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Ahmedabad, Sep 2 (IANS) Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML) on Tuesday said that it has repurchased and cancelled $44.661 million or 3.86 per cent of its $300 million Senior Secured Notes due 2031.

The buyback, funded through internal cash flows, reduces the outstanding principal to $255.339 million, it said in a statement.

As per the company statement, the development was part of AEML's ongoing capital management plan.

"Earlier, the company completed a $120 million tender offer in November 2023, and a $49.5 million open market repurchase in June 2025 under its $1,000 million 3.949 per cent Senior Secured Notes due 2030," the statement said.

These actions highlight AEML’s strong cash generation and financial flexibility.

AEML, a subsidiary of Adani Energy Solution Ltd (AESL), may consider further liability management exercises, subject to market conditions, which could materially reduce outstanding debt across maturities, the company said.

The firm further clarified that the announcement is not an offer to sell or purchase securities.

Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited is an integrated business of power generation, transmission, and retail electricity distribution. It owns and operates the largest and most efficient power distribution network in India.

AEML serves over 3 million consumers spread across 400 sq. km. in Mumbai and its suburbs, meeting close to 2,000 MW of power demand with 99.99 per cent reliability, which is among the highest in the country.

Meanwhile, Adani Energy Solutions Limited reported an impressive 103 per cent annual profit after tax (PAT) growth in FY25 at an all-time high of Rs 2,427 crore, as the company posted 87 per cent PAT growth at Rs 714 crore in Q4 (January-March).

The Adani Group company also showed strong growth of 42 per cent (year-on-year) in its total income at Rs 24,447 crore in FY25, which is highest ever is driven by the contributions from the recently commissioned transmission projects, robust energy sales in Mumbai and Mundra utilities and contribution from the smart metering business.

PAT witnessed a sharp increase of 103 per cent YoY, resulting from higher EBITDA, and aided by reversal of net deferred tax liability of Rs 469 crore in full year, primarily due to divestment of Dahanu plant in Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML) and regulatory income of Rs 148 crore, it added.

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, Sep 2 (IANS) Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML) on Tuesday said that it has repurchased and cancelled $44.661 million or 3.86 per cent of its $300 million Senior Secured Notes due 2031.

The buyback, funded through internal cash flows, reduces the outstanding principal to $255.339 million, it said in a statement.

As per the company statement, the development was part of AEML's ongoing capital management plan.

"Earlier, the company completed a $120 million tender offer in November 2023, and a $49.5 million open market repurchase in June 2025 under its $1,000 million 3.949 per cent Senior Secured Notes due 2030," the statement said.

These actions highlight AEML’s strong cash generation and financial flexibility.

AEML, a subsidiary of Adani Energy Solution Ltd (AESL), may consider further liability management exercises, subject to market conditions, which could materially reduce outstanding debt across maturities, the company said.

The firm further clarified that the announcement is not an offer to sell or purchase securities.

Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited is an integrated business of power generation, transmission, and retail electricity distribution. It owns and operates the largest and most efficient power distribution network in India.

AEML serves over 3 million consumers spread across 400 sq. km. in Mumbai and its suburbs, meeting close to 2,000 MW of power demand with 99.99 per cent reliability, which is among the highest in the country.

Meanwhile, Adani Energy Solutions Limited reported an impressive 103 per cent annual profit after tax (PAT) growth in FY25 at an all-time high of Rs 2,427 crore, as the company posted 87 per cent PAT growth at Rs 714 crore in Q4 (January-March).

The Adani Group company also showed strong growth of 42 per cent (year-on-year) in its total income at Rs 24,447 crore in FY25, which is highest ever is driven by the contributions from the recently commissioned transmission projects, robust energy sales in Mumbai and Mundra utilities and contribution from the smart metering business.

PAT witnessed a sharp increase of 103 per cent YoY, resulting from higher EBITDA, and aided by reversal of net deferred tax liability of Rs 469 crore in full year, primarily due to divestment of Dahanu plant in Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML) and regulatory income of Rs 148 crore, it added.

--IANS

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Visakhapatnam, Sep 2 (IANS) Tamil Thalaivas captain Pawan Sehrawat believes the latest rule changes in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), including the Golden Raid and tie-breaker system, will add more excitement and competitiveness to the sport.

Speaking exclusively during a Media Day organised by JioStar, the star raider welcomed the innovations as a step forward for kabaddi. “The tie-breaker rule is really interesting and good for the sport because it gives you a chance to sharpen your skills and play on the frontline,” Pawan said.

“With this new rule, the team that has five riders on the mat, is performing very well. These rule changes encourage a do-or-die approach rather than settling for a draw. It’s a positive development for PKL, and the public is able to understand them easily.”

Looking ahead to the season, Pawan underlined that the Thalaivas’ strategy will be more flexible, with no single player designated as the "main raider". Instead, he emphasised a team-first approach where roles change depending on match situations.

