MAM
AlJazeera offers news alerts, voice portal facilities to mobile users
DUBAI: aljazeera.net, the e-news arm of Arab’s 24-hour satellite channel AlJazeera, has tied up with Al Majaz Telecommunications to provide latest news alerts and developments to GSM subscribers in the UAE through the AlJazeera Mobile.
AlJazeera Mobile was launched at GITEX 2003, the annual exhibition held at the Dubai World Trade Center recently.
AlJazeera’s marketing director Ali Kamal was quoted in a company release as saying, “Utilising latest speech recognition voice portal facilities the service promises to provide subscribers with breaking news and political, business and sports updates, as well as analysis,” Kamal said, “We are happy to enter into this strategic partnership with Al Majaz and Etisalat.”
The UAE is a major market for the AlJazeera Mobile which charges a nominal fee for the latest and most comprehensive news coverage.
The news alert service will be available for a monthly fee of AEDs 15 through Etisalat. In addition to the monthly subscription services, GSM subscribers can also ‘pull’ the latest headlines at a minimal fee of only AEDs 2 per alert, the release specified.
Subscribers can also have news read to them from the website via a voice portal service for the same monthly subscription, though the process will differ from post to pre-paid customers.
After Qatar and the UAE, AlJazeera plans to extend the service to other countries in the Middle East and North Africa, with a plan to cover mobile service networks worldwide.
AlJazeera, which launched its Arabic online news platform almost three years ago, had recently re-launched its online English language version both enjoying a combined average monthly rate of 20 million visitors and is today among the world’s leading news portals.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
