Author: Harleen Valechani

Zomato removes an objectionable World Environment Day commercial with a Dalit person but is criticized for discrimination and receives boycott calls.  On World Environment Day, Zomato launched an advertisement campaign to encourage hygiene and the recycling of plastic debris. In the 2001 Bollywood film Lagaan, actor Aditya Lakhia played a Dalit character named Kachra. This character appeared in a Zomato commercial that featured recycled materials drawing a connection between his character and the Hindi word for garbage (kachra).  The 2 min ad Aditya Lakhia, who portrayed the role in the 2001 movie, nominated for Oscars, is represented as a lamp,…

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that it would establish a legal framework to allow (DLG) default loss guarantee agreements for digital lending. The First Loss Default Guarantee (FLDG) framework has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The RBI announced this on Thursday during the second bi-monthly monetary policy meeting. The FLDG scheme enables fintechs to collaborate with NBFCs and banks. The decision is seen favorably by data-tech NBFCs and fintech companies. Moreover, the decision will enhance the ecosystem for digital financing.  A service like this has received formal approval from the banking authority for the…

Former governor of New Jersey and former Trump’s aide talks on his recently announced presidential bid and why he is now against Trump for the GOP race. Chris Christie, a former governor of New Jersey, officially announced his bid for the presidency in 2024, joining a rising Republican field headed by the late President Donald Trump, setting up a rematch and expanding the field of G.O.P. contenders. Christie assisted Trump’s successful 2016 campaign as an adviser after getting defeated, but since then, he has criticized him for making unfounded accusations about the 2020 elections.  Chris Christie, 60, with his second…

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, Sequoia is to divide into three independent entities making India-Southeast Asia and China businesses distinct with separate brands by March 31, 2024. One of Silicon Valley’s most well-known venture capital firms, Sequoia Capital, is dissolving and splitting off its Chinese division into a separate company when tensions between China and the United States over trade and access to cutting-edge technologies are escalating. The company revealed its plans to separate into three independent firms on Tuesday. The company’s operations in China and India will adopt new logos and name as Peak XV Partners in India-Southeast Asia, and…

The US Securities and Exchange Commission claimed in a lawsuit filed in a US federal court that the company violated regulations by mismanaging funds and lying to regulators.  The primary regulator on Wall Street reportedly charged Binance Holdings Ltd., the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao violating US securities laws, which marked a significant uptick in the cryptocurrency exchange’s legal problems. All Cryptocurrencies plunged after the US SEC charged Binance Holdings Ltd. for violating the rules enacted for investor protection by running unregistered trade, providing false information about trading controls, and selling unlisted securities, among other offenses. …

The fighter planes from Joint Base Andrews were ordered to intercept a private airplane above Virginia, creating a sonic boom that resonated throughout the region. The US authorities were following an airplane flying over Virginia when the F-16 jet fighters were ordered to impede it as it was violating the airspace in Washington DC, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command officials. The F-16s were rushing to catch up to the Cessna Citation, and the jet fighters created a sonic boom over the US capital. At the same time, Cessna aircraft crashed into rocky terrain in southwest Virginia, announced by…

Luke Hobbs will return for a new “Fast & Furious” stand-alone movie, announced Dwayne Johnson, who has resolved his long-standing dispute with Vin Diesel. The Fast and Furious franchise will once again feature Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. After settling his long-running beef with Vin Diesel, the 51-year-old actor has confirmed that he will play Luke Hobbs once more. So I’m 100% confirming to you guys around the world that yes, it is true, the actor turned former wrestler wrote on Twitter. Hobbs is back. In the Fast and Furious series, Hobbs is back. On the set of Fate of the…

 Investors have indicted Musk for driving up the price of Dogecoin by more than 36,000% over two years.  The CEO of Tesla Inc., Elon Musk, is facing accusations of insider trading from investors who filed a class action lawsuit against the company, claiming that he manipulated the cryptocurrency Dogecoin and cost them billions of dollars.  The case, which was initially filed in June 2022 and requested class-action status, has undergone three amendments since then. Image Source: The Economist Latest Accusations on Elon Musk Investors testified before a federal court in Manhattan that Elon Musk used Twitter posts, paid online influencers,…

Recep Tayyip Erodgan won the runoff election with 52.1% votes, while his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu secured 47.9%. Recep Tayyip Erodgan is the country’s longest-serving leader who will continue his government into 3rd decade by being the President for the 5th time as per the Turkey election results. Erdogan has maintained the support of conservative voters who are still committed to him for elevating Islam’s profile in the Turkiye, which was established on secular principles, and for expanding the nation’s role in international politics. Erdogan, 69, has exhibited tenacity in the past and transformed his office into Turkey’s center of power.…

CEO Akshaya Moondra says funding talks are going on rapidly with funding sources, and promoters are willing to dilute more equity. Image Source: The NFA Post Vodafone Idea, India’s only private lossmaking telecom, is still in discussions with banks and other potential finance sources, according to VI’s CEO Akshaya Moondra on Friday. Moondra stated on a post-result analyst call that the company’s promoters were also prepared to provide further equity. Less than two years after quitting the board as additional director, former chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla returned in April, showing a positive sign for the telecom. Following the government’s equity…