Top Trending Government News News & Highlights
Twenty-seven Maoists in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, surrender
According to the police, up to 27 active Maoists with a combined reward of ₹50 lakh turned themselves in to the Sukma district on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.This comes a day after 60 other cadres and senior Naxalite Mallojula Venugopal Rao, also known as Bhupathi, surrendered in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The government's determination to abolish Naxalism, which is mostly centered in the Bastar area of Chhattisgarh, by March 31, 2026, has been emphasized by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.Ten women were among the 27 Naxalites who gave up in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. They surrendered in front of Central Reserve Police Force officials and top police officers. According to Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, they expressed dissatisfaction with the "hollow" Maoist doctrine, crimes carried out by Naxalites on defenseless tribal people, and the increasing power of security forces. The Chhattisgarh government's 'Niyad Nellanar' initiative, which aims to facilitate development projects in rural communities, and the state's new surrender and rehabilitation policy also impressed the cadres, he said.According to the official, Oyam Lakhmu, a member of battalion no. 1 of the Peoples' Liberation Guerrilla Army, which was regarded as the most formidable Maoist military unit, was carrying a bounty of ₹10 lakh on his head. Three more According to him, Madvi Bhima, a party member in PLGA battalion no. 1's military platoon unit, Sunita, also known as Kawasi Somdi, and Sodi Mase, who were both members of regional military company no. 2, each held a ₹8 lakh reward. Additionally, he stated that a cadre held a prize of ₹3 lakh, two cadres held a bounty of ₹2 lakh each, and nine cadres held a reward of ₹1 lakh apiece.He stated that all of the Naxalites who turned themselves in received ₹50,000 in aid apiece and would receive additional rehabilitation in accordance with government policy.
Published 15 Oct 2025 05:10 PM
J&K: Srinagar erlebt teils heftigen Regen, IMD sagt Gewitter und starken Wind voraus
Heavy rainfall affected various areas of Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in a temperature drop.The India Meteorological Department has predicted that the city will experience "Heavy Rainfall, Light to Moderate Rainfall, Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning & gusty winds(30-40kmph)" today.Previously, the Jammu and Kashmir government had instructed schools in the Jammu division to close due to the Indian Meteorological Department's prediction of heavy rainfall in this region. The government-issued circular states that all private and government schools in Jammu will be closed from October 6 to 7. In the Rajouri region, considerable damage was inflicted by intense rainfall that occurred earlier. Residents encountered difficulties because of compromised houses, roads that had sunk, and ruined harvests. Moreover, numerous rain-induced landslides have obstructed various routes within the district.In the meantime, torrential rains in North Bengal caused landslides and serious waterlogging, leading to significant destruction, road obstructions, and fatalities in multiple districts, such as Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri. District authorities confirmed on Monday that at least 18 people were reported killed in Darjeeling due to incessant rain that caused devastation in northern West Bengal on Saturday night and early Sunday. Read more at:
Published 06 Oct 2025 05:40 PM
152 road segments in Delhi will receive significant renovations once the Center approves a Rs 803 crore investment.
With the Center accepting the Delhi government's proposal for Rs 803 crore in funding, 152 important sections, including the Ring Road and other flyovers, totaling more than 330 km throughout the Capital, are scheduled to undergo a significant makeover that includes repair, reconstruction, and resurfacing.According to officials, the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) money were granted earlier this month by the Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), who also requested administrative approval for the projects from the Delhi government. The MoRTH's CRIF program gives states and Union territory money to build and maintain important roads and infrastructure."Delhi is witnessing a new era of infrastructure development," stated Parvesh Sahib Singh, Minister of the Public Welfare Department (PWD). Roads are the lifeblood of any contemporary city, and by fortifying these vital thoroughfares, we are guaranteeing millions of commuters' safety, speed, and sustainability every day."This project aims to build top-notch urban infrastructure that fulfills the dreams of all Delhiites, not just fix roads," he continued.PWD officials insisted that this "project will take the Capital a giant step closer to the vision of a Viksit Delhi" and that the city would see one of the most comprehensive road upgrade and infrastructure development programs in recent years. Roads in the Central, North, East, Northeast, Shahdara, and Northwest districts will be upgraded, new corridors will be built, flyovers will be developed, and roads will be strengthened, resurfaced, and widened, according to officials.The Kashmiri Gate ISBT to Wazirabad, Vikas Marg, ITO circle, Ferozshah road, and the Nizamuddin to Kalkaji stretch are some of the important sections that will undergo repairs and improvements. Another important route that will be extended is the Noida Link Road, which links Noida to Central and East Delhi.In order to relieve traffic and enhance connectivity in Outer, West, and Northeast Delhi, the PWD also intends to build three new flyovers at the Rajouri Garden-Tagore Garden stretch, Rohtak Road (Military Road–Jhansi Road), and on Road 63 and Gokulpuri stretch. The letter from MoRTH to the Delhi Chief Secretary said, "The competent authority in this ministry has agreed to approve the work listed to an amount of Rs 803.39 crore to meet the cost of work debitable to the Government of NCT of Delhi's allocations under the CRIF Act, 2000."
