Unincorporated enterprises account for a significant chunk of Asia’s third-largest economy, with a share of 45% in gross domestic product or GDP.
NEW DELHI: Employment in unincorporated enterprises grew by 10.01% to stand at 120 million during the year ended September 2024, the government’s Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises for 2023-24 showed on Tuesday.
Chief economic advisor V Anantha Nageswaran (centre) said the percentage of female-owned proprietary establishments increased from 22.9% in 2022-23 to 26.2% in 2023-24 (Videograb)
The number of such enterprises, which are essentially proprietor-owned firms not incorporated as a legal entity separate from the owner, rose by 12.28% to 70.34 million, according to the survey by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation.
Unincorporated enterprises account for a significant chunk of Asia’s third-largest economy, with a share of 45% in gross domestic product or GDP. The sector employs up to 93% of the country’s workforce, according to labour ministry data,
The sector’s gross value added or GVA, a measure of growth that strips out net taxes and subsidies, showed an expansion of 16.52% during the October 2023 – September 2024 reference period of the survey, according to the data.
“This data shows the lagged effect of growth spurt. Various policy initiatives were supportive of entrepreneurship. Initiatives like Start-up and Stand-up India during Covid have allowed enterprises to grow,” chief economic advisor V Anantha Nageswaran said, releasing the survey results.
The percentage of female-owned proprietary establishments increased from 22.9% in 2022-23 to 26.2% during 2023-24, the survey showed.
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News/Business/ Jobs in unincorporated firms grow by 10%, annual survey shows
Allu Arjun today appeared for questioning in the case of death of a woman during the stampede during the screening of Pushpa 2 in Hyderabad. He was earlier arrested and granted bail.
Allu Arjun greets fans after being released from jail (Photo: PTI)
Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun was questioned for four hours by Hyderabad’s Chikkadpally police on Tuesday in connection with the death of a woman in the stampede during the screening of ‘Pushpa 2’ in the city on December 4. The police may take the actor to Sandhya Theatre, where the stampede took place.
Meanwhile, the police also arrested Allu Arjun’s bouncer, Anthony, as he was identified as the one who organized all the other bouncers at Sandhya Theatre.
Anthony was also accused of pushing Allu Arjun’s fans and would be taken to the stomping grounds to recreate the scene.
During the interrogation of the actor, his father Allu Aravind and his father-in-law Kancharla Chandrashekhar were present at the police station.
Allu Arjun interrogated in Pushpa 2 stampede case
According to sources, the police questioning was based on the claims made by Allu Arjun during the press conference on December 21.
He was also asked whether he was aware of the woman’s death and whether Sandhya Theater officials had told him that his entry into the theater was not permitted.
The police also reportedly argued with the actor over the CCTV video released by the Hyderabad Police Commissioner, which detailed the sequence of events during the stampede.
Earlier, Allu Arjun had claimed that no one from the police team contacted him. However, the police claimed that the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) spoke to the actor after several attempts to reach the actor through Sandhya theater management and his personal security team failed.
Allu Arjun claimed that he left the theater early. However, the police said that he came out only at 12.05 am after the stampede broke out.
Meanwhile, the actor’s legal team reached Sandhya Theater in Hyderabad, where the stampede incident took place.
#Watch Telangana: Actor Allu Arjun’s legal team reached Sandhya Theater at RTC X Roads, Hyderabad, where the stampede took place during the premiere show of ‘Pushpa 2’. Allu Arjun is appearing before the Hyderabad Police at Chikkadpally Police Station in this case… pic.twitter.com/YjGjGzzOMw
As the actor was being examined, white sheets were placed at the entrance of his residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.
#Watch Hyderabad, Telangana: White sheets were put up at the entrance of actor Allu Arjun’s residence in Jubilee Hills. Allu Arjun is currently appearing before the Hyderabad Police at Chikkadpally Police Station in connection with the Sandhya Theater incident. pic.twitter.com/sPc3kVqdaK
While Allu Arjun was being interrogated, two videos of the stampede incident were being shared widely on social media.
A video showed that a large number of people were running while the screening of the film was going on.
