War over ice cream: 3-decade old feud returns
INDIA NEWS | Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 12:41AM IST
Mumbai: A three-decade-old family settlement that divided control of the Vadilal ice cream brand between the Mumbai and Ahmedabad branches of the Gandhi family has become the subject of a fresh legal dispute.The Mumbai branch has approached the Bombay High Court, seeking to restrain the Ahmedabad branch from interfering with the manufacture, sale, distribution and marketing of ice-creams and juices that it claims it is entitled to sell under the 1993 family settlement. 132024297In a petition filed under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Shailesh Gandhi-led Vadilal Dairy International (VDIL) has sought interim relief restraining members of the Ahmedabad branch, Vadilal Industries and their affiliates from directly or indirectly interfering with its manufacture, sale, distribution and marketing of ice-creams and juices under the Vadilal brand.Justice Amit Borkar reserved the order on Wednesday after hearing all parties.Senior advocate Mustafa Doctor, appearing for the Mumbai branch with counsel Hiren Kamod, argued that the Ahmedabad branch intended to buy out the Mumbai group but had refused to complete the transaction, resulting in multiple disputes across judicial forums.The Mumbai branch said the 1993 family settlement granted it perpetual and irrevocable rights to use the Vadilal brand for ice-creams and juices in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and undivided Andhra Pradesh in exchange for relinquishing its shareholding in the group's trademark-holding company.Through its lawyers, the Mumbai branch also alleged that the respondents had launched a series of actions to undermine its business, including trademark litigation in the US, quality-related allegations, demands for product recalls and attempts to inspect its factories.Appearing for the Ahmedabad branch, senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond, along with Shalaka Patil of Trilegal, argued that products manufactured by VDIL had consistently shown severe microbiological contamination, putting the company in breach of the quality control provisions of the registered user agreement. The agreement was signed in 1992 when the family businesses were split between the Mumbai and Ahmedabad branches.Senior counsel Shiraz Rustomjee, appearing for Vadilal International, challenged the maintainability of the petition on jurisdictional grounds, arguing that the parties had agreed that disputes would fall within the jurisdiction of the district court in Ahmedabad.Representing Vadilal Industries, senior counsel Zal Andhyarujina and Ativ Patel of AVP Partners argued that the company was publicly listed and that retail shareholders hold a 35% stake."We have been made a party in the case, whereas we are not a party or signatory in any agreement between family members," argued Andhyarujina. "We are just a licensee (of Vadilal International) that owns the brand 'Vadilal'."The Mumbai branch also argued that representatives of the Ahmedabad group had explored acquiring its business after resolving internal disputes and consolidating businesses under Vadilal Industries. After settlement discussions failed, the Mumbai branch invoked arbitration under the dispute resolution clause of the 1993 family settlement. It is seeking interim relief until the arbitral tribunal delivers its final award.
Continue reading at Economic Times
30m
Smartphone brands brace for 9-10% festive sales drop as higher prices dampen demand
INDIA BUSINESS | Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 12:40AM IST
Smartphone sales are projected to dip by 9-10% this festive season as rising handset prices dampen consumer demand. Brands are strategizing with discounts, but these will be on inflated baseline prices. Manufacturers are securing components early to manage costs, while marketing budgets are being trimmed. Expect a focus on financing options like no-cost EMIs to encourage purchases.
