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<br /><ul><li><strong><keyword id="6355455" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-railways">Indian Railways</keyword> launched ‘Plan Bee’ to prevent elephants getting hurt on rail tracks, thereby reducing the elephant death toll.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>Bee sounds can be heard from 600 metres away, as the train approaches the vulnerable gangway. <br /></strong></li><li><strong>Northeast Frontier Railway (NRF) has won ‘best innovation’ award in Indian Railways in 2018-19 along with a cash reward of ₹300,000. <br /></strong></li><li><strong>The railways have included nearly 50 amplifying speaker systems at over 12 possible corridors.</strong></li></ul>Amid increasing number of elephant deaths in the country, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) came with an innovate ‘<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/plan-bee-gets-elephants-to-buzz-off-trains/indian-railways-plan-bee/slideshow/70161138.cms">plan bee</a>’ to prevent their deaths on the tracks. <br /><br />Nearly 2,330 elephants have died on the tracks in six years. And the initiative involves keeping them away from the tracks by scaring them. <br /><br />As strange as it sounds, elephants are afraid of bees and the buzz of beehives. The Railways included nearly<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/honour-for-plan-bee-that-helped-save-jumbos/article28335811.ece"> 50 amplifying speaker systems</a> that produce sound of honey bees to keep wild elephants away. <br /><br />This initiative is live at over 12 possible corridors, even as there are 29 elephant corridors under NFR. This move was recognised and accorded with ‘best innovation’ award in Indian Railways in 2018-19 along with a cash reward of ₹300,000. <br /><br />The ‘bee sounds’ can be heard from 600 metres away, as the train approaches the vulnerable gangway. <br /><br />Elephants have been making their way into the non-migrant areas as well, often leading to increased deaths. “NFR’s Rangiya Division and Forest Department field officials worked on certain deterrents and provide a solution to the problem,” NFR spokesperson Pranav Jyoti Sharma <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/honour-for-plan-bee-that-helped-save-jumbos/article28335811.ece">told</a> The Hindu.<br /><br />As many as 67 elephants were killed by trains in Northeastern states of <keyword id="6354915" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="assam">Assam</keyword> and West Bengal, according to media reports. Assam forests are home to 6,000 elephants — accounting for 20% of the total elephant population in the country. <br /><br />Given that, the NFR tested the amplifying device on the domestic and wild animals in 2017, before actually using it. Since 2014, the Northeastern railways have been able to keep 1,014 elephants safe by implementing such measures.<br /><br />Elephant mishaps occur largely due to local humans, electric fences, and railway tracks. More elephants have been cut down by trains or died of electric shocks, instead of hunting. As many as 80 <a href="https://www.oneindia.com/feature/plan-bee-how-the-indian-railways-is-preventing-elephant-deaths-on-tracks-2917045.html">elephant deaths</a> occurred due to human targeting.<br /><br /><strong>See also:<br /></strong><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/wildlife-activists-in-india-are-outraged-after-assam-government-decided-to-send-4-elephants-by-train-on-a-stressful-3-day-journey-for-a-festival-in-ahmedabad/articleshow/69893147.cms">Wildlife activists in India are outraged after Assam government decided to send 4 elephants by train on a stressful 3-day journey for a festival in Ahmedabad</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/railways-fixes-water-deluge-in-ac-coaches-after-video-goes-viral/articleshow/70050480.cms">Railways fixes water deluge in AC coaches after video goes viral</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/union-railway-budget-2019-public-private-partnership-ppp-proposal-updates-and-news-nirmala-sitharaman/articleshow/70085380.cms">Union Budget 2019: Indian Railways has been opened up to private partnerships for faster development</a><br />

Indian Railways introduce ‘buzzing bees’ to keep elephants away from train tracks

New Delhi, Apr 27 () E-commerce giant Amazon India on Monday said it has strengthened its partnership with the Indian Railways and has ramped up its operations to 55 lanes in a bid to enable faster deliveries to customers amid the nationwide lockdown.<p> Last year, Amazon India had partnered with Indian Railways for inter-city transportation of e-commerce packages on 13 lanes, and had also set up pickup kiosks for customers in Kolkata and Mumbai.</p><p> Amazon India will transport consignments via rail across the country and is leveraging the 'COVID-19 Parcel Special Trains' introduced by the Indian Railways to ramp up its operations to 55 lanes during the lockdown period, it said in a statement.</p><p> Indian Railways with the support of the Railway Board and the zones across Western, Central, Northern, Eastern, South Central, Southern, South Eastern, North East Frontier, North Western and South Western have created a proactive solution to provide support for transportation during lockdown.  </p><p> "This enhanced network will enable sellers in Amazon India's network to ship their products across the country and keep their businesses running, thereby, allowing people to access a more diverse selection of essential products," the statement said.</p><p> Amazon India Director (Amazon Transportation Services) Abhinav Singh said with the support of COVID-19 Parcel Special trains introduced by the Indian Railways, the company is confident it can further fulfil customer orders with enhanced speed and capacity.</p><p> "We are grateful for this timely decision by the Indian Railways to offer freight movement solutions during these challenging times," he added.</p><p> Under the lockdown - scheduled to end on May 3, e-commerce companies have been allowed to sell only essential items like grocery, healthcare and pharmaceutical products. </p> The players and industry associations have been urging the government to expand the list of essentials to include 'work from home' and 'study from home' products.  SR  SHWSHW

Amazon India strengthens partnership with Railways for faster deliveries amid lockdown

