American icon and founder of Playboy Enterprises, Hugh Hefner, aged 91, passed away on September 27. According to an official statement, Hefner died of natural causes, surrounded by loved ones at the Playboy Mansion.
Born in Chicago, Hefner introduced America to Playboy in 1953 and today, it is one of the most recognizable brands in the world which revolutionized the adult entertainment industry. He published the historic first undated issue, which featured Marilyn Monroe before her stardom, after raising $ 8,000 from friends and family and sold almost 54,000 copies at 50 cents each. His first publisher’s message was,“We don’t expect to solve any world problems or prove any great moral truths.”
Originally titled “Stag Party,” Playboy challenged puritanical convention and fought for women’s rights including birth control. He advocated freedom of speech in all its aspects, supported progressive social causes and also booked black artists in defiance of segregation laws. He has stated in multiple interviews that his life and Playboy were a reflection of the conflicts that exist in America related to sexuality.
Playboy magazine spun into a media and entertainment industry giant, advertised as the emblem of the sexual revolution and became the most successful men’s magazine in the world. He wrote 25 installations of the Playboy Philosophy championing abortion rights and repealing 19 century sex laws. Playboy also published articles and short fiction by some of the most celebrated writers such as Ray Bradbury, Ian Fleming, Carl Sagan, John Updike and Vladimir Nabokov. The magazine is also known for publishing lengthy interviews with high profile figures like Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon and Jimmy Carter.
Hefner built an empire that included TV shows, a jazz festival and a string of Playboy Clubs and created a niche for upscale men’s magazine, combining images of nude women with in depth articles, interviews and fiction by a variety of well known writers. Watch how Playboy became the world’s most sensational brands in the world here –
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Bengaluru bench has dismissed an insolvency plea filed against quick commerce startup Dunzo by its invoice discounters, declaring the petition “not maintainable” after several postponements. This decision offers temporary relief to Dunzo, which has been facing multiple insolvency petitions from various creditors, including Velvin Packaging Solutions and Betterplace Safety Solutions, over unpaid dues.
The invoice discounters alleged that Dunzo had paid only 50% of the required amounts, though the exact sum was not disclosed. Despite ongoing settlement talks, no resolution was reached, and the tribunal noted Dunzo’s delays in responding to creditor petitions. Dunzo continues to grapple with severe liquidity issues, delayed payments, and significant losses—reporting a ₹1,801.8 crore loss in FY23 and owing approximately ₹11.4 crore to major vendors like Google India and Facebook India.
While this NCLT ruling provides Dunzo some breathing room, the company still faces ongoing financial and operational challenges as it works to resolve its outstanding liabilities.
Hyderabad-based startup Harvesting Robotics has won hearts online by appointing a golden retriever named Denver as its Chief Happiness Officer (CHO). Denver, introduced by co-founder Rahul Arepaka in a viral LinkedIn post, has quickly become the star of the office, spreading joy and boosting morale among employees. The company is now officially pet-friendly, a move Arepaka calls their “best decision.”
Denver’s new role has sparked widespread attention, with thousands liking and commenting on the announcement. Many see Denver’s presence as more than just a cute story—it highlights a growing trend of pet-friendly workplaces that prioritize employee well-being and happiness. As companies increasingly focus on holistic wellness, Denver’s appointment shows that sometimes, a wagging tail is the best way to brighten the workday.
Info Edge (India) Ltd shareholders have overwhelmingly approved an investment of up to ₹1,000 crore in the company’s third venture capital fund, Info Edge Ventures Fund III. The proposal received near-unanimous backing, with 99.9995% of valid votes in favor out of 1,274 participants.
Smartweb Internet Services Ltd, a wholly owned Info Edge subsidiary, will act as sponsor and investment manager for the new fund. This move strengthens Info Edge’s commitment to backing early-stage startups and expanding its footprint in India’s venture capital landscape.
Info Edge has a strong track record as an early investor in leading Indian startups like Zomato and PB Fintech, with combined holdings in these firms valued at ₹31,500 crore ($3.7 billion) as of March 31, 2025.