Arc Search app uses AI to offer customised search results by browsing the internet

Arc Search aims to redefine the way we search for information on the internet by browsing the internet on your part and giving you customised search results on a newly generated webpage.The Browser Company, the makers of the Arc browser have announced a new app called Arc Search. The new iPhone-only app aims to redefine your browsing experience by generating a web page from scratch that offers customised search results. Arc Search’s ‘Browse for me’ feature lets you type in a query in the search bar and looks up information on the internet on your behalf. The company says the app uses AI to read several web pages and offers customised search results on a new webpage with different sections, which entirely depend on the search term.  In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Josh Miller, the CEO of The Browser Company said that launching the Arc Search app on your iPhone will make the keyboard pop up with the cursor automatically focusing on the search box. You can see in the video below that typing a search query in Arc Search and tapping on the ‘Browse for me’ button scours through at least six web pages and creates a new website that offers customised results.The Browser Company also says that navigating between open tabs on the Arc Search app is more efficient compared to other mobile browsers. Instead of showing small thumbnails like Chrome or Edge, Arc Search uses an iOS-like recent apps menu that stacks the older tabs behind the new one. For added privacy, Arc Search automatically cleans up your tab history and closes all tabs every night. The company also announced that it is ditching iCloud in favour of its own cross-platform syncing service, which will sync things like all your Spaces and Pinned tabs to Arc Search. The app is currently available for download on the App App Store, but the developers plan to drop the word ‘Search’ from its name in a month or two, meaning it will be called ‘Arc’ for iPhone.   

Boosting Innovation Getting Ready for Startup Chances Before Budget 2024

The Indian startup industry is looking forward to initiatives that would address funding and layoff issues while also promoting innovation ahead of Budget 2024. In spite of earlier programs such as the Fund of Funds for Startups, the ecosystem experienced shocks such as job losses and depreciation. There are several calls for tax laws, rewards for ESG compliance, and assistance with digital trade and environmentally friendly transportation. It is anticipated that the budget would lay the groundwork for a supportive startup climate that will encourage entrepreneurship and creativity in order to increase the number of unicorns that arise in India.Important lessons learned While the budget of the previous year included a number of measures for startups, there were obstacles in the Indian startup funding scene. Startup funding fell to a level not seen in seven years. The startup ecosystem has been damaged by the disruption in funding and layoffs, which has created a difficult environment for growth and innovation. Key initiatives to foster innovation and open the door for more unicorns in the Indian startup scene are anticipated in the next budget.Numerous firms' growth trajectory has been disrupted by the decrease in funding and the layoffs. Therefore, we will have to wait to see what decisions the Finance Ministry makes this year regarding the Startup Sector. This is due to the fact that the startup environment has been greatly impacted by the consequences of past budgeting decisions. They frequently create the conditions for more unicorns to appear in India.Prior Budget The Indian government included a number of initiatives in the Union Budget last year with the goal of assisting the startup industry. This includes the creation of the ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds for businesses (FFS), tax incentives for businesses, and the development of digital payments and economies. These budgetary measures have led to a notable expansion of India's startup environment. India is currently home to more unicorns than any other country in the globe, with the nation's startup ecosystem ranking third in the world overall. But there were significant obstacles facing the Indian startup scene. The startup industry saw an all-time high in layoffs, which added to the ecosystem's uncertainty. Moreover, it was evident that startups were losing value.Extension of the Indian Startup Landscape It is anticipated that the government will set aside additional money to promote entrepreneurship and aid in the expansion of startups. This can be accomplished by offering more funding, lowering tax laws, and easing regulations to draw in newer technology and foster innovation. Proposals have been made for tax policies such Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and carry-forward losses on investments. This entails offering incentives specific to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies and matching capital gains tax on unlisted startup shares with listed shares. In addition, the government has to prioritize bolstering digital commerce programs, offering incentives to retailers in remote locations, and providing funding to improve last-mile connectivity for Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) e-commerce. Additionally, with updated regulations promoting international trade, India may becomeIt is expected that the interim budget for 2024 will prioritize green mobility for electric vehicles (EVs) by addressing insurance requirements, safety standards, and licensing specific to EVs. The promotion of green mobility and possible revisions to programs like Production-Linked Incentives (PLI) for EVs and Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) are two ways to promote this.$1 billion in startup capital was raised in 2023 alone, demonstrating the ecosystem's resiliency in the face of difficulties. Moreover, the need to create an atmosphere that supports the expansion and longevity of startups is the foundation for the anticipation of tax reforms and regulatory clarity. As a result, the impending budget is well-positioned to lay the groundwork for an atmosphere that is more favorable for startups, encouraging creativity and entrepreneurship. In order to foster a thriving startup industry in India and create the conditions for the future development of other unicorns, this proactive strategy is imperative.  

