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From BMW M4 Competition to Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z, know all the auto launches this week

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The world of automobiles has had some exciting launches this week. While Maruti Suzuki has launched the next-generation Swift, BMW has also introduced its latest coupe, M4 Competition.

Let’s take a look at all that’s in the news in the auto sector this week.

Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z

Bajaj has introduced the Pulsar NS400Z in India at a starting price of ₹1.85 lakh (ex-showroom). It comes with a 373cc engine and is available in 4 colours – Glossy Racing Red, Pewter Grey, Metallic Pearl White, and Brooklyn Black.

BMW M4 Competition

BMW India has introduced the M4 Competition M xDrive. Priced at 1.54 crore, the car is available as a Completely Built-Up (CBU) model and can be booked at a BMW dealership or through the BMW Online Shop.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

The next-gen Maruti Suzuki Swift will make its debut in the Indian market on May 9. The makers have already started accepting bookings and the deliveries are expected to start in June.

Ampere Nexus

Ampere has launched its first premium electric scooter, the Ampere Nexus, in India, priced at ₹1.10 lakh, with the top-spec ST priced at ₹1.20 lakh (ex-showroom).

Mahindra’s XUV 3XO

Mahindra introduced the XUV 3XO earlier this week with prices starting from ₹7.49 lakh (ex-showroom). The automaker will start accepting bookings online and at Mahindra dealerships from May 15, followed by deliveries from May 26.

The XUV 3XO comes with features such as a segment-first panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Disruptor

Ferrato has launched its inaugural electric motorcycle Disruptor at a price of ₹1,59,999. The company claims that the bike can be operated for 25 paise per km. This is now available for pre-booking on the official website of Ferrato and the deliveries are set to begin in 90 days.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

‘Heeramandi’ and ‘Shaitaan’ to ‘The Idea Of You,’ OTT releases this week

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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No major films released in theatres this week owing to the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections and Indian Premier League (IPL), but cinegoers shouldn’t be disheartened because the OTT platforms have a wide range of movies and series to offer.

From Ajay Devgn and R Madhavan-starrer Shaitaan to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, these web series and films cover a variety of genres, including epic sagas to horror.

Here’s a look at the films and web series to look forward to this weekend:

1. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar

Ace filmmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-awaited epic saga was released on Netflix on May 1. Set against the backdrop of the country’s turbulent freedom movement, the eight-episode series delves into a captivating narrative and focuses on a variety of themes, including love, power, vengeance, and liberation. Heeramandi boasts a stellar cast, which includes Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, among others.

2. Shaitaan

ADirected by Vikas Bahl, Shaitaan released in theatres around the world on March 8. The film, featuring Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan and Jyothika in the lead, narrates the story of a family whose lives are thrown into disarray after the eldest daughter falls under the spell of black magic cast by a mysterious stranger. Shaitaan reportedly earned close to ₹150 crore in the domestic market. It is a remake of the Gujarati film Vash. Shaitaan will be available for streaming on Netflix starting from May 4.

3. Manjummel Boys

Released in theatres in February this year, this hit Malayalam drama is directed by Chidambaram and narrates the story of a group of friends, who whose vacation at the Guna Caves in 2006 went wrong. The film is inspired by true events and features Soubin Shahir, Balu Varghese, Sreenath Bhasi and Ganapathi among others. The film will be available on Disney+ Hotstar on May 5.

4. The Broken News 2

The second season of popular show The Broken News revolves around the world of news reporting. Directed by Vinay Waikul, it features Sonali Bendre, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Shriya Pilgaonkar in the lead roles. While the first season focused on Radha Bhargava getting falsely accused of terrorism and being imprisoned, the second season showcases her quest for vengeance against Dipankar Sanyal. The Broken News 2 released on ZEE5 on May 3.

5. The Idea of You

The romantic comedy film, starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, tells the story of a divorcee, who is also the owner of an art gallery. As she takes her teenage daughter to Coachella, she gets romantically involved with a 24-year-old man, who works for the boy band August Moon. Directed by Michael Showalter, The Idea of You released on Amazon Prime Video on May 2.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

How to build a corpus of ₹2 crore with monthly investments

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Retirement planning is essential for enjoying the golden years of your life without any stress. Saving money is not enough and investing it responsibly is extremely crucial for creating a sizeable corpus. With the advent of new-age investing philosophies many people plan to retire in their fifties.

Mutual funds help conservative investors to put their money in equity instruments without directly getting exposed to the market volatility. If you are looking forward to building a corpus fund with regular investment of small amounts, you can choose mutual fund SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans).

