Asia News & Trends
We ought to expose ourselves to international criticism and benchmarking: Sinha Dheeraj
The confluence of systemic disruption and institutional heritage necessitates a leadership mindset that views transformation as an operational mandate rather than a danger. In this open conversation with Adgully, Dheeraj Sinha, who serves as both CEO of McCann India and President of The Advertising Club of India, describes a radical redesign of the nation's top creative standard, the ABBY Awards.Sinha diagnoses a business at a critical crossroads, moving significantly past the idealized period of the solitary "Big Idea." In order to accommodate the consumer's non-linear journey, he describes an ecosystem in which the conventional boundaries between data, commerce, and storytelling must be totally dissolved.The 57-year-old ABBYs platform has a great deal of credibility, respect, and confidence. That legacy is significant, but we also need to change with the times. We added new categories in AI, media innovation, data, B2B, sustainable development objectives, and influencer marketing this year. Since everything is mobile these days, we also eliminated unnecessary categories like mobile. All four of the global jury chairs are CEOs from major international networks. Even Indian jury chairs have judged in Cannes on a global scale. This considerably raises the bar for the honors. The ABBYs are now, in my opinion, "made in India for the world." Based on my experience at Burnett and FCB, work that was successful at the ABBYs was equally successful at Cannes and other international venues.The Advertising Club has established itself as a leader in the field. Although we don't claim to have all the solutions, we think the industry is dealing with a number of significant issues related to AI, structure, influencers, and the future of agencies. It is our responsibility to start discussions that assist the industry in finding solutions. We'll accomplish this through industry initiatives, award platforms, and conversations. The platform needs to be very current and respectable from a values standpoint. Ernst & Young has been hired to audit the awards procedure because of this. Making sure the platform stays in line with global trends is the aim.
Published 22 May 2026 05:53 PM
Avinash Tiwary is promoted to Managing Partner by Havas Media Network India.
Avinash Tiwary has been elevated to Managing Partner at Havas Media Network India. Tiwary led the network's digital transformation, media strategy, and customer support operations as the Head of Digital Services for the North area prior to this promotion. Tiwary updated his LinkedIn profile to reveal his new position.Tiwary established a strong professional network with some of the top international advertising companies in the nation before to joining Havas Media Network India. Among his previous agency positions are those at the Crescent Group, Omnicom Media Group (OMG), and Dentsu. Avinash Tiwary has been promoted to Managing Partner by Havas Media Network India. Tiwary oversaw the network's digital strategy and services for the area as Head of Digital Services, North, prior to this promotion. Tiwary posted an update on LinkedIn on the development. He offers expertise in campaign execution, SEO, media planning and purchasing, digital strategy, and ad technology platforms, such as DoubleClick. Tiwary worked for a number of companies before joining Havas Media Network India, including Dentsu, Omnicom Media Group, and Crescent Group.
Published 18 May 2026 03:09 PM
Nitin Gadkari responds to Shekhar Sumans Marathi language query on Shekhar Tonight, saying You Are A Bihari Too
Fourteen years later, Shekhar Suman makes a comeback with a brand-new late-night talk program called Shekhar Tonite. In the first episode, he invites Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, for one of his infrequent and open discussions. ~Shekhar Suman is returning with Shekhar Tonite, this time on YouTube, after a fourteen-year hiatus. As only he can, he offers viewers poignant discussions, witty humor, and compelling viewpoints. Mr. Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, is the first guest on the show to kick off this exciting new chapter. Gadkari discussed language, politics, public accountability, and the value of unity in variety in a very interesting and thought-provoking discussion. Speaking fervently about Maharashtra and the Marathi language, he considered how residing outside of the state helped him to fully appreciate the significance of Marathi identity and culture. "We are proud of the Marathi language, Marathi culture, Marathi theater, Marathi literature, Marathi songs, and Marathi poets like Arun and Shridhar Phadke," Nitin Gadkari said when discussing the same topic. I became fully aware of the significance of Marathi when I began to spend more time outside of Maharashtra. Our specialty is the concept of unity in diversity. It's a really lovely thing.Shekhar Suman also mentioned the current controversy surrounding the Marathi language during the discussion, stating, "But speaking of Marathi, there was recently a diktat that those who cannot speak Marathi would not be allowed to drive scooters or auto-rickshaws." folks like us Biharis were even more anxious, sir, as those poor folks became frightened. Please look after us Biharis.
Published 16 May 2026 05:28 PM
Cosmetologists and makeup artists are now on the grooms checklist.
For a very long time, weddings were primarily seen as the bride's day, even though they had equal significance for men. Brides would spend months planning every aspect of the wedding, picking out elaborate outfits, matching them with eye-catching jewelry, and completing the look with meticulous hair and makeup. Grooms, on the other hand, kept it simple: wake up, put on their attire, straighten their beard and hair, and call it a day. For months, brides would meticulously prepare every aspect of their wedding, selecting ornate ensembles, accessorizing them with eye-catching jewelry, and completing the ensemble with expertly applied hair and makeup. Conversely, grooms kept things straightforward: get up, put on their clothes, style their beard and hair, and end the day.After all, it's their big day too, and many want to look just as glamorous as their better halves, both on camera and in real life. As a result, men are now giving their appearance on wedding day just as much thought. Not only have their wardrobes become more daring, but they are also increasingly choosing professional grooming and makeup to feel confident and polished throughout the celebrations. Nowadays, men are thinking about their wedding day appearance just as much. In order to feel confident and put together during the festivities, people are now increasingly choosing professional grooming and makeup in addition to experimenting with their costumes. Since it's their big day as well, many of them want to appear on video and in person as dazzling as their better halves."Brides and grooms have separate social media teams creating reels, their own hashtags, and even brand-new Instagram profiles where all of their wedding-related content is shared. Grooms want to appear more assured and youthful as a result.Grooms are increasingly inclined to look flawless on their D-day, but they still don't want the makeup to show. Gusain notes that when it comes to requests from grooms, most of them just want to look natural. Getting makeup done for grooms can be challenging because men wearing makeup is still taboo in our society (save the argument for another day) and many beauty influencers have faced trolling for it. Many beauty influencers have experienced trolling since males wearing makeup is still frowned upon in our society (save the argument for another day). Therefore, even if grooms are more likely to look perfect on their wedding day, they still don't want the makeup to be noticeable. According to Gusain, the majority of grooms' wishes are to appear natural.
Published 13 May 2026 05:42 PM
At tomorrows 19th Rozgar Mela, PM Modi will hand out more than 51,000 appointment letters.
At the 19th Rozgar Mela tomorrow morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will use video conference to deliver over 51,000 appointment letters to recently hired youth in various government ministries and organizations. On this occasion, Mr. Modi will also speak to the crowd. There will be 47 locations nationwide during the 19th Rozgar Mela. The Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Financial Services, Department of Higher Education, and other Ministries and Departments of the Government of India will employ the recently recruited candidates, who were chosen from all over India. The Rozgar Mela is a significant effort to make this vision a reality, in keeping with the Prime Minister's pledge to prioritize creating jobs. Approximately 12 lakh recruiting letters have been sent out through 18 Rozgar Melas held nationwide since the program's founding.
Published 22 May 2026 06:05 PM
India Ambassador to Oman is Prashant Pise
Prashant Pise, a seasoned diplomat, has been named India's new ambassador to Oman. Currently holding the position of Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, he is an officer in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).Prashant Pise, a prominent diplomat from India, has been named ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman. Currently holding the position of Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Prashant is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) official.Prashant Pise has been appointed as India's next ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He is an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1995 batch who would take Godavarthi Venkata Srinivas' seat. India's envoy in Muscat is Godavarthi Venkata Srinivas, a prominent diplomat from the 1993 IFS batch.Prashant Pise is a highly experienced diplomat with decades of experience in Indian foreign policy and international relations. His diplomatic career includes important overseas assignments and policy roles. His first overseas posting was in Cairo, Egypt, from 1997 to 2000, where he gained early diplomatic experience in a crucial geopolitical region. He then served in Tripoli, Libya, until 2004, further expanding his engagement in the Middle East and North Africa before returning to New Delhi and serving as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs from 2004 to 2006. He has held important policy positions and international deployments during his diplomatic career. From 1997 to 2000, he got his first overseas assignment in Cairo, Egypt, where he acquired early diplomatic experience in a significant geopolitical area. Later, he expanded his involvement in the Middle East and North Africa while serving in Tripoli, Libya, until 2004. He returned to New Delhi and served as the Ministry of External Affairs' Deputy Secretary from 2004 to 2006.He led the Indian delegation at the 8th Ministerial Consultations of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue in Dubai in February 2026, demonstrating his ongoing involvement in labor mobility and international migration diplomacy. Prior to this new appointment, he served as Additional Secretary (Emigration Policy and Welfare) in the Ministry of External Affairs. This role is significant because it deals with overseas areas like Indian welfare, migration frameworks, and worker protection issues that are closely linked to Gulf nations where sizable Indian communities reside and work. This position is crucial because it deals with international issues that are closely related to the Gulf nations where sizable Indian communities reside and work, such as worker protection, Indian welfare, and migration frameworks. He headed the Indian delegation to the 8th Ministerial Consultations of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue in Dubai in February 2026, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to international migration diplomacy and labor mobility.
Published 13 May 2026 05:55 PM
Indias Ambassador to Oman is Prashant Pise.
Prashant Pise, a seasoned diplomat, has been named India's new ambassador to Oman. Currently holding the position of Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, he is an officer in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).Prashant Pise, a prominent diplomat from India, has been named ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman. Currently holding the position of Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Prashant is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) official.Prashant Pise has been appointed as India's next ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He is an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1995 batch who would take Godavarthi Venkata Srinivas' seat. India's envoy in Muscat is Godavarthi Venkata Srinivas, a prominent diplomat from the 1993 IFS batch.Prashant Pise is a highly experienced diplomat with decades of experience in Indian foreign policy and international relations. His diplomatic career includes important overseas assignments and policy roles. His first overseas posting was in Cairo, Egypt, from 1997 to 2000, where he gained early diplomatic experience in a crucial geopolitical region. He then served in Tripoli, Libya, until 2004, further expanding his engagement in the Middle East and North Africa before returning to New Delhi and serving as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs from 2004 to 2006. He has held important policy positions and international deployments during his diplomatic career. From 1997 to 2000, he got his first overseas assignment in Cairo, Egypt, where he acquired early diplomatic experience in a significant geopolitical area. Later, he expanded his involvement in the Middle East and North Africa while serving in Tripoli, Libya, until 2004. He returned to New Delhi and served as the Ministry of External Affairs' Deputy Secretary from 2004 to 2006.He led the Indian delegation at the 8th Ministerial Consultations of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue in Dubai in February 2026, demonstrating his ongoing involvement in labor mobility and international migration diplomacy. Prior to this new appointment, he served as Additional Secretary (Emigration Policy and Welfare) in the Ministry of External Affairs. This role is significant because it deals with overseas areas like Indian welfare, migration frameworks, and worker protection issues that are closely linked to Gulf nations where sizable Indian communities reside and work. This position is crucial because it deals with international issues that are closely related to the Gulf nations where sizable Indian communities reside and work, such as worker protection, Indian welfare, and migration frameworks. He headed the Indian delegation to the 8th Ministerial Consultations of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue in Dubai in February 2026, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to international migration diplomacy and labor mobility.
Published 13 May 2026 05:53 PM
Govt Very Much With Startups, Fintechs: FM Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday assured the startup community of the central government's unwavering support amidst regulatory scrutiny faced by some of the country's leading startups in recent times.Addressing concerns raised by startups, particularly in the Fintech sector, during a media event in Bengaluru, Sitharaman stressed the importance of regular support and clarifications from regulators to facilitate innovation without being bogged down by governance and compliance issues. Sitharaman revealed that she had a meeting with combined representatives of many startups a “couple of days ago” to understand the concerns after they wrote a letter to the FM. She acknowledged the anxieties expressed by startups during a recent interaction and said, “I’ve had an interaction with startups, particularly the Fintech ones, to understand with what anxiety they wrote that letter to me. It was a fantastic conversation.” She said that there was a need for startups to have dedicated support teams for compliance matters, ensuring that innovation efforts remain unhindered. “I was very glad they voiced the concerns and they may indirectly come out of what is happening. But the regulators were all there with me and they have really understood and they've connected with them,” Sitharaman remarked. “Let me be upfront and say the concerns were not emanating from Paytm’s issues. It was more on regular support that they may need from the regulators, clarifications, which are periodically required, because their core business is not governance and compliance related issues,” she added.It is believed that this meeting had happened in the wake of the RBI’s action against Paytm Payments Bank, which has heightened attention on regulatory compliance within the fintech startups in India. The meeting saw representatives from various prominent entities in both the private and public sectors in attendance. Among those representing the private sector were individuals from notable companies such as Policybazaar, MakeMyTrip, Razorpay, PhonePe, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, CRED and venture capital firm PeakXV. Additionally, key figures from the public sector, including SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara and officials from NPCI, Canara Bank and Bank of Baroda, were reportedly also present. During the Bengaluru event, the Finance Minister said she had proposed practical solutions to address startup concerns, suggesting monthly virtual conferences with regulators like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Sitharaman said, “I did tell the RBI that once in a month on a dedicated day, they should do a virtual conference with startups, particularly Fintechs, so that they can answer questions and after that put that as a FAQ, so that others who did not attend, can (still) benefit from it.” Sitharaman reassured startups that the government stands firmly behind them and said, “The government is very much with these startups. We want you to be assured that you will be given all assistance." She ended by stressing on the need to simplify compliances and provide necessary assistance to ensure a conducive environment for startups to thrive. Earlier on Wednesday, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced an elaborate framework for a 'regulatory sandbox,' aimed at creating a secure environment for emerging fintech startups to experiment with their product ideas before launching them in the market. In a statement issued by RBI, the central bank said that a sandbox setup will enable regulatory authorities to collaborate with startups and formulate regulations that foster innovation, thereby facilitating the provision of cost-effective financial products. The oversight of this sandbox initiative will be under the purview of the fintech division within the RBI.
