Latest news with #Parekh
Vancouver Sun
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
FLAMES DEPTH CHART: Eyes on Ramsus Andersson's future, deep pool of defencemen
There's no position group that's generated more conversation around the Calgary Flames this year than the defence. Between the ever-growing anticipation of Zayne Parekh 's upcoming NHL rookie season and the ongoing speculation about where Rasmus Andersson might get traded, the blue-liners have got people talking, that's for sure. And yet, as we look back two months ago to the last time we did a deep-dive on the Flames' defensive depth chart, it sort of feels like not much has changed. The prospect pool is exciting, while the NHL roster should look pretty similar to the group from last season. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. With a year left on his deal, it's looking increasingly like Rasmus Andersson will be playing for the Flames next season. It's almost inevitable that he'll get traded at some point during the campaign, but with no move materializing around the draft last month, a trade doesn't seem imminent. There are no concerns about Andersson's attitude or the effort he'll put in next season. GM Craig Conroy has been abundantly clear on that. Will his future be a distraction that hangs over the team? To a certain extent, that's probably inevitable, but the Swede is an NHL veteran who clearly values his relationship with both the organization and the city, so there really shouldn't be too much concern. This story won't go away until the Flames pull the trigger on a deal — or sign Andersson to an unlikely extension. When the Flames signed both Kevin Bahl and Joel Hanley to extensions, it provided some stability and a little clarity about what the blue line will look like this season. Hanley formed a nice pairing with MacKenzie Weegar last season, and that will likely continue, while Bahl and Andersson will presumably start the 2025-26 campaign paired together. That's your top four and with Brayden Pachal, Parekh and Jake Bean all available, the Flames have options, too, although you have to wonder whether Daniil Miromanov will be the odd man out. Parekh isn't going to go back to the OHL next season. There's nothing left for him to prove there and the time has come for him to begin making the transition to being an NHL player. He's too young to play in the AHL, although that will change in 2026-27 when every team will be allowed one 19-year-old. That means the ninth-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft will be with the Flames, and that feels like a big step in the team's retool. The new era has arrived, or so it seems. Parekh won't be the only young defencemen trying to break through this season, and that's one of the things most worth getting excited about as we look forward to 2025-26. Hunter Brzustewicz also made his NHL debut in the final game of last season and made huge leaps forward with his game in the back half of the campaign with the AHL's Wranglers. Could he play 25 games? More? It's hard to imagine him cracking the roster out of camp, but it could be a big year for the 20-year-old. Ilya Solovyov and Yan Kuznetsov will both be trying to break through, too. While competition for NHL playing time is sure to be fierce, the Flames are loaded with defensive depth. Honestly, the Flames may be deeper with defensive prospects right now than they've ever been. Etienne Morin will begin making his transition to the pro game with the Wranglers this season, while highly regarded young blue-liners Eric Jamieson and Henry Mews are headed the college route and 2025 draft picks Mace'o Phillips and Jakob Leander will continue their development, as well. They're a few years away, but have lots of upside. The Flames' scouting staff has done a nice job identifying young talent in the draft over the last couple years, and the future on the blue line is bright. daustin@ NHLers MacKenzie Weegar (31); Kevin Bahl (25); Rasmus Andersson (28); Joel Hanley (34); Jake Bean (27); Daniil Miromanov (28); Brayden Pachal (25) In the system Henry Brzustewicz (20); Zayne Parekh (19); Etienne Morin (20); Artem Grushnikov (22); Yan Kuzneetsov (23); Jeremie Poirier (23); Ilya Solovyov (25); Axel Hurtig (20); Henry Mews (19); Eric Jamieson (20); Mace'o Phillips (18); Jakob Leander (18)
Mint
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Artist Madhvi Parekh presents fantastical worlds in a new solo show
