Author: News Desk

Billionaire Elon Musk has pledged to donate $100 million to charity in early 2026, a move that is being highlighted both for its potential philanthropic impact and significant tax benefits. While details on the exact distribution of funds are still emerging, Musk’s announcement has drawn global attention as one of the most prominent philanthropic commitments by a tech entrepreneur in recent years. Musk’s donation aligns with his increasing engagement in philanthropic activities, including initiatives focused on science, climate change, education and health. Observers say the timing and structure of the pledge may also yield large tax advantages under U.S. tax laws, potentially allowing Musk to offset gains and…

Food is more than a way to satisfy hunger. It is a connector of people, a storyteller, and a keeper of memories. Every meal carries a story, from moments of joy to comfort in sadness, making food an integral part of life’s journey. Celebrating this connection, Swiggy has released its report on the most ordered dishes by Indians in 2025, highlighting the foods that dominated orders across the country. At the top of the list is biryani with 93 million orders. This aromatic rice dish, slow cooked with marinated meat or vegetables, layered with spices, and finished with fried onions and saffron…

Food delivery platforms Zomato, Swiggy, and magicpin saw a record surge in orders on New Year’s Eve, proving the industry’s critical role in India’s celebrations despite a nationwide strike call by a section of gig workers demanding better pay and working conditions. Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal highlighted that both Zomato and Blinkit operated at peak efficiency, delivering over 75 lakh orders to more than 63 lakh customers across the country, with strong support from local authorities keeping disruptions minimal. Magicpin echoed the sentiment, noting that metro cities experienced an unbroken flow of orders throughout the evening. Popular dishes dominated the…

Shares of Sapphire Foods and Devyani International are in focus after both companies approved a long-awaited merger. These two companies are the main franchise partners of Yum Brands in India. The merger announcement was made after market hours on Thursday, so both stocks are expected to react when markets open on Friday, January 2. As per the approved share swap arrangement, shareholders of Sapphire Foods will receive 177 shares of Devyani International for every 100 shares they hold. Based on current market prices, Devyani shares are trading near ₹147 and Sapphire shares around ₹261. This means the deal value is…

Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) marked a historic milestone on New Year’s Day, recording a staggering 1,61,683 passenger journeys across its integrated network, which includes Metro rail, electric feeder buses, and Water Metro. This represents the highest single-day ridership since the system began operations. Of the total, 1,39,766 passengers travelled on Metro trains, which ran extended services until 2am, while feeder buses operated until 4am, carrying a record 6,817 passengers. Water Metro also saw heavy patronage, with around 15,000 passengers using eco-friendly services on key routes, including Mattancherry-High Court and Vypeen-High Court. The day also saw KMRL achieve its highest-ever…

British private equity firm Apax Partners is poised to acquire a 25% stake in Bengaluru-based ready-to-cook breakfast staples maker iD Fresh Food for close to ₹1,300 crore, valuing the company at approximately ₹4,500 crore. The deal reportedly edges out rivals including Carlyle, Kedaara, Permira, ChrysCap, Multiples, and Verlinvest, making it one of Apax’s first pure-play consumer investments in India. Founded in 2005 by PC Musthafa and four cousins, iD Fresh has built a strong presence in the market with its preservative-free, home-style packaged batters for idli and dosa, supported by a controlled logistics network that sets it apart from brands…

India has crossed a major digital milestone with its broadband user base surpassing 1 billion, marking one of the fastest expansions of internet connectivity anywhere in the world. The achievement reflects the combined impact of affordable data tariffs, deep smartphone penetration, improved telecom infrastructure and aggressive network rollouts by service providers over the past decade. Industry data shows that broadband growth has been driven not just by urban centres but also by rural and semi-urban India, where 4G networks, fibre connectivity and government-led digital initiatives have significantly widened access. The rapid expansion of mobile broadband, in particular, has played a crucial role, making internet access…

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has selected L&T Technology Services Limited as the lowest bidder for the Telecommunication System contract for Kochi Metro Phase 2. KMRL had invited bids for the contract with a 730-day completion timeline. Technical bids were opened on 17 November 2025, with three firms submitting proposals. The technical evaluation was completed on 30 December 2025, followed by opening and evaluation of financial bids the same day. L&T Technology Services emerged as the lowest bidder. Financial Bid Values Scope of WorkThe contract includes the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the telecommunication system for Phase…

Artificial Intelligence is often misunderstood as a threat to human intelligence, but in reality it represents a transition phase in how people work, believes Deepu Xavier, co-founder of hiring-tech startup ZappyHire. Drawing parallels with the shift from typewriters to computers, Deepu says AI should be seen as an enabling tool rather than a replacement for human thinking. Speaking about ZappyHire’s journey, he recalled that when the company was founded, AI was not yet a mainstream concept. The idea emerged from observing how hiring relied heavily on manual, repetitive processes. This led to a simple but powerful question: why can’t interviews themselves be…

The Ministry of Railways announced that India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train will begin operations between Guwahati and Kolkata, marking a significant step in modernising the rail network. Following the success of Amrit Bharat trains for non-AC passengers, the Sleeper variant will offer AC-class travellers enhanced comfort and convenience for long-distance journeys. As of 26th December, 164 Vande Bharat services are operational nationwide. This year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated 42 railway projects, inaugurated 13, and laid foundation stones for 21 others, collectively valued at over ₹25,000 crore. Major infrastructure milestones include the completion of the 272-kilometre Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link,…