News for 'Dado'

Sebi ban not a problem: Zee's Goenka to staff

Sebi ban not a problem: Zee's Goenka to staff

Rediff.com17 Jul 2023

The merger of ZEE Entertainment and Sony has reached an advanced stage of completion, and the issues faced by promoters with Sebi should not become a problem for the company, debarred ZEEL MD Punit Goenka has said in a letter to employees, according to sources. Goenka, who along with his father Subhas Chandra, was denied any interim relief against a Sebi order that barred them from holding the position of director or key managerial post in any listed company, in the letter ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) staff asserted that the merger of Culver Max (earlier known as Sony Pictures Networks India) is at a very important juncture. With the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) restricting him from holding a directorial or key managerial position in a listed company, Goenka told the employees that the ZEEL board has constituted an interim committee of senior executives to ensure smooth operations and day-to-day functioning.

Will Disney Exit India?

Will Disney Exit India?

Rediff.com5 Aug 2023

Disney Star India, bought at a valuation of $15 billion, could be on the block for roughly one-third that amount.

PE/VC investments nearly halve in Feb 2023

PE/VC investments nearly halve in Feb 2023

Rediff.com20 Mar 2023

Investments by private equity and venture capital funds declined by 44 per cent to $3.7 billion in February compared to the same period a year ago, a report said on Monday. The bets by the long-term investors were 13 per cent lower when compared to the investments in the preceding month of January, the report by industry lobby Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association and consultancy firm EY, said. "...rising global recession concerns, increasing cost of capital and mismatch in valuation expectations between sellers and investors are turning out to be major impediments in the deployment of capital," EY's partner Vivek Soni said.

Third round of layoffs: Meta's senior India executives get pink slips

Third round of layoffs: Meta's senior India executives get pink slips

Rediff.com27 May 2023

With the third and final round of layoffs implemented by Facebook's parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in process globally, India, too, has seen its impact, with some senior executives being asked to leave. Some of the executives to have been impacted are Avinash Pant, India's director of marketing; Saket Jha Sourabh, director and head of media partnerships; and Amrita Mukherjee, one of the directors on the legal team. An email sent to the company did not elicit any comment on the development until the time of going to press.

WhatsApp bans over 4.5mn accounts in India in Feb

WhatsApp bans over 4.5mn accounts in India in Feb

Rediff.com1 Apr 2023

WhatsApp had banned 2.9 million accounts in January, 3.6 million accounts in December and 3.7 million accounts in November.

Will shut down Facebook ops if you don't cooperate in probe, warns HC

Will shut down Facebook ops if you don't cooperate in probe, warns HC

Rediff.com15 Jun 2023

The high court of Karnataka has orally warned Facebook (Meta) that it may order its operations in India to be shut down if it does not cooperate with police investigation over a fake profile.

Tribunal directs Google to pay 10% of Rs 1,337.76 cr CCI penalty

Tribunal directs Google to pay 10% of Rs 1,337.76 cr CCI penalty

Rediff.com4 Jan 2023

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on Wednesday directed Google to pay 10 per cent of the Rs 1,337.76-crore penalty imposed on the tech giant by fair trade regulator CCI. A two-member bench, however, declined to grant any immediate stay the operations of Competition Commission of India (CCI) penalty and said it would pass any order after hearing out other parties. The appellate tribunal has issued notices to CCI and directed to list the matter on February 13, for hearing over interim stay.

Sony likely to seek forensic audit of Zee Entertainment, say lawyers

Sony likely to seek forensic audit of Zee Entertainment, say lawyers

Rediff.com14 Jun 2023

Japan's Sony Corporation, which is merging its Indian television content company with Zee Entertainment Enterprises, is likely to seek a fresh forensic audit of the company after market regulator Sebi levelled fund diversion charges against Zee promoters, top lawyers said. The Sebi also barred Zee founder Subhash Chandra and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Puneet Goenka from holding any position as director. "As the Sebi has made fund diversion charges, which may change the nature of audited reports already filed, the acquirer (Sony) can seek a fresh forensic audit," said H P Ranina, a corporate lawyer.