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:39 PM
Trishala Dutt explains why Sanjay Dutt chose not to stay in the US with his mother, Richa Sharma, while she was receiving cancer treatment.
Trishala Dutt explains why Sanjay Dutt left his mother, Richa Sharma. Many people associate the term "star kid" with riches, glitz, and a carefree lifestyle. The truth behind the beauty, however, was much more agonizing for Trishala Dutt. Recently, Trishala talked about how her mother died at the age of eight from a brain tumor and explained why her father, Sanjay Dutt, couldn't remain in the US full-time while her mother was receiving treatment. while receiving cancer treatment in the USIn the most recent episode of Inside Thoughts Out Loud, Trishala discussed her experiences as the daughter of actor Sanjay Dutt. Trishala talked candidly about the bullying she had as a youngster in the United States, stating that it started when she was only five or six years old and was mostly motivated by her Indian origin. When she attended high school, she said, things "blew up" because people began learning about her identity and her family. Admitting that she had "no one to lean on," Trishala expressed her wish that she had "someone to talk to when I was younger."In addition, Trishala thought back to her mother's death when she was eight years old and remembered how her father, Sanjay Dutt, would frequently travel between India and the US during that trying time in their life."My mother died of a brain tumor in 1996 when I was eight years old. In 1989, she received a diagnosis. It was already grade 4 when they learned about it. One of the deadliest and most aggressive malignancies in humans is that kind of brain cancer. Dad was traveling back and forth between the US and India. She recounted that her father was traveling back and forth between India and the US at the time, making it difficult for her to stay here for her full treatment while simultaneously being an actor back home.She said that she turned to food for solace during her mother's cancer battle, which resulted in a "weight problem." She added that she "just didn't look the part of Sanjay Dutt's daughter" and that people assume that being a celebrity's kid requires one to look a certain way.
Published 22 May 2026 05:56 PM
Day 3 box office receipts for Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Ayushmann Khurranas film ends its first weekend with over Rs 24 crore.
Despite conflicting audience opinions, the film "Pati Patni Aur Woh Do," starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rakul Preet Singh, Sara Ali Khan, and Wamiqa Gabbi, is doing well at the box office. Compared to Saturday's revenues, the movie's first Sunday collection increased by more than 34%. But it fell short of the standard set by the first film, which starred Kartik Aaryan.At the box office, the Mudassar Aziz-directed movie debuted at Rs 4 crore. The film made Rs 5.75 crore on its second day with no growth. The Sacnilk report now states that "Pati Patni Aur Woh Do" has made a net total of Rs 7.75 crore from 6,350 shows on Day 3. As a result, the overall gross collection in India is anticipated to be Rs 21 crore, while the total net collection is Rs 17.50 crore. On Day 3, the film made a net total of Rs 1.25 crore in the foreign market, with an expected total gross collection of Rs 3.25 crore. As a result, the global gross collection presently stands at Rs 24.25 crore.In contrast to the most recent release, the 2019 movie "Pati Patni Aur Woh," which starred Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar, and Ananya Panday, made a lot of money. It made 14.51 crore in India on Day 3, bringing its three-day total to 35.94 crore. On the first and second days, respectively, the Mudassar Aziz director earned Rs 9.10 crore and Rs 12.33 crore.
Published 18 May 2026 03:08 PM
The family skips the swearing in when Vijay talks about his relationship with son Jason Sanjay, saying, No clue whats in his mind.
Since taking the oath of office as Tamil Nadu's new chief minister on May 10, actor-turned-politician Vijay has been in the news. His big swearing-in event at Chennai's Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium was met with congratulations from all across the nation, but the absence of his estranged wife Sangeetha Sornalingam and his children, Jason Sanjay and Divya Sasha, also generated heated debate online.Vijay's parents, sisters, and a number of well-known individuals attended the oath-ceremony. More excitement was created when actress Trisha, who is rumored to be dating Vijay, attended the oath ceremony. After that, a previous interview with Vijay about his son Sanjay's career choices and how he never pressured him to become an actor has suddenly appeared online.When asked if his kid was likewise interested in pursuing acting as a career during an interview with filmmaker Nelson Dilipkumar for Sun TV while promoting his 2022 film Beast, Vijay replied, "I have no clue what's in his mind." He also made it clear that he had never coerced his kid into taking action. "I would never do that," Vijay declared. He added that he will encourage his son to pursue his goals. "He is entirely interested in it. I will help him if he feels that he needs it.Additionally, Vijay disclosed that despite being approached by other filmmakers for Sanjay's acting debut, he allowed him to make the ultimate choice. "I tell him that although people are inquiring, ultimately it is his decision. "Please don't disturb me for a couple of years," he said. Right now, I don't want this."
Published 12 May 2026 05:40 PM
Parmeet Sethi said, My mother was shot during the partition the bullet was inside for one to two years.
Parmeet Sethi was raised in Mumbai, while his mother was born in what is now Pakistan before to the partition. In a recent vlog, Parmeet recalled that his mother was wounded during the partition and that the bullet remained inside her body for a few years because there wasn't much technology available at the time to determine the bullet's location. In a recent Aary Vlogs video, Parmeet recalled this story while cooking with his son Aaryamann Sethi and honored his late mother by creating one of her recipes. He referred to his mother, Sushil Sethi, as "total filmy" and recalled that her family had relocated to Ahmedabad and then Mumbai following the partition. "She was shot during the partition," Parmeet revealed. She was shot. He revealed that his mother was just 10 or 12 years old at the time of the occurrence, but he did not say the city she lived in. A tailor used to visit their home to sew garments. He had broken into my grandfather's home to grab the pistol that used to be there. He stated, "He intended to use it during the riots."Parmeet revealed that his mother was startled by the sound of the tailor entering the house. "She was about to scream when he asked her not to make any noise, and he just shot her," he claimed. The bullet was "lost inside her" and could not be found due to the lack of technology in those days. "The bullet was moving around inside her body. He said, "No one knew where it was.Sushil missed school for a while after becoming ill for a year or two. The family had relocated to India by that point. The bullet nearly protruded from her back while the nurse was massaging her one day. They took her to the doctor right away. The bullet was removed during her surgery. It was one or two years later, he said.
Published 08 May 2026 06:02 PM
Axis Bank is Religares pick of the month for March, 10% upside seen at TP of ₹1,185; should you buy?
Domestic brokerage firm Religare Broking has picked Axis Bank as its stock pick of the month for March 2024 with a potential upside seen around 10 per cent. Shares of Axis Bank were on an uptrend and gained around three per cent today as Nifty 50 hit a fresh lifetime high of 22,353.30 on strong macroeconomic indicators.On Friday, March 1, shares of Axis Bank opened at ₹1,074.05 and gained 2.5 per cent to hit an intra day high of ₹1,101.60 against its 52-week high of ₹1,151.50 apiece on the BSE. Shares of Axis Bank settled 2.20 per cent higher at ₹1,099.35 apiece on the BSE. At a current market price (CMP) of ₹1,085, Religare sees a potential upside of 10 per cent on Axis Bank stock at a target price of ₹1,185 from an initiation range of ₹1,080-1,085 and a stop loss of ₹1,030. Religare Broking highlights that in its report that Axis Bank has remained one among the top performer among the private banking majors and we expect the outperformance to continue. ‘’The stock has been in a primary uptrend from last more than eight months, forming series of Higher Highs and lows with gradual rise in volumes. It has formed an elevated base around the 20 weekly EMA which also coincides with rising support trend line,'' said Religare Broking. Following the price action and uptick in volumes indicates the stock to resume its prevailing trend and inch higher to surpass its previous swing high, according to the brokerage. The stock gained marginally (around three per cent) in the previous series with reduction of eight per cent open interest (OI). 98 per cent of the open positions rolled which is same with respect to previously. ‘’OI of 82k contracts as against 89k previously. Decent cash based buying also seen in last three days of February series. With fresh cash accumulation and shorts being trapped, it may witness good short covering,'' said Religare Broking. The bank's net interest income (NII) in the third quarter at ₹12,532, crore, which rose by nine per cent - almost in line with the market estimate of ₹12,555 crore. NII is the difference between interest earned by a bank through loans and interest it pays to depositors. Meanwhile, the net interest margin (NIM) stood at 4.01 percent for the quarter ended on December 31, 2023. Net Interest Margin refers to the difference between the interest income earned and the interest disbursed by a bank in relation to its interest-generating assets such as cash.
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:35 PM
Potential for any re-rating delayed for Paytm, says UBS; still sees 25% upside in the stock – heres why
Shares of One 97 Communications (Paytm) have witnessed an almost 50 percent drop just in February as investor sentiment turned negative amid the RBI and Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) saga.In a recent note, brokerage house UBS said it believes that any potential for a re-rating of Paytm based on profitability improvement has been delayed. It has retained a 'neutral' call on the stock and reduced its target price to ₹510 (from ₹650 earlier). The new target indicates an over 25 percent potential upside. "Paytm's share price has derated significantly post RBI regulatory action and the stock is trading at 1.5x EV to one-year forward consensus sales, nearly an 80 percent discount to its Indian internet peers. Our ₹510 price target implies a 2.4x EV to FY25E sales, which is still a 70 percent discount to Indian internet peers. We believe this is justified as Paytm's growth profile is now much weaker at an 8 percent expected revenue CAGR over FY24-26E, versus Indian peers at a much higher 27 percent. Additionally, Paytm's re-rating potential based on its profitability improvement is now also pushed out and the company's margin profile is much weaker than peers. Furthermore, the loss of investor confidence based on the regulatory action is unlikely to change in a hurry. We believe only sustained execution in the coming quarters can re-build investor confidence which would drive a re-rating," explained the brokerage. The RBI on January 31 directed PPBL to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in customer accounts, wallets, FASTags, and other instruments after February 29, citing large-scale non-compliance with regulations and supervisory concerns. In the latest update, the Reserve Bank of India clarified that non-Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) linked merchants (85 percent of the total) can continue to function as normal and gave a 15-day extension till 15th March for most PPBL-linked activities. RBI also informed that @paytm UPI handles can be migrated to banks after approval from NPCI. This implies key linkages between Paytm and PPBL will be transferred to other banks via Paytm and also clears the way for Paytm to function as third-party app provider (TPAP), similar to its competitors PhonePe and Google Pay, once NPCI provides approval for the same. Following RBI's latest update, the anticipated negative impacts on Paytm have been alleviated to a considerable extent. Paytm is poised to retain a significant portion of its customer and merchant base pending certain approvals from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). However, UBS anticipates a churn of 15-20 percent in merchants, customers, and devices in Q4 compared to Q3 levels, accompanied by a steep decline of around 60 percent quarter-on-quarter in loan origination. Additionally, it foresees a challenging FY25 with a projected 2 percent revenue decline, attributed to the loss in the wallet business and gradual normalisation in payments and loan origination activities. To regain lost customers, Paytm is expected to escalate its marketing expenditure, leading to heightened EBITDA losses in FY25, consequently prompting adjustments in its EPS estimates.
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:35 PM
Stock market selloff: Nifty forms Bearish Engulfing; 21,850 next?
Nifty on Wednesday could not sustain early gains and saw heavy selling, as it closed below the psychological mark of 22,000 for the time since February 15. The index formed a Bearish Engulfing pattern on the daily chart, which has a negative connotation. The silver lining was the index somehow managed to settle above its 21-day EMA on a closing basis. If the index stays below 22,000 level, chances are it may revisit 19,850-800 level, analysts said.“The index dropped below the 22,000 mark, indicating a growing weakness. Nevertheless, it managed to close just above the 21EMA on the daily timeframe. Observing the daily chart, the index has been navigating within a rising channel. A decline below 21,950 could potentially trigger a correction towards 21,800 in the near term,” said Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities. For the day, the 50-pack index closed at 21,951.15, down 247.20 points or 1.11 per cent. A sustained Nifty trade above 21,950 might spur a recovery in the index towards 22,100, De added. With the Bearish Engulfing candle, Nifty has given up all the gains of the previous week, said Chandan Taparia of Motilal Oswal Securities. This analyst believes that were the index say below 22000, weakness could be seen towards 21,850, followed by 21,700 levels. Resistances are seen at 22,150 and 22,222 levels, he said.atin Gedia – Technical Research Analyst at Sharekhan said that the index has reached its 20-day moving average of 21,944. He said the broad range of 21,800-22,300 still has not been breached. "The daily as well as hourly momentum indicators have a negative crossover, which is a sell signal. But prices are still in a range and, hence, a decisive breach below 21,875 i.e. the previous swing low is required to validate the change of trend. The Index is around the crucial support zone 21,900, which is likely to act as a make-or-break level from short term perspective," Gedia said.
