Tilda, the UK’s top rice brand, partnered with top South Asian catering company Madhu’s to host an elegant Diwali celebration on 9th October 2024, in Central London at Madhu’s at Mayfair. The event brought together food influencers, longstanding customers, and top media outlets for a luxurious evening filled with culture, community, and culinary excellence. The evening began with guests being welcomed with fragrant jasmine garlands, followed by a heartfelt speech from Tilda’s Managing Director, Jean-Philippe Laborde. He emphasized the brand's commitment to community and long-standing partnerships, saying, “Tonight, we’re not just celebrating a festival; we’re honouring relationships with key partners and customers we’ve known not just for weeks or months, but for decades. At Tilda, we take pride in bringing people together through food and tradition, especially during special occasions like Diwali.” Sanjay Anand MBE, Founder and Chairman of Madhu’s, shared his thoughts on the importance of partnerships, stating, “Rice holds such significance in our culture. It has been a staple part of our South Asian communities' diet and has both religious and cultural relevance. A special thanks to my team and the team at Tilda for making tonight possible.” Guests enjoyed a curated menu, featuring two showstopping biryanis and a decadent mango kheer, created by Chef Amardeep Anand and Chef Poonam Ball. The dishes showcased the versatility of Tilda rice in traditional and modern Diwali dishes. The evening also featured entertainment by magician Oliver B and a Bollywood band, followed by curated Diwali hampers as takeaway gifts. The event successfully blended tradition, food, and culture, celebrating the true essence of Diwali.

Noel Tata has been appointed Chairman of Tata Trusts after a unanimous board decision on Friday. The 67-year-old, half-brother of Ratan Tata, has been involved with the Tata group for many years. He currently holds key positions, including Vice-Chairman of Titan and Tata Steel, Chairman of Trent, and Managing Director of Tata International. Noel Tata has long been seen as a potential successor to Ratan Tata. A graduate of Sussex University, UK, and INSEAD, France, he is married to Aloo Mistry, daughter of Pallonji Mistry. Tata Trusts is a significant entity in the group's philanthropic and business activities.

Toyota announced it will stop sponsoring LGBTQ+ Pride parades in the US and reduce its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This decision follows criticism from right-wing commentator Robby Starbuck and a politicized debate on DEI in the corporate world. Toyota will no longer participate in cultural surveys or the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. The company will instead focus on events linked to STEM education and workforce development. Other companies like Ford and Harley-Davidson have also scaled back DEI commitments recently.

The Indian stock market saw heavy losses, with Sensex falling over 4,100 points in five days. The drop was driven by tensions in the Middle East and China’s new economic measures. Iran’s missile strikes on Israel and China’s stimulus package caused foreign investors to pull money from Indian stocks. In Friday's session, Sensex recovered briefly but ended 1% lower. Banking, FMCG, and auto stocks were the hardest hit, while IT stocks gained slightly. Experts advise caution, as market volatility continues with potential further drops.

Akriti Chopra, Co-founder and Chief People Officer of Zomato, has resigned after 13 years of service. The company announced her resignation to the stock exchanges on September 27, 2024, with immediate effect. In her resignation email to CEO Deepinder Goyal, Chopra expressed gratitude for the enriching journey at Zomato and offered her continued support, stating she was "just a call away." Her departure marks the end of a long tenure with the food delivery company. Zomato has not yet announced a replacement for Chopra in her role as Chief People Officer.

Hurun's 2024 India Under-35 list recognizes 150 young entrepreneurs achieving success across various industries. Isha Ambani, Akash Ambani, and Alakh Pandey top the list for their contributions to retail, tech, and education. The list features first-gen entrepreneurs with a minimum business valuation of $50 million and next-gen leaders with $100 million. Other notable entrepreneurs making the cut include founders of startups in e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, and more. Hurun's list celebrates India's rising entrepreneurial talent.

Swiggy, backed by SoftBank and Prosus, has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) to raise Rs 3,750 crore ($448.56 million). In its draft prospectus, the company announced that existing shareholders, including Accel India and Tencent Europe, will sell about 185.3 million shares. Swiggy competes with Zomato in India’s online food delivery market. This IPO comes amid a strong market for public listings in India, where 198 companies have raised $7.1 billion as of September 2023, more than double the amount from the same period in 2022. Swiggy's IPO is expected to be among the largest this year.

Abhijit Chakraborty, founder of Alphanumero, has launched an innovative “Birthday Plus One” leave policy, granting employees two additional days off annually, one for their birthday and another for a loved one’s birthday. This initiative aims to enhance work-life balance and celebrate personal milestones within corporate culture. Chakraborty shared his personal experiences of workplace disapproval for taking time off, emphasizing the importance of recognizing celebrations without guilt. The policy has received overwhelmingly positive feedback on social media, with many praising its empathetic approach to employee well-being. Chakraborty hopes to expand the policy as the company grows.

A 37% increase in property purchases by Indian investors in Greece occurred between July and August, driven by a rush to secure residency before new regulations took effect on September 1. The Golden Visa Programme, launched in 2013, allowed non-EU citizens to obtain residency permits by investing in real estate, initially set at €250,000. However, rising demand has led to an investment threshold increase to €800,000 in popular areas like Athens and Mykonos. The program remains appealing due to attractive rental yields and access to quality healthcare and education in the EU.

Shankh Air, India’s newest airline, has received approval from the Civil Aviation Ministry to begin operations, pending final clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Based in Uttar Pradesh, with hubs in Lucknow and Noida, Shankh Air will focus on both interstate and intrastate routes, targeting cities with high demand and limited direct flights. The airline’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) is valid for 3 years. Its entry is expected to boost regional connectivity across India, enhancing mobility in underserved areas.