Rukmani Devi College of Fine Arts assistant professor Hari Padmanwas booked under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act on Friday after a former student of the college at Kalakshetra Foundation filed a complaint with the city police.
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Friday, March 31, 2023
Telecom Subscriber Base Rise Marginally to 1,170.75 Million in Jan 2023: TRAI
The telecom subscriber base in the country grew marginally to 1,170.75 million in January, driven by net customer gain in the fixed line segment, according to a sector regulator TRAI report released on Friday.
The net gain in the wireline segment was 0.28 million customers while mobile telephony recorded a net gain of 0.09 million subscribers.
Even though Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel jointly added 0.29 million new customers, the gain was offset by BSNL and Vodafone Idea (VIL) losing 0.28 million customers.
"The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,170.38 million at the end of December 2022 to 1,170.75 million at the end of January 2023, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.03 percent," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said in the subscriber report for the month of January 2023.
The wireline or fixed line connections in the country increased to 27.73 million in January from 27.45 million in December.
The growth in the wireline segment was driven by Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Quadrant, which added 0.21 million, 0.11 million and 5,949 customers, respectively.
State-owned MTNL was the biggest loser in the segment as it lost 29,857 customers. It was followed by BSNL, which lost 19,781 wireline customers, Tata Teleservices 9,444, VIL 3,727 and Reliance Communications 275 customers.
In the mobile telephony or wireless segment, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel added 1.65 million and 1.28 million customers, respectively. BSNL, VIL and MTNL mitigated the growth in the segment by losing 1.48 million, 1.35 million and 2,960 mobile subscribers, respectively.
The broadband subscriber base in the country grew to 839.18 million in January from 832.2 million in December.
"Top five service providers constituted 98.39 per cent market share of the total broadband subscribers at the end of January-23. These service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm (434.02 million), Bharti Airtel (237.40 million), Vodafone Idea (125.03 million), BSNL (27.05 million) and Atria Convergence (2.14 million)," TRAI said.
The newly launched Oppo Find N2 Flip is the first foldable from the company to debut in India. But does it have what it takes to compete with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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US Chipmaker Micron's Products to Be Examined in China for Cybersecurity Risks
China's cyberspace regulator will conduct a cybersecurity review of products sold in the country by US memory chip manufacturer Micron Technology, the regulator said on Friday.
The move, which comes amid a spat over chip technology between Washington and Beijing, is aimed at protecting the security of the supply chain for critical information infrastructure, prevent hidden risks and safeguard national security, the Cyberspace Administration of China said in a brief statement.
It gave no other details, including which Micron products it was reviewing.
The United States has imposed a series of export controls on chipmaking technology to China for fear it could be used to produce chips for applications such as artificial intelligence which could be used by China's military, and blacklisted a number of China's largest chip firms, including Micron rival Yangtze Memory Technologies Co Ltd.
Micron, one of the world's largest memory chip makers, did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The company's shares fell 3 percent on Friday.
"Punitive actions against Micron could suggest a broader shift in Chinese policy with other US vendors with large Chinese exposure now potentially at risk of similar actions," Wedbush Securities analyst Matthew Bryson said.
On Friday, Japan announced it would align its technology trade controls with a US push to curb China's ability to make advanced chips. The Netherlands, which makes advanced lithography equipment critical for the manufacture of advanced chips, made a similar announcement earlier this month.
Weak consumer demand has roiled the memory chip market, which is dominated by South Korea's Samsung Electronics.
Micron derives around 10 percent of its revenue from China, but it was not clear if the review would affect the company's sales to non-Chinese customers in the country.
The larger chunk of the company's products flowing into China are being purchased by non-Chinese firms for use in products manufactured in the country, according to analysts.
