INDIA’S national carrier Air India is scheduled to suspend its all flight services to the UK and Europe from Wednesday (18) in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Air India operates 30 weekly flights from eight Indian cities.
Other airlines in the south Asian country are also expected to follow the national carrier to temporarily suspend their flights to Britain and other European countries.
The government on Monday (16) banned the entry of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines, and Malaysia into India with immediate effect, according to an additional travel advisory.
According to the advisory issued by the government: "Travel of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines and Malaysia to India is prohibited with immediate effect”.
No flight shall take off from these countries to India, according to the government’s decision.
This instruction is a temporary measure and shall be in force till March 31 and will be reviewed subsequently.
With the coronavirus cases swelling in the country, the Indian government has also banned the entry of passengers from EU countries- Turkey, and the UK from Wednesday (18) to Monday (31).
Anyone coming to India from or transiting from via UAE including the mega hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi; Sharjah Qatar, Oman and Kuwait will be quarantined for at least two weeks.
India had last week suspended most visas from March 13 to April 15.
Visa-free travel facility for overseas citizens of India (OCI) cardholders has also been suspended until April 15.
In April, Mallya lost an appeal against a London high court bankruptcy order in a case involving over ₹11,101 crore (approx. £95.7 million) debt to lenders including the State Bank of India. (Photo: Getty Images)
FUGITIVE tycoon Vijay Mallya has said he may consider returning to India if he is assured of a fair trial.
He spoke to Raj Shamani on a four-hour-long podcast released on Thursday.
When asked if his situation worsened because he didn’t return to India, Mallya said, “If I have assurance of a fair trial and a dignified existence in India, you may be right, but I don’t.” Asked if he would consider coming back if given such an assurance, he responded, “If I am assured, absolutely, I will think about it seriously.”
He added, “There are other people who the government of India is targeting for extradition from the UK back to India in whose case, they have got a judgment from the high court of appeal that Indian detention conditions are violative of article 3 of the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) and therefore they can’t be sent back.”
On being labelled a “fugitive”, Mallya said, “Call me a fugitive for not going to India post-March (2016). I didn’t run away, I flew out of India on a prescheduled visit… fair enough, I did not return for reasons that I consider are valid… but where is the ‘chor’ (thief) coming from… where is the ‘chori’ (theft)?”
The Indian government has not responded to Mallya’s claims.
In April, Mallya lost an appeal against a London high court bankruptcy order in a case involving over ₹11,101 crore (approx. £95.7 million) debt to lenders including the State Bank of India.
In February, he moved the Karnataka High Court seeking details of loan recoveries. His legal counsel said banks had recovered ₹14,000 crore (approx. £120.7 million) despite the original dues being ₹6,200 crore (approx. £53.4 million). The court issued notices to banks and loan recovery officers.
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The Tata-owned firm closed its blast furnace at Port Talbot last year. (Photo: Getty Images)
MINISTERS are racing to prevent the country's largest steelmaker from being shut out of a new trade agreement with the US, according to reports.
Tata Steel, which operates the massive Port Talbot steelworks in Wales, could be excluded from tariff-free access to US markets under prime minister Keir Starmer's deal with president Donald Trump, reported the Guardian.
Starmer announced on Wednesday (4) that he expects the trade agreement - which has been settled but not yet signed - to take effect "in just a couple of weeks". This follows Trump's decision to suspend 50 per cent tariffs on British steel and aluminium for five weeks.
The steelmaker closed its blast furnace at Port Talbot last year as part of a shift towards cleaner electric arc furnace technology. During this change, the company has been bringing in steel from its related businesses in India and Europe before sending it on to customers.
This practice could break the US import rules that demand all steel must be "melted and poured" in the country it's imported from.
According to The Times, UK negotiators have been trying to secure special treatment for Tata. A government source told the paper they were confident a deal could be reached to protect the company, but described the talks as "complex".
The government is also facing US concerns about British Steel, which is owned by China's Jingye group. In April, ministers used emergency powers to take control of the Scunthorpe site amid fears the Chinese owners planned to shut down the blast furnaces.
US officials worry that Chinese involvement in British Steel could give Beijing a "back door" into the US for Chinese products.
This week, the US doubled tariffs on foreign steel and aluminium imports to 50 per cent for all trading partners except Britain. The rate for UK imports stays at 25 per cent until at least 9 July, though the exact size of the UK's steel quota remains unclear.
Under Starmer's agreement with Trump last month, the US agreed to remove the 25 per cent tariff on British steel and aluminium exports entirely, but this hasn't been finalised yet.
Steel companies say delays in putting the trade deal into action have cost them business. Speaking to MPs before the announcement, Russell Codling from Tata Steel said roughly £150m of business was affected by tariffs.
"If we can get this deal enacted as quickly as possible ... it will get stability for us and for our customers in the US," Codling told lawmakers.
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Taylor Jones, Vinit Thakkar Kyran Jones and Sony Music India team up to launch THG India supporting Indian music globally
Sony Music India has announced a new partnership with Los Angeles-based entertainment company The Hello Group (THG) to form a joint venture called THG India. The new company is set to focus on developing Indian music talent and providing them with global touring and management opportunities.
