest clubs, Al Nassr and Al Hilal, are investing heavily in their teams to make them globally competitive. This has increased interest in the sport among both locals and tourists alike.

    Al-Nassr’s rival Al Hilal is reportedly making a whopping offer of 24 billion rupees per season for Argentine striker Lionel Messi, according to a report in Barca Universal. Al Hilal is said to be Al Nassr’s biggest rival.

    Messi’s contract with his French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is set to expire in June, and the Saudi club is keen to sign him as soon as possible. Al Hilal is currently not allowed to add any players until the next transfer window, according to regulations, but they are open to signing the Argentine star now and allowing him to join the club in the summer.

    Speaking to IANS, former Gulf News editor Bobby Naqvi said, “Football is also being used as a tool for social change in Saudi Arabia. It has been able to bring together people from different backgrounds and cultures. It is helping, as well as providing an outlet for young people who previously did not have access to entertainment or other forms of entertainment.”

    “Football’s popularity is growing in Saudi Arabia year by year and now it has become an important part of the culture. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar have played at Al Nassr, Al Hilal, and Al Wehda.

    “With news of signings for teams such as Saudi Arabia, it is inevitable that more people from around the world will be attracted to watch sports in Saudi Arabia. This increased interest will contribute to an influx of tourists resulting in increased ticket sales, merchandise May contribute to the economy through growth in sales, hospitality, and business.

    “These efforts are part of Saudi Vision 2030, a national transformational roadmap launched in 2016. The roadmap aims to position Saudi Arabia as an economic powerhouse in the world. Saudi Arabia strives to establish itself as an attractive destination for visitors and investors and to provide excellent quality of life to its people. Football has much to offer to Saudi Arabia and can be seen as a step toward cultural progress.”

    As part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision 2030, Saudi Arabia prioritised sports in 2016. Since then, the sports industry in Saudi Arabia has been progressing toward three major goals. Increasing community participation in sports to 40 per cent by 2030, improving Saudi athletes’ overseas exposure, and boosting the sports economy.

    One of the goals of Vision 2030 was to make the state a hub for top professional sporting events, which would have significant implications for the country, such as job creation.

    According to the 2020 Sports Ministry report, the sports sector created more than 14,000 jobs that year. In addition, jobs in sports clubs have increased by 129 per cent over three years due to new sporting offerings. Between 2018 and 2021, administrative jobs grew by 156 per cent, while career opportunities in sports increased by more than 114 per cent.

    The economic impact of tourism is another important benefit of hosting sporting events in the Kingdom, as these events contribute to an increase in the number of foreign visitors from around the world who can spend money and boost the Saudi economy.

    According to the ministry, sporting events generated 36.9 million Saudi riyals ($9.8 million) in ticket revenue and visitor spending in 2020. In addition, the sports sector contributes to hotel spending and the hospitality industry in general. Both the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh host events such as Formula E, Formula 1 and Race on the Red Sea during the first eight months of 2022.

    One of Saudi Arabia’s biggest obstacles in promoting sports was the low participation of women. Top-down reforms have helped address this problem. In 2018, families-not just men-were allowed to enter the stadium. Following this change, the number of participants in athletic events increased by 152 per cent.

    To encourage women’s participation in sports, the Ministry of Education issued a decision in 2017 to implement sports classes in girls’ schools, which were not previously available in public schools. All these reforms helped women’s participation in sports skyrocket by 150 percent from 2015 to 2019. Today, the state has over six thousand female athletes and twenty-seven women’s sports teams.

    Saudi Arabia has participated in the FIFA World Cup six times and the number of clubs playing professional football in Saudi Arabia is over 100, with 16 clubs playing in the Saudi Professional League, 20 clubs in the First Division, 28 clubs in the Second Division and 32 in the Third Division.

    As India has withdrawn the bid to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, Saudi Arabia is left as the sole bidder for it, and it is for Saudi Arabia to claim the FIFA World Cup after successfully hosting the Asian Cup.

    Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing to stake claim to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. If we talk about Arab countries, then this country with a population of about 36 crores has always been enthusiastic about sports. Saudi Arabia has also won many medals in the Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games.

    Apart from football, equestrian sports, horserace, athletics, formula one, and karate are also very much liked by the people of Saudi Arabia and their participation is visible. As it is clear that Saudi wants to separate its economy from oil, sports and tourism can become its main source of income. In the coming days, we can see a lot of sports-related activities here.

    Saudi Arabia, a mostly desert country with summer temperatures touching 50 degrees Celsius, has been chosen to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games and is building one such sports complex in the $500 billion mega-city Neom. which will remain cold and snowy year-round for the winter sports complex.

    The Saudi capital Riyadh will host the Asian Games in 2034.

    Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal told media that hosting the Olympics was the kingdom’s “ultimate goal”. Saudi money has knocked the world of golf with the LIV tour of golf by investing huge money. Top players have been lured by record-breaking prize money and hefty sign-on fees. Former world number one Dustin Johnson has been one of the major beneficiaries, earning $35 million in total prize money in the inaugural season – having been given $150 million just for agreeing to play. The LIV will expand its 54-hole, part-team format this year to a 14-tournament international event offering a record $405 million in prize money.

    In cricket, Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil exporter and one of its richest companies, began sponsoring major events organised by the International Cricket Council, including the men’s and women’s ODI and T20 World Cups. Saudi Arabia has overtaken horse racing with the $20 million Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race. The last two editions have been won by Saudi-owned horses.

    Not only Saudi, but other neighbouring countries are continuously investing to build Arab ownership and influence in football.

    Qatar wants to invest in the English Premier League (6 billion Pounds), the world’s richest and most watched league, with its Sports Fund (QSI). Recently held investment talks with London-based club Tottenham Hotspur. Qatar has bought a 22 percent stake in Portuguese club SC Braga for 19 million Pounds. QSI is also exploring options in Belgium, Spain, and Brazil.

    The English Premier League is closely related to the Gulf countries. The royal family of Abu Dhabi bought Manchester City Club in 2008. The club has won the Premier League 6 times since Abu Dhabi bought Manchester City and Manchester City is also in financial profit. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) bought English Premier League club Newcastle United in 2021 for 300 million Pound. Qatar also owns beIN- the sports broadcaster for Europe and the Middle East. Apart from football, Qatar is now taking interest in Squash, Tennis, and Formula One with its Sports Fund (QSI).

    Another important factor behind the promotion of tourism through sports and games is the nomadic nature of the Saudi people. Every year, about $50 billion is spent by Saudis travelling abroad. It is the effort of the Saudi government to give the young generation of working age above 35 years the option to spend within the country.

    In Saudi Arabia, 60 per cent of the population is under the age of 35, who are standing with Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the winds of Saudi change. This is a Saudi population that is educated abroad, speaks English, and is ready to be a change agent with technology.

    According to statistics, tourists in Saudi Arabia spent 27 billion riyals ($7.19 billion) during the first six months of 2022, making tourism one of the most promising sectors in the kingdom.

    The Investment Ministry said that 3.6 million foreign tourists visited the kingdom during the second quarter of the year, which greatly contributed to the plan to diversify sources of income as part of Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia aims to become a top five global destination by 2030, and to this end opens the country to foreign tourism and investment.

    Turki Alalsheikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, said six million people attended the Riyadh Season 2022 winter festival within a month of its launch on October 21.

    Saudi Arabia has opened its borders to international luxury hospitality brands and welcomed foreign visitors for the first time to its ancient heritage sites and pristine coastline while opening up new wonders for the world to see.

    With the inclusion of sporting and entertainment events around the world, Saudi Arabia is creating more opportunities for its citizens and foreign tourists to explore. According to Saudi Vision 2030, the country aims to increase the private sector’s contribution to GDP to 65 per cent by 2030. Saudi Arabia has also allowed its citizens to rent Airbnb-style property through a new portal similar to the global rental marketplace.