Micron has offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen, as well as a chip packaging facility in the city of Xian. In early 2022, the company announced it would shut its DRAM design operations in Shanghai.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
The Xiaomi 13 Pro has a hefty price tag compared to the company's 2022 flagship model. How does it fare against other high-end phones launched in 2023? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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'Was getting congratulatory messages even before MasterChef finale'
TerraUSD Founder Do Kwon Indicted in US Following Montenegro Arrest
Do Kwon, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur behind two digital currencies that lost an estimated $40 billion (nearly Rs. 3,28,500 crore) or more last year, has been charged with fraud by US prosecutors.
An eight-count indictment against Kwon was made public in the US District Court in Manhattan, several hours after news of his arrest earlier Thursday in Montenegro.
Lawyers for Kwon in the United States did not immediately respond to requests for comment after business hours.
Thursday's indictment charges Kwon, a South Korean national who co-founded Terraform Labs and developed the TerraUSD and Luna currencies, with two counts each of securities fraud, wire fraud, commodities fraud and conspiracy.
The criminal case follows related US Securities and Exchange Commission civil charges against Kwon and Terraform last month.
Kwon had been a fugitive for several months, and South Korean authorities issued an arrest warrant for him last September.
South Korean police said on Friday that the identity of the suspect arrested in Montenegro had been confirmed as Kwon after his fingerprints matched the information held by the country's National Police Agency (KNPA).
"This has been shared with the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and Interpol in Montenegro," one official at the KNPA said.
Prosecutors will work with other institutions to carry out a swift repatriation, a spokesperson for the country's prosecution service said.
Montenegro's interior ministry said police detained a person thought to be Kwon and a second suspect, who were trying to board a flight to Dubai at Podgorica airport.
Police found forged passports of Costa Rica and Belgium during the encounter, the ministry said.
"The person is suspected of being one of the most wanted fugitives, South Korean national Do Kwon, a co-founder and CEO of the Singapore-based Terraform Labs," Interior Minister Filip Adzic wrote on Twitter.
"The former cryptocurrency king who is behind losses of over $40 billion, has been apprehended at the Podgorica airport with forged documents," Adzic added.
TerraUSD was a so-called "stablecoin" designed to maintain a constant $1 price, while Luna's value fluctuated.
But authorities have said TerraUSD and Luna were paired, such that a decline in one could take down the other.
They also said Kwon misrepresented the stability of TerraUSD, once among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market value.
Both currencies crashed last May, with TerraUSD's price sinking to less than one penny.
In its civil case, the SEC accused Kwon and Terraform of "orchestrating a multi-billion dollar crypto asset securities fraud.
"We also allege that they committed fraud by repeating false and misleading statements to build trust before causing devastating losses for investors," SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a statement at the time.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Will crypto tax hurt the industry in India? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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PM Modi to flag off first 8-coach Vande Bharat train
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off the first Vande Bharat train with eight coaches on April 8. The Chennai-Coimbatore train will have one executive coach and would accommodate 530 passengers. All other Vande Bharat trains have 16 coaches.Sources said the railways will manufacture 64 such trains with eight-coach configuration, which will help the national transporter to expedite the roll out of trains.
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Thursday, March 30, 2023
Turkey's parliament ratifies Finland's membership in NATO
Safdarjung doctor held in'cash-for-treatment' scam
The CBI has busted an alleged "cash-for-treatment" racket operating at Safdarjung Hospital and arrested a senior neurosurgeon, besides a south Delhi businessman and three middlemen, for malpractices and corruption, reports Rajshekhar Jha. The accused doctor, Manish Rawat, is posted as an associate professor in the department of neurosurgery at the hospital and is a resident of Lodhi Colony.
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Tripura House row over BJP MLA watching porn
FSSAI accepts states' 'nahi' to 'dahi'
Drawing flak from the southern states, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India issued on Thursday a revised notification to say that food business operators may use the term "curd" along with any other prevalent common name in a regional language.
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1 killed in Maharashtra clashes; violence in Bengal, Gujarat too
Lost in translation: Why sarkar is taking away Sarkars' lands
Planet Filmfare Marathi Awards 2022: Complete winners’ list
IPL 2023 schedule: All matches time table, venues and groups
Defending champions Gujarat Titans will take on four-time champions Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2023 opener in Ahmedabad, the BCCI announced on Friday as it unveiled the schedule for the upcoming season. The tournament starts from March 31 and the last league match will be played on May 21, the IPL announced.