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:34 PM
IIT Kanpur’s 1974 batch pledges Rs 10.11 crore
"The Class of 1974 of the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) has committed Rs 10.11 crore to fund a range of institute initiatives. The promise is made as part of the batch's Golden Jubilee Reunion, which will take place from February 23 to February 25, 2024, and will bring together over 80 graduates and their families. ""IIT Kanpur takes great pride in its alumni, and time and time again, our alumni have come together for supporting the growth of their alma mater through various means,"" stated Prof. S Ganesh, Director of IIT Kanpur, in response to the Class of 1974's kind pledge. The Class of 1974's commitment to support greatness at the institute by aiding in its development aligns with a shared goal He continued, ""The 'Batch Legacy Fund' will be used to enhance possibilities for both faculty and students. ""We, the proud alumni of the Class of 1974, are honored to unite and contribute to our cherished alma mater, IIT Kanpur,"" he stated, thanking his classmates for this endeavor and his alma mater, batch coordinator Yogesh Khosla. Our combined support is a testament to our great pride in the organization and our common goal of seeing it succeed moving forward. I would want to sincerely thank everyone of my classmates for their kind cooperation in this project. The Class of 1974's 50th reunion was a happy event full with memories, laughter, and introspection that will live on in the archives of IIT Kanpur, an institution thinkinh said. IIT Kanpur stated that the ""Class of 1974 Batch Legacy Fund"" will undoubtedly advance learning within its community and expressed its sincere gratitude to the Class of 1974 for their outstanding contribution and steadfast dedication. The researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) will present their findings to the students during an open house. The purpose of the event is to give students a forum to interact with professionals and well-known businesspeople. March 2 and March 3 of 2024 will be dedicated to the open house. Shaastra will host IITM for Everyone. A statement on the social media account read, ""IIT Madras is open to all for the first time in 15 years."" "
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:34 PM
AAP must leave its headquarters by June 15th, per a Supreme Court order.
The Aam Aadmi Party of Arvind Kejriwal will have to leave its headquarters, which are located on a plot of land designated for the High Court. The good news is that you still have until June 15 to act. The Supreme Court gave the party a long deadline because of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing that this is an encroachment case. The party may now submit an application for alternative land to the Land and Development Office of the Center.The bench, which included Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, stated, "We would request the L&DO to process the application and communicate its decision within a period of four weeks." The bench continued, "AAP has no legal right to remain on the land." The Delhi High Court was granted land in February to expand its operations and build more courtrooms for the Rouse Avenue location. The court had noticed that the AAP was intruding on this land. When considering a case involving the nation's judicial system, the highest court took notice of the issue.The state government promised at a meeting on February 15 that the plot would be removed in two months if a substitute plot was provided, in response to a court order. However, the situation remained unchanged. According to India's Chief Justice, DY Chandrachud, nobody has the authority to impose law on others. "It is absurd for any political party to sit on it. Every intrusion will be eliminated... The land should be given to the High Court so that it can be utilized by the general public and citizens, Justice Chandrachud stated.
Published 04 Mar 2024 05:31 PM
Article 21: The Constitutions Soul, with Citizens Liberty Supreme
According to the Supreme Court, Article 21 is the essence of the Constitution because it protects citizens' rights to liberty, which are so valuable that a person would lose them if the high court takes too long to decide cases pertaining to it. Amol Vithal Vahile, a prime accused in the murder of a corporator in Maharashtra, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on January 29 following prodding from the top court, according to a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta.In a recent ruling, the bench stated that it is evident that prior to this court's order being issued on January 29, 2024, the high court had dismissed the bail application on one or more grounds rather than considering it on its merits.It goes without saying that Article 21 of the Indian Constitution is its core because it upholds the fundamental right to liberty for all citizens. It stated, "Depriving the party of their precious right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India would mean not reaching a quick decision and brushing off the issue on one or the other basis pertaining to a citizen's liberty." The bench stated that it has encountered numerous cases from the Bombay High Court in which the applications for bail and anticipatory bail were not resolved promptly. The bench mentioned one instance where the application for anticipatory bail was pending for over four years. "We have also encountered many cases where the judges find an excuse to reroute the case on unrelated grounds rather than rendering a decision based on the merits of the case. As a result, we ask the chief justice of the Bombay High Court to communicate our request to all judges who have criminal jurisdiction so that the issue of bail and anticipatory bail can be decided as soon as possible," the bench stated.It requested that the Supreme Court's Registrar (Judicial) forward this directive to the High Court's Registrar (Judicial), who will present it to the Bombay High Court's chief justice. The bench stated on January 29 that, despite the fact that Vahile had been detained for more than seven years, on March 30, 2023, the high court had ordered him to appear before the trial court for regular bail.
Published 02 Mar 2024 06:02 PM
SEA urges Centre to not extend ban on export of de-oiled ricebran
The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) has asked the Indian Government to not extend the ban on the export of de-oiled rice bran beyond March 31.In a letter to Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; and Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; the President of SEA, Ajay Jhunjhunwala, said the total export of de-oiled rice bran constitutes only around 6 per cent of the production. The restriction has adversely affected processors and exporters along with paddy farmers, hindering them from realising better returns on their produce, he said. The government banned the export of de-oiled rice bran in a notification dated July 28, 2023, effective until November 30, 2023. This was further extended till March 31, 2024 in a notification dated December 8, 2023. Stating that processing of ricebran has picked up with the commencement of new season in November, he said availability of de-oiled ricebran has improved. This is evident from the reduction of price from ₹18,000 a tonne on July 28 2023 (the date of issuing notification) to ₹12,500 a tonne at present. Mentioning that the industry benefits from the export of de-oiled rice bran, he said easy clearance of meal leads to sustained processing, leading to better capacity utilisation, continuous oil availability, increased employment, and significant value addition along with valuable foreign exchange. India, which has successfully developed export market for de-oiled rice bran over the last 30 years, primarily serves Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh and other Asian countries. “An abrupt change in export policy has given opportunity to our competing countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh to capture Vietnam market for de-oiled ricebran and the market will be lost in no time,” he said. Eastern States, including West Bengal, are a significant producer of de-oiled ricebran. Since the cattle feed industry remains underdeveloped in this part of the country, there is limited demand for de-oiled ricebran in eastern India, he said. “The exorbitant local freight charges to move de-oiled ricebran from eastern India to south or west India makes export the principal means of disposal for de-oiled ricebran in the region. Since export is banned, ricebran processors in Eastern India are facing the prospect of shutting down their operations, adversely impacting the rice milling industry and reducing ricebran oil production,” Jhunjhunwala said. Though export restriction on de-oiled ricebran was imposed in July 2023 to ease milk prices, there is almost no reduction in milk prices across the country since this ban, he said. This is because the cost component of de-oiled ricebran in milk price is very nominal. “We are still of the view that continuing this ban will not support reduction in milk prices but will continue to negatively impact the ricebran processors and de-oiled ricebran exporters,” he said, and requested the government not to extend the ban beyond March 31.
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:45 PM
Government Employees Platform Plans Strike From May 1 Over OPS Demand
A group of Union and state government employees announced they will go on indefinite strike starting on Labour Day (May 1) this year to demand the restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS), The Hindu reported.The Joint Forum For Restoration of Old Pension Scheme (JFROPS), which was described as a platform of trade unions and associations working among Union and state government employees, said it had decided to serve strike notices starting March 19. Under the OPS, which was retired in 2004, retired government employees received half their last-drawn salary every month as a pension. The government concerned would foot the entire amount. The National Pension Scheme (NPS) replaced the OPS and involves the employee contributing 10% of their basic salary and the government contributing 14% into a corpus, which can be invested into different types of funds. How much an employee would receive upon retirement depends on the market return on these investments. Shiv Gopal Mishra, who is convenor of the JFROPS and is among the leaders of a railway workers’ union, told The Hindu that the decision to go on strike was taken after talks with the Union government had broken down. “We held several protests demanding restoration of OPS. We wrote letters to prime minister and finance minister urging them to restore the OPS. We have also been raising this issue in the JCM [joint consultative machinery] meetings, but the government ignored our demands and we are now forced to go on an indefinite strike,” Mishra was quoted as saying.The Hindu also cited government employees’ unions as claiming that ahead of the call for a strike, ballots conducted in various government departments suggested that nearly 100% of employees supported a strike.They have also argued that pensioners were worse off under the NPS because it does not hike pensions on a regular basis in order to correct for inflation. Some state governments have decided to restore the OPS for their employees. But the Reserve Bank of India has said that going back to the OPS would increase governments’ liabilities and put their financial security at risk. The Union government said in parliament in December that it does not plan on restoring the OPS. It has also warned its employees from going on strike before and argued that their right to form associations did not include a guaranteed right to go on strike. When Mishra was asked by The Hindu how the model code of conduct for the general elections would affect their planned strike, he said they wanted the issue to be discussed by the people. “This is an issue that involves lives of crores of people. Let the people discuss and decide on our demands. Even if the model code of conduct comes in picture, the Cabinet will be there, the Cabinet secretary will be there and they can take a decision on our demand,” he told the newspaper. Another employees’ union leader was cited as saying that ‘all unions’ except the pro-government Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh would take part in their planned strike.
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:44 PM
Benefits of Sattu Indias first protein beverage
These days, a growing number of individuals are including tasty and nourishing "superfoods" from all over the world in their diets. Imagine those colorful matcha lattes, creamy avocado toasts, delicious chia pudding, quinoa salads, and cool kale smoothies. They are healthy in addition to being aesthetically pleasing. Just a gentle reminder: Is it really necessary to spend a lot of money to maintain your health?No, I believe! Sattu is an ancient superfood from India that is tasty, affordable, and very potent. This adaptable component, which is made from roasted gram flour, has been loved and consumed for more than 3,000 years, particularly in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Chana sattu, once cherished by diligent farmers for a rapid energy boost, is now widely accepted as a wholesome and organic supplement to contemporary meals nationwide. Let's examine the advantages of sattu powder, how it outperforms the most well-liked protein-rich foods, and why it should be at the top of your diet list before you hurry to try another foreign health craze.A traditional Indian flour produced from roasted barley or chickpeas is called sattu powder. In India, it is a native source of protein. It is a well-liked superfood with several health advantages due to its high protein content. Sattu, sometimes referred to as the "desi protein shake," is high in minerals, fiber, and plant-based protein. It is a popular dish in India that is becoming more and more well-known abroad.
Published 08 May 2026 06:04 PM
Arjun Rampal If I have to look extremely good, then my go-to is Gabriella’
"The radiant and perfect complexion of Janhvi Kapoor has been unveiled, and the secret to her lovely skin is a homemade face mask. Kapoor bragged about the many health advantages of this concoction, which is made of honey, mashed bananas, curd, orange scrub, and almond oil. Dr. Aanchal Panth shared her thoughts on this celebrity-endorsed skincare product, as social media was ablaze with claims of its efficacy. Let's investigate if giving it a shot is worthwhile. Kapoor began by taking curd and placing it in a bowl with mashed bananas, honey, and an additional layer of malai. After thoroughly blending, she smeared it across her freshly washed face. She then squeezed an orange, rubbed the juice of the fruit over her face, and covered it with the mask. Following the removal of the mask, she applied almond oil beneath her eyes. Dr. Panth elucidated the effectiveness of the mask by pointing out that although it is moisturizing, putting orange directly on the skin is not advised. "This is a good mask that will help with moisturizing, especially if you have dry skin."" She noted that scrubbing orange juice on the face can be extremely irritating to the skin, but that as she used the malai of the curd, the thicker part of it will be even more moisturizing. It may make your skin more vulnerable to UV radiation, particularly if you have dark patches or sensitive skin. Completely avoid this, she continued. Regarding the almond oil, Dr. Panth clarified that it can be used as well as over the entire face, particularly in light of the damage caused by the orange; it serves as a beneficial moisturizer. The ingredients are broken down as follows: Dear Honey: Being a naturally occurring humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated and becomes smooth and silky. Additionally, it has antibacterial qualities that enable it to effectively combat bacteria that cause acne and reduce inflammation. Bananas: Potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin E are among the many vitamins and minerals they contain that are rich in and help to hydrate and nourish the skin. Banana enzymes gently exfoliate the skin to reveal a brighter complexion by removing dead cells Lactic acid, which is present in curd, acts as a mild exfoliator to encourage cell turnover and reveal younger-looking skin. It also helps reduce redness and irritation and has moisturizing qualities. Orange: Natural acids found in citrus fruits, such as oranges, can irritate delicate skin, particularly when applied topically. It contains substances that may increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight, raising the possibility of sunburn and other injury. To lessen the chance of discomfort, dilute orange juice or zest with water or combine it with other calming components before applying it directly to the skin. Almond oil: High in fatty acids and vitamin E, it nourishes and moisturizes the skin, leaving it feeling silky and smooth. It also aids in scar fading. "
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:28 PM
Is this Janhvi Kapoor-approved DIY face mask worth the hype?
"The radiant and perfect complexion of Janhvi Kapoor has been unveiled, and the secret to her lovely skin is a homemade face mask. Kapoor bragged about the many health advantages of this concoction, which is made of honey, mashed bananas, curd, orange scrub, and almond oil. Dr. Aanchal Panth shared her thoughts on this celebrity-endorsed skincare product, as social media was ablaze with claims of its efficacy. Let's investigate if giving it a shot is worthwhile. Kapoor began by taking curd and placing it in a bowl with mashed bananas, honey, and an additional layer of malai. After thoroughly blending, she smeared it across her freshly washed face. She then squeezed an orange, rubbed the juice of the fruit over her face, and covered it with the mask. Following the removal of the mask, she applied almond oil beneath her eyes. Dr. Panth elucidated the effectiveness of the mask by pointing out that although it is moisturizing, putting orange directly on the skin is not advised. ""This is a good mask that will help with moisturizing, especially if you have dry skin."" She noted that scrubbing orange juice on the face can be extremely irritating to the skin, but that as she used the malai of the curd, the thicker part of it will be even more moisturizing. It may make your skin more vulnerable to UV radiation, particularly if you have dark patches or sensitive skin. Completely avoid this, she continued. Regarding the almond oil, Dr. Panth clarified that it can be used as well as over the entire face, particularly in light of the damage caused by the orange; it serves as a beneficial moisturizer. The ingredients are broken down as follows: Dear Honey: Being a naturally occurring humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated and becomes smooth and silky. Additionally, it has antibacterial qualities that enable it to effectively combat bacteria that cause acne and reduce inflammation. Bananas: Potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin E are among the many vitamins and minerals they contain that are rich in and help to hydrate and nourish the skin. Banana enzymes gently exfoliate the skin to reveal a brighter complexion by removing dead cells Lactic acid, which is present in curd, acts as a mild exfoliator to encourage cell turnover and reveal younger-looking skin. It also helps reduce redness and irritation and has moisturizing qualities. Orange: Natural acids found in citrus fruits, such as oranges, can irritate delicate skin, particularly when applied topically. It contains substances that may increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight, raising the possibility of sunburn and other injury. To lessen the chance of discomfort, dilute orange juice or zest with water or combine it with other calming components before applying it directly to the skin. Almond oil: High in fatty acids and vitamin E, it nourishes and moisturizes the skin, leaving it feeling silky and smooth. It also aids in scar fading. "
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:27 PM
What happens to your body if you use expired makeup repeatedly?