It may sound unrealistic to achieve the target of ₹1 crore or ₹2 crore with SIP investments. But, it’s doable with meticulous planning.

In a recent conversation with CNBC-TV18’s Sonal Bhutra, Anand Dalmia, Co-Founder & CBO of Fisdom, and a personal finance expert shared advice on how one can retire at 55 with the right investments. The expert suggested that the SIP investments and other savings instruments can help build a retirement corpus of ₹2 crore.

Click her to watch the video with more details

Responding to a query from a 35-year-old viewer to achieve the target of ₹2 crore before her retirement at 55, Dalmia suggested a few tips to build the intended corpus.

The viewer added that she has invested ₹26,000 in a monthly SIP for the last two years and her portfolio is now worth ₹4 lakh.

The investment expert said that to build a corpus for retirement, it is important to increase the amount invested in the SIP as per growth in income.

“So the easiest thing as a rule of thumb is to keep increasing your SIP with the growth of your income,” Dalmia said.

He advised that for anyone looking to retire within 20 years, it is important to allocate 60–70% of the amount invested in the SIP in mid- and small-cap funds. The investment expert added that the remaining 30% of the funds can be allocated to FlexiCap funds which invest money in LargeCaps. The expert also said that the investment should be made in Direct Mutual Funds for better compounding. The expert concluded by saying that it is important to diversify your investment.

“We generally like for someone who is looking at retirement to 20 year tenure to look at a big quantity of around 60% to 70% in mid and small cap and the remaining 30% can mean flexicap which is largely large cap and large cap funds. So then you don’t miss out. But at the same time you are able to generate the alpha. Try and do it in direct mutual funds so that your compounding is even better. And the third is to try and diversify,” Dalmia added.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Heatwave Alert: Delhi education department issues guidelines for schools

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Amid soaring temperatures in the national capital, the Directorate of Education (DoE) under the Delhi government has issued guidelines for schools to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff members.

To combat the impending heat wave, strict instructions have been issued to both government as well as private institutions.

Some of the directions given to schools across the city include:

1. Display posters that will educate the students on preventive measures against heat-related illnesses.

2. During the scorching afternoon hours, schools have been asked to discontinue students’ assemblies as this will minimise their exposure to the intense heat.

3. To shield students from being exposed to direct sunlight, no outdoor classes will be held when the heat wave is declared.

4. Schools have been asked to refrain from organising any outdoor activities.

5. Schools are asked to ensure the availability of clean drinking water for the students and staff at all times. Also, water purifiers in the institutions should be fully functional.

6. In order to prevent dehydration, students must be given regular water breaks during class hours.

7. Schools have been asked to sensitise parents via the School Management Committee (SMC) members regarding the importance of covering the heads with umbrellas, hats, caps, towels and other traditional headgear when students are exposed to direct sunlight.

8. The first aid kits available at the schools must include an oral rehydration solution (ORS) to address any signs of heat-related illnesses among the students.

9. Whenever a case related to heat-related illness comes up, schools will have to report it to the nearest health facility or hospital.

ALSO READ | IMD heat wave update: Red alert issued for four states as mercury hits 45°C mark

“All DDEs (districts/zones) are requested to ensure the compliance of the same,” the order stated.

On Friday (May 3), Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 18.3 degrees Celsius, six notches below the season’s average, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The maximum temperature in the national capital is likely to settle around 38 degrees Celsius during the day. The weather department has also predicted strong surface winds.

ALSO READ | We all scream for ice cream: Vegan, guilt-free treats freeze out the heat wave this summer

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Shriram Properties gains 4% on acquisition of land parcel in Bengaluru for residential project

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Shriram Properties Limited shares gained 4% on Friday after the company announced acquisition of a prime land parcel in Bengaluru for developing a residential project.

The leading real estate developer catering to southern states, in a stock exchange filing said that it has purchased a 4-acre land parcel located at Chandapura micro market near Near Electronic City, Bengaluru, for developing a landmark residential project.

The upcoming project encompasses nearly 4 lakh square feet of aggregate saleable area, comprising approximately 350 apartments, the company informed the bourses. The project, expected to be developed over the next 3 years, has a revenue potential of over ₹250 crore.

The company aims to launch the project during the current financial year (FY25).

Murali Malayappan, Chairman and Managing Director of SPL, said, “Chandapura emerges as a vital micro-market with an anticipated surge in demand from the mid-market segment in the foreseeable future. Traditionally, the IT and ITeS sectors have been instrumental in propelling demand within the real estate sphere, a trend we anticipate will persist.”

According to the filing, the project will have access to tech parks and corporate hubs, as well as a strong social infrastructure featuring schools, healthcare facilities and retail outlets. The neighbourhood is also surrounded by upscale residential areas, shopping centres and educational institutions and has an array of entertainment options.