In another video, a clash is seen between the organizers of the screening and the general public.
Summons to Allu Arjun
On Monday, a summons notice was issued to the actor, asking him to appear before the police at 11 am on Tuesday.
The notice comes a day after Police Commissioner CV Anand released a video showing the sequence of events at the theatre.
The notice asks Allu Arjun to appear for questioning on December 24.
What did Allu Arjun say during his press conference?
During a press conference on Saturday, Allu Arjun said that the incident of death of a woman and injury to her son during the screening of Pushpa 2 was a complete accident and denied the allegations made by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. .
Hours after Reddy criticized the actor for holding a roadshow without mentioning anyone and waving to the crowd in the theater, the Pushpa 2 star refuted the allegations and said it was not a procession or a roadshow.
He stressed that he was not personally against any department or political leader in the government.
“There is a lot of misinformation out there that I behaved (irresponsibly) in a certain way,” he said. These allegations are wrong. This is insulting and character assassination. There’s a lot of misinformation going on, a lot of false allegations, especially character assassination,” he told reporters at a hastily arranged news conference.
He said that he has built his career and image with 20 years of hard work and it feels very sad when it is being damaged.
Responding to the allegation that there was no permission to enter the theatre, the actor said that this is not true and in fact, the police were clearing the way for him and he reached the venue under their instructions.
“If there was no permission they would have asked us to return and I am a law abiding citizen. I would have followed him. No such information was given to me. I was following his guidance and it was not a road show. No procession took place. It was crowded a few meters away from the theatre,” he said.
On the allegation that he did not leave the cinema hall even after the news of the woman’s death, due to which the police had to forcibly throw him out, Allu Arjun said that no policeman approached him to vacate the space in the theater, but One of his associates, to whom he immediately obeyed.
“I am not inhuman,” he said.
Specifically on the road show allegations, he said that it is a tradition that when there is a crowd, any celebrity comes out and waves at the people. Otherwise it can be considered arrogance.
“It is a false allegation that there was a road show and procession. This was not a procession. This was not a road show. I was just a few meters away from the theatre. My car has just stopped,” he said.
Stampede at the screening of Pushpa 2
A 35-year-old woman was killed and her eight-year-old son was injured during a stampede-like situation at Sandhya Theater in Hyderabad on December 4, when thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor during the premiere. Blockbuster Pushpa 2.
Following the incident, the city police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Justice Code (BNS) against Allu Arjun, his security team and the theater management at Chikkadappally police station based on a complaint by the deceased woman’s family.
Allu Arjun, named as accused number 11 in the case, was arrested by the city police on December 13 in connection with the woman’s death.
The Telangana High Court granted him four weeks’ interim bail the same day and he was released from jail here on the morning of December 14.
Allu Arjun case: Political reactions
Commenting on the summoning of Allu Arjun, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla told reporters today, “The Congress party’s Telangana government is working with an emergency mindset. The person who pelted stones at Allu Arjun’s house turned out to be a close aide of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and a member of the Kodangal Youth Congress.
“This makes it clear that the Congress party is suffering from vendetta politics. They are probably also going to the Supreme Court to get the interim bail (of Allu Arjun) cancelled. They are taking revenge from Allu Arjun for not campaigning for Congress.”
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Harish Rao also said, “Today there are many issues in Telangana including farmers and minorities but Chief Minister Revanth does not get time for them. Instead, he is taking aim at Allu Arjun personally. If elections are held today, the deposits of Congress candidates will also be confiscated. “Congress has not fulfilled any of the promises made during the election campaign.”
Later, Congress MLA Bhupathi Reddy in a controversial statement threatened to boycott Allu Arjun’s films if he spoke against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
“Allu Aravind, Allu Arjun be careful, Pushpa is the one Useless The (useless) film, does it have any message for society? I challenge you to speak against the Chief Minister, if you ever speak against him, you are a street artist of Andhra Pradesh, so behave properly. Just do your work and go.”
He said, “Your house was attacked, but now, I am challenging you that if you utter even a word against the Chief Minister, I will ensure that not a single film of yours is played in the state.”
