Telcos’ add 5.6 million active users in March; highest in 1 year Airtel added 2.8 million active users, taking its total active user base to 385.4 million, according to the data. Telecom service providers saw a surge in active subscribers in March, adding 5.6 million new users, the highest in a year, according to a data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

The mobile app, which has been pegged as a chat assistant, is built on the company’s own large language model that can assist people as a writing tool to generate content Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal’s Krutrim, India’s first AI unicorn platform, has launched its standalone android app and has opened up its cloud platform, Krutrim Cloud to enterprises, researchers, and developers. With this, Ola Krutrim will compete with Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services....

The central bank is also due to pay the government the annual dividend in May, which will further improve the government's cash position. The securities offered for buyback are 6.18% GS 2024, 9.15% GS 2024 and 6.89% GS 2025, maturing on November 4, November 14, and January 16, the central bank said....  

During a court session this week, it was revealed that the Indian company, Tesla Power India Pvt Ltd, continued to promote its products under the ‘Tesla Power’ brand despite receiving a cease-and-desist notice in April 2022, as reported on the court's website, the report added. Elon Musk's Tesla has filed a lawsuit against an Indian battery manufacturer for allegedly infringing on its trademark by using the name "Tesla Power" to market its products, on May 3. The lawsuit, heard in the Delhi …

The tenders included vanilla solar and wind, as well as innovative procurement formats, and tenders with storage components The Central Government narrowly missed its target of 50 GW for annual renewable energy tendering in 2023-24....

In recent years, India has become one of the handful of countries and regions where Apple has established new revenue benchmarks. After more than 15 years since the unveiling of the first iPhone, the device remains as the most coveted brand in personal technology in India. Apple has once again called India an exciting market for the company as it recorded yet another stellar quarter in the country. Without revealing numbers,...

UAE’s FAB meets RBI; BofA to run deal for Japanese lender; no local investor approached Within days of State Bank of India putting its 25 per cent stake in Yes Bank on the block, interest is visible from West Asia and Japan.....

Companies are utilising GCCs as a "sandbox environment" to develop PoCs that accelerate their digital journey by leveraging GenAI across relevant domains Multinationals are using their India global capability centres (GCCs) as proof-of-concept (PoC) hubs for generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications (apps) due to the availability of digital talent, ability to adapt to technological changes, and build scale..... More https://bit.ly/3UpF9Hv Via business-standard.com

One of the wealthiest Indians, Naoroji owns stakes across group companies that will form part of the now bifurcated Godrej Enterprises Group and Godrej Industries Group Reclusive Godrej billionaire Rishad Kaikhushru Naoroji has decided to gift most of his shares in group companies to nephews and nieces, an executive aware of the development said, in a rare instance of corporate India's super-rich leaving his wealth to relatives. Naoroji, 72, is a third-generation member of the Godrej business fa…

Google layoffs: Google has laid off around 200 employees from its core team, and the tech giant will now move some positions to India and Mexico. Alphabet Inc's subsidiary Google sacked around 200 employees from its “core team" and relocated some of the jobs overseas to cut costs as part of a restructuring process. At least 50 roles were eliminated from engineering team based at its headquarters in California....

Saudi Arabia’s fintech sector has made significant strides as it nears its goal to become a regional financial hub, according to a report by Arthur D. Little.   In its latest study titled “Realizing Potential of Fintech in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the international management consulting firm highlighted the rapid growth and innovation within the sector, spearheaded by initiatives such as Fintech Saudi.....

Key Rent a Car, a top player in Saudi Arabia's car rental market, has launched its Monthly Key Subscriptions Service, reshaping the Saudi Arabian car rental landscape. This service, now nationwide, offers a flexible, budget-friendly alternative, emphasizing convenience and aligning with contemporary demands for flexibility and value.                 “We understand modern drivers crave options, value, and seamless experiences," said a spokesman at Key Car Rental. "Our Monthl…

The award recognizes stc Group as the leading telecommunications company spearheading digital transformation and enhancing connectivity in the Middle East. Economy Middle East awarded stc Group the "Telecom & Digital Service Provider of the Year" at its 2024 summit. Held in Abu Dhabi on 1 May, Economy Middle East brings together a number of Ministers and industry experts from across the private and public sectors under the theme "Accelerating Future Growth". The program focuses on addressing the…

Fitch Ratings upgraded Egypt's outlook to positive from stable on Friday, while affirming its rating at 'B-,' citing reduced external financing risks and a boost in foreign direct investment (FDI).   Positive outlook The rating agency revised Egypt's outlook on Long-Term Foreign-Currency (LTFC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to positive from stable and affirmed the IDR at B-.....