At DAG, Delhi, an exhibition of paintings offers insight into artist Madhvi Parekh's prowess as a storyteller. The solo presentation, Madhvi Parekh: Remembered Tales, features a set of newly completed works by the 83-year-old artist. Canvases often feature narratives nestled within one another. In Goddess of My Village, an acrylic on canvas (2023), two heads appear to be connected by a tapering tubular form. This slender conduit, of sorts, contains smaller figures—plants, fish, fantastical organisms—creating a world within a world. You could assume that the two connected figures have subsumed these smaller creatures, or that their overall persona is the sum of all these little beings. The painting also features deities within temples, anthropomorphic creatures with human heads and piscine bodies, totemlike structures, and more. In another part of the gallery, another set of stories unfurls within Pond in my Village (2024). The scene seems to be set in some surrealistic realm, where the city and the village, the real and the dreamlike come together. Parekh populates her worlds with patterns, dots, dashes, embroidery-like textures, hybrid beings, and leaves their interpretation to the viewer. I meet Parekh at her home in Delhi's Chittaranjan Park in between spells of rain. The self-taught artist is a reluctant conversationalist, but her paintings speak a great deal on her behalf. In her creations, time frames collapse into one another, the past exists with the present. She brings scenes from the city and her memories of growing up in the village of Sanjaya, Gujarat, together in a single canvas with ease. The bird or pakshi is a recurring motif. It stands as a symbol of a free-spirited being, who travels between memories and geographies. To me, it represents Parekh herself, who takes the viewer by the hand on this time travel. The wide-eyed figures, which have become so emblematic of her practice, continue to make their presence felt in works such as Flower Vase in My Family (2024) and the triptych Travelling Circus in My Village, as representations of curious seekers. Also read: Planner: A lot of art with a side of theatre, 5 events to enjoy a cultural weekend Also on display at the exhibition are her sketchbooks, featuring drawings spanning 1978 to 2018, from DAG's archive, which show the evolution of the artist—from using textured backgrounds in the 1970s to the way she has built on everyday observations in her practice over time. 'For me, drawing is the foundation of everything. It offers a sense of freedom. Even now, while waiting at airports, I carry a book in which I keep sketching," she says. Accompanying the exhibition is a publication featuring scholarly pieces on Parekh's practice by Rebecca Brown of John Hopkins University and critic-writer Meera Menezes. Parekh often harks to the past in her conversations. 'Puraane dino ki baatein karne mein bohot accha lagta hai (It feels great to reminisce about the olden days)," she laughs. She lives with memories of ponds, mustard fields, temples, wedding processions, circus performers and behrupiyas (impersonator), who would visit her village during festivals. Parekh was raised with Gandhian philosophy propagated by her father, who was an educator. 'I grew up with three sisters and two brothers, and my father never discriminated between us. He was a selfmade man, who taught us the value of hard work and the importance of making full use of time," she reminisces. She got married to artist Manu Parekh at the age of 15 and moved to Mumbai, where they stayed in a small fifth floor apartment. There, everyday urban struggles took over, from water troubles to daily chores. Even then, art made inroads into her life. The couple would visit exhibitions at Jehangir Art Gallery and have elaborate discussions. She was in her 20s and pregnant with her oldest daughter, Manisha, when she decided to pursue art herself. 'I wanted to give my child a good sanskar (culture). So, I decided to take up something creative," she says. Also read: Morii Design: How a Gandhinagar-based studio is sewing up a stitch library Her husband, who had studied at Sir JJ School of Art, introduced her to Paul Klee's Pedagogical Sketchbook, and Parekh started experimenting with geometrical forms. She formed her own connections with memories of paintings on walls in her village during weddings and festivals and created her own language of dots and lines. The resulting vocabulary was so unique that even now experts find it hard to categorise it as a specific genre or style. Some find elements of primitivism while others see the folk imprint. 'At most, it can be said that her work parallels folk art, even though it is not like any known folk form in India or elsewhere, and has the rawness and energy associated with modernism," states the gallery note. It is this distinctive style that has seen Parekh in the international spotlight in recent years. In 2022, her paintings were chosen by Christian Dior as a backdrop to its haute couture show in Paris. This was followed by a show for Manu and Madhvi Parekh at the Venice Biennale (2024). Parekh's works are now part of major collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Fellow artist and husband, Manu, puts it best: 'She is a modern painter with a rural sensibility. She is not constrained by the idiom of folk art. And that gives her immense scope to evolve and grow." He finds immense depth in the practices of self-taught artists like Parekh and Bhupen Khakhar. 'I find the term 'self-taught' to be a misnomer. They too have learnt from someone and something. Instead of one teacher, they have 10 gurus. Their mind and intellect is their master too," he says. For Parekh, layers of experience have kept building on one another, enriching her visual syntax. The childhood memories of intricate and vibrant paintings on the dome of the Swaminarayan temple in her village, the narrations of Ramayan and Mahabharat during festivals and bhavai performances were joined by visits to international museums and institutions such as the Miro Foundation, Barcelona, with her husband. The paintings of Henri Matisse left a huge impression on her. A visit to the Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem a few years ago shook her to the core. 'Mann mein dukh lag raha tha (the heart was heavy). That's when I saw the figure of Jesus outside with his composed visage, and I started exploring the figure of Christ in my paintings," she says. Parekh imbibed learnings from fellow artists such as Nalini Malani, who taught her the reverse glass technique. The initial Christ series (2006) were made in this style. Later Parekh started working more with acrylics and canvas. Together with Malani, Arpita Singh and Nilima Sheikh, she also participated in a travelling exhibition called Through the Looking Glass in 1998. Also read: Three Indian galleries expand their presence in London with a unique showcase Textile has also played a huge role in her practice, with influence of kantha, kalamkari and sujani embroideries evident in her work. 'Back in our village, we all learnt embroidery and how to make the rangoli. During my travels, I saw different styles in different parts of the country. The colour scheme and patterns of the rangoli have always held a huge attraction for me," she elaborates. While Manu was posted in Kolkata as part of his work with the Weavers' Service Centre, Parekh was a keen participant in Kali and Durga pujas. The figure of the Goddess and the texture of kantha made its appearance in her work at the time. Meera Menezes, in her essay titled Madhvi Parekh's Fabular Worlds in the accompanying publication, writes about that time period. 'Her painting Ganesha in Boat was sparked by a stray remark—a person recounted to her that they made a Durga in a boat, leading Madhvi to experiment and place the elephant god in a boat. Like Durga, Ganesha too is a popular god, and Madhvi recalls his importance in rituals she experienced while growing up in Gujarat." More than anything else, it is the sense of play in her works that appeals to viewers and critics alike. 'There is always a reel going on in my mind. There used to be a pond in my village. My mother used to prohibit us from going there. In my realm of fantasy, I go there often. Later, when my eldest daughter was born, and I had to go to the Madras Art Camp, I used to wish for wings so that I could go home, feed her and then come back to paint. Such elements make their way from the mind to the canvas," she says. At DAG, New Delhi, till 23 August.
Mint
16 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three stocks to buy today — 25 July 2025
Buy or sell stocks: The benchmark indices of the Indian stock market began the session on a weak footing and remained under pressure throughout the weekly expiry, as lacklustre Q1 results 2025 from IT majors triggered a sharp sell-off in the sector, weighing on overall sentiment. Caution also prevailed before next week's U.S. Federal Reserve policy decision, likely to steer global market direction. The Sensex dropped 542.47 points, or 0.66%, to close at 82,184.17, while the Nifty fell 157.80 points, or 0.63%, settling at 25,062.10. Sector-wise, PSU Banks, Healthcare, and Pharma outperformed in positive territory, bucking the broader downtrend. In contrast, heavy selling was seen across most other sectors, with the IT index sliding over 2%, leading the losses. Broader markets also came under selling pressure, with the Nifty Midcap index down 0.58% and the Small-cap index shedding 1.09%, indicating a weak undertone across segments. Vaishali Parekh, Vice President of Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher, believes the Indian stock market sentiment is sideways to positive. The Nifty 50 index is sustaining above the 50-DEMA support of 24,900, while the key benchmark index faces resistance at 25,250. Speaking on the outlook of the Nifty 50 today, Vaishali Parekh said, "The Nifty 50 index once again found resistance near the hurdle of 25,250 zone and witnessed profit booking to slip towards the 25,000 zone to indicate a tight rangebound movement between 25,000 and 25,250 level for quite some time, with overall bias maintained positive. As mentioned earlier, we continue to maintain our stance, would need a decisive breach above the 25,250 to 25,300 zone to continue with the positive movement further ahead and expect the next targets of 25,500 and 25,700 levels in the coming days, provided the crucial support zone of 24,900 level is sustained as of now." "The Bank Nifty index continues to move within a tight range, having the tough resistance barrier near the 57,300 zone, which needs to be breached decisively and expect further upward movement in the coming days. On the downside, the 50-DEMA zone at the 56,000 level shall be an important and crucial support which needs to be sustained to maintain the overall bias and sentiment intact," said Parekh. Parekh said that the immediate support for the Nifty 50 index is at 24,900, while the resistance is at 25,300. The Bank Nifty would have a daily range of 56,500 to 57,600. Regarding stocks to buy today, Vaishali Parekh recommended three buy-or-sell stocks: Bandhan Bank, REC, and Hubtown. 1] Bandhan Bank: Buy at ₹ 184, Target ₹ 190, Stop Loss ₹ 180; 2] REC: Buy at ₹ 405.50, Target ₹ 412, Stop Loss ₹ 398; and 3] Hubtown: Buy at ₹ 305, Target ₹ 325, Stop Loss ₹ 295. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or brokerage companies and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three stocks to buy today — 24 July 2025
Buy or sell stocks: buoyed by favourable global cues following the announcement of the US-Japan trade deal, the key benchmark indices of the Indian stock market staged a strong rally on Wednesday. A risk-on sentiment prevailed across Asian markets, further supported by optimism surrounding the ongoing corporate earnings season. The Nifty 50 opened on a firm footing, exhibiting initial range-bound movement during the first hour of trade. However, the index witnessed upward momentum in the latter half, eventually settling near the day's high at 25,219.90, registering gains of 159 points or 0.63% on a closing basis. The broader markets posted a mixed performance, with the Nifty Midcap 100 advancing 0.34%, while the Small Cap index closed flat, indicating selective participation. On the sectoral front, the action was largely stock-specific. The Realty index underperformed, shedding 2.6%, followed by the Media (-0.9%) and FMCG (-0.5%) indices. In contrast, Auto, Metal, Oil & Gas, Consumer Durables, Pharma, Private Banks, PSU Banks, and Telecom sectors clocked modest gains from 0.5% to 1%, reflecting a rotational buying trend across cyclicals and rate-sensitive sectors. Vaishali Parekh, Vice President — Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher, believes that the improved bias is still intact. The Nifty 50 has been sustaining above 25,000 levels after bouncing back from the 50-DEMA support of 24,900. However, the key benchmark index is facing a hurdle at 25,250, and it needs to breach this resistance for further improvement in Dalal Street's mood. On breaking above 25,250 on a closing basis, we can expect the 50-stock index to touch 25,500 and 25,700 soon. Speaking on the outlook of the Nifty 50 today, Vaishali Parekh said, "The Nifty 50 index once again indicated a positive move with overall strong bias visible and has arrived near the near-term resistance hurdle of 25,250 zone, which needs to be breached decisively in the coming sessions. With an optimistic approach maintained, one can expect further targets of 25,500 and 25,700 to be achievable, with most of the frontline stocks well poised for further gains, which can help the index gain further. The 24,900 zone shall remain the major and crucial support for the index." "The Bank Nifty index, once again, picked up momentum, resisting near the 57,300 zone, which needs to be breached above and can expect to make new highs in the coming days, with higher targets of 58,500 and 60,000 levels achievable. The overall bias and sentiment have improved with the heavyweight banking stocks technically looking good and can carry on with the positive move further ahead," said Parekh. Parekh said that immediate support for the Nifty 50 index is 25,100, while the resistance is 25,400. The Bank Nifty would have a daily range of 56,700 to 57,800. Regarding stocks to buy today, Vaishali Parekh recommended three buy-or-sell stocks: GHCL, PFC, and IFCI. 1] GHCL: Buy at ₹ 621, Target ₹ 645, Stop Loss ₹ 605; 2] PFC: Buy at ₹ 419, Target ₹ 440, Stop Loss ₹ 410; and 3] IFCI: Buy at ₹ 61.70, Target ₹ 65, Stop Loss ₹ 60. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or brokerage companies and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Infosys Q1 net profit rises 8.7% to ₹6,921 crore
Buoyed by a strong deal pipeline, positive customer sentiments from key markets, and significant traction for AI and consolidation deals in the BFSI and other sectors, Infosys, India's second-largest tech firm, on Wednesday revised its FY26 revenue guidance upwards. Infosys posted a net profit of ₹6,921 crore in the first quarter of FY26, a 8.7% growth over ₹6,368 crore in the corresponding quarter a year ago. Its revenue grew by 7.5% to ₹42,279 crore, compared to ₹39,315 crore in the same period in the previous year. Encouraged by a strong deal pipeline, positive customer sentiments from key markets and significant traction for AI and consolidation deals, the company raised FY26 revenue growth guidance to 1-3% in constant currency terms, from a 0-3% range set in the March 2025 quarter. The company maintained its operating margin guidance at 20–22%. During the quarter, Infosys reported large deal wins valued at $3.8 billion, with 55% of them coming from new clients. Operating profit rose 6.2% to ₹8,803 crore, operating margin stood at 20.8%, lower than 21.1% a year ago. The company also reported cash reserve for the quarter at ₹7,533 crore. Addressing a media conference at the company's campus in the outskirts of the city, Salil Parekh, CEO and MD, said, 'This was incredible and large deals, mainly focused on consolidation and digital transformation, are working very well for us. We feel quite positive. In the current economic environment, we expect to see more traction in AI, digital transformation, cloud and enterprise applications.' Jayesh Sanghrajka, CFO, said, 'Q1 performance is a clear reflection of our unwavering focus on multiple fronts, resulting in strong growth at 2.6% QoQ, resilient margins at 20.8% and EPS increase of 8.6% YoY.' Cash flow conversion was well above 100% for the fifth consecutive quarter. The impact of currency volatility was effectively managed through our proactive hedging strategy, he added. 'The company has raised lower end of revenue growth guidance for FY26 based on strong Q1 performance and strong deal pipeline, particularly in vendor consolidation and AI. The company with strong traction in financial services, leadership positioning in AI enterprise and growing AI adoption makes it well positioned to capture cost optimisation, AI-driven transformation opportunities and vendor consolidation opportunities,' said Shaji Nair, Research Analyst, Mirae Asset Sharekhan. On the market outlook, Mr. Parekh said, 'Although overall global market conditions have changed, our key markets, the U.S. and Europe, have remained strong. We have not seen any change in clients' decisions or change in any specific projects.' AI boosts productivity In his commentary on Q1 performance, Mr. Parekh said, the company has over 300 Agentic AI solutions that accelerated decision making, improved efficiency and enhanced productivity. 'AI has boosted efficiency. In terms of productivity, we are seeing a benefit of 5% to 15%. A part of the productivity is shared with the clients, while a part is for us. We also see the quality of the revenue improving,' he added. Responding to a query on whether the company's increased focus on Agentic AI would impact hiring, Mr. Parekh clarified that the company would continue to hire both freshers and lateral talent. However, the tech firm refused to share any hiring numbers for FY26. 'Our overall headcount has remained constant and utilisation is at 85%, a peak. So, we will continue hiring. We expect to continue hiring in line with what we announced at the beginning of the year, so there's no change there,' said Mr. Sanghrajka. According to him, wage hike and higher variable pay had a 100 basis point impact on the Q1 margin of the company. The company rolled out salary hikes twice in CY2025: in January and in April. 'We have paid a higher variable pay component to employees in Q1. Having done the wage hike very recently, next one we'll have to decide when,' the CFO added. The quarter saw Infosys's voluntary attrition at 14.4%, compared with 14.1% in the sequential quarter and 12.7% in the corresponding period a year ago.