Startup India More than 12 lakh jobs have been created by 1.14 lakh startups to date

OVERVIEW As of October 2023, 1.14 lakh enterprises recognized by the government under "Startup India" had created over 12 lakh employment, according to the Department of Economic Affairs. According to the Department's report, until November 2023, 2.1 lakh loans were given under the Startup India initiative. According to the government-backed ONDC, the platform recorded over 63 lakh transactions until November 2023.A study released by the Ministry of Finance states that the companies approved by the Indian government have generated over 12 lakh employment.The Department of Economic Affairs stated that as of October 2023, the 1.14 lakh firms approved by the government under the Startup India initiative had created over 12 lakh employment in its report, "The Indian Economy: A Review January 2024," which covered data through the end of October 2023.The Department of Economic Affairs stated in the report "The Indian Economy: A Review January 2024" that as of October 2023, the 1.14 lakh firms approved by the government under the "Startup India initiative" had produced over 12 lakh jobs.As stated in its most recent assessment of the Indian economy, the Finance Ministry stated that over 1.14 lakh startups had so far generated over 12 lakh jobs in India. The Department of Economic Affairs stated in the report "The Indian Economy: A Review January 2024" that as of October 2023, the 1.14 lakh firms approved by the government under the "Startup India initiative" had produced over 12 lakh jobs. According to the document, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a state-owned e-commerce network, recorded over 63 lakh transactions by November 2023.With over 950 tech firms launched last year, India continues to have the third-largest tech start-up ecosystem internationally, despite confronting global obstacles in 2023 such as valuation issues, few IPOs, regulatory changes, and macroeconomic and geopolitical factors.According to Debjani Ghosh, President of Nasscom, "Indian tech startups have prioritized the imperative of enhancing their business fundamentals, driving profitability and growth in 2023, despite facing global economic and regulatory challenges." "The resilience of the ecosystem is demonstrated by the growth of tech startups in tier 2 and tier 3 cities," she continued.digital company owners anticipate that in 2024, they will maintain the current trajectory of revenue growth, taking calculated risks to optimize expenses and maximize profitability for business-to-business (B2B) digital businesses. In 2024, deeptech investments are expected to keep growing. Seventy percent of start-up entrepreneurs are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their products as generative AI (GenAI) accelerates.  

Reliance Jio Urges Government to Frame Policy to Shut Down 2G and 3G Services

Reliance Jio, in response to a consulting paper published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), titled Digital Transformation through 5G Ecosystem, suggested that the government should frame a policy to shut down the 2G and 3G networks in India and move the existing users to 4G and 5G networks. In a separate response, Vodafone Idea (Vi) also made the same suggestion and highlighted that the existence of such barriers lead to a digital divide and impacts the ecosystem for 5G use cases.The regulatory body sought opinions on the barriers to the development of the ecosystem for 5G use cases, which need to be addressed and the possible policy and regulatory interventions that can overcome them. Responding to this, Reliance Jio stated, “The Government should come out with a policy and glidepath for closing down the 2G and 3G networks completely so that unnecessary network costs should be avoided, and all customers can be migrated to 4G and 5G services.” The telecom operator added that this will also boost the developing ecosystem to 5G use cases.  Separately, Vodafone Idea also submitted its suggestion highlighting a similar measure. “The inability of users to switch to smartphones on account of the cost of these devices also leads to the users continuing on older technology and hence, not using digital services and most likely ending up being not updated on latest digital technologies and services,” it added. The two major issues with shifting users to a higher network bandwidth include the abundance of phones used in India that are only 2G/3G capable, and the pricing of the 4G and 5G enabled smartphones that might be unaffordable for the rural and remote population of the country. Vodafone Idea highlighted the issue as well and stated that the cost of smartphones for low-income groups is a very big challenge.  Reliance Jio also underlined the necessity for the availability and allocation of a “massive amount” of spectrum bands to better implement a robust 5G connectivity. To solve this, the telecom operator urged that the 6GHz band, full C-Band, and 28GHz (on a flexible use basis) should also be auctioned, along with the planned auction of the E-Band and V-Band spectrum.  

