Delhi Liquor Scam NEW revelations, surge in stocks, new social media features...

Exciting Monday Morning, Otter community !!!

Today’s edition brings: More revelations on the Delhi Liquor Scam; New tax rules on MSME payments; Cochin Shipyard & more defense stocks surge!!; More QIP Funding expected in FY25; US clamps down more on exports to China; New features on Instagram, X and Apple Maps

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

• Delhi Excise Scam Bombshell!🕵️ CBI, I-T Validate ED's Rs 45 Cr 'Kickback' Trail to AAP's Goa Polls 🗳, Hawala network spills beans on transferring 'bribe money' as election funds 🙊; AAP cries foul, assets at risk of seizure

• Zomato Slapped with Massive Rs 23 Crore GST Demand 🍅 for FY19 by Karnataka authorities, 2 weeks after Gujarat issued GST penalty  notice of Rs 8.6 crore

• New Tax Hammer to Force ⚠️ Timely MSME Payments by Large Firms from April 1, no tax deductions for payments beyond 45 days window

• India's Fundraising Frenzy 🇮🇳: QIP mop-up soars 7X to Rs 78,000 cr in FY24, firms rush to raise capital at peak valuations;  Blockbuster FY25 expected with 🏦 mega QIP blitzkrieg to fund capex post-polls; 💰💰 Banking, PSUs dominate surge, REITs/InvITs emerge as new funding avenues

• Govt e-Market’s procurement surges at record high 📦 Rs. 4 Lakh Crore, set to revolutionize government purchases

• India rescues 250 nationals trapped in Cambodia's cyber scam crisis, intensifies crackdown on fraudulent recruiters 🗣️💼

• India's Space 2.0 Revolution 🌌: Mint Investment Summit 2024 propels the nation into a 📡  new era of space tech innovation, unleashing a wave of research and private investment 🚀

THE MARKET MOVEMENT

1. Defence: Stocks blaze glory 🔥🔥 Trail as Nifty Index soars 119% 💥 on self-reliance frenzy: Cochin Shipyard reigns with 280% surge, PSUs turn multi-bagger, 🐎 SME debutant Meson soars 229% - sector's relentless rally fueled by Rs 6.21L Cr defense bonanza

2. IPO extravaganza: 🚀 kicks Off FY25 as Bharti Hexacom's Mega Issue 📡 ☎️ Leads the charge, SME market abuzz with listings

3. Tech: 👨🏾‍💻 Infosys Set for Windfall Tax Refund of Rs 6,329 Crore 🌪️, financial boost sparks investor frenzy and growth prospects; May also face tax liability of Rs. 2,763 cr🌧

4. Aeronautics: Hindustan Aeronautics bags Rs 1,173.42 Cr contract 🛰 for Indian Navy's next-gen missile vessels with Cochin Shipyard, Kochi 🚢🚢

5. Chemicals: 🌀 Asian Paints' strategic move to expand in Singapore with SGD 32.1 million investment in subsidiary 💲🎨

GEOPOLITICS SPOTLIGHT

1. Tech War Escalates: 🇺🇸 US Tightens Restrictions on AI Chip Shipments to China, ⛔ Commerce Department Continues Crackdown

2. Eastern European Tango!!: 🇷🇴 Romania and 🇧🇬 Bulgaria Take a Step Closer to Europe's Schengen Travel Zone 🛂 , but Land Border Checks Still in Place

3. China's March 🇨🇳 manufacturing activity expands for the first time in 6 months❗, signaling economic recovery 📈; Success comes post approvals for the promotion of ⚙⚙ large-scale equipment upgrades and 🛍 sales of consumer goods

4. Erdogan 🆚 Imamoglu: Showdown for Istanbul in 🇹🇷 Turkey's High-Stakes Elections; Erdogan Seeks Istanbul Redemption, Imamoglu Eyes National Stage 🤼

TECH NEXUS

1. Starburst Accelerates into India: French Company partners with IIT Madras for $100 Million startup hub 🤖

2. Instagram's 'Blend': 🤳 A new twist on reels, bringing personalized recommendations for you and a friend; Unique collaborative feature absent on rival TikTok’s platform📱

3. Revolutionizing Human-Machine Interaction🗣️🤖: OpenAI unveils custom Voice Engine, paving the way for personalized and natural AI conversations; Testing security measures 🔑 for potential wider release

4. Apple Maps patent📍unveils revolutionary advanced navigation features: ⛽ refueling or charging station suggestions for EVs, ⛔avoiding restricted access areas based on license plates; Game-changer for navigation and exploration 🔍

5. X’s 'Click Here' Phenomenon ↙: The viral trend is X platform’s assistive technology ‘alt text’ aiding image accessibility for users with disabilities; Sparks curiosity, raises security concerns 🔐