    The recent announcement of Saudi Entertainment Ventures, to invest more than SAR 50 billion to build 21 entertainment destinations that will provide unique and innovative world-class entertainment experiences and global partnerships from within the sector.

    SEVEN recently announced the beginning of construction of its entertainment destination in the Al Hamra district of Riyadh as well as the location of the upcoming projects in 14 cities across the Kingdom: Riyadh, Kharj, Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, Dammam, Khobar, Al Ahsa, Madinah, Yanbu, Abha, Jazan, Buraidah, and Tabuk.

    Saudi Entertainment Ventures has announced the beginning of construction of its entertainment destination in Tabuk.

    With a development value of more than SAR 1 billion, SEVEN’s entertainment destination in Tabuk will transform the entertainment landscape in the region with a wide range of attractions and experiences.

    [ad_2]
    #Saudi #Arabia #football #major #factor #making #impact #world #map

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Biden ‘personally’ understands impact of layoffs on family: White House

    Biden ‘personally’ understands impact of layoffs on family: White House

    [ad_1]

    New York: With massive tech layoffs hitting Indians in the US, the White House has said that President Joe Biden “personally” understands how losing a job impacts a family.

    In the last several weeks, major IT behemoths like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have fired thousands of tech professionals, a significant number of whom are either Indian-Americans or Indian IT professionals.

    Most of these professionals, who are on H-1B visa, have to leave the country in 60 days if they are unable to find another alternative to sustain.

    “President understands firsthand how the impact of losing a job can have on a family. He understands that very personally. But I’m just not going to get into individual specifics,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday.

    More than 65,000 employees have been sacked by 166 tech companies to date, and according to economists, deeper layoffs are coming in 2023.

    While Google announced to lay off 12,000 employees, Amazon earlier announced to lay off 18,000 employees globally, including nearly 1,000 in India.

    The companies say they are firing people as recession is on the horizon.

    “Again, I’m just not going to get into specifics on why this is happening. This is something for individual companies to speak to,” Jean-Pierre said.

    She said that with the US economy continuing to grow in a steady and stable manner, Biden is “going to do everything that he can to make sure this is an economy that works for everyone, that works from the bottom up and middle out. And that’s what you’ve seen from his economic plans”.

    Indians scrambling for new jobs have asked elected representatives in Congress for the visa grace period to be extended beyond 60 days.

    [ad_2]
    #Biden #personally #understands #impact #layoffs #family #White #House

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • ‘Fox News in Spanish’: Inside an upstart media company’s big plans to impact the 2024 election

    ‘Fox News in Spanish’: Inside an upstart media company’s big plans to impact the 2024 election

    [ad_1]

    “We don’t have a Fox News in Spanish, and that’s what Americano intends to be,” said the network’s CEO and founder Ivan Garcia-Hidalgo. He said he has listened to Hispanic Republican leaders lament for 25 years about the need for something like it, but no one ever took serious action.

    Garcia-Hidalgo, who worked as a Hispanic surrogate for Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign after a career in telecommunications with Tyco, AT&T and Sprint, said he wants to “blow up” the traditional ways in which conservative Hispanics interact with the media, which he said consisted of going on liberal-leaning networks to “apologize for being Republican, bow your head and take a beating for an hour.”

    Americano started with a suite of radio shows out of Miami, where it remains headquartered, but plans to have a presence on television and radio in battleground states across America in the next year, in addition to driving Spanish-speaking audiences to its online and streaming platforms.

    To date, Americano Media has raised $18 million from its first three investors, and is set to complete its first and only round of equity investment this spring to generate another $30 to $50 million, Garcia-Hidalgo said. Thomas Woolston, a northern Virginia patent attorney, and Doug Hayden, a San Jose, Calif.-based investor, were the first to provide capital; Americano declined to disclose the third investor.

    Americano is taking every opportunity it can to build a profile in conservative political circles. The network aired live from CPAC Dallas in August. In December, they set up a massive booth on radio row at Turning Point’s AmericaFest, featuring a “No mas fake news” display that delighted attendees at the Phoenix Convention Center who lingered nearby to watch a cast of conservative celebrities give interviews. As a sign of their growth, the network has scored recent interviews with Trump and several top elected Republicans, including Sens. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Rick Scott (Fla.), Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Mike Lee (Utah), and Reps. Jim Jordan (Ohio), Andy Biggs (Ariz.) and Steve Saclise (La.), along with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

    Ultimately, however, the Spanish language network’s intended audience isn’t the type of conservative diehards who attend political conferences or tune into Steve Bannon’s “War Room.” It’s working-class Hispanic people living in America, who prefer to speak Spanish, aren’t particularly ideological and who lack options for commentary on the news of the day.

    “Hispanics are normies,” said Giancarlo Sopo, a GOP strategist who led the 2020 Trump campaign’s Hispanic marketing efforts.

    Strategists behind Americano’s expansion efforts say they believe there is a limit to the GOP’s gains with Latinos in recent years. The low-hanging fruit has already fallen, they say, requiring Republicans to do a bit more work to pick off remaining centrist voters, something Americano intends to do by offering a combination of fairly straight news, mixed with conservative commentary and eventually entertainment offerings.

    Democratic operatives, who have long warned that the absence of more robust investments in Spanish media could have boomeranging effects, acknowledge that targeting that type of niche audience could be a highly effective plan.

    “There is an information war in Latino and bilingual communities in this country,” said Tara McGowan, the founder and publisher of the Democratic-aligned Courier Newsroom network, who has been vocal about the left needing to build new, progressive media outlets. “It’s a very smart and very alarming move by conservatives to double down on their investment in Americano Media.”

    Americano’s venture mirrors that of the liberal Latino Media Network, which in June announced the purchase of 18 Latino radio stations around the country. One of those stations, Miami’s Radio Mambi — a longtime fixture in the conservative Cuban-American community — lost several prominent hosts to Americano Media after the sale was announced. Lourdes Ubieta, Dania Alexandrino and Nelson Rubio are among those who made the switch to Americano. Most of Americano’s hosts, producers, directors and technicians came from Univision, Telemundo and CNN en Español, according to network officials.

    Mayra Flores, the Republican who flipped a South Texas congressional seat in a June special election, becoming the first female Mexican-born House member, has recently signed a contract to become one of Americano Media’s senior political contributors. Flores lost reelection in November after redistricting made the seat more Democratic.

    Other top executives at the startup include Michael Caputo, a longtime GOP operative who advised Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and briefly served as an official at the Department of Health and Human Services at the start of the Covid pandemic, and Alfonso Aguilar, who led George W. Bush’s citizenship office, is serving as Americano’s political director.

    After years of trying to get a news network off the ground and creating a lineup of podcast talk shows, Garcia-Hidalgo launched Americano in March as a partnership with Sirius XM’s Latino variety station. The strategy, he concedes, was not to reach the small number of Latinos listening to satellite radio, but to grab the attention of investors and top radio network executives. Americano pulled its lineup from the satellite channel in October and moved over to a Miami-based Audacy radio station.

    The network’s ambitions are broad. By the end of this year, Americano plans to be on 25 radio stations. They’ve added content to every major streaming platform, and have built a digital news website and phone app. They’ve spent several million dollars building studios to launch new television programs, with plans underway to be on cable in every major battleground state ahead of the 2024 election, and in Puerto Rico in the coming weeks, Garcia-Hidalgo said.

    “The most underserved news consumer is a center-right Spanish speaker,” Flores said in an interview, noting that many of those fairly conservative Latinos in South Texas have traditionally voted Democratic, though some have begun to leave the party, data show.

    While heavy on conservative commentary, Americano does feature liberal guests. On one show, Democrat Jose Artistimuño, a former Democratic National Committee press secretary who worked in Barack Obama’s administration, debates Republican Jimmy Nievez each evening. The network says they’re in the process of adding more Democratic commentators to their roster.

    “It’s definitely a space that needed to be filled, and I’m saying that as a Democrat,” Artistimuño said of the lack of Republican-versus-Democrat talk shows in Spanish. “I may not agree with all the policies that Americano supports, but that’s OK. In order for democracy to work, both sides need to talk to each other and debate.”

