Author: News Desk
Tim Sweeney, the billionaire founder and CEO of Epic Games, has quietly spent years buying vast stretches of forest land in the United States to protect them from real estate development. The gaming entrepreneur, best known for creating the global hit Fortnite, has purchased over 50,000 acres of forest across North Carolina. Unlike many billionaires who invest in luxury properties or resorts, Sweeney’s goal has been conservation. Over nearly two decades, he has steadily acquired land across 15 counties in North Carolina, making him one of the largest private landowners in the state. Many of these lands are later donated or transferred to conservation…
India’s cooperative ride-hailing platform, Bharat Taxi, which offers cab, auto, and bike services, has crossed 2.73 million total downloads according to Sensor Tower data. Most installs came from Android users, with 84.2% (2.30 million) downloads via Google Play, while 15.8% (433K) were from iOS users. After the initial surge, downloads fell sharply but stabilized through late February and March. Government Launch and Driver-Owned Model Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah officially launched Bharat Taxi on February 5, 2026, marking India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform. Designed to compete with private players like Ola, Uber, and Rapido, the platform follows a…
Julie Sweet, the chair and CEO of global consulting firm Accenture, has said that employees must develop artificial intelligence (AI) skills if they want to advance in their careers at the company. Speaking on a podcast, Sweet explained that AI tools are now integrated into everyday work at Accenture, making proficiency in the technology an important requirement for promotions. Employees who want to move up the ranks are expected to demonstrate their ability to effectively use AI tools in their roles. The company has been aggressively investing in AI to transform its services and operations. In 2023, Accenture announced a $3 billion investment plan to…
Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev, who led India to its historic victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, has built a significant business empire beyond his cricket career. His investments and ventures today are estimated to be worth around ₹270 crore. Over the years, Kapil Dev has diversified into several sectors including hospitality, sports management, and technology-related ventures. He has been involved in building hotels, supporting golf tournaments, and investing in new-age businesses. Apart from entrepreneurship, Kapil Dev has also played an important role in promoting golf in India, helping organise tournaments and popularising the sport among Indian audiences. Kapil Dev’s post-cricket journey highlights how…
Ruma Devi’s life is a remarkable story of resilience and determination. Born in a rural village in Rajasthan, she faced strong resistance when she pursued her passion for embroidery and handicrafts. At one point, she was even thrown out of her home for dreaming beyond the traditional roles expected of her. Instead of giving up, Ruma Devi turned her craft into an opportunity for empowerment. She began training and organizing rural women artisans, helping them earn a livelihood through traditional embroidery and handicrafts. Over time, her initiative grew into a network supporting more than 20,000 women artisans across rural communities. Her work brought traditional…
The launch of bike taxi services by Rapido in Kerala has drawn sharp opposition from auto and taxi drivers’ unions, who claim the service violates existing transport regulations. The backlash intensified following the introduction of a women-only bike taxi service in the state. Protest in Thiruvananthapuram Members of the National Online Auto Taxi Drivers Union staged a protest outside the company’s office in Thiruvananthapuram, demanding an immediate halt to the service. The union warned that protests could spread across the state if their concerns are not addressed. Livelihood Concerns Raised Driver unions argue that bike taxi services are already affecting…
Amid rising tensions in West Asia affecting global energy supplies, the Indian government has expanded the CBG-CGD Synchronisation Scheme to allow compressed biogas (CBG) injection into the gas pipeline network. The move aims to strengthen domestic energy resilience as international supplies face uncertainty. Scope Expansion by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas A senior official said the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) extended the Synchronisation Scheme to enable co-mingling of domestic gas for city gas distribution (CGD) networks, covering both CNG (transport) and PNG (domestic) segments. The revised scheme guidelines, issued in August last year, now explicitly include…
The Andhra Pradesh government is moving ahead with its plans to strengthen maritime infrastructure, with greenfield ports at Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam, and Mulapeta nearing completion. Roads and Buildings Minister B C Janardhan Reddy informed the Legislative Council that the ports are expected to be ready by the end of this year, with operations likely to start six to nine months after completion. Scheduled completion dates are 24 April for Ramayapatnam, 30 November for Mulapeta, and 28 December for Machilipatnam. Additionally, a greenfield commercial port at Kona village in East Godavari is expected by 20 July. The three ports are being developed under the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) model. The Andhra Pradesh Maritime…
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories on Saturday launched Obeda, a generic version of semaglutide for Type 2 diabetes, becoming the first Indian company to receive approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for the drug. This launch marks the company’s entry into the GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy segment immediately after patent expiry. Dosage and Pricing Obeda is available in 2 mg and 4 mg strengths in a pre-filled disposable pen for once-a-week subcutaneous use. Each pen provides four weekly doses, with the therapy priced at ₹4,200 per month for both strengths. Clinical Evidence and Safety In a Phase III study…
Amid rising tensions in the Gulf region, India has emphasized the need for the safe movement of its vessels as uncertainty surrounds shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. “We are in favour of safe and unhindered movement” for India’s fleet of 22 ships currently in the Gulf, said Randhir Jaiswal on Friday. He added that Narendra Modi is in contact with global leaders to ensure the vessels’ secure passage. Indian LPG Carriers Preparing to Sail Two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas carriers, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, are positioned near Sharjah and may soon transit the critical waterway. Ship-tracking data from…