Top Trending Government News News & Highlights
Don't you feel guilty about selling Bharat Mata Rahul Gandhi criticizes the US accord and the Center
Speaking in the Lok Sabha following days of deadlock, Rahul Gandhi criticized the Central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the recently concluded trade agreement with the United States, saying the administration should be embarrassed of it. In a vicious attack, Gandhi said that the Center "sold India" and that the government was endangering farmers' livelihoods by permitting US goods to enter."India is no longer yours. Do you not feel guilty for selling India? In reference to the trade deal, he declared, "You have sold our mother, Bharat Mata." He added that it was a "wholesale surrender" in which the interests of farmers were jeopardized and India's energy security was given to America. Gandhi went on to say that Donald Trump would have been advised to treat India equally if an INDIA Bloc administration had negotiated the trade deal with the US."This is total capitulation. The fact that it is a capitulation by more than simply the prime minister makes it tragic. He has given up the 1.5 billion Indians' future. Gandhi claimed that he had given up the future in order to save the BJP's financial structure, which is the subject of a case in the US.Gandhi claimed that the farmers' interests had been compromised and that they were facing a "storm" as American agricultural products flooded Indian markets. Additionally, he claimed that the Indian textile sector is "finished."We are about to enter a period of unrest, and the country has been sold. The country is sold out. "Its farmers and data have been sold," Gandhi reaffirmed as he wrapped up his remarks.Following Rahul Gandhi's address, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju declared that no one could sell India and charged that the Congress party was undermining the nation. "Congress is sad because India is progressing," he stated, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is India's strongest PM. He claimed that before leaving Parliament, the Congress MP gave speeches full of falsehoods and unfounded accusations. Rijiju remarked, "He never stays back to hear the minister's response."It is regrettable that we lack a serious personality or a person with a serious character that would be appropriate for the role of opposition leader. Rahul Gandhi's lies will be refuted by our party both within and outside the House.
Published 11 Feb 2026 11:10 PM
Updates for the 10th day of the Parliament Budget Session The Government-Opposition deadlock ends, and both Houses begin discussing the budget
The Lok Sabha began discussing the Union Budget on Tuesday, February 10, 2025, in the afternoon, signaling the end of the impasse between the opposition and treasury benches. The discussion had been delayed for days due to the opposition's insistence that LoP Rahul Gandhi be given the opportunity to speak on a number of topics. Following two adjournments, the House reconvened at 2 p.m., and the Speaker, Krishna Prasad Tenneti, invited Congressman Shashi Tharoor to commence the debate. The Thiruvananthapuram MP then began discussing the matter. Soon after opposition parties filed a notice to introduce a motion to oust Om Birla as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the thaw occurred. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy of the Trinamool Congress emphasized that rising inequality could cause a "social upheaval," akin to what was seen in neighboring countries, as opposition parties criticized the government for failing to address issues like unemployment and inflation in the Union Budget during the budget discussion."If the situation is not brought under control, I fear that the country will soon experience social unrest similar to what has recently occurred in some of our neighboring countries. We have never witnessed such skyrocketing inequality between the rich, super rich, upper middle class, middle class, and the poor," Mr. Roy stated.
Published 11 Feb 2026 11:06 PM
India displays its entire armed might on the 77th Republic Day, with Operation Sindoor taking front stage on the Kartavya Path.
Top national leaders and prominent foreign visitors joined the festivities, which had as their subject 150 years of "Vande Mataram." About 10,000 distinguished guests saw the parade, which combined military might with cultural cohesion.At its 77th Republic Day parade on Monday, January 26, 2026, India put military might front and centre. Kartavya Path was transformed into a sweeping display of missiles, armour, mechanised columns, and combat aircraft, with a keen focus on weapon systems related to Operation Sindoor, the high-intensity military operation carried out in May of last year.The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, Akash air defence system, Suryastra rocket launcher, and Arjun Main Battle Tank were among the major armament systems on exhibit at the start of the military demonstration, which emphasised India's focus on battlefield readiness and domestic defence manufacturing. A large portion of the equipment on exhibit was either used in Operation Sindoor, the confrontation with Pakistan that took place from May 7–10, or it was directly inspired by lessons learnt.A tri-services tableau featuring replicas of key weapon systems used during the operation was a big draw. A glass-cased integrated operational command centre served as its focal point, providing a visual representation of Operation Sindoor's execution through the coordinated use of systems including the S-400 air defence system and BrahMos. Akash and S-400 systems were depicted as offering a protective air-defense shield during the fight, while BrahMos missiles were predicted to perform decisive offensive attacks.Lt. General Bhavnish Kumar, a second-generation officer and General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, led the procession. The Indian Army demonstrated a phased "Battle Array Format," including its airborne component, for the first time. The reconnaissance element included high-mobility reconnaissance vehicles after the historic 61 Cavalry in active battle uniform. Flying in Prahar formation, the domestic Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter and its armed counterpart Rudra displayed aerial battlefield shaping.