Xiaomi 15 Series Tipped to Run on Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC

Xiaomi 14 series with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and HyperOS operating system was launched in Chinese markets in October last year. They are yet to make their India debut, but ahead of it, rumours about the next-generation flagship smartphones from Xiaomi have already started surfacing online. The Xiaomi 15 series is tipped to be powered by next-generation Qualcomm flagship processor. The Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro are said to go official in September. Tipster Smart Pikachu (translated from Chinese) on Weibo claimed that the Xiaomi 15 series will be equipped with Qualcomm's unannounced Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC. The displays of the purported devices are said to offer a 1.5K resolution. The Xiaomi 14 series was the first handset to feature Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. Previous leaks suggested that mass production of the Xiaomi 15 lineup will kick off in September. The regular model is expected to retain a flat display and have the same screen size as the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 13. The Xiaomi 15 Pro is rumoured to come with a slightly curved 2K display with 0.6 mm narrow bezels. Since there's no official announcement from Xiaomi about the 15 series yet, these details should be taken with a pinch of salt. Xiaomi's 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro were launched in China in October. The price of Xiaomi 14 Pro starts at CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 56,500) for the 12GB + 256GB RAM and storage model whereas the Xiaomi 14 is priced at CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 50,000) for the 8GB + 256GB RAM and storage variant. There is no official word yet on their debut in markets outside China. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC powers Xiaomi's 14 series. They run on Xiaomi's HyperOS interface and feature up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. They also have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The Xiaomi 14 series has LTPO OLED displays with up to 2K resolution and 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. They have a Leica-tuned triple rear camera setup as well.  

Toyota Innova Crysta, Fortuner, Hilux despatches temporarily on hold in India

Toyota Kirloskar Motor will be temporarily suspending despatches of the Innova Crysta, Fortuner and Hilux utility vehicles in India, amid the discovery of irregularities in horsepower output certification test on the diesel engines in these models. Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) said it had commissioned Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) to develop its diesel engines. On Monday, TICO reported to Toyota that a special investigation committee set up to look into the potential certification irregularities stated that irregularities had occurred during the horsepower output certification testing for three diesel engines that Toyota had commissioned to TICO.In a global statement, Toyota Motor Corporation said that during certification testing, the horsepower output performance of engines was measured using electronic control units (ECU) with software that differed from that used for mass production, so that results could be measured to make values appear smoother with less variation. Ten models use the affected engines globally, including six in Japan. The Innova Crysta, Fortuner and Hilux account for almost a third of Toyota Kirloskar Motors’ (TKM) total sales in India. To our sister publication Autocar Professional’s query, a Toyota Kirloskar spokesperson explained that the irregularities concern the ‘smoothing’ of power and torque curves, but did not lead to any over-stating or over-claims on horsepower, torque or other powertrain-related values. “Moreover, this does not have any impact on the emissions or safety of the affected vehicles,” assured the spokesperson.Thus, while despatches have been suspended, the company will continue to produce and take orders for the Innova, Fortuner or Hilux. "For cars that have already been despatched but have not yet been delivered to the customer, we will carefully explain to them about this condition. Thereafter, we will proceed with registration and delivery for customers who opt to receive their vehicles,” explained the spokesperson.In its statement, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “Nevertheless, TKM sincerely apologises for any inconvenience and concern this irregularity may cause to our customers and other stakeholders." Toyota Kirloskar Motor also said it is working with relevant authorities to reconfirm the data used for the certification of the affected vehicles. Meanwhile, Toyota Motor Corporation added that the company has reverified the mass-produced products manufactured at the plant and confirmed that the affected engines and vehicles meet engine performance output standards. “Therefore, there is no need to stop using the affected engines or vehicles. However, we deeply apologise to our customers who have been supporting affected vehicles and waiting for a long time, and also to all other stakeholders for the significant inconvenience and concern that this has caused,” added Toyota Motor Corp.Based on the results of the investigation, its subsidiary TICO decided on Monday to temporarily suspend shipments of the affected engines. Going forward, Toyota said it will provide detailed explanations to authorities and proceed with appropriate measures, including conducting testing in the presence of witnesses, if appropriate. “We consider the appropriate process of certification to be a major prerequisite for doing business as an automobile manufacturer. We recognise the gravity of the fact that the repeated certification irregularities at TICO, following those at Daihatsu, have shaken the very foundations of the company as an automobile manufacturer,” said the release.The episode may lead to a restructuring of the relevant business, which will require a change, claims Toyota, “in the mindset of all individuals, from management to employees, as well as a drastic reform of corporate culture. Such tasks cannot be accomplished overnight. Hence, as the party responsible for transferring the diesel engine business, Toyota will continue to provide support toward the revitalisation of TICO's engine business.”     