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Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Mumbai biker claims cop took bribe over GPay
Nitish on Rahul: I don't comment on court matters
He, however, added that his party, JD(U), has commented on the matter. The party also joined Congress' protests. He said it was his earnest desire that "maximum number of opposition parties" unite against BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, adding that he was waiting for Congress' response.
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HC acquits four men on death row for 2008 Jaipur serial blasts
The Rajasthan high court Wednesday acquitted four convicts sentenced to death by a trial court for the 2008 Jaipur serial blasts that killed 80 and left over 170 wounded, citing a "flawed and shoddy" investigation, "insufficient" understanding of the legal process and the prosecution's failure to corroborate material presented as evidence during the trial.
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Disqualified NCP MP reinstated in LS hours before SC hearing
Two months after the order of the Kerala high court's January 25 order staying P P Mohammad Faizal's conviction, the Lok Sabha secretariat restored the membership of the disqualified Lakshadweep MP (of NCP) - just hours before the Supreme Court was set to take up his petition against the delay.
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BSY vs Sidda vs Deve Gowda: Karnataka's battle of castes and old rivals
The polls set the stage for an intense BJP-Congress contest in Karnataka-in fact, the first of four this year-and will be marked by a determined effort by former PM HD Deve Gowda's JDS to prove its relevance by denying either of the principal combatants a clear victory, and use the consequent situation to play kingmaker.
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Happy Rama Navami 2023: Top 50 Wishes, Messages and Quotes to share with your family and friends
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Rahul Gandhi says will respect allies' feelings
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi assured the opposition leaders that he will "respect" the sentiments of allies, after the Shiv Sena lashed out at his "I am not Savarkar" remark and NCP chief Sharad Pawar flagged it as a contentious issue at the dinner meeting of opposition leaders on Monday.
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40% Army of f icers retire with disability pension
As many as 36%-40% of officers who retire every year get disability pension, which is much higher than the normal one, while only 15%-18% of the jawans get it. Moreover, the percentage of medical officers retiring with disability pension is "significantly higher" at 44-58% as compared to other officers in the 12-lakh Army.
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UP villagers attack Haryana cops on murder accused's tail
A seven-member special task force (STF) from Haryana's Sonipat on a quiet mission to nab a murder accused at a village in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district was attacked by locals with sticks and stones on Sunday. Some STF men were injured and their weapons were snatched before a UP police squad reached the spot and rescued them.
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Why target one community with hate speech charge: SG
Citing a media report, Pasha said despite the SC's February 3 order directing the Maharashtra police to take action against a Hindu organisation indulging in hate speech and calling for boycott of Mulsims, as many as 50 rallies have been organised in the last four months across the state.
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HP dy CM Mukesh Agnihotri sustains head injury, hospitalised
Monday, March 27, 2023
IT hiring to slow further as global banks turn cautious
The crisis engulfing global banks in the US and Europe is likely to create additional stress on Indian IT industry that is already staring at macroeconomic pressures. It is set to almost halve net headcount growth of the sector in the coming fiscal and bring in other structural changes to HR strategies.
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Humza Yousaf to be 1st person of colour to lead Scotland
Pakistani-origin Humza Yousaf is the new leader of the Scottish National Party and will be the first Muslim to lead a country in Western Europe when he becomes Scotland’s first ethnic minority and first Muslim first minister on Tuesday at a time when the UK has its first Hindu, Indian-origin prime minister.
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Israeli's Netanyahu delays judicial overhaul after mass protests
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday announced a delay in his judicial overhaul plan, saying he wanted to give time to seek a compromise over the contentious package with his political opponents. Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated outside parliament and workers launched a nationwide strike Monday in a dramatic escalation of the mass protest movement aimed at halting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the judiciary.