Continue reading at Economic Times
30m
IFS Brats' hostel: A junior United Nations Assembly
INDIA NEWS | Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 12:34AM IST
In that long ago era before social media and the worldwide web, the means to make and maintain new connections were limited to the physical plane. Like many other children of Indian diplomats of yore, one such space was the External Affairs Hostel in New Delhi. As lascivious as the name may sound, it was actually a convivial Habib Rehman-designed enclave comprising three buildings and a vast lawn, where incoming and outgoing Foreign Service families lodged.Now being redeveloped into a gigantic modern high-rise for today's IFS families, I hope it retains the old one's function as a place where members of a very peripatetic profession make precious connections that prevail even when duty takes them to far-flung destinations. My youth was benchmarked by stints in 'The Hostel' and the friends I made during each stay, like chapters of a book. There was an ineffable feeling of loss when the old buildings were ground to dust.But then again, the lives of IFS families have changed from my time. Back then, each posting abroad was a truly immersive experience as meagre Indian salaries ensured that officers and families had to make do with whatever was available locally, from education and leisure to food and clothing. No international schools or brands were affordable; learning local languages were necessary for shopping, studies and entertainment. And we all made local, non-diplobrat friends.Hence most kids of my generation also spoke foreign languages fluently. Not just French, Spanish or Italian but Korean, Serbo-Croatian, Swedish.... Being posted in the Anglosphere in North America, Asia and Africa helped, of course, as English would then suffice, but the accents were distinctly different. And all of this added a glorious variety to the evening congregation of IFS children on the expansive lawns of The Hostel, for games and gossip before dinner time.It was almost a United Nations General Assembly. We all were conversant (quite literally) with the histories and cultures of the countries we had just come back from and therefore could provide pointers to the places some of us were headed to; in hindsight, the children's perspectives were pretty unique. We were actually cosmopolitan oddities in the socialist India of that time, as most people were still cut off from the wider world. That fostered an extraordinary camaraderie.Today, thanks to the internet and the expansion of cultures beyond geographical borders, there is homogeneity. Nothing is mysterious, unfamiliar or unknown anymore. Lakhs of Indians are travelling, living abroad. Indian diplobrats are no longer unique. Moreover, the Indian government now generously picks up the tab for children's education in every foreign capital's American School and salaries are generous enough for Indian diplo-fams to stick to international brands.So, while some still learn a smattering of local languages and even interact with ordinary people of the countries they are posted in, it is no longer necessary; and local schools are not a consideration. Though diplomatic life and international schools do entail interacting with different nationalities, they are essentially part of the same small elite world. Unless diplomat families make an effort to reach out and soak in local customs, they can remain in a cocoon wherever they are.I often wonder whether conversations among IFS children still sound like a junior and more engaging version of the UNGA wherever they meet. Are they still repositories of the varied cultures they come into contact with due to their parents' professions? The camaraderie of earlier generations has been rekindled, though, on an appropriately different plane now: a worldwide WhatsApp group playfully named the IFS Brats Society. It's as if The Hostel has been resurrected!
Continue reading at Economic Times
37m
India initiates anti-dumping investigation into steel imports from China, Japan, Russia
INDIA BUSINESS | Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 12:22AM IST
India has launched an anti-dumping investigation into hot rolled steel imports from China, Japan, and Russia. JSW Steel and Jindal Steel allege these products are being sold at unfairly low prices, harming domestic manufacturers. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies found initial evidence of dumping, with significant price differences. This probe, covering imports from 2022-2025, aims to assess the impact on India's steel industry.
Continue reading at Economic Times
48m
CBIC rolls out green channel to speed emergency imports during oil spill crises
INDIA BUSINESS | Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 12:22AM IST
In a significant move to bolster environmental protection, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has launched a dedicated 'green channel' for swift customs clearance during oil and hazardous spill emergencies. This initiative, driven by a Coast Guard request, aims to expedite the movement of crucial response equipment, thereby enhancing India's preparedness for marine pollution incidents and fulfilling international maritime commitments.
Continue reading at Economic Times
49m
Punjab drug body finds critical lapses at Jackson Laboratories' manufacturing facility in Amritsar
INDIA BUSINESS | Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 12:20AM IST
The Punjab FDA has taken decisive action by revoking the manufacturing licence of Jackson Laboratories in Amritsar due to severe regulatory infractions. This drastic step comes after investigations tied the companys oxytocin injections to the tragic deaths of five mothers in Rajasthan. Findings show significant non-compliance with essential manufacturing regulations, presenting grave concerns over hygiene and product testing.
Continue reading at Economic Times
51m
Uber Enacts Stricter Background Checks for Drivers
GLOBAL NEWS | Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 12:17AM IST
The changes come after The New York Times revealed that the ride-hailing giant approved drivers with many types of criminal convictions, including violent felonies.