“As a senior player and captain, I have to see which player can perform well in which position,” he explained. “If I feel Arjun Deshwal can score well raiding against a particular defense, it is my duty to send him in. Everyone has different roles, and Arjun is playing his role well. This season it’s not about one main rider, but about executing based on the team’s needs.”

On a personal note, Pawan insisted that his preparation remains about refining existing skills rather than making drastic changes. “The Pawan you saw in Season 3 is not the same Pawan playing in Season 12,” he said. “New players bring fresh skills in practice, and you learn from them. Skills develop automatically - you just have to refine them, and that’s what I am doing.”

When asked about his approach to facing other teams, the Thalaivas skipper struck a confident note. “All matches are challenging; no single team is stronger than the rest. We will plan and play accordingly, using our defense or attack as per the situation. We have both strengths, and we will implement our plans after discussing them in team meetings.”

With a balanced squad and renewed confidence in the league’s evolving rules, Pawan and the Tamil Thalaivas are aiming to turn their preparation into a strong PKL campaign.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) Harvey Elliott is relishing the opportunity to play for Aston Villa after wrapping up a Deadline Day switch from Liverpool.

The 22-year-old completed an initial season-long loan deal from Liverpool, where he’s won six honours during as many years with The Reds.

Elliott will now get the chance to show his class at Villa Park, with plenty to look forward to in the coming months.

“It feels incredible. First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for making this happen. Playing for a massive club like Aston Villa is every kid’s dream.

“I’m very happy that it’s over the line now, and I can’t wait to get started," said Elliot in his first interview as a Villa player to VillaTV.

During his time in Merseyside, Elliott made 149 appearances, scoring and creating goals domestically and in Europe.

He’s also fresh from starring in England’s Under-21 European Championship win in the summer.

“For me now, it’s about kicking on as a player. The only way to do that is to play games and there’s no better place to do that than here, especially with the manager, his philosophy, the way he plays and his trust in younger players.

"Not only that, his personal achievements as well, I was very drawn to it. I had a conversation with him and was blown away by the way he was towards me and how welcoming he was to me before I was an Aston Villa player. It made me want it a little bit more.

“Coming to Villa Park, you see how passionate the fans are, how well drilled the team is, it’s really hard to play against. Having the opportunity to be part of it, I couldn’t say no. I’m just delighted to be here," he added.

--IANS

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Mumbai Sep 2 (IANS) The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai always brings a mix of tradition and fun, and television star Ankita Lokhande and husband Vicky Jain always make sure to celebrate Ganpati with a lot of pomp at their house.

Recently, the occasion of welcoming Ganpati's mother, Gauri, at Ankita's mother, Vandana Lokhande's, house took place. Ankita had invited a lot of her friends from the television industry to celebrate the occasion at her maternal house.

Actress Nia Sharma, who actively took part in the celebration, was seen arriving at the location dressed elegantly in an all-white salwar kameez with golden embroidery. Ankita radiated classic "Chandni" vibes in an all-white net saree.

The evening turned to a light-hearted mood when we playfully pulled Anika's leg for arriving late to her own celebration. In a candid moment caught on camera, Nia told Ankita, “You took all the time to get ready; you are late for your own function. Guests have come first.” Ankita, smiling and slightly shy, responded with a grin.

The celebrations at Ankita's house saw other television stars, including Jasmine Bhasin, Aly Goni, Kashmera Shah, Sudesh Lehri and others joining in. Both Ankita and Neha, along with Jasmin, Aly and others, were seen dancing to Bollywood songs like “Teri Aakhya Ka Yo Kajal” and “Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja”, turning the traditional gathering into a karaoke night. Videos from the celebration have been doing the rounds on social media, highlighting the celebrities dancing to these songs on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

While the enthusiasm was appreciated, some voices online pointed out that Ganpati is a traditional time for devotional prayers, rituals and family togetherness, and celebrations should retain their sanctity without drifting too much into a Bollywood-style party.

Ankita, who tied the knot with businessman Vicky Jain in 2021, has made it a tradition to welcome Bappa home every year. The couple is known for hosting loved ones during Ganesh Chaturthi, making the celebrations a star-studded affair.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) New Delhi will host some of India’s biggest table tennis names, including reigning national champion Diya Chitale and Commonwealth Games gold medallists G. Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai, at the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Tournament, beginning on September 7 at the Thyagraj Stadium.

The event has drawn an impressive 2958 entries, underscoring the sport’s rising popularity. It also marks the first time since 2008 that the Delhi State Table Tennis Association (DSTTA) is hosting a national ranking tournament, though the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) last organised one in the capital in 2012 with support from Haryana.

