Ford may sign JV deal with Mahindra in India: Reports
Ford Motor Company and Mahindra & Mahindra may reportedly sign a deal next week to form a joint venture in India. Mahindra will own 51% of the new entity. Under the deal, Ford will transfer most of its automotive assets and employees to the new company. Ford’s two manufacturing plants in Chennai and Sanand will be moved to the JV.
New law needed for linking Aadhaar with social media: UIDAI
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has said that the government needs to enact a new law to link Aadhaar with citizens’ social media accounts. The current legislation only enables Aadhaar use for schemes and subsidies funded under the Consolidated Fund of India, UIDAI said. This came after the Supreme Court warned the government about the move’s privacy implications.
Gojek opens office in Gurgaon, aims to hire 100+ engineers
Gojek, one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing decacorns, has opened a product and development centre in Gurgaon. The startup recorded an annualized Gross Transaction Value of $9 billion as of 2018 and already has a 300-person operation in Bangalore. Gojek will look to hire 100+ engineers this year across its 20+ products, ranging from food delivery, hyper-local services and payments.
UNSC lets Hafiz Saeed withdraw money for ‘basic needs’ after Pak’s request
The United Nations Security Council has allowed 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed to use his bank account to withdraw money to help his family. This comes after Pakistan requested UNSC to let him withdraw money for what Islamabad described as “necessary basic living expenses”. Saeed’s bank accounts were earlier frozen by Pakistani government complying with UNSC resolution.
GSK recalls acidity drug Zinetac over cancer-causing substance
British drug-maker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals has voluntarily recalled several batches of its acidity medicine Zinetac. This comes as US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) is investigating potential cancer-causing impurity in Ranitidine-based drugs. Zinetac was India’s second-largest brand of acidity and heartburn medicine as of August 2019, according to AIOCD Awacs PharmaTrac.
Why make a film on 60-year-olds if you can’t cast aged actors? Soni
Actress Soni Razdan, while speaking about Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar being cast in ‘Saand Ki Aankh’, said, “I love both these actors but…why make a film on 60-year-olds if you can’t cast the real [aged actors]?” “I think it’s about authenticity,” she added. “All this talk of Bollywood breaking out of the stereotype is rubbish,” said Soni.
Who are we to dictate someone? Priyanka on Zaira quitting B’wood
Speaking about Zaira Wasim quitting Bollywood citing religion, Priyanka Chopra said, “It’s a personal choice. Who are we to dictate what someone should and shouldn’t do?” “She’s an amazing actor who has done incredible work. We will always wish her the best,” she added. “I’ve spoken to her many times, but not about her decision to quit films,” said Priyanka.
India criticises UK’s Labour Party for passing Kashmir resolution
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday criticised the UK’s opposition Labour Party for passing an emergency motion calling for international observers to “enter” Kashmir and demand the right of self-determination for Kashmiris. The MEA stated, “This is an attempt at pandering to vote-bank interests. There is no question of engaging with the Labour Party…on this issue.”
Truecaller accused of leaking 70 lakh Nigerian users’ private data
Swedish call-blocking app Truecaller has been accused of leaking private information of over 70 lakh Nigerian users and is now facing an investigation from Nigerian IT regulatory body NITDA. Truecaller allegedly violates global as well as Nigeria’s data protection laws, as per an initial investigation. Truecaller also allegedly reroutes all the customer data through Truecaller India.
US sues Tinder’s parent firm over ‘fake love interest ads’
US anti-trust agency FTC has sued dating platform Tinder’s parent company Match Group over allegations of using fake love interest email ads to trick customers into paying for ‘Match.com’ subscriptions until May 2018. Match’s own studies showed that nearly 5 lakh people signed up within a day of receiving one of these ads, as per FTC. Match challenged the allegations.
Paytm promotes Finance Senior VP Vikas Garg as Deputy CFO
Noida-based fintech giant Paytm has promoted its Senior Vice President of Finance Vikas Garg as the startup’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer. Garg had rejoined the startup as the Vice President of Finance in May 2014, after having earlier served as the DGM for Finance from 2008-2012. This comes weeks after Paytm promoted its CFO Madhur Deora as President.
Hyderabad’s Darwinbox raises $15 million led by Sequoia India
Hyderabad-based HR tech startup Darwinbox has raised $15 million in its Series B funding round led by Sequoia India. The round saw participation from existing investors Lightspeed India Partners, Endiya Partners and 3one4 Capital. Founded by Chaitanya Peddi, Jayant Paleti and Rohit Chennamaneni, Darwinbox operates a cloud-based HR management platform and has raised $19.7 million to date.
239 people from 19 countries have now visited space station: NASA
US space agency NASA has revealed that a total of 239 people from 19 countries have now visited the $100-billion space laboratory, International Space Station (ISS). The announcement came after the first astronaut from the United Arab Emirates, 35-year-old Hazzaa Ali Almansoori, reached the artificial satellite. Notably, no astronaut from India has yet flown to the space station.
CBI officer probing Rakesh Asthana case seeks voluntary retirement
CBI officer Satish Dagar, who was probing the corruption case against the agency’s former special director Rakesh Asthana, has applied for voluntary retirement. A CBI spokesperson said that he sought the retirement, citing personal grounds. Dagar, who had earlier probed cases against rape convict Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, was reportedly scheduled to retire two years from now.
Boman Kohinoor, co-owner of Britannia & Co restaurant, passes away at 97
Boman Rashid Kohinoor, co-owner of Iranian-Parsi restaurant Britannia & Co in Mumbai, passed away on Wednesday at the city’s Parsee General Hospital aged 97. He was suffering from cardiac issues, the hospital said. Boman had taken charge of the restaurant at a young age after his father, who set it up in 1923, died in an accident.
Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon attend Vogue Beauty Awards Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon were among the celebrities who attended the Vogue Beauty Awards on Wednesday. Alia wore a sequined silver dress by American designer Michael Costello and accessorised her look with heels and rings. Meanwhile, Kriti wore a pink floor-length thigh high-slit gown by Monisha Jaising and to accessorise her look, she chose a pair of diamond earrings.
