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Walmart To Get Funds For Flipkart Deal By Next Year!

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Walmart Get Funds For Flipkart Deal,Startup Stories,Startup News India,Latest Business News 2018,Walmart Flipkart Deal,Walmart Funding News,India Largest Online Retailer,Walmart Flipkart Deal Latest News,Flipkart Business News,Largest E-commerce Deal

The Walmart-Flipkart deal which was making headlines earlier this year caught everybody’s attention but, there’s more to the story. The homegrown e commerce firm Flipkart is yet to get the final funds from Walmart. Though the deal is finalized but the funds Walmart Inc., has to give is currently pending as the US retail giant is busy arranging the funds to zip up the deal. According to reports, the retail titan would close the acquisition of a 77 % stake in India’s largest online retailer Flipkart in 2019 i.e, next year.  Walmart had earlier claimed that it will close the deal by the end of 2018. Apparently, Walmart doesn’t seem able to fulfill the demand this year. However, if it fails to arrange the amount by next year, it will have to repay a significant portion of the bond issue. A March 9, 2019 deadline has been set in the share purchase agreement between the two companies around which the termination rights have been negotiated, as per a regulatory filing made in May.

A Walmart spokesperson said Walmart is working with the authorities in India and we are hopeful of timely approval. We are still expecting closing later this calendar year, subject to regulatory approval. The date in the 8 K filing on June 21, 2018, is related specifically to the bonds we recently issued. According to both the firms the proposed transaction does not give rise to competition concerns and the relevant market for the partnership is the pan-India market for B2B sales.

Apart from the fundings, there is another twist in the tale! A huge number of retail and trader groups are protesting with regards to the Walmart-Flipkart deal. About 10 lakh traders would take to the streets as they hold a nationwide protest. The protest is being organised by trade body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and is likely to draw participation from the RSS affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch. The protest is expected to be a sit-in across 1,000 spots in 500 cities.  The CAIT also filed a petition during the end of May with the anti-trust regulator CCI, objecting to the Walmart-Flipkart deal, citing the reason that such a merger would lead to predatory pricing and deep discounts among others. The Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal, of CAIT said we expect the government to intervene and take suitable action in accordance with various announcements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to uplift small businesses in the country. This deal will directly affect small traders of the country who will not be able to compete with Walmart.

Walmart-Flipkart deal is one the largest acquisitions of all time. Can we expect more such deals? Share your views in the comments section below!

 

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IIT Hyderabad Unveils Palyanka, Heavy-Lift Drone for Air Ambulance Use

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Hyderabad - Drone

The Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation Foundation (TiHAN) at IIT Hyderabad has set a new standard in drone technology with the launch of Palyanka, a heavy payload drone designed as an autonomous air ambulance. Capable of carrying up to 200 kg, Palyanka is engineered to swiftly transport patients, medical equipment, or critical cargo across challenging terrains, bypassing traditional barriers like road congestion and remote inaccessibility. This advanced UAV operates autonomously, making it highly effective for rapid response in both urban and rural emergencies, and stands at the forefront of disaster relief operations in scenarios such as floods and fires.

Built for versatility, Palyanka doesn’t just function as an air ambulance. Its robust design enables use in rescue missions, cargo deliveries, and even as an air taxi for metropolitan connectivity. Inspired by the Sanskrit word for palanquin, the name “Palyanka” reflects the drone’s role as a safe and efficient carrier. All components, from conceptual design to IP, have been developed in-house at IIT Hyderabad, ensuring the drone meets stringent standards for durability and performance under extreme conditions.

With a development journey spanning over five years and led by Prof. P. Rajalakshmi, TiHAN’s team has transitioned from early drone prototypes to a full-scale, high-capacity solution like Palyanka. The team is now preparing pilot projects in hilly terrains and working on further enhancing the drone’s endurance with innovative heat-resistant materials. By pioneering such indigenous solutions, IIT Hyderabad’s TiHAN is transforming emergency medical services and logistics, marking a pivotal advancement in India’s urban mobility and public safety landscape.

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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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