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54m
Shelf-life norms for imported drugs may be relaxed to reduce wastage
INDIA BUSINESS | Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 12:17AM IST
India is set to revise rules for imported medicines, proposing a 12-month minimum residual shelf life instead of the current 60% rule. This aims to ease business and reduce wastage, particularly for drugs with longer expiry dates. However, biological and radiopharmaceutical products will retain the stricter 60% requirement due to public health concerns. Other quality and safety regulations remain unchanged.
Continue reading at Economic Times
54m
Alstom gets 107 mn loco maintenance contract renewal from Railways
INDIA BUSINESS | Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 12:04AM IST
The five-year contract covers maintenance of 250 WAG-12B locomotives at Alstom's Nagpur depot under a renewed agreement with its joint venture with Indian Railways
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1h
Mumbai's faith-food debate over temple traditions
INDIA NEWS | Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 12:03AM IST
Mumbai was not always a city. It was once seven islands, separated by mangroves and tidal waves, each home to several goddesses, who were fed fish, chicken, mutton and toddy by the local residents -fisherfolk, toddy tappers, salt makers and rice farmers.Two goddesses deserve mention: Gauri and Ekavira. Every year, during the rains, Gauri follows her son, Ganesha, into people's houses. While Ganesha receives only vegetarian offerings, Gauri relishes fish, crabs, prawns and clams, food she ate before her marriage to the hermit Shiva.Ekavira, meanwhile, sits in the margins, on the mountains and caves around Mumbai. She was a princess named Renuka, who was beheaded by her own axe-yielding son, Parashuram, on orders of her husband, the Brahmin Jamadagni, after being accused of harbouring adulterous thoughts. Later, the husband resurrected the wife. But she remained impure, so she stayed at the frontier, receiving food of marginalised people - chicken, mutton and toddy, which she once ate in her father's house. Her devotees call her Yellamma, everyone's mother.Gauri and Ekavira are both meat-eating mothers of vegetarian gods. No one had a problem with this arrangement until merchants arrived. Merchants of all castes and creeds came to Mumbai: Portuguese, British, Muslims from Konkan and Cambay, Parsis, Jains and Vaishnavas from Gujarat, Banias from Rajasthan. They traded first in opium, then cotton, then in the stock market and now in real estate. The Europeans built churches, Muslims built mosques, Parsis built agiaries. They all ignored the goddess of the natives, who ate fish, mutton and chicken just like them.However, that was not the case with the vegetarian merchants. Some of these merchants identified Mumbai's powerful local goddesses with the many female guardians of hermit-teachers. Others chose to worship Mahalakshmi of Mumbai as the lotus-loving vegetarian consort of Vishnu, even though a lion stands before her shrine. They ignored the fact that in Maharashtra, for centuries, Mahalakhsmi is the local title of the warrior-goddess Bhavani.Over time, the migrant merchants have become rich and powerful. And they have started exerting influence on policies, even temple policies. As Hinduism came to be defined as a religion, ignoring its caste-based diversity, the vegetarian lobby (Brahmin and Vaishya) took it upon themselves to declare all Hindu gods and goddesses as vegetarian. This was code for purity. So now they are insisting on saving goats and roosters on grounds of compassion.Many buy into these evocative arguments. But the argument disappears when the mangroves of the coastline and forests inside the city are systematically destroyed to make way for giant infrastructure projects, complete with manicured gardens and marble temples. Those disgusted by offering of fish to Gauri and goats to Ekavira do not see the destruction of entire ecosystems as 'himsa'. Profit clearly trumps compassion.Migration always creates conflict, especially when the migrants become rich and powerful and seek to change local traditions. Quarrels over temple food seems petty. But it is not. It is a quarrel about who owns the sacred, who defines the divine, and whose history gets to count. The one who pays more taxes, or the one who remains true to the most ancient traditions of the land.Mumbai today is pulled between the financially powerful Gujarati merchant lobby and politically powerful Marathi lobby, with vegetarian castes increasingly siding with the merchants. Fishmongers are being told not to enter buildings. Neighbours told not cook meat on festival days. Abattoirs are being shut to respect religious sentiments of the rich.When the Bombay Presidency was dissolved after Independence and states were reorganised on linguistic lines, Maharashtrians won Bombay much to Gujarati disappointment. But the city remained cosmopolitan in a way that Madras did not. When the