Forex kitty grows for 2nd consecutive week; rises $2.54 bn to $547.25 bn

Forex kitty grows for 2nd consecutive week; rises $2.54 bn to $547.25 bn

Rediff.com25 Nov 2022

In the second consecutive week of an increase in the kitty, India's forex reserves have grown by $2.54 billion to $547.25 billion for the week ended November 18, the RBI said on Friday. In the previous reporting week, the overall kitty had swelled by $14.72 billion in the highest weekly rise since August 2021 to $544.71 billion. It can be noted that in October 2021, the country's forex kitty had reached an all-time high of $645 billion.

ITC AGM, Q1FY24 nos: When will the stock break out from consolidation mode?

ITC AGM, Q1FY24 nos: When will the stock break out from consolidation mode?

Rediff.com20 Aug 2023

The "asset-right" strategy, reiterated by ITC chairman Sanjiv Puri during the company's 112th annual general meeting (AGM) on August 11, received a thumbs up from the analysts. They, however, believe that sustained earnings growth and synergies with the demerged hotel's vertical will help the stock break out from the ongoing consolidation. "The stock is expected to consolidate between Rs 420 and Rs 450 in the near future.

Did WhatsApp access mic when smartphone was not in use? Govt to probe

Did WhatsApp access mic when smartphone was not in use? Govt to probe

Rediff.com10 May 2023

The government will investigate a claim that WhatsApp accessed the microphone of smartphone users while the phone was not in use, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Wednesday.

SVB crisis: $200 mn worth start-up deposits moved to GIFT City

SVB crisis: $200 mn worth start-up deposits moved to GIFT City

Rediff.com17 Mar 2023

Around $200 million worth of deposits of Indian start-ups have been withdrawn from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), which was taken over by US banking regulators last week after it collapsed, and moved to the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) IFSC, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister of state (MoS) for electronics and information technology said on Thursday. "It turns out that there was over a billion dollars of deposits of Indian start-ups in SVB. "The existential, solvency crisis that was there six-seven days ago has become much more manageable, even the short-term liquidity crisis is being addressed as the bank allows access to deposits," the minister said while speaking at Lenovo's Tech World India Edition event.

Android probe: CCI 'protecting' Amazon, Google tells SC

Android probe: CCI 'protecting' Amazon, Google tells SC

Rediff.com7 Jul 2023

Google, in its latest appeal to the Supreme Court, has said the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is protecting Amazon's interests after having complained that India's anti-competition body (CCI) had copied part of a European Commission ruling against it for allegedly abusing the market dominance of Android. The latest twist to the Google-CCI case comes as Google filed an appeal in the Supreme Court on June 26, against the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's (NCLAT's) March 29 order. The tech giant's contention is that the NCLAT failed to apply the "effect analysis" part in the CCI order.

Google approaches tribunal against CCI's order on Android

Google approaches tribunal against CCI's order on Android

Rediff.com23 Dec 2022

Google has approached the appellate tribunal NCLAT challenging the CCI's order on unfair business practices in Android mobile device ecosystem, the company spokesperson said on Friday. The Competition Commission in October slapped a steep penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on internet giant Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in relation to Android mobile devices and ordered the internet major to cease and desist from various unfair business practices. A Google spokesperson told PTI: "We have decided to appeal the CCI's decision on Android as we believe it presents a major setback for our Indian users and businesses who trust Android's security features, and potentially raising the cost of mobile devices."

Bureau of Indian Standards to engage e-commerce players for self-regulation

Bureau of Indian Standards to engage e-commerce players for self-regulation

Rediff.com21 Dec 2022

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will engage stakeholders in the e-commerce space to establish standards with the objective of self-regulation, said its deputy director Parul Gupta at the Internet Commerce Summit 2022 in Bengaluru. "Standardisation will allow parties to transact qualified commodities and services at any location and time," said Gupta. BIS recently released standards for e-commerce players, travel portals, and food delivery platforms that publish consumer reviews online, as part of the government's efforts to crack down on fake reviews, said Gupta.

