The second phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be held on Friday, April 26. This phase will see voting in 89 constituencies in 13 states and Union territories (UT).     All 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerela will go to polls on Friday, concluding voting in the state....   More https://bit.ly/4dcibfA Via business-standard.com

The aggressive pricing would place JioCinema in a stronger footing to compete with Netflix and Amazon after an agreement with Disney to merge India TV and streaming assets. Mukesh Ambani's JioCinema is offering Hollywood movies and TV shows for as little as one rupee a day in a move that could disrupt India's 1 billion-plus streaming market......

- Automotive clients account for up to 35% of IT services' manufacturing clients - India's top IT firms thus clearly draw meaningful revenue from carmakers around the world - With the advent of electric and tech-laden cars, IT's reliance on automotive revenue is now rising Auto companies may yet smoothen the bumps for Indian IT services in FY24, a year that has so far been one of the worst in the $253-billion industry's history.  The country's top IT companies are seeing way faster growth from …

70 per cent of companies have AI projects up and running or in motion India heads the pack as an AI leader, with 70 per cent of companies having AI projects up and running, or in motion. This is in stark contrast with the global average of 49 per cent, according to a report by NetApp.....

The central bank had turned down the firm's application citing complex corporate structure post which PayU had to pause onboarding new merchants for its online payment aggregation business. Prosus-backed PayU Payments has received Reserve Bank of India's in-principle approval to operate as a payment aggregator and onboard new merchants onto its platform. The clearance comes after year-long wait. The central bank had turned down the firm's application citing complex corporate structure post which…

Zilingo's ex-CEO Ankiti Bose accuses co-founders Dhruv Kapoor and ex-COO Aadi Vaidya of misleading her and investors, coercing her to relinquish shares and business, and engaging in financial misconduct. Ankiti Bose, co-founder of and ex-CEO of fashion e-commerce startup Zilingo has reportedly filed a criminal complaint against fellow co-founder Dhruv Kapoor and ex-COO Aadi Vaidya, pressing charges of 'cheating', 'criminal intimidation', 'conspiracy', and 'harassment'......

One in five 3Ws sold globally was electric, and about 60 per cent of those were sold in India India surpassed China to become the largest market for electric three-wheelers in 2023, thanks to government financial incentives and resulting reductions in the cost of ownership of electric three-wheelers (3Ws), according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA)....

RIL share price target: Motilal Oswal ascribed an equity valuation of Rs 810 per share to RJio and Rs 1,593 per share to Reliance Retail and Rs 37 per share towards the new energy business. It suggested a target price of Rs 3,245 on RIL. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) reported largely inline March quarter results, with a beat on Ebitda. Among segments, Retail Ebitda was a miss on lower revenue, but it was offset by better O2C on higher utilisation and improved refining. Jio and Upstream numbers …

Indian frequent travellers to benefit from the multi-year visa The EU has eased Schengen visa rules for Indians allowing frequent travellers multi-entry visa for a period up to five years.   “The EU takes another step towards enhancing people-to-people contact with India. New Schengen visa regime gives Indian frequent travellers access to multi-year visa (up to 5 years.) Europe delivers on the partnership,” said Herve Delphin, EU Ambassador to India, in a social media post on X. ....

The firstever Hindi radio broadcast has started in Kuwait, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said  The Indian Embassy in Kuwait noted that this step taken will further strengthen the ties between the two nations. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait stated, "Start of first ever Hindi Radio broadcast in Kuwait! Embassy of India expresses appreciation to @MOInformation for starting a Hindi programme on Kuwait Radio on FM 93.3 and AM 96.3 on every Sunday (8.30-9 pm) starting 21 April 2024, a st…

Marriott International, Inc. announced it has signed an agreement with NEOM to open its second Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Saudi Arabia. Anticipated to open in Trojena, a year-round mountain destination located in the northwest region of the country, the property will offer a complete escape into a private world of luxury. Designed for the most discerning travelers seeking a bespoke experience, Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties are tucked away in handpicked corners of the world. Highly personalized s…

The Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), represented by its Academy, organized a training program that aims to develop the capabilities of 25 leaders from the Ministry of Media and its affiliate media entities, including the Saudi Broadcasting Authority, Saudi Press Agency, and General Commission for Audiovisual Media on the uses of data and AI technologies according to the best international practices. The program is part of a series of programs organized in various stages to accommodate differen…

On Thursday 18 April, at around 7pm, the first ball was bowled to start an international women’s cricket match between Ireland and Thailand at The Sevens Stadium. It was the first match played at the stadium after it successfully reopened just two days after heavy rains caused major flooding across its pitches, and high winds damaged other areas across its facilities.  Prioritising the resumption of sporting activities to support local communities, the team at the Sevens Stadium, along with …

DMCC successfully concluded its first Made for Trade Live roadshow in Japan, which focused on Web3, gaming and AI to further complement the thriving tech ecosystem within DMCC. The event in Tokyo builds on the growing bilateral trade and investment relations between the UAE and Japan. DMCC is home to 83 Japanese companies, constituting over 24% of Japanese firms that are set up in the country, and sees further opportunities for Japanese businesses to accelerate their growth through Dubai. The ev…

