India’s first cloud kitchen fund launches with $3 mn corpus
Restaurateur Karan Tanna has launched Ghost Kitchens, which claims to be India’s first investment and incubation firm for startups in the cloud kitchen segment. Ghost Kitchens, with an initial investment corpus of $3 million for 15 brands in the first tranche, will incubate and invest in startups focussed only on home delivery. Presently, it’s investing in two cloud kitchen companies.
UPI crosses 1 billion transactions for the first time in Oct
The number of transactions via the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) crossed the one billion mark in October for the first time since its launch in 2016. Around 1.15 billion transactions worth ₹1.91 lakh crore were made in October, compared to 960 million transactions worth ₹1.46 lakh crore in September. As per RBI, UPI transactions overtook debit card transactions in 2018-19.
Twitter CEO Dorsey invests in cryptocurrency startup CoinList
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who recently said he would never be involved with Facebook’s digital coin Libra, has invested in cryptocurrency startup CoinList’s $10 million fundraising round, alongside other investors. Founded in 2017, US-based CoinList lets startups raise money through token sales. CoinList said it will use the capital towards developing its new exchange platform and a crypto wallet.
I don’t think Scorsese has seen a Marvel film: Disney CEO on his remark
After filmmaker Martin Scorsese said that Marvel films are not cinema, Disney CEO Bob Iger said, “First of all, Marvel’s making movies. They’re movies.” “That’s what Martin Scorsese makes. And they’re good movies,” he added. “I don’t think he’s ever seen a Marvel film. Anyone who’s seen a Marvel film couldn’t in all truth make that statement,” Bob further said.
Cinema today is much more women-centric: Tara Sutaria
Tara Sutaria, who starred opposite Tiger Shroff in ‘Student of the Year 2’, has said today’s cinema is much more women-centric and added, “There’s…much more for us to do on celluloid.” “But there’s…magic that…actresses of…’80s and ’90s had,” she added. “Sridevi Ji in ‘Mr India’, the sensual Zeenat Aman…those iconic women will always have their own place,” Tara further said.
You make India proud: Rishi on Burj Khalifa being lit up with SRK’s name
After Dubai’s Burj Khalifa was lit up with Shah Rukh Khan’s name on his 54th birthday, actor Rishi Kapoor wrote on Twitter, “For me, this is…wonderful.” “Shah Rukh in his early years started his career with me in ‘Deewana’. And now to see him at his pinnacle is so joyous and commendable. You make India proud, Shah Rukh,” he added.
Saudi approves Aramco IPO, prospectus likely to be released on Nov 10
More than three years after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman first raised the idea, the Capital Market Authority approved Aramco’s IPO, according to a statement. Aramco will release the prospectus for its planned IPO on November 10, Saudi news channel Al Arabiya said, citing sources. The approval will be valid for six months.
23-yr-old Hyd girl falls from bike due to bad road; bus runs over her head
A 23-year-old college student, who was on her way to write the Railway Recruitment Board exam, was killed near Hyderabad’s Nalgonda crossroads on Saturday. She was riding pillion with her brother on a motorcycle when he attempted to overtake a bus but loose gravel on road caused them to skid. She died after her head came under the bus tyres.
9-foot-long python found at Taj Mahal’s parking lot, rescued
A 9-foot-long Indian Rock Python entered into a parking lot of the Taj Mahal on Saturday. The reptile was spotted by construction workers who said they narrowly missed stepping on it. The police contacted the NGO Wildlife SOS for the python’s rescue. The rescue team guided the python into a transport carrier and released into a suitable habitat after examination.
ICC bans England keeper from wearing eco-friendly gloves due to colour
The ICC has banned England T20I vice-captain and wicketkeeper Sam Billings from using his recycled and eco-friendly gloves as they’ve “a wide range of colours”. According to rules, over 50% of batting gloves worn in limited-overs match “must be white, or of the same colour as the base colour of the team’s playing shirt”. England’s T20I jersey is primarily red.
