Asia News & Trends


Women leaders on vulnerability, strength, and structural changes in "Authentic Ascent"
An interesting panel discussion on the topic of "The Authentic Ascent: Leading with Vulnerability and Strength" took place at the 6th edition of the Women Disruptors Summit & Awards 2025. Industry pioneers gathered to talk about systemic changes that enable women in leadership positions in addition to their own personal journeys.Pritha Mitra Dasgupta, Chief Marketing Officer of Havas India, presided over the meeting, and panelists included: Kinnari Dave, Shemaroo Entertainment's Business Head for ShemarooMe Prachi Bali, Head of Saatchi Propagate and EVP Shwetal Basu, Polycab India's Senior Vice President and Head of Brand & Marketing"We are no longer applauding leaders who never flinch," said Pritha Mitra Dasgupta, who opened the conversation by saying .that the days of leaders who stood like rock without flinching were long gone. In actuality, we are admiring those who possess the capacity for tenderness, resilience, empathy, and ambition.She continued by asking Kinneri Dave how both astute strategy and flexibility are necessary to successfully navigate a legacy business through the digital maelstrom. "Could you describe a situation where you were able to bring things back on track when they were veering off course because of your transparency rather than just your strategic abilities?""When you take over a brand, a legacy brand as large as Shemaroo, the burden of the brand and the legacy is huge, and you're always on edge, making sure you're not denting it," Kinnari Dave said, citing a server crash as an example that demonstrated the leadership transfers. I can clearly recall that five years ago, I oversaw product and technology for another company before taking the helm at Shemaroo.I remember clearly the day one of our servers broke and we lost a lot of data because it's a legacy brand and we had a major tech move. At that period, leading product technology for a heritage company felt extremely risky because of the media and people' doubts about a legacy brand going digital in comparison to Netflix. We told stakeholders, "Yeah, we've had a crash, lost data, and need time to figure this out," rather than jumping into solution mode, I said. However, we'll make sure that things return to normal. I then said to the crew, "All right, so this is where we are." Let's focus on finding a solution and separating the problem from the who.That made things more relatable and encouraged cooperation. Because we came together and worked as a single, cohesive team, I believe that's where we found the solution and recovered more quickly than anticipated.
Published 14 Apr 2025 07:37 PM


In a new covert Santa commercial, IGP adds a gangster touch to office gifts.
IGP debuted a brand-new Christmas advertising campaign. The office Secret Santa in the advertisement has a gangster vibe. It draws attention to likable characters at work. IGP provides a variety of practical presents. The ad highlights growing tendencies in office gifts. The goal of IGP is to simplify corporate gifting.With the debut of its second ad video under the 'Amazing Gifts, Samay Par' campaign, International Gifts Platform, or IGP, has added a humorous and inventive twist by putting a birthday celebration in the Stone Age. This most recent episode satirically reimagines the classic problem of selecting the ideal birthday present, demonstrating that gift selection was important even in prehistoric times. The campaign's main concept is that a well-considered present given at the appropriate moment can have a lasting effect.The advertisement transports us to the Stone Age, when even prehistoric people understood that a birthday celebration wouldn't be complete without the ideal cake. A young cave lad surprises his crush with a delectable cake and blooming flowers from IGP in a world where stone tools are cutting edge and fire is considered a luxury. Every cave-dweller at the gathering is won over by the cake, which becomes the talk of the tribe. The message is clear: a thoughtful, well-timed present can make a lasting impact in any era, whether you are looking for dinner or running contemporary errands!
Published 13 Dec 2024 10:46 PM


Review of Pushpa 2 The Rule and live updates Rashmika Mandanna and Allu Arjun's movie will be accessible to those with disabilities; BO update
Review of Pushpa 2: The Rule and live updates: Pushpa's follow-up with Director Sukumar: The Rise is about to blow the box office away. Rashmika Mandanna, Fahaadh Faasil, and Allu Arjun are the film's main actors. Allu will play laborer-turned-sandalwood smuggler Pushpa Raj in the follow-up to the Telugu blockbuster from 2021. Rashmika portrays Srivalli, his wife.Tickets for Pushpa 2's December 4 launch are available at select theaters for ₹944 (GST included). The film has surpassed previous marks set by Kalki 2898 AD, Bahubali 2, and KGF 2 to become the fastest film to sell one million tickets on the platform, according to online ticketing portal BookMyShow.Like many recent south-bound films that have shattered records in the Hindi-speaking belt, the movie is expected to gross over ₹60 crore on its first day in the north. The excitement generated by the trailer launch in Patna was just a taste of the excitement that will surround its release.
Published 05 Dec 2024 08:22 PM


Did artificial intelligence sap Coca-Cola's Christmas cheer?
Social media users reacted negatively to Coca-Cola's recent AI-generated Christmas advertisements. Many contend that the intended Christmas spirit was overshadowed by the campaign's lack of emotional connection and appropriate execution. Although the advertising' technology was impressive, the narrative fell short of the success of Coca-Cola's seminal 1995 commercial. We sought the opinions of prominent figures in Indian advertising.Social media users made fun of Coca-Cola's AI-generated Christmas advertisements when they were published last month. Some users felt that the magic had been lost in the advertisements, which were meant to honor the brand's famous Coca-Cola Christmas commercials from 1995, "Holidays Are Coming." Experts in the field offer their opinions on whether the recent internet backlash against the cola giant's advertisements is the result of bad execution or AI failure.The CCO of DDB Mudra Group, Rahul Mathew "I believe that a campaign's ambition is what makes it successful. You won't be content until you achieve your goal of being the most talked-about campaign. On the other hand, you will be content that you are out there if your goal is simply to be there. I believe the goal of the Coca-Cola commercial was just to be an AI execution. And rather than being a tale that appeals to everyone's Christmas spirit, that has turned into the commercial's narrative."Animation, CG, AI, and live action are all methods of execution. The customer does.
Published 04 Dec 2024 10:14 PM


A new RBI governor has been appointed by Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra.
Sanjay Malhotra, a former Revenue Secretary, has been named Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor. According to a statement from the administration, he will assume leadership on Wednesday and serve for three years. Mr. Malhotra is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Rajasthan cadre, having been drafted in the 1990 batch. He received a master's degree in public policy from Princeton University in the United States and a bachelor's degree in computer science from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur.In a career spanning over 33 years, Mr Malhotra has worked in several sectors including power, finance and taxation, information technology, mines etc.
Published 09 Dec 2024 07:42 PM


The Chief Justice withdraws from legal arguments on the employment of poll workers.
Sanjiv Khanna, the Chief Justice of India, resigned on Tuesday from hearing arguments against the legality of the statute that removed him from the committee responsible for selecting the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners.The Chief Justice, who shared the bench with Justice Sanjay Kumar, informed the petitioners' attorneys that he was unable to hear their plea. "List the matter before a bench of which I am not a part of," he stated.He said that the matter will be heard after the winter break and would be reallocated to a separate bench, excluding the Chief Justice. During that time, the Chief Justice also instructed the Center and other parties to submit answers to the petition.In their representation of the petitioners, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan and attorney Prashant Bhushan stated that the previous bench, which was led by Justice Khanna, who had not yet been promoted to the position of Chief Justice, had issued interim orders in the case back in March. Notably, the Chief Justice of India was not allowed to serve on the committee that appointed the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners as a result of the Election Commissioners' Act, which was approved in December 2023. The Prime Minister, a Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition currently make up the appointment panel.A number of individuals, notably the Association for Democratic Reforms and Congressman Jaya Thakur, contested the legality of Section 7 of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, and requested a halt to its implementation. A different Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, had earlier in March declined to halt the new law's implementation of the appointment of new Election Commissioners (ECs).
Published 05 Dec 2024 08:52 PM