Complaint over ‘pee’ scene of Pushpa 2
A separate complaint was filed on Sunday against Allu Arjun and ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ producer and director Sukumar in connection with a scene from the film. Congress leader and Telangana MLC Thenamar Mallanna had filed a complaint demanding strict action against the film director, actor Allu Arjun and the production team.
Reacting to the developments, Mallanna, speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, said, “Such scenes will create panic in the minds of the audience or the public. I would request the producers to control such scenes.”
“The swimming pool scene is deliberately insulting the police officers. I have filed a complaint against the entire team regarding this matter and have requested the police to take action against them. I also requested them to remove this scene from the film.”
newsIndia Pushpa 2 stampede: Allu Arjun interrogated for 4 hours, his bouncer arrested
The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) has dementia and late onset Alzheimer’s disease, his legal team has said in a court document filed in New York.
Lawyers for Mike Jeffries have requested a hearing to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The 80-year-old was arrested alongside his partner in October and charged with running an international sex trafficking and prostitution business. Both men have pleaded not guilty.
A so-called competency hearing has been scheduled for June next year.
Mr Jeffries, who ran US clothing brand A&F for two decades, is accused of running a sex trafficking and prostitution business from at least 2008-15.
They said the couple, alongside a middleman James Jacobson, 71, used force, fraud and coercion to make vulnerable, aspiring models engage in violent and exploitative sex acts.
All three men have pleaded not guilty to the charges and been released on bond.
The FBI began investigating last year after the BBC revealed claims Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith had sexually exploited men at events they hosted around the world.
The BBC investigation, published in October 2023, found the pair were at the centre of a sophisticated operation involving a middleman scouting young men for sex.
In the same month, Brian Bieber, Mr Jeffries’ lawyer, said his client was examined several times by a neuropsychologist who later concluded diagnostic impressions that he was suffering from two types of dementia and probable late onset Alzheimer’s disease.
In the court filing, Mr Bieber added that during an initial meeting last year the former fashion boss “did not even come close to resembling a master’s degree-educated individual, who was just nine years earlier the chief executive officer of a publicly traded company”.
As a result, Mr Bieber questioned the ability of Mr Jeffries to “rationally assist” with the possible factual and legal defences to the allegations he was facing, according to the document.
The filing comes after Mr Jeffries’ legal team sought a competency hearing, which will now be held over two days on 16 and 17 June 2025.
Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.
Mr Jeffries stepped down as CEO and chairman of A&F in 2014, and left with a $25m (£19.9m) retirement package.
Alongside the criminal case, A&F, Mr Jeffries and his partner have been defending a civil lawsuit accusing the retailer of having funded a sex trafficking operation.
Heather Cucolo, a New York Law School professor specialising in mental disability and criminal law, said there are limited statistics on how the justice system treats dementia but that medical experts would have to weigh in before the judge makes a final decision.
“If Mike Jeffries is found competent, the case will move forward,” she said. “But if he’s deemed incompetent, and it’s found there’s no reasonable likelihood that his competency will be restored, then the charges would have to be dropped.”
His partner Matthew Smith and James Jacobson could still face trial but prosecutors would have to rely on independent evidence if Mr Jeffries is also found to be incompetent to testify as a witness, she added.
CHENNAI: Close on the heels of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approving UltraTech Cement‘s acquisition of India Cements, the latter has announced that it has become a subsidiary of UltraTech. The development will facilitate UltraTech adding India Cements’ 14.5 million tonnes capacity spread across Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan to its consolidated production capacity of about 155 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of grey cement. In a regulatory filing late on Tuesday evening, India Cements said, UltraTech Cement has acquired 10,13,91,231 equity shares representing 32.7% of the equity share capital of the company, in accordance with Regulation 22(2) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011. UltraTech’s aggregate shareholding in the company has increased to 17,19,55,887 equity shares representing 55.5% of the company’s equity share capital including existing shareholding of 7,05,64,656 equity shares (22.8%). Consequently, the company has become a subsidiary of UltraTech with effect from Dec 24, 2024, India Cements informed the stock exchange. In July this year, India’s largest building materials maker, Birla struck a deal with India Cements vice-chairman & MD N Srinivasan and his family to acquire their cement business for Rs 3,954 crore. On Dec 6, 2024, UltraTech Cement and India Cements informed the stock exchange that notices have been received from the CCI over the latter’s takeover by billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla’s company. Last week, the fair trade regulator gave its nod for the acquisition. It may be recalled that India Cements has been facing financial issues in recent quarters. One of the largest cement manufacturers in south India, the more than 75-year-old Chennai-headquartered company is associated with landmark projects including the Pamban Bridge in Rameswaram, IIT Madras, and the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari.