"Expiring the last bit of your favorite makeup may seem innocuous, but Dr. Swapna Priya, a consultant dermatologist at CARE Hospitals in HiTec City, Hyderabad, cautions that doing so can put your health at danger. Imagine having red, irritated eyes after using your favorite mascara. Or imagine discovering fresh breakouts the next morning because of your reliable foundation. Regretfully, these situations occur more frequently than you may imagine, particularly when using expired cosmetics. Expiring the last bit of your favorite makeup may seem innocuous, but Dr. Swapna Priya, a consultant dermatologist at CARE Hospitals in HiTec City, Hyderabad, cautions that doing so can put your health at danger. This is why you should routinely declutter your cosmetics bag is essential for both general wellbeing and healthy skin. Allergy Reactions: Even in those who have never had an allergic reaction before, expired makeup can cause one. Red signals include swelling, stinging, and burning that you should not disregard. Infections: When makeup products like mascara and eyeliner go close to expiration, bacteria thrive there. You run the risk of developing eye infections like conjunctivitis when using them. Joyous deal Long-Term Issues: More Than Just Temporary Unease Using makeup that has expired might have negative long-term repercussions that can outweigh any immediate reactions, such as irritation: Chronic Skin Issues: Dermatitis and early aging of the skin can be caused by repeated contact with expired cosmetics. "
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:26 PM
Ramakrishna Ghoshs injury has been replaced by Macneil Noronha.
Macneil Noronha, an all-rounder from Karnataka who recently won the MA Chidambaram Trophy at the Naman awards for being the highest run-getter in the 2024/25 Colonel CK Nayudu Trophy, will join Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for INR 30 lakh as a replacement for Ramakrishna Ghosh, who injured his right foot during their game against Mumbai Indians on May 3rd and is out for the season. He will not play this season.Macneil Noronha will take Ghosh's place at CSK for INR 30 lakh.Noronha, a Karnataka all-rounder, has won the MA Chidambaram Trophy at the Naman Awards for scoring the most runs in the Colonel CK Nayudu Trophy for 2024–2025. Noronha was called up by the Karnataka team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after an outstanding season, and he played in three games for his state.For the remainder of the 2026 Indian Premier League season, the Chennai Super Kings have selected Karnataka all-rounder Macneil Noronha to replace injured uncapped player Ramakrishna Ghosh.He was called up to Karnataka's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy squad as a result of his domestic achievements, and he played in three games. Noronha made an impressive 34 off 21 deliveries in his most recent match against Tripura in December 2025. He also contributed a wicket. The move comes after Ghosh was sidelined for the rest of the season due to a right foot injury he sustained during Chennai's match against Mumbai Indians on May 3. Ghosh had just made his eagerly anticipated IPL debut in that match, contributing to Chennai's decisive eight-wicket victory. Introduced into the attack in a high-pressure match, the young player returned figures of 1 for 24 from his three overs, taking the crucial wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, who had looked dangerous after reaching 21 off just 12 balls. In that match, Ghosh made his eagerly anticipated IPL debut and contributed to Chennai's convincing eight-wicket victory. The youthful player, who was brought into the attack in a high-stress match, recorded figures of 1 for 24 from his three overs, taking the crucial wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, who had appeared dangerous after reaching 21 off only 12 balls.Chennai will be hoping that Noronha will offer valuable depth as they continue to strive for a play-off position in spite of the setback.
Published 13 May 2026 05:46 PM
Gautam Gambhirs Serious Pre-IPL 2024 Message To KKR
Before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, which begins on March 22, Kolkata Knight Riders coach Gautam Gambhir had a direct message for his team. During a Star Sports conversation, Gambhir clarified that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a fantastic chance for young players to demonstrate their abilities in the "toughest league in the world," not about Bollywood or the post-match celebrations. The former Indian batter, who captained KKR to the IPL title in 2012 and 2014, added that since the league is most similar to international cricket, there is extra pressure on players and teams to perform well. "I stated unequivocally on Day 1 that I take the Indian Premier League seriously. It has nothing to do with Bollywood, you, the after-party, or other such things. It's about getting out there and playing competitive cricket, which is why I think this league is the hardest in the world because it's authentic cricket," stated Gambhir. "It is probably closest to international cricket as compared to any other league and if you want to be known as a successful franchise, you should be able to deliver on the cricket field," he stated. Gambhir stated that the players must put in a lot of effort for the team's ardent fan base after KKR finished seventh in the previous season and missed out on the play-offs. "I believe there are ardent supporters. We must tell them the truth. We should probably try to put a smile on their faces because, in my opinion, Kolkata fans have been the most devoted because they have endured a lot over the first three IPL seasons," Gambhir remarked.
Published 04 Mar 2024 05:55 PM
IPL 2024 Schedule announced Timings, venues, squads, live streaming and all you need to know about 17th season of IPL
"IPL 2024 Schedule: The season's opening game will pit Royal Challengers Bangalore against the reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings. IPL 2024 Schedule in Full: According to the official schedule announcement, the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) will begin action on March 22 in Chennai. However, because the T20 extravaganza coincides with the impending general elections, only the first 21 matches—which stretch over 15 days—were revealed on Thursday. Following the election commission's announcement of the Lok Sabha election date, the remaining schedule will be made public. In the opening game of the season, Royal Challengers Bangalore will play the reigning champion Chennai Super Kings. Seventy league games in all and the two qualifiers, the elimination round, and the championship game will be among the four playoff games. Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants are the ten IPL teams for 2024. Take a look at the schedule that follows: March 22: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Chennai Super Kings, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 8 p.m. Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, hosts the Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals match on March 23 at 3:30 PM. On March 23, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Kolkata Knight Riders take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (7.30 PM) Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur will host the Rajasthan Royals vs. Lucknow Super Giants on March 24 at 7:30 PM. Mar. 24: Mumbai Indians vs. Gujarat Titans, 7.30 p.m., Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Mar. 25: Punjab Kings vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7:30 p.m. Mar. 26: Gujarat Titans against. Chennai Super Kings, 7.30 PM, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Mar. 27: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad will host Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Mumbai Indians (7.30 PM) March 30: 7.30 PM match between the Lucknow Super Giants and the Punjab Kings at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow March 31: Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad against Sunrisers Hyderabad (3.30 PM) 28 March: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur; Rajasthan Royals vs. Delhi Capitals, 7:30 PM Mar. 29: Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host the Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (7.30 PM) match. March 31: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium vs. Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals Visakhapatnam's ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium (7.30 PM) April 1: 7.30 PM Mumbai Indians vs. Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai April2: 7.30 PM match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Lucknow Super Giants at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru April 3: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium vs. Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals Visakhapatnam's ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium (7.30 PM) April 4: 7.30 PM game between Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad April 5: 7.30 PM, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad; Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Chennai Super Kings Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan Royals vs. Royal Challengers, Bangalore, April 6 (7.30 PM) April 7: 3.30 PM, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India vs. Delhi Capitals April 7: Gujarat Titans vs. Lucknow Super Giants, 7.30 PM, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow"
Published 28 Feb 2024 03:47 PM
First look at New York’s 34,000-seater Nassau County International Cricket Stadium that will host India vs Pakistan clash at T20 World Cup
No matter where the match is played, India vs. Pakistan in an ICC event is always one of the highlights of the competition. Even though India won the 50-over World Cup match in Ahmedabad, the match between the archrivals at the T20 World Cup in 2022 at the MCG featured a Virat Kohli spectacular that is likely among their best ever. The legendary match will take place in New York on June 9th for the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. The construction of the stadium began on Wednesday and is anticipated to be completed in three months. ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice stated, "We are excited to be unveiling the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024." "Work on the stadium, which will hold 34,000 cricket fans, has begun, marking an extremely significant milestone in the run-up to the biggest ICC event ever," Geoff Allardice continued. June 2nd will see the USA take on Canada in the opening game; Barbados will host the June 29th championship game. What sort of pitch should we anticipate? Pitch conditions have been quite important in the recent matches between India and Pakistan. When assistance is available, players like Shaheen Shah Afridi have tormented the Indian batters, and when it isn't, the Indian batters have attacked him and propelled the side to rapid victories. The wicket in New York will be a drop-in wicket. Drop-in wickets are generally more conducive to batting. Drop-in wickets are popularly utilised in Eden Park in New Zealand and Adelaide Oval in Australia. The pitch is being groomed in Florida, according ICC.The first-ever modular cricket stadium, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, is currently under construction and should be finished in just three months. The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 is expected to feature eight matches at the 34,000-seat stadium, the most notable of which is the high-profile match between India and Pakistan on June 9.
Published 25 Jan 2024 12:35 PM
Oggy Janta Party vs. Cockroach Janta Party: A new political battle on the internet
Following the filing of two distinct trademark applications for the term "Cockroach Janta Party" in the midst of the movement's explosive social media popularity, the viral rise of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has now entered a legal phase.The event occurred soon after a legal demand notice allegedly resulted in the movement's X account being withheld in India. Simultaneously, the youth-led satirical campaign proceeded to garner enormous internet traction through political commentary, memes, and Instagram. The movement began when Surya Kant's contentious comments during a Supreme Court hearing sparked online indignation and ridicule.Following remarks made by Chief Justice Surya Kant during a recent hearing that went viral online, the hashtag #CockroachJanataParty started to trend. The Chief Justice reportedly likened young people without jobs who turned to media, social media, and RTI activism to "cockroaches."But by then, the term had already become a popular online trend. The Cockroach Janta Party page and associated social media profiles were soon established by Abhijeet Dipke, a political communications consultant and former Aam Aadmi Party volunteer. According to reports, the campaign gained millions of followers on X and Instagram in a matter of days.
Published 22 May 2026 06:06 PM
Pawan Singh of the BJP Discusses Running for the Lok Sabha
Pawan Singh, an actor and singer from Bhojpur, stated on Monday that "time would tell" if he decided to run in the next Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to the media following his meeting with BJP president JP Nadda, Singh—who had been scheduled to run as the BJP candidate from Asansol in West Bengal but declared he would not after receiving negative feedback on his candidacy—avoided discussing the reasons behind his decision. "I spoke with the president of the party. After meeting with Nadda, Singh told the media, "Whatever happens in the future will be good." "That only time would tell," he responded when asked if he would run in the upcoming elections. I'll let you know if something occurs. Put it on hold for the time being "... On the other hand, Singh declined to respond to inquiries regarding the reasons behind his choice.Singh withdrew his name from the Lok Sabha election contest on Sunday from the West Bengal seat of Asansol, one day after the BJP announced him as its candidate from the seat currently held by Shatrughan Sinha of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).Singh thanked the BJP leadership in a post on X, but he also stated that he would not be able to run from Asansol "due to some reason," without providing an explanation.
Published 04 Mar 2024 05:25 PM
CM Sukhwinder Sukhu will continue for 5 years, says Shivakumar; can say, replies Congress HP chief Pratibha Singh
Amid the ongoing political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, state Congress president Pratibha Singh on Friday undermined party observer DK Shivakumar's statement about Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, stating that “it is the people of the state who will decide the fate of the government".Congress leader and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has said the Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu-led Himachal Pradesh state government will stay and all the MLAs want the Congress government for five years. However, Pratibha Singh's comment has revealed that the party's state unit and its observers are not on the same page on the issue. Reacting to Shivakumar's statement, Pratibha Singh was quoted by ANI as saying, “Observer ke bolne se kya hota hai', it is the people who will decide what will happen in the future." Mentioning her loyalty to the Congress party, Pratibha Singh noted, “I have spent my entire life in the Congress party. We started from the Congress party." "We affiliate with the Congress ideology. I can't say what can happen tomorrow," she added, hinting at another trouble for the party after the resignation of Vikramaditya Singh from the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu cabinet. Interestingly, Pratibha Singh recently applauded the activities of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and said the Congress was on a weak footing. She also called out the Himachal CM for not listening to her advice to organise the party to regain strength in the state. "From day 1, I had been telling the CM that we would be able to face the upcoming elections only if he strengthens the organisation. This is a very tough situation for us. We can see a lot of difficulties on the ground. As per the directions of PM Narendra Modi, the BJP is going to do a lot of things...We are on weak footing there. I urged him (CM) again and again that we need to strengthen and the party needs to be organised...I can say that it is a difficult time. Still, we have to contest elections and win," she told ANI. The Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government suffered a major setback after losing the Rajya Sabha elections because of cross-voting to the BJP. The grand old party lost the lone seat of the state in the Upper House of Parliament after its six MLAs cross-voted for the BJP. Moreover, Congress senior leader and minister Vikramaditya Singh announced his resignation from the cabinet. The development prompted the Congress party to send former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar to the hill state to resolve the crisis. With the disqualification of the six Congress rebel MLAs, the strength of the House has reduced from 68 to 62. The halfway mark is now 32. The Congress now has 34 MLAs and the BJP has a total of 28 MLAs, including independents. The fortunes of the grand old party rely on its ability to keep the rest of its party MLAs together.