Election Commission ruling by the Supreme Court: When judicial activism shapes the law
By adopting the Constituent Assembly's mantle in its March 2, 2023, ruling, the Supreme Court of India essentially rewrote some of the Constitution's clauses. The Court mandated that revised guidelines for the Election Commissioner's appointment be adhered to.According to these regulations, a committee made up of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India must advise the appointment of the Election Commissioner. The Court defended this by saying that these regulations are necessary to address the "lacuna" in the laws governing this topic. However, it is clear that the Court has acted in flagrant contempt of the doctrine of the separation of powers if we examine the Court's reasoning and the laws pertaining to the appointment of Election Commissioners in greater detail.The Constitution itself, which aimed to create three institutional organs—the legislature, executive branch, and judiciary—is the source of the theory of separation of powers. The Constitution also outlined the roles of these three branches, with the legislature enacting laws, the executive branch enforcing them, and the judiciary rendering decisions. But the same Court that once acknowledged this theory as a component of the Constitution's "basic structure" has now reversed it.
Published 03 Dec 2024 05:34 PM


Amitesh Jha of Flipkart is appointed CEO of Swiggy Instamart.
With effect from September 4, 2024, Swiggy has named Amitesh Jha as the new CEO of Swiggy Instamart. Jha offers more than 20 years of expertise to the position, having previously worked with Flipkart.The on-demand meal delivery service Swiggy announced in a press release today, August 29, that Amitesh Jha has been named CEO of Swiggy Instamart. On September 4, 2024, Jha will take over as CEO of the fast commerce company.As competition intensifies in the rapid commerce space, Swiggy has made a move into larger e-commerce categories by appointing Flipkart veteran Amitesh Jha as the new CEO of Instamart.Amitesh Jha, a Flipkart veteran, was named CEO of Swiggy Instamart by IPO-bound Swiggy at a time when rapid commerce competitors are preparing for a fierce competition with e-commerce behemoths. The hiring of Jha reflects the desire of rapid commerce companies to expand beyond grocery by entering e-commerce markets that have historically been robust, such electronics, fashion, and clothing. According to his LinkedIn page, Jha, who has 14 years of experience at Flipkart, was most recently the Senior Vice President of Category and Marketplace, where he oversaw high-growth companies that accounted for 70% of transactions on the Walmart-owned e-commerce platform.Swiggy Group CEO Sriharsha Majety highlighted Jha's "extensive experience in leading core categories such as smartphones, general merchandise, fashion, and large appliances, as well as managing their logistics arm" when he explained why the former Flipkart executive was chosen to lead Instamart. Protecting Swiggy Instamart's market share, which UBS thinks is currently between 20 and 25 percent, compared to Bernstein's projections of 35 to 39 percent in 2023, is one of Jha's biggest problems. In addition to market leader Blinkit's steady rise, BigBasket's complete focus on speedy commerce and Zepto's charge, which is being supported by $1 billion in new funding, are the main causes of the assault.
Published 02 Dec 2024 11:47 PM


At Cannes, did Urvashi Rautela's wardrobe malfunction? A viral video raises questions on the internet.
During the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Urvashi Rautela just had a "oops" moment. This is the response from the internet. At the 78th Cannes Film Festival, Urvashi Rautela is drawing attention with her daring dress choices and strong style. Urvashi attended the screening of the Brazilian film O Agente Secreto (L'Agent Secret / The Secret Agent) for the second time on Sunday. And for reasons she most likely did not anticipate, her red carpet appearance soon became the talk of the town.Urvashi Rautela is seen in a striking black gown in images and videos that are doing the rounds on the internet. However, neither the shine nor the silhouette attracted much notice on the internet. When she raised her arm to wave at the cameras, a noticeable hole appeared close to her underarm, and it was the actual "oops" moment. The wardrobe malfunction was quickly noticed by astute internet users, and social media was inundated with responses.Urvashi Rauteka's red carpet footage was posted on Instagram Stories by fashion commentator Diet Sabya, who said, "Dekho, gotta respect the hustle." I'm sorry for her, Bichari. It is essentially the kiss of death to walk the Cannes red carpet without any paparazzi. "Is that a hole there?????" was one of the comments on the video.
Published 19 May 2025 05:33 PM

Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible: Final Reckoning Receives a 5-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes 2025. View Nighttime Photos
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise arrived at the Cannes Film Festival in style on Wednesday night, thrilling fans as he made his way to the premiere of his new movie, "Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning."Christopher McQuarrie, his longtime partner and director, accompanied the 61-year-old actor on the red carpet. The star was spotted signing autographs and taking photographs with admirers. When fans saw the actor, they were also seen waving posters and other items from Cruise's previous movies, such as Mission: Impossible II and The Last Samurai. According to The Hollywood Reporter, some even made a little homage to Cruise's Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer. This time, after its Wednesday debut at the Grand Theatre Lumiere, Tom Cruise's film earned a thunderous 5-minute standing ovation.It was seen that the Hollywood celebrity thanked the festival attendees. He reflected on his thirty years as the face of Mission: Impossible and remarked, "I'm very grateful to be a part of this franchise."The actor also gave the director, who has directed four of the franchise's movies, respect. Tom Cruise referred to the filmmaker as "absolutely brilliant," saying, "Every step of the way, what you've done, how you've expanded it, how you just went beyond our expectations." "I couldn't have imagined anything like this as a child, to be here in Cannes and have these moments," he remarked. "I'm really appreciative that I've been able to amuse you with this franchise for thirty years."
Published 15 May 2025 03:33 PM


Day 10 of Pushpa 2 (Hindi) Trends in the Box Office: The biggest second Saturday in Hindi cinema history is achieved by the Allu Arjun film.
Pushpa 2: The Rule (Hindi), starring Allu Arjun, is an unstoppable force at the box office, setting yet another record on the second Saturday. Early trends indicate that the Sukumar-directed film hopes to earn between Rs 41.00 crore and Rs 43.00 crore on the tenth day, bringing its total earnings to Rs 458 crore. With a gross of Rs 33.00 crore, the Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao-starring Stree 2 was the most grossing second Saturday in Hindi cinema history.The movement and momentum in the evening and night shows will determine if Pushpa 2 will even approach the Rs 45 crore milestone on the tenth day. If it succeeds, Pushpa 2's second Saturday will gross more than Stree 2's second Sunday (Rs 42 crore), which says a lot about the movie's dominance at the box office. Pushpa 2's second weekend could bring in close to Rs 115 crore, which would once again be the largest amount ever made.After surpassing the box office receipts of Animal, Bahubali 2, Pathaan, and Gadar 2 in just 13 days, the Allu Arjun flick is expected to surpass the Rs 500 crore mark on Sunday and rank as the third-biggest Hindi feature film ever by Tuesday. In order to become the most successful Hindi film ever and the first to ever reach the Rs 600 crore milestone, the movie will then be vying for the box office receipts of Jawan and Stree 2.
Published 14 Dec 2024 08:54 PM