Forex reserves down $3 bn to $561 bn

Forex reserves down $3 bn to $561 bn

Rediff.com2 Sep 2022

The country's foreign exchange reserves declined by $3.01 billion to $561.05 billion in the week ended August 26, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed. In the previous week ended August 19, the reserves had dipped by $6.69 billion to $564.05 billion. The fall in the reserves during the reporting week ended August 26 was on account of a dip in the foreign currency assets (FCA), a major component of the overall reserves, and the gold reserves, according to the Weekly Statistical Supplement released by the RBI on Friday.

Forex reserves drop $4.85 bn to $532.66 bn

Forex reserves drop $4.85 bn to $532.66 bn

Rediff.com7 Oct 2022

India's forex reserves dropped by $4.85 billion to $532.66 billion as on September 30, the Reserve Bank said on Friday. The reserves, which have been dipping as the central bank deploys the kitty to defend the rupee amid pressures caused majorly by global developments, had declined by over $8.13 billion to $537.52 billion in the previous reporting week. In October 2021, the country's forex kitty had reached an all-time high of $645 billion.

WhatsApp bans 36.77 lakh accounts in India in December

WhatsApp bans 36.77 lakh accounts in India in December

Rediff.com1 Feb 2023

The banned WhatsApp accounts in India include 13.89 lakh accounts which were barred proactively before being flagged by users.

After Reliance-bp, Nayara Energy sells petrol, diesel at Re 1 less than PSUs

After Reliance-bp, Nayara Energy sells petrol, diesel at Re 1 less than PSUs

Rediff.com30 May 2023

After Reliance Industries Ltd and its partner bp plc of the UK, Nayara Energy - the nation's largest private fuel retailer - has started selling petrol and diesel at Re 1 less than the fuel sold by state-owned retailers, officials said. While state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) continue to hold prices despite a drop in international rates, private fuel retailers have started passing on the benefit to consumers. "To further stimulate domestic consumption and cater to local customers better, we have introduced a Re 1 discount in our retail outlets until the end of June 2023," a spokesperson for Nayara Energy said.

SBI in talks with EIB for euro 200 mn green funding

SBI in talks with EIB for euro 200 mn green funding

Rediff.com14 Nov 2022

After securing a euro 150 million Credit line for solar energy finance from a German financial institution, State Bank of India is in talks with european Investment Bank for about euro 200 million to fund climate finance. Recently the country's largest lender obtained euro 150 million in green funding from German government-owned KFW on soft terms and a long repayment period. SBI will use funds to finance solar energy projects.

Indians remitted nearly $2 bn in Nov under Reserve Bank's LRS scheme

Indians remitted nearly $2 bn in Nov under Reserve Bank's LRS scheme

Rediff.com20 Jan 2023

Indians remitted close to $2 billion in November under the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) liberalised remittance scheme (LRS), latest data released by the central bank showed. Outward remittances under the scheme jumped 29 per cent to $1.99 billion compared to $1.54 billion in the year-ago month. Sequentially, outward remittances under the scheme were up about 3.5 per cent.

Surprise oil output cut by OPEC+ to delay price revision in India

Surprise oil output cut by OPEC+ to delay price revision in India

Rediff.com3 Apr 2023

The surprise decision of OPEC and its allies, including Russia, to cut oil output may cause an immediate rise in prices, delaying revision in fuel prices in India, industry sources said. The grouping of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, called OPEC+, on Sunday decided to further cut oil output by around 1.16 million barrels. The move led to Brent rising by almost 6 per cent to $84.58 per barrel on Monday.

HSBC acquires Silicon Valley Bank's UK arm for 1 pound

HSBC acquires Silicon Valley Bank's UK arm for 1 pound

Rediff.com13 Mar 2023

The UK government announced on Monday that it has facilitated London-based banking major HSBC to buy the embattled UK arm of Silicon Valley Bank for 1 pound, securing the deposits of more than 3,000 customers worth around 6.7 billion pounds. Santa Clara, California-based Silicon Valley Bank - which specialised in lending to technology companies - was shut down by US regulators on Friday in what was the largest failure of a US bank since 2008. According to experts, although the UK arm of SVB was small with only around 3,000 business customers, its collapse would have presented a risk for the tech sector which is seen as crucial to Britain's economic growth.