Porsche Launches New Macan EV At Rs 1.65 Crore: 5 Things You Need To Know

Porsche has launched the 2024 Macan EV, confirming that the nameplate will now be solely offered with an electric powertrain. It is the first all-electric SUV by Porsche and was launched in India immediately after its global debut. For now, you only get the bonkers Turbo variant, priced at Rs 1.65 crore (ex-showroom). But we expect lower-end versions to be available down the road. Here are five things you need to know about. The Macan might be instantly recognisable as one thanks to its familiar silhouette. However, there’s plenty new with certain design elements taking inspiration from the Taycan. That includes the new four-point LED DRLs, which get their own housing on top with the headlights located lower down the bumper.  Shifting to the side profile, the 2024 Macan flaunts new sporty five-spoke alloy wheels, which can be configured up to 22 inches in size. And moving on to the rear, you get a new set of connected LED tail lamps that increases its wow factor. Another highlight is that it features an adaptive rear spoiler instead of one integrated above the rear windshield as seen in the ICE Macan. Inside, the cabin of the Porsche Macan EV is similar to that of the facelifted Cayenne, as its design closely resembles it. Displays galore as you get not one, but three screens for the driver, infotainment and co-driver. Thankfully, you still go get physical controls for operating the climate control. Another interesting touch is the ambient lighting along the dashboard, serving not only an aesthetic purpose but also functioning as communication lights for providing warnings and alarms.  The all-electric Macan is equipped with a triple-screen setup comprising a 12.6-inch digital driver’s display, a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and another 10.9-inch display for the front passenger.    

IBM is asking managers to work from office 3 days a week or get fired

IBM has issued a directive requiring all its managers in the United States to work from the office or client locations for a minimum of three days a week. Here are the details.IBM has issued a directive requiring all its managers in the United States to work from the office or client locations for a minimum of three days a week. The internal memo, which was just released by the company, has garnered attention for outlining a new policy that could potentially lead to job termination for non-compliance.The memo, obtained by Bloomberg, revealed that IBM wants to use badge-in data to track and assess the physical presence of its managers. Employees falling under this directive must reportedly reside within 50 miles of an IBM office or client location. Furthermore, the memo specifies that affected individuals must complete their relocation arrangements by August. Those unable to adhere to the new mandate or secure a remote position have been asked to "separate from IBM." A spokesperson for IBM verified the memo's contents and asserted the company's commitment to improve the work environment that balances flexibility with face-to-face interactions. The spokesperson clarified that executives and people managers in the United States are now required to be physically present in the office for at least three days each week.This policy marks a notable departure from IBM's previous approach to remote work. In May, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna stated that employees wouldn't be compelled to return to the office. However, the recent memo indicates a change in strategy, reflecting a belief that regular in-person presence is crucial for certain roles within the company. Notably, Krishna had acknowledged earlier that while remote work might allow for short-term productivity, it could impact employees' career progression. He suggested that those working remotely might find it more challenging to secure promotions as their contributions may be less visible in comparison to their office-bound counterparts.This move by IBM is not surprising because several tech companies have made similar decisions, which disappointed many employees. Some chose to leave their jobs, whereas a few people forcefully joined the company to comply with the policy.    