<br />The <keyword id="6355455" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-railways">Indian Railways</keyword> has received a lot of flak not only from passengers but also from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that lashed out at it for failing to meet the <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/now-cag-criticises-indian-railways-over-dirty-linen-blankets-and-pillows/story-g9UMcL4c4qll5PwYrpbwbJ.html">basic hygiene standards</a> and highlighted critical safety <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-after-andheri-rob-collapse-audit-reports-of-overbridges-come-into-limelight-2633028">flaws</a> in the <keyword id="17408" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="infrastructure">infrastructure</keyword>.<br /><br />And while there are numerous examples of how the railways is trying to spruce things up a bit and get their act together, fact is, apart from the relatively lighter changes like placing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-railways-is-going-to-live-stream-its-kitchens-to-the-world-to-ensure-transparency/articleshow/64600841.cms">cameras in kitchens</a> and acquiring <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/blankets-provided-on-trains-by-indian-railways-will-soon-be-fresher-and-cleaner/articleshow/64764828.cms">blankets</a> that can be washed twice a month, the railways is engaged in some heavy duty changes that are geared towards safety, convenience and basic timeliness of the <keyword id="6360847" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="trains">trains</keyword>.<br /><br />According to a report by the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/how-aging-creaking-crumbling-railways-is-getting-a-new-life/articleshow/64852991.cms">Economic Times</a>, here are ten key changes the Indian Railways is currently indulging in.<br /><br /><ol><li><strong>Eliminating unmanned railway crossings:</strong> A little over two months after the unfortunate <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/kushinagar-accident-14-children-killed-as-train-hits-school-bus-at-railway-crossing-1729955.html">Kushinagar train accident</a> when a train rammed into a school van killing 14 children at an unmanned railway crossing (UMLC), the railways is aggressively working on eliminating all unmanned railway crossings. To achieve this it has given itself a deadline of 31 March 2020. In fact, the railways has already <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/railways-eliminates-all-unmanned-level-crossings-from-4-zones-5239251/">eliminated</a> all UMLCs in four zones on <keyword id="409555" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="broad-gauge">broad gauge</keyword> routes in July — West Central Railway, Central Railway, Eastern Railway and South East Central Railway — and is well on its way to eliminating unmanned level crossings in 11 zones by September 2018.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="pexels-photo-892541." tempid="406286" msid="64859688" hostid="261"></div>

<br /></li><li><strong>Giving old, worn-out tracks an upgrade:</strong> A <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/586-train-accidents-in-last-5-years-53-due-to-derailments/articleshow/60141578.cms">Times of India</a> report in October 2017 claimed that almost 53% of the 586 train accidents in the last five years were due to derailments. And ageing and/or defective railways tracks is one of the primary causes of derailments. Therefore, the railways has boosted its efforts to replace its ageing tracks and repair defective ones. In fact, the railways claim that there is a 50% increase in rail track renewal from 2,926 kilometres in 2013-14 to 4,405 kilometres in 2017-18.<br /> </li><li><strong>Construction of foot-over-bridges:</strong> In September 2017, a stampede at <keyword id="6358070" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai">Mumbai</keyword>’s Elphinstone Railway Station foot-over-bridge claimed 22 lives. The cause of the stampede is not clear but it is quite apparent that the bridge was too narrow and clearly not sufficient to handle the daily footfall of the station. In fact, a <a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/sep/29/mumbai-elphinstone-station-stampede-railways-ignored-warning-that-its-foot-over-bridges-are-narrow-1664659.html">CAG report in 2006</a> had flagged that the railways had reduced the width of the bridges and stated that foot-over-bridges should be at least 6 m width at all suburban railway platforms. However, now the railways claims that they have managed to up its game and has constructed 74 bridges per year between 2014-18 which is a 221% jump from 23 per year during 2009-14.<br /> </li><li><strong>Device to guide train drivers through fog:</strong> Come winters, rail travel becomes a massive nightmare. Lack of visibility thanks to extreme fog inevitably leads to delays and accidents. But in December 2017, the national transporter installed <a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/dec/12/indian-railways-to-use-gps-enabled-devices-to-fight-fog-this-season-1725490.html">4,920 GPS-enabled FOG PASS devices</a> to help loco pilots navigate through the fog. The gadget displays a map of tracks, signals, stations and level crossings and alerts drivers of approaching signals 500 meters ahead, which in turn helps the driver increase or decrease the speed of the train. Believe it or not, before these devices, the common practice to alert drivers was to tie <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Railways-tie-crackers-to-beat-fog/articleshow/45526196.cms">crackers</a> to the tracks.<br /><br />
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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<br /><em>Photo by : <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/n9dBt4g2Ss4?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Vignesh Moorthy</a> on </em><a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/india?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText"><em>Unsplash<br /></em></a><a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/india?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText"></a></li><li><strong>Improved signalling system:</strong> In order to eradicate outdated manual signalling, the government pumped in a whopping ₹12990 million to modernise the system. This new automated signalling system aims to enhance safety and speed up train movement in a congested network. Apart from this, the railways intends to provide electronic interlocking systems, introduce European Train Control System technology and mobile train radio communication systems as a part of its five-year upgradation agenda.<br /> </li><li><strong>Waterproof engines:</strong> Heavy rainfall has historically added to the woes of Indian commuters. Waterlogging not only on roads but also on railway tracks lead to delays and brings cities like Mumbai to a standstill. However, the Indian Railways plans to remedy the issue by introducing waterproof locomotive engines to basically tow stranded trains that. Four inches of water can bring a standard train engine to a standstill, however, these <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/take-a-look-at-indian-railways-waterproof-engine-than-can-haul-rakes-stranded-in-rains/saviour-engine/slideshow/64573538.cms">new engines</a> are equipped to operate in 12 inches of water.<br /> </li><li><strong>Measure to make purchasing tickets easier:</strong> To nudge people towards a cashless system, the national transporter has installed 9,100 point of sale (POS) machines at about 4,000 locations including rail ticket counters.<br /> </li><li><strong>Station facelift:</strong> The railways plans to spruce up major railway stations big time. The revamped stations will ape modern airports and will therefore include modern facilities like escalators, lifts, subways, ramps, AC VIP lounge, AC waiting room and rest rooms and shopping malls. Apart from this, the stations will will be beautified with local artworks.</li><li><strong>Cleanliness:</strong> In order to implement the Swachh Railways mission, the railways has introduced mechanised cleaning system at 488 stations and has started using an automatic rail-mounted machine to keep its tracks at platforms clean. And to keep a check on freelance housekeeping contractors, passengers will be asked to rate the cleanliness based on which the contractor will be paid.</li><li><strong>Increasing rail connectivity:</strong> The Prime Minister’s ‘Act East Policy’ has given a much-required boost to the infrastructural development in northeast India. The first priority was to convert the entire North East rail network to a broad gauge system which it aims to do by 2020.</li></ol>