Stock Market Holiday: The stock markets, including the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), will remain closed on Wednesday for trading activities in observance of Christmas 2024. Adding further, the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) will suspend trading during both the morning and evening sessions.
Notably, the BSE and NSE observed 16 holidays in 2024. The first holiday was on January 26 for Republic Day, while the Christmas holiday marks the final stock market holiday of the year. Furthermore, a major global stock exchanges in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and across Europe will also remain closed alongside the Indian markets.
Stock Market Holidays In 2025
Date
Day
Holiday
Remarks
February 26, 2025
Wednesday
Mahashivratri
Market Closed
March 14, 2025
Friday
Holi
Market Closed
March 31, 2025
Monday
Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramadan Eid)
Market Closed
April 10, 2025
Thursday
Shri Mahavir Jayanti
Market Closed
April 14, 2025
Monday
Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti
Market Closed
April 18, 2025
Friday
Good Friday
Market Closed
May 1, 2025
Thursday
Maharashtra Day
Market Closed
August 15, 2025
Friday
Independence Day
Market Closed
August 27, 2025
Wednesday
Ganesh Chaturthi
Market Closed
October 2, 2025
Thursday
Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti/Dussehra
Market Closed
October 21, 2025
Tuesday
Diwali Laxmi Pujan
Market Closed (Muhurat Trading on this day)
October 22, 2025
Wednesday
Diwali Balipratipada
Market Closed
November 5, 2025
Wednesday
Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev
Market Closed
December 25, 2025
Thursday
Christmas
Market Closed
BSE Holiday List In 2025
According to the BSE, there are 14 stock market holidays scheduled for 2025. The first holiday is on February 26, marking the occasion of Mahashivratri. Republic Day, observed on January 26, falls on a Sunday in 2025. The final holiday of the year will be on December 25, for Christmas.
Muhurat Trading In 2025
Muhurat Trading, held on Diwali, will take place on Tuesday, October 21. The NSE and BSE will announce the trading timings for this session at a later date.
IPC report outlines famine in five areas, including in Sudan’s largest displacement camp, Zamzam, in North Darfur province.
Famine is spreading in Sudan due to a war between the army and paramilitary group, a United Nations-backed global hunger-monitoring group says.
The Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) published a report on Tuesday outlining famine in five areas, including in Sudan’s largest displacement camp, Zamzam, in North Darfur province.
Famine conditions were confirmed in Abu Shouk and al-Salam, two camps for internally displaced people in el-Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur in western Sudan, as well as in residential and displaced communities in the Nuba Mountains in southern Sudan, according to the report.
The five-member committee also found that famine, first identified in August, will likely spread to another five areas – Um Kadadah, Melit, el-Fasher, Tawisha and al-Lait – by May. It also identified another 17 areas across Sudan at risk of famine.
According to the IPC report, 24.6 million Sudanese – half of the population – face acute food shortages.
“[The war] has triggered unprecedented mass displacement, a collapsing economy, the breakdown of essential social services, severe societal disruptions, and poor humanitarian access,” the report said.
The IPC, an independent body funded by Western nations, comprises more than a dozen UN agencies, aid groups and governments that use its monitoring as a global reference for analysis of food and nutrition crises.
The report was published despite the Sudanese government’s continued disruption of the IPC’s process for analysing food shortages. On Monday, the government announced it was suspending its participation in the global hunger-monitoring system, saying the IPC issues “unreliable reports that undermine Sudan’s sovereignty and dignity”.