Can Threads Be The 'Twitter Killer'?

Can Threads Be The 'Twitter Killer'?

Rediff.com24 Jul 2023

'If Threads doesn't become a distinct identity, and just a text version in the shadows of Instagram, then it may fizzle out.'

Spam calls: Govt notice to WhatsApp, says onus of user safety with platforms

Spam calls: Govt notice to WhatsApp, says onus of user safety with platforms

Rediff.com11 May 2023

The digital platforms are responsible and accountable for ensuring the safety of 'digital nagriks', the minister said, adding that the government will respond to every instance of alleged misuse or alleged breach of users' privacy.

Google now says will cooperate with CCI on way forward

Google now says will cooperate with CCI on way forward

Rediff.com20 Jan 2023

With the Supreme Court turning down Google's plea for a stay on the CCI order, the tech giant on Friday said it is reviewing the details of the decision which is limited to interim relief and did not decide the merits of the appeal. The company said it remains committed to users and partners and "will cooperate with the CCI on the way forward in parallel with our appeal." In a setback to Google, the Supreme Court on Thursday endorsed the order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) declining to grant an interim stay on the imposition of Rs 1,337 crore penalty on the US tech major by the competition regulator for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the Android mobile device ecosystem.

India's imports from OPEC at all-time low as Russian oil buy peaks

India's imports from OPEC at all-time low as Russian oil buy peaks

Rediff.com7 May 2023

Oil producers cartel OPEC's share in India's oil imports fell to an all-time low of 46 per cent in April as purchases of cheaper Russian oil peaked, industry data showed. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) nations, mainly in the Middle East and Africa, had a 72 per cent share of all crude oil India imported in April 2022. This share slid to 46 per cent in April 2023, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa.

Telcos to stop high-frequency band 5G services in and around airports

Telcos to stop high-frequency band 5G services in and around airports

Rediff.com30 Nov 2022

Telecom operators will need to shut down 5G services in high-frequency bands in and around airports following restrictions imposed by the Department of Telecom at the request of the civil aviation ministry, according to sources. Based on buffer and safety zone details provided by the aviation ministry, the DoT has asked telecom operators to not install 5G base stations in the 3.3-3.6 Ghz band in the area of 2.1 kilometres from both ends of the runway and 910 meters from the centre line of the runway of Indian airports with immediate effect. "Telecom operators will need to shut down 5G service in the 3.3-3.6 Ghz band only in and around airports based on the order.

Forex reserves up by $3.85 bn to $601.36 bn

Forex reserves up by $3.85 bn to $601.36 bn

Rediff.com3 Jun 2022

The country's foreign exchange reserves increased by $3.85 billion to $601.36 billion in the week ended May 27, according to RBI data. In the previous week, the reserves rose by $4.23 billion to $597.51 billion. During the reporting week, the rise in forex reserves was due to an increase in the Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) and the gold reserves, according to the Weekly Statistical Supplement released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday.

Forex reserves fall $8.06 bn to $580.25 bn

Forex reserves fall $8.06 bn to $580.25 bn

Rediff.com15 Jul 2022

The country's foreign exchange reserves declined by a massive $8.062 billion to $580.252 billion in the week ended July 8, according to RBI data. In the previous week ended July 1, the reserves had dropped by $5.01 billion to $588.31 billion. During the reporting week ended July 8, the decrease in the reserves was on account of a fall in the Foreign Currency Assets (FCA), a major component of the overall reserves, and in the gold reserves, RBI said.

Court raps police for issuing summons on WhatsApp, tells DCPs to take action

Court raps police for issuing summons on WhatsApp, tells DCPs to take action

Rediff.com31 May 2023

A Delhi court has taken a serious view of the practice of service of summons on witnesses through WhatsApp by police personnel and said the officials do not seem to have respect for superior orders.

Disney Hotstar's Succession Problem

Disney Hotstar's Succession Problem

Rediff.com12 Apr 2023

If you were one of those waiting for the entire fourth season of Succession to drop so that you could binge-watch it over a weekend, you have missed the train.

