Latest news with #Section11
Irish Daily Mirror
23-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former All-Star hurler found 'not guilty' of assaulting 12-year-old with stick
A jury has found former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan not guilty of assaulting a then 12-year-old boy with a stick almost two years ago. At Ennis Circuit Court today, the jury of seven men and five women delivered a majority 'not guilty' verdict against the charge that Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge had assaulted causing harm of the boy with a stick at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5, 2023. Mr Gilligan sat impassively in the court as the court registrar read out the 'not guilty' majority verdicts in the case concerning the assault causing harm charge and producing a stick under Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act at the same location on the same date. Two women in the Gilligan family group seated at the back of the court to support Mr Gilligan wept as the 'not guilty' verdicts were called out while the parents of the then 12-year-old sitting on the opposite side of the court left the courtroom shortly after the verdicts were announced. The jury delivered their majority 'not guilty' verdict after five hours and three minutes of deliberations and returned to the court 48 minutes after Judge Francis Comerford directed shortly after mid-day on Wednesday that they could deliver a majority 11-1 or 10-2 verdict. Shortly before 1pm, the foreman replied "yes" when asked by the court registrar had at least 10 of the jury reached a verdict in the case. The jury reached their verdicts after five days of evidence, closing speech by lawyers from both sides and the judge's charge in the case. Judge Comerford thanked the jury "for the careful deliberations you have taken". Mr Gilligan spoke briefly with his legal team of solicitor, Daragh Hassett and Patrick Whyms BL in the body of the court before leaving the courtroom. A farmer and auctioneer in Sixmilebridge, Mr Gilligan was not on legal aid for the case and will have to pay his legal bill from the six-day long trial from his own resources. Niall Gilligan (Image: ©INPHO/Donall Farmer) In his closing speech to the jury, counsel for Mr Gilligan, Mr Whyms said on the evening at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Mr Gilligan "didn't know that he was dealing with a child and did not create this situation". Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan "was at the end of his tether" by the vandalism being done to a vacant property he was trying to sell. Putting forward the defence of reasonable force against the charge of assault causing harm, Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan was at the Jamaica Inn hostel on the night of October 5 "in the dark and believed that he was under siege". He said: "Believing himself under threat and needing to protect himself and his property, Niall Gilligan needs to make an instant decision and so we are here." The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Mr Whyms said: "And Mr Gilligan, a family man who has young children and no previous convictions gives a clear story which has't changed and an entirely credible, fulsome account of what happened." Mr Whyms said to the jury: "Did Niall Gilligan use such force as was reasonable in the circumstances as he believed them to be and if he did then no offence was committed." In his prepared statement at Shannon Garda Station in February 2024 on the alleged assault, Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan "has given a perfectly plausible account in an otherwise impeccably accurate description of what occurred which placed the boys inside the building when he met them". On the medical evidence, Mr Whyms said: "Nobody wants to see a child being injured and it would be much better if that didn't happen and the boy was injured in this case." He said: "There doesn't seem to be much room for argument that he was injured from the actions of Niall Gilligan." Mr Whyms said that a displaced fracture of a finger on the boy's left hand "is the only fracture in this case". He said: "There is an un-displaced fracture of a finger - that is not a good thing to happen but that it is what happened." He said: "There were injuries and there were sustained in the incident but by and large, most were cleared up in the week and the last one was pretty well cleared up in two weeks." Mr Whyms said that the injuries "don't look nice on the photographs - there is no getting away from that and injuries that are photographed immediately after don't look nice". Mr Whyms said that the injuries sustained by the boy "are clearly regrettable". Sign up to the Irish Mirror's Courts and Crime newsletter here and get breaking crime updates and news from the courts direct to your inbox.