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Sunday, March 26, 2023
Won't tolerate insult to Savarkar: Uddhav on Rahul's remark
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Udhhav Thackeray on Sunday cautioned disqualified Congress MP Rahul Gandhi against insulting "our idol" Veer Savarkar. His warning followed Rahul's comments at a press conference Saturday in Delhi, where he said: "My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone."
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Jadeja promoted to A+ category as BCCI announces annual contracts
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Take stress tests, Sitharaman tells PSBs amid US bank crisis
Sitharaman advised the PSBs take steps to attract the deposits given the steps taken by the government to reduce the tax arbitrage in some debt instruments. She also asked them to pivot their strengthened financial position to support credit needs of the growing economy and focus on credit outreach in states where the credit offtake is lower than the national average, particularly in northeast and eastern parts of India.
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PM Modi congratulates Nitu, Saweety on becoming world champions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Nitu Ghanghas and Saweety Boro for their gold medal-winning performance in the Women's Boxing World Championships. Taking the ring first, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nitu put up a stupendous performance to see off Mongolia's Lutsaikhan Altansetseg 5-0 and claim the title in the minimum weight category (48kg) in front of a packed crowd.
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Friday, March 24, 2023
Terraform Founder Do Kwon Charged for Forging Documents by Montenegrin Police
Montenegrin police on Friday formally charged Do Kwon, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur behind two digital currencies that lost an estimated $40 billion (nearly Rs. 3,29,500 crore) or more last year, for forging official documents after arresting him on Podgorica airport.
Do Kwon, a South Korean national, and a second suspect have been held on Thursday while trying to board a flight to Dubai at Podgorica airport.
Police said in a statement they had found forged Costa Rican passports and a separate set of Belgian passports in their luggage during the encounter.
The two suspects have also been charged before a Podgorica court with forging of official documents, it said.
"Pending completion of the (court) proceedings they will be taken to an investigative judge...for further actions according to an international (arrest) warrant," it said.
It also said that an international warrant had been issued against the two "to ensure their presence... before the Southern District Court in Seoul on suspicion of committing several criminal acts in the field of economy."
Several hours after Kwon was detained in Podgorica, the US District Court in Manhattan made public an eight-count indictment against him.
Lawyers for Kwon in the United States did not immediately respond to requests for comment after business hours.
Thursday's indictment charges Kwon, who co-founded Terraform Labs and developed the TerraUSD and Luna currencies, with two counts each of securities fraud, wire fraud, commodities fraud and conspiracy.
Both currencies crashed last May, with TerraUSD's price sinking to less than one penny.
The criminal case follows related US Securities and Exchange Commission civil charges against Kwon and Terraform last month.
Kwon had been a fugitive for several months. South Korean authorities issued an arrest warrant for him last September.
South Korean police said on Friday the identity of the suspect arrested in Montenegro had been confirmed as Kwon after his fingerprints matched the information held by the country's National Police Agency (KNPA).
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Will crypto tax hurt the industry in India? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Huawei FreeBuds 2 Pro+, Huawei FreeBuds 5, and TalkBand B7 With Bluetooth Calling Launched: Details
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2+, Huawei FreeBuds 5 and Huawei TalkBand B7 have been launched at the company's Spring flagship product launch conference in China. Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2+ comes with a dual heart rate and body temperature monitoring system. Its TruSeen heart rate algorithm technology is claimed to have an accuracy of 95 percent and 10 bpm after SGS testing. On the other hand, the Huawei FreeBuds 5 come with a unique Rupert Tears design with a separate sound unit, battery, and circuit board. Meanwhile, the TalkBand B7 is a two-in-one fitness tracker and Bluetooth earphone.
Huawei FreeBuds 2 Pro+, Huawei FreeBuds 5 and TalkBand B7 price
The Huawei FreeBuds 2 Pro+ price starts at CNY 1,499 (roughly Rs. 17,981), whereas Huawei FreeBuds 5 and TalkBand B7 come at a starting price of CNY 899 (roughly Rs. 10,784) and CNY 999 (roughly Rs. 11,983), respectively. The leather strap variant of the TalkBand B7 costs CNY 1,199 (roughly Rs. 14382).
While the Huawei FreeBuds 2 Pro+ will be available for sale from April 7 in China, Huawei FreeBuds 5 and TalkBand B7 will go for sale from March 30. The FreeBuds 5 is available in Frost Silver, Ceramic White, and Coral Orange colour variants.
Huawei FreeBuds 2 Pro+ specifications, features
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2+ feature a dual heart rate and body temperature monitoring system that is claimed to be 95 percent accurate. The earbuds come with 11mm dynamic drivers along with support for low frequency, HiRes, L2HC, LDAC, and HD spatial audio support. They also feature Active Noise Cancellation up to 47dB and can connect to multiple devices simultaneously.
The new earbuds from the Chinese manufacturer support HarmonyOS and Android dual ecosystem high-definition audio transmission. They have three audio modes: Concert hall, sound theatre, and movie theatre. Further, they have an IP54-rated water resistance.
Huawei FreeBuds 5 specifications, features
Huawei's FreeBuds 5 feature a unique Rupert Tears design like a hanging water droplet with a separate sound unit, battery, and circuit board. They have a semi-open Comfort Noise Reduction design and upgraded ANC 3.0. The earbuds support L2HC and LDAC, and feature 11mm driver with Sound Pressure Turbo technology that offers clear vocals.
The earbuds are claimed to offer a battery life of up to 30 hours and support 5W fast charging. It is said to offer up to 2 hours of playback with just 5 minutes of charge.
Huawei TalkBand B7 specifications, features
Huawei TalkBand B7 is launched as a successor to the TalkBand B6. It's a two-in-one fitness tracker and Bluetooth earphone with a 1.53-inch 3D curved AMOLED display. It has a titanium stainless steel unibody. The band comes with features like PPG heart-rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, menstrual cycle tracker, sleep and stress monitor, and 10 sports modes.
It is compatible with HarmonyOS 2.0+, Android 7+, and iOS 9.0 and above operating systems. Additionally, it also supports quick reply, camera, music control, and Alipay quick payment. The TalkBand B7 is powered by a 120mAh battery that can be charged via a USB type-C port.
The newly launched Oppo Find N2 Flip is the first foldable from the company to debut in India. But does it have what it takes to compete with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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WPL: Wong, Sciver-Brunt shine as MI thrash UP to enter final
Young pacer Issy Wong (4 for 15) on Friday became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the Women's Premier League (WPL) as she fired Mumbai Indians into the final of the inaugural edition. Mumbai outclassed UP Warriorz by 72 runs in the Eliminator at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. With the big win, Mumbai set up a mouth-watering summit clash with Delhi Capitals on Sunday.
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Veteran actress Nilu Kohli's husband passes away
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Worklife balance: Thursday is new Friday, LinkedIn survey reveals
Professional networking site LinkedIn has said in a report that Thursday is the new Friday of the week, with people becoming more conscious of maintaining worklife balance. As many as 79% of the respondents in the survey stated that Friday was their least favourite day of the week to go to the office. On the other hand, Monday was when employees felt the need to ‘structure’ their work and be most productive.
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Rahul's disqualification 'immediate & automatic' despite bail: Experts
NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification has come into “immediate and automatic” effect upon his conviction and sentencing despite the grant of bail and suspension of his sentence for a month, say lawyers who have closely worked with EC on such cases. The only scenario where the disqualification shall not take effect is if the trial court itself or an appellant court stays his conviction as well as sentence or the appellant court reduces the quantum of his sentence.
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Mercedes-Benz to Launch 4 New Electric Vehicles in India by Next Year
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz plans to launch four new electric vehicles in India in the next 8-12 months to accelerate its electric mobility drive, Mercedes-Benz AG Head of Region Overseas Matthias Luehrs said on Thursday.