Sudan has been roiled by a 20-month war that has killed more than 24,000 people and driven over 14 million people – about 30 percent of the population – from their homes, according to the UN. An estimated 3.2 million Sudanese have crossed into neighbouring countries, including Chad, Egypt and South Sudan.
The war began in April 2023 when long-simmering tensions between the military and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, before spreading to other urban areas and the western region of Darfur.
The conflict has been marked by atrocities, including ethnically motivated killings and rapes, according to the UN and human rights groups. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In its report, the IPC added that in conflict areas, hostilities can severely disrupt farming, resulting in workers abandoning their crops. Farms have also suffered from looting and killing of livestock.
“Displaced households, especially those living in settlements and public buildings, are unlikely to benefit significantly from the harvest,” it said.
Dervla Cleary, a senior emergency and rehabilitation officer at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, said the situation in Sudan is “just awful”.
“It is unacceptable in a world like today,” Cleary told The Associated Press news agency. “We need the violence to stop so people can access food, water, health, nutrition and agriculture.”
Sudan is the third country where famine has been declared in the past 15 years. The other two are South Sudan and Somalia.
Protests have broken out in Syria over the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting calls for the new Islamist authorities to take steps to protect minorities.
A video posted on social media showed the tree on fire in the main square of Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town in central Syria.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main Islamist faction which led the uprising that toppled President Bashar al-Assad, said foreign fighters had been detained over the incident.
HTS representatives have promised to protect the rights and freedoms of religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.
Demonstrators took to the streets across the country – through Damascus and Suqaylabiyah in Hama province.
Footage on social media appeared to show two masked fighters setting fire to the Christmas tree the night before Christians in Syria prepared to celebrate Christmas Eve.
Footage of the aftermath showed a religious figure from the governing HTS rebel group assuring crowds who had gathered in Suqaylabiyah that the tree would be repaired before the morning.
The man then held up a cross in a show of solidarity, something Islamist conservatives would not normally do.
Reuters
Protesters chanted as they marched through Damascus
On Tuesday more protesters took to the streets over the arson attack.
Some in the Kassa neighbourhood of Damascus chanted against foreign fighters in Syria.
“Syria is free, non Syrians should leave,” they said, in reference to the foreign fighters HTS said were behind the attack.
In the Bab Touma neighbourhood of Damascus, protesters carried a cross and Syrian flags, chanting “we will sacrifice our souls for our cross”.
“If we’re not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don’t belong here anymore,” a demonstrator named Georges told AFP news agency.
Syria is home to many ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shia and Arab Sunnis, the last of whom make up a majority of the Muslim population.
Just over two weeks ago, Bashar al-Assad’s presidency fell to rebel forces, ending the Assad family’s more than 50-year-rule.
How the HTS group will govern Syria remains to be seen.
HTS began as a jihadist group – espousing violence to achieve its goal of establishing a state governed by Islamic law (Sharia) – but in recent years adopted a more pragmatic, less uncompromising approach.
As fighters marched to Damascus earlier this month, its leaders spoke about building a Syria for all Syrians.
On Tuesday the new authorities announced that leader Ahmed al-Sharaa had reached an agreement with “revolutionary factions… to dissolve all factions and merge them under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defence”, according to Sana news agency.
Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said the ministry would be restructured to include rebel fighters.
Although the statement mentioned “all factions”, it was not clear exactly which groups are included in the merger.
There are multiple armed groups in Syria, including some opposed to HTS and others with ambiguous relationships with it at best.
Getty Images
Other protesters staged a sit-in inside Damascus’s Mariamite Church
HTS remains designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN, US, EU and UK, though there are signs that a diplomatic shift may be under way.
On Friday, the US scrapped a $10m (£7.9m) bounty on the head of HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, following meetings between senior diplomats and representatives from the group.
The US is continuing its military presence in Syria. It said on Friday that it carried out an air strike in the northern city of Deir Ezzor – killing two members of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.
The presence of foreign fighters, Islamist extremists, or even regime supporters who have interest in causing insecurity and attacking minorities to shake the country’s stability are the big challenge that the new Islamic leadership will face.