Day 6 global box office receipts for Pushpa 2 The Allu Arjun-Rashmika Mandanna film is the quickest Indian production to reach the Rs 1000 cr milestone.
Day 6 box office collection for Pushpa 2: The Rule: The movie starring Rashmika Mandanna and Allu Arjun had a fantastic first weekend at the box office. Indeed, the movie saw a sharp decline in box office receipts on Monday as the week began, despite doing exceptionally well in the first four days. According to reports, Pushpa 2: The Rule made Rs 1000 crore today worldwide. The makers claim that Pushpa 2 is now the fastest Indian movie to join the exclusive membership.As of yet, Pushpa 2 has not made Rs 650 crores at the domestic box office. The Hindi box office receipts for Pushpa 2 were reported by trade analyst Taran Adarsh. The force of "PUSHPA 2" is unstoppable. Unflappable at the #BO, #Pushpa2 extends its winning streak. Its #Blockbuster reputation is cemented by the astounding weekday patterns on Monday and Tuesday. The movie should become the fastest to reach the ₹ 400 cr milestone today [Wednesday; Day 7], given its incredible hold on weekdays. Going forward, it is anticipated that #Pushpa2's outstanding performance in *Weekend 2* will be bolstered by the lack of new releases this Friday, paving the way for a grand entrance into the ₹ 500 cr Club. [First Week] Pushpa2 Sat: 74 cr, Fri: 59 cr, Thu: 72 crThe Telugu version of Pushpa 2 made Rs 11 crores on the sixth day. On Tuesday, the Tamil version brought in Rs 2.5 crores, Kannada brought in Rs 0.4 crores, while Malayalam only brought in Rs 0.5 crores. The action drama made over Rs 150 crores on its first day of release. Unexpectedly, the Telugu version of the movie showed a surge in occupancy. The Telugu version of the movie had an occupancy of 34.79 percent on Tuesday, compared to 25.87 percent on Monday. Additionally, the general occupancy of the Hindi version of Pushpa 2 increased. The occupancy increased to 38.76 percent on Tuesday from 24.83 percent on Monday.
Published 11 Dec 2024 08:18 PM


Today's stock market: Asian stocks are divided as Wall Street emerges from its holiday-season slump
HONG KONG (AP) — Following Wall Street's recovery from the holiday season blues, Asian stocks are uneven, with markets in China and Tokyo seeing declines.As Tokyo's market reopened following the lengthy customary holiday, the finance minister of Japan rang in the New Year, and employees wearing suits and kimonos applauded for good fortune in 2025.Katsunobu Kato, the finance minister, declared that the Japanese government would take action to assure economic growth driven by investment and salary rises. He also promised to "grasp signs of recovery" and make sure that "every single citizen can feel the improvement in their salaries."Much of Asia has been wary of possible changes under President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to drastically increase tariffs on imports from China and other nations, which might impede growth for a region that depends significantly on trade. After U.S. President Joe Biden turned down Nippon Steel's roughly $15 billion offer to buy Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel Corp., the company was predicted to file a lawsuit. On Monday, Nippon Steel's stock dropped 0.7% in Tokyo. On Friday, U.S. Steel's stock fell 6.5%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.5% to 19,654.82, while Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 1.6% to 39,258.25. At 3,194.20, the Shanghai Composite index fell 0.5%.
Published 06 Jan 2025 10:33 PM


FPIs Lower Paytm Stakes to Less Than 1%
OVERVIEW Tiger Pacific Master Fund owned 1.03% of the shares in the June quarter, UBS Principal Capital Asia owned 1.06%, and Societe Generale owned 1.98%. The company's total FPI ownership fell from 20.04% in the prior quarter to 16.77% in the September quarter. On the BSE, Paytm's shares closed Thursday's trading session 3.47% lower at INR 696.35.Tiger Pacific Master Fund, UBS Principal Capital Asia, and Societe Generale are among the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) who have decreased their investments in Paytm.Paytm Datalabs_in-article-iconTiger Pacific Master Fund owned 1.03% of the shares in the June quarter, UBS Principal Capital Asia owned 1.06%, and Societe Generale owned 1.98%.These stakes dropped below 1% at the end of September, therefore they were not included in the most recent data that was made public.In the quarter that ended in September, the total FPI ownership in the business fell from 20.04% to 16.77%. Paytm has been contacted by Inc42 to provide feedback on the development. The response will be used to update the story.On the BSE, Paytm's shares closed Thursday's trading session 3.47% lower at INR 696.35.In the quarter that ended in September, the holdings of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) Societe Generale, Tiger Pacific Master Fund, and UBS Principal Capital Asia in One 97 Communications fell below 1%. Due to general market weakness, Paytm's shares fell 3% intraday to a low of Rs 700 on the BSE.
Published 17 Oct 2024 05:24 PM

F&O-banned stocks on July 15, 2024
On Monday, July 15, 2024, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) imposed a trading suspension on eleven equities in the futures and options (F&O) segment.These stocks were prohibited because their market-wide position limit (MWPL) exceeded 95%. These equities can still be traded in the cash market even though they are prohibited in the F&O segment.The list of securities subject to the F&O prohibition is updated on a regular basis by NSE. The following stocks are prohibited as of July 15:Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Balrampur Chini Mills Bandhan Bank Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals GMR Infra GNFC IEX India Cements Indus Towers Piramal Enterprises RBL BankDerivative contracts for these securities were included in the embargo period, according to the NSE, because they exceeded 95% of the MWPL. Clients and members may only trade in these assets' derivative contracts during this prohibition period in order to offset their positions and decrease their holdings. Any increase in available employment will be met with the proper legal and disciplinary measures. During the ban period, no new positions are allowed in the F&O contracts of stocks.
Published 15 Jul 2024 05:57 PM

After a 20% gain in a month, will Wipro's stock reach its one-year highs again?
Wipro stock price: At Rs 530.70, the stock was last seen trading 3.07 percent higher. It has increased 19.54% at this pricing in the last month. The share price was down 2.82 percent from its 52-week high of Rs 546.10, which was reached on February 2 of this year, notwithstanding the aforementioned increase.Wipro Ltd.'s shares increased 4% on Monday to reach a high of Rs. 535.50. At Rs 530.70, the stock was last seen trading 3.07 percent higher. It has increased 19.54% at this pricing in the last month. The share price was down 2.82 percent from its 52-week high of Rs 546.10, which was reached on February 2 of this year, notwithstanding the aforementioned increase. "The relative value of IT equities appears advantageous when looking at it in the long run. Long-term investors may want to look into equities like Wipro," said WealthMills Securities Director of Equity Strategy Kranthi Bathini.Having said that, Bathini continued, "the upcoming quarterly results and guidance will be extremely crucial going forward." Support for the counter's technical configuration was visible in the Rs 500–490 area. Additionally, additional upside requires a firm close above Rs 545.Wipro has gained a lot of momentum after breaking beyond the Rs 500 barrier. On an intermediate perspective, the stock is ready to attempt the recent swing high of Rs 545. It would be important to keep an eye on the counter for a breakout above the indicated zone, as this might lead to significant traction in a similar amount of time. Any short-term hiccup is probably to be cushioned on the lower end by Rs 500–490, according to Osho Krishan, Senior Research Analyst, Technical & Derivatives at Angel One.
Published 01 Jul 2024 05:30 PM


The message of Maharashtra's unexpected and historic victory is for Viksit Bharat Sitharaman Nirmala
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman described the victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance as "unexpected and unprecedented," saying that the Maharashtra elections were not your typical assembly elections and that the result sent a strong message for "Viksit Bharat."Additionally, the Union Minister congratulated Devendra Fadnavis on his election as the Maharashtra BJP legislative party's leader."I congratulate all elected MLAs," Sitharaman stated at the legislative party gathering. I congratulate Devendra Fadnavis on his election as the legislative party's leader. The 14 crore votes cast in this election send a message to the entire country of India. This election was not your typical assembly election. Following the Lok Sabha elections, the country's voters clearly gave their consent in the elections of Haryana and Maharashtra. Maharashtra's unexpected and historic triumph.Sitharaman went on to say that Maharashtra's next "double-engine" administration will be more effective in all areas, including AI technology, industry, farmers, investment, and regional development. "I think that the uncertainty brought about by the previous governments, which were led by the Congress and coalition, exhausted the people of Maharashtra and the country. Under the PM's direction, the double engine government will seek to advance while meeting the PR.
Published 05 Dec 2024 08:33 PM