Published 27 Jan 2026 09:07 PM
Why rising demonstrations are centered around India's Aravalli hills
The Supreme Court's redefinition of the Aravalli hills, one of the oldest geological formations in the world, which encompass the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi, has sparked protests throughout northern India. Any landform rising at least 100 meters (328 feet) above the surrounding terrain is considered an Aravalli hill under the revised definition, which the court adopted in response to proposals from the federal government. An Aravalli range consists of two or more of these hills within 500 meters of one another, as well as the terrain in between. Environmentalists contend that classifying Aravalli hills according to height runs the risk of leaving many lower, scrub-covered but ecologically significant slopes vulnerable to mining and development. However, according to the federal government, the new definition is intended to increase uniformity and reinforce regulations rather than weaken rights.Protests have erupted across northern India after the Supreme Court redefined the Aravalli hills - one of the world's oldest geological formations spanning the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and the capital, Delhi.
Published 22 Dec 2025 10:25 PM
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Davos elites go green and make green
Global elites of all sorts are traveling to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting this week. The theme this year is “Rebuilding Trust.” Perhaps a good place to start is distinguishing capitalism from environmentalism. They could also stop trying to make business serve the environment rather than people.Consider the irony of Sultan Al Jaber, a major oil baron and the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, presiding over the global climate conference, COP28, in 2023. Yet the subversive strategy of enlisting a “capitalist” in the climate agenda paid dividends. The United Nations agreement reached at COP28 explicitly mentions phasing out fossil fuels.While the chief executive of a major oil company supporting the phaseout of oil is ridiculous on its face, it is only the most recent example of many high-profile “capitalists” advancing environmental agendas. In a video earlier this year, for example, Apple CEO Tim Cook and his team appeased an angry mother nature by planting forests, reducing water usage, using higher amounts of renewable energy, and creating “net zero” products.Cook’s fiduciary duties to the board and shareholders of his publicly traded company still require him to continue serving consumers. But if those duties are weakened or abolished, it will not take long for one of the world’s most valuable and profitable companies to go the way of the world’s largest universities and foundations, and now Abu Dhabi National Oil Company — pursuing policies antithetical to their original purpose. After all, there are a lot of folks who stand to gain from the green agenda — those who collect paychecks or fees by providing guidance, oversight, verification, and other environmental, social, and corporate governance-related services when companies pursue environmental goals.The CEOs of Persefoni & Position Green eagerly work toward the day when Apple and every other Fortune 500 company purchase their services to track, report, and reduce their carbon footprint. The leaders of Ceres, Principles for Responsible Investing, the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board, McKinsey & Company, and dozens of other environmental consulting firms are eager to have Cook and other CEOs come knocking on their doors for advice — with checks in hand. The owners of green firms — those that plant trees, recycle water, create solar panels, wind farms, and batteries, bury biomass, or sequester carbon out of limestone — cheer the widespread adoption of their products. This includes Sultan Jaber, who runs the United Arab Emirates’s renewable energy company Masdar. They are good capitalists — I mean environmentalists — after all. Their industries will experience billions of dollars of growth as government officials around the world push aggressive ESG criteria such as removing the legal shackles of fiduciary obligation, requiring companies to report their climate impact and commit to net zero goals, exempting green bonds and social bonds from ordinary taxation, and requiring investors to hold some fraction of their investment assets in ESG-related funds.But ordinary citizens are rightly suspicious of claims by the Davos elite that all they need is a little more legal firepower to transition the world to a prosperous, green, low-carbon, net zero economic future. Europe has already implemented some variations of these ideas, from the European Green Deal in 2020 to the European Climate Law in 2021 to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirement to the German Due Diligence in Supply Chains Act that went into effect in 2023. These rules range from what kinds of vehicles Europeans can drive to mandating that all investors report sustainability analysis on their investments broken down by vague ESG criteria.In Europe, companies also have legal stakeholder responsibilities that give management broad leeway to orient policy and direct resources to any groups they choose. They have created an ESG nexus involving tens of thousands of people and hundreds of billions of dollars that, remarkably, does not add a single thing to the ordinary citizen’s standard of living. In fact, most of what they do makes it more expensive and difficult for companies to create and provide goods and services.