Indian Railways is planning a major overhaul: Here's what's in store

<ul><li>The 30-share BSE Sensex was trading 215 points higher, and NSE Nifty was trading 0.43% higher at 13,025 points at 9:55 am.</li><li>Here’s a list of the top losers and gainers in the Nifty pack. </li><li>These are the top stocks that are buzzing in trade today.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/">Check out the latest news and updates on Business Insider.</a> </li></ul>Indian equity benchmark indexes edged higher on Tuesday following their best monthly gain since April, with sentiment boost from a smaller-than-expected contraction in<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/indias-gdp-shrunk-7-5-in-july-september-markets-had-feared-much-worse/articleshow/79448045.cms"> Asia’s third-largest economy</a>.<br /><br />The 30-share BSE Sensex was trading 215 points higher, and NSE Nifty was trading 0.43% higher at 13,025 points at 9:55 am.<br /><br /><strong>Here’s a list of the top losers and gainers in the Nifty pack. <br /></strong><br /><table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"><strong>Top Nifty Gainers<br /><br /></strong></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"><strong>Top Nifty Losers<br /></strong><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">GAIL<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Nestle India<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Shree Cement Limited<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kotak Bank<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">UltraTech Cement<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">M&amp;M<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Grasim<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Titan<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Infosys<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Dr Reddy’s Lab<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>*as of December 1, 9:50 am<br /><br /><strong>These are the top stocks in news today.<br /></strong><br /><strong>Escorts slips into the red post-November sales<br /></strong><br />The shares of major tractor Escorts slipped in red on profit booking post-November sales update. The company reported a 33% year-on-year increase in November sales led by a 91% jump in exports.<br /><br /><strong>Bajaj Auto trades 2% higher <br /></strong><br />The shares of Bajaj Auto gained over 2% after the company reported 5% year-on-year in November sales led by robust two-wheeler sales.<br /><br /><strong>HCC trades 7% higher <br /></strong><br />The shares of Hindustan Construction Company gained over 7% after the company in a joint venture with Vensar Constructions Company (VCCL), has received two separate contracts worth ₹236 crore from the Northeast Frontier Railway. <br /><br /><strong>ICICI Lombard up over 2% <br /></strong><br />The shares of ICICI Lombard gained over 2% after the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) gave an in-principle approval for the acquisition of the non-life insurance business of Bharti Axa General Insurance by ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company. <br /><br /><strong>Indiabulls Housing Finance gains 3% <br /></strong><br />The shares of Indiabulls Housing Finance soared over 3% after it further sold a portion of its stake in OakNorth Holdings to raise approximately ₹93 crore. <br /><br /><strong>Future Consumer plunges over 4% <br /></strong><br />The shares of Future Consumer plunged over 4% after Bennett, Coleman &amp; Company (BCCL) reduced its stake in the company to 4.25% from 6.33% via open market transaction.<br /><br /><strong>Premier Explosives locked in 5% upper circuit <br /></strong><br />The shares Premier Explosives were locked in a 5% upper circuit after the company bagged a contract worth ₹14 crore from the Ministry of Defence for the supply of 26 mm Chaffs.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/heres-what-to-expect-from-maruti-mm-hero-bajaj-auto-in-november-car-bike-sales/articleshow/79489474.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink"> November auto sales estimates — Here’s what to expect from Maruti, M&amp;M, Hero, Bajaj Auto, and other automakers</a></strong><b><br /> <br /> </b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/centre-invites-agitating-farmer-unions-for-talks-on-december-1-two-days-ahead-of-a-scheduled-meeting/articleshow/79502391.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink"><strong>Centre invites agitating farmer unions for talks on December 1, two days ahead of a scheduled meeting</strong></a><br />

Top stock movers — Bajaj Auto, Future Consumer, Escorts, HCC, ICICI Lombard, Indiabulls Housing Fin, Premier Explosives, and others

<ul><li>At 7:40 am, the SGX Nifty was up 0.50%, indicating a positive start for Nifty50.</li><li>Here’s a list of stocks to watch for in trade today. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/">Check out the latest news and updates on Business Insider.</a> </li></ul>Indian stock-market indices are likely to have a slow start on Tuesday, led by mixed cues from the global markets. <br /><br />At 7:40 am, the SGX Nifty was up 0.50%, indicating a positive start for Nifty50. However, on Monday, the US stocks ended low as investors booked profits following a sharp rally in recent weeks that led to the benchmark’s best November ever. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 271 points lower, and the S&amp;P 500 was down 0.46%. <br /><br /><strong>These are the stocks to watch out for during the trading session today:<br /><br />Dr Reddy’s Laboratories</strong><br /><br />Dr Reddy’s Laboratories inked a pact with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals to acquire its select anti-allergy brands in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The acquired brands represent two types of products — mometasone mono-product and combination of mometasone with azelastine, which is indicated for the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, it added. The company, however, did not disclose financial details.<br /><br /><strong>Indiabulls Housing Finance</strong><br /><br />Indiabulls Housing Finance further sold a portion of its stake in OakNorth Holdings to raise approximately ₹93 crore. <br /><br /><strong>Hindustan Construction Company<br /></strong><br />Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), in a joint venture with Vensar Constructions Company (VCCL), has received two separate contracts worth ₹236 crore from the Northeast Frontier Railway for the construction of single line BG tunnels Lot 14A and Lot 15A on a 51.38-km long Bairabi-Sairang New BG Rail line in Manipur.<br /><br /><strong>M&amp;M, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Maruti Suzuki, TVS Motor, Hero MotoCorp and other auto stocks <br /></strong><br />M&amp;M, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Maruti Suzuki, TVS Motor, Hero MotoCorp and other auto stocks will be in focus during the trade today. The companies are slated to report their November sales data today, and according to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/heres-what-to-expect-from-maruti-mm-hero-bajaj-auto-in-november-car-bike-sales/articleshow/79489474.cms">Nirmal Bang estimates, </a>a strong show is expected led by strong festive demand.<br /><br /><strong>TVS Motor<br /></strong><br />TVS Motor is set to acquire 100% stake in advanced fleet management solutions provider Intellicar Telematics for a cash consideration of ₹15 crore.<br /><br /><strong>SRF</strong><br /><br />SRF’s resin plant, set-up in Thailand by its wholly-owned subsidiary has been commissioned and capitalised at the cost of $19 million.<br /><br /><strong>Premier Explosives<br /></strong><br />Premier Explosives has bagged a contract worth ₹14 crore from Ministry of Defence for the supply of 26 mm Chaffs.<br /><br /><strong>Punjab National Bank<br /></strong><br />Punjab National Bank’s base rate cut by 15 basis points to 8.65% from 8.8%, effective from December 1.<br /><br /><strong>Future Consumer<br /></strong><br />Bennett, Coleman &amp; Company Limited (BCCL) reduced its stake in Future Consumer to 4.25% from 6.33% via open market transaction.<br /><br /><strong>Fortis Healthcare <br /></strong><br />Aberdeen Standard Investments Ltd increased its stake in Fortis Healthcare to 5.02% from 4.96% via open market purchases.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/heres-what-to-expect-from-maruti-mm-hero-bajaj-auto-in-november-car-bike-sales/articleshow/79489474.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink"> November auto sales estimates — Here’s what to expect from Maruti, M&amp;M, Hero, Bajaj Auto, and other automakers</a><br /><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/centre-invites-agitating-farmer-unions-for-talks-on-december-1-two-days-ahead-of-a-scheduled-meeting/articleshow/79502391.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink"><strong>Centre invites agitating farmer unions for talks on December 1, two days ahead of a scheduled meeting</strong></a><br />