Gold rate remained unchanged on Tuesday. The rate of 24 carat gold is ₹7761.3 per gm, showing no variation. The rate for 22 carat gold is ₹7116.3 per gm, also unchanged.
Gold silver image
Over the past week, the rate of 24 carat gold has experienced a change of 0.72%, while in the last month, it has changed by 2.81%. The silver rate is currently ₹94400.0 per kg, having decreased by ₹100.0.
Gold rate in Delhi today stands at ₹77613.0/10 grams. The previous day’s price on 23-12-2024 was ₹77623.0/10 grams, and the rate recorded last week on 18-12-2024 was ₹78183.0/10 grams.
Silver rate in Delhi is reported at ₹94400.0/Kg today. On the previous day, 23-12-2024, the price was ₹94600.0/Kg, and last week’s price on 18-12-2024 was ₹95500.0/Kg.
In Chennai, the gold rate today is ₹77461.0/10 grams. The rate from yesterday, 23-12-2024, was ₹77471.0/10 grams, while the price last week on 18-12-2024 was ₹78031.0/10 grams.
The silver rate in Chennai today is ₹101500.0/Kg. On the previous day, 23-12-2024, the price was ₹101700.0/Kg, and last week’s price on 18-12-2024 was ₹102600.0/Kg.
In Mumbai, the gold rate today is ₹77467.0/10 grams. The price yesterday on 23-12-2024 was ₹77477.0/10 grams, and last week on 18-12-2024, it was ₹78037.0/10 grams.
The silver rate in Mumbai today is ₹93700.0/Kg. The price from the previous day, 23-12-2024, was ₹93900.0/Kg, while the price last week on 18-12-2024 was ₹94800.0/Kg.
The gold rate in Kolkata today is ₹77465.0/10 grams. The price on the previous day, 23-12-2024, was ₹77475.0/10 grams, and last week, on 18-12-2024, it was ₹78035.0/10 grams.
In Kolkata, the silver rate today is ₹95200.0/Kg. The previous day’s price on 23-12-2024 was ₹95400.0/Kg, and last week’s price on 18-12-2024 was ₹96300.0/Kg.
The gold February 2025 MCX futures were trading at ₹76270.0 per 10 gm, reflecting an increase of ₹0.165 at the time of publication. The silver March 2025 MCX futures were trading at ₹89295.0 per kg, showing an increase of ₹0.199 at the time of publication.
Gold and silver prices are influenced by various factors, including input from major jewelers. Key elements such as global demand for gold, currency fluctuations, interest rates, and government policies significantly impact prices. Additionally, international factors, including the state of the global economy and the strength of the US dollar against other currencies, also play a crucial role in determining gold rates in the Indian market.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), an independent agency of the US government, sued Walmart and the workforce payments company Branch Messenger on Monday for allegedly forcing delivery drivers to use specific bank accounts, costing them more than $10 million in junk fees and misleading them about payment access. The lawsuit focuses on Walmart’s Spark Driver program, which utilises gig workers for deliveries. The lawsuit The CFPB alleged in the lawsuit that Walmart forced drivers in its Spark Driver program to open and use Branch accounts for receiving their pay. It claimed that Walmart and Branch opened accounts for drivers without their consent, depositing earnings directly into Branch accounts. Walmart allegedly told drivers they had to use Branch and threatened termination for non-compliance. “Today, the CFPB sued Walmart Inc. and Branch Messenger, Inc. for forcing gig economy drivers to use costly and risky accounts to get paid and for deceiving workers about how they could access their earnings,” the CFPB said in a statement on the social media platform X.
