iWorld
Times Bridge appoints two Twitter execs to leadership roles
MUMBAI: Times Bridge has added two more Twitter seasoned professionals to its roster. The global investments arm of The Times Group has appointed Viral Jani and Margot Ling-former executives at the microblogging site-to its leadership team. Jani has been appointed senior vice president of investment operations while Ling has been appointed as head of greater China investments and partnerships.
Both appointments are effective immediately.
“The mission of Times Bridge is to bring the world’s best ideas to India and to share India’s best insights with the world,” said Times Bridge CEO Rishi Jaitly, who previously served as Twitter’s vice president, Asia Pacific and Middle East. “Viral and Margot are proven, mission-driven leaders who will help us build on recent momentum to scale the pan-India success of our investment portfolio and meet the demand for Times Bridge’s platform in China and beyond.”
Viral Jani, a graduate of MICA in Ahmedabad, has worked in a variety of functions across technology and media firms. Until recently, Jani led strategy, television and entertainment partnerships for Twitter across India working with key strategic partners to drive innovation and monetisation. Previously, he was Head of Strategy and Social Media for The Times Network. Jani will be based in Mumbai and lead the India success of Times Bridge’s growing investment portfolio, which includes Airbnb, Coursera, Houzz, MUBI, Thrive, Uber, Vice and others.
“India is a meeting point for the world’s great ideas and a microcosm of the world’s markets, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for all entrepreneurs,” said Jani. “At Times Bridge, I look forward to setting a new standard for what it means for big ideas, from our investment portfolio and beyond, to immerse across India.”
Margot Ling, before leading strategy and partnerships for Twitter across Greater China, helped global companies such as Dolby, News Corp and Edipresse structure deals in Mainland China. Ling will be based in Hong Kong and work with entrepreneurs and executives across Greater China to help them realize their India opportunity.
“China and India are not only the world’s fastest-growing economies but also two of the world’s most celebrated, ancient civilisations,” said Ling. “At Times Bridge, I look forward to building a bridge between India and China and, in so doing, setting a new standard for what it means for ideas to travel between cultures.”
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