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:48 PM
Himachal Pradesh Political Crisis: Six rebel Congress MLAs disqualified. What lies ahead for the hill state?
Himachal Pradesh Assembly speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on February 29 disqualified the six rebel Congress MLAs who cross-voted during the Rajya Sabha elections. With this, the six MLAs cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly.After the disqualification, the Congress government has, for now, survived in Himachal Pradesh after a two-day scare over its future due to cross-voting by six of its MLAs in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in the Rajya Sabha election on February 27. The strength of the house after the disqualification, pending judicial scrutiny, comes down to 62. The Congress now has 34 MLAs in the house, with 32 being the majority mark. Three independent MLAs who supported the Congress also cross-voted for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election. The BJP had demanded a trust vote soon after the Congress lost the Rajya Sabha polls due to defections. Former Chief Minister, Jairam Thakur, and other leaders claimed that the Congress party had lost the majority in the house. However, the Congress government passed the budget on Wednesday, February 28, while 25 BJP MLAs were not present in the house after 15 of them were suspended. Also, the disqualification of six rebel MLAs has changed the dynamics. "Our experts will analyse the situation, and after looking at their judgments, we will take a decision. It is too early to say anything. Congress was totally exposed in the Rajya Sabha elections. Congress has lost its opportunity. Morally, they have no right to stay in power and the emotions of the people of Himachal Pradesh are clear from this," Rajeev Bindal, Himachal Pradesh BJP president, told news agency ANI. This disqualification order is subject to judicial scrutiny and will attain finality after judicial scrutiny, Pathania said. Also, it remains to be seen if these six MLAs approach the court against the disqualification. The six legislators had cross-voted, along with three independents, during Rajya Sabha polls. However, they have not been disqualified for cross-voting, but for violating the whip and skipping the budget session of the Himachal Pradesh assembly. Pathania said he wanted to prevent 'the aya Ram gaya Ram' politics. This phrase is used to refer to politicians switching party allegiances frequently. The Congress government's survival will also depend on whether the party can ensure that there are no more defections among the 34 MLAs. The Congress government's survival will also depend on whether the party can ensure that there are no more defections among the 34 MLAs.
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:46 PM
Entertainment
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Political Trends
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Events
NEET-UG 2026 canceled LIVE: Nashik police detain suspects in paper leak
Due to reports of a paper leak, the National Testing Agency (NTA) canceled the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 exam on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The government has requested that the CBI conduct a thorough investigation into the "irregularities." While the Rajasthan Special Operations Group looks into the claims of the exam paper leak, this decision was made."With the approval of the Government of India, the National Testing Agency has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3, 2026, and to re-conduct the examination on dates that will be notified separately, based on the inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with the central agencies, and the investigative findings shared by the law enforcement agencies and to ensure that there is transparency in the system," the NTA stated in a press release. It further stated that the Agency's official channels will be used to disseminate the updated exam dates and admission card issuance timetable. The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) took action in response to claims that the NEET-UG 2026 entrance test question paper, which was administered on May 3, had been leaked.The purported anomalies concern "a guess paper" that was distributed prior to the test and allegedly included questions that were quite similar to the real paper. According to Vishal Bansal, Additional Director General of the Rajasthan Police SOG, the agency was investigating if the material's distribution was connected to organized crime. On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, a large-scale demonstration against the purported paper leak was organized by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and took place close to the Shastri Bhawan.
Events
The ninth edition of Tamil Nadu International Balloon Festival showcased special balloons shaped like elephant and frogs
"The ninth annual Tamil Nadu International Balloon Festival featured unique balloons fashioned like ducks and twin frogs, but Elli, the UK-made balloon built like an elephant, stole the show. It leaves an indelible impression. Soaring over coconut fields in a hot air balloon, I get the breathtaking image of the buttery sun shimmering over the foggy Pollachi landscape. The pilot guides Elii, a unique balloon shaped like a grey elephant, as it ascends over the sky, Mark Stokoe. The co-pilot, Lisa Stokoe, is ecstatic about the star attraction at the just finished Tamil Nadu International Balloon Festival (TNIBF). ""This elephant can fly."" Based in the UK, the duo intends to showcase Elii in international ballooning events as they travel the globe. Cartoon-shaped balloons are visually appealing, particularly at the largest event, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico, when up to 500 balloons are arranged in a line. We innovate shapes for fun, but many people do it for profit. Talking about her family's two loves, travel and hot air ballooning, Lisa states, ""My son Ben has a pilot's license and has been training with Mark during his outings in Thailand and France."" Based in the UK, the duo intends to showcase Elii in international ballooning events as they travel the globe. Cartoon-shaped balloons are visually appealing, particularly. G.D. Gopalakrishnan, President of the Chamber of Commerce in Pollachi, officially opened the ninth edition of the Tamil Nadu International Balloon Festival. The festival at Pollachi on January 12 featured hot air balloons from the United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. In association with Global Media Box, Tamil Nadu Tourism served as the festival's host. Between January 13 and January 16, more than ten balloons representing the UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam filled the air. Every day from 2 pm to 10 pm, there will be carnivals that provide visitors of all ages with an authe"
Events
Vishwakarma Jayanti 2024 From history, significance to puja rituals
"Today, February 21, 2024, marks the beginning of the fourth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir. On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, the fourth iteration of the Khelo India Winter Games festival is scheduled to begin. The sporting event is scheduled to occur at Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir. During the event, athletes from across the nation will compete in a variety of winter sports, such as snowboarding, snow mountaineering, Nordic skiing, and alpine skiing. The Department of Youth Services & Sports, J&K Sports Council, in partnership with the Tourism Department, the Gulmarg Development Authority, and multiple other stakeholders, is organizing the Khelo India Winter Games 2024. The first phase of the 2024 Khelo India Winter Games festival was held from February 2–6 in Leh, and it mostly featured ice hockey and ice skating games. Start Date of the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg, 2024 On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, in Gulmarg, the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 are slated to begin. To promote awareness of issues related to the preservation of natural habitats, wildlife protection, and indigenous groups' worries about mountain development, the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 mascot is a snow leopard. Khelo India Winter Games 2024: Closing Date in Gulmarg The last day of the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg is February 25, 2024. Khelo India Winter Games: Gulmarg, 2024: Total Registrants. The official website, kheloindia.gov.in, states that more than 1200 people will be participating in the Games, including more than 700 athletes, 141 support staff, 113 technical officials, 250+ volunteer and A total of 136 medals and a sports-specific volunteer are up for grabs in the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 in Gulmarg. View the schedule for every event at the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg in 2024. Nordic Skiing at the Golf Course, Gulmarg, J&K, February 21–24, 2024 Ski Mountaineering at Kangdoori, Gulmarg, J&K, February 22–24, 2024 Alpine Skiing in Kangdoori, Gulmarg, J&K, February 22–25, 2024 February 22–25, 2024: Snowboarding in Gulmarg, J&K at Kangdoori. "
Events
IPL 2024 Schedule announced Timings, venues, squads, live streaming and all you need to know about 17th season of IPL
"IPL 2024 Schedule: The season's opening game will pit Royal Challengers Bangalore against the reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings. IPL 2024 Schedule in Full: According to the official schedule announcement, the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) will begin action on March 22 in Chennai. However, because the T20 extravaganza coincides with the impending general elections, only the first 21 matches—which stretch over 15 days—were revealed on Thursday. Following the election commission's announcement of the Lok Sabha election date, the remaining schedule will be made public. In the opening game of the season, Royal Challengers Bangalore will play the reigning champion Chennai Super Kings. Seventy league games in all and the two qualifiers, the elimination round, and the championship game will be among the four playoff games. Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants are the ten IPL teams for 2024. Take a look at the schedule that follows: March 22: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Chennai Super Kings, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 8 p.m. Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, hosts the Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals match on March 23 at 3:30 PM. On March 23, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Kolkata Knight Riders take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (7.30 PM) Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur will host the Rajasthan Royals vs. Lucknow Super Giants on March 24 at 7:30 PM. Mar. 24: Mumbai Indians vs. Gujarat Titans, 7.30 p.m., Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Mar. 25: Punjab Kings vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7:30 p.m. Mar. 26: Gujarat Titans against. Chennai Super Kings, 7.30 PM, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Mar. 27: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad will host Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Mumbai Indians (7.30 PM) March 30: 7.30 PM match between the Lucknow Super Giants and the Punjab Kings at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow March 31: Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad against Sunrisers Hyderabad (3.30 PM) 28 March: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur; Rajasthan Royals vs. Delhi Capitals, 7:30 PM Mar. 29: Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host the Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (7.30 PM) match. March 31: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium vs. Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals Visakhapatnam's ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium (7.30 PM) April 1: 7.30 PM Mumbai Indians vs. Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai April2: 7.30 PM match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Lucknow Super Giants at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru April 3: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium vs. Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals Visakhapatnam's ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium (7.30 PM) April 4: 7.30 PM game between Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad April 5: 7.30 PM, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad; Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Chennai Super Kings Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan Royals vs. Royal Challengers, Bangalore, April 6 (7.30 PM) April 7: 3.30 PM, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India vs. Delhi Capitals April 7: Gujarat Titans vs. Lucknow Super Giants, 7.30 PM, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow"
Events
Khelo India Winter Games 2024 Starts From 21 February in Gulmarg J&K Details
"Today, February 21, 2024, marks the beginning of the fourth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir. On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, the fourth iteration of the Khelo India Winter Games festival is scheduled to begin. The sporting event is scheduled to occur at Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir. During the event, athletes from across the nation will compete in a variety of winter sports, such as snowboarding, snow mountaineering, Nordic skiing, and alpine skiing. The Department of Youth Services & Sports, J&K Sports Council, in partnership with the Tourism Department, the Gulmarg Development Authority, and multiple other stakeholders, is organizing the Khelo India Winter Games 2024. The first phase of the 2024 Khelo India Winter Games festival was held from February 2–6 in Leh, and it mostly featured ice hockey and ice skating games. Start Date of the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg, 2024 On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, in Gulmarg, the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 are slated to begin. To promote awareness of issues related to the preservation of natural habitats, wildlife protection, and indigenous groups' worries about mountain development, the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 mascot is a snow leopard. Khelo India Winter Games 2024: Closing Date in Gulmarg The last day of the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg is February 25, 2024. Khelo India Winter Games: Gulmarg, 2024: Total Registrants. The official website, kheloindia.gov.in, states that more than 1200 people will be participating in the Games, including more than 700 athletes, 141 support staff, 113 technical officials, 250+ volunteer and A total of 136 medals and a sports-specific volunteer are up for grabs in the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 in Gulmarg. View the schedule for every event at the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg in 2024. Nordic Skiing at the Golf Course, Gulmarg, J&K, February 21–24, 2024 Ski Mountaineering at Kangdoori, Gulmarg, J&K, February 22–24, 2024 Alpine Skiing in Kangdoori, Gulmarg, J&K, February 22–25, 2024 February 22–25, 2024: Snowboarding in Gulmarg, J&K at Kangdoori. "
Events
Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade Fair Promoting Sustainable Solutions
"On February 19–20, 2024, in New Delhi, the Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade Fair was held in association with ICAR—Central On February 19–20, 2024, in New Delhi, the Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade Fair was held in association with ICAR—Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi. A collaborative endeavor between ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi, and numerous stakeholders is the Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade Fair, scheduled for February 19–20, 2024, in New Delhi. The purpose of the event is to highlight the many applications of neem in environmental sustainability, healthcare, and agriculture. Highlights of the Trade Fair and Inauguration The Trade Fair was opened by Dr. Himanshu Pathak, DG of ICAR and Secretary of DARE. 22 international and Indian businesses took part, showcasing their neem-based goods. There were about 250 attendees, ten of them were from abroad. Seminar Subject ""Neem for Sustainable Agriculture, Health, and Environment"" is the main focus. The potential of neem to meet the needs of the industry for raw materials and its part in carbon farming are highlighted. Highlights of the Program Features Seven technical sessions addressing different facets of neem development and research. The industrial and sociocultural uses of neem are among the areas of discussion. Publications and Documentary ""Neem Field Gene Bank - Provisioning Opportunities for Conservation and Utilization"" Technical Bulletin, WNO Calendar, and Souvenir publications. The WNO Documentary was released with the goal of raising awareness of the importance and uses of neem."
Events
PM Modi to inaugurate projects in UP
Top Events of the Day: With PM Modi launching ₹91,000 crore projects, Uttar Pradesh will see a boom in development. Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti is celebrated in Maharashtra, and Modi places the cornerstones for important projects. Sixth ED summons for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Top Events of the Day: India has a hectic February 19 taking place. While Maharashtra celebrates Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti, PM Modi will inaugurate massive infrastructure projects totaling ₹91,000 crore in Uttar Pradesh. As the Chandigarh Mayor Polls case progresses and the Supreme Court considers Sharad Pawar's plea over NCP leadership, legal experts are keeping a close eye on both developments. As a result of Mahua Moitra and Mukul Roy's summonses in different cases, and Arvind Kejriwal's sixth ED summons in connection with the Delhi liquor scandal, investigations are intensifying. Maritime security is the main focus worldwide. stage with the start of the Milan 2024 drill in Visakhapatnam and the launch of Japan's asteroid debris mission. PM Modi to showcase ₹91,000-cr tech projects at the UP Ground-Breaking Ceremony: Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially open sixty large-scale infrastructure projects in Uttar Pradesh, which will be a big step in the right direction to strengthen the state's economy. According to news agency ANI, these projects, which have a combined worth of an astounding ₹91,456.89 crore, are anticipated to provide approximately 81,424 new job opportunities. HCL Tech mandates three days of in-office work starting on February 19: According to a message released on February 16 by the Noida-based IT company, HCL Technologies, a major player in the industry, has requested that all of its workers who are involved in Digital Foundation Services (DFS) report to work at least three days a week starting on February 19. On February 19 (India), Zenith Drugs' first public offering (IPO) will launch. The subscription period for the Zenith Drugs IPO begins on February 19, 2024, and ends on February 22, 2024. The SME IPO is a fully new issue of 51.49 lakh shares and is a book built issue of ₹40.68 crores. The IPO pricing range for Zenith Pharmaceuticals is ₹75 to ₹79 per share. Bigshare Services Pvt Ltd is the registrar for the Zenith Drugs IPO, and Gretex Corporate Services Limited is the book running lead manager. Gretex Share Broking is the issue's market maker.