Misleading payment practices The lawsuit also said that Walmart and Branch misled drivers about accessing their earnings quickly, resulting in over $10 million in fees for drivers transferring money to their preferred accounts. “Walmart made false promises, illegally opened accounts, and took advantage of more than a million delivery drivers,” said CFPB director Rohit Chopra. “Companies cannot force workers into getting paid through accounts that drain their earnings with junk fees.” Walmart runs the Spark Driver program nationally. Branch, a financial technology company, provides a digital bank account through Evolve Bank & Trust. The lawsuit accuses Branch of additional illegal activities, including failing to investigate errors, ignoring stop payment requests, and neglecting required record-keeping. The CFPB alleges these violations occurred for roughly two years, beginning in 2021. The lawsuit aims to halt the practices, compensate affected drivers, and impose a financial penalty payable to the CFPB’s victim relief fund. This penalty would be paid into the CFPB’s victims relief fund. Walmart and Branch Messenger’s response Both Walmart and Branch Messenger denied the allegations. They accused the CFPB of not giving them sufficient time to respond before filing the lawsuit. “We look forward to vigorously defending the company before a court that, unlike the CFPB, honors the due process of law,” Walmart said. The CFPB’s action follows its other initiatives concerning worker protections, including guidance on background checks and employer-driven debt. This marks the CFPB’s first action against a fintech partner of Evolve Bank & Trust related to deposit accounts, though the agency has previously sued another Evolve partner in the short-term loan sector. The Federal Reserve also took action against Evolve Bank & Trust in June for failing to oversee its fintech partners.
Cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces – 1/2 cup
Cinnamon – 1 teaspoon
Nutmeg – 1/4 teaspoon
for vanilla sauce
Thick cream – 1 cup
Granulated sugar – 1/2 cup
Kosher salt – 1/2 tsp
Pure vanilla extract – 1/2 tsp
Method
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Combine berries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and salt in a large bowl. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, until the berries start releasing their juice.
In another bowl, whisk together flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the cold butter and mix it into the dry ingredients with your fingers or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Transfer berry filling to a 9×9-inch baking dish. Add crumble mixture on top and spread evenly.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbly and tender.
Combine heavy cream, granulated sugar, and salt in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is hot but not boiling. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Serve the warm crumble with a drizzle of vanilla sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Input by Chef Sunil Singh of The Bluebop Café
Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
Material
for flour
Hot milk (105°F – 115°F) – 1 cup
Active dry yeast – 2 tsp
Unsalted butter, melted – 3 tbsp
White granulated sugar – 1/4 cup
Large eggs – 2 nos.
Ground ginger – 2 teaspoons
Ground cinnamon – 1 teaspoon
Ground nutmeg – 1/2 tsp
Salt – 1/4 teaspoon
Flour – 3 cups
to fill
Unsalted butter, softened – 1/2 cup
Brown sugar – 1/2 cup
Ground cinnamon – 2 tbsp
Ground ginger – 1 tablespoon
for glaze
Powdered sugar – 1 cup
Milk – 2 tbsp
Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
Method
In a small bowl, whisk together the warm milk and yeast. Leave it for 5-7 minutes until foam forms.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Add flour to the wet ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms.
Add the yeast mixture to the flour and mix until a sticky ball forms.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for 10-12 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, until it doubles in size.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out floured dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
Mix brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the butter.
Starting from the long side, roll the dough into a tight log. Cut the log into 12-15 equal pieces.
Place the rolls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch of space between each roll.
Bake the rolls for 18-20 minutes, until golden brown. While the rolls are cooking, prepare the glaze. Beat powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract together until smooth.
Remove the rolls from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls.
Input by Chef Sunil Singh of The Bluebop Café
Spiced Roasted Pears with Greek Yogurt and Toasted Almonds
Spicy Roasted Pears with Greek Yogurt
Material
Pears (ripe but solid, peeled and pitted) – 4 nos.
Roasted almonds or pistachios, chopped (for garnish) – ¼ cup
fresh mint leaves for garnish
Method
In a medium saucepan, combine the water, orange juice, maple syrup or honey, cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, and split vanilla bean (or vanilla extract).
2. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes so that the flavors blend.
3. Place the peeled and cored pears into the boiling liquid, making sure they are completely submerged (you may need to turn them occasionally if they are not completely covered).
4. Cook the pears for 20-25 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a fork. Cooking time may vary depending on the maturity of the pears.