The Union Budget 2024 may see the government loosen the 45-day payment restriction for MSMEs.
According to insiders, the government may decide to loosen the rule requiring MSMEs to be paid for goods and services within 45 days of the purchase in order to deter big corporations from exploring alternative sources of funding This could be announced in the budget, which is expected to be delivered on July 23.Overview. The government is thinking about easing the 45-day payment deadline for MSMEs in an effort to keep big businesses from looking for alternative suppliers. It is possible that this modification to Section 43B(h) of the Income Tax Act would be disclosed in the forthcoming July 23 Budget. As per the Finance Act 2023's introduction of Section 43B(h) of the Income Tax Act, a larger company may face greater taxes if it fails to pay an MSME within the stipulated timeframe of 45 days for written agreements. This is because the firm cannot deduct the payment from its taxable income.The amendment was introduced to allow MSMEs to receive payments on time, but many of them expressed fear, according to sources. They said they were afraid that large corporations might ask their vendors to give up their MSME registration in order to do business with them, or they might shift their sourcing requirements to larger firms in an effort to protect their interests.
Published 09 Jul 2024 06:19 PM


2024 Budget Why this July, in July, Nirmala Sitharaman will release the budget
Nirmala Sitharaman would thus become the first finance minister to introduce seven Union Budgets in a row.The Union Budget 2024 for the fiscal year 2024–25 is anticipated to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the second part of July. By doing this, she will beat Morarji Desai, who presented six consecutive Budgets, to become the first Finance Minister to present seven successive Union Budgets. The most comprehensive report of the central government's finances, the budget estimates the government's revenue and expenditures and includes information on all sources of revenue as well as government-incurred costs.In recent years, February 1 has been the day for the presentation of the Union Budget. On February 1st of this year, Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget for FY24, given that it was an election year. This year's Lok Sabha elections saw the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) defeat the opposition's INDIA alliance for the third time in a row. As a result, Nirmala Sitharaman will give the Union Budget in its entirety the following month.The 18th Lok Sabha's first session, which convened on June 24, is now in progress. The session, which ends on July 1, has already seen the swearing-in of new members and a joint sitting of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha on June 27 during which President Droupadi Murmu delivered a speech.
Published 01 Jul 2024 06:26 PM


Road safety and enforcement checkpoints will be erected; the MP government eliminates transport checkposts at interstate boundaries.
The government of Madhya Pradesh is going to establish new road safety and enforcement checking stations and has eliminated the transport check posts at interstate borders. There will be 45 checking points set up initially, and until these points are operational, enforcement will be temporarily handled by mobile forces. Home guards, enforcement officers, and district transport office officials will make up these mobile units. With effect from today, the Madhya Pradesh government eliminated the transport checkpoints at the state's interstate borders and announced the establishment of new road safety and enforcement checkpoints.In the first phase of the state under the new system, 45 checking points will be implemented. In the interim, before the new checkpoints are prepared, mobile units made up of house guards, district transport office employees, and enforcement personnel will be established.In a video conference meeting with officials on Sunday at CM House, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav gave orders for district-level administrative and police personnel to assist the Transport Department in implementing the new system.
Published 12 Aug 2024 10:23 AM


Is the 'Caveman Skincare Routine' a hoax in terms of hygiene?
I'm a regular TikTok scroller (the four hours of screen time a day speaks for itself), and I've seen a ton of beauty films, from popular trends to amazing hacks that would put a Victorian kid in a coma. The caveman skincare method, however, may just take the biscuit—or perhaps I should say water—as the most talked-about topic on SkinTok lately.The 'Caveman Skincare Method' is the skincare regimen that TikTok creator Tia Zakher has lately described in a number of videos on the platform. "After 8 years of picking and over-exfoliating, I'm healing my skin barrier by doing the one thing I never tried before... absolutely nothing," Tia explains in a video that has received 9.7 million views. In other words, she has stopped using water in addition to all skincare products (I'm referring about moisturizer, exfoliant, and cleanser). Tia responded to Cosmopolitan UK's inquiry on why she chose to utilize the caveman skincare method by saying, "I decided to do it because I wanted to try a different approach and I do think it's working for me."
Published 28 May 2025 07:49 PM


According to Instagram, rubbing raw ginger can help clear up acne. Are dermatologists in agreement?
Another day, another Instagram beauty tip that has gone viral. You surely have a feed full of skincare tips on how to treat acne if you have it, like I do. Social media is using natural components from your kitchen, such as flax seeds for "botox" and raw garlic. This time, raw ginger is the focus, as influencers assert that applying it topically can help eradicate acne. It seems like a simple solution to acne, doesn't it?Innumerable videos of Indian skinfluencers with radiant skin can be found online these days, stating that the key isn't pricey facials but rather applying raw ginger directly to acne outbreaks to treat them right away. But is this spicy suggestion really supported by any science?To find out if this pattern is reliable, let's take a closer look and get some professional guidance.What are the opinions of experts? First, let's get this out of the way. Anything is not necessarily beneficial to your skin just because it is natural. particularly when used undiluted and raw. Senior consultant dermatologist Dr. Gulhima Arora of Mehektagul Dermaclinic states that ginger has only been indirectly shown to be effective in treating acne in scientific studies. It shouldn't be regarded as the primary or first line of treatment. She emphasizes that acne is a complex condition and that not all of its triggers can be addressed by a single spice.Dermatologist and Kaya Limited medical advisor Dr. Saranya B concurs, saying that using raw ginger to the face is not a clinically validated method of treating acne. Despite its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, direct application may irritate skin. According to Skin Smart Solutions' founder and principal dermatologist, Dr. Bindu Sthalekar, "there is no scientific proof that applying raw ginger topically treats acne." Theoretically, it might be beneficial, but only if taken in conjunction with other drugs and with good tolerance.
Published 17 Apr 2025 08:57 PM


How to get ready for a multilingual child
You can do a lot to set the stage for your child to learn the languages you want them to know before they are born.For every new parent, expecting a child—especially their first—is a lot. Where the baby will sleep, how to arrange for feeding, changing, and bathing, and how to set up your work schedule so that you or another caregiver can spend time with the child are just a few of the many unknowns and preparations that need to be made. If you are able to speak multiple languages, you might want your child to be able to speak them as well.Although this isn't always the case, many people in the English-speaking world know very little about any other language. Nearly 60% of EU citizens between the ages of 25 and 64 are "good" or "proficient" in at least one language other than their first. Many youngsters can anticipate having several first languages as they are born into households where multiple languages are spoken on a regular basis. It's possible that your parents speak various first languages or that you were raised speaking multiple first languages. Neither parent's first language may be the one spoken by the majority of people outside the family.You can do a lot to set the stage for your child to learn the languages you want them to know before they are born. Parents might talk about the language skills they hope their child will acquire. Which language or languages should your child learn as their first language from the beginning? Generally speaking, the original language or languages are more developed than subsequent languages. If more than three or four languages are involved, you might have to prioritize due to practical constraints. Making sure the child receives adequate, consistent exposure to and contact with each language they are learning is crucial. Parents frequently desire to engage with their infant in the
Published 03 Jan 2025 09:02 PM


