🪖 India Responds to Pahalgam Attack

Good morning. It’s a heavy week this week 💔 A gentle reminder to take care of yourselves and hug and call your loved ones.

Thinking about all those affected by the recent tragedies 🙏 

Ruchirr Sharma & Shatakshi Sharmaa  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 🪖 India Responds to Pahalgam Attack

• 🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

  • 🧑‍💻 Accenture Acquires TalentSprint

  • 🚘️ BluSmart Under Fire

  • 🍅 Zomato's Food Delivery CEO Steps Down

• 🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

• 🍿 Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment

MARKETS

🇮🇳 India

• Indian markets rallied (broadly) to record highs for the seventh straight session, buoyed by IT and banking stocks. HCL Tech surged over 7% after strong quarterly results, and the broader market saw fresh all-time highs in midcap and smallcap indices.

🌍️ International

• US stocks closed sharply higher as easing tariff rhetoric and positive earnings boosted investor sentiment. Tech and consumer discretionary sectors led the gains, with Nvidia and Amazon both rising over 3%.

INDIA

 🪖 India Responds to Pahalgam Attack

In response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, India has implemented a series of stringent measures against Pakistan.

Key Measures Announced:

• Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty: India has decided to hold the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, halting the sharing of water from the Indus River system with Pakistan. This move is a significant diplomatic step, as the treaty has been a cornerstone of bilateral relations. ​

• Closure of the Wagah-Attari Border: The Integrated Check Post at Wagah-Attari, a major land crossing point between the two countries, has been closed with immediate effect. This action is expected to disrupt cross-border trade and travel.

• Cancellation of Visas for Pakistani Nationals: All visas issued to Pakistani nationals have been revoked, and those currently in India are required to return by May 1. Additionally, no new visas will be issued for Pakistani citizens.​

• Reduction of Diplomatic Staff: India has announced a significant reduction in the staff at its High Commission in Islamabad, limiting the number to 30 personnel. This downsizing is part of a broader effort to scale back diplomatic engagements. ​

• Expulsion of Pakistani Diplomats: Three Pakistani diplomats, including military advisors, have been declared persona non grata and expelled from India. This move underscores the severity of India's response to the attack.​

Overall: These actions reflect India's commitment to addressing cross-border terrorism and safeguarding its national security interests. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, as these developments could have significant implications for regional stability.

Read more: Economic Times

GENERAL OVERVIEW

🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

🧑‍💻 Accenture Acquires TalentSprint - Accenture has acquired deep tech education firm TalentSprint from NSE Academy to strengthen its LearnVantage platform. TalentSprint offers bootcamps, certifications, and e-degrees in AI, data science, and cybersecurity, supporting professionals at various career stages. With partnerships across IITs, IIMs, and other leading institutions, it brings strong academic collaboration and a 210-member team based in Hyderabad and Sunnyvale. The move aligns with Accenture’s $1 billion LearnVantage investment to accelerate upskilling for an AI-driven future. NSE CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan said the sale reflects NSE’s focus on core business. This follows Accenture’s recent investments in Udacity and Award Solutions.

🚘️ BluSmart Under Fire - EV ride-hailing company BluSmart has appointed Grant Thornton to conduct a forensic audit following whistleblower complaints about potential financial irregularities. The move comes as the company, which previously claimed ₹400–500 crore in reserves, faces scrutiny over missing funds. With monthly cash burn exceeding ₹20 crore, BluSmart suspended ride-hailing operations and pivoted to fleet services for Uber. The audit also follows SEBI’s action against Gensol Engineering—BluSmart’s sister company—for fund diversion. Meanwhile, employees await March salaries. Major investor bp Ventures said it is monitoring the situation closely, while the founders remain silent on the developments.

🍅 Zomato's Food Delivery CEO Steps Down - Rakesh Ranjan, who served as the CEO of food delivery at Eternal Limited (formerly Zomato Limited) since May 2023, has stepped down from his position. This leadership change comes as the company faces a decline in its market share in the competitive food delivery sector, which remains its primary revenue and profit driver. Founder Deepinder Goyal will temporarily oversee operations until a permanent successor is appointed. The company is considering both internal and external candidates for the role, with an appointment expected in the coming months.

HEADLINES

🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

What’s happening in India (and around the world 🌍️)

• Intel to lay off 15,000 more workers this week.

• OpenAI eyes Google Chrome to make it an “AI-first” experience.

• Swiss pharmaceutical Roche to invest billions in the US.

CULTURE

🍿 Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment

• Emily in Paris’ Camille Razat announces departure from Season 5.

• IPL 2025: MI beat SRH by 7 wickets. Leaderboard here.