In its biggest fund-raising excercise, Adani Group is set to raise $2.5 billion (Rs 15,000 crore) from investors in India and abroad. Within a quarter, the group will raise $1 billion (Rs 6,000 crore) by selling new shares of Adani Enterprises, the groups flagship firm, and an additional $1.5 billion (Rs 9,000 crore) from banks abroad to fund various projects.

With a pro-business government taking charge at the Centre, Adani Group companies have seen an unprecedented boom in their stocks. Shares of Adani Enterprises have jumped 235 per cent since Narendra Modi was named the Bharatiya Janata Partys prime ministerial candidate in September 2013.

Of its $1.5-billion foreign loan, the group has already raised $500 million (Rs 3,000 crore) to refinance the loans it had taken to acquire a coal and port project in Australian. The group is raising funds for its $15.5-billion coal mining project in Australia, as well as its ports and power projects in India. Adani Group also needs funds for its Rs 5,500-crore takeover of Dhamra port from Larsen & Toubro and Tata Steel.

An email to Adani group did not elicit a response.

Insiders say the fund-raising will help Adani Enterprises and other group companies to expand operations. Analysts say the Modi governments first Budget is expected to provide a major boost to the infrastructure sector, which will help companies in this sector bag new projects. The group delivered a good performance for the quarter ended March. Adani Enterprises reported a fivefold in increase in consolidated profit at Rs 2,848 crore, primarily driven by the companys power business, which recorded additional revenue because of compensatory tariff for two projects. During the March quarter, contribution of the power business rose 200 per cent compared to the year-ago period; sales rose 40 per cent to Rs 16,171 crore.

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Adani in talks to raise $2.5 bn via QIP, foreign loans

Carmelo Anthony will inform the Knicks Monday that he is opting out of his contract and will become a free agent July 1, a league source said.

Monday is the deadline for Anthony to make this move, and it was hardly a secret that it was his plan all along to forego the remaining $23.3 million left on his deal.

The Knicks can pay Anthony more money than another team - five years at roughly $129 million. But the perennial All-Star has said he would be willing to take less if it helps give his team a better chance to contend.

He would have to take far less if he went to another team, and that is a strong possibility since the Knicks are in no position right now to compete for a title.

The Bulls appear to be the Knicks' stiffest competition for Anthony. But the Rockets and Heat also could put themselves in position to make a run at Anthony. And like Chicago they could be playing for a title immediately with the addition of Anthony.

The most another team can pay Anthony is four years at about $95 million. The Heat could only give him about $55 million, if everything breaks right for Miami.

Chicago, Houston and Miami all have to make moves to clear money to sign Anthony. The Bulls are attractive to Anthony because they have Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, a top coach in Tom Thibodeau and play in a major market.

Anthony is said to be torn on leaving the Knicks. He loves New York and forced a trade here in 2011. But he has said winning will be more important than money this off-season. Anthony is 30, has only been out of the first round of the playoff twice and missed the postseason this past season for the first time in his career.

Knicks president Phil Jackson had hoped Anthony would "opt in," see if he liked playing for new coach Derek Fisher and in the Triangle offense before becoming a free agent in 2015. That also would give the Knicks additional flexibility in 2015 when they're set to be well under the salary cap.

As of now, the Knicks plan to build through free agency the next two summers. Anthony may not be willing to wait at least a year to potentially play for a contender. If Anthony leaves altogether, the Knicks will be able to sign two marquee players next summer.

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Carmelo Anthony must tell Knicks tomorrow if he'll become free agent

This has been the yoga week, and stressed-out Mumbai honours the 5,000-year-old tradition by turning it into a part of its lifestyle.

"When one of the oldest yoga centres in the world The Yoga Institute started in 1918, there was a sense among yogis that their quest for spiritual bliss had no place in the business world," remembers Hansaben Yogendra the current director whose father-in-law Jayadev Yogendra started the institute.

She was speaking to DNA soon after a special session on World Yoga Day (June 21) with 100 senior police officers from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm. "This class was part of the global plan of similar classes in local time in each time zone, leading to a worldwide 24-hr yoga marathon."

Back in 1918, the teachers or yogis were far and few and they taught from their homes largely. "You weren't a real yogi if you were trying to make money off it," remarks Yogendra. "But now it's become a business. Mumbai has over 200 schools."

Today the world over several schools and styles have led to a mushrooming of Iyengar, Bikram, Anusara, Ashtanga, Laughter Yoga and Kathak Yoga classes. There are classes and schools geared toward the strictest aspirants of mind-body bliss, for the neophytes experimenting with ashtanga and kundalini styles, and for fitness junkies simply after a sublime "yoga butt". Hybrids, such as Spynga (yoga/cycling), Yogalates (yoga/pilates) and Yoganetics (yoga/kinetics), and other variations (naked yoga, anyone?) are now widely offered.