Shriram Properties Limited is focused on the mid-market and affordable housing categories. The company’s key markets include Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. These markets collectively contribute to approximately 85% of the company’s development activities.

Currently, SPL has 47 projects in its pipeline, which includes a total saleable area of 51 million square feet. The company has completed 44 projects in the past, comprising a saleable area of 24.3 million square feet.

Shares of Shriram Properties settled 1.8% higher at ₹122.55 apiece on the NSE at close.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Air India announces direct flights from Delhi to Zurich; details here

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Air India has announced a non-stop flight between Delhi and Zurich starting June 16. This will mark the Tata Group-owned carrier’s entry in Switzerland and takes its total number of cities served in mainland Europe to seven.

Air India will use its two-class configured Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to fly on the new European route for four days every week. These include Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

This new service is expected to provide people in Switzerland, along with those in southern Germany and western Austria a non-stop option to travel to Delhi, besides further connecting to other destinations across Air India’s rising route network, particularly in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia, a statement read.

As per the schedule shared by the airline, its flight AI151 will depart from Delhi at 1405 hrs and arrive in Zurich at 1915 hrs. Besides that, AI152 will depart Zurich at 2050 hrs and land in Delhi at 0805 hrs the next day.

This schedule allows travellers to conveniently connect to the company’s flights from the national capital to various popular destinations like Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Melbourne, Phuket, Singapore, and Sydney, among others.

“This new route strengthens the ties between India and Switzerland, which are not only major trading partners but also boast a vibrant exchange of people. With over 250 Swiss companies operating in India, hundreds of Indian companies in Switzerland, and a growing Indian diaspora of nearly 18,000, these flights will cater to a strong demand for business and leisure travel in both directions,” Air India’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Campbell Wilson said.

Wilson further stated that Switzerland, which has been a consistently top-ranking European destination for tourists in India, “will now be even more accessible, with these flights further solidifying the economic and cultural bridges between the two nations.”

At present, Air India operates 60 weekly flights to and from six cities in mainland Europe. These include Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Vienna.

“The scenic landscapes of Switzerland await you this summer. Set your for this vibrant city, where the eternal Zurich Lake meets the majestic Alps. Discover Zurich with 4x weekly non-stop connectivity from Delhi, starting 16th June,” Air India wrote on social media site X.

The scenic landscapes of Switzerland await you this summer. Set your for this vibrant city, where the eternal Zurich Lake meets the majestic Alps.

Discover Zurich with 4x weekly non-stop connectivity from Delhi, starting 16th June.

Bookings are now open. Head over to the Air… pic.twitter.com/sp7Rzc6RxI

— Air India (@airindia) May 3, 2024

It further said that bookings for direct flights to Zurich are being opened across different channels, including the Air India website, its mobile app as well as via travel agents and online travel agents.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Farmers’ rail roko protest in Patiala: 46 passenger trains cancelled, 50 diverted; check list

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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At least 50 trains were diverted on Friday as the ‘rail roko’ protest by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) continued at the Shambhu railway station in Punjab’s Patiala district.

The trains have been diverted to the Ambala-Chandigarh-Ludhiana route, the CPRO said. The Ambala-Ludhiana direct route and via Sambhu border remains impacted by the protests, it said.

Besides them, 46 passenger trains are expected to remain cancelled on this section until Saturday, May 4, according to reports.

Among the cancelled trains are Kalka Express, Satluj Express, Chandigarh-Amritsar Intercity Express and Jammu Mail.

For the last few weeks, farmers, under the banner of KMM and SKM (Non-Political), have been holding a sit-in on the tracks of the Shambhu railway station in Punjab, which lies close to the Haryana border.

The protesting farmers have made several demands, including a guarantee of MSP and an immediate release of three farmers earlier arrested by the Haryana Police.

The three arrested farmers are Navdeep and Gurkirat, who were taken into custody on March 28, and Anish, who was arrested on February 13.

Meanwhile, farmers group BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) has announced its plans to hold protests against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer if their demands are not implemented, reports said.

While Khuddian is AAP’s candidate from Bathinda, Hayer has been fielded by the party from Sangrur in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The organisation noted that protests will be held against them in several villages.

They have asked for ownership rights of nearly five acres of land for Kiranjit Kaur, who is the wife of a deceased farmer, at Jahangir village near Dhuri. They have sought relief for damage to crops and fair compensation for laying gas pipelines in several villages in Bathinda.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Raj Bhavan staffer accuses West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose of molestation, he denies charge

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The standoff between Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) and West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose further deepened after the ruling party flagged off the case of a woman contractual employee at Raj Bhavan. The woman alleged that she was molested by him, a charge which he has emphatically denied.