Indian-American Miss India USA 2024, born in Chennai
Caitlin Sandra Neil, an Indian American girl from Chennai, won the title of Miss India USA 2024 at the yearly contest in New Jersey.Ms. Caitlin, 19, is a University of California, Davis second-year student. "I want to leave a positive lasting impact on my community and focus on women's empowerment and literacy," Caitlin was quoted as saying in a press statement.Ms. Caitlin was born in Chennai, India, and has spent the previous 14 years in the United States. She aspires to work as a web designer in addition to modeling and acting.In the pageant run by the India Festival Committee (IFC), Sanskriti Sharma from Illinois was named Mrs. India USA, and Arshita Kathpalia from Washington was crowned Miss Teen India USA. Caitlin Sandra Neil and Sanskriti Sharma were crowned Miss India USA 2023 by Rijul Maini and Mrs. India USA 2023 by Sneha Nambiar. In the Miss India USA contest, Manini Patel of New Jersey and Nirali Desia of Illinois were crowned first and second runners-up, respectively. In the Mrs. India USA contest, Virginia's Sapna Mishra and Connecticut's Chinmayee Ayachit were crowned first and second runner-up, respectively. According to the press release, Sonali Sharma and Dhriti Patel of Rhode Island were named the teen category's first and second runners-up, respectively. Twenty-five states sent forty-seven participants to compete in the pageant's three divisions.
Published 21 Dec 2024 03:41 PM


BCCI vice-prez Rajeev Shukla says the IPL 2025 will start on March 23. The Champions Trophy squad announcement date has been announced.
Rajeev Shukla said the IPL 2025 starts on March 23 and disclosed the date for India's Champions Trophy team release.Vice-president Rajeev Shukla of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 would begin on March 23. Shukla disclosed the tournament's start date to the media on Sunday after the BCCI general meeting.Important decisions pertaining to the management of Indian cricket were taken at the BCCI meeting on January 12 in addition to the announcement of the IPL's start date. According to Shukla, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia has been elected as the BCCI treasurer, while Devajit Saikia will take Jay Shah's place as the organization's new secretary. He added that the 2025 Women's Premier League (WPL) venues will be revealed soon, and that the Champions Trophy teams meeting will be held between January 18 and 19. However, there have been differing claims regarding the IPL's start date. According to ESPNCricinfo, the competition will really commence on March 21. According to a BCCI insider cited by PTI, the competition would start on "March 20 or 21."Gautam Gambhir and Indian captain Rohit Sharma attended the review meeting on Saturday in response to India's dismal showing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where the team lost 1-3 to Australia. Another 0–3 clean-sweep loss to New Zealand at home came before the series. "The Border Gavaskar Trophy performance, what went wrong, and the necessary course adjustment were all covered in depth. However, do not anticipate a hasty decision from the new BCCI administration," a source familiar with Board events told PTI under anonymity.
Published 13 Jan 2025 09:45 PM


The 'Made of Bold' sports development initiative is launched by RCB.
RCB's "Made of Bold Sports Development Programme" was started with the goal of identifying and developing athletes from all over the world.To find talent and develop athletes from all over the world, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) started the "Made of Bold Sports Development Programme."On Thursday, the RCB issued a statement that read, "With a vision to unearth talent and nurture athletic champions from across regions, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are elated to announce the Made of Bold Sports Development Programme launch.""RCB's larger goal of creating a Sports Forward Nation, which aims to create a strong and sustainable sports ecosystem for India, includes the Made of Bold program as a key component. In order to promote active sports growth in the nation, this initiative seeks to find and develop athletes as well as start a conversation among important industry players," Rajesh Menon, Vice President and Head of RCB, stated in a news release. "We firmly think that when communities and sports come together, everyone benefits in the long run. This is for the socioeconomic impact on the neighborhood as well as for the talent that has been found and developed. With an emphasis on using sports as a bridge to underprivileged areas, we hope to accomplish this through RCB's Made of Bold Sports Development Programme in support of long-term development," he continued.Shreyanka Patil, the star cricket player for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), spoke on the program, saying, "I am very excited to see the 'RCB's Made of Bold Sports Development Programme' begin. Creating inclusivity and providing a platform for athletes and their communities to flourish is exactly what we Indian athletes need. This program is a good start for India, a huge country with a lot of unrealized sporting potential.
Published 21 Dec 2024 03:44 PM

In a live interview, Jasprit Bumrah gives Sanjana Ganesan a hug the video goes viral online.
In addition, Jasprit Bumrah won Player of the Tournament with 15 wickets in eight games.After Team India won the T20 World Cup 2024, the hurts from their failure in the ODI World Cup 2023 final were salted on Saturday. In the last game, Team India defeated South Africa by a margin of seven runs, led by captain Rohit Sharma. India played brilliantly and were undefeated throughout the competition. One of the main factors in India's triumph at the major tournament was pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who drove his side to victory in numerous games with his amazing spells.Bumrah Jasprit gives Sanjana Ganesan a hug. Video Breaks the Internet During a Live InterviewIn addition, Jasprit Bumrah won Player of the Tournament with 15 wickets in eight games.Sports Desk on NDTVUpdated at 02:19 PM IST on July 01, 2024Two minutes to read In a live interview, Jasprit Bumrah gives Sanjana Ganesan a hug; the video goes viral online. Sanjana Ganesan and Jasprit Bumrah together© X (Twitter) After Team India won the T20 World Cup 2024, the hurts from their failure in the ODI World Cup 2023 final were salted on Saturday. In the last game, Team India defeated South Africa by a margin of seven runs, led by captain Rohit Sharma. India played brilliantly and were undefeated throughout the competition. One of the main factors contributing to India's victory in the majorThe fans were astonished by the top pacer's performance. Such "couple goals" moments are what Bumrah and Sanjana are renowned for providing their fans with. In eight matches, Bumrah took 15 wickets and won Player of the Tournament. He was instrumental in India's triumph over the Proteas in the summit confrontation. You can only listen to the newest music on JioSaavn.com. "Normally, I'm the one who makes an effort to control my emotions so that I can concentrate on my work, but right now, my emotions are taking control and I'm running out of words. After a game, I don't normally cry, but this one feels very meaningful. We thought we were in trouble halfway through, but to pull off a victory like this is
Published 01 Jul 2024 05:26 PM


Shah Rukh Khan declared he would give a flying kiss to celebrate winning the IPL. Rana Harshit
Rana was instrumental in the Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL victory, taking 19 wickets in 13 matches. The Delhi speedster's aim is to play for India after his breakout IPL season.The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team ran on the engine of Harshit Rana, who went on to win the championship three times. Harshit, the uncapped Indian bowler, came through for his team during the first half of the IPL when Mitchell Starc was having trouble keeping his rhythm. In 13 games, he claimed 19 wickets. After being interviewed by The Indian Express, Harshit, 22, talks about his experience in the IPL, what Shah Rukh Khan promised him, why he began playing cricket, and his future aspirations.
Published 12 Aug 2024 10:24 AM


The PM claims that concentrating only on commerce in the South Pacific won't help New Zealand "get rich."
Important Points The most recent nation to enter into an economic alliance with the United Arab Emirates is New Zealand. The prime minister of New Zealand told CNBC that in order to find economic prospects, the South Pacific island nation must go outside of its immediate area. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sees an opportunity to increase bilateral trade between the UAE and New Zealand through the free trade agreement inked on Monday.As the South Pacific island nation forges an economic alliance with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the prime minister of New Zealand told CNBC that the nation must search for trade prospects outside of its immediate borders. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon views the free trade agreement, officially known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), as an opportunity to increase bilateral trade between the two nations and positions the United Arab Emirates as one of the Middle East's biggest marketplaces.Luxon told CNBC Monday, "We have a long-standing relationship that dates back more than 40 years of diplomatic recognition, and the opportunity now is to deepen and broaden the economic relationship. "The signing of the CEPA and the bilateral investment treaty is crucial because, in reality, these two small, developed economies share many values and similarities, and we hope to be able to collaborate and strengthen our relationship.
Published 15 Jan 2025 07:59 PM