Fishermen head to Supreme Court to cast Chevron overboard
Attorneys representing Northeastern fishermen will make their case at the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the 40-year-old precedent most commonly cited to support federal agency regulatory power should be cast into an oceanic abyss.A group of fishermen from New Jersey will see the justices consider their lawsuit against a Commerce Department regulation through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which required their boats to pay roughly $700 per day to fund the salary of human “at-sea” monitors for each fishing venture. The heart of the case asks the court to overturn the 1984 precedent from a case called Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council.The core of the Chevron doctrine states that if a federal rule is challenged in court, the court should defer to the agency and its “reasonable” interpretation of the congressional statute it says grants them permission to create the rule.“You can’t even promise to pay the crew $780 per day,” Jerry Leman, founder of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, told the Washington Examiner, referring to the financial setbacks on his business by the required at-sea monitors. Leman’s group filed an amicus brief to the high court asking it to curb the Biden administration’s power over the fishing industry. The 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Act is the primary law that allows at-sea observers to board private fishing boats in U.S. federal waters. While its objective was to prevent overfishing, Leman contends fishermen should never be the ones to front the bill to pay for the government’s monitoring work.The challenge against the at-sea monitors eventually reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which held that the statute was ambiguous on the question of monitor salary. But under the Chevron deference, that meant the government won.Lawyers for the New Jersey fishermen will tell the nine justices the payment mandate violates Article 1 of the Constitution and that the court should overturn Chevron, an outcome that court watchers say could be a stretch too far even for the Roberts Court, positing that the justices might go as far as to find a replacement for Chevron. Representing the New Jersey fishermen will be veteran attorney Paul Clement, a former solicitor general under the Bush administration. Another lawsuit brought by fishermen based in Rhode Island will be argued by attorneys for the New Civil Liberties Alliance. The high court’s two argument hearings on Wednesday will focus on the question of Chevron’s fate, meaning the justices will be toiling over the matter for several hours. “Overruling Chevron is overdue,” said Mark Chenoweth, president of NCLA. “Many administrative state pathologies can be traced to the malign influence that Chevron has in encouraging unlawful administrative power grabs. By putting this genie back in the bottle, the Supreme Court can restore federal court oversight to ensure that agencies execute the law as Congress wrote it.”The Justice Department’s position will be headed by Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar in the pair of back-to-back oral arguments. Prelogar has said overruling Chevron would be a “convulsive shock” to the legal system.“All three branches of government, regulated parties, and the public have arranged their affairs for decades with Chevron as the backdrop against which Congress legislates, agencies issue rules and orders, and courts resolve disputes about those agency actions,” she wrote in a brief in the Loper Bright case.Chevron doctrine critics see the challenge as a way to rein in meddling federal bureaucrats, symptoms of a creeping administrative state in which regulatory overreach is rampant, while defenders of the doctrine worry the 6-3 conservative high court majority is poised effectively to let business interests kill off environmental and other expertly crafted regulations created for the public interest. Groups that favor the government’s position in the dispute, such as the Center For American Progress, say that the real goal of the cases is to give “unelected judges free rein to implement their own partisan policy agendas and disregard scientific analysis, the opinions of policy experts, and the will of Congress. ”If the justices rule the way the fishermen are calling on them to, then the upheaval of Chevron could lead to a “geometric increase in court challenges to federal rules,” Steve O’Day, a partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell and head of the firm’s Environmental Law, Energy, and Sustainability practice, told the Washington Examiner. “Ending the so-called Chevron deference could have dramatic effects on judicial treatment of expansive federal regulatory programs, but those effects could be favorable or unfavorable to regulated businesses, depending on the rules being challenged,” O’Day said.Leman said his hopes are for the court to deliver a ruling in favor of the fishing groups, adding the current Chevron framework isn’t cutting it for businesses across the nation.Business groups ranging from farm, timber, and home-building sectors are backing the efforts by the fishermen. Meanwhile, conservative interests that have recently scored victories limiting regulation of air and water pollution are hoping to see another domino fall against the administrative state.“Chevron deference is a pernicious doctrine that has enabled federal agencies to take over the courts’ power to interpret the law and Congress’ power to legislate,” Carrie Severino, president of the conservative legal advocacy group JCN, told the Washington Examiner. “To its credit, the Supreme Court has not applied Chevron in recent years, but lower courts nonetheless continue to rely on it, creating confusion and inconsistency in the law.”