But while the industry has taken on a something-for-everyone mindset, some like yoga teacher for nearly two decades, Nilufer Patel says yoga's rapid expansion has diluted its foundational core: to achieve serenity in our bodies and minds, shut off from the burdens of daily life.

The 55-year-old who is known to be strict with her regimen and has had several celebrity clients says she refuses admission to more than she admits. "Yoga is not for people who come saying they want to fit into a particular dress or lose weight," she points out. "The weight loss will happen as a by-product but you can't come looking for that as a goal." While appreciating how fitness conscious people are becoming, she underlines, "Yoga is not excercise. It has ahimsa, satya all tied into it."

Echoing her, Tama Soble, co-owner of Esther Myers Yoga Studio, which opened in Toronto in 1979, says: "Hybrids like yoga-pilates might be interesting as a physical discipline, but if not focused on the concept of body and mind integration, I don't think its yoga."

What was once the mysterious practice of new age spiritualists and countercultural hipsters, yoga has moved out of the ashram and into the mainstream. Superstar gurus and high-profile celebrity practitioners have helped transform the 5,000-year-old Indian philosophy into a multi-million-dollar, transnational industry, which the Yoga Journal magazine says is worth $42 billion worldwide.This not only includes fees, but also includes yoga-gear like mats and outfits. For example, Lululemon, a Vancouver-based yoga-apparel brand, earns more than $1 billion worldwide annually.

Though some lament the fact that yoga has become more a sport than practice, others say yoga in any form still benefits the practitioner, and helps open one to its original aims: heightened awareness, focus, oneness with the outside world.

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Spynga, yogalates, yoga butt: whats your choice?

Amid speculation of a possible change of guard in Maharashtra following Congress-NCP's debacle in Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today said he was not aware of any such move.

"I have not been sounded out on this or called to Delhi in this connection," he told reporters, adding it is the Congress high command's prerogative to change Chief Ministers and he is ready to shoulder any responsibility given by the party.

"Until a decision is made, I will continue with my work," Chavan said.

Senior Congress leaders A K Antony and Ahmed Patel had yesterday met NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi where they were learnt to have discussed the possibility of a leadership change.

Chavan, however, pleaded ignorance about what transpired during yesterday's meeting.

He said NCP is a constituent of UPA and such meetings are part of "a routine excercise". He said he did not know if seat-sharing issues were discussed. According to reports, names of former Union Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, state ministers Bala Saheb Thorat and Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil are doing the rounds as successor to incumbent Prithviraj Chavan.

Former chief minister Ashok Chavan, who had to step down as CM over his alleged involvement in the Adarsh Housing Society scam, is also said to be one of the contenders for the top post. Chavan, a leader from influential Maratha community, is among the two Congress candidates who weathered the saffron wave in the Lok Sabha elections to emerge victorious.

Prithviraj Chavan, who has often been targeted for alleged delayed decision-making, even by alliance partner NCP, said he had taken the maximum number of decisions during his tenure as chief minister.

The 15-year-old alliance was routed in the Lok Sabha polls with NCP winning four and Congress two out of the state's total 48 seats.

A section in the ruling coalition is said to be in favour of replacing Prithviraj Chavan in a bid to reduce the impact of anti-incumbency factor that worked against it in the LS polls.

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Not sounded out on leadership change: Maha CM

Michael Simon/Startraksphoto

At a time when most women are overcome with exhaustion,Stacy Keibler is feeling better than ever in her third trimester.

And themom-to-be who is expecting a daughter in August credits it all to one thing: a healthy lifestyle.

I havent had one day where Ive been sick or tired, Keibler told PEOPLE at the Popchips 4th of July BBQ Happy Hour event on Tuesday in West Hollywood.

Ive had so much energy, but Im very conscious of making sure I work out every day and eating healthy, so I really, truly believe thats a big part of it.

To keep in check with only choosing the best for her body, Keibler, 34, readsover all ingredient labels if she cant pronounce them, she passes on the product.

I try to be as organic as possible, especially with food. I not only try to eat organic, but no preservatives, nothing artificial, she explains.

Luckily, since she hasnt had any surprising pregnancy cravings, she admits she hasnt had to bend the rules.

Instead, the actress and television host is focusing her attention on preparing for her daughters arrival. And with the nursery ready to go, theres only one thing left to dream about: baby girl clothes!