Indian men’s hockey team defeat Russia to qualify for 2020 Olympics
The Indian men’s hockey team qualified for the 2020 Olympics after beating Russia 11-3 on aggregate at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Indian men’s hockey team, which is ranked fifth, qualified for their 20th Olympics, in which they have won eight gold medals, one silver and two bronzes. Indian women’s hockey team has also qualified for the Olympics.
DiCaprio meets 16-yr-old activist Greta, calls her ‘leader of our time’
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has shared pictures with 16-year-old environment activist Greta Thunberg and wrote that she has become a “leader of our time”. “It’s because of Greta, and young activists everywhere that I’m optimistic about what the future holds,” he added. Greta led a rally on climate change on Friday in US, which was attended by more than 1,000 people.
Schools in Gautam Buddha Nagar shut till Nov 5 due to air pollution
All schools in Gautam Buddha Nagar including in Noida were ordered to be shut on November 4 and 5 by District Magistrate BN Singh, following deteriorating air quality. This comes two days after the Delhi government announced school holiday till November 5 in the capital following the declaration of public health emergency in the Delhi-NCR region.
China to ban sale of e-cigarettes online
China has asked online shopping firms to ban the sale and advertising of e-cigarettes, citing health concerns for minors. China’s e-cigarette market size rose from $451 million in 2016 to $718 million in 2018, as per consulting firm L.E.K. Consulting. In September, China removed e-cigarette company JUUL’s products from two Chinese e-commerce sites, days after they became available.
Serbia’s Sara Damnjanovic crowned Miss Asia Global 2019
Sara Damnjanovic from Serbia was crowned ‘Miss Asia Global 2019’ at the international beauty contest held in Kerala. Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Yen Trang was crowned ‘Miss Asia’, while Samiksha Singh from India won the sub-title of ‘Miss Beautiful Face’. Asia Global is one of the three beauty pageant contests in India which doesn’t have a bikini and other similar rounds.
ISIS claims Mali attack that killed 53 soldiers, 1 civilian
Islamic State (ISIS) on Saturday claimed responsibility for the attack in Mali that killed 53 soldiers and 1 civilian via its Amaq news agency on Saturday. Reinforcements sent to the post after the attack found 10 survivors and “significant material damage”, Malian government spokesman Yaya Sangare tweeted on Saturday. “They (attackers) retreated toward Niger,” he added
Irresponsible media reporting worsened situation: CJI on NRC
Speaking on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise conducted in Assam, CJI Ranjan Gogoi on Sunday blamed irresponsible reporting by a few media outlets, which “worsened the situation”. “There was an urgent need to ascertain…the number of illegal migrants…nothing more nothing less,” he added. NRC is a base document for future, not a document of the moment, Gogoi said.
Asia must quit ‘coal addiction’: UN chief
Speaking to reporters ahead of ASEAN meeting in Bangkok, UN chief Antonio Guterres said, “There is an addiction to coal that we need to overcome because it remains a major threat in relation to climate change.” Guterres said countries in the region need to be on “the front line” of the fight by introducing carbon pricing and reforming energy policies.
Facebook won’t fact-check ads by UK election candidates
Facebook has said that it won’t fact-check candidates’ ads ahead of the UK elections on December 12. However, facts from other groups like pro-Brexit group ‘Leave.EU’ will be checked. The announcement comes amid Facebook removing several political ads placed by the UK government that were targeted at voters in areas identified as being key for PM Boris Johnson.
German couple kicked off cruise for having sex too loudly with door open
A German couple was kicked off a TUI Caribbean cruise on the first day for having sex too loudly with the cabin door open. The couple said they will launch a legal action against the company after claiming that they were stranded on the island with no suitcases. The company said it took the action to protect other fellow travellers.
20,729 cases of stubble burning reported in Punjab till November 1 The Punjab Chief Minister’s Office has said that as many as 20,729 cases of stubble burning have been reported in the state till November 1, with action being initiated against 2,923 farmers. The air quality index (AQI) in several parts of Delhi reached 1,000 today, with schools being shut in Noida and Delhi due to pollution till November 5.