iRobot to fire 350 employees to focus on profitability and growth

iRobot says it will have to terminate 350 employees, which is around 31 percent of the total workforce. The company has announced a strategic organizational restructuring plan aimed at improving profitability and key growth.iRobot, which is popular for robotics vacuum cleaning solutions, has announced a strategic organizational restructuring plan aimed at improving profitability and key growth. The company plans to stabilize its position in the current environment while extending market share in the mid-tier and premium segments. Following this, iRobot says it will have to terminate 350 employees, according to ET. This is around 31 percent of the total workforce.The restructuring will incur estimated charges ranging between $12 million and $13 million, mainly for severance and other related costs. These charges are expected to be recorded over the first two quarters of 2024, with a major portion anticipated in the initial quarter. Andrew Miller, Chairman of the Board, expressed the necessity of these decisions for the company to adopt a more sustainable business model and focus on profitability, ensuring long-term value creation. As part of the strategic shift, iRobot also announced leadership changes. Colin Angle, the former Chairman of the Board and CEO, has stepped down from his positions. Glen Weinstein, iRobot's Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, has been appointed as the Interim CEO, while Andrew Miller, the lead independent director, resumes the role of Chairman of the Board. Angle will continue to serve on the iRobot Board until May 2024. He has also agreed to stay on as a senior advisor for up to 12 months, as per the report.It is being said that iRobot was slated to be acquired by Amazon, with an announcement made in 2022. However, both companies mutually agreed to terminate the acquisition. The current restructuring and leadership changes suggest that iRobot is now taking big steps to sustain in the market. While decisions impacting the workforce are acknowledged as difficult, the company remains optimistic that these actions will lead to a better future. It seems that the layoff season is back because many major tech companies are firing employees in big numbers. Microsoft recently announced a fresh round of layoffs after eliminating thousands of employees last year. The company sacked people who work at Activision Blizzard and Xbox this week. While Microsoft has cut jobs in Xbox and Blizzard gaming divisions, cutting roughly 8 percent of the overall Microsoft Gaming division that currently has around 22,000 employees. Google also reportedly eliminated around 1,000 employees.    

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Amazons video advertisement push aims to turn TVs into shopping carts

Amazon.com Inc., joining streaming peers like Netflix, Disney and Peacock, will start running ads on its US Prime Video service on Monday. Beside generating new revenue for its $50 billion-plus advertising business, the e-commerce giant is betting it can persuade viewers to shop from their televisions.  For decades, TV commercials have inspired and influenced future buying decisions rather than impulse purchases, and that hasn’t changed in the streaming era. Flo from Progressive still dukes it out with Geico’s gecko to peddle car insurance. She’s just increasingly seen on YouTube or Hulu rather than NBC. Amazon has the potential to upend the status quo because it’s the world’s largest online retailer, with detailed shopping profiles on Prime Video viewers. The company has an unrivaled delivery network that can ship millions products to much of the US population in a day or less. That combination could make the living room TV screen more than a place to spotlight brands. It could compel people to make purchases via smartphones, remote controls or voice-activated devices. “Prime Video might be Amazon’s best hope to make shoppable TV actually happen,” said Sky Canaves, an analyst at Insider Intelligence in New York. “Shoppable video ads will be part of its strategy to get brands that are already selling products on Amazon to advertise on Prime Video.” Selling billions of dollars in advertising will be the easy part. Brands for years have been shifting their marketing budgets from traditional TV to streaming services, and Amazon is offering low rates to reach a US audience second only to Netflix Inc. But training viewers to use their televisions as shopping carts and compelling advertisers to rethink an 80-year-old format will take time and effort—and could well fail as it has so many times before. Prime subscribers will see commercials in movies and TV shows unless they choose to pay an extra $3 a month for an ad-free service. In an effort to avoid alienating viewers, Amazon plans to air fewer ads than linear television and other streaming providers. (The company prohibits election and alcohol commercials.) In part because the video service is included in a Prime subscription that offers speedy shipping, music and other perks, most viewers are expected to accept the ads without much protest. Bank of America analysts estimate that 70% of Prime subscribers will opt to watch commercials rather than pay the extra fee to avoid them.  