Events
In Dubai, PM Modi says world needs inclusive, corruption-free govts
"On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that inclusive and corrupt-free governments are what the world needs now. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on the second day of his visit, Modi declared that ""minimum government, maximum governance"" has been his guiding principle for the past few years. The prime minister stated, ""They have trust in the intent and commitment of the government,"" citing a rise in people's trust in the government over the past several years in India. The prime minister stated that his administration prioritized women-led growth and improved the economic, social, and political circumstances for Indian women. In addition, he stated that his government has made social and financial inclusion a top priority and that more over 50 crore people were enrolled in banking services. He questioned, ""Shouldn't there be reforms in global governance institutions at a time when we are transforming our country? We have to ensure respect for international law while giving priority to our national sovereignty. "Terrorism and climate change were mentioned by PM Modi as significant issues facing humanity. Every day, humanity faces new challenges due to terrorism in its various manifestations. Climate-related issues are become more pervasive these days. He stated, ""On the one hand, there are issues at home, and on the other, the global system appears to be in disarray. In his speech, Modi added that Dubai is fast emerging as the center of the world's trade, technology, and economy. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed is a visionary and resolute leader, according to Modi, who praised the UAE president. With the theme of ""Shaping Future Governments,"" the World Governments Summit brings together global leaders from the commercial sector, international organizations, governments, and thought leaders."
EventsGadgets Trend
Before its launch in India, the Realme 12 5G was teased with a dynamic button.
On March 6, the Realme 12 5G is expected to debut in India. It will be released in the nation concurrently with the recently unveiled Realme 12+ 5G model in a few markets. Pre-orders for both phones were made available by the company last week. Prior to the models' release in India, Realme has also disclosed a few of their most important features. The Realme 12 5G's design, camera, and color options have been verified. There are now hints that the phones will have a dynamic button.On March 6, the Realme 12 5G is expected to debut in India. It will be unveiled in the nation concurrently with the Realme 12 5G, which has been hinted at to feature a Dynamic Button that functions similarly to Apple's Action Button. According to the teaser, the button can be used to access a number of custom actions that control various features, including the flashlight, do not disturb (DND) mode, silent mode, airplane mode, shutter on the camera, and more. This has a similar purpose to Apple's Action button, which lets users personalize which actions activate the flashlight, camera, focus modes, and other features. The button, which is located on the right edge beneath the volume rocker, has not been given any information by the company.The Realme 12+ 5G variant,The Realme 12 5G will have a 108-megapixel primary sensor with a 3x in-sensor zoom, as the company had previously confirmed. It has also been hinted at in a purple hue. Large circular rear camera modules are featured in the teasers, which also feature designs similar to those of the Realme 12+ 5G, Realme 12 Pro 5G, and Realme 12 Pro+ 5G.In India, the Realme 12 5G and Realme 12+ 5G will go on sale simultaneously. It is anticipated that the phone's Plus version will resemble its international counterpart. The company has stated that the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC, a 120Hz AMOLED display with rainwater smart technology, and a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-600 OIS-supported primary camera will be included in the Indian version.
Gadgets
At MWC 2024, brands show the future of connected cars and aerial mobility
While Wireless and Mobile technologies took centerstage at the just concluded Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, there was also some spotlight at the connected cars and aerial mobility at arguably the world’s most important consumer tech show. The Smart Mobility Summit at MWC brought together industry leaders from both established automotive and drone companies, along with tech pioneers. The transportation and travel sectors face a dual challenge — increasing capacity and reducing emissions. Embracing digital transformation is crucial to overcoming these hurdles, paving the way for substantial growth in both connected cars and aerial mobility. And this transformation was the key topic of discussion among the industry executives who gathered at the summit. The aerial mobility market is expected to reach $68.1 billion by 2032, growing at 35.2 per cent annually. Connected car drivers in the US alone are projected to increase by 15.5 per cent by 2027, reaching 174.8 million. Mobile network technologies like 5G and network slicing enable new features like autonomous driving, piloting, and C-V2X communication. Additionally, the growing availability of technologies like 4G and LPWA lays the foundation for reliable, always-on connectivity for transportation networks. The discussions were also important because deploying connected transportation solutions varies by region and requires a deep understanding of available networks and technologies. Given that the MWC saw attendance of industry veterans from different parts of the world, they could share knowledge and discuss smart solutions relevant to them. Led by industry leaders and experts, the summit covered topics such as enhancing cars with new connected features, recent advancements and challenges in smart drones, and mid-to-long-term transformation, including the role of new network technologies, electrification, and the use of teleoperation and digital twins. The Smart Mobility Summit also presented a unique opportunity to industry veterans to connect with key players who are shaping the future of mobility.
Gadgets
Realme 12 5G, Realme 12+ 5G pre-orders begin in India. Launch date, pre-order benefits and more
Realme has confirmed that its Realme 12 5G smartphone will also make its debut in India alongside Realme 12+ 5G on March 6. The Chinese smartphone maker has also opened pre-orders for the Realme 12 series from today with a promise of availing limited time benefits of up to ₹ 3,000. The Realme 12 5G and Realme 12+ 5G can be pre-ordered by going to Amazon, Realme's official website and mainline stores. The two devices will be availabe to pre-order from 2pm onwards on February 29 and will go on till March 5. Meanwhile, the Realme 12 5G series will go on sale from 3:00 pm from March 6th onwards and will be available with limited offers till March 10th. Customers pre-ordering the Realme 12+ 5G are eligible for a ₹1,000 bank offer and ₹1,000 price offer on the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant and ₹1,000 bank offer on the 8GB RAM/256 GB storage variant. Furthermore, customers will also be entitled to 1 year of complete mobile protection on Flipkart and 1 year of screen damage protection on the Realme website. Meanwhile, customers pre-ordering the 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant of the Realme 12 5G are eligible for a coupon of ₹2,000 coupon and customers pre-ordering the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant are entitled to a ₹1,000 coupon. Apart from this, Realme is also offering the same 1 year of mobile protection and 1 year of screen damage protection as the Realme 12+ 5G. Realme had earlier also confirmed that the upcoming Realme 12+ 5G will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset and will sport a 50MP Sony LYT 600 primary sensor with support for optical image stabilization and up to 2x in sensor zoom. Realme 12+ 5G is also confirmed to come with a 120Hz AMOLED panel which will come with the latest Rainwater Smart Touch feature which will help users take advantage of their smartphone even with wet or dry hands.
Gadgets
OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact edition launched in India: Price, specs, launch offers and everything you should know
OnePlus has launched a Genshin Impact Edition of the OnePlus 12R, which brings a host of design and UI changes to the smartphone based on the popular mobile game from miHoYo. The smartphone was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain and will be available in India and other global markets from next month. The latest OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact edition is priced at ₹49,999 for the 16GB RAM/256GB storage variant. In contrast, the standard OnePlus 12R is priced at ₹45,999 for the same RAM and storage configurations, while the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant is priced at ₹39,999. The latest OnePlus smartphone will go on sale from March 19 and will be available on Amazon, OnePlus.in and select OnePlus Experience Stores from March 19. The OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition can be purchased at a discount of ₹1,000 using the OneCard, while an exchange bonus of ₹3,000 is also available on the purchase of the new smartphone. The OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition comes with numerous design changes inspired by the character of Keqing and is available in the only 'Electro Violet' colour variant with the word Keqing inscribed on the bottom of the smartphone. The smartphone comes in a collectible gift box with a special Keqing themed case, a customised charging cable and adapter, and a distinctive Lighting Stiletto design on the SIM tray. OnePlus is also bringing many UI changes with the OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition, including a special charging animation, live wallpaper and Always On Display elements. The phone's hardware remains the same as the usual OnePlus 12R, including a 6.78-inch AMOLED ProXDR display with support for LTPO4.0 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset underneath. The smartphone is paired with the Adreno 740 GPU to handle any graphics-intensive tasks, and comes with a massive 5,500mAh battery that can be fast-charged via the 100W SUPERVOOC charger provided inside the box. In terms of optics, the phone houses a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary sensor with support for OIS and EIS, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro lens. There is also a 16MP front-facing camera on the smartphone to meet all the selfie and video calling needs. The camera app on the OnePlus 12R comes with a host of features including Interval Shooting, Nightscape, Hi-Res Mode, Pro Mode, Movie Mode, Ultra Steady Mode, Dual View Video, Portrait Mode, Video Portrait, Pano, Macro, Slo-mo, Time Lapse, Long Exposure, Text Scanner and more.
Gadgets
Nothing Phone 2a virtual unboxing video shows design, Glyph lights: Details
Nothing is slated to launch the Phone 2a in India on March 5. Ahead of the launch, the British consumer technology startup runs a virtual unboxing video, which reveals the smartphone’s design and Glyph interface. Available on Nothing official handle on X (formerly Twitter), the virtual unboxing video highlights the horizontal camera island and transparent back cover on the rear. The Nothing Phone 2a back panel appears to be following the design language from the company’s previous smartphones. The smartphone appears to have a transparent back glass, showcasing certain elements from the inside of the smartphone. However, the biggest change is the horizontally placed dual-camera setup, which is aligned centrally. For reference, the Phone 2a camera placement is unlike the Nothing Phone (1) and Phone (2). Both these smartphones had vertically placed camera modules towards the top-left side. The video also confirms that the Nothing Phone (2a) will have the Glyph interface with light bars around the camera module. The frame also looks like it has a matte texture rather than a shiny metal finish. The Nothing Phone (2a) is set to launch in India on March 5 in an in-person launch event at Dwarka, Delhi. The company is selling tickets for the launch event that are available on PayTM Insider for Rs 999.In a run up to the launch, Nothing has confirmed several key specification details for the Phone (2a). The company previously announced that the smartphone will be powered by a custom-built MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset accompanied by 12GB RAM. The smartphone will feature 8GB virtual RAM that Nothing calls “RAM Booster”. The MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro powering the Phone (2a) is based on TSMC's latest second-generation 4nm process technology. According to the company, the chip has 8-core configuration with clocking speeds up to 2.8 GHz. According to media reports, the Phone (2a) will feature a 50MP Samsung S5KGN9 1/1.5-inch main sensor alongside a 50MP Samsung S5KJN1 1/2.76-inch ultra-wide-angle sensor at the back. On the front, the Nothing Phone (2a) will likely get a 32MP Sony IMX615 camera sensor.
Gadgets
HONOR Magic 6 Pro with AI-powered features unveiled at MWC 24: Details here
Chinese smartphone brand HONOR has unveiled the Magic 6 Pro smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, US. The smartphone will be available in select countries and regions, including Europe, China, Malaysia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico. HONOR has not confirmed India availability yet. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the HONOR Magic 6 Pro smartphone boasts built-in AI capabilities leveraging open source LlaMA 2 AI model. Some of the AI features that will be available out-of-the-box include offline text generation and summarisation tools for long-form content. HONOR introduced MagicOS 8.0, based on Android, with the Magic 6 Pro. It is said to incorporate the company’s AI features for smartphones such as “Magic Portal”, which the company said uses AI to understand the user's usage pattern and behaviour for personalised suggestions. According to the company, the Magic Portal is capable of recognising addresses in a text message and directs users to Google Maps with a tap. HONOR said that the portal will also facilitate “image-based shopping experiences”. The company also announced that it would add more AI-powered features to the Magic 6 Pro smartphone in future such as the “AI-powered eye-tracking systems”. Currently in the experimental stage, the feature would allow users to control the smartphone and other connected smart devices hands-free – using eye-tracking from smartphone sensors.
