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Alibaba, Temasek and Fosun In Talks To Pick Up Stake In BigBasket

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The Chinese ecommerce major Alibaba has reportedly joined investee Paytm Mall in their talks to pick up a stake in the online grocery retail startup, BigBasket. The Economic Times reported the online grocer is also holding talks with Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings and China’s Fosun Group along with Alibaba.

Paytm Mall, according to media reports, was also in talks with BigBasket for buying a minority stake by investing about $ 200 million in the homegrown startup. Alibaba Group Holdings have a majority ownership of the digital payment platform Paytm’s ecommerce arm.

According to Economic Times, Alibaba and Paytm plan to invest $ 200 million in BigBasket at a post investment valuation of nearly $ 900 million. They have also started the due diligence for this potential investment. Kinzon Capital which is the venture capital arm of Fosun is in discussions with BigBasket to join the ongoing funding round with an investment of about $ 20 – $ 30 million.

It is unclear if the Singapore based wealth fund, Temasek will join this round of funding or if they will directly invest in BigBasket later. Economic Times also reported, an associate on behalf of Temasek said, “As matter of policy, we do not comment on market speculation and rumours,” in response to their queries.

BigBasket was also reportedly in talks with Amazon for a sellout which fell through due to differences over valuation. The global ecommerce giant recently also got the government’s approval to invest $ 500 million in the food retail sector. Ecommerce rival Alibaba has also been doubling down on grocery and physical retail investments globally. They recently acquired the Singapore based online grocer RedMart and have invested $ 305 million in offline discount supermarket chain Sanjiang Shopping Club in China.

Hari Menon, Abhinay Choudhari, V.S. Sudhakar, Vipul Parekh and V.S. Ramesh founded the online grocery retail startup in 2011. Investment bank Morgan Stanley is advising BigBasket in these talks.

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X’s Major Price Cut in India: Premium Plans Now More Accessible Than Ever

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X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has announced a major reduction in its subscription prices across India, slashing fees by up to 48%. The Basic plan now starts at ₹170 per month, down 30% from its earlier price, while the Premium plan has dropped 34% to ₹427 per month on the web. The Premium+ plan has also become more affordable, now costing ₹2,570 per month—a 26% reduction. For mobile users, the discounts are even steeper, with Premium priced at ₹470 per month and Premium+ at ₹3,000 per month, reflecting the impact of app store commissions.

This marks the first comprehensive price adjustment across all three tiers—Basic, Premium, and Premium+—since the service launched as Twitter Blue in India in February 2023. The move comes shortly after Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, rolled out the new Grok 4 model and follows xAI’s acquisition of X earlier this year. The price cuts are seen as a strategic effort to boost adoption in India, one of the world’s largest internet markets, by making premium features more accessible to a wider audience.

Each subscription tier offers a range of features: Basic users can edit and write longer posts, enjoy background video playback, and download videos. Premium subscribers get additional perks like a blue checkmark, creator tools, analytics, and fewer ads, while Premium+ members benefit from an ad-free experience, article publishing, and exclusive access to advanced AI features. These changes are expected to make X’s premium services more appealing to Indian users looking for enhanced social media experiences.

 

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Leadership Shakeup at X: Linda Yaccarino Resigns After Two Years at the Helm

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Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), announced her resignation on July 9, 2025, bringing her two-year leadership of Elon Musk’s social media platform to a close. Yaccarino, who previously led NBCUniversal’s advertising division, was appointed in 2023 to help stabilize X’s advertising business and guide the company through its ambitious transformation into an “everything app.” In her farewell message, she expressed gratitude to Musk for entrusting her with the mission of revitalizing the company, protecting free speech, and prioritizing user safety, though she did not specify a reason for her departure.


Her exit comes at a turbulent moment for X, following the recent controversy involving Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Musk’s xAI, which posted antisemitic content referencing Adolf Hitler. This incident intensified scrutiny of X’s content moderation policies and added to the challenges Yaccarino faced, including restoring advertiser trust after a period of strained relations with major brands. Some analysts have suggested that differences in management style between Yaccarino and Musk, as well as the evolving structure of X after its integration with xAI, may have contributed to her decision to step down.

Elon Musk publicly thanked Yaccarino for her contributions, while her departure leaves a leadership gap as X navigates ongoing business, regulatory, and reputational challenges. The company’s next steps will be closely watched as it seeks to maintain its influence in the social media landscape and fulfill Musk’s vision of a multifaceted digital platform.

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Jio BlackRock Gets SEBI Approval to Launch Brokerage Operations in India

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Jio BlackRock Broking Private Limited, a joint venture between Jio Financial Services and BlackRock Inc., has received final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to commence operations as a brokerage firm. The regulatory nod, granted via a certificate of registration issued on June 25, 2025, allows the company to function as both a stockbroker and a clearing member in India’s financial markets. This milestone follows a series of regulatory clearances for the Jio BlackRock ecosystem, including approvals for mutual fund and investment advisory businesses, underscoring the joint venture’s ambition to build a comprehensive, digital-first financial services platform.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Jio BlackRock Investment Advisers, the broking arm aims to deliver affordable, transparent, and technology-driven execution services to Indian investors. The company’s leadership has emphasized that the new platform will empower self-directed investors with seamless execution capabilities, complementing its broader strategy to democratize access to investment solutions in India. The approval is expected to further strengthen Jio BlackRock’s position in the rapidly expanding financial services sector, offering a full suite of products from mutual funds and advisory to brokerage, all accessible through user-friendly digital channels.

The market responded positively to the news, with Jio Financial Services shares rising over 4 percent following the announcement. Industry analysts view this regulatory milestone as a significant step in Jio BlackRock’s efforts to transform India’s investment landscape, moving the country closer to becoming a nation of investors rather than just savers.

 

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