Forex reserves down by $306 mn at $601.06 bn

Forex reserves down by $306 mn at $601.06 bn

Rediff.com10 Jun 2022

After rising for two consecutive weeks, the country's foreign exchange reserves declined by $306 million to $601.06 billion in the week ended June 3, according to RBI data. In the previous week, the reserves had increased by $3.85 billion to $601.36 billion. It had risen by $4.23 billion to $597.51 billion in the week ended May 20.

Auditor Deloitte, 3 board members sever ties with Byju's

Auditor Deloitte, 3 board members sever ties with Byju's

Rediff.com22 Jun 2023

Audit firm Deloitte has resigned as auditors of Byju's citing a delay in submission of financial statements while almost simultaneously three of the edtech firm's board members have quit in what is being seen as a deepening crisis at the decacorn. Deloitte Haskins & Sells, which was slated to audit Byju's until 2025, stepped down with "immediate effect" mid-term stating that "the financial statements of the company are long delayed. In a letter sent to the board of Think & Learn Pvt Ltd (known as Byju's), Deloitte said it has not been able to start an audit due to the delays and that will have a "significant impact" on its ability to "plan, design perform and complete" the audit as per standards.

Forex reserves fall $5.01 bn to $588.31 bn

Forex reserves fall $5.01 bn to $588.31 bn

Rediff.com8 Jul 2022

The country's foreign exchange reserves declined by $5.01 billion to $588.31 billion in the week ended July 1, according to RBI data released on Friday. In the previous week ended June 24, the reserves had increased by $2.73 billion to $593.32 billion. During the reporting week ended July 1, the fall in the foreign exchange reserves was due to a dip in Foreign Currency Assets (FCA), a major component of the overall reserves, and also in the gold reserves.

Editors Guild advises caution as The Wire retracts Meta stories

Editors Guild advises caution as The Wire retracts Meta stories

Rediff.com28 Oct 2022

The Editors Guild of India on Friday said it was 'disturbed' by the recent turn of events with respect to reports published by news portal The Wire on Meta and urged newsrooms to 'resist the temptation of moving fast on sensitive stories'.

In ChatGPT's shadow, India readies for aggressive AI play

In ChatGPT's shadow, India readies for aggressive AI play

Rediff.com11 Mar 2023

The government has identified nine key focus areas in the AI national programme, including agriculture, education, Indian languages, smart cities, cybersecurity, transportation, and finance.

In a U-turn, outstanding NRI deposits rise in October

In a U-turn, outstanding NRI deposits rise in October

Rediff.com21 Dec 2022

Breaking the streak of continuous fall in outstanding amounts, non-resident Indian (NRI) deposits rose for the first time in the financial year to $134.54 billion in October 2022. The figure was $133.67 billion in September. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed that NRI deposits were in shrinking mode for the first six months of FY23. They fell to $133.67 billion in September from $139 billion in March.

YouTube's ecosystem contributes Rs 10k cr to India's GDP

YouTube's ecosystem contributes Rs 10k cr to India's GDP

Rediff.com20 Dec 2022

Online video platform YouTube's ecosystem has contributed over Rs 10,000 crore to India's GDP and supported more than 7.5 lakh full-time equivalent jobs in the country, according to a report. In India, over 4,500 channels had over 10 lakh subscribers and the number of YouTube channels in India making Rs 1 lakh or more in their annual revenue increased by over 60 per cent year-over-year in 2021, the YouTube Impact Report based on analysis by Oxford Economics said. "YouTube's creative ecosystem contributed over Rs 10,000 crore and supported more than 7,50,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the Indian economy in 2021. "That economic impact shows up in four ways, through direct, indirect, induced, and catalytic impacts," the report said.

Forex reserves decline by $1.42 billion

Forex reserves decline by $1.42 billion

Rediff.com4 Mar 2022

India's forex reserves declined by $1.42 billion to $631.53 billion for the week ended in February 25 due to a dip in currency assets, according to the Reserve Bank data released on Friday. The overall reserves had increased by $2.76 billion to $632.95 billion in the previous reporting week. During the reporting week, the foreign currency assets (FCA) declined by $2.23 billion to $564.83 billion.