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Global Release of Xiaomi 14 With Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and Leica Adapted Cameras
The Xiaomi 14 was released worldwide on Sunday, February 25, one day prior to the start of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona. The flagship phone from the Chinese company has an LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and is powered by Qualcomm's most recent Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The Leica-branded triple rear camera unit with a Summilux lens is a feature of the Xiaomi 14. The phone is compatible with 90W HyperCharge wired charging and has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Alongside the Xiaomi 14 Pro, the Xiaomi 14 was introduced in China last year. The Xiaomi 14's single 12GB RAM + 512GB storage model is priced at €999. It is available in White, Jade Green, and Black colors. According to reports, the phone will cost less after bank offers and will retail for less than Rs. 75,000 in India. On March 7, Xiaomi 14 is expected to officially launch in the Indian market. In addition to being offered for sale on Flipkart, it will be sold on Amazon. It is anticipated that the Indian version will have comparable specs to the international version. With an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz and a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED (1,200x2,670 pixels) display with 460ppi pixel density, the Xiaomi 14 dual SIM (nano +e-SIM) runs on the HyperOS interface, which is based on Android 14. The screen is rated to provide up to 240Hz touch sampling rate, support for HDR10+, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection is applied to the screen, and 3D curved glass is coated on the back. It is powered by a 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, coupled with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
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Google is shutting down its GPay service: All you need to know
Google Pay was replaced by Google Wallet in 2022 but the service remained operational in several countries. Now, the company has decided to simplify its payment methods with its latest move.Google has announced that its Google Pay app will no longer be available starting June 4, 2024. Google Pay was replaced by Google Wallet in 2022 but the service remained operational in several countries. Now, the company has decided to simplify its payment methods with its latest move. However, the users in India and Singapore are not affected by this move as the company will continue its Google Pay service in these countries considering their unique needs. The latest announcement from the company is aimed at the U.S. version of the standalone Google Pay app. “To simplify the app experience, the U.S. version of the standalone Google Pay app will no longer be available for use starting June 4, 2024,” Google wrote in a blog post.“And for the millions of people who use the Google Pay app in India and Singapore, nothing will change as we continue to build for the unique needs in those countries,” Google adds. As a part of the process, Google will also remove peer-to-peer (P2P) payments, managing your Google Pay balance, and "find offers and deals" from the service. Users in the U.S. who were using "find offers and deals" in the GPay app can now head to new deals destination on Search, as per the company’s recommendation. Google Wallet has now replaced GPay and it has millions of users in more than 180 countries, as per the company. Google Wallet can handle credit and debit card payments and can also store transport passes, state IDs, driver's licenses, virtual car keys, and more. Google Pay service will be available through Google Wallet in the U.S. after June 4, 2024.
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Realme 12 Pro+ Camera Details Revealed Ahead Of Launch
Realme has already confirmed that it will launch its Relame 12 series of smartphones later this month. The Chinese smartphone maker has revealed that it will launch the Realme 12 Pro and Realme 12 Pro+ smartphones on January 29 in India. Relame has revealed that the Realme 12 Pro+ will come in two colour options — blue and cream. The smartphone will sport a circular camera module with triple rear camera setup. The company has revealed that the upcoming Relame 12 series smartphone will sport a 64MP main camera with 120X zoom functionality. The smartphone comes equipped with a Sony IMX890+ sensor with optical image stabilisation. The smartphone also house a Periscope Portrait camera. The periscope zoom camera in question utilizes a 64MP OmniVision OV64B sensor with a substantial 1/2-inch dimension. Realme emphasizes that, when compared to the 3x zoom camera in the iPhone 15 Pro (12MP) and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (10MP), the Realme 12 Pro+'s sensor is significantly larger, exceeding 2.6 times in size. Consequently, this results in over 1.8 times the light intake.In simpler terms, mainstream flagship phones often do not prioritize telephoto cameras. The comparison images presented during the launch event were compelling, demonstrating Realme's ability to maintain an impressive level of detail even with significant cropping. However, a conclusive assessment will be provided based on our hands-on experience in the future.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:01 PM
Go Nisha Go game empowers 2,000 girls in Patna, Jaipur, and Delhi about menstrual health and more
This mobile game is empowering girls in India with knowledge that changes lives. Howard Delafield International (HDI), a woman-owned social impact firm, hosted an event in New Delhi on January 18 highlighting the impact of the award-winning mobile game Go Nisha Go. Developed with support from USAID, this innovative role-playing game aims to shape knowledge and behaviours among adolescent girls aged 15-19, empowering them to reach their full potential.Since its launch, Go Nisha Go has been downloaded over 300,000 times. Players take on the role of Nisha, the protagonist, and make important choices that significantly influence her life journey. Through Nisha, girls can explore critical topics like menstrual health, consent, contraception, pursuing an education, delaying early marriage, and gaining financial independence. The game provides credible information and advice from mentor figures to help guide the choices. Access to in-game resources combined with the ability to make decisions and see the outcomes has led to measurable impact, as shown by a randomised control trial conducted by Population Council Consulting. The study enlisted approximately 2000 girls in Patna, Jaipur, and Delhi – regions with high rates of early marriage and adolescent pregnancy which can disrupt a girl’s education and life prospects.The research revealed that girls who played Go Nisha Go demonstrated substantially improved knowledge compared to those who did not play the game. Players were at least twice as likely to have comprehensive awareness of modern contraceptives like condoms, birth control pills, and emergency contraception. Understanding of fertility and the menstrual cycle increased by 119%. Significant gains were also seen in knowledge of menstrual issues, timing of marriage, and contraception.Beyond expanding knowledge, the game also boosted self-efficacy and intent among players. Girls felt more confident in accessing health services and speaking to providers about their needs. They were more determined to pursue their education, delay marriage, and gain financial independence.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:01 PM
Best tablets deals from Republic Day sale on Amazon and Flipkart
Indian e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart have commenced their Republic Day 2024 sale, offering discounts on various electronics like laptops, mobiles and tablets. If you are looking to buy a tablet from brands like Apple, Samsung, Redmi and others, here are some of the best deals you can get your hands on during the sale. Looking for a tablet for media consumption and casual browsing under Rs 20,000? The Redmi Pad might be a good choice. Powered by the Helio G99 chipset, the tablet has a 10.61-inch LCD screen with a refresh rate of 90Hz. It comes with Android 12 but can be upgraded to MIUI 13 based on Android 13 and has 128GB storage that be expanded using a microSD card. The tablet packs an 8,000mAh battery and has a quad-speaker setup that is loud enough if you plan to watch movies or videos in a small to medium room. You can purchase the 4GB RAM version from Amazon for Rs 13,999, but we recommend going with the 6GB RAM variant that costs Rs 15,999. Lenovo’s Tab P12 is a mid-range tablet with a large 60Hz 12.7-inch LCD screen that has a resolution of 3K, making it one of the best tablets in the price segment to watch movies, browse the web or multitask Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset and backed by 8GB RAM, the Lenovo Tab P12 (review) cannot run games like BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile at 3K resolution but dialling down the graphics might help them run smoothly. It even has a dedicated desktop mode if you want to work on the go. While this may not be a good option for gamers, the large screen makes it great for media consumption and browsing. You can buy it from Amazon for Rs 24,999. Xiaomi last year launched the Pad 6, another mid-range tablet that can do it all without burning a hole in your pocket. Sporting an 11-inch 144Hz LCD screen with a resolution of 2.8K, the Xiaomi Pad 6 (review) features one of the most well-optimised Qualcomm chipsets – the Snapdragon 870.It has 4 speakers that can fill up a medium room, making it one of the best tablets for media consumption. If you want a tablet that offers great value for money, can play all the latest games and multitask without any hiccups, the Xiaomi Pad 6 is one of the best devices money can buy right now. It is currently available on Amazon for Rs 24,999. Launched in 2022, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is one of the most powerful Android tablets you can buy right now. While may not be the fastest, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can easily run multiple apps and can comfortably run games like Genshin Impact, BGMI and others at high settings.It has an 11-inch 120Hz LCD screen that is bright enough for outdoor use and packs an 8,000mAh battery. The base variant of the Galaxy Tab S8 has 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and comes with S-Pen. It runs on Android 12 out of the box, with Samsung promising 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches. If you are looking for a tablet that performs on almost all fronts and don’t mind the LCD screen, the Galaxy Tab S8 is a great buy for Rs 47,999.
Published 25 Jan 2024 10:00 PM
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs S23 Ultra: How Samsung’s top-end phones stack up
Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S series sees its latest iteration with the new Galaxy S24 Ultra, succeeding last year’s S23 Ultra. While retaining the S series DNA, Samsung has made subtle but meaningful upgrades to the S24 Ultra’s design, display, performance, camera, and software capabilities. But are these incremental improvements compelling enough for S23 Ultra owners to upgrade? Let’s find out. The design evolution from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to the new S24 Ultra is subtle. While retaining the recognisable tall, rectangular shape with ever-so-slight rounded edges, the S24 Ultra trims a wee bit of fat, shaving off 2 grams of weight for a total of 232 grams. It also slims down by 0.3mm to 8.6mm thickness. That said, this is not exactly a dramatic reduction from the S23 Ultra’s 234 gram weight and 8.9mm thickness. And if we’re being honest, we expected more in terms of weight reduction considering the phone gets a titanium frame this year. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max saw a substantial 20-gram weight loss by shifting to titanium.A more meaningful improvement is seeing upfront of the handset, which thanks to the combination of a flat display and a trimmed bottom bezel, now features symmetrical bezels all around. The S24 Ultra also introduces an appealing new lineup of colour options. The S23 Ultra played it relatively safe with Phantom Black, Cream, Green and Lavender as widely available colours. By contrast, the S24 Ultra really embraces colour with options like Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow for all retailers. Even bolder Titanium Green, Titanium Blue, and Titanium Orange colours join the lineup as Samsung.com exclusives. The most noticeable change with the new Galaxy S24 Ultra is that its display has been hammered completely flat. Samsung has progressively reduced the display curvature of the Ultra models over the past couple of years and it’s now finally settled for completely flat edges, with the S23 Ultra being the last holdout with curved edges. Additionally, the S24 Ultra gains a brightness boost up to 2600 nits peak compared to 1750 nits on its predecessor, which should make the screen more visible and usable outdoors. The Galaxy S24 Ultra features an upgrade in processing power over its predecessor, packing the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This replaces the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra model.With artificial intelligence being all the rage, the upgraded Snapdragon processor aims to provide a boost to AI capabilities. Qualcomm’s already shown that the new chip brings faster performance when using large language models, Stable Diffusion, generative AI applications and more that leverage machine learning.The new chip is also engineered to deliver enhanced graphics for mobile gaming without sacrificing battery life. However, we’ll have to get our hands on the S24 Ultra to see if these performance gains are as substantial as promised over the previous generation. Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S series has seen incremental upgrades over the past few generations, with no major leaps forward each year. However, with the launch of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung is focusing on revolutionary AI capabilities rather than minor spec bumps. The standout upgrade in the S24 Ultra is Galaxy AI, a suite of useful AI-powered features. While the S23 Ultra boasted impressive hardware, it simply can’t compete with the S24 Ultra’s intelligent software. Galaxy AI enables real-time translation during calls and texts with Live Translate. It also offers in-person translation with Interpreter mode. For productivity, Note Assist provides handy summaries and formatting for your notes. Chat Assist helps you strike the right tone in messages, whether chatting with coworkers or connecting on social media. And Circle to Search lets you draw a circle around anything on screen to instantly search for it.The new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts of several AI-powered image editing and enhancement features over its predecessor, the S23 Ultra. But when you strip away the AI-powered software tricks, the hardware isn’t as different as you might expect. Let’s break it down. The S24 Ultra comes loaded with nifty new AI camera features like Edit Suggestion, which makes recommendations to improve your photos, and Generative Edit, which can fill in background details using AI. There’s also Instant Slow-mo for buttery smooth slo-mo videos. Pretty neat stuff.
Published 25 Jan 2024 09:59 PM
Apple to remove blood oxygen feature from some watches after US ban
Apple will remove the blood oxygen monitoring feature from the Apple Watch 9 and Ultra 2 sold in the United States due to a patent infringement claim. Apple will remove the blood oxygen measuring feature from some of its latest Apple Watches in the United States in a move that will allow the company to continue selling the devices in the country as it fights a lawsuit against California-based health technology firm Masimo. The company said in a statement that the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 model smartwatches will start going on sale on Thursday, reported Reuters. The company has been embroiled in a legal dispute with Masimo, which manufactures medical devices, ever since the International Trade Commission (ITC) in October found that its smartwatches had sensors that infringed upon Masimo’s patents. The watches that had the sensors were banned on December 26 last year before Apple got a victory in a US appeals court on December 27 to pause the import ban on the smartwatches. But the court did not turn the ITC decision, which is currently under appeal. It is quite rare for technology companies like Apple to remove features from released products and there is a chance that the absence of a blood oxygen sensor might turn away some customers.“Pending the appeal, Apple is taking steps to comply with the ruling while ensuring customers have access to Apple Watch with limited disruption. These steps include introducing a version of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States without the Blood Oxygen feature. There is no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that include the Blood Oxygen feature,” said an Apple spokesperson to CNBC. The Apple Watch is an important product category for the company. It made nearly $40 billion in sales from the wearables category in 2023. This category also includes its headphones but the watches make up a significant chunk. Masimo accused Apple of hiring its employees and stealing its technology to create the pulse oximetry devices used in the smartwatches. The watches continued to be available for sale in the United States through various channels after Apple received a temporary reprieve from the US court.Masimo’s founder and chief executive Joe Kiani said the ruling showed that “even the largest and most powerful companies must respect the intellectual rights of American inventors and must deal with the consequences when they are caught infringing others’ patents,” according to BBC.
Published 25 Jan 2024 09:58 PM
Google Pay, NPCI Sign MoU to Expand UPI Globally, Aim to Ease Digital Payments Abroad
Google Pay and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will work together to expand Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the instant payments system widely used in the country, to international markets, Google and NPCI confirmed Wednesday. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Google Pay India and NPCI subsidiary, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), to bring the instant payment functionality to other countries. UPI has become a widespread mode of digital payment throughout India in recent years, with interoperability between payments apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm. The value processed via UPI payments in 2023 stood at Rs. 167 lakh crores, according to Google.The MoU signed between Google Pay India and NIPL primarily seeks to ease digital payments abroad for travellers outside of India. The collaboration will also aid in establishing a UPI-style digital payments infrastructure in other countries, a press release for the announcement said. Additionally, Google and NPCI also aim to leverage the UPI infrastructure to ease the process of remittances between countries, thus simplifying cross-border financial exchanges. “UPI has demonstrated to the world the step change that happens in economies with the introduction of interoperable, population scale digital infrastructure and each economy that joins such networks will create impact beyond the sum of parts,” Deeksha Kaushal, director of partnerships at Google Pay India said.According to the press release, the initiative will also help bring Indian customers to foreign merchants, reducing the need for credit or forex cards and instead allow UPI apps like Google Pay for international digital payments. “This strategic partnership will not only simplify foreign transactions for Indian travellers but will also allow us to extend our knowledge and expertise of operating a successful digital payments ecosystem to other countries,” Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International Payments Limited, said. Last year, Google Pay introduced a UPI Lite feature on its platform that enables small-value digital payments with just one tap, without the need to enter the UPI PIN, as required in regular transactions. UPI Lite supports a maximum instant transaction of up to Rs. 200 at a time. Users can load their UPI Lite account with up to Rs. 2,000, twice a day.In August, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased the UPI Lite transaction limit from Rs. 200 to Rs. 500. The overall wallet limit, however, was retained at Rs. 2,000 only. A month later, NPCI said that UPI transactions had crossed the 10-billion mark in August. According to the NPCI data, number of UPI transactions stood at 10.24 billion on August 30. In value terms, the transactions amounted to Rs. 15,18,456.4 crore exchanging hands.