Miss America 2024, Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha & Israel-Hamas War
16 January 2024 News Headlines in English for School Assembly: You can check the list of detailed news headlines for the morning assembly from all major sectors like politics, entertainment, politics, sports, world affairs, technology and more here.The format of the assembly isn’t set and can differ from school to school. However, the key activities remain the same. The principal says a few words, and students read the news headlines. Talent shows, debates, speeches and role plays are often included in the school assembly.The format of the assembly isn’t set and can differ from school to school. However, the key activities remain the same. The principal says a few words, and students read the news headlines. Talent shows, debates, speeches and role plays are often included in the school assembly.Prayers, yoga and physical exercise can also be a part of the morning school assembly. However, today we bring you the top news headlines, which increase awareness among the students about global and domestic affairs.You can check out the news headlines for 16 January to be read during the morning school assembly below.9-year-old Indian-American schoolgirl Preesha Chakraborty was named in the “world’s brightest” students list by the Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth, based on the results of above-grade-level tests of over 16,000 students across 90 countries.
FULFILMENT OF LONG CHERISHED DEMAND: AGARTALA – ANAND VIHAR TEJAS RAJDHANI EXPRESS NOW STOPS AT MALDA TOWN
The much-awaited stoppage of the 20501 Agartala – Anand Vihar Tejas Rajdhani Express at Malda Town station marks a significant stride in the development of railways in West Bengal, addressing the long-standing demand of the inhabitants of Malda.The 20501/20502 Agartala – Anand Vihar (T) Tejas Rajdhani weekly Express now to run via route through Malda Town – Bhagalpur – Jamalpur with commercial stoppages at Malda Town, Bhagalpur & Jamalpur for the train leaving Agartala w.e.f. 15.1.2024 and leaving Anand Vihar (T) w.e.f. 17.1.2024.On the first day of the run of Agartala – Anand Vihar Tejas Rajdhani Express via Malda Town, the train was flagged off from Malda Town station this afternoon by Shri Khagen Murmu, Member of Parliament, Smt. Srirupa Mitra Chowdhury, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Shri Gopal Chandra Saha, MLA.The Rajdhani Express, now traversing a new route via Malda Town-Bhagalpur, promises not only enhanced connectivity but also commercial stoppages at crucial stations such as Malda Town, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, and Patna in both directions. The train has commenced its journey on January 15, 2024, from Agartala at 15:10 hrs. and will reach Malda Town station today 16.01.2024 at 15:00 hrs. The train will run weekly, reaching Anand Vihar at 10:50 hrs on Wednesdays. The return journey of 20502 Anand Vihar – Agartala Tejas Rajdhani Express will depart from Anand Vihar Terminal at 19:50 hrs on Wednesdays, reaching Agartala at 15:40 hrs on Fridays. This train will stop at Ambassa, Dharmanagar, New Karimganj, Badarpur, Hojai, Guwahati, Rangia, Barpeta Road, New Jalpaiguri, Malda Town, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Patna, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Jn & Kanpur Central stations enroute in both the directions.