As the nation commemorates the centennial of Vajpayee's birth, his legacy endures.
The centennial of Atal Bihari Vajpayee honors his important political accomplishments to India. He served a full term as India's first prime minister who was not a member of the Congress. Vajpayee continues to play an admirable role in Indo-Pakistan ties, coalition politics, and effective administration. He was a great statesman and orator who had a long-lasting effect on national policy and parliamentary democracy in India.Using his trademark flourish, Atal Bihari Vajpayee made one of his most well-known predictions during the BJP's first convention at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on December 30, 1980: "Andhera chhatega, suraj niklega, kamal khilega" (darkness will end, the sun will rise, lotus will bloom). His remarks have held up well as the centennial of his birth approaches, with lotuses in full bloom and the BJP regaining control of the center for a third consecutive term.Vajpayee assisted the BJP in gaining traction when its cultural goal was viewed as anathema, if Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it the focal point of national politics.In a world full of powerful satraps, India's first non-Congress prime minister to serve a full term was a statesman politician and an unmatched orator who garnered admiration and respect from people on both sides of the political spectrum. He stood tall with his natural democratic spirit, which he had developed over decades of opposition.
Published 24 Dec 2024 10:43 PM


The message of Maharashtra's unexpected and historic victory is for Viksit Bharat Sitharaman Nirmala
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman described the victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance as "unexpected and unprecedented," saying that the Maharashtra elections were not your typical assembly elections and that the result sent a strong message for "Viksit Bharat."Additionally, the Union Minister congratulated Devendra Fadnavis on his election as the Maharashtra BJP legislative party's leader."I congratulate all elected MLAs," Sitharaman stated at the legislative party gathering. I congratulate Devendra Fadnavis on his election as the legislative party's leader. The 14 crore votes cast in this election send a message to the entire country of India. This election was not your typical assembly election. Following the Lok Sabha elections, the country's voters clearly gave their consent in the elections of Haryana and Maharashtra. Maharashtra's unexpected and historic triumph.Sitharaman went on to say that Maharashtra's next "double-engine" administration will be more effective in all areas, including AI technology, industry, farmers, investment, and regional development. "I think that the uncertainty brought about by the previous governments, which were led by the Congress and coalition, exhausted the people of Maharashtra and the country. Under the PM's direction, the double engine government will seek to advance while meeting the PR.
Published 05 Dec 2024 08:33 PM


Election 2024 Live By 1 pm, voter turnout in Maharashtra was 32.18%, while in Jharkhand, it was 47.92%.
Election 2024 Live: On Wednesday, by-elections are being held for 15 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand in addition to the Maharashtra and Jharkhand legislative assembly elections.Election 2024 Live: On Wednesday, November 20, Maharashtra and Jharkhand will hold assembly elections. All 288 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra are up for election in a single phase. But in Jharkhand, where voting for 43 constituencies was held on November 13 with a 64.86 percent voter turnout, polling is being held for the remaining 38 seats. has been is now being is just being is really being is still being is already being is also being has been being is always being is only being was already being will be can be itself is must be would be also is could be may be might be had been is should be being was then is then is now is mostly is really is always is again is sometimes is also is already is further is just is either is first is often gets is only is still is even has already beenBy-elections for 15 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand are also taking place on Wednesday in addition to the legislative assembly elections in these two states. Voting in Maharashtra's 288 constituencies began at 7 a.m. and will end at 6 p.m. There are 9,64,85,765 registered voters in Maharashtra, including 1,16,355 service voters. In the entire state, 1,00,186 polling places have been set up by the Election Commission of India (ECI).Since the most recent assembly elections, Maharashtra's political climate has undergone substantial changes. Former allies the BJP and Shiv Sena ran against the Congress and the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar. The Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition after the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance broke up due to disagreements over the chief minister's responsibilities. In contrast, polling in Jharkhand started at 7 am at 14,218 polling places and will run until 5 pm, with the exception of 31 booths, which will close at 4 pm.
Published 20 Nov 2024 04:53 PM
Entertainment
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Sports Trend


BCCI vice-prez Rajeev Shukla says the IPL 2025 will start on March 23. The Champions Trophy squad announcement date has been announced.
Published 13 Jan 2025 09:45 PM


The 'Made of Bold' sports development initiative is launched by RCB.
Published 21 Dec 2024 03:44 PM


An ex-Indian star names-drops Sachin Tendulkar in a massive piece of advice, asking, "Can Virat Kohli Do That?"
Published 19 Dec 2024 10:22 PM


Regarding his relationship with Gukesh, Viswanathan Anand said, "He's a fun guy, laughs a lot… we often sit and discuss chess."
Published 14 Dec 2024 08:57 PM
Political Trends
- As the nation commemorates the centennial of Vajpayee's birth, his legacy endures.
- The message of Maharashtra's unexpected and historic victory is for Viksit Bharat Sitharaman Nirmala
- Election 2024 Live By 1 pm, voter turnout in Maharashtra was 32.18%, while in Jharkhand, it was 47.92%.
- BRICS Summit, 2024, at night After six years, Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have formal meetings.
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Finance & Stock Market Trend
All Trending News in Asia


Acquisitions still on the radar, says Suven Executive Chairman
Acquisitions continue to be on the radar for Suven Pharmaceuticals, that has just announced its proposed merger with Cohance Lifesciences. The private equity-driven company is scouting for technologies and companies to add to its strengths as a CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organisation), Annaswamy Vaidheesh, Suven Executive Chairman, told businessline. It is a global business with international clientele and the company continues to look for technologies, in India or overseas, he said. Suven Pharmaceuticals and Cohance Lifesciences had announced, late on Thursday, a proposed scheme of amalgamation to merge both companies – a transaction that is expected to be sealed in 12-15 months. Once complete, private equity firm Advent would own about 66.7 per cent and the rest being with public shareholders. In fact, Advent International had (in December 2022) agreed to acquire a 50.1 per cent stake in Suven Pharmaceuticals from the Jasti family for ₹6,313 crore — one of the largest pharma deals in recent years. This was Advent’s fourth. In November 2022, Cohance Lifesciences (wholly-owned by Advent) was formed by bringing together three Advent portfolio companies — RA Chem Pharma, ZCL Chemicals and Avra Laboratories. While regulatory and shareholder approvals are awaited, Vaidheesh said he did not expect rationalising of the multiple manufacturing facilities between the different companies. Each production site has its particular role to play, and is mapped to international customers, he explained. On the research front though, he said the research and development sites will see consolidation into one site at Genome Valley. And common functions like Finance and Human Resources could also be “leveraged”, he said, indicating some reorganisation. The combined entity will have 12 manufacturing facliities, including Suven’s five and Cohance’s seven. The final entity would have five research centres, including a single facility from Suven. While Suven’s revenues for the year ended March 2023 stood at ₹1,340 crore, the merged entity is pegged at ₹2,677 crore. On the company’s final employee strength, he said, it was too soon to comment, on any change in workforce as the merger process takes time and needed to be analysed. The combined entity will, once approved, will have three growth engines — pharma CDMO, speciality chemicals CDMO, and APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients). Cohance shareholders will be issued 11 equity shares of Suven for every 295 equity shares held in Cohance.
Published 07 Mar 2024 08:27 PM


Uday Shankar to be VC of merged Reliance-Disney media business: Report
Former Walt Disney executive Uday Shankar will be named as vice chairman of the board following a merger between the India media assets of Reliance Industries and Disney, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.Reliance and Disney are expected to make a formal announcement on Wednesday after signing a binding pact. Shankar is set to take a stake of around 9% in the new merged entity, Reuters reported in February. Reliance and Disney each have a streaming service and 120 television channels between them and the deal is expected to strengthen Reliance's hold over India's $28 billion media and entertainment market.Reuters on Tuesday reported that the new entity is likely to have Nita Ambani, wife of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, as chair of the board.
Published 07 Mar 2024 08:26 PM