DP World and Malaysia’s Sabah Ports Sdn. Bhd today established a partnership to manage Sapangar Bay Container Port (SBCP) to cement SBCP’s position as the premier regional trade hub for the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)1. Sabah Ports Sdn. Bhd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian public listed investment holding company, Suria Capital Holdings Bhd. The agreement was signed by Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP Wo…

The Labour Fund, Tamkeen, has announced its support for the establishment of PwC Middle East’s Regional Service Delivery Centre in Bahrain, which will provide advisory and operational services across sectors. This initiative aligns with the goals of Tamkeen’s National Employment Program and aims to offer up to 250 employment opportunities for Bahraini nationals, enhancing local economic contributions.  The initiative strengthens Bahrain’s position from which local and international insti…

Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm, and China Investment Corporation (“CIC”), one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, have today announced the launch of “Investcorp Golden Horizon” to invest in high-growth companies across Saudi Arabia, the rest of the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (the “GCC”) and China (the “Platform”). The Platform has a target size of USD 1 billion and will be anchored by reputable institutional and private invest…

Saudi Arabia is the fastest-growing information technology market in the Middle East, Turkey, and the African region, with double-digit growth in technology spending, according to analysts. Jyoti Lalchandani, regional managing director of research firm IDC, said wider information and communication technology market spending is expected to reach $37.5 billion by the end of 2024.....

Saudi Arabia is gearing up to expand its hospitality sector by developing 320,000 new hotel rooms by 2030, according to an analysis by global property giant Knight Frank.     The consultancy’s study disclosed that as much as 67 percent of the planned hotel room supply in the Kingdom would fall in the “upscale” or “luxury” categories, referring to 4-star and 5-star accommodations, respectively..... 

The first shipment of Jazan mangoes, weighing 24 tons, was sent yesterday to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan through the Cooperative Society for Agricultural Marketing (Alrowia), in accordance with the agreement concluded with the Jordanian side several months ago, which entails exporting produce from the Jazan region, including mangoes, papayas, and watermelons. Alrowia, in partnership with Jazan Development and Investment Company (JAZADCO), ensures that the mangoes are cleaned, sterilized, and…

Hotel operators anticipate high expenses from power bills, food prices and labour wages as the low season arrives amid scorching temperatures. Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said during the hot season, electricity expenses could rise to 20% of total costs, compared with 10% in the cool season.... https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2781724/rising-expenses-add-to-hotels-woes

DP World and Malaysia’s Sabah Ports Sdn. Bhd today established a partnership to manage Sapangar Bay Container Port (SBCP) to cement SBCP’s position as the premier regional trade hub for the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)1. Sabah Ports Sdn. Bhd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian public listed investment holding company, Suria Capital Holdings Bhd. The agreement was signed by Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP Wo…

Southeast Asian casino investor Donaco International Ltd reported group-wide revenue of AU$12.7 million (US$8.3 million) in the three months to 31 March 2024, representing a 30.1% increase over the December quarter on improved business volumes at its Cambodian and Vietnamese casinos.....

Following a challenging 2023, local businesses have returned upbeat results from the first quarter (Q1) of this year, heralding rosier prospects for the rest of 2024. Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading JSC (TCM), a large exporter based in Ho Chi Minh City, revealed that the company saw an estimated $39 million in revenue and $2.5 million in profit in Q1, up 6 per cent and 9 per cent respectively, on-year.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Buskowitz Solar Inc., a subsidiary of Buskowitz Energy Inc. signed a $12 million (equivalent to 675 million Philippine pesos) deal to support clean and affordable solar energy for commercial and industrial consumers in the Philippines. The project will generate 88 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually and reduce 54,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. The financing will support the development, construction, and operation of multiple solar…

The recently announced guidelines on flexible work arrangements have prompted Singapore-based companies to rethink their workplace policies. Many local employers, including those with flexible work arrangements already in place, see the potential for increased productivity and employee satisfaction, but smaller firms appear less convinced.....

MANILA moved up five spots in the latest ranking of financial centers based on their green finance performance, according to London-based think tank Z/Yen Group. In the 13th edition of the Global Green Finance Index (GGFI), Manila ranked 69th out of 96 financial centers. This was better than its 74th ranking in the previous edition...... More https://bit.ly/3Ubz9lG Via bworldonline.com

Zilingo's ex-CEO Ankiti Bose accuses co-founders Dhruv Kapoor and ex-COO Aadi Vaidya of misleading her and investors, coercing her to relinquish shares and business, and engaging in financial misconduct. Ankiti Bose, co-founder of and ex-CEO of fashion e-commerce startup Zilingo has reportedly filed a criminal complaint against fellow co-founder Dhruv Kapoor and ex-COO Aadi Vaidya, pressing charges of 'cheating', 'criminal intimidation', 'conspiracy', and 'harassment'......

PLANS are afoot to help more Singapore food and beverage (F&B) businesses expand overseas. Food exports have grown at a rate of more than 11 per cent each year since 2020, and they can be found in more than 120 markets worldwide, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling, citing figures from Singapore Economic Development Board’s Manufacturing Survey in 2023......

Sales of motor vehicles in the country rose by 12.7 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, supported by strong consumer demand and improved supply. A joint report released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association yesterday showed a total of 109,606 vehicles were sold in the January to March period this year, higher than the 97,284 units during the same period in 2023....