Ministry of Heavy Industries organises an Auto PLI Conclave to discuss and highlight the salient features of the PLI Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry; Felicitates Aatmanirbhar Bhara
Ministry of Heavy Industries( MHI) organized an Auto PLI Conclave day at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, to discuss and highlight the salient features of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry. PLI is providing financial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing of Advanced Automotive Technology products and attracting investments in the automotive manufacturing value chain. Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey presided over the Conclave and Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Power, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar Secretary attend the event as the guest of honour. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey said that the Ministry of Heavy Industries is fully committed to taking forward the resolution of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for a developed India and a self-reliant India. He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is today the 5th largest economy in the world and soon India will be the 3rd largest economy in the world. With the highest contribution of 35% in GDP, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and the Automobile Industry are ready to play their role in this direction. Shri Pandey mentioned that in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of making the country carbon free by 2070, MHI is committed to promoting clean and environment-friendly vehicles in the country. Ministry of Heavy Industries is organising an Auto PLI Conclave tomorrow i.e. 16th January, 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, to discuss and highlight the salient features of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry. PLI is providing financial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing of Advanced Automotive Technology products and attracting investments in the automotive manufacturing value chain. Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey will preside over the Conclave. Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Power, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar Secretary will attend the event as guest of honour.Government has already commenced issuing approval certificates through its Test Agencies to vehicles that are qualifying for the PLI incentives and about 22 models / variants of OEMs have already been approved for the PLI benefits, while many other Automotive Advance components are likely to be certified shortly.Recently, Ministry of Heavy Industries has also extended the scheme till the Financial Year 2027-28 and the disbursement of the incentives for the year 2023-24 will commence from April 2024 onwards. This extension would also benefit companies to apply for new models of EVs or new technologies that are planned for introducing in the Indian market.In view of the above, Auto PLI Conclave aims to discuss the processes that are being followed for approving the vehicles / technologies for PLI incentives and showcase some of the technologies / vehicles which would benefit from the PLI Scheme.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
MrBeast Posts His Video On X, Here’s What He Is Testing
It all started around two weeks ago when MrBeast said in a post that he had uploaded a video on his other social platforms and that users should go and watch it. Replying to his post, a user said that he should post videos on X to monetise them.“Yeah,” Musk said, joining the conversation. However, MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, said, “My videos cost millions to make and even if they got a billion views on X it wouldn't fund a fraction of it.” “I'm down though to test stuff once monetization is really cranking!” added MrBeast, who said in an interview in 2022 that his video production has a massive budget. He said that he could be doing cheaper videos but he doesn't want to and “want to push the boundaries to go bigger, bigger.”The billionaire re-posted a video created by Jimmy Donaldson, better known to his 230 million-plus YouTube subscribers as MrBeast. That’s after a back-and-forth dating back years, during which the Tesla Inc. chief executive traded messages with the online celeb about X’s potential.Musk’s vision is to transform the social media platform he took over in 2022 into what he calls “the everything app,” or a collection of the services that users now turn to on their smartphones. Musk has mentioned his interest in making X more competitive with Google’s YouTube, the global leader in online video. This month, X announced a slate of new shows, including a partnership with former CNN anchor Don Lemon.But it still has only a fraction of the users on rival services such as Meta Platforms Inc.’s Facebook, and advertisers have migrated to other platforms. Ad revenue was on track to slump in 2023, in part because of brands’ concerns about changes to X’s content-moderation policies.
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.