Apple opens iPhone ecosystem in EU: What it means for consumers, developers

Apple has announced that it will bring changes to iOS, Safari browser, and the App Store in the European Union (EU) to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). With the new changes, iPhone users in the EU will get access to third-party App marketplaces, ability to change default browser, and set preferred payment method other than Apple’s for in-app purchases. Apple said the new changes will be limited to the 27 EU member countries and will roll out with the iOS 17.4 update in March. Here is a roundup of the changes coming to Apple iPhone platformplatform.  With the iOS 17.4 update, users in the EU will get the option to install apps from a third-party app stores that Apple is calling “alternative app marketplaces”. Users will be able to download alternative app stores from the respective developer’s website. Apple said, the alternate app marketplaces can install and support software on iOS devices, access data across a catalogue of apps, manage user’s purchases and subscriptions, and more. However, developers managing these app marketplaces would need to meet Apple’s “Notarization” requirements, like other iOS apps. Apple said notarization is its review system for apps that ensure that the iOS apps are free of known malware, viruses, or other security threats. It includes a combination of automated checks and human review. Notarized apps will undergo checks during installation to check for user’s authorisation. If the app fails to comply with the Notarization regulations, the app will be prevented from launching and new installations will be halted.With the update, users will be able to manage the list of allowed app stores and installed apps from settings. Removing a third party app store will prevent app installations and updates from the developer’s website. Users can also set a third-party app store as their default app installation source.  

Ram Mandir Ayodhya Pran Pratishtha

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) estimates that the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Ceremony in Ayodhya generated business revenue worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore nationwide.The CAIT study claims that before to the famous 'Pran Pratishtha' event of Ayodhya's Ram temple, people went on a shopping binge. According to the CIAT report, Delhi generated revenue of Rs 25,000 crore, while Uttar Pradesh registered commerce of Rs 40,000 crore.According to CAIT's National Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal, small traders have benefited the most. The "Har Sheher Ayodhya, Har Ghar Ayodhya" campaign was also praised by him. Almost 1.5 million programs were hosted by small and major corporate organizations nationwide as part of the campaign, which ran from January 1 to 22.According to CAIT, sales of candies, decorations, devotional souvenirs, and other spiritual things contributed to the enterprises' significant growth. A CAIT had previously predicted that the dedication of the Ram temple will bring in commerce of up to Rs 1 trillion. The estimate provided by CAIT was derived from input gathered from thirty different state trade associations.Khandelwal had said that there is a lot of demand in the marketplaces for printed "kurtas," caps, t-shirts, banners, flags, and banners with images of the Ram temple. On January 22, the freshly built Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya hosted the Pran Pratishtha ritual for Lord Ram.PM Modi is praised by Swami Govind Dev Giri: Lord Shri Ram is seated at the temple of Ayodhya. Ram Lalla was ceremoniously sanctified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This gathering was graced by the presence of numerous national leaders. The saint who broke PM Modi's fast has made a significant announcement about the politician.  

Akasa Air plans its expansion in the cutthroat Indian aviation industry.