This is the first collaboration of its kind by Sony Music India on an international scale, and it comes at a time when Indian music is drawing growing attention worldwide. THG India will operate from Mumbai and work through The Hello Group’s international network, aiming to provide end-to-end support for artists, from management and touring to publishing and promotion.
Sony Music India partners with Los Angeles-based The Hello Group to launch THG India
Bridging India’s music scene with the global stage
With India’s live music industry growing rapidly, the joint venture hopes to fill a major gap in professional artist support and global touring infrastructure. While Sony Music India brings local expertise and access to its platforms, THG adds global experience and connections.
“This is a big step forward for the Indian music industry and our creative talent,” said Vinit Thakkar, Managing Director of Sony Music India. “We’re combining our knowledge of the local scene with THG’s international touring and artist development strength to help Indian artists build lasting global careers.”
Taylor Jones, CEO of The Hello Group, said THG India would help unlock the full potential of Indian talent. “There’s a wave of energy and creativity in Indian music. Our aim is to offer these artists the tools and platform to take their work to international audiences.”
Taylor Jones, Vinit Thakkar and Kyran Jones join forces to launch THG Indiagetty images
Global success stories and big names behind the venture
The Hello Group’s publishing division, which is run in partnership with Sony Music Publishing, has already seen massive success across Asia. Their work includes chart-topping releases with artists like BTS, TWICE, IVE, and The Chainsmokers. Their booking agency has handled international tours for performers such as Jeff Satur, Mark Ambor, Kang Daniel, and Greyson Chance.
Taylor Jones and Vinit Thakkar come together to launch THG India getty images
THG India now hopes to offer the same opportunities to Indian musicians, allowing them to grow both at home and abroad. Sony Music India has confirmed it will provide financial backing and creative support to build the platform.
With this move, both companies are hoping to shape the future of Indian music on a global scale.
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The share sales come as Ola Electric faces slowing sales, regulatory scrutiny, and increasing competition from established two-wheeler manufacturers. (Photo: Reuters)
HYUNDAI has exited Ola Electric by selling its entire 2.47 per cent stake, while Kia has trimmed its holding by offloading 0.6 per cent, exchange data showed on Tuesday.
Hyundai sold its shares at Rs 50.70 (approximately £0.43 / $0.59) each, and Kia’s shares were sold at Rs 50.55 (approximately £0.43 / $0.59).
Kia earlier held less than 1 per cent in Ola Electric. Its current holding is not known, as exchange filings do not disclose ownership below 1 per cent.
Ola Electric shares fell 8 per cent on Tuesday. The stake sales by Hyundai and Kia were made at nearly 6 per cent below Monday’s closing price.
Hyundai and Kia had jointly invested $300 million (approximately £220.59 million / Rs 34,974 million) in Ola Electric in 2019 to work together on electric vehicle development and charging infrastructure.
The share sales come as Ola Electric faces slowing sales, regulatory scrutiny, and increasing competition from established two-wheeler manufacturers. The company’s shares have declined 46 per cent since its stock market debut in August 2024.
The Bengaluru-based company reported a wider loss in the fourth quarter and forecast a drop in revenue in the current quarter. It has been offering steep discounts in response to rising competition.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Fox noted that even the titles of the game’s soundtrack songs could contain spoilers
Toby Fox, the creator of Undertale and Deltarune, has issued a final update ahead of the launch of Deltarune chapters three and four, cautioning fans to avoid spoilers and revealing new details about the game’s release schedule.
In his latest newsletter, Fox confirmed that chapters 3 and 4 would be released today (4 June), just ahead of the anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. Players on the new console will be able to access the game from midnight in their respective regions. However, due to time zone differences, some players, particularly in New Zealand, will gain access earlier than others.
To help fans enjoy the experience without encountering plot details prematurely, Fox advised players to avoid social media, skip viewing soundtrack titles, and stay clear of early-access regions. “Due to current media algorithms, if you're a big fan of the game, it's likely spoilers will be recommended to you no matter where you go,” he wrote.
- YouTubeYouTube/ UNDERTALE and DELTARUNE Official
Fox also added a tongue-in-cheek warning, saying fans in New Zealand might be the first to share spoiler-heavy content online. “Even before the game comes out in your region, the New Zealanders who get the game three hours earlier are probably gonna come directly to your house and start taping thumbnails of Deltarune Chapters 3+4 All Bosses Compilation to the outside of your windows,” he joked.
In addition to social media, Fox noted that even the titles of the game’s soundtrack songs could contain spoilers. He recommended fans avoid looking up track names until after completing the chapters. The soundtrack will be made available on Steam and Bandcamp, with Fox suggesting the Steam version as his preferred choice.
Regarding potential technical issues, Fox acknowledged the possibility of bugs, despite extensive testing. Players who encounter issues are encouraged to report them to deltarune@fangamer.com. He also noted that while updates to fix bugs will roll out across platforms, delays may occur on Nintendo’s systems due to a different update process.
The update closed with thanks to fans who supported the game over the years. Fox encouraged players to take their time and enjoy each chapter at their own pace, suggesting breaks between chapters rather than rushing through.