Malaysia Airlines has announced a strategic partnership with Mumbai Indians, India’s most successful and widely followed cricket team, taking on the roles of Associate Sponsor and Official Global Airline Partner. This collaboration is part of the airline’s broader initiative to accelerate sports-driven brand and commercial growth in key global markets, while reinforcing its long-term commitment to India, one of its most important growth markets.

To celebrate the launch, 100 Wau Bulan kites were released at Jio World Gardens in Mumbai during Makar Sankranti, India’s annual kite festival. The event symbolised the coming together of cultures through sports and travel. Mumbai Indians’ Head Coach, Mahela Jayawardene, also joined the ceremony alongside club representatives.

With a global fan base exceeding 55 million, Mumbai Indians offer Malaysia Airlines a significant platform to connect with audiences across India and internationally, extending its renowned Malaysian Hospitality to a diverse community of cricket fans.

Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of MAG, said, “India remains a cornerstone of our international network. With 80 weekly flights connecting 10 major Indian cities, Malaysia Airlines serves as a vital link between India and the world. Our partnership with Mumbai Indians is a strategic investment, allowing us to engage an immense, highly active audience, drive brand preference, and foster loyalty. By combining the excitement of world-class cricket with the warmth of Malaysian Hospitality, we are creating unique experiences while supporting tourism and trade between our nations.”

A Mumbai Indians spokesperson added, “We are proud to partner with Malaysia Airlines, a brand that shares our dedication to excellence, global reach and meaningful fan engagement. This collaboration allows us to connect our fans with new travel experiences while celebrating the shared passion for sport, culture and hospitality. Together, we aim to create memorable moments for fans both on matchdays and beyond.”

Under this partnership, Malaysia Airlines will offer exclusive fan touchpoints, including on-ground engagements, co-branded experiences, special merchandise, and player-led appearances, connecting cricket enthusiasts with the airline outside of matchdays.

The airline will continue promoting its Bonus Side Trip (BST) programme, enabling international travellers transiting through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) Terminal 1 to explore an additional Malaysian destination at no extra fare, excluding taxes. Travellers can select from eight domestic destinations, experiencing Malaysia’s cultural, natural, and heritage attractions in a single journey.

As Malaysia’s national carrier, Malaysia Airlines will also support Visit Malaysia 2026 in collaboration with government and industry partners, aiming to enhance connectivity and position Malaysia as a must-visit destination for travellers from India, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

Rebel Foods, the master franchise holder for Wendy’s in India, has announced the launch of two new Wendy’s dine-in restaurants in Gujarat, located in Ahmedabad and Anand. The move further strengthens the brand’s footprint in the state, which continues to emerge as an important growth market for organised quick service restaurant brands.

The newly opened outlets are designed to cater to both dine-in and takeaway customers, offering modern and welcoming spaces that reflect Wendy’s bold and flavour-forward brand identity. With this expansion, Wendy’s brings America’s Most Loved Burgers closer to consumers in Gujarat, aligning with the growing demand for global food experiences in the region.

Customers at the new Gujarat locations can enjoy Wendy’s globally popular Frosty dessert, along with a diverse menu that offers one of the widest flavour ranges in the Indian gourmet QSR segment. The menu features global inspirations such as Argentina’s Chimichurri, Louisiana’s Cajun, Korean fiery Buldak, American BBQ, India’s Tandoori, and Mexico’s Nachoburg, offering a truly international burger experience under one brand.

Commenting on the expansion, Ankush Grover, co-founder & global CEO of Rebel Foods, said, “Gujarat continues to be a strong growth market for us, driven by a young consumer base and increasing demand for global food experiences. The launch of dine-in restaurants in Ahmedabad and Anand reflects our commitment to expanding Wendy’s presence in Gujarat while offering formats that align with evolving consumer preferences.”

As Wendy’s continues to scale across India, the brand remains focused on Gen Z and Millennial consumers who seek bold flavours, authenticity, and globally relevant dining experiences. Through flavour-led innovation, contemporary store formats, and strong cultural relevance, Wendy’s is well positioned to grow across both urban centres and emerging markets.

Rebel Foods is steadily expanding Wendy’s presence in India through a hybrid model that combines traditional dine-in restaurants with cloud kitchens, supported by a technology-driven operating platform. In just over five years since entering the Indian market, Wendy’s has grown to over 200 locations nationwide, strengthening its presence across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities.

Eternal has stated that there has been no material change to Blinkit’s quick commerce business model, following reports that platforms would discontinue the use of “10-minute delivery” branding. The clarification came in response to a notice from stock exchanges after media reports suggested that the development could impact the company’s operations and share price.

In a regulatory filing, Eternal said that there was no change to Blinkit’s business model that could have any material impact on the company. The company specifically addressed its quick commerce arm, stating that operations continue as usual despite the removal of the 10-minute delivery promise from branding and advertising.

The filing also responded to reports of sharp stock price movements, which Eternal denied. The company said there had been no unusual movement in its share price during trading hours, contrary to media speculation.

The clarification followed comments made earlier in the day by labour and employment minister Mansukh Mandavia, who asked quick commerce platforms to stop promoting 10-minute delivery claims. According to people familiar with the matter, the government raised concerns that such promises place excessive pressure on delivery workers and could compromise their safety.

Quick commerce players including Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart reportedly assured the government that they would remove 10-minute delivery pledges from their platforms. The intervention comes after nationwide strikes by gig worker unions on December 25 and December 31, two of the busiest days for the sector. Worker groups have demanded that aggressive delivery timelines be scrapped and earlier payout structures restored, arguing that such models increase safety risks and have, in some cases, led to accidents.

Following the backlash, Blinkit has started displaying the distance of the nearest dark store to customers on its app. The move is aimed at improving transparency around delivery timelines rather than committing to fixed delivery promises.

Earlier, Eternal founder Deepinder Goyal had shared his views on the gig economy, describing gig work as one of India’s largest organised job creation engines. He stated that the sector provides insurance coverage and predictable wages to workers, while also maintaining that the industry requires less regulation to grow further. Goyal has previously defended fast deliveries, saying that shorter timelines are made possible by the proximity of stores to customers rather than by pushing delivery partners to travel faster.