Gurpreet Singh, president of DSTTA, expressed excitement over the unprecedented response. “The number of entries, 2958, is a strong indicator of the interest the tournament has generated. I don't remember the last time there were these many entries for a national ranking event. We are fully ready to host the event,” he said.

The tournament, which runs until September 14, will feature 12 events across senior, U-19, U-17, U-15, U-13 and U-11 categories. Among the men’s field, national champions Sathiyan, Harmeet, Anthony Amalraj, and Soumyajit Ghosh—who had faded from the national setup after appearing in the 2012 London Olympics—will headline the action.

In the women’s field, Chitale is the favourite in a draw that also features veterans Mouma Das, Madhurika Patkar, Reeth Rishya, and Divya Deshpande.

One notable absentee will be Delhi’s own Manika Batra, who is unavailable due to international commitments. Her world ranking has slipped to 55 in recent weeks.

The organising committee also includes national coach and Dronacharya awardee Sandeep Gupta, who highlighted the tournament’s value for young players. “With so many national champions part of the field, it is a great opportunity for the budding players in Delhi to see them in flesh and blood and learn from them at the same time. Playing against the best in the country, they would also get to upskill themselves,” said Gupta.

--IANS

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London, Sep 2 (IANS) British lawmakers attended 'In Conversation with the British Hindus', an event hosted by Baroness Verma at the historic Churchill Hall in Parliament. The event that brought the British Hindu community and policymakers together in a spirit of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect was held on Monday, the first day after the UK Parliament reconvened folllowing its summer recess, a report said.

Action for Harmony, an umbrella organisation dedicated to ensuring the voices of British Hindus are heard at the highest levels of government, organised the event with an aim to foster long-term cooperation and understanding between policymakers and one of the UK’s most vibrant and successful faith communities, a report in India Narrative (IN) highlighted.

Several UK MPs, peers and councillors attended the event, including Dawn Butler (Labour, Brent East), Bob Blackman (Conservative, Harrow East), Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour, Slough), Gagan Mohindra (Conservative, South West Hertfordshire), Seema Malhotra, Baggy Shankar, and Louie French. Baroness Verma, Lord Jitesh Gadhia, Lord Popat, and Lord Sewell.

More than 40 community leaders — representing over 65 per cent of the British Hindu diaspora — participated, with attendance of over 60 Hindu organisations. The organisations include major national bodies such as BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK, ISKCON UK and the Hindu Council Central England. A strong participation was witnessed from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Hindus, reinforcing the event’s political significance and the shared aim to boost engagement between the Hindu community and Westminster.

During the event, Baroness Verma emphasised need for the community to stand together and for parliamentarians to be sensitive regarding its concerns. According to the India Narrative report, the Baroness stressed that genuine engagement not only requires understanding cultural and religious practices but also acknowledging the role of British Hindu community in the social, economic, and civic fabric of the nation.

Action for Harmony founder Nitin Palan spoke about community's agenda and highlighted the issues that need attention, including identity of British Hindus in public life and representation at policy-making levels, security and protection, including proper investigation and justice following the Leicester violence, education, with a focus on improved Hindu resources for Religious Education (RE) in schools, religious and cultural practices, including participation in engagements related to the community — for example, crematorium planning and policy, stronger engagement between the community and parliament.

The APPG for British Hindus chairman Bob Blackman highlighted the contribution of Hindu community to the British society and mentioned how the community remained underrepresented in the public sector. He lauded the work conducted by the APPG's secretariat since its reorganisation in 2024.

APPG member Jack Rankin called on Hindus to raise their concerns in a cohesive and coordinated manner, ensuring maximum effect when demanding policy changes. Meanwhile, Iskcon UK Trustee Vinay Tanna emphasised the need for better coordination between community leaders and parliamentarians to ensure constructive dialogue and timely responses to pressing issues.

In a statement shared on X, Deirdre Costigan stated, "Today I joined the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Hindus and Action for Harmony to hear about the contribution of the Hindu community to the UK. Southall has a large Hindu population which works closely with other faiths in our diverse community."

Following the formal presentations, the event transitioned into a vibrant networking session. Parliamentarians and community representatives engaged in candid conversations, exchanging views on both specific policy matters and broader questions of cultural understanding and social integration. The atmosphere was one of openness, with ideas freely shared on how to maintain momentum and keep the dialogue active beyond one-off events, the IN report mentioned.

--IANS

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Manila, Sep 2 (IANS) Three people were killed and six others injured after a van crashed into an electric pole along a national road in Isabela province, north of Manila, police said Tuesday.

Police said the van carrying nine people, including the driver, slammed into an electric pole around 1 am local time on Monday, while it was traveling north to San Pablo City from Ilagan City, the provincial capital, Xinhua News Agency reported.

One of the victims died on the spot while the other two succumbed to their injuries later at a local hospital.

The van's driver was in critical condition at a local hospital.