The company expects 25 percent of its total sales in India to come from electric vehicles in India by 2027.
"We are very happy with the development of our EVs (electric vehicles) here in the Indian market with (models such as) the EQS and the EQB. We'll have four more vehicles coming in," Luehrs told reporters here in an interaction.
The company currently sells four luxury electric vehicle models — EQS, EQB, EQC and EQS AMG — in the Indian market.
On the sales expectation from the EV portfolio in India, Luehrs said, "We will have 25 percent (of total sales), that's our planning assumption, of electric vehicles in the next four years." At present, sales of EVs account for around 3 percent of the company's total sales in India.
Last year, Mercedes-Benz India posted a 41 percent growth in its total sales with a record 15,822 units as compared to 11,242 units sold a year ago. Its previous best sales were achieved in 2018 at 15,583 units.
On being asked when the new four EV models would be launched, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Santosh Iyer said it would be in the next 8-12 months, as a combination of import of completely built units and import of completely knocked down units assembled at the company's Chakan plant.
In terms of the potential of the market here, Luehrs said, at present, India is the fifth largest market in the "overseas" region — which comprises 120 markets other than Germany, the US, UK and China — for Mercedes-Benz. South Korea, Japan, Australia and Turkey are ahead of India in the company's rankings in the overseas markets.
It might be possible for India to become the fourth in the next two years, he said when asked if India can move up the ladder.
"The factors which make us very optimistic is that we have seen a big change in the structure of customers in India," Luehrs said on company being bullish on India.
Currently, the average age of the buyers of the company's top end sedan S Class is 38 years and that of C Class model is 35 years "that's 10 years younger than 10 years ago... and we see a 15 per cent female customer share, which is 10 per cent more than 10 years ago", he said, adding that the customers in India were also very quick and keen to adopt new technologies that the company offers.
Asked if high taxation is hampering the growth of the luxury car market in India, Luehrs said, "In general, any tax that is going higher prevents from selling more cars or goods but that's the normal equation." While different markets in the globe cannot be compared as they have their own peculiarities, he said, "But obviously, if you have one market with less taxes, then you will sell more cars. That's very obvious. That's the case in the US. That's the case in Europe, that's the case in China. Therefore, obviously, if you have more taxes then the niche becomes smaller."
When asked about the impact of regulatory challenges, he said, "I can only say we (have) operated (globally) since 100 years and in all sorts of markets, and regulations go, and change up and down and sideways everywhere. Also, in Germany, also in India, in China, also in the US, and we adapt to it. That's why we are a leading luxury company in the automotive market. So we just adapt to the regulations and some regulations are more beneficial than the others."
"When a new regulation comes up in the first instance it is a new obstacle, a new challenge," he said, adding, "We manage the challenge. We have ideas how to manage that. For one or two months, obviously slowing down the process if you want to, but then afterwards, we manage, we have new suppliers, and we will manage them." On whether some more predictability would help plan business better, Luehrs said it is not unique to the Indian market but is an international topic.
"While doing business with more lead time you can adapt easier to any new regulations," he said.
The OnePlus 11 5G was launched at the company's Cloud 11 launch event which also saw the debut of several other devices. We discuss this new handset and all of OnePlus' new hardware on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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1.2 Crore WhatsApp Users, 17 Lakh Facebook Users Targeted in India's Massive Data Theft
A massive data breach that has implications for national security was unearthed by Cyberabad Police here, who arrested seven people of a gang allegedly involved in the theft and sale of sensitive data of the government and important organisations, including details of 2.55 lakh defence personnel as well as the personal and confidential data of about 16.8 crore citizens across the country.
The accused persons were found selling more than 140 different categories of information, which include sensitive information such as details of defence personnel and the mobile numbers of citizens and NEET students, among others, Cyberabad Police Commissioner M Stephen Raveendra told reporters here on Thursday.
Seven data brokers were arrested from Delhi, police said adding that the accused had been operating through three companies (call centres) in Noida and other places. So far it has been found that the accused sold data to at least 100 fraudsters, who used it for committing cyber crimes. Investigations are still on, police said.
Sensitive data of defence personnel containing their ranks, email ids, place of posting, was found available with the accused, Commissioner Raveendra said.
"This will have serious national security implications. The data of defence and government employees can be used for espionage; to impersonate them and commit serious offences that may jeopardise national security. We are in the process of finding out how this data got leaked and who are the insiders who are doing it," he added.
The arrested accused were selling the data through a contact details directory service provider and similar platforms, police said, adding that during the course of the investigation it was found that the accused had sold data of 50,000 citizens for as low as Rs. 2,000.
Notices will be sent to the service providers and they will be examined and legal action will be initiated against them also, police said.
"When any individual calls the toll-free numbers of service providers for any sector or category related confidential data of individuals, their query is listed and sent to that category of service providers. Then these fraudsters contact the clients and send them samples. If the client agrees to purchase, they make payment and are provided the data," police said, explaining the modus operandi.
The accused had aggregated the data leaked from different organisations and, having registered themselves as service delivery agents, sold the data to cyber criminals, police said.
DCP (Cybercrime Wing) Ritiraj said a complaint was lodged with the Cyber Crime wing of Cyberabad Police about the sale and purchase of confidential and sensitive data, even as police had also been investigating how cyber criminals were getting access to data. Police have been working on the case for the past two months.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crimes) Cyberabad Police Kalmeshwar Shingenavar said that during investigations it was found that private organisations are collecting data both with consent and without the knowledge of individuals. There is no data privacy or protection policy offered by most of these private organisations who possess and process the data of individuals, he said.
The accused were also found selling information in categories such as Energy and Power sector, PAN card data, Government employees, Gas and Petroleum, HNIs (High Net-worth Individuals), demat accounts, student databases, women databases, data of people who have applied for loans and insurance, and credit card and debit card holders (of private banks), WhatsApp users, Facebook users, IT organisation employees, frequent flyers etc.
The data of NEET students, with their names, mobile number and their residential address, was also found with the accused. A PAN card database containing sensitive information on the income, email ids, phone numbers, address of citizens was also found.
As many as 1.2 crore WhatsApp users and 17 lakh Facebook users had also been targeted in the data theft, police said. Police also found data pertaining to two crore students, 12 lakh CBSE Class 12 students, 40 lakh jobseekers, 1.47 crore car owners, details of 11 lakh government employees and 15 lakh IT professionals among others.
Further, a mobile number database of three crore individuals, probably leaked from telecom service providers, was also found, the Commissioner said.
The sensitive data that has been leaked can be used for unauthorised access to important organisations and institutions. The data related to PAN card can be used to commit serious financial offences. It is being used to commit a large number of cyber crimes whereby the perpetrators gain the confidence of victims by disclosing such information, police added.
After facing headwinds in India last year, Xiaomi is all set to take on the competition in 2023. What are the company's plans for its wide product portfolio and its Make in India commitment in the country? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Meta Says Extra Network Fees Will Not Solve EU Telecoms' Financial Problems
Meta Platforms on Thursday voiced its strongest criticism to date of a push by EU telecoms operators to get Big Tech to foot additional network costs, saying this would not solve their financial problems and also ignores tech companies' hefty investments.
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, Telecom Italia and other operators have lobbied for two decades for US tech giants to contribute to 5G and broadband roll-out.
The operators say that given they account for more than half of data internet traffic, Alphabet's Google, Apple, Meta, Netflix, Amazon and Microsoft should contribute to the billions of euros in infrastructure costs.
"We recognise the financial challenges that European telecom operators now face after decades of strong performance," Kevin Salvadori, Meta's vice president for network and Bruno Cendon Martin, its director and head of reality labs wireless, wrote in a blog post.
"However, proposals by some European telecom operators to impose network fees on Content Application Providers (CAPs) such as Meta are not the solution," they said.