Anand Srinivasan, Chief Information Officer of Akasa Air, discusses the airline's growth strategies and insights during a Masters' Union business school session. According to Srinivasan, Akasa Air is taking cues from market leader IndiGo and giving operational procedures precedence above short-term worries about market dominance.Srinivasan underlined that Akasa Air's market share would depend on the size of the fleet in the upcoming years, highlighting the airline's order of 76 aircraft and the delivery of 20 of them thus far. With the latest order for 150 more Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the fleet size is predicted to reach above 200. Speaking to the strong demand in India's aviation industry, Srinivasan said that the problem is supply limitations brought on by airports, infrastructure, laws, and capital availability.In reference to the competition with IndiGo, Srinivasan expressed appreciation for IndiGo's profitable business model while acknowledging that a confrontation was inevitable. Though he expressed the desire to take on IndiGo head-on in the future, he compared Akasa Air to a “little pesky mosquito” at the moment.Even though IndiGo recently made a sizable order with Airbus for 500 A320s with the goal of doubling the size of its fleet by 2030, Srinivasan is still optimistic about Akasa Air's ability to efficiently and professionally compete in the changing aviation market.  

NASAs Hubble Telescope Finds Water Vapor in the Atmosphere of a Small Exoplanet

A tiny, scorching exoplanet located 97 light-years from Earth has water molecules in its atmosphere, according to research done by astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The planet, known as GJ 9827d, may serve as an example of prospective planets with atmospheres rich in water found elsewhere in our galaxy. Its diameter is about twice that of Earth. "This would be the first time that we can directly show through atmospheric detection, that these planets with water-rich atmospheres can exist around other stars," said team member Bjorn Benneke of the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets at Universite de Montreal. "This is an important step toward determining the prevalence and diversity of atmospheres on rocky planets"Water on a planet this small is a landmark discovery," said Laura Kreidberg, a co-principal investigator from Heidelberg, Germany's Max Planck Institute for Astronomy. "It pushes closer than ever to characterizing truly Earth-like worlds."Life depends on water, but the exoplanet's extreme heat would likely turn any water-rich atmosphere into steam, making it unlikely that any kind of life could exist there. Astronomers still don't know everything there is to know about the unusual atmosphere of this world.    The study's conclusions were presented in a report that The Astrophysical Journal Letters published on Thursday.   Because the host star evaporated GJ 9827d's atmosphere, the research team is currently unable to determine whether Hubble detected water vapor traces within a puffy, hydrogen-rich atmosphere or whether the planet has a water-rich atmosphere."Our observing program was specifically designed to look for water vapor as well as detect molecules in the planet's atmosphere. It is overseen by principal investigator Ian Crossfield of Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas. "Any outcome would be fascinating, regardless of whether water vapor is the predominant species or merely a minor species in an atmosphere dominated by hydrogen," stated Pierre-Alexis Roy, the primary author of the scientific paper from Universite de Montréal's Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets.   "We had not yet been able to directly detect the atmosphere of a planet this small. And we're now gradually implementing this regime," Benneke continued. "At some point, as we study smaller planets, there must be a transition where there's no more hydrogen on these small worlds, and they have atmospheres more like Venus (which is dominated by carbon dioxide)."  

India, France agree on joint defence production, expanding bilateral ties in technology, space, and AI

India and France have agreed to work together on the joint production of defence equipment including helicopters and submarines for the Indian armed forces and production for friendly countries, New Delhi said.Macron and Modi agreed to expand bilateral ties in defence production, nuclear energy, space research and the use of artificial intelligence for public services like climate change, health and agriculture, the statement said. After Russia, France is the largest arms supplier to India, which has relied on its fighter jets for four decades. The leaders welcomed the setting up of maintenance, repair and overhaul services by France's Safran for leading-edge aviation propulsion (LEAP) engines in India and adding such services for Rafale engines, and a helicopter partnership. The bilateral summit during Macron's 40-hour visit, was the fifth Macron-Modi meeting since May. India's Tata Group and France's Airbus have signed an agreement to manufacture civilian helicopters together, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said. French jet engine maker CFM International also announced an agreement with India’s Akasa Air to buy more than 300 of its LEAP-1B engines to power 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.Akasa Air previously ordered 76 aircraft powered by the engine, of which 22 are in use. India and France agreed to intensify cooperation in the southwest Indian Ocean, building on joint surveillance missions carried out from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022, the government statement said. Macron also said France would create conditions to attract up to 30,000 Indian students a year for higher education.  

Fossil exits smartwatch market, ceding ground to tech giants

American watchmaker Fossil Group has decided to stop producing smartwatches, ending its years-long endeavour of bringing stylish tech timepieces to the market. The company said on Friday that its latest Gen 6 watch using Google’s Wear OS software will be its final release in the smartwatch category. Fossil’s exit comes as the landscape has evolved, with tech giants like Google and Samsung taking over with their own branded devices. “We have made the strategic decision to exit the smartwatch business and redirect resources to our core strengths,” a spokesperson for the Texas-based firm told reporters. Fossil’s sub-brands like Michael Kors, Skagen, and Diesel will also discontinue smartwatches. The company said it will provide support for existing models for a few more years. Fossil was one of the few traditional watchmakers trying to adapt to the new smartwatch trend over the past decade, even as big players ignored the struggling Wear OS platform. But the category finally gained momentum in 2021 when Google and Samsung partnered on a major software update. Industry analysts say Fossil struggled to compete with the tech giants’ marketing power and resources. The company had not released a new smartwatch model since 2021, already signaling its retreat. Fossil provided a unique focus on fashionable design in the smartwatch space. With its exit, there is an opening for other players to fill the void in sleek, designer tech watches. For now, Fossil says it will concentrate on its traditional watches, jewelry and leather goods. Even as smartwatches go mainstream, old-school timepieces still make up the vast majority of Fossil’s business.  

‘Hot garbage’ and ‘total farce:’ Apple’s new App Store policies trigger strong reactions

Apple recently announced changes to its App Store policies in Europe to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The new rules will allow sideloading and alternative app stores in Europe, as well as third-party payment systems. This has drawn mixed reactions from companies and developers who have long criticised Apple’s walled-garden approach. “We are still reviewing the technical details but are extremely disappointed with Apple’s proposed plan to restrict the newly-announced BrowserEngineKit to EU-specific apps,” Mozilla spokesperson Damiano DeMonte told The Verge. “The effect of this would be to force an independent browser like Firefox to build and maintain two separate browser implementations — a burden Apple themselves will not have to bear.” Mozilla argues that having to maintain an EU-only version of Firefox on iOS creates unnecessary complexity. “Apple’s proposals fail to give consumers viable choices by making it as painful as possible for others to provide competitive alternatives to Safari,” DeMonte added. “This is another example of Apple creating barriers to prevent true browser competition on iOS.”Music streaming service Spotify had harsh words for Apple’s plan. In a post on its website, Spotify said “As Apple has just shown the world, they don’t think the rules apply to them. Apple is nothing if not consistent. While they have behaved badly for years, this takes the level of arrogance to an entirely new place.”Spotify took particular issue with the new €0.50 fee Apple will charge developers for each annual install after 1 million downloads. “From our read of Apple’s proposal, a developer would have to pay this fee even if a user downloaded the app, never used it and forgot to delete it,” Spotify wrote. The post called the changes a “complete and total farce” and extortion. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek also stated with a post on X that the company cannot afford the new fees if it wants to be profitable.    

Corporate Leaders Appear Ready To Make More Deals in 2024

After high interest rates and regulatory scrutiny kept some corporate leaders from making deals in 2023, executives and analysts are expecting a rebound in mergers & acquisition (M&A) activity this year. A Deloitte survey showed that 83% of corporate and private equity leaders expected an increase in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) this year, with almost as many responding that they expect the volume of their own organizations' deal-making to grow. The executive sentiment recorded by Deloitte lines up with a forecast from Morgan Stanley Investment Banking that concluded M&A activity was positioned to increase in 2024 after sinking in 2023 as inflation, high interest rates and increased regulatory scrutiny all contributed to stifle deal-making last year. Data from FactSet showed M&A activity was down 14.1% in December from the prior month, although spending on deals jumped more than 40% in the month. Only four of 21 tracked sectors had year-over-year M&A growth during the year’s fourth quarter, the report said.M&A activity can be beneficial for investors by either pressing the share price higher for companies that are acquired, or by quickly adding scale, volume, or market share to corporations that take over smaller companies.