Published 10 Sep 2025 08:48 PM
The government lowers GST on frequently used goods; the new rates will take effect on this month's 22nd.
The government has lowered the GST on a number of goods in various categories. The GST reduction rate will take effect on this month's 22nd. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters in New Delhi today that the GST on goods used by the average person and middle class has been lowered from 18% or 12% to 5%. Hair oil, toilet soap, soap bars, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bicycles, dinnerware, kitchenware, and other home items would now only be subject to 5% GST, the Finance Minister announced.She added that the GST rate on paneer, chena, and ultra-high temperature milk has been lowered from 5% to 0%, while the GST rate on all Indian breads would now be 0%. Additionally, Ms. Sitharaman declared that the GST on the following food items has been lowered from 12 or 18 percent to 5 percent: namkeen, bhujia, sauces, pasta, instant noodles, chocolates, coffee, preserved meat, cornflakes, butter, and ghee.The Minister further stated that the GST slab has been reduced from 28% to 18% for commodities such as air conditioners, televisions larger than 32 inches, all TVs, dishwashing machines, small cars, and motorbikes. According to her, labor-intensive businesses have provided substantial support, and today's measures will also benefit farmers and the agriculture industry. According to the Minister, the GST rate on all agricultural equipment has been lowered from 12% to 5%. Regarding the automobile industry: #GST on small cars and motorcycles up to 350 cc was lowered from 28% to 18%. # The GST on ambulances, buses, and vehicles was lowered from 28% to 18%. # GST on three-wheelers was lowered from 28% to 18%. # All auto parts were subject to a uniform 18% rate. GST reduction on medical supplies: #33 life-saving medications now have a 12% GST reduction instead of a 0% one. # Three life-saving medications used to treat cancer, rare diseases, and other serious chronic illnesses now have GST cut from 5% to 0%. # GST on certain medications was lowered from 12% to 5%.
Published 04 Sep 2025 09:45 PM
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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.
Tata Punch facelift launch confirmed for 2025
The Tata Punch petrol will see a mid-life facelift sometime next year. Confirming this development on the sidelines of the Punch EV launch, Tata Motors’ Passenger Vehicles Unit MD, Shailesh Chandra, said, “As far as the upgrade of the Punch is concerned, you know that it was launched in October 2021. Typical facelift period is three years. So, we should be expecting a facelift for the ICE version only in mid-2025, or slightly later.” Just like what we’ve seen on the Nexon and Harrier facelifts recently, expect Tata Motors to update the Punch SUV’s styling with fresh design cues to bring it in line with the newer Tata models. Changes to the front bumper and grille, along with minor tweaks to the headlamps and the bonnet can be expected to make the small SUV look new.Like the Nexon and the Nexon EV facelift, there will be styling bits that will help differentiate the petrol-powered Punch from the recently launched Punch EV. What’s more, Chandra also said that the Punch will have feature differences between the petrol and EV versions.
Renault Bigster global debut later this year
The new Renault Bigster SUV will see a global debut later this year and is expected to go on sale internationally by early 2025. Revealed as a concept in 2021, it is essentially a three-row iteration of the all-new Duster, which made its global debut a few months ago. Sources have conveyed to our friends at Motor1 Brazil that the Bigster SUV will share its design cues largely with the new Duster and the Bigster concept. Essentially, it will be most likely an elongated version of the Duster, similar to what we see with the Creta and Alcazar in India. There will, however, be styling, tech and equipment differences on the inside and out. This new SUV from Renault will be around 4.6 metres long – nearly 0.3 metres longer than the new Duster, which measures 4.34 metres. It will get rugged looks and interior bits from the Duster, but there will be more upmarket materials and additional creature comforts to justify the SUV's higher price tag. The Duster currently has a 2,657mm wheelbase, which also could see an increment for the Bigster in order to facilitate easy ingress-egress and more cabin room. As far as the platform goes, the Bigster will share the same CMF-B modular architecture. There isn’t much known about its powertrain options, however, it will be safe to expect that the SUV will share its powertrain line-up with the latest-gen Duster, which comes with three engine options – two of which are electrified. Starting the proceedings is the 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid that gets two electric motors; this engine comes with an automatic gearbox. It also comes with regenerative braking and a 1.2kWh battery, enabling purely electric driving for up to 80 percent of the time in the city.The next engine is the 130hp, 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol coupled with a 48V starter motor. While the Duster will also come with a 1.0-litre petrol-LPG option in some markets, there is no diesel option in any market right now. The next engine is the 130hp, 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol coupled with a 48V starter motor. While the Duster will also come with a 1.0-litre petrol-LPG option in some markets, there is no diesel option in any market right now.
Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles eyes ASEAN market for Jawa exports
The company has been exporting Jawa back to the Czech Republic-based JAWA Moto spol. S r.O. The successor to the original JAWA company using the trademark JAWA, which in turn sells the bikes mostly in Eastern Europe and the Czech Republic. Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles plans to start exports of Jawa brand of bikes in ASEAN countries in the next three to four months, a top company official said on Thursday. The company, which launched the new Jawa 350 priced at Rs 2,14,950 (ex-showroom Delhi), is also working to enhance its reach across India, especially in smaller cities targeting to open 750 outlets in the next 24 to 30 months, Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles CEO Ashish Singh Joshi told reporters in an interaction here. The company has been exporting Jawa back to the Czech Republic-based JAWA Moto spol. S r.O. The successor to the original JAWA company using the trademark JAWA, which in turn sells the bikes mostly in Eastern Europe and the Czech Republic. We also sell directly in Nepal and we have already opened operations in the Philippines, which will serve as the hub to sell in other ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand," Joshi said. This is likely to start in the next three to four months, he said.On export volumes, Joshi said it is not so large considering the company's focus has been on the Indian market.After making a comeback in India in 2018, the company has sold about 2 lakh units in total, out of which nearly 5,000 units have been exported.When asked about domestic plans, Joshi said Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles plans to bring in more models to add to the existing nine products in its stable at present without specifying details. Also, he said the company is on a network expansion journey to widen and deepen its presence across India. "We are looking to increase our outlets to 750 in the next 24 to 30 months from 423 at present," he said, adding that when the company started it was mainly in the metros and major cities.It has gradually entered smaller cities and towns and will continue to do so, while also increasing the number of outlets in cities where it already has a presence to deepen its presence, Joshi added.On the outlook, he said the company is looking at "double-digit" growth this year, having overcome the COVID-19 induced disruptions and supply chain issues."2024 is going to be the year of consolidation for us," he said, adding that the premium motorcycle segment in India has recovered while the entry-level motorcycle segment is also witnessing recovery.
Toto Wolff Extends Contract With Mercedes For 3 More Years
Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff signs a new three-year contract, extending his leadership until the end of 2026. The deal involves Wolff, INEOS owner Jim Ratcliffe, and Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius.The contract excludes performance clauses.Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff has inked a new three-year contract, securing his leadership until at least the end of 2026, according to an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph. The deal involves Wolff, INEOS owner Jim Ratcliffe, and Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius. Remarkably, the contract excludes performance clauses, emphasising trust between the parties and Wolff's commitment to achieving success rather than relying on specific track outcomes.Wolff, who owns 33 per cent of the team, clarified, "I've never had a performance clause; you either trust each other or you don't." The new agreement arises amid speculation about Wolff's position due to Mercedes' recent struggles in comparison to Red Bull's consecutive title wins. Despite external pressures, the contract demonstrates mutual confidence and a desire to navigate challenges as a united front. The lack of performance clauses aligns with Wolff's emphasis on stability and a long-term perspective. He believes that the absence of such conditions reinforces the shared goal of achieving a strong return on investment, which, in the context of Formula 1, translates to winning races and championships. His commitment extends beyond the team principal role, encompassing responsibilities as a co-shareholder and a member of the board.Reflecting on the risks associated with his role, Wolff expressed a concern for "bore-out" rather than burnout, indicating a preference for overcoming challenges and embracing difficulties rather than stagnating in a dominant position. The Mercedes team principal remains driven by the prospect of re-establishing the team's dominance in Formula 1.Wolff's new contract is significant not only for its duration but also for the absence of conditional performance metrics. It reflects a collective decision by the stakeholders to persist in their current roles and address the challenges that come with a downturn in the team's performance. The deal positions Wolff as a key figure in Mercedes' efforts to reclaim its leading position in Formula 1 and underscores the importance of trust and collaboration among the team's principal shareholders.In the larger context, the contract signals a commitment to stability, allowing Mercedes to navigate a transitional phase in Formula 1 and work towards regaining competitiveness. While the team faces uncertainties regarding the performance of the new Mercedes W15 car, Wolff's enduring leadership provides continuity and stability during a critical period.As Wolff embarks on the next three years, the focus will be on steering Mercedes back to the summit of Formula 1, where it enjoyed a dominant position for much of the past decade.