Its funny because I was actually withRebecca Minkoff, whos having a girl too and we were talking about cute little girl things, she says. I cant wait to get a little Rebecca Minkoff leather jacket!

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Why Does Stacy Keibler Believe She's Had a Great Pregnancy?

Pune, June 20: Amid speculation of a possible change of guard in Maharashtra following Congress-NCP's debacle in Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday said he was not aware of any such move.

"I have not been sounded out on this or called to Delhi in this connection," he told reporters, adding it is the Congress high command's prerogative to change Chief Ministers and he is ready to shoulder any responsibility given by the party.

"Until a decision is made, I will continue with my work," Chavan said.

Senior Congress leaders A K Antony and Ahmed Patel had yesterday met NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi where they were learnt to have discussed the possibility of a leadership change.

Chavan, however, pleaded ignorance about what transpired during yesterday's meeting. He said NCP is a constituent of UPA and such meetings are part of "a routine excercise".

He said he did not know if seat-sharing issues were discussed. According to reports, names of former Union Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, state ministers Bala Saheb Thorat and Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil are doing the rounds as successor to incumbent Prithviraj Chavan.

Former chief minister Ashok Chavan, who had to step down as CM over his alleged involvement in the Adarsh Housing Society scam, is also said to be one of the contenders for the top post. Chavan, a leader from influential Maratha community, is among the two Congress candidates who weathered the saffron wave in the Lok Sabha elections to emerge victorious.

Prithviraj Chavan, who has often been targeted for alleged delayed decision-making, even by alliance partner NCP, said he had taken the maximum number of decisions during his tenure as chief minister.

The 15-year-old alliance was routed in the Lok Sabha polls with NCP winning four and Congress two out of the state's total 48 seats.

A section in the ruling coalition is said to be in favour of replacing Prithviraj Chavan in a bid to reduce the impact of anti-incumbency factor that worked against it in the Lok Sabha polls. Assembly elections are due in Maharashtra in four months.

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Not sounded out on leadership change: Chavan

National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden

The White House just announced additional actions it will take in formal response to Uganda's draconian Anti-Homosexuality Act, which prescribes life in prison for many LGBT people, and lengthy jail terms for anyone who "conspires" to commit homosexuality, or supports, houses, or affirms an LGBT person.

Reuters first broke the news Thursday afternoon that the White House was planning to augment its initial reactions in March and April with additional steps. Shortly thereafter, National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden issued a statement outlining those actions.

"As President Obama has stated, the Government of Ugandas enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act runs counter to universal human rights and complicates our bilateral relationship," Hayden said in a written statement. "We announced in April a series of initial responses, and we have since considered how further to reinforce our support for human rights of all Ugandans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."

The new sanctions include the denial of entry into the United States for some Ugandan officials who are known violators of the human rights of LGBT people. Hayden also promised the U.S. would soon be cutting off or "redirecting" some foreign-aid funds to Uganda. Previously, "redirecting of funds" has meant taking specifically purposed money from governmental agencies and giving it to nongovernmental organizations with similar missions.

Specific sanctions the White House announced in a blog post today include revoking plans to have Uganda as the site for a new $3-million health institute in east Africa, cancellation of a major U.S. Deptartment of Defense avation excercise as part of its "AFRICOM" program, and loss of funding for Uganda's community policing initiative.

However, Hayden's statement did not outline individual Ugandan officials to whom visas would be denied, nor did it offer a list of Ugandan government programs that will be losing American funding. The White House blog noted that privacy agreemnts prevent the State Department from issuing a list of individuals who to be denied entry into the country under these new measures.

Today's announcement also fell short of addressing Secretary of State JohnKerry's promise to send "experts"from the U.S. to help Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni better understand the "science" of homosexuality. The Ugandan president said he decided to sign the draconinan legislation after being convinced by a three-page report compiled by lawmakers from the president's party who claimed to have "medical backgrounds" that homosexuality was not an innate trait, but a choice.

Nevertheless, LGBT organizations applauded the administration's announcement.

"This announcement sends a clear message that the United States will not tolerate foreign governments engaging in state-sponsored acts of homophobia and transphobia against their own people, said Ty Cobb, director of global engagement for the Human Rights Campaign.We must put all world leaders on notice that such efforts have no place in the 21st century, and there will be severe consequences for engaging in them. This creates an important precedent for leaders and governments considering implementing similar laws. It is important that the Administration continues to review our diplomatic relationship with Uganda, as well as with other nations such as Nigeria and Brunei, which have also taken disturbing steps backwards.

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U.S. Ratchets Up Response to Uganda Antigay Law