Top stocks to watch — Dr Reddy’s, Indiabulls Housing, M&M, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Maruti, Hero Moto, PNB, and others

<p class="source"><span>SANA/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo</span></p><p class="caption">Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad on a tank in the southeast Syrian desert, June 13, 2017.</p><p>This weekend, for the fourth time in a month, US-led coalition forces clashed with forces backing the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.</p><p>The incident - the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-led-coalition-aircraft-shoots-down-syrian-fighter-jet-near-raqqa-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">downing of a Syrian army jet</a> in northern Syria - is another lurch toward what could be a fight that draws powers like Iran as well as the US and Russia into a conflict spanning the region.</p><p>On Sunday, US military officials said Syrian pro-government forces attacked the village of Ja'Din, south of Tabqah and west of Raqqa.</p><p>The strike reportedly wounded members of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is <span>a coalition of mostly Arab and Kurdish fighters who have become important US partners in the fight against ISIS.</span></p><p><span>Coalition fighter jets reportedly halted that outbreak of fighting with <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/06/18/a-u-s-aircraft-has-shot-down-a-syrian-government-jet-over-northern-syria-pentagon-says/?utm_term=.e433df02d954" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">show of force</a>. </span></p><p>About two hours later, a Syrian SU-22 jet again struck SDF fighters, dropping munitions with little warning, according to US Central Command spokesman Col. John Thomas, who said there were US forces in the area that were not directly threatened. US aircraft tried to contact the Syrian jet but failed to do so, Thomas <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/06/18/a-u-s-aircraft-has-shot-down-a-syrian-government-jet-over-northern-syria-pentagon-says/?utm_term=.e433df02d954" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a>.</p><p><span>After that, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-led-coalition-aircraft-shoots-down-syrian-fighter-jet-near-raqqa-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according</a> to a coalition statement, "in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces, [it] was immediately shot down by a U.S. F/A-18E Super Hornet."</span></p><p><span></span></p><p class="source"><span>Christopher Woody/Google Maps</span></p><p><span>Previous clashes between the US-led coalition and its partner forces and the Assad regime and its allies, Russia and Iran, took place in southeastern Syria around an outpost near al Tanf, on the border with Iraq.</span><span></span></p><p><span>On May 18, coalition airstrikes hit pro-regime forces "that were advancing well inside an established de-confliction zone" northeast of al Tanf, US Central Command <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/a-us-iran-showdown-looms-a-desert-outpost-on-the-syria-iraq-border-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said in a release at the time</a>. That strike came after "apparent Russian attempts to dissuade Syrian pro-regime movement south towards At Tanf were unsuccessful."</span></p><p><span>Weeks later, on June 6, pro-Assad forces again entered the deconfliction zone, which covers a 34-mile radius around al Tanf.</span></p><p><span></span></p><p class="source"><span>Thomson Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">A Syrian Democratic Forces fighter gestures toward an armored vehicle in Hawi Hawa village, west of Raqqa.</p><p><span>"The Coalition issued several warnings via the de-confliction line prior to destroying two artillery pieces, an anti-aircraft weapon, and damaging a tank," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-led-coalition-strike-on-pro-regime-assad-forces-at-al-tanf-syria-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the coalition said</a> at the time.</span></p><p><span>On June 8, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-airstrikes-on-iran-backed-militias-in-syria-preparing-for-fighting-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">coalition forces again struck</a> pro-Assad forces that entered the deconfliction zone. </span></p><p><span>Hours after that engagement, a US aircraft shot down a regime drone that dropped bombs near coalition partner forces.</span></p><p>As after those incidents, the US-led coalition said on Sunday:</p><p>Despite that sentiment, the US, Iran, and Russia all appear to be edging closer to a deeper conflict in Syria.</p><p>Moscow has provided air support to the Assad regime <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/after-a-us-f-18-shot-down-a-syrian-fighter-russia-says-it-will-treat-us-coalition-jets-as-targets-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">since 2015</a>, and this month <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-led-coalition-strike-on-pro-regime-assad-forces-at-al-tanf-syria-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">it launched attacks</a> on US-backed fighters that were attacking Iranian-backed forces near al Tanf.</p><p><span>In <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1492252324350852/photos/a.1492313031011448.1073741828.1492252324350852/1943173689258711/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a statement</a> on Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defense called the shoot down of the Syrian jet "a cynical violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic" and said the US did not use the established communication line with Moscow beforehand.</span></p><p><span>The statement also called some US combat air operations "blatant breach[es] of the international law" and "military aggression" against Syria.</span></p><p class="source"><span>Russian Defense Ministry/Vadim Savitsky via Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Russian military jets at Hmeymim air base in Syria, June 18, 2016.</p><p>It also said Russia had stopped cooperating with the US to prevent incidents in the air over Syria and that going forward, "In the combat mission zones of the Russian aviation in the air space of Syria, all kinds of airborne vehicles, including aircraft and UAVs of the international coalition detected to the west of the Euphrates River will be tracked by the Russian [surface-to-air missile] systems as air targets." (Though that statement was <a href="https://twitter.com/airwars/status/876793527887429632" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reportedly amended</a>.)</p><p><span>The US said Monday that it was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-repositioning-aircraft-syria-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">repositioning</a> its aircraft over Syria to sure safety in its operations against ISIS, but the Pentagon also said US pilots would <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pentagon-us-pilots-syria-will-defend-themselves-russian-attacks-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">defend themselves</a> against the Russians if attacked.</span></p><p><span>Events in Syria in the last 24 hours have been <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-led-coalition-aircraft-shoots-down-syrian-fighter-jet-near-raqqa-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">complicated by Iran firing</a> medium-range surface-to-surface missiles from western Iran at ISIS targets in northeast Syria's Dier Ez-Zur province.</span></p><p><span>Iran, which has long backed Assad with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps advisers and support from the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, justified the strike as retaliation for a recent ISIS attack in Tehran that left 18 dead.