Business

Malabar Group has spotlighted the growing impact of its flagship social responsibility initiative, Hunger Free World, with the release of a rehabilitation impact report that demonstrates how a daily meal can serve as a catalyst for broader social transformation. Released on World Hunger Day, the report, "Impact Stories: How a Daily Meal Opens the Door to a Transformed Life", outlines the outcomes of the Street Meal Distribution Programme, implemented by Thanal. What began as an effort to provide nutritious meals to individuals facing hunger has evolved into a structured outreach model that facilitates healthcare access, rehabilitation, shelter support, dignity restoration and family reunification. The programme currently operates across 20 states in India and nine countries, includi...

Vodafone Idea (Vi) and Meta have launched Silent Mobile Verification (SMV) capabilities for Vi subscribers across WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, underscoring the increasing economic importance of secure digital infrastructure in India's rapidly expanding online ecosystem. The network-based authentication technology enables users to verify their mobile numbers in the background without manually entering verification credentials, switching between applications or waiting for OTP messages. The service will be available across multiple user journeys, including new registrations, mobile number validation, login and re-login, account recovery and authentication during security checks. The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward network-based verification systems as busines...

In a bid to boost sales, businesses associated with the fashion sector have been observed announcing discounts much ahead of their scheduled time this year. Generally, these establishments begin their discount processes from the month of July. However, due to rising inflation and international geopolitical complexities this time around, they have been seen offering discounts earlier than scheduled.According to sources in the industry sector, sales volume in the country's fashion segment has decreased by 30% over the past two months. Due to the price hike of petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG, and daily essential commodities, a large majority of consumers are currently shying away from extra expenditure.An impact has been observed on the sales of fashion brands under these circumstances. Therefore, ...

Gold prices experienced a notable recovery, with spot gold climbing back above the $4,500 per ounce threshold. This rebound comes as a welcome relief for bullion investors following a sharp selloff in the previous session, triggered directly by a sudden drop in global crude oil prices. The cooling of the energy market has successfully alleviated immediate fears of a massive, energy-fueled inflation wave. Because a surge in oil typically threatens to drive consumer prices higher, the recent pullback has effectively soothed market anxieties regarding an aggressive, near-term interest rate hike by major central banks like the Federal Reserve. The volatility in both commodities remains tightly linked to complex geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, particularly surrounding the status o...

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has set a new milestone by securing a massive loan from Japan. This success comes closely after the international credit rating agency, S&P Global Ratings, upgraded the company's credit rating to 'A-'. Reliance Industries has secured a loan of approximately 125 billion Yen (around 830 million US Dollars or over ₹7,000 crore) from Japanese banks.Discussions regarding this loan had been underway for the past several months. As soon as S&P upgraded Reliance's foreign currency rating from 'BBB+' to 'A-', the institution's credibility significantly increased in the global market. Due to this upgraded rating, Japanese investors and banks agreed to provide this massive loan amount to Reliance at a very low interest rate.Several leading ...

Flipkart-owned Shopsy on Thursday launched its new AI-powered shopping app, positioning itself as an engagement-led hypervalue commerce platform aimed at Gen Z consumers and Bharat’s next 100 million online shoppers. The company said the revamped platform moves beyond traditional offers-led e-commerce by integrating AI-native discovery, video-first product experiences and gamified shopping into a single ecosystem. Shopsy said the app has been designed for young, aspirational and value-conscious consumers across metros and tier-2 and smaller cities, amid rising digital adoption in India. According to the company, Tier-2+ cities now contribute nearly 65 per cent of new online shopper growth, while Gen Z makes up around 40-45 per cent of India’s e-retail market. The platform uses AI-power...

A powerful explosion reportedly rocked a test facility of Blue Origin as its next-generation New Glenn rocket suffered a catastrophic failure during a ground testing operation. The incident occurred during a routine pre-launch test when the heavy-lift rocket, part of Blue Origin’s ambitious deep-space program, unexpectedly exploded, sending a massive fireball and thick plumes of smoke into the air. The rocket, identified as the New Glenn, is designed to compete in the global commercial space launch market and carry satellites and payloads into orbit. No immediate reports of casualties have been confirmed, and the company has not yet released a detailed technical assessment of the failure. Initial observations suggest the explosion took place during a systems check, though the exact cause ...

Swedish beauty and wellbeing company Oriflame has successfully concluded its Northeast Yatra, a large-scale influencer and community engagement initiative conducted across Northeast India and West Bengal in partnership with Whosthat360. Spanning more than 5,000 kilometres through April and May, the campaign covered 13 cities and engaged over 300 influencers, creators and entrepreneurs. Beginning on April 7 at Lady Keane College in Shillong and concluding with a grand finale in Kolkata on May 10, the yatra travelled through Agartala, Aizawl, Dimapur, Kohima, Guwahati, Nagaon, Dibrugarh, Itanagar, Siliguri and Durgapur. The initiative featured on-ground activations through the Oriflame Beauty and Wellness Partner Truck, including beauty masterclasses, skincare workshops and creator au...

Russia’s newly revealed Oreshnik ballistic missile has drawn international attention due to its advanced multi-warhead capabilities and potential impact on modern warfare. The missile, reportedly capable of carrying multiple independently targetable warheads, is being viewed by military analysts as a significant addition to Russia’s strategic arsenal amid growing tensions with Western nations. According to reports, the Oreshnik system is designed to penetrate sophisticated air defence networks and strike multiple targets simultaneously, making it harder for enemy forces to intercept. Russian officials claim the missile combines high speed, precision targeting, and enhanced manoeuvrability, features that could strengthen Moscow’s deterrence strategy in the ongoing geopolitical standoff wit...