Madras Presidency was divided, Chennai became emphatically Tamil. Telugus departed for Hyderabad. Kannadigas made their way to Mysuru, Mangaluru and Bengaluru. The cosmopolitan memory of that city was erased. Nobody remembers it.Mumbai did not erase itself. The Hindi film industry stayed. Marathi theatre thrived alongside Gujarati and Parsi theatre. The city remained a meeting point of several cultures and linguistic groups. This is its gift, and also its wound - because cosmopolitanism, when unmanaged, can become a mechanism by which the original inhabitants are quietly pushed to the periphery of their own land.As Hindi is being imposed on non-Hindu speaking Indian, the Maharashtrian wonders why is it unreasonable to spotlight Marathi in Mumbai, the city of Tilak and Ambedkar, Savarkar and Gokhale? Are noble ideals of diversity and inclusion being manipulatively used to dilute the local language and traditional food habits? To accommodate the rich merchants, and their purity-conscious monastic gurus, must Gauri be denied her fish and Ekavira her meat?
Continue reading at Economic Times
1h
Centre invites bids for green urea plants to curb import reliance
INDIA BUSINESS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 11:31PM IST
The department on Friday held a pre-EoI meeting with public and private sector companies, including NTPC, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), fertiliser manufacturers, technology providers and green hydrogen developers, to discuss the proposed project framework.
Continue reading at Economic Times
1h
Trump Threatens to Impose 100% Tariff on European Countries Over Tech Taxes
GLOBAL NEWS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 11:28PM IST
The president claimed the tariffs would override a trade deal with the European Union, which European officials finalized just days ago.
Continue reading at The New York Times
1h
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Europe Over Tech Taxes
GLOBAL NEWS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 11:28PM IST
The president claimed the tariffs would override a trade deal with the European Union, which European officials finalized just days ago.
Continue reading at The New York Times
1h
Congressional Panel Investigating Epstein Subpoenas Leon Black in Unusual Escalation
GLOBAL NEWS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 11:21PM IST
The panels Republican chairman said he was moved to act after the private equity mogul repeatedly declined to discuss nondisclosure agreements at a closed-door hearing.
Continue reading at The New York Times
1h
25% of Indian tech services firms have moved AI experiments into production level: Nasscom
INDIA BUSINESS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 11:21PM IST
Indian IT is currently generating up to $12 billion in AI services revenue, with more than 2 million professionals skilled in AI and 100,000 to 200,000 trained in advanced AI capabilities
Continue reading at The Hindu
1h
Tech volatility weighs on global stocks; oil falls towards four-month low
INDIA MARKET | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 11:14PM IST
Global stocks fell as Apple's price hikes rattled tech shares, while oil slid on easing supply fears and gold edged higher on a weaker US dollar
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1h
HDFC Bank Says Legal Review Finds No Basis For Ex-Director's Claims
INDIA MARKET | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 11:07PM IST
Three-month review of board records and interviews found no evidence supporting the allegations.
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2h
IMO pauses its Gulf vessel evacuation plan after Iran attacks ship
INDIA BUSINESS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 11:06PM IST
The attack followed a joint declaration by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including Oman, after a meeting attended by the United States, stating that there should be no tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control over the strait.
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2h
Uber India's Outgoing Chief Prabhjeet Singh To Join OpenAI As India MD: Report
INDIA MARKET | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:55PM IST
Additionally, he will concentrate on building partnerships across India's AI ecosystem while helping consumers, businesses, institutions and government bodies adopt artificial intelligence.
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2h
Legal review reveals ex-chairman's charges 'not substantiated': HDFC Bank
INDIA BUSINESS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:52PM IST
Atanu Chakraborty didn't participate in the review, ignoring requests from the external law firms
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2h
OpenAI Limits Release Of New Model Under Pressure From US
INDIA MARKET | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:51PM IST
The government's involvement in the rollout adds to growing pressure from the White House on AI developers.
