Uber in Talks to Sell Its Food-Delivery Business in India

Uber is in advanced discussions to sell its food-delivery business in India, according to two people with knowledge of the plans, as the company moves to stem its losses.

The ride-hailing company is nearing a deal to sell its Uber Eats service in India to Zomato, an Indian food-delivery service, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to do so publicly. The sale could be announced as early as this week, they said.

A spokesman for Uber declined to comment. The talks were earlier reported by TechCrunch, which said a deal would value the India business of Uber Eats at $400 million.

Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s chief executive, has been trying to pare back money-losing businesses to prove to investors that the company can turn a profit. Investors have agitated both in public and behind the scenes for Uber to clean up its balance sheet since it went public earlier this year.

Uber’s initial public offering in May was a disappointment, with the company’s shares immediately plunging as investors questioned how much money the ride-hailing service loses. That event marked a turn in sentiment around high-profile-but-unprofitable tech start-ups, many of which had burned cash for years in the pursuit of growth. WeWork, another highly valued start-up, later shelved its plans for an I.P.O. as private investors cut the company’s valuation to a fraction of its former worth.

Investors have recently homed in on several issues at Uber, according to two people briefed on the conversations. Those include continued regulatory challenges around the world — most recently, transportation authorities said they would not extend Uber’s taxi license in London, one of its biggest markets — and ballooning expenditures.

Some investors have privately grumbled that Uber also paid too much for Careem, a Dubai-based ride-hailing and delivery company that Uber announced this spring it would acquire for $3.1 billion.

According to two people familiar with the matter, investors have also privately complained to Mr. Khosrowshahi about the expense of its Advanced Technologies Group, which develops self-driving vehicles. No decisions have been made about the unit, these people said, which has more than 1,000 full-time employees.

While Uber Eats has been a bright spot for revenue growth, the company has offered subsidies and free promotional offerings to gain new users, which has been expensive. In a conference call with investors last month, Mr. Khosrowshahi said his plan for Uber Eats was to take first or second place in every city it operates.

“If we can’t make it to that level, we’ll look to dispose or we’ll get out of the market,” he said at the time.

In India particularly, Uber Eats has struggled to sign up restaurants, diners and delivery agents in a brutally competitive market where Zomato and other delivery start-ups like Swiggy are well established. Uber has had to offer heavy incentives to lure customers there.

In September, Uber also announced that it was pulling its Eats business out of South Korea, where the company faced stiff competition from local start-ups.

Mr. Khosrowshahi has previously retreated in ride-hailing in Southeast Asia, where the company faces difficulties competing. In 2017, under then-chief executive Travis Kalanick, Uber pulled out of China, where the company was burning billions of dollars. That same year, Uber largely withdrew from Russia.

How To Make Dal Pakwan, Traditional Lentil-Based Sindhi Breakfast

Traditional Indian breakfasts can be an indulgent affair. Be it stuffed parathas, chhola bhaturas, kachoris, nihari, or poori sabzi, India has an array of greasy and sumptuous breakfasts. Sindhi cuisine is famous for its rich and fiery curries, but a quintessential Sindhi breakfast spread makes for a flavourful ride too. One of the most popular Sindhi breakfasts is dal pakwan. Dal, here refers to a toothsome chana dal preparation that is tempered with chillies and a range of eclectic spices. Dal is paired with thin and crispy bread made with maida, cumin seeds, black pepper and ghee.

This recipe of dal pakwan by noted vlogger and YouTuber Manjula Jain is an ideal recipe for those who are trying their hands at the dish for the first time. The decadent dish is ideal for lazy weekend brunches. A hit with kids and adults alike, cooking this Sindhi delicacy is fairly easy and does not take very long either. This recipe was shared on Manjula's YouTube Channel 'Manjula's Kitchen'. If you have friends coming over, you can always surprise them with this classic Indian vegetarian recipe. The ingredients used in the Sindhi preparation are also not so elaborate. For the dal, you would need some chana dal, turmeric, ginger, green chilli, black pepper, garam masala, mango powder, curry leaves and cumin seeds. For pakwan, you need all-purpose flour, semolina, cumin seeds and oil. Dal Pakwan is traditionally served with tamarind chutney and onions.

Eating Junk Food During Pregnancy May Up Risk Of Autism In Kids

Processed food has been blamed for a number of lifestyle ailments including increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and even poor mental health. Processed foods include microwave-ready meals, packaged cheeses and breads, frozen pizzas, as well as cakes, cookies and sugar-sweetened beverages. All these foods have been pegged by health experts as the root cause of a variety of different ailments. A new study has now linked processed foods to autism as well. The study has indicated that consuming processed foods may increase risks of autism, which is a development disorder that affects a person's ability to clearly communicate and interact.

The study titled, "Propionic Acid Induces Gliosis and Neuro-inflammation through Modulation of PTEN/AKT Pathway in Autism Spectrum Disorder" was published in the journal Scientific Reports and it indicated that a rise in autistic children may have been resulting from consumption of junk or processed food by pregnant women or expectant mothers. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Central California. The researchers have claimed to have identified the molecular changes that take place in neuro stem cells when they are exposed to an acid that is present in processed foods. The acid is called Propionic Acid (PPA) and it is used abundantly in packaged or processed foods to increase their shelf-life.

This acid, the researchers have now found, may affect and reduce development of neurons in the fetal brain. The scientists have said that earlier studies have showed higher levels of this acid in stool samples collected from autistic children, whose gut microbiome were also found to be different. Excessive amounts of the acid were shown to shorten and damage neural pathways as well. This combination of reduced neruons and impaired neural pathways, impede the brain's ability to communicate, resulting in behaviors that are often found in children with autism. The study concluded by saying, "This study is the first to link PPA and ASD-microbiome by-product to gliosis, disturbed neural architecture, and increase in inflammatory response, all of which may translate into dramatic neuro-complications including ASD."