Reacting to the allegations, the Governor said he will not be cowed down by ‘engineered narratives’.

“Truth shall triumph. I refuse to be cowed down by engineered narratives. If anybody wants some election benefits by maligning me, God bless them. But they cannot stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal,” he said.

In a statement, the Raj Bhavan informed that the Governor had banned the entry of West Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya into the Raj Bhavan premises of Kolkata, Darjeeling and Barrackpore for making “defamation and anti-constitutional media statements”.

Moreover, the Governor has instructed his office that he won’t participate in any function attended by the said minister. Meanwhile, the attorney general for India has been contacted for advice on further legal steps against Bhattacharya.

The Governor has also “banned the entry of police into Raj Bhavan premises in the guise of conducting unauthorised, illegitimate, sham and motivated ‘investigation’ to placate political bosses during elections,” the statement read.

The woman works in the telephone room at Raj Bhavan and stays at the residential quarters on the campus itself, reported The Times of India.

On Thursday, she first went to the Raj Bhavan police outpost before 7 pm. From there, she was taken to the Hare Street Police Station, the report added.

In her police complaint, she claimed that the Governor on April 19 asked her to meet him with her CV, the report said. When she went to meet him on April 24 at 12.45 pm, he “touched her inappropriately and made untoward advances”, as per her complaint.

According to the woman, she was again called by the Governor to his office on Thursday. However, this time, instead of going alone, she asked her supervisor to accompany her as she was “scared,” the report stated.

“After talking for a while about work, he asked the supervisor to leave. He prolonged the conversation by talking about my promotion. He said he would call me at night and asked me not to tell anyone. When I refused, he tried to touch me. I protested and left,” the woman said in her complaint, The Indian Express reported.

Senior police officials said that they have received a complaint and are further looking into it.

“We are also consulting the matter with constitutional experts of the law department. As per the woman’s allegation, she was molested inside Raj Bhavan,” Deputy Commissioner of Central Division Indira Mukherjee said.

On the other hand, sources in the Governor‘s House have told PTI that the woman employee along with her alleged boyfriend, who also works at the Raj Bhavan, was blocking complaints (from people) being sent to the Election Commission.

“When she was reprimanded for that, she went outside and alleged molestation,” sources told the news agency, adding that she has been in the “habit of throwing tantrums against her colleagues because of some disease.”

Meanwhile, several TMC leaders have reacted to the incident on social media.

“How utterly appalling and Horrifying,” TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said in a post on X. She further termed it as “shocking and disgraceful”.

BIG. Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose accused of molesting a woman. How utterly APPALLING and HORRIFYING. Ahead of @narendramodi visit to Kolkata who is supposed to stay overnight at Raj Bhavan, a woman has alleged that she was molested while she went to meet the Governor at Raj…

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) May 2, 2024

The TMC government in West Bengal and the Governor have shared an acrimonious relationship ever since Bose assumed office in November 2022.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Ceat shares tank up to 10% on decline in Q4 net profit

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Shares of tyre maker Ceat on Friday plunged up to 10% after the company reported a 23% drop in net profit at ₹102.3 crore for the March quarter from its previous year.

The stock opened at ₹2,539.9 apiece on the BSE, marking a decline of 3% from its previous closing level of ₹2,620.7. Continuing the downward trend, the stock further plummeted up to an intraday low of ₹2,383.35 apiece.

However, around 12.30 pm, the stock recoverd over 6% and was trading nearly 4% lower.

.The tyre maker released its results for the fourth quarter and financial year ending March 31, 2024, on Thursday, May 2 after the market hours.

Market experts attributed the decline in CEAT stocks to weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings.

In a stock exchange filing on Thursday, the tyre maker announced that its net profit dropped 22.76% year-on-year to ₹102.27 crore for the fourth quarter that ended March 31, 2024, from ₹132.4 crore in the year-ago period.

The company’s revenue from operations grew 4.1% to ₹2,991.9 crore compared to ₹2,874.8 crore in the same period last fiscal year.

Additionally, at the operating level, its EBITDA rose by 6.5% to ₹391.7 crore in this fiscal quarter from ₹367.8 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

The board has proposed a final dividend of ₹30 per equity share, equivalent to 300% of the face value of ₹10 each fully paid up, for the financial year ending March 31, 2024. This recommendation is subject to approval by the members at the upcoming annual general meeting.

Shares of Ceat were trading 3.9% lower at ₹2,520.05 apiece around 12.35 pm on Friday, May 4.

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow