Byju's losses for FY22 surge to Rs 8,245 crore; a cash-strapped edtech company is valuing its rights offering at $500 million.

Roughly Rs 3,800 crore, or over half of Byju's losses, have come from stressed assets like Whitehat Jr. and Osmo, two significant purchases the company made. However, the persistent concern over the $1.2 billion term loan has been noted by Byju's auditor BDO, who has stated that a "material uncertainty exists."Weeks after presenting its audited FY22 financials to investors during an annual general meeting in December, parent company of troubled edtech startup Byju, Think & Learn, finally submitted them with the registrar of companies (RoC).For FY22, the business had operating revenue of Rs 5,014 crore, but losses increased to Rs 8,245 crore. Byju's entire income, according to the company's regulatory filings, was about Rs 5,300 crore. Byju's operating revenue increased by 119% in FY22, but losses increased by 80% over the same time period.Improve Your Technological Proficiency with High-Value Skill Courses: IIM Lucknow's IIML Executive Programme in FinTech, Banking, and Applied Risk Management Product Management Professional Certificate from Indian School of BusinessRoughly Rs 3,800 crore, or over half of the losses, have come from highly leveraged assets like Whitehat Jr. and Osmo, two significant purchases the company made."We are pleased that our total revenue has increased by 2.2 times, but we also recognize that 45% of the losses are attributable to our underperforming companies, such as Osmo and Whitehat Jr. We have improved our operating financial circumstances through a number of initiatives, according to a statement from Byju's CFO, Nitin Golani. "While other businesses continue to grow, these businesses were significantly scaled down to cut losses in the following years. "However, the persistent concern over the $1.2 billion term loan has been noted by Byju's auditor BDO, who has stated that a "material uncertainty exists." It did, however, add that the company's management is currently working to get the capital needed to pay off its debts to lenders by selling off assets. "Therefore, (management) has faith in the Company's ability to survive into the future. Furthermore, the management believes it is unlikely that the TLB loan will be granted based on a legal opinion."We are pleased that our total revenue has increased by 2.2 times, but we also recognize that 45% of the losses are attributable to our underperforming companies, such as Osmo and Whitehat Jr. We have improved our operating financial circumstances through a number of initiatives, according to a statement from Byju's CFO, Nitin Golani. "While other businesses continue to grow, these businesses were significantly scaled down to cut losses in the following years."However, the persistent concern over the $1.2 billion term loan has been noted by Byju's auditor BDO, who has stated that a "material uncertainty exists." It did, however, add that the company's management is currently working to get the capital needed to pay off its debts to lenders by selling off assets. "Therefore, (management) has faith in the Company's ability to survive into the future. Furthermore, the management believes it is unlikely that the TLB loan will be granted based on a legal opinion.  

technological boost? In the next two quarters, a number of US federal contracts are up for renewal.

Data obtained by ET indicates that over the next two quarters, a number of significant US federal contracts, including those from the General Services Administration, US Cyber Command, Department of Energy, NASA, Federal Aviation Administration, and Department of Education, are up for renewal. A number of these transactions are close to $1 billion, and some are far more than that amount. According to data from Omdia Research, federal contracts will account for nearly a third of the market's large deal renewals, which are expected to be worth roughly $16 billion over the next two quarters.American IT majors like Accenture, Perspecta, CACI International, SAIC, Noblis, and Maximus currently service the majority of these multi-year cloud modernization, application development, and maintenance contracts. With the exception of Accenture, the majority of the revenue generated by the remaining companies comes from federal contracts.While it's still difficult ground for Indian enterprises to break into, experts say that US federal clients now view Indian-heritage suppliers more favorably because India is now largely acknowledged as the primary talent location for the technology industry. They said that with the US-Indian relationship growing over the past few years, there has been a noticeable shift.     Phil Fersht, CEO of HfS Research, stated that undoubtedly, things are changing. But US tech services companies like Deloitte and KPMG, which provide managed services directly to the top Indian suppliers, pose a greater threat to them.

George Soros’s Texas cash infusion shows Democrats are afraid of losing: Mayra Flores

The move by left-wing billionaire George Soros to pour major cash into turning Texas blue in 2024 shows Democrats are afraid of the GOP’s momentum in the state, Republican candidate and ex-Rep. Mayra Flores told the Washington Examiner in an interview.Soros personally has transferred at least $100,000 since August 2023 to the Democratic Party Executive Committee in Cameron County, which is part of the Lone Star State’s 34th Congressional District, where Flores is seeking to unseat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX). The Democratic megadonor also made donations to Hidalgo and Dallas counties and has wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to the liberal Texas Majority PAC, according to financial disclosures.Soros personally has transferred at least $100,000 since August 2023 to the Democratic Party Executive Committee in Cameron County, which is part of the Lone Star State’s 34th Congressional District, where Flores is seeking to unseat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX). The Democratic megadonor also made donations to Hidalgo and Dallas counties and has wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to the liberal Texas Majority PAC, according to financial disclosures.Meanwhile, the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee released a report Thursday putting forth that the Biden administration’s “actions in dismantling interior immigration enforcement, which enables illegal aliens to stay in the United States indefinitely.”“Over the past six months, we’ve been traveling and sharing our message of faith and the American dream with voters, who are seeing the disaster that Joe Biden created in South Texas,” Flores said. “I was in Brownsville, and we brought in over 100 women who are Spanish-speaking who voted for Biden in 2020. And I went to speak with them about my campaign. ”Toward the end of that meeting, Flores said the women all told her they would not be voting for Biden in 2024. She underscored how the attendees are living paycheck-to-paycheck and upset, searching for better economic opportunities and safer communities.In Texas, the immigrant crisis hits home for voters, who view border security as a top concern heading into 2024, according to recent polls. Soros’s helping hand in 2024 to Democrats in the Lone Star State comes after nonprofit groups affiliated with the billionaire have dished out millions of dollars in recent years to entities pushing for open borders and, in some cases, have been accused of violating federal law while doing so. In the 2022 election, Flores was trounced by more than 11,400 votes. It was a major disappointment to the Republican Party, whose consultants in Washington and across the country communicated that there would be a “red wave,” but it never materialized. That year, Gonzalez highlighted how the Flores campaign spent more than $7 million against him and still could not capture the South Texas district.    

Top things to do in the UAE this weekend

Embark on a weekend adventure in the UAE with our curated list of top things to do. Get ready to explore, indulge, and create unforgettable moments across the Emirates. Every Saturday, from 1 pm to 4 pm, the acclaimed B.I.G Brunch at Garage, W Abu Dhabi, sets the stage for a lively weekend kick-off. With 5 Culinary Hubs, 11 Beverage Taps, and an upbeat party vibe, January's edition boasts an enticing selection, featuring treats like oysters, edamame, cumin beef bao buns, and more. With prices starting at Dh320 for the Soft Package, Dh420 for the House Package, and Dh589 for the Sparkling Package, guests can relish a delightful mix of tasty food, energetic tunes, and live entertainment, making B.I.G Brunch the perfect Saturday spot. For reservations and additional details, reach out at 02 656 0000. Experience serenity and rejuvenation with a complimentary yoga session hosted by wagamama at its Motor City Dubai branch on January 20, from 10 am to 11 am. Guided by the renowned instructor Chandnee Kaurani, participants can embark on a journey of mindfulness while enjoying revitalizing beverages. As a bonus, attendees will receive a discount voucher for the crystal shop 'Heal Quartz.' This session is designed to seamlessly blend tranquility with vitality, providing a holistic wagamama experience that transcends the culinary realm. To secure a spot, participants are encouraged to fill out the form at least one day before their chosen session date. Costa Coffee proudly presents its new flagship store in Al Seef, Dubai, seamlessly blending modernity with the city's historical allure. The sandstone structure, adorned with vintage wooden accents, serves as a tribute to the UAE's rich history, creating a space that embraces the tradition of sharing coffee. Within the Al Seef store, an AI art installation unfolds the area's captivating history. Introducing exclusive limited-edition drinks like the Iced Spanish Flat White and Hazelnut Vanilla Latte, Costa Coffee invites both residents and tourists to savor a premium coffee experience in a venue that pays homage to the city's cultural heritage. Operating daily from 8 am to 12 am, the store provides seating for up to 41 guests. This weekend, treat yourself to a rejuvenating winter getaway at The SPA, Abu Dhabi, featuring the enticing 'Treat Yourself' offer. Pamper yourself with a 60-minute personalized massage, tailored to your preferences, and receive a complimentary 30-minute full-body scrub for an added touch of opulence. Alternatively, indulge in facial treatments, meticulously designed to address your unique skincare needs. As a special perk, guests enjoy an exclusive 40% discount on any Skin Regimen Facial Products to maintain their radiant glow. Available daily from 11 am to 10.30 pm, The SPA's offer assures a revitalizing experience, leaving you refreshed and renewed with a radiant winter glow. To secure your reservation, dial 02 656 0000.  

India for finding solution to food stockholding issue first at WTO; then talk on other agri matters

India would not negotiate any other issue in the agriculture sector till a permanent solution on public stockholding for food grains is found by the WTO members, an official said on Thursday. The issue would prominently figure in the 13th ministerial conference (MC) of the WTO (World Trade Organisation), scheduled from February 26-29 in Abu Dhabi.MC is the highest decision-making body of the 164-member global trade watchdog WTO."The public stockpiling of food grain is the longest pending issue. The promise was made by the members in Bali MC, and then later endorsed by subsequent conferences. "Without that, we will not take part in any discussion on any other issue on agriculture, unless the mandated issue is settled. This is our first ask," the official said.Developed countries have raised flags over India's food security programmes, such as buying rice and wheat from farmers at a government-administered price for distribution through public ration shops. They allege that this public procurement at subsidised rates and storage distorts global agri trade.However, India has maintained they have to protect the interest of poor and vulnerable farmers, besides taking care of the food security needs of a large section of the population.The government provide 5 kilogrammes of free foodgrains per month to around 80 crore poor people, free ration to about 80 crore people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The Covid-19 pandemic has proved the importance of such initiatives. The Geneva-based 164-member multi-lateral body deals with global exports and import-related norms. Besides, it adjudicates trade disputes between the member countries.The official said that taking the ERP at 1986-88 basis will give a distorted picture of the support measures. "In a session on agriculture, we gave a presentation about how the India programme is beneficial and also on the ERP, many delegates were surprised to see the kind of stark comparison in the ERP...what caught their attention was that one burger price is equivalent to 1,000 kg of wheat or rice prices...because ERP is 1986-88 price," the official added.  

AAI to spend ₹5,000 crore on capex annually 

Airport Authority of India (AAI) plans to spend ₹5,000 crore annually on capital expenditure in the coming years with a strong pipeline of projects, AAI chairman Sanjeev Kumar told businessline. While new terminals are being built and airside capacity is being expanded at various airports to handle extra flights, AAI is also working on a roadmap for expansion of Agatti airport in Lakshadweep.   “As against the capex target of ₹ 4,000 Crores in FY 2023-24, AAI till December, 2023 has achieved Capex of ₹ 3,416 crores. We will be surpassing the target of ₹ 4,000 Crores and touching capex of ₹ 5,000 Crores or more,” he said. The authority is building new terminals at airports in Patna, Leh, Vijayawada, Tuticorin and has started construction of new terminal buildings in Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jammu and Rajahmundry.   “We are also adding new terminal building in Hubli, Belagavi and Kadapa Airport. Investment proposals for expanding the capacity of terminals and airside is also in pipeline for Keshod in Gujarat, Agra, Ayodhya Phase-II & Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Bagdogra in West Bengal and Darbhanga in Bihar,” he said.  Expansion of Agatti Airport is under discussion with union territory administration of Lakshadweep, ministry of home affairs and other stakeholders.  “We soon expect a roadmap for expansion of Agatti airport,” he added. AAI is also working with partners and stakeholders to finalize research areas at its R&D centre in Begumpet airport in Hyderabad.  Developed at a cost of ₹350 crore, the Civil Aviation Research Organisation (CARO) will serve as a collaborative research platform in air navigation services.    “We have also engaged with our employees and encouraging them to write “problem statements” for the situations faced by them with suggestions for improvement and increasing efficiency. These problem statements would become core of the development of solution by our stakeholders including start-ups either in their own premises or in CARO. We have almost finalized our architecture of processes to populate CARO with an objective to make it vibrant research & Development facility,” Kumar said.  

Johns Hopkins University weaponized DEI against ‘white, heterosexual, Christian males’

There has been ample evidence of this over the years, of course, from discrimination in employment opportunities to college admissions to the inflammatory rhetoric used by many on the Left. The latest example of anti-white prejudice and bigotry comes from Johns Hopkins University, and it involves the malignant toxicity known as diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI.Early last week, the X, formerly Twitter, account “End Wokeness” posted the January 2024 newsletter from Johns Hopkins University’s Monthly Diversity Digest. The message was from Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Sherita H. Golden, who discussed the (fictional and made-up left-wing ideological) concept of privilege. In her despicable list, Golden targeted “whites, Christians, males, and heterosexuals,” among other people, as those who benefit from “privilege” even if they were unaware of it. The message read like a public decree identifying enemies of the state rather than a monthly communication letter at a university. “Privilege is a set of unearned benefits given to people who are in a specific social group,” the newsletter read. “Privilege operates on personal, interpersonal, cultural and institutional levels, and it provides advantages and favors to members of dominant groups at the expense of members of other groups.”Golden then claimed that essentially anything people in these groups earned was not legitimately attained. They just benefited because they were “white, heterosexual, Christian, or cisgender.” It was the kind of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice that has become all too common with left-wing academic aristocrats and DEI acolytes. They embrace and encourage racial bigotry so long as it is the kind that aligns with their ideological beliefs. “Privilege is characteristically invisible to people who have it. People in dominant groups often believe they have earned the privileges they enjoy or that everyone could have access to these privileges if only they worked to earn them,” the newsletter claimed. “In fact, privileges are unearned and are granted to people in the dominant groups whether they want those privileges or not, and regardless of their stated intent. ”I spent considerable time trying to contact Johns Hopkins University and seek their comment regarding Golden’s racial bigotry and prejudice. Among other questions, I asked the school’s media relations department if the 20 million white people in the country who are living below the poverty line should feel fortunate for the privilege of their economic adversity. Additionally, I asked the college if the white student applicants who were denied admission to Johns Hopkins University should feel fortunate for being rejected by the school because the teenage students were not the school’s admission officers’ choice of preferred skin color. Unsurprisingly, no one answered.Johns Hopkins issued a retraction last week. The university claimed Golden’s newsletters did not portray the school’s values. However, if the letter didn’t represent the school’s values or those of the people working there, it would have never been sent out. It is not sorry about the newsletter — Johns Hopkins regrets the newsletter was exposed to the public.    

Davos elites go green and make green

Global elites of all sorts are traveling to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting this week. The theme this year is “Rebuilding Trust.” Perhaps a good place to start is distinguishing capitalism from environmentalism. They could also stop trying to make business serve the environment rather than people.Consider the irony of Sultan Al Jaber, a major oil baron and the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, presiding over the global climate conference, COP28, in 2023. Yet the subversive strategy of enlisting a “capitalist” in the climate agenda paid dividends. The United Nations agreement reached at COP28 explicitly mentions phasing out fossil fuels.While the chief executive of a major oil company supporting the phaseout of oil is ridiculous on its face, it is only the most recent example of many high-profile “capitalists” advancing environmental agendas. In a video earlier this year, for example, Apple CEO Tim Cook and his team appeased an angry mother nature by planting forests, reducing water usage, using higher amounts of renewable energy, and creating “net zero” products.Cook’s fiduciary duties to the board and shareholders of his publicly traded company still require him to continue serving consumers. But if those duties are weakened or abolished, it will not take long for one of the world’s most valuable and profitable companies to go the way of the world’s largest universities and foundations, and now Abu Dhabi National Oil Company — pursuing policies antithetical to their original purpose. After all, there are a lot of folks who stand to gain from the green agenda — those who collect paychecks or fees by providing guidance, oversight, verification, and other environmental, social, and corporate governance-related services when companies pursue environmental goals.The CEOs of Persefoni & Position Green eagerly work toward the day when Apple and every other Fortune 500 company purchase their services to track, report, and reduce their carbon footprint. The leaders of Ceres, Principles for Responsible Investing, the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board, McKinsey & Company, and dozens of other environmental consulting firms are eager to have Cook and other CEOs come knocking on their doors for advice — with checks in hand. The owners of green firms — those that plant trees, recycle water, create solar panels, wind farms, and batteries, bury biomass, or sequester carbon out of limestone — cheer the widespread adoption of their products. This includes Sultan Jaber, who runs the United Arab Emirates’s renewable energy company Masdar. They are good capitalists — I mean environmentalists — after all. Their industries will experience billions of dollars of growth as government officials around the world push aggressive ESG criteria such as removing the legal shackles of fiduciary obligation, requiring companies to report their climate impact and commit to net zero goals, exempting green bonds and social bonds from ordinary taxation, and requiring investors to hold some fraction of their investment assets in ESG-related funds.But ordinary citizens are rightly suspicious of claims by the Davos elite that all they need is a little more legal firepower to transition the world to a prosperous, green, low-carbon, net zero economic future. Europe has already implemented some variations of these ideas, from the European Green Deal in 2020 to the European Climate Law in 2021 to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirement to the German Due Diligence in Supply Chains Act that went into effect in 2023. These rules range from what kinds of vehicles Europeans can drive to mandating that all investors report sustainability analysis on their investments broken down by vague ESG criteria.In Europe, companies also have legal stakeholder responsibilities that give management broad leeway to orient policy and direct resources to any groups they choose. They have created an ESG nexus involving tens of thousands of people and hundreds of billions of dollars that, remarkably, does not add a single thing to the ordinary citizen’s standard of living. In fact, most of what they do makes it more expensive and difficult for companies to create and provide goods and services.    

Miss America 2024, Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha & Israel-Hamas War

16 January 2024 News Headlines in English for School Assembly: You can check the list of detailed news headlines for the morning assembly from all major sectors like politics, entertainment, politics, sports, world affairs, technology and more here.The format of the assembly isn’t set and can differ from school to school. However, the key activities remain the same. The principal says a few words, and students read the news headlines. Talent shows, debates, speeches and role plays are often included in the school assembly.The format of the assembly isn’t set and can differ from school to school. However, the key activities remain the same. The principal says a few words, and students read the news headlines. Talent shows, debates, speeches and role plays are often included in the school assembly.Prayers, yoga and physical exercise can also be a part of the morning school assembly. However, today we bring you the top news headlines, which increase awareness among the students about global and domestic affairs.You can check out the news headlines for 16 January to be read during the morning school assembly below.9-year-old Indian-American schoolgirl Preesha Chakraborty was named in the “world’s brightest” students list by the Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth, based on the results of above-grade-level tests of over 16,000 students across 90 countries.  

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FULFILMENT OF LONG CHERISHED DEMAND: AGARTALA – ANAND VIHAR TEJAS RAJDHANI EXPRESS NOW STOPS AT MALDA TOWN

The much-awaited stoppage of the 20501 Agartala – Anand Vihar Tejas Rajdhani Express at Malda Town station marks a significant stride in the development of railways in West Bengal, addressing the long-standing demand of the inhabitants of Malda.The 20501/20502 Agartala – Anand Vihar (T) Tejas Rajdhani weekly Express now to run via route through Malda Town – Bhagalpur – Jamalpur with commercial stoppages at Malda Town, Bhagalpur & Jamalpur  for the train leaving Agartala w.e.f. 15.1.2024 and leaving Anand Vihar (T) w.e.f. 17.1.2024.On the first day of the run of Agartala – Anand Vihar Tejas Rajdhani Express via Malda Town, the train was flagged off from Malda Town station this afternoon by Shri Khagen Murmu, Member of Parliament, Smt. Srirupa Mitra Chowdhury, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Shri Gopal Chandra Saha, MLA.The Rajdhani Express, now traversing a new route via Malda Town-Bhagalpur, promises not only enhanced connectivity but also commercial stoppages at crucial stations such as Malda Town, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, and Patna in both directions. The train has commenced its journey on January 15, 2024, from Agartala at 15:10 hrs. and will reach Malda Town station today 16.01.2024 at 15:00 hrs. The train will run weekly, reaching Anand Vihar at 10:50 hrs on Wednesdays. The return journey of 20502 Anand Vihar – Agartala Tejas Rajdhani Express will depart from Anand Vihar Terminal at 19:50 hrs on Wednesdays, reaching Agartala at 15:40 hrs on Fridays. This train will stop at Ambassa, Dharmanagar, New Karimganj, Badarpur, Hojai, Guwahati, Rangia, Barpeta Road, New Jalpaiguri, Malda Town, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Patna, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Jn & Kanpur Central stations enroute in both the directions.   

Ministry of Heavy Industries organises an Auto PLI Conclave  to discuss and highlight the salient features of the PLI Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry; Felicitates  Aatmanirbhar Bhara

Ministry of Heavy Industries( MHI) organized  an Auto PLI Conclave day at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, to discuss and highlight the salient features of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry. PLI is providing financial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing of Advanced Automotive Technology products and attracting investments in the automotive manufacturing value chain.  Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey  presided  over the Conclave and  Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Power, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar Secretary attend the event as the guest of honour. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey said that the Ministry of Heavy Industries is fully committed to taking forward the resolution of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi   for a developed India and a self-reliant India.  He stated  that  under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is today the 5th largest economy in the world and soon India will be the 3rd largest economy in the world. With the highest contribution of 35% in GDP, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and the Automobile Industry are ready to play their role in this direction.  Shri  Pandey mentioned that  in line with the Prime Minister’s   vision of making the country carbon free by 2070,  MHI   is committed to promoting clean and environment-friendly vehicles in the country. Ministry of Heavy Industries  is organising an Auto PLI Conclave tomorrow i.e. 16th January, 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, to discuss and highlight the salient features of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry. PLI is providing financial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing of Advanced Automotive Technology products and attracting investments in the automotive manufacturing value chain. Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey will  preside over the Conclave. Minister of State for  Heavy Industries  and Power, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar Secretary will attend the event as guest of honour.Government  has already commenced issuing approval certificates through its Test Agencies to vehicles that are qualifying for the PLI incentives and about 22 models / variants of OEMs have already been approved for the PLI benefits, while many other Automotive Advance components are likely to be certified shortly.Recently, Ministry of Heavy Industries has also extended the scheme till the Financial Year 2027-28 and the disbursement of the incentives for the year 2023-24 will commence from April 2024 onwards. This extension would also benefit companies to apply for new models of EVs or new technologies that are planned for introducing in the Indian market.In view of the above, Auto PLI Conclave aims to discuss the processes that are being followed for approving the vehicles / technologies for PLI incentives and showcase some of the technologies / vehicles which would benefit from the PLI Scheme.  

Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2024: Best Deals on Power Banks and Wireless Chargers

Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2024 is live for a few more hours with price cuts on different electronic items. The week-long sale started on January 13 for all Amazon India users. Besides discounts on mobile phones, tablets and laptops, the Great Republic Day Sale brings deals and offers on mobile accessories like power banks and chargers from popular brands. Bank offers are also available that provide additional discounts on a list of devices available through the online marketplace. Further, customers can avail of discounts through coupons.State Bank of India (SBI) customers are eligible to get additional instant discounts of up to 10 percent on purchases made using their cards and EMI options. Amazon is offering bundled offers in the form of exchange and no-cost EMI payment options. Meanwhile, Flipkart is also running a discount sale, which means you should compare prices across both platforms to ensure the best deal.Power banks and wireless chargers from brands like Mi and Ambrane, that will make your travel more convenient and hassle-free, are listed at affordable price tags on Amazon in the Great Republic Day Sale. Xiaomi's Power Bank 3i is currently listed with a price tag of Rs. 1,899, down from Rs. 2,199. Additionally, interested buyers can avail of up to Rs. 300 discount on purchases made via SBI cards and EMI transactions. Amazon Pay ICICI credit card users can avail of Rs. 300 cashback as well. The Xiaomi Power Bank 3i packs a large 20,000mAh lithium polymer battery and supports Quick Charge 3.0. Similarly, Portronics's Freedom Fold 15W wireless charger is available for Rs. 799, down from Rs. 1,999. Below is a list of the best deals and offers on power banks and wireless chargers that you can get during the Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2024 today. 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.For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel.           

Realme 12 Pro+ Camera Details Revealed Ahead Of Launch

Realme has already confirmed that it will launch its Relame 12 series of smartphones later this month. The Chinese smartphone maker has revealed that it will launch the Realme 12 Pro and Realme 12 Pro+ smartphones on January 29 in India. Relame has revealed that the Realme 12 Pro+ will come in two colour options — blue and cream. The smartphone will sport a circular camera module with triple rear camera setup. The company has revealed that the upcoming Relame 12 series smartphone will sport a 64MP main camera with 120X zoom functionality. The smartphone comes equipped with a Sony IMX890+ sensor with optical image stabilisation. The smartphone also house a Periscope Portrait camera. The periscope zoom camera in question utilizes a 64MP OmniVision OV64B sensor with a substantial 1/2-inch dimension. Realme emphasizes that, when compared to the 3x zoom camera in the iPhone 15 Pro (12MP) and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (10MP), the Realme 12 Pro+'s sensor is significantly larger, exceeding 2.6 times in size. Consequently, this results in over 1.8 times the light intake.In simpler terms, mainstream flagship phones often do not prioritize telephoto cameras. The comparison images presented during the launch event were compelling, demonstrating Realme's ability to maintain an impressive level of detail even with significant cropping. However, a conclusive assessment will be provided based on our hands-on experience in the future.   

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.   

Best tablets deals from Republic Day sale on Amazon and Flipkart

Indian e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart have commenced their Republic Day 2024 sale, offering discounts on various electronics like laptops, mobiles and tablets. If you are looking to buy a tablet from brands like Apple, Samsung, Redmi and others, here are some of the best deals you can get your hands on during the sale. Looking for a tablet for media consumption and casual browsing under Rs 20,000? The Redmi Pad might be a good choice. Powered by the Helio G99 chipset, the tablet has a 10.61-inch LCD screen with a refresh rate of 90Hz. It comes with Android 12 but can be upgraded to MIUI 13 based on Android 13 and has 128GB storage that be expanded using a microSD card. The tablet packs an 8,000mAh battery and has a quad-speaker setup that is loud enough if you plan to watch movies or videos in a small to medium room. You can purchase the 4GB RAM version from Amazon for Rs 13,999, but we recommend going with the 6GB RAM variant that costs Rs 15,999. Lenovo’s Tab P12 is a mid-range tablet with a large 60Hz 12.7-inch LCD screen that has a resolution of 3K, making it one of the best tablets in the price segment to watch movies, browse the web or multitask Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset and backed by 8GB RAM, the Lenovo Tab P12 (review) cannot run games like BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile at 3K resolution but dialling down the graphics might help them run smoothly. It even has a dedicated desktop mode if you want to work on the go. While this may not be a good option for gamers, the large screen makes it great for media consumption and browsing. You can buy it from Amazon for Rs 24,999. Xiaomi last year launched the Pad 6, another mid-range tablet that can do it all without burning a hole in your pocket. Sporting an 11-inch 144Hz LCD screen with a resolution of 2.8K, the Xiaomi Pad 6 (review) features one of the most well-optimised Qualcomm chipsets – the Snapdragon 870.It has 4 speakers that can fill up a medium room, making it one of the best tablets for media consumption. If you want a tablet that offers great value for money, can play all the latest games and multitask without any hiccups, the Xiaomi Pad 6 is one of the best devices money can buy right now. It is currently available on Amazon for Rs 24,999. Launched in 2022, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is one of the most powerful Android tablets you can buy right now. While may not be the fastest, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can easily run multiple apps and can comfortably run games like Genshin Impact, BGMI and others at high settings.It has an 11-inch 120Hz LCD screen that is bright enough for outdoor use and packs an 8,000mAh battery. The base variant of the Galaxy Tab S8 has 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and comes with S-Pen. It runs on Android 12 out of the box, with Samsung promising 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches. If you are looking for a tablet that performs on almost all fronts and don’t mind the LCD screen, the Galaxy Tab S8 is a great buy for Rs 47,999.  

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.  

Apple to remove blood oxygen feature from some watches after US ban

Apple will remove the blood oxygen monitoring feature from the Apple Watch 9 and Ultra 2 sold in the United States due to a patent infringement claim. Apple will remove the blood oxygen measuring feature from some of its latest Apple Watches in the United States in a move that will allow the company to continue selling the devices in the country as it fights a lawsuit against California-based health technology firm Masimo. The company said in a statement that the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 model smartwatches will start going on sale on Thursday, reported Reuters. The company has been embroiled in a legal dispute with Masimo, which manufactures medical devices, ever since the International Trade Commission (ITC) in October found that its smartwatches had sensors that infringed upon Masimo’s patents. The watches that had the sensors were banned on December 26 last year before Apple got a victory in a US appeals court on December 27 to pause the import ban on the smartwatches. But the court did not turn the ITC decision, which is currently under appeal. It is quite rare for technology companies like Apple to remove features from released products and there is a chance that the absence of a blood oxygen sensor might turn away some customers.“Pending the appeal, Apple is taking steps to comply with the ruling while ensuring customers have access to Apple Watch with limited disruption. These steps include introducing a version of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States without the Blood Oxygen feature. There is no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that include the Blood Oxygen feature,” said an Apple spokesperson to CNBC. The Apple Watch is an important product category for the company. It made nearly $40 billion in sales from the wearables category in 2023. This category also includes its headphones but the watches make up a significant chunk. Masimo accused Apple of hiring its employees and stealing its technology to create the pulse oximetry devices used in the smartwatches. The watches continued to be available for sale in the United States through various channels after Apple received a temporary reprieve from the US court.Masimo’s founder and chief executive Joe Kiani said the ruling showed that “even the largest and most powerful companies must respect the intellectual rights of American inventors and must deal with the consequences when they are caught infringing others’ patents,” according to BBC.  

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.