Reliance, Disney sign $8.5 bn deal to form JV, to merge media ops in India
India's top conglomerate Reliance Industries and Walt Disney on Wednesday announced the merger of their India TV and streaming media assets, creating an $8.5 billion entertainment juggernaut far ahead of rivals in the world's most populous nation.Reliance, led by Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, will inject $1.4 billion in the merged entity, with the company and its affiliates holding a more than 63% stake. Disney will hold about 37%, the companies said in a joint statement. For Disney, the merger follows its long-drawn struggle to arrest a user exodus from its bleeding India streaming business and financial strain caused by billions of dollars in Indian cricket rights payments, in another example how foreign businesses can struggle to grow in India. The merger values the India business of the US entertainment giant at just around a quarter of the $15 billion valuation when Disney acquired it as part of its Fox deal in 2019, sources have said. The companies said the transaction values the merged venture at around $8.5 billion on a post-money basis. They did not explain how they arrived at such valuation. Together, the Reliance-Disney merged entity will have 120 TV channels and two streaming platforms, helping Ambani eclipse rivals such as Japan's Sony, India's Zee Entertainment and Netflix in the country's $28 billion media and entertainment sector. Reliance said Nita Ambani, wife of Reliance boss Mukesh Ambani, would chair the board of the combined entity, and former top Disney executive Uday Shankar would serve as vice chair. "The JV will be one of the leading TV and digital streaming platforms for entertainment and sports content in India, bringing together iconic media assets across entertainment," the companies said in a joint statement. The deal comes when Disney is facing pressure globally to streamline its businesses. Bob Iger returned as Disney chief executive in November 2022, less than a year after he retired, and has since restructured the company to make the business more cost effective.
Published 07 Mar 2024 08:24 PM


According to Meta, WhatsApps Third-Party Chats feature will maintain end-to-end encryption.
According to Meta on Wednesday, WhatsApp will take some time to roll out the third-party chat feature to users. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) of the European Union (EU) went into effect on March 6 and mandates that within three months, platforms provide messaging interoperability for individual conversations in the region. However, citing difficulties in implementing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) architecture for third-party providers, Meta stated that the messaging platform will require more time than anticipated. Additionally, the company stated that features like audio and video calling, group chats, and other features will only be available after 2024. In a thorough post, Meta explained how its interoperability features function, how it intends to integrate with other messaging services, and what obstacles stand in the way of it providing the feature to users by the deadline. The tech behemoth said that it has been working with the European Commission to develop an interoperability process that prioritizes safety and privacy for almost two years. The social media behemoth claims that the primary cause of the delay is interoperability's technical difficulties. However, it hopes to have voice messaging, individual text messaging, and the ability for end users to share images, videos, and other attached files by the end of the year. Meta stated that adding group chat and calling features is still in its plans, but it did not give a timeframe. Third-party providers will have to agree to allow third-party chats in order for interoperability with WhatsApp to be possible. "We would prefer that third-party providers use the Signal Protocol to maximize user security. We will, however, permit third-party providers to use a compatible protocol if they can show that it provides the same security guarantees as Signal, as this needs to function for everyone, Meta continued.
Published 07 Mar 2024 07:11 PM


Google Drive Enhances iOSs Video Playback and Search Functionality
A few updates to Google Drive will make the cloud-based storage platform more user-friendly. To increase the playback speed and rebuffering of videos played within Drive, the tech giant is implementing a new transcode. In order to help users find the desired file more quickly, it is also enhancing iOS's search capabilities and introducing query filters. Furthermore, Google is extending the Connected Sheets timeout period for Looker and BigQuery. Last week, the features were released. An announcement about the new features was made on the Google Workspace blog. The tech behemoth announced, "We're enabling the generation and playback of Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) video transcodes for all new videos uploaded to Google Drive." in reference to improvements in video playback. Users can choose between playing content at a higher or lower resolution depending on factors like the quality of their local network thanks to DASH transcodes' adaptive bitrate playback feature. This will result in two changes for users. First, the video join time, or the amount of time it takes for a video to begin playing after the play button is pressed. Second, as the video plays, users will also experience less rebuffering. The transcode will be applied to existing videos by the end of the year, according to the company, but for now, it is only visible on newly uploaded videos to Google Drive. An update to Drive's search function is also coming, though it will initially only work with iOS users. Query filters will now be accessible to users while they search. Users can select File Type, Owners, and Last Modified to refine the search results by selecting these options, which will appear directly beneath the search bar. Users will also see relevant filters appear as they type a search query, making it easier for them to choose. Google is also including an option to further filter search results after a query in order to find the desired file. The company announced that Android will soon get the feature as well.
Published 07 Mar 2024 07:03 PM


Googles New Gemini AI Feature Will Allow Users to Customize Its Reactions
Google has updated Gemini, its chatbot driven by artificial intelligence (AI), with a new feature. With the new feature, users can modify specific text segments and have fine-grained control over the generated response to a prompt. Users have the option to remove the selected portion completely, change its length, or regenerate it. The feature has not yet been added to the app and is presently limited to the web app version. Notably, Google just revealed a number of brand-new AI capabilities for Android smartphones. Google wrote, "We're launching a more precise way for you to tune Gemini's responses," in a post announcing the new feature. Simply select the text you want to change, give Gemini some instructions, and get an output that is closer to your desired outcome in the Gemini web app, starting in English. The purpose of adding this feature is to give users more creative control by allowing them to alter a portion of the response rather than having it completely generated. After a generated response to a prompt, users have the ability to pick and highlight any specific portion of the text. If you highlight it right now, a pencil icon in a circle will appear. Adjacent to the pencil is the Gemini logo. When the cursor is over the icon, the text "Modify selected text" appears. Four options appear when you click on this icon: Regenerate, Shorter, Longer, and Remove. As the name implies, the options function. The text will be generated again after being modified using the regenerate function. The topic's length can be adjusted using Shorter and Longer, and it can be completely removed using Remove. Additionally, users have the option to add a prompt to change that specific section. It's a useful feature. Those who have worked with AI chatbots for some time know that frequently, a fantastic response is ruined by a single sentence. Up until now, the only ways to solve it have been to completely redo the content or alter the prompt, then keep doing so until the intended outcome shows up. Users may find that making fine-grained adjustments with this feature saves a significant amount of time. Follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads, and Google News to stay up to date on the newest tech news and reviews. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the newest videos on technology and gadgets. You can learn everything there is to know about top influencers by subscribing to our Who'sThat360 YouTube channel and Instagram account.
Published 07 Mar 2024 06:50 PM


Prabhas and Disha Patani traveling to Italy for the filming of Kalki 2898 AD
Ever since the makers of Kalki 2898 AD revealed the date of the magnum opus's release in January of this year, fans have been ecstatic. With less than two months until the movie's release, the cast has given fans a powerful update on what to expect from the Prabhas and Deepika Padukone-starring picture. Just so you know, Amitabh Bachchan and Disha Patani both play significant roles in Kalki 2898 AD. A behind-the-scenes photo posted on Kalki 2898 AD's official Instagram page shows that the whole crew has flown to Italy to record a song.Disha Patani and Prabhas are shown in the first photo, which was taken during their flight to Italy. Snapping pictures of Prabhas, who is seated in the front seat, is Disha, who is wearing an all-black casual outfit. The production company Vyjayanthi Movies and Kalki 2898 AD shared the picture on their respective Instagram accounts. The text said, "A Darling Pic...Italy Diaries ft. Prabhas and Disha Patani," and there was a click. But that's not all. The crew as a whole was shown in a group photo taken by Kalki 2898 AD's official Instagram page upon their arrival in Italy. The crew of Kalki 2898 AD is shown in the photo posing in front of an airplane at the airport in Italy. Additionally, Prabhas and Disha were visible grinning broadly at the camera. The Instagram page shared the photo with the caption, "Italy lo aata paata." Kalki 2898 AD," which means "Italian song and dance," in general. View the group photo of Kalki from 2898 AD here:
Published 07 Mar 2024 06:47 PM