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2h
Transformational growth prime focus of FTA with UK, says Piyush Goyal
INDIA NEWS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:48PM IST
Transformational growth should be the prime focus of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal told business leaders at a plenary session in London on Friday.
The minister is in the UK on a three-day visit to review the preparedness of both countries for the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which comes into force on July 15.
During an interactive event organised by the High Commission of India in London, Goyal heard from members of a Federation of Indian Commerce and Industry-led delegation on the sector-wide opportunities on offer from CETA, such as advanced manufacturing, consumer goods, renewable energy, healthcare and tourism.
"Collaborations, cooperations, partnerships will be, in my humble opinion, the right way to come in quickly for both British businesses and Indian businesses," Goyal told the gathering.
"It will wedge your way faster; not compulsory, of course, your choice. If you are ...
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2h
Seafarers feel forgotten, shipping should not be used as collateral: IMO chief amid US-Iran conflict
INDIA BUSINESS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:43PM IST
Shipping must be kept out of geopolitical conflicts, urged the International Maritime Organization chief, as seafarers "feel forgotten." He highlighted the tragic loss of Indian lives in recent attacks, emphasizing the need for better seafarer protection. The IMO is working to support those still in dangerous regions, ensuring their safety and connection with families amidst escalating tensions.
Continue reading at Economic Times
2h
INDIA BUSINESS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:42PM IST
Union Minister Piyush Goyal met with a Rolls-Royce delegation to explore strengthening industrial and technological ties, highlighting the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as a key opportunity. Goyal emphasized CETA's potential to deepen investments, accelerate tech partnerships, and build resilient supply chains, benefiting both nations. He also reassured that the pact is designed to boost economic growth and job creation without harming domestic sectors.
Continue reading at Economic Times
2h
Legal review reveals former chairman's charges were baseless: HDFC Bank
INDIA BUSINESS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:39PM IST
Atanu Chakraborty didn't participate in the review, ignoring requests from the external law firms
Continue reading at Business Standard
2h
IMF chief economist says Fed reduction in rate guidance is 'entirely appropriate'
INDIA MARKET | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:27PM IST
The IMF's chief economist, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, has endorsed Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's move to reduce explicit forward guidance on monetary policy. Gourinchas stated that overly rigid guidance proved costly when inflation surged, as it tied the Fed's hands. While acknowledging the need for some long-term market guidance, he believes explicit, strong commitments are no longer tenable, suggesting a more flexible approach is appropriate for central banks.
Continue reading at Economic Times
2h
'For Ronaldo': After Harry Kane 'Curse', 'Witch Doctor' Predicts Portugal As World Cup Winner
INDIA MARKET | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:21PM IST
Nana Kwaku Bonsam previously grabbed headlines in 2014 for claiming he was behind Cristiano Ronaldo's injury ahead of Portugal's clash with Ghana.
Continue reading at NDTV
2h
Middlemen offer discounted Iranian oil to Indian refiners after US waiver
INDIA NEWS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:21PM IST
National Iranian Oil Company and traders have approached Indian refiners with discounted crude following Washington's temporary sanctions waiver, though payment mechanisms remain unclear
Continue reading at Business Standard
2h
HDFC Bank legal review finds no basis for Atanu Chakraborty's allegations
INDIA BUSINESS | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:14PM IST
Independent review by two law firms says documentary evidence and witness interviews did not substantiate allegations made by former part-time chairman Atanu Chakraborty
Continue reading at Business Standard
2h
WWE Night Of Champions 2026 Spoilers: Report Reveals Planned Winners For Major Matches
INDIA MARKET | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:10PM IST
Oba Femi is set to face Jey Uso.
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3h
'Foolish Ceasefire Violation': Trump Blames Iran For Drone Attack On Ships
INDIA MARKET | Fri, 26 Jun 2026, 10:04PM IST
Washington alleges Tehran launched drones at Gulf vessels despite agreement aimed at easing hostilities.
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