Hyundai Motor India Acquires GMs Talegaon Plant; to Invest Rs 6,000 Crore in Maharashtra
Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), has acquired the Talegaon factory of General Motors India, located in Pune, Maharashtra. Following the fulfillment of specific requirements and obtainment regulatory clearance from the relevant government departments and stakeholders, the acquisition has been completed. Hyundai Motor India has also inked a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government. With this, it has pledged to spend Rs 6,000 crore in the state. At the moment, the Talegaon factory produces 1,30,000 units per year. To reach its targets, the automaker plans to increase production capacity even further. HMIL states that the facility will be updated to meet the company's global manufacturing and operational needs. To achieve production excellence, investments will be undertaken in stages to gradually update the plant's existing infrastructure and equipment.Mr. Un Soo Kim, MD & CEO, of Hyundai Motor India Ltd., shared his thoughts on the acquisition and commented ''India is a very important market for Hyundai Motor Company, and we are committed to providing benchmark creating products & technologies to Indian customers. As we look forward to the next decade of progress for Hyundai Motor India, it is critical for us to augment our manufacturing capacity in India.''He further added ''The Talegaon manufacturing plant will play the role of a catalyst in achieving HMIL’s 1 million annual production capacity milestone. The acquisition of the Talegaon plant reinforces our commitment to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India), by making India a hub for advanced smart mobility solutions, Make-In-India for the world. Our manufacturing operations are scheduled to begin in Talegaon, Maharashtra in the year 2025.”With a starting price of Rs 10.99 lakh (ex-showroom), Hyundai launched the eagerly awaited Creta Facelift in India on January 16. Along with many interior upgrades and a new engine option, the facelift gives the car a more robust exterior look. Over 70 safety features—36 of which are standard—are included in the recently redesigned Creta. TPMS, electronic stability control, an all-wheel disc brake system, and six airbags are a few of them. The highest-spec versions come with 19 Level 2 ADAS features (Hyundai SmartSense).The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated (NA) and 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine options for the SUV remain the same. However, a new 1.5-litre turbocharged GDi petrol engine is now offered as an option in this lineup. The new 1.5-litre turbocharged GDi petrol unit delivers 158bhp and 253Nm of performance numbers.
Volvo’s 10,000th car in India is its first pure electric offering
Volvo Car India has achieved a significant milestone by producing its ten thousandth car at its Bangalore facility. The company, which began assembly operations in 2017, has seen the highest production of the XC60 model, with over 4000 units produced to date.Jyoti Malhotra, Managing Director of Volvo Car India, in a company statement, revealed that the honour of being the ten thousandth car produced goes to the XC40 Recharge, the company's first pure electric offering.Malhotra said, "It is indeed a matter of pride for the company to have reached this milestone in a short span of time in spite of nearly three years of pandemic disruptions."Gao Feng, Production Head of Volvo Car India, highlighted the plant's achievement of rolling out India's first domestically assembled electric vehicle (EV), the XC40 Recharge. Today, the company assembles all its models in India, including the XC90, XC60, S90, XC40 Recharge, and the recently launched C40 Recharge.Meanwhile, Volvo Car India announced a 2% price increase for its conventional engine vehicles on Monday, while the prices of its EV offerings remain unchanged.Following the price hike, the XC60 is priced at ₹68.9 lakh, the S90 at ₹68.25 lakh, and the XC90 at ₹1,00,89,000.However, the prices of the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge remain unchanged at ₹57.9 lakh and ₹62.95 lakh, respectively.
Hyundai introduces ‘IONIQ 5 N NPX1’ concept with N Performance Parts
Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled the ‘IONIQ 5 N NPX1’, a concept model equipped with prototype N Performance Parts, at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2024. The ‘NPX1’ is the first N Performance Parts concept model based on the company’s high-performance electric vehicle (EV) IONIQ 5 N. The company plans to enhance the EV ownership experience with N Performance Parts, a project that began in 2019 and continues to develop high-quality tuning parts for customers. Following the success of internal combustion engine vehicles such as the Elantra N, i30 N, and i20 N, Hyundai N plans to offer specialised tuning components for all-electric N models, including the IONIQ 5 N.The ‘NPX1’ concept model previews a range of N-specific enhancements that will soon be available for purchase from a catalogue of N Performance Parts.These enhancements include a carbon front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, rear wing spoiler, lightweight hybrid carbon wheels, high-performance brake pads, and lowering springs. The concept model’s interior is further enhanced with Alcantara material and racing bucket seats.The prototype N Performance Parts applied to the NPX1 concept will be further developed for production in preparation for sales in 2024. Starting with the IONIQ 5 N, Hyundai N will expand the availability of N Performance Parts products for all N models.Joon Park, Vice President of N Brand Management Group at Hyundai, said, “In 2024, Hyundai Motor Company will take a step forward as a leader in new tuning parts suitable for the high-performance EV era as demonstrated with the ‘NPX1’ concept model.”He added that the company is also developing software customisation such as sound and vehicle calibration by over-the-air (OTA) updates, opening a completely new category of EV customisation for an exciting future for the tuning community.