The Sharjah Petroleum Council (SPC), a Government of Sharjah undertaking, has announced the discovery of new gas reserves in Al Hadiba field, located north of the Al Sajaa Industrial Area in Sharjah, in promising economically viable quantities. The new field was discovered after the Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) drilled a well over the past few months, and the well will be tested in the days ahead to confirm the quantities and potential gas reserves of the field for development. It is …

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has highlighted that its Smart Response service, accessible on its website and smart app, enables customers to self-diagnose electricity and water interruptions. It also streamlines the reporting process, reducing the time needed if a technical team visit is required. In the event of a power outage in a home or building, DEWA advises customers to identify the affected areas and check the internal distribution board. If a circuit breaker is disconnecte…

The volume of minerals and goods transported by Saudi Arabia Railways reached 6.34 million tonnes during the first quarter of 2024, an annual increase of 9 percent.    According to its quarterly report, SAR stated that over 2.7 million passengers utilized its services, marking a 23 percent growth compared to same period last year......

Coffee is one symbol of Saudis’ noble values like generosity and hospitality, an essential part of any meeting or gathering.Abdulaziz Al-Zamili, passionate by heritage, told Saudi Press Agency's reporter that coffee has cultural and historical connotations, and has become integral part of Saudis’ identity. People in the Tabuk area, he said, usually use dark roasted coffee beans that are left to cool for a short time and grinded before brewing for 10 minutes. Cardamom, saffron and cloves are …

Fruit and vegetable markets in Al-Ahsa Governorate are painted red with the arrival of the mulberry season.Mulberries, these small, red and black fruits pyramidal in shape, are highly sought after in the region.Prized for their visual appeal and delightful taste, mulberry trees are a staple in many Al-Ahsa households. These berries, along with a multitude of other fruits and vegetables, contribute to the region's renowned food basket. The berries' production cycle is brief, lasting only about a …

6 - 9 May 2024 Dubai World Trade Centre Over the last three decades Arabian Travel Market has become a leading global event enabling growth for the travel and tourism industry. In a world where travel transcends boundaries and business opportunities await, there is a place where global travel and tourism visionaries unite. A platform where leisure blends seamlessly with business, MICE & luxury travel and global leaders come to feel the future.  One event encompasses it all… Welcome to Arabian…

Tourism Malaysia and the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) (30.04.24), marking a significant step in a three-year partnership. This MoU signifies the commitment from both parties to reinforce Malaysia as the gateway to Asia and beyond and position Malaysia as a preferred tourist destination in the global economy. The MoU was signed between Tourism Malaysia's Deputy Director-General (Promotion II), Mr. Lee Tai Hung, and the Chief Comme…

The governments of the Philippines and Cambodia have concluded the double taxation agreement (DTA) in a bid to improve trade and investment system mechanisms. In a statement, the Department of Finance (DOF) said it led the conclusion of the draft DTA that aims to protect Filipinos’ taxing rights and increase trade and investment across economic borders....

Việt Nam has been applying itself to making institutional, infrastructure, and manpower improvements in efforts to attract more foreign investment, especially in such big industries as electronics and semiconductor, said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Đỗ Thanh Trung. He made the remark at the Government’s regular press conference on May 4 in response to the media’s question about some large foreign businesses’ interest in the Vietnamese market....

South Korea has become the fourth member of the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (Depa) founded by Singapore, New Zealand and Chile. Depa, which came into effect in January 2021, establishes key rules on digital trade and economic collaborations on issues such as digital identities, cross-border data flows and artificial intelligence to help businesses, especially smaller ones, engage in digital trade and electronic commerce.....

Ninety-eight per cent of respondents in Malaysia have expressed that having a sense of purpose in their work is important to them. However, only 27 per cent feel very satisfied in their current roles of meaning at work, according to a survey by Job_that_makesense Asia and global recruitment agency Manpower....

Digital transformation is considered a “key” to help Vietnamese garment and textile enterprises expand while meeting sustainable development, heard a recent conference held in Ho Cho Minh City. Entitled “Superior Choice of Vietnam's Textile and Garment Enterprises for Sustainable Development”, the conference was held as part of the SaigonTex and SaigonFabric 2024 exhibition organised by the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS).....

Retail sales in Singapore rose for the third month in a row, lifted by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour performances in March, but there is concern that the trend could weaken in the coming months. Takings at the till increased 2.7 per cent in March from the year-ago period, slowing from a revised 8.6 per cent gain in February, data from the Department of Statistics showed on May 3.....

The Philippines has a huge potential to be a bigger player in the global horticulture market, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Friday, noting that the government will ramp up efforts to increase production. Laurel said he sees a promising future for Philippine exports, especially among those with “green thumbs” or have the natural abilities to grow plants. He said the Philippines can also supply plants landscaping. "Ang sabi sakin kanina for landscapi…

Indonesian furniture exporters are setting their sights on capturing 1 percent of the market share, following a significant decline in exports last year. Global furniture sales are estimated to have reached $729 billion last year, with a projected increase to $766 billion this year.....

Damage from online fraud tallied 110 million baht per day in April, down 26% from 149 million baht per day in March, thanks to concerted efforts by authorities to crack down. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on April 1 assigned related organisations to provide concrete results of a crackdown on rampant online fraud within 30 days.... https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2786014/online-fraud-crackdown-making-headway.