Guidelines for Processing Applications for Postgraduate Medical Courses are Released by NMC
About the application processing for postgraduate medical courses for the 2024–2025 academic year, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has released a notification. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) completed the application process for the postgraduate course for the academic year 2024–2025, according to an official NMC release. Applications to start postgraduate courses and expand the number of PG seats in already-existing medical colleges were received for the 2024–2025 academic year.The MARB received about 1,010 applications for postgraduate courses at medical colleges that were already in operation. "MARB received a total of 1,010 applications for the start of PG course in existing medical colleges for the AY 2024–2025," according to the NMC release. Based on the establishment of medical institutions, the assessment and rating regulations, 2023 published on June 2, 2023, the PG-Medical Education Regulation 2000 issued on August 22, 2000, and strict adherence to the criteria mentioned in the public notice for inviting applications on the NMC website dated August 16, 2023, applications were reviewed by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB)."A total of 665 applications were received by current medical colleges seeking to expand their postgraduate seat capacity. "MARB received a total of 665 applications for the increase of PG seats in existing medical colleges for the AY 2024–2025," the notification stated. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) reviewed applications based on the following: strict adherence to the criteria mentioned in the public notice for inviting applications on the NMC website dated August 16, 2023; establishment of medical institutions; assessment and rating regulations, 2023 published on June 2, 2023; and PG-Medical Education Regulation 2000 issued on August 22, 2000." The following procedures were followed in processing the applications.- Step 1: Application is examined at different levels. Step 2: Submission of AEBAS and Compliance. Step 3: Examine the AEBAS data, compliance report, affidavit, and self-evaluation. Candidates can visit the NMC's official website for more detailed information.
Published 07 Mar 2024 06:44 PM


Former Judge Who Joined BJP Is Dareden by Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool Congress and the chief minister of West Bengal, has launched a vicious attack on Abhijit Gangopadhyay, a former judge of the Calcutta High Court, who joined the BJP today. Speaking to a crowd following a Trinamool march on International Women's Day, Ms. Banerjee referred to the former judge as a "BJP babu who was sitting on the bench" and threatened to ensure his defeat should he run in the next Lok Sabha election."A BJP babu who was on the bench has joined the party. How are you supposed to hold them to justice? I remove the mask," she declared. As a judge of the Calcutta High Court, Mr. Gangopadhyay gained notoriety when he ordered multiple central agencies to look into claims of irregularities in the hiring of teaching and non-teaching staff by the Mamata Banerjee government. A few days after stepping down as a judge, he joined the BJP today.I've entered a new field today. I'm excited to work as a party soldier for the BJP. Our goal is to remove the dishonest TMC government from office," he declared. There are rumors that the BJP may run the former judge in the Lok Sabha election. Ms. Banerjee attacked the former judge, saying, "He turned into a leader after turning down thousands of students for jobs. Prepare yourself. I will send students to fight you wherever you are contesting from. Recall that you will now be judged by the public.The Chief Minister of Bengal went on to say that although she has five lakh jobs, "the people of Bengal are not getting jobs because of these dangerous snakes." Additionally, Ms. Banerjee retaliated against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jabs regarding the Sandeshkhali case. The "safest for women" is Bengal, according to her. Up to 458 central teams visited Bengal. When women were paraded in their undies, how many teams visited Manipur? What number of teams visited Hathras? She retorted, "All your anger is for Bengal," in response to the BJP's accusation.
Published 07 Mar 2024 06:41 PM


Director Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Discusses The Rajinikanth Factor And The Films Failure
On February 9, Aishwarya Rajinikanth's film Lal Salaam, which she also directed and which stars her actor father Rajinikanth in a major role in, opened in theaters. Despite receiving a fair amount of attention at first, the film's box office performance steadily decreased as a result of critical and audience disagreement. In a recent interview with Cinema Vikatan, Aishwarya Rajinikanth talked about the reception of Lal Salaam and discussed how the dynamics of the film changed dramatically following Rajinikanth's character development. She revealed that Moideen Bhai, played by Rajinikanth, was only supposed to make a 10-minute cameo.But when Rajinikanth joined the cast, the character's function grew and became essential to the plot. As a result, the screenplay, script, edit, and content of the movie went "out of control." "After Rajinikanth entered the film, everything in Lal Salaam—screenplay, script, edit, and content—went out of control," the woman stated. It appears that the quality content was overshadowed by the commercial elements. Two days before the release, the edit was also reorganized." In response to the criticism and comments Lal Salaam received, Aishwarya Rajinikanth said, "As a learner and filmmaker, I am personally extremely satisfied." Since the movie is based on actual events, it doesn't contain any surprises or revelations of any kind. Because the story is clear-cut and uncomplicated, we decided to go with a non-linear pattern when given the choice. As a filmmaker, I was aware that different people saw things differently. I can improve myself, and that is the biggest lesson I have learned. I will accept praise and criticism equally and be happy."
Published 07 Mar 2024 06:38 PM


Swimsuit Photo of Saba Azad Wins Adoration From Pashmina, Niece of Hrithik Roshan
The actress Saba Azad, who is in a relationship with Hrithik Roshan, posted an Instagram photo that is really interesting. The singer-actor showed off her inner water baby by posing in a red bikini and cap at the beach. Don't forget to look at the abs! It goes without saying that fans were very fond of Saba's photo. But Hrithik Roshan's family members gave the greatest praises. Hrithik's sister Sunaina Roshan's daughter Suranika Soni exclaimed, "Finalmenteeeeeeee," along with several fire emojis. Pashmina Rosha, Hrithik's cousin and the daughter of music director Rajesh Roshan, responded with additional fire emojis, saying, "Yes girl." In May 2022, Saba Azad and Hrithik Roshan formally announced their relationship. The couple hasn't refrained from PDA on social media since then either. Take Saba's birthday card for Hrithik Roshan as an example. "Here's to choosing love every day the way you do for another 100 years," she wrote, reflecting on her 50 whirls around the sun and the wonderful journey she had experienced. My love, happy birthday. The light is you." Saba Azad also opened up last year about dating a huge celebrity like Hrithik Roshan. "It's taken me quite some time to come to a place where I treat everything else as white noise because hatred is palpable," the woman said to India Today. It hits you that I am not made of stone. You're in a bad mood. Sometimes you wake up wondering, "What did I do to anyone?" How did I treat you? You live your life, and I live mine. Why do you wait to draw blood from me?However, you eventually come to the realization that you have no control over other people's thoughts or what they project onto you. You are not involved in it at all.
Published 07 Mar 2024 06:34 PM


Students in Class 10 arrive at this UP exam center wearing iron chains and are detained
According to the police, students from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, who were taking the Class 10 Boards exam today arrived at the testing location brandishing sharp objects, iron rods, and chains. The principal of KK Jain Inter College, Anurag Jain, reported to the police that there might be fights among the students following the exams. A police squad was soon dispatched to the college. After searching the students' bikes that were parked outside, the police found bags hanging from the two-wheelers that contained iron chains, rods, and sharp weapons. The students were identified, and the police reported that after the exam, about 12 of them were taken to the police station, where their parents were also contacted.
Published 07 Mar 2024 06:31 PM