</span></p><p><span></span></p><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Syria's President Bashar Assad, right, with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Damascus, Syria, in this photo released by Syria's national news agency on August 12, 2015.</p><p><span>But the nature and timing of Iran's strike was also likely calculated to send a message to a wider audience, demonstrating that Tehran would hit back against terrorism and that it had the capability to strike throughout the region - the latter message <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-iran-sends-a-message-with-missile-strike-in-syria-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">almost certainly intended</a> for the US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.</span></p><p><span>The US's sharply intensifying involvement in Syria has triggered alarm among US observers.</span></p><p><span>"The cult of credibility is as popular in DC as it is dangerous. Watch Syria. The risk of sliding into a big war is rising," <a href="https://sfs.georgetown.edu/faculty-bio/colin-kahl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Colin Kahl</a>, who served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East as well as national security adviser to Vice President Joe Biden and deputy assistant to President Barack Obama, <a href="https://twitter.com/ColinKahl/status/876841243099136000" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said on Twitter</a> on Monday.</span></p><p><span>"For years, hawks have argued that Assad &amp; Iran (&amp; Russia after 2015) were essentially paper tigers in Syria" who could be deterred by the US, Kahl added. But, he said, despite Trump's strikes on an Assad airfield and the recent clashes, the regime and its allies "keep pushing, probing, testing, countering. They haven't been cowed &amp; deterred."</span></p><p><span>"Why?" Kahl continued. "Because the terrain they are fighting over, &amp; the US coalition is now operating near, is very important to the Axis of Assad."</span></p><p><span></span></p><p class="source"><span>SANA/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo</span></p><p class="caption">Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad ride pickup trucks mounted with weapons in the Badia, in the southeast Syrian desert, in this picture provided by SANA on June 13, 2017.</p><p><span>The al Tanf area specifically is strategically valuable to Assad and Iran because it would provide Tehran an overland link to move men and material through Iraq to Syria and Lebanon. </span><span>Intelligence sources <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-syrian-rebels-say-russian-jets-halt-advance-on-desert-outpost-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">have told Reuters</a> that the coalition's presence near al Tanf is meant to prevent such a route from opening.</span></p><p><span>The situation is made more fraught by reports that White House officials <a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/16/white-house-officials-push-for-widening-war-in-syria-over-pentagon-objections/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">have pushed to expand</a> US involvement in Syria and confront Iran more forcefully.</span></p><p><span>Two National Security Council officials - Senior Director for Intelligence Ezra Cohen-Watnick and Derek Harvey, the council's top Middle East adviser - want to go on the offensive the war-torn country, and their fervor has reportedly left other Iran hawks, like Defense Secretary James Mattis, uneasy. (Cohen-Watnick is reportedly suggested <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-national-security-council-pentagon-support-for-war-with-iran-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">using US spies to overthrow</a> the Iranian government.)</span></p><p><span>Mattis, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, and Brett McGurk, the diplomat overseeing the anti-ISIS coalition, have all pushed back. </span><span>So far their vision of the campaign has won out.</span></p><p><span></span></p><p class="source"><span>Thomson Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Defense Secretary James Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford at a briefing on the anti-ISIS campaign, May 19, 2017.</p><p><span>Some in the administration have <a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/16/white-house-officials-push-for-widening-war-in-syria-over-pentagon-objections/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pushed to confront Iran in Yemen</a>, where Tehran is backing the Houthi rebels against a Saudi-led coalition in a fight that has pushed the country to the brink of famine. </span></p><p><span>The US is <a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/03/26/pentagon-weighs-more-support-for-saudi-led-war-in-yemen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">supporting</a> Saudi forces in their campaign. (There are also <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/19/saudi-navy-captures-members-of-iranian-elite-force-on-intercepted-boat-revolutionary-guards?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Tweet" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tensions simmering</a> between Riyadh and its partners and Iran.)</span></p><p><span>With the US's deepening involvement in Afghanistan - where the US is set <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/4000-us-troops-to-be-deployed-to-afghanistan-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">to send thousands more troops</a> several months after <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-moab-mother-of-all-bombs-isis-afghanistan-2017-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dropping the biggest weapon its arsenal on an ISIS affiliate camp</a> there - some have <a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/19/2-new-worrisome-precedents-in-the-syrian-war-iranian-missiles-and-u-s-vs-russia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">expressed</a> concern that Washington could soon find itself deeply involved in conflicts stretching from the Pakistani frontier to the Mediterranean coast and down to the tip of the Arabian Peninsula (and even in the nearby <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-us-airstrike-kills-8-islamic-extremists-in-somalia-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Horn of Africa</a>).</span></p><p><span>All this has come as Trump has taken a decidedly hands-off approach to military operations. </span></p><p><span>Some have cast that in favorable contrast to Obama's "<a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-trump-military-20170602-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">micromanagement</a>" of operations abroad. Others, like Ilan Goldenberg and Nicholas Heras of the Middle East Program at the Center for New American Security, have said Trump may be "blindly stumbling into this conflict with no public discussion of the consequences."</span></p><p><span>The risks of "what could potentially mutate into a vastly expanded American military intervention in the Middle East" might not be worth what may be limited gains in Syria, <a href="http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2017/06/america-getting-sucked-more-war-syria/138575/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Goldenberg and Heras write</a>.</span></p><p><span>With his administration looking for solutions in Syria, weighing deeper involvement in Afghanistan, poised to deal with the fallout of ISIS' defeat in its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-trump-military-20170602-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trump has yet to speak</a> with his commanders in either of the latter two countries.</span></p>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jared-kushner-spoke-first-time-since-being-appointed-trump-administration-president-2017-6">Watch Jared Kushner speak publicly for the first time since joining Trump's administration</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video

The US, Russia, and Iran are edging closer to an all-out clash in Syria

In its bid to break away from the shackles of Indian Standard Time, <keyword id="6354915" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Assam">Assam</keyword> has caused some discomfort across the political circles of the country, which took this North-eastern state too much for granted since long. The campaign, started by Assam’s <keyword id="5269" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Chief-Minister">chief minister</keyword> Tarun Gogoi a few years ago, seems to have reached a definitive stage while the central government is yet to place its concurrence (or otherwise) on record.<br />
 <br /> However, apart from quipping that ‘different time zones would create confusion,’ the <keyword id="6362177" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="union-government">Union Government</keyword> has not expressed any vehement denial. Therefore, Assam may soon turn out to be the first state in India to have its separate time zone, which will be a good one hour ahead of IST. For those who didn’t bother about IST, here is the lowdown. Indian Standard Time or IST is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT), which is the standard time measurement worldwide.<br />
 <br />
If the proposal placed by Gogoi is passed by the central government, Assam will be 6 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT. In fact, when the time change kicks in, people of Assam will be literally struggling to sync with the flight, train and bus schedules as most of these will be travelling from outside Assam where the time zone will be different.<br />
 <br /> When the clock will be shifted an hour ahead in Assam (we assume it will happen in the near future), the state will actually travel back in time. That’s because the ‘hour ahead’ time was first introduced by the British about 150 years ago and it was then called ‘chai bagaan’ (tea garden) time. Informally though, Assam goes to work an hour ahead of <keyword id="818790" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="the-rest">the rest</keyword> of India owing to the fact that the sun rises earlier in the North-east than in the other regions of the country. Chai bagaan time is a reality for those who work in tea estates and follow a different timeframe for going to work and wrapping up for the day. And this has to continue through the winter as the sun sets earlier in the North-east, compared to other parts of India.<br />
 <br /> Needless to say, the North-east is greatly inconvenienced owing to different sunrise and <keyword id="383280" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="sunset">sunset</keyword> timings. The state of Assam sees the first rays of sun by 4 am during the summer. But winter evenings are the darkest there, with the sun setting at as early as 5 pm.<br />
 <br />
The chief minister’s demand to shift the time ahead by one hour boosts the claims of ‘increasing productivity’ since offices will open early and close at a time specific to the North-east after logging the usual number of hours. But how will things work out in areas where Assam connects with the rest of the country? What will happen to the railway services in case of a changed time zone? Will it not lead to confusion and even collisions since train crossings are still managed manually? And when offices open early and close early, doesn’t it mean less time for co-ordination with organisations located in other states?<br />
 <br />
More than anything else, won’t the new time zone intensify the feeling of ‘distance’ and ‘detachment’ in this insurgency-plagued state, which has been claiming ‘negligence’ from all central governments? Issues that need to be clarified are many, but not entirely ‘impossible’ since many countries have implemented multiple time zones and they are working well across various regions.<br />
 <br /> The Assam CM has been arguing that a new time zone will result into energy saving and increased productivity. However, Bangalore-based <keyword id="419658" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="National-Institute-of-Advanced-Studies">National Institute of Advanced Studies</keyword> (NIAS) has suggested that daylight-saving time or the time difference between Assam and the rest of the country should be fixed at half-an-hour for various reasons.<br />
 <br />
India could save 2.7 billion units of electricity every year by shifting the IST Meridian eastward, from 82.5E longitudes in Uttar Pradesh to 90E near the Assam-Bengal border. But according to experts, it won’t be much of saving in terms of energy, compared to the chaos this ‘divided’ time zone will create.<br />
 <br />
While experts are busy laying out real-time reasons to keep the time zone as it is in Assam, opposition to this has been on a different tangent – sometimes sparking off debates on nationalism, federalism, daylight, energy, geography, discrimination, parity, tyranny of west over the east, time and its metaphysical, imaginary and psychological aspects.<br />
 <br />
Interestingly, when Gogoi voiced his demand to change the time zone for Assam, it was seen as a request to divide India itself. Such apprehensions are not simply black and white, but also come in various hues and shades. As of now, voices that are vociferously opposing this move, are scouting for some real reasons to strengthen their stance.<br />

‘Time Storm’ Brewing In Assam’s Tea Cup

<p>Southern US metro areas present the biggest opportunity for Uber and Lyft to change your life.</p><p>In a big report out Tuesday morning, Morgan Stanley analysts Michael Zezas and Adam Jonas look at the impact the proliferation of services like Uber and Lyft could eventually have on municipalities - and municipal financing - across the US.</p><p>Among many arguments the report makes, the most interesting is that Southern US cities are ripe for the biggest disruption amid increasing adoption of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.</p><p>So instead of getting in your car and driving to work, or replicating the Northeast commuting experience of driving or walking to a train and heading into the city, more sprawling metros could enact large-scale, commuter-targeted versions of what is basically Uber Pool - <span>Uber's "carpool" option where you set a pick-up and destination and your driver is able to make pick-ups and drop-offs along the way</span>.</p><p>The potential candidates for this kind of investment and experiment, according to Morgan Stanley's list, include Southern metros like Birmingham, Alabama; Nashville, Tennessee; Houston, and Atlanta:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="Morgan Stanley" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/574dbf1152bcd01f7b8c5ab7-960/screen shot 2016-05-31 at 12.42.29 pm.png"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>Morgan Stanley</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>These cities, the firm writes, are more likely to see benefits from increasing investment in developing networks of ride-sharing services rather than more common infrastructure investments like commuter rail lines. They possess the right density and a relative lack of methods of commuting other than driving.</p><p>Morgan Stanley notes that for each dollar spent on highways, governments at the federal, state, and local levels spend about 40 cents on mass transit projects (read: railways), totaling about $65 billion each year.</p><p>But 75% of Americans drive themselves to work, meaning there's a clear gap between infrastructure funding and infrastructure use.</p><p>Not only is investing in infrastructure that improves the ride-sharing experience within a metro area likely more beneficial to existing resident habits than building commuter rail lines, there's also a chance for more economically efficient investments given the relatively lower cost of maintenance for roads compared to railways and airports:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="Morgan Stanley" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/574dc7509105844d018c5d9f-960/screen shot 2016-05-31 at 1.17.32 pm.png"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>Morgan Stanley</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span>Here's Morgan Stanley's hypothetical:</span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">In this scenario, autonomous vehicles provided by shared mobility companies increase the usage of other <keyword id="34991" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="transportation">transportation</keyword> methods. Travelers, no longer having to worry about the 'last mile' after arriving at a major transportation hub, embrace 'just in time' pick-ups as shared mobility companies analyze demand and adjusted resources real time to transportation hubs for fast, cheap, and almost always there availability just as you arrive.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">Cities that currently have little tangible mass transit infrastructure provide subsidized accounts for shared services to low income and disabled travelers, saving significant costs over running their own local systems but maintaining the positive social externalities that come with public transit.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">With less need to fund traditional mass transit, capital is diverted to roadways, as states and cities revamp old roads or build new ones to keep up with the increase in autonomous vehicles and, over time, the need to integrate vehicle to infrastructure communication. Artery roads with automated intersections lead to less foot traffic, leading to fewer stops and storefronts along roads. Residential, shopping, and commercial districts become segregated and strategically placed destinations dictated by zoning.</p><p>So imagine a future metro area with hubs of walkable, dense residential and shopping districts connected by easily-traversed spokes full of on-demand, self-driving cars to bring you "off campus."</p><p>Another upshot is that Southern cities have the right weather for this kind of driving-intensive investment as snowfall is relatively rare compared to cities like New York, Boston, and Chicago (which all have fairly robust rail options).</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="Morgan Stanley" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/574dc51e52bcd024008c5eaa-960/screen shot 2016-05-31 at 1.08.18 pm.png"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>Morgan Stanley</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>"Our SHED metric suggests the urban south may be more conducive to integration of shared mobility into public transportation policy," the firm writes.</p><p>Morgan Stanley adds (emphasis mine):</p><p style="padding-left: 60px;">Southern metropolitan areas tend to be dense enough to support the economics, but not too dense to the point that mass transit (i.e., rail) is a better option.<strong> An added benefit that is not captured in our metric is that the weather in these areas is conducive to shared mobility development. This is because of limited testing in snow and ice conditions.</strong> Commuters in these regions are also more reliant on cars, and cities offer expansive road networks.</p><p style="padding-left: 60px;">In contrast, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA MSA presents a more challenging case. In terms of size, density, and public transit utilization, no other area comes close. The region accounts for nearly two-thirds of the planned public transit infrastructure spending over the next five years. <strong>In that sense, we see traditional transit continuing to play a major role in New York City and northern New Jersey, regardless of how shared mobility develops there.</strong></p><p>And thinking through this intuitively, the conclusion makes complete sense.</p><p>In New York, for example taking the train to work in many areas of the region is effectively the <em>only</em> viable option for commuting transportation.</p><p>But in most other regions you get in a car and drive by yourself. Morgan Stanley illustrated this with a chart breaking out the counts of metro areas by number of people who drive to work alone:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="Morgan Stanley" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/574dc0a5910584e73c8c5a0c-960/screen shot 2016-05-31 at 12.49.14 pm.png"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>Morgan Stanley</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/newly-discovered-dinosaur-osteoarthritis-2016-5">Scientists discovered something heartbreaking about this newfound dinosaur</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="NmajNvMzE6PcqWRWOqo_2Df0NcMtFZWL" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Southern US cities present the biggest opportunity for Uber and Lyft to change your life

Here are the best movies coming to Amazon Prime in April

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div><br>From tropical beaches to dusty deserts, buzzing cities to wildlife sanctuaries, Australia has an amazing range of experiences for the adventurous traveler. </br></p>
<p><span>The largest island on earth, Australia is almost as big as the continental United States, offering itself as a backdrop for films like Finding Nemo, The Great Gatsby, The Matrix, and Mad Max.</span></p>
<p>Famed for their laid-back attitudes, Australians enjoy a modern culture with a unique blend of European, American, and Asian influences.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">So while you're packing your bags, here are the top five cities you just have to see if you want to get a true feel for this massive continent.</span></p>
<h2>Sydney</h2>
<p><span>Sydney is one of the most spectacular</span> cities in the world. The shiny clean city sits on the sparkling blue water of Sydney Harbor, framed by the opera house and towering bridge.</p>
<h3><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></h3>
<h3>Coffee culture, student culture, and underground culture have been refined to an art in Newtown and Glebe, two neighborhoods in Sydney. Bondi, it's main beach, is one of the most famous in the world.</h3>
<h3><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></h3>
<h3>Suburbs like Surrey Hills, Paddington and Rose Bay are filled with class, wealth and sophistication, and if city life is all too much, it's just a 15 minute drive to the surf of beaches like Bondi or Manley.</h3>
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<h3>Colonialism and Asian immigration give the city quite a distinctive feel, and locals are spoiled by the impressive range and quality of <keyword id="6356001" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> cuisine. Jagged cliffs and beach coves line the coast, and just one hour west of the city are the sheer rocks and thick bush of the Blue Mountains.</h3>
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<h2>Cairns</h2>
<p>If your image of Australia is primarily formed by "Finding Nemo", then Cairns is the place for you. With the Daintree rainforest to the north and the Great Barrier Reef to the east, Cairns is the ideal base for snorkeling, hiking and scuba diving. </p>
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<h3>You can stay at island resorts, snorkel for clown-fish among the coral, or even practice speaking whale on humpback-spotting tours. </h3>
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<h3>Seals, turtles and dolphins also cruise the colorful reefs. Between Cairns and the larger city of Brisbane, there's also the Whitsunday Islands if you're after some more exclusive resort offerings. The Qualia resort in the Whitsunday's offers one of the most exclusive (and expensive) hotel experiences in Australia. </h3>
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<h3>The Daintree rainforest to the north offers lush hikes through Australia's tropical north-east.</h3>
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<h2>Alice Springs </h2>
<p>Alice Springs lies in the very centre of Australia, hundreds of miles away from anything. With its pubs and wildlife reserves, it's authentic outback Australia, but your main reason for visiting will be a bit of a drive.</p>
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<h3>200 miles south-west of Alice Springs is Uluru, the largest rock on the planet. The sandstone behemoth is 600 million years old, and the ancient landscape around it offers the most authentic outback experience in the country. </h3>
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<h3> </h3>
<h3>Aussies like to explore the the area in four-wheel drives and camper vans, but there's also a luxury hotel and plenty of bus tours. You can also take eye-opening tours with local Aboriginal guides, part of one of the oldest continuous civilizations on the planet.  </h3>
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<h2>Darwin</h2>
<p><span>In contrast to Alice Springs, the landscape surrounding Darwin is spectacularly lush, especially in the wet season. In Australia's tropical north, you can find ant hills 20 feet tall, crocodiles 16 feet long, and waterfalls 600 feet high. </span></p>
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<h3>Again, the best way to explore is by hiring a four-wheel drive and heading out into the well sign-posted national parks. There are free BBQs, showers and toilets scattered throughout the area, and there's always a campground not too far away.</h3>
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<h3>You can escape the heat by diving into the waterholes and waterfalls throughout the park, but just make sure it's signposted as a croc-free-zone.</h3>
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<h3>The city of Darwin itself has great seafood, fresh tropical fruit and excellent local markets - there's also a Crocodile Farm near a suburb called Humpty Doo. The bushland and waterholes of Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National park are just a couple of hours drive away. </h3>
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<h2>Melbourne</h2>
<p><span>If you can't stand hipsters, then Melbourne isn't for you. The lively city is known for its street art, small trendy bars and an overload of cultural heritage. <span>There's a Melbourne museum, a science museum, an immigration museum, a Jewish museum, a sports museum, a racing museum, a film museum, a police museum, a railway museum and even a banking museum.</span></span></p>
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<h3>Famous for it's coffee and lane-way culture, this is the city where you grab a micro-brewed beer at a rock gig, have a glass of red at the opera, or sip latte at an obscure gallery.</h3>
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<h3>The city also hosts 'the race that stops the nation' - the Melbourne Cup horse race - and the Australian Open tennis tournament.   </h3>
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<h3>Melbourne demonstrates Australia's cosmopolitan city-life at its best. From grand colonial buildings and landscaped gardens to grungy bars and graffiti-strewn lanes, Melbourne has something for every type of cultural explorer.</h3>
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<p> </p>