Published 25 Jan 2024 09:58 PM
Apple Vision Pro to Support Several Streaming Services in the US; to Feature 3D Versions of Over 150 Movies
Apple Vision Pro is set to arrive next month and the Cupertino company has now revealed a list of streaming services that will be supported when its first mixed reality headset makes its debut in the US. Meanwhile, customers who want to watch content from other services can do so via Safari, according to Apple. The Vision Pro headset will allow wearers to watch both 2D and 3D movies and over 150 movies will be available on the headset when it is launched. The company has announced that the Apple Vision Pro will support several streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Discovery+, Disney+, ESPN, Fubo, IMAX, MLB, MUBI, Max, NBA, PGA Tour, Paramount+, Peacock, Pluto TV, Red Bull TV, TikTok, and Tubi. These platforms will allow users to download and stream TV shows and movies or watch sports content with their subscription. Streaming applications will also be able to take advantage of the immersive features offered by the Apple Vision Pro. Four 'environments' will be available on the headset — the El Capitan Theatre-inspired by Disney+ Theater, the Scare Floor from Monster's Inc, the cockpit of Luke Skywalker's landspeeder, and the view of downtown Manhattan from Marvel's Avengers Tower, according to the company.Meanwhile, the Apple Vision Pro will allow you to view movies in 2D and 3D with Spatial Audio — customers will have access to 150 3D movies including Avatar: The Way of Water, Dune, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Other 3D movies will also be available to rent or buy via the Apple TV app, according to the company.Scheduled to arrive in the US on February 2, the Apple Vision Pro is equipped with dual micro-OLED displays with a combined 23 million pixels. The headset is powered by the company's M2 chip for CPU, GPU, and NPU tasks, while another, new M2 based chip called R1 handles streaming to the display. Apple's headset is powered by an external battery pack that offers up to 2.5 hours of battery life.The device has an eye-watering $3,499 (roughly Rs. 2.9 lakh) price tag, while customers who wear spectacles will have to shell out more for Zeiss optical inserts. The company is yet to provide a timeline for the launch of the Apple Vision Pro in other markets — including India, but more information could be made available in the coming months.
Published 25 Jan 2024 09:57 PM
Google Chrome Incognito Mode Warning Updated After Long-Disputed Tracking Lawsuit
Google Chrome has been updated with an updated warning that is displayed when users open the built-in Incognito Mode, the private browsing feature that is designed to clear user data from the same session after the browser is closed. The new message displayed when Incognito Mode is opened informs users that websites can still collect user data, while other users on the device won't be able to see their activity. The change comes after a long-disputed tracking lawsuit that claimed Incognito Mode was not as private as advertised. MSPowerUser spotted a new warning on Google Chrome Canary 122.0.6251.0 that changes the message displayed when an Incognito Mode window is opened. The version of Google Chrome on the stable channel says “Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device won't see your activity. However, downloads, bookmarks and reading list items will be saved."The new message displayed by Google now says “Others who use this device won't see your activity, so you can browse more privately. This won't change how data is collected by websites you visit and the services they use, including Google. Downloads, bookmarks and reading list items will be saved." The warning clearly informs users that websites can still collect data on their browsing activity, even when Incognito Mode is enabled. The other details of items saved by Chrome locally on the device and visibility of personal information to third parties remains the same, according to the screenshot shared by the publication. The changes made to Chrome come a month after Google reportedly said it was ready to settle a class action lawsuit that began in 2020 and accused the company of "track, collect, and identify [users'] browsing data in real time" even when they had enabled Incognito Mode on their browser. The agreement is expected to be presented by the end of the month and approval could reportedly be granted in February. Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Published 25 Jan 2024 09:56 PM
US Supreme Court Rejects Appeals From Apple, Epic Games Over App Store Antitrust Ruling
The US Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a challenge by Apple to a lower court's decision requiring changes to certain rules in its lucrative App Store, as the justices shunned the lengthy legal battle between the iPhone maker and Epic Games, maker of the popular video game Fortnite.The justices also turned away Epic's appeal of the lower court's ruling that Apple's App Store policies limiting how software is distributed and paid for do not violate federal antitrust laws. The justices gave no reasons for their decision to deny the appeals. Epic filed an antitrust lawsuit in 2020, accusing Apple of acting as an illegal monopolist by requiring consumers to get apps through its App Store and buy digital content inside an app using its own system. Apple charges up to a 30 percent commission for in-app purchases.US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in 2021 rejected Epic's antitrust claims against Apple. But the judge found that Apple violated California's unfair competition law by barring developers from "steering" users to make digital purchases that bypass Apple's in-app system, which Epic contends could save them money with lower commissions. The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld much of Rogers' decision in 2023, finding that Epic had "failed to prove the existence of substantially less restrictive alternatives" to Apple's system.The judge's injunction requires Apple to let app developers provide links and buttons that direct consumers to other ways to pay for digital content that they use in their apps.In its appeal to the Supreme Court, Epic had said that the 9th Circuit's decision "guarantees severe anticompetitive harm and effectively insulates the most monopolistic tech-platform practices from antitrust scrutiny. "Sweeney wrote on his social media post: "As of today, developers can begin exercising their court-established right to tell US customers about better prices on the web."Apple had noted in its appeal that Epic did not file a class-action lawsuit and said the broad injunction imposed by Rogers exceeds the constitutional authority of federal courts, which typically should be limited to providing relief to the parties before them.
Published 25 Jan 2024 09:56 PM
Adobe Announces New Audio Feature For Premiere Pro With AI Capabilities In Beta
Premiere Pro’s new audio feature include interactive fade handles on clips in the timeline so editors can simply click and drag to create a variety of custom audio fades. Additionally, new AI-powered audio category tagging automatically identifies and labels clips with icons for dialogue, music, sound effects or ambient noise, giving editors one-click access to the most relevant tools for each type of audio.Furthermore, there are redesigned clip badges that enhance visibility, making it easier to identify clips with effects, swiftly add new effects, or adjust effect settings. The waveforms, now more modern and intelligent, dynamically resize when the track height is changed. Additionally, improved clip colors contribute to enhanced visibility and facilitate audio work on the timeline.Collectively, these new features and innovations constitute a significant update to the audio workflow in Premiere Pro. They empower editors to create videos with high-quality audio and streamline the final mix process with fewer clicks.Whether your project is completed inside Premiere Pro or moves to other finishing tools, it’s become critical that picture and audio look and sound finished throughout the editing process so the narrative can shine through. As more professional editors than ever choose Premiere Pro than ever, we’re prioritizing core workflows so you can tell your story with powerful industry standard tools.Our product managers, designers, and engineers worked closely with hundreds of professional editors to understand how to improve this core editing workflow without impacting muscle memory. We worked through iterating designs, testing ideas, and incorporating feedback based on real world use cases over months of development, and we’re excited these features are available for you to use today. We encourage you to try this in the Premiere Pro (beta) and give us your feedback! If you’re a Creative Cloud member, you have access to beta apps. You can even install the beta side-by-side with the current release of Premiere Pro without issue.The charging case is a bit large to store the fins, and they just about squeeze into the coin pocket of your denim. I liked how the pods go into pairing mode as soon as you take them out of the case and connect seamlessly to your phone. On the pods, you have touch controls to do everything from changing tracks to adjusting volume. But you will need to take some time to remember how many taps are needed for each of these and on which sides.
Published 25 Jan 2024 09:55 PM
“There Will Be Jobs”: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella On How AI Will Change Workplace
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is considered to be one of the key developments of 2023 as tech honchos highlighted the positive impact of the technology across society. However, several C-suite executives, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai have hinted at job cuts, sugarcoating what’s to come.Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has shared his take and just like his industry peers, he has also painted an optimistic picture, saying that there will be a reduction in jobs as we know but different types of jobs will be created that will require new sets of skills. “There will be jobs, the question is the shape of these jobs. If anything, these tools can be very helpful with getting us the skills for what is the new set of tasks,”Artificial Intelligence (AI) is considered to be one of the key developments of 2023 as tech honchos highlighted the positive impact of the technology across society. However, several C-suite executives, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai have hinted at job cuts, sugarcoating what’s to come. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has shared his take and just like his industry peers, he has also painted an optimistic picture, saying that there will be a reduction in jobs as we know but different types of jobs will be created that will require new sets of skills.“There will be jobs, the question is the shape of these jobs. If anything, these tools can be very helpful with getting us the skills for what is the new set of tasks,” he said at London’s Chatham House, a day before heading to Davos for the World Economic Forum.“Everyone can become an expert in anything because they have an AI assistant,” he added.His comments came soon after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that AI is set to affect nearly 40% of all jobs, with IMF’s managing director Kristalina Georgieva adding that “in most scenarios, AI will likely worsen overall inequality”. Nadella on use cases of AINadella also said that generative AI products like ChatGPT should be welcomed as they disrupt how people get access to information.“Let’s face it, there’s a real aggregation power in a few places, right? Search is one. News feeds is another. Both of these things could be up for disruption,” Nadella said, adding that as a result, journalists and publishers “should welcome” generative AI, as per a report by Politico.Recently, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against both OpenAI and Microsoft accusing the companies of copyright infringement. It said that the outlet’s journalistic content was used to train models underlying the ChatGPT AI chatbot.
Published 25 Jan 2024 09:54 PM
Dakar 2024 Result: Harith Noah Wins in Rally 2 Class, Hero MotoSports Makes History
The 2024 Dakar Rally was a great event that came to a close. After years of KTM domination, Honda finally won the Dakar Rally, with Hero MotorSports finishing in second place, just behind the KTMs. It is worth mentioning that Harith Noah won the Rally 2 class, which was a significant milestone for India in the Dakar Rally.The short 175km special stage of the day was all KTM, as the brand was on full display with a 1-2 podium finish. Toby Price won the stage, with defending champion Kevin Benavides in hot pursuit. But the overall winners were decided over the previous days, and Honda's Ricky Brabec was in the lead from the start. For a short time, Hero's Ross Branch was the race leader. After Benevides and Price of KTM crossed the finish line first and second, Adrien Van Beveren of KTM took third.As the only manufacturer entered in the Rally 2 class of this year's Dakar Rally, Harith Noah—supported by TVS—and Sherco were the only competitors to stand out. After finishing the most recent stage in eleventh place, the Indian rider won the Rally 2 class overall. Even in the overall standings, Noah's performance was remarkable. He finished the 2024 Dakar Rally in eleventh place, making history as the first Indian to ever win a stage, finish on the podium, and finish in the top fifteen.Noah showed resiliency by overcoming health issues in the first week and then picked up steam in the second week of the competition. His incredible jump from 18th to 13th place overall over the 48H Chrono Stage 6 is worth noting. Stage 8 and Stage 10, in which he twice set the fastest rally, were particularly impressive for his sustained growth.It's important to remember that RallyGP and Rally 2 are two separate classes. Only highly experienced racers who have been accepted by the FIM Championship Committee based on their sports credentials are allowed to compete in the RallyGP class. Rally 2 offers a more welcoming environment for riders from various backgrounds since it is available to anyone who isn't already in the RallyGP riders' registration.Despite finishing ten minutes and fifty-three seconds behind winner Ricky Brabec, Hero MotoSports' Ross Branch managed an outstanding second-place finish in the 2024 Dakar Rally. Hero MotoSports has achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the first Indian team to secure a podium place in the esteemed race.By the end of the sixth stage of the 2024 Dakar Rally, three of Hero's four riders had pulled out due to the extreme difficulties they had encountered. Ross Branch was the sole Hero MotoSports competitor in Dakar 2024, despite the team's other three riders withdrawing: Joaquim Rodrigues, Sebastian Buhler, and Joan Barreda Bort. Nevertheless, he quickly established himself as a strong candidate for the ultimate win.Branch won the first stage of the rally and remained in first place until the fifth stage. He showed his skill by finishing second in Stage 11 with the fastest time and then followed Honda's Ricky Brabec closely in the following stages.Ross Branch said: “Finally finished the Dakar!! It was a really tough Dakar 2024, and I'm so thrilled to be here! Finishing on the podium was always the goal, and today it's a dream come true. I'm really over the moon to achieve this goal for Hero. And a big thank you to the team for developing a highly competitive machine, for the sleepless 3 weeks here, and for everything they've sacrificed to reach to this point. I'm really proud of my team. We've got some more work to do to be on the next step, so we'll look forward to that in the next year. A big thank you to everyone for your continued support from all around the world!”With a ninth-place finish in the last 174-kilometre stage near Yanbu, the South African rider solidified his position as second overall. This incredible feat not only marks Branch's first podium finish at the Dakar, but it also marks the first podium for an Indian team in the history of the race.
Published 24 Jan 2024 11:27 PM