5. Once done, remove the pears from the poaching liquid and let them cool slightly.
6. Cook the poaching liquid on low flame for 10-15 minutes, until it reduces and thickens into syrup. Place each cooked pear on a serving plate.
7. Sprinkle a little less syrup. Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt and sprinkle with roasted almonds or pistachios for crunch. If desired, garnish with fresh mint leaves for color.
Input by Chef Bina Noronha, Corporate Chef, Gigi & Lyla
Chocolate Lava Kulfi
Chocolate Lava Kulfi
Material
Chocolate, bitter-sweet – 270 grams
Butter, unsalted – 270 grams
Castor Sugar – 260 grams
Eggs – 10 nos.
Flour – 145 grams Sieve the flour before use
Method
One hour before use, make sure the eggs are at room temperature.
Crack in the eggs and yolks with an eggbeater on medium speed and beat until foamy. They should appear to double in volume.
While the eggbeater is running, slowly add the sugar.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave.
Mix the melted chocolate and butter in a bowl until well mixed and smooth.
Add melted chocolate to this egg mixture. Fold in with a spatula until well mixed.
Add the flour and fold gently until no clumps of dry flour are visible.
Grease or butter six 6-ounce ramekins. Then, lightly sprinkle cocoa powder or flour.
Pour the chocolate lava batter into ramekins and bake for 10-11 minutes. Serve it hot with Malai Kulfi Popsicle.
Inputs by Ajay Thakur, Corporate Chef, Hichki and Byroute
pull me the cheesecake
pull me the cheesecake
Material
For Eggless Basque Cheesecake
Cream cheese, soft – 600 grams
Granulated sugar – 200 grams
Vanilla essence – 1 teaspoon
Heavy cream – 300 ml
Flour – 25 grams
Cornstarch – 1 tablespoon
Baking powder – 1/2 teaspoon
Milk – 1/4 cup
a pinch of salt
For Caramel Sauce
Granulated sugar – 150 grams
Unsalted butter – 2 tbsp
Heavy cream – 200 ml
a pinch of salt
For raspberry compote
Fresh or frozen raspberries – 200 grams
Granulated sugar – 50 grams
Lemon juice – 1 tbsp
for garnish
Vanilla Ice Cream – 1 Scoop
Pistachios, chopped – 2 tbsp
Cut plastic sheet to fit cheesecake
Method
To make Basque Cheesecake
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Line an eight- or nine-inch round cake pan with parchment paper, making sure it extends beyond the edges.
Beat cream cheese and sugar together until smooth. Add milk and vanilla essence and mix well. In another basin, mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until the mixture is smooth.
Gradually beat in the heavy cream until the batter is creamy and well mixed.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is deep golden brown and the center is slightly jiggly.
Let the cheesecakes cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to set.
To prepare caramel sauce
Heat the sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it melts and turns golden brown.
While stirring constantly, slowly add the heavy cream (be careful of bubbles).
Mix butter and a pinch of salt until smooth. Keep aside to cool.
To prepare raspberry compote
Mix lemon juice, sugar and raspberries together in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring the berries, until the mixture thickens (about 10-15 minutes). Let it cool to room temperature.
To assemble the Pull Me Cheesecake, cut the cheesecake into neat rounds, if necessary. Wrap the plastic sheet tightly around the edges.
Drizzle warm caramel sauce and raspberry compote over the cheesecakes. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sprinkle with pistachios for garnish.
Gently pull up the plastic sheet to serve. Watch the caramel and compote dripping down the sides for a show-stopping dessert presentation.
Inputs by Ajay Thakur, Corporate Chef, Hichki and Byroute
French Hot Cocoa (Hot Chocolate)
French Hot Cocoa
Material
Milk – 1 cup
Cocoa powder – 1 tbsp
Sugar – 1 tbsp
Cinnamon – 1 pinch (as per choice)
for garnish
marshmallow
chocolate pieces
whipped cream
Method
Combine milk, cocoa powder, sugar in a saucepan and whisk until well dissolved. Let it boil for 2 minutes.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
3. Once it boils, take it out and pour it into a mug.
Input by Chef Warren John DeCosta, Deltin Royale Goa