An initial investigation suggested that the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel, leading to the crash.

The impact severely damaged the van and toppled the electric pole, triggering a power outage in the area, police added.

On August 29, a woman was killed and two others were injured after a dump truck carrying sand crashed into a roadside house in Laguna province, southeast of Manila, local authorities said.

The municipal disaster risk reduction and management office said the crash occurred on a descending part of the road in Mabitac town on August 29, killing the woman at the scene.

The injured, also members of the household, were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

Surveillance footage of the accident, posted on social media, showed the driver was jumping off the truck moments before the crash.

The driver reportedly fled after the incident and is now being hunted by authorities.

On August 25, a family of four were killed after their tricycle collided with an oncoming vehicle in Pangasinan province, the Philippines, police said.

Police said the crash happened along a highway in Infanta town, killing the driver, his wife, and their two young children.

Initial investigation showed the tricycle hit a tree branch on the roadside, causing the driver to lose control and crash into a van coming from the opposite lane.

A tricycle in the Philippines is a type of motorised vehicle consisting of a motorcycle and a passenger cab or a sidecar attached to it.

--IANS

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Islamabad, Sep 2 (IANS) Kissan Itte­had Pakistan (KIP) members continue to hold a hunger strike outside the Quetta Press Club on acceptance of their 15-point charter of demands presented to the Balochistan government in Pakistan, local media reported on Tuesday.

While addressing a press conference, KIP chairman Khalid Hussain Bathh said that the strike would continue until the government accepts and imp­lements their demands regarding gro­wers and landowners impacted since 2022, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. He expressed regret over government not taking measures to resolve their issues despite repeated requests.

Bathh said, "We are once again presenting our 15-point charter of demands." He announced that a hunger strike camp had been created outside the press club and warned that the token hunger strike will be converted into a general hunger strike if the authorities did not resolve their issues.

KIP Chairman slammed the Balochistan government for not providing solar energy systems to growers and landowners des­pite promises and mentioned that Quetta Electric Supply Company had been disconnecting their power connections. He urged the government to give funds to growers and landowners for the solarization of agricultural tubewells and demanded the restoration of Rabi canal tubewell connections in Manjoshori, Nasirabad, and the restoration of power supply in Harnai and Kuchlak.

Earlier on August 16, KIP chairman Khalid Hussain Bathh slammed the Balochistan government for not providing funds to the farmers of Nasirabad Division — the only green belt of the province — for converting agricultural tube wells to solar energy despite making promises.

While addressing a press conference on August 16, he stated that tube wells have become non-operational, crops are drying up, and farmers are facing huge financial losses due to the disruption of electricity supply, Dawn reported. He stated that authorities had promised funds for solarisation to farmers. However, the approved funds have not been released so far.

Electricity connections were disconnected, and the supply was shifted from three-phase to two-phase before the payments were made. He stated that tube wells had become non-operational, and no water was flowing in the Rabi Canal, while agriculture, livestock, and local communities were suffering badly due to the disruption of the electricity supply.

The KIP Chairman said that crops were destroyed due to the unavailability of irrigation water, and there was even a shortage of drinking water. After the Balochistan Irrigation Minister's assurances, the farmers had sown crops; however, the seeds were destroyed due to water shortage.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh on Tuesday launched the ‘Kapas Kisan’ mobile app, calling it a “farmer-first” step that will make selling cotton easier and more transparent for growers.

The app, developed by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) under the Ministry of Textiles, aims to digitise the entire procurement process under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme.

“This farmer-first mobile app marks a major step in enhancing ease in selling of cotton by our cotton growers,” the Union Minister stated.

Speaking at the launch, Singh said the app would protect cotton farmers from distress sales and ensure timely and fair MSP operations.

“By digitising key steps -- right from registration to payment tracking -- we are ensuring timely, transparent and fair MSP operations. It reinforces our commitment to safeguard farmers from any distress sales and to accelerate the vision of Digital India,” the minister said.

The ‘Kapas Kisan’ app allows farmers to register themselves, book slots for selling cotton at procurement centres, and track payments in real time.

It also provides updates on quality assessment, accepted quantities, and payment processing.

Available in multiple Indian languages, the app reduces paperwork, cuts waiting time at centres, and gives farmers the option to choose convenient slots for selling their produce.

The government said the move is part of broader efforts to support India’s textile sector, which depends heavily on stable cotton supply.

Farmers’ interests are safeguarded through the MSP mechanism, while industry competitiveness is maintained through measures such as the recently extended cotton import duty exemption until December 2025.

Cotton remains the backbone of India’s textile industry, which employs over 45 million people and contributes significantly to exports.

By combining farmer-friendly digital tools like the ‘Kapas Kisan’ app with policy measures on cotton supply, the government aims to strengthen both cotton growers and textile manufacturers.

--IANS

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