Operations at Mumbai airport's main runway resumed after a SpiceJet Boeing 737 aircraft, which skidded off the runway due to heavy rains, was successfully removed. The incident led to the cancellation of nearly 180 flights over a 25-hour period. The removal operation was conducted by a joint engineering team from Air India and Mumbai International Airport Limited. Mumbai airport, the second busiest in India, has two crossing runways, with the main runway now back in operation.

Raj Thackeray, leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has shifted his political stance from Marathi identity politics to Hindutva rhetoric, unveiling a new saffron flag and addressing Hindu supporters. This move mirrors the historical shift of his uncle, Bal Thackeray, founder of the Shiv Sena, who transitioned from regional chauvinism to Hindutva in the 1980s. Raj Thackeray's strategy aims to fill the political void left by the Shiv Sena's alliance with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party. However, this rebranding faces challenges, including alienation of his previous voter base and opposition from the Maratha community. The article questions the viability of this new political direction for the MNS.

OYO Hotels and Rooms is planning to expand its room inventory to 1 million in the near future, with a target of 2.5 million rooms by 2023, aiming to become the world's largest hotel chain. The company currently operates over 13,000 franchised and leased hotels globally, with significant presence in India and China. OYO is also focusing on expanding into Asian countries, particularly Japan, by the 2020 Summer Olympics. Additionally, the company is implementing a digital record system for customer data sharing with state governments in India.

Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd, emphasized the importance of data localisation and ownership by Indian people, likening 'data colonisation' to historical colonisation. Speaking at the Republic Summit in Mumbai, he supported Indian authorities' efforts to mandate local data storage, citing the Supreme Court's stance on data privacy. Ambani argued for a decentralised data model, contrasting it with the aggregator model, and stressed that data should belong to individuals, not corporations. The Reserve Bank of India and the government are pushing for regulations to ensure data is stored within India, despite opposition from companies like Google.

The BSE Sensex closed slightly lower by 10 points in a volatile session, with IT and pharma stocks being the top losers due to foreign fund outflows. Despite opening higher and gains in capital goods, banking, and auto sectors, profit-booking led to a reversal of early gains. Infosys, Wipro, and TCS were among the major losers, while Yes Bank and Larsen & Toubro saw significant gains. The broader markets, including small-cap and mid-cap indices, performed better, and sectoral indices showed mixed results with capital goods and realty gaining, while IT and healthcare declined.

Inito, a Bengaluru-based medical technology startup, has developed a fertility monitor that allows women to track their fertile days at home. Founded by IIT alumni Aayush Rai and Varun AV, the company aims to address the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases in India through home diagnostic devices. Inito's fertility monitor, launched in December 2017, is experiencing significant growth, with 40% of sales coming from non-metro cities. The company plans to expand its product offerings and enter South East Asian markets by the end of the year, with a goal of reaching 10 million households by 2020.

The central government has extended the deadline for submitting 'Expression of Interest' bids for Air India's divestment to 31 May 2018. The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a corrigendum and clarified several aspects of the divestment process, including the government's plan to retain a 24 percent stake and the provision of ESOPs from the government's shareholding. The government aims to divest 76 percent of its stake in Air India, 100 percent in Air India Express, and 50 percent in AISATS. The strategic disinvestment includes the transfer of management control and sale of 76 percent equity share capital of Air India.

SEBI is investigating a significant drop in InterGlobe Aviation's stock, the parent company of IndiGo, which occurred hours before the resignation of its president, Aditya Ghosh. The probe focuses on potential delays in disclosure and possible insider trading violations. InterGlobe Aviation maintains compliance with all listing requirements. The investigation will involve further clarifications from the airline, its promoters, directors, and the outgoing CEO. IndiGo, India's largest airline, is set to announce its financial results shortly.

The MUDRA scheme, launched under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, aims to provide low-interest loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises to foster entrepreneurship and job creation. Despite its potential, Haryana lags in its implementation, with low awareness and cumbersome processes hindering its success. The state has a high unemployment rate, and the scheme could significantly benefit its economy. Experts suggest that banks' reluctance to offer collateral-free loans and lack of promotion are major barriers. The government is urged to enhance awareness and streamline processes to realize the scheme's full potential.

Amazon.com Inc is considering a rival offer to purchase Indian e-commerce company Flipkart, which is currently in discussions with Walmart Inc for a potential acquisition. Walmart aims to acquire over 40 percent of Flipkart in a deal that could value the Indian company at $21 billion. Flipkart, established by former Amazon employees Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, leads India's online retail market. The deal with Walmart would challenge Amazon's expansion in India, where it has pledged to invest $5 billion. Flipkart has attracted various investors, including Tiger Global Management, eBay, Microsoft, Tencent Holdings, and SoftBank Group's Vision Fund.