Mint
15-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Charitable and religious trusts, research institutions to face increased I-T scrutiny
NEW DELHI : Income tax return (ITR) forms of charitable trusts and research institutions that have wrongfully claimed tax exemptions, as well as entities and individuals that have had repeated additions to their tax liability, will be automatically selected for scrutiny this year. In its latest guidelines, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has allowed its senior field officers until 30 June to issue notices on such ITRs. Charitable and religious trusts, as well as research institutions, claiming tax exemption under the Income Tax Act's Section 11 must register again, as per the changes in law introduced with effect from 1 April 2021 to improve compliance and to avoid roving enquiries into their affairs. Also Read: Here's all you need to know about Form 16 before filing your income tax return The CBDT's guidelines said that cases where such registration has not been granted or has been revoked by the end of March 2024 and the institution has claimed tax exemption in 2024-25, shall be scrutinized by the department's faceless assessment centre. Cases where withdrawal of registration is set aside in appellate proceedings will be excluded. In addition to registration, charitable and religious trusts and institutions must ensure that 85% of the donations are used for charitable or religious purposes to be eligible for the benefit. Universities and research institutions that do not claim tax benefits under other provisions of the law can also claim tax exemption under Section 11. Individuals and entities that have been subject to a survey—a visit by tax officials that is less stringent than a search—and those that have been searched after 1 April 2023 will also have their ITRs automatically scrutinized this assessment year. Also Read: New income tax bill provisions grant wide search powers to authorities, make privacy of taxpayers vulnerable Also, taxpayers in metro cities and other places, who have had additions made to their tax liability repeatedly in the past, above specific thresholds, will get tax scrutiny notices by the end of June. So would cases flagged by any other regulator, law enforcement agency, or intelligence agency for alleged tax evasion. Stricter, clearer norms The guidelines for compulsory selection of ITRs for scrutiny in 2025-26 are consistent with those of prior years, but some noteworthy changes have been introduced in the threshold limits for recurring issues from past assessments, according to experts. 'Previously, additions exceeding ₹25 lakh for cases in eight metro jurisdictions and ₹10 lakh for cases in non-metro jurisdictions triggered automatic scrutiny. Under the revised guidelines, these thresholds have been increased to ₹50 lakh and ₹20 lakh, respectively. The move is expected to significantly reduce the number of cases selected for compulsory scrutiny," said Manish Garg, lead- transfer pricing and litigation, AKM Global, a tax and consulting firm. 'Additionally, the guidelines now prescribe stricter timelines to forward the details of selected cases to assessment units, aiming to streamline the assessment process. These changes will not only ease the compliance burden on taxpayers but also provide both tax authorities and assessees with adequate time for a more thorough and balanced assessment proceeding," added Garg. Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | Income tax: How close should authorities look? The apex direct tax policymaking body clarified that international tax matters and complex cases handled by the specialized wing of the department, central charge, are not covered under the department's faceless assessment scheme. Queries emailed to the CBDT seeking comments for the story remained unanswered until the time of publishing.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd. Announces Exploration Right & 75% Interest in Block 1
Eco Atlantic Secures Exploration Right and Transfer of 75% Interest in Block 1 - South Africa's Orange Basin TORONTO, ON / / June 4, 2025 / Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. (AIM:ECO)(TSXV:EOG), a leading independent oil and gas exploration company focused on the Atlantic Margin, is pleased to announce that, further to the Farm-In Agreement announced on 5 June 2024, formal approval has been received from the South Africa Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources for both the Exploration Right and Section 11 transfer. Accordingly, Eco has now secured a 75% Working Interest and full Operatorship of Block 1 offshore South Africa - one of the most strategically positioned assets in the highly prospective Orange Basin. The Section 11 approval was the final condition precedent to establishing full legal transfer of Eco's working interest in Block 1 from Tosaco Energy (Proprietary) Limited ("Tosaco"), and the associated milestone payment has been made by Eco. This acquisition, completed through Eco's wholly owned subsidiary Azinam South Africa Limited ("Azinam"), significantly expands the Company's Southern African Orange Basin footprint and positions it as a key Operator at the forefront of one of the world's most active and hydrocarbon-rich basins. The remaining 25% interest is held by Tosaco. Block 1, which spans a vast 19,929km², straddles the border between South Africa and Namibia - directly adjacent to recent world-class discoveries by Galp Energia (Mopane), Shell (Graff, La Rona), TotalEnergies (Venus), Rhino Resources (Capricornus-1X), and the legacy Kudu Gas Field. The block offers full margin transect coverage from the shoreline to deepwater (shore to 263km offshore, in water depths up to 1,000m), encompassing both shallow and deepwater exploration potential. As previously announced, Eco has already acquired and is analyzing an extensive and high-quality dataset, including both 2D and 3D seismic surveys and regional well logs. The block includes the historic Soekor AF-1 gas discovery, which tested at 32.4 MMscfd, and Soekor AE-1, which encountered oil and gas shows which provides clear evidence of an active petroleum system. The Company anticipates launching a formal farm-out process in respect of its interest in Block 1 in August 2025, with respect to which further updates will be provided in due course. Block Summary: Area: 19,929km² offshore South Africa Location: Strategically positioned on the South Africa-Namibia maritime border Extent: From shoreline to ~263km offshore, covering the full margin transect Geological Scope: Broad spectrum of shallow and deepwater oil and gas prospects Water Depths: Shallow shelf to deepwater environments up to 1,000 meters Proven Petroleum System: Adjacent and geologically analogous to multiple recent discoveries: Galp Energia - Mopane, Shell - Graff and La Rona, TotalEnergies - Venus, Rhino Resources - Capricornus-1X (light oil), Historic Soekor Discoveries - AF-1 (32.4 MMscfd gas test) and AE-1 (oil and gas shows), Kudu Gas Field Eco Atlantic remains committed to disciplined, value-driven exploration. With a strong technical foundation, entrepreneurial execution, and an unwavering focus on high-impact opportunities, it continues to position itself as a trusted partner in unlocking frontier basins and delivering long-term shareholder value. The Company has established itself well in Namibia with four Blocks currently being reviewed by international players to farm-in and has a near term drilling opportunity in Guyana that it is currently negotiating with partners to participate in the block. Gil Holzman, Co-Founder and CEO of Eco Atlantic, commented: "As the Orange Basin continues to demonstrate its world-class hydrocarbon proof and potential, Eco's executive team has worked relentlessly over the past 18 months to secure a premier asset on the South African side of the basin. With the successful approval and execution of the Exploration Right and 75% Working Interest award, we are proud to have secured one of the largest and prospective blocks in the entire basin with a known hydrocarbon footprint - Block 1 - located directly on the South Africa-Namibia maritime border. Block 1 adds to our portfolio in the Orange basin which also includes Block 3B/4B operated by TotalEnergies. "We are grateful for the productive collaboration with the Government of South Africa and its key agencies, particularly our valued partners at the Petroleum Agency South Africa ("PASA"). I was honoured to attend the signing ceremony yesterday at PASA's offices in Cape Town. This milestone reflects the dedication and strategic focus of our leadership team in securing an asset with existing hydrocarbon evidence and significant upside potential and aligning with our strategy to partner directly with governments to secure agreements in high potential secure jurisdictions and to lay groundwork for future partnerships. "Our technical team has already begun analysing the extensive, high-quality 2D and 3D seismic, and well logs data, which materially accelerates our path to drilling while reducing early-stage exploration costs and timelines. The block's prior discoveries, including tested gas flows and oil shows, confirm the presence of an active petroleum system. "Initial interpretation is underway, and we are in the process of delineating early leads to develop the exploration strategy. We are already seeing significant inbound interests from international oil companies and mid-tier partners. As a result, we anticipate launching a formal farm-out process in August with further updates to follow in due course." ENDS For more information, please visit or contact the following. Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas c/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 8434 2754 Gil Holzman, Chief Executive OfficerColin Kinley, Chief Operating OfficerAlice Carroll, Head of Corporate Sustainability Strand Hanson (Financial & Nominated Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 James HarrisJames Bellman Berenberg (Broker) +44 (0) 20 3207 7800 Matthew ArmittCiaran WalshDetlir Elezi Celicourt (PR) +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 Mark AntelmeJimmy LeaCharles Denley-Myerson About Eco Atlantic: Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM-quoted Atlantic Margin-focused oil and gas exploration company with offshore license interests in Guyana, Namibia, and South Africa. Eco aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through its role in the energy transition to explore for low carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure. Offshore Guyana, in the proven Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Company operates a 100% Working Interest in the 1,354 km2 Orinduik Block. In Namibia, the Company holds Operatorship and an 85% Working Interest in four offshore Petroleum Licences: PELs: 97, 98, 99, and 100, representing a combined area of 28,593 km2 in the Walvis Basin. Offshore South Africa, Eco holds a 5.25% Working Interest in Block 3B/4B and a 75% Operated Interest in Block 1, in the Orange Basin, totalling approximately 37,510km2. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this document contains forward-looking information and statements including, without limitation, management's business strategy, and management's assessment of future plans and operations. Such forward-looking statements or information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future, including successful negotiation of farm-in agreement, results of exploration as proposed or at all. Forward-looking statements or information typically contain statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", "potential" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding future performance and outlook. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties identified under the headings "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated July 29, 2024 and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law. The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended by virtue of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ or visit SOURCE: Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Irish Independent
25-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Rural Cork community welcomes the demolition of a derelict inn that had become a local ‘eyesore'
Work is already well underway on the clearance of the Lee Valley Inn site in Dripsey, Co Cork Corkman Today at 03:00 The Lee Valley Inn in Dripsey was placed on the Cork County Council's Derelict Site Register in October 2021, with works to demolish the building having commenced on May 6. A Section 11 notice under the Derelict Sites Act was issued to the owners of the premises on April 24, which required them to carry out the schedule of works specified to render the site non-derelict.
United News of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Torrent Power net profit surges 63 pc in FY 2024-25
Ahmedabad, May 14 (UNI) Torrent Power Ltd on Wednesday reported a 63 percent jump in its total comprehensive income (net profit) for the financial year 2024-25 at Rs 3,059 crore, as against Rs 1,882 crore in the previous year. The robust performance was attributed to increased contributions from its gas-based power plants and distribution businesses, lower tax outgo due to reversal of deferred tax liabilities of Rs 637 crore (a one-time, non-cash item), and gains from sale of non-current investments. However, the company's renewable segment saw reduced contribution owing to lower plant load factor (PLF) from adverse weather and partial commissioning of solar projects under stabilisation. Torrent Power's revenue from operations rose seven percent to Rs 29,165 crore in FY25, compared to Rs 27,183 crore in FY24. EBITDA grew 18 percent year-on-year to Rs 5,795 crore. For the fourth quarter, TCI jumped 142 percent to Rs 1,085 crore, even as revenue fell marginally by one per cent to Rs 6,456 crore. Despite increased capex and commissioning of additional renewable generation capacity, leading to higher finance and depreciation costs, the company maintained a strong financial position with a Net Debt\\\\\\\\:Equity ratio of 0.40 and Net Debt/EBITDA ratio of 1.41 as of March 31, 2025. Commenting on the results, Torrent Power Chairman Samir Mehta said, 'FY25 was a transformative year for the company, marked by significant advancements across operational, financial and strategic growth initiatives. Our successful Rs 3,500 crore equity raise via QIP — the first by the Torrent Group in over three decades — reinforces investor confidence in our future prospects.' He added that the company's gas-based plants performed well in the merchant market and under Section 11 mandates, and the distribution segment set new operational benchmarks with a record-low distribution loss of 2.34 percent in licensed areas. In Agra, AT\\\\\\\\&C losses fell sharply to 6.94 percent from 58.77 percent in 2010. Torrent Power has a strong pipeline, including over 3 GW of renewable projects and 3 GW of pump storage hydro capacity under development. The company also signed India's first Energy Storage Facility Agreement with MSEDCL for supplying 2,000 MW/16,000 MWh of Pumped Storage Hydro Power over 40 years. The Board has recommended a final dividend of Rs five per equity share, taking the total dividend for FY25 to Rs 19 per share, including an interim dividend of Rs 14. Torrent Power, part of the Rs 45,000 crore Torrent Group, is an integrated power utility with operations spanning generation, transmission and distribution. It has an installed generation capacity of 4,838 MWp and distributes around 31 billion units of power annually to over 4.21 million customers across multiple states and Union Territories. UNI BDN SS