5 Amazing Cities In Australia Everyone Needs To Visit

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado </span></p><p class="caption">A resident walks along a damaged road to Alto Hospicio commune after an earthquake and tsunami hit the northern port of Iquique, Chile, April 2, 2014. </p></div><p></p></div></div>Good morning! Here's what you need to know.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/april-ecb-meeting-preview-2014-4#ixzz2xolayNYC">ECB decision.</a> </strong>The European Central Bank will announce the outcome of its latest policy meeting at 7:45 a.m. Expectations are for no change to rates. "<span>Many believe persistent low inflation will force the ECB to ease further this year, but only three of the 57 economists polled by Bloomberg expect such an announcement to come out of Thursday's meeting," reported BI's Matthew Boesler.</span><span><br /></span></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303847804579477060004679726?mg=reno64-wsj">China stimulus.</a> </strong>China has unveiled what's being called a "mini-stimulus" to boost consumption. Its scope remains limited. It includes "<span>additional spending on railways, upgraded housing for low-income households and tax relief for struggling small businesses," WSJ says.</span></p>
<p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-euro-zone-private-sector-logs-strongest-quarter-in-three-years---pmi-2014-03#ixzz2xomGiBQR">Euro zone's strong quarter.</a> </strong>Theeuro zone's <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Markit PMI fell slightly to 53.1 from 53.3, but </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">businesses nevertheless logged its busiest quarter in three years. However, they did so mostly by slashing prices, "underscoring fears that deflation may soon afflict the region." </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fort-hood-gunman-and-mental-health-2014-4#ixzz2xotNwR2A">Three dead in Ft. Hood shooting.</a> </span></strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Five years after 13 people were killed at Ft. Hood in Texas in a mass shooting incident, an army specialist opened fire at the same military post, killing three before taking his own life. "<span>The gunman, who served in Iraq for four months in 2011, had been undergoing an assessment before the attack to determine if he had post-traumatic stress disorder," the AP reported.</span><span><br /></span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span></span></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-secretly-built-cuban-twitter-to-stir-unrest-2014-4#ixzz2xom12gzC"><strong>"Cuban Twitter" was U.S. project.</strong></a> The U.S. covertly built a Twitter-like social network in Cuba to help foment unrest, the AP reports. "<span>The project, which lasted more than two years and drew tens of thousands of subscribers, sought to evade Cuba's stranglehold on the Internet with a primitive social media platform. First, the network would build a Cuban audience, mostly young people; then, the plan was to push them toward dissent."</span></p>
<p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Markets. </span></strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Stocks in Asia were mostly higher, led by the Nikkei at 0.8%; while in Europe they were mostly lower. U.S. futures were up. The euro was going nowhere. <span>Bitcoin fell to $440. </span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Jobless claims. </span></strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Weekly jobless claims hit at 8:30 a.m. Expectations are for a slight uptick from last week's 311,000 figure.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Trade.</strong> Also at 8:30 a.m. we get U.S. trade data. Expectations are for the trade deficit to narrow to $38.8 billion from $39.1 billion prior.</span></p>
<p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">PMI Services. </span></strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">At 9:45 a.m. we get PMI services data from Markit. It's expected to be up slightly from the prior reading of 53.3.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>ISM non-manufacturing.</strong>Finally at 10 a.m. we get the Institute for Supply Management's survey of non-manufacturing sectors. Expectations are for a gain of nearly 2 points from last month's 51.6 reading. "The ISM non-manufacturing headline index declined in February as the business activity and employment indexes fell," said Nomura economists. "However, the more optimistic reading on business activity in the Northeast Region implied by the New York Fed's business leaders' survey suggests that we could see an increase in the ISM non-manufacturing index in March."</span></p>
<p><span>***</span></p>
<p><span>Below is a Q&amp;A with Shayle Kann, senior vice president for research at GreenTechMedia.</span></p>
<p><span>***</span></p>
<p><strong>BUSINESS INSIDER: What is the most underreported story in renewables?</strong></p>
<p><strong>SHAYLE KANN:</strong> Relative to its importance, I think the most underreported story is the drastic recent growth in U.S. solar deployment. In 2013 alone, the U.S. installed 4,751 megawatts of solar PV, up 41% over 2012. Solar was the second-largest source of new electric generating capacity in the country, trailing only natural gas. And the growth continues in 2014. We anticipate that there will be 36 gigawatts of solar operating in the U.S. by the end of 2016, up from just two gigawatts in 2010.<br /> <br /><strong>BI: What will utilities look like in 10 years?</strong></p>
<p><strong>SK:</strong> In ten years, most utilities will look like they do today. Customers will still be buying power from their local utility, and the utility will maintain the lines and wires leading into our homes. What will have changed is that utility business models will have been split by the rapid growth of distributed energy resources (DER) such as solar PV and energy storage. Some utilities will have developed strategies to benefit from this growth, either offering these options directly to their customers or acting as service providers to enable a more distributed grid. Other, less innovative utilities will be scrambling to deal with anemic demand growth and the proliferation of customer-driven distributed energy.<br /> <br /><strong>BI: Which state or metro has been a model for how the average state or metro can incorporate renewables?</strong></p>
<p><strong>SK:</strong> California has long been and remains at the forefront of adoption for renewable energy. With a mandate to source a minimum of 33% of its energy from renewables by 2020 and a good chance of exceeding that goal, California is often looked to as a model for other states to create a vibrant, growing ecosystem of renewable energy companies.<br /> <br /><strong>BI: How far away are we away from having more widespread storage adoption? Is it even necessary for the overall PV market to continue growing?</strong></p>
<p><strong>SK:</strong> We're just now beginning to see energy storage adoption take place at any kind of significant scale, so it's an exciting time to be watching that market. Coming from a small base today, I think the next ten years will be critical in proving out the business case and ability to finance storage deployments. Meanwhile, a plethora of new companies are raising money to commercialize new kinds of storage technologies. In many ways, it looks like the solar industry circa 2005-2007. And with regard to solar, storage will be a fantastic complement to increased penetration of solar, but we're a long way from having so much solar deployed that storage becomes a necessity for further PV growth.<br /> <br /><strong>BI: At this point, what should the government's role be in encouraging renewables?</strong></p>
<p><strong>SK:</strong> The government has many roles to play in encouraging renewables, but I'll mention three in particular. First, the government has a huge role in investment in early-stage research, development and deployment of innovative renewable technologies. The Department of Energy's SunShot initiative is a great example of this role. Second, the government can help when it comes time to finance the first wave of deployment through mechanisms like the DOE Loan Guarantee program and a Green Bank. Finally, the government can create and maintain policy certainty for companies operating in the space so that long-term decision-making reigns throughout the sector.</p>

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