    Latinos in America are still more likely to favor Democrats. But those margins have shrunk dramatically in recent years.

    CNN exit poll data in November found that Democrats’ lead with Latino voters has narrowed by nearly 10 percentage points since the 2018 midterm election, with 60 percent supporting House Democratic candidates this fall and 39 percent GOP. Four years ago, 69 percent of the Latino electorate backed Democrats and 29 percent Republicans, the exit polls found.

    “The biggest challenge Republicans have had is they usually engage Hispanics from a perspective of electoral politics, just to get their vote, and they usually do it three months before an election,” said Aguilar, Americano’s political director. “It’s very difficult to build confidence in a community when you arrive so late.”

    One of the problems still facing Republicans has been reaching Latinos who primarily speak Spanish.

    Sopo, whose work includes GOP advertising to Latinos, noted that his firm, Visto Media, conducted a poll for a client this fall that found Democrats held a 40-point lead on the midterm ballot with Hispanics who receive all or most of their news in Spanish. That number fell to a 13-point lead with Hispanics who prefer English news sources.

    There are also challenges to successfully capturing an audience of Latino viewers hailing from different countries, Sopo said. Content that appeals to Cubans in Miami isn’t always what Mexicans in Texas are interested in. A mix of culture, news and conservative commentary, Sopo said, is likely a “formula for success with Hispanics,” and something that isn’t widely available.

    “If they want to broaden out and grow the tent, the programming has to look more like Fox and less like Newsmax and OAN,” Sopo said, referencing two further-right TV news channels. “Straight news, combined with conservative commentary, and you add some entertainment, which they’ll need for that demographic.”

    [ad_2]
    #Fox #News #Spanish #upstart #media #companys #big #plans #impact #election
    ( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

  • Enamor SB06 Low Impact Bra – Non-Padded, Wirefree & High Coverage

    Enamor SB06 Low Impact Bra – Non-Padded, Wirefree & High Coverage

    31pokvVaNOL31Ti7PAfVSL31XR8Y0TSaL31qVZOhhRpL319Si3uU3pL51jbjnpePzL21CULMtzUEL
    Price: [price_with_discount]
    (as of [price_update_date] – Details)

    ISRHEWs
    [ad_1]
    Comfortable, Stylish – Fabulous Everyday
    Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 30 x 10 x 3 cm; 300 Grams
    Date First Available ‏ : ‎ 19 April 2017
    Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Gokaldas Intimatewear Private Limited
    ASIN ‏ : ‎ B071D5DY3L
    Item model number ‏ : ‎ SB06
    Department ‏ : ‎ Women
    Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Gokaldas Intimatewear Private Limited, Gokaldas Intimatewear Private Limited, Vasant’s Buisiness Prk, No 44/2A,1st Floor,Bellary Road,(New Airport Road)Kodegehalli Gate, Hebbal, Bangalore-560092, ph:080- 68464100
    Packer ‏ : ‎ Gokaldas Intimatewear Private Limited, Vasant’s Buisiness Prk, No 44/2A,1st Floor,Bellary Road,(New Airport Road)Kodegehalli Gate, Hebbal, Bangalore-560092, ph:080- 68464100
    Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 300 g
    Item Dimensions LxWxH ‏ : ‎ 30 x 10 x 3 Centimeters
    Net Quantity ‏ : ‎ 1 count
    Included Components ‏ : ‎ 1 Bra
    Generic Name ‏ : ‎ Non padded non wired bra

    Fit Type: Regular Fit
    Comfortable bra with breathable cotton fabric. Ideal for sports wear and everyday wear
    Provides gentle support. Has soft hold straps, metal-free slip-ons and flexi-grip elastic that gives you perfect shape
    Has no-show coverage. Gives smooth outerwear shape with no seams
    Molded bra cups and keyhole back for easy wear
    Can be used by both women and girls

    [ad_2]
    #Enamor #SB06 #Impact #Bra #NonPadded #Wirefree #High #Coverage