"Network fee proposals are built on a false premise because they do not recognise the value that CAPs create for the digital ecosystem, nor the investments we make in the infrastructure that underpins it."
Telecoms lobbying group ETNO rejected Meta's claims and pointed to the massive outlay required in coming years.
"Official figures show that EUR 174 billion (nearly Rs. 15,54,000 crore) is still required to meet Europe's network investment needs," a spokesperson said.
"Big tech should contribute to filling this gap, as their business heavily relies on the traffic carried by European networks. The average metaverse user is expected to consume up to 40 times more data than today."
Salvadori and Martin cited the tens of billions of euros Meta invests in its apps and platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Quest which in turn creates the demand that allows telecom operators to charge people for internet access.
Meta pointed to the over $880 billion (nearly Rs. 72,27,800 crore) in digital infrastructure around the globe, including about $120 billion (nearly Rs. 9,85,600 crore) a year from 2018 to 2021, which tech companies have collectively invested, saving telecom operators around $6 billion (nearly Rs. 49,280 crore) per year.
It dismissed telecoms providers' arguments that the expansion of the metaverse, shared virtual worlds accessible via the internet, would strain infrastructure capacity.
"But this is nonsense. The development of the metaverse will not require telecom operators to grow capital expenditures for greater network investment," Salvadori and Martin said.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
The Xiaomi 13 Pro has a hefty price tag compared to the company's 2022 flagship model. How does it fare against other high-end phones launched in 2023? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Famed cartoonist Laxman my favourite newsperson, says CJI
The Times of India’s legendary cartoonist R K Laxman is Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud’s favourite journalist because the widely followed caricaturist succeeded in accomplishing the core of a journalist’s mission by holding a mirror up to the powers that be.
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Asteroid Discovery Suggests Ingredients for Life on Earth Came From Space
Two organic compounds essential for living organisms have been found in samples retrieved from the asteroid Ryugu, buttressing the notion that some ingredients crucial for the advent of life arrived on Earth aboard rocks from space billions of years ago.
Scientists said on Tuesday they detected uracil and niacin in rocks obtained by the Japanese Space Agency's Hayabusa2 spacecraft from two sites on Ryugu in 2019. Uracil is one of the chemical building blocks for RNA, a molecule carrying directions for building and operating living organisms. Niacin, also called Vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid, is vital for their metabolism.
The Ryugu samples, which looked like dark-gray rubble, were transported 155 million miles (250 million km) back to Earth and returned to our planet's surface in a sealed capsule that landed in 2020 in Australia's remote outback for analysis in Japan.
Scientists long have pondered about the conditions necessary for life to arise after Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago. The new findings fit well with the hypothesis that bodies like comets, asteroids and meteorites that bombarded early Earth seeded the young planet with compounds that helped pave the way for the first microbes.
Scientists previously detected key organic molecules in carbon-rich meteorites found on Earth. But there was the question of whether these space rocks had been contaminated by exposure to the Earth's environment after landing.
"Our key finding is that uracil and niacin, both of which are of biological significance, are indeed present in extraterrestrial environments and they may have been provided to the early Earth as a component of asteroids and meteorites. We suspect they had a role in prebiotic evolution on Earth and possibly for the emergence of first life," said astrochemist Yasuhiro Oba of Hokkaido University in Japan, lead author of the research published in the journal Nature Communications.
"These molecules on Ryugu were recovered in a pristine extraterrestrial setting," Oba said. "It was directly sampled on the asteroid Ryugu and returned to Earth, and finally to laboratories without any contact with terrestrial contaminants."
RNA, short for ribonucleic acid, would not be possible without uracil. RNA, a molecule present in all living cells, is vital in coding, regulation and activity of genes. RNA has structural similarities to DNA, a molecule that carries an organism's genetic blueprint.
Niacin is important in underpinning metabolism and can help produce the "energy" that powers living organisms.
The researchers extracted uracil, niacin and some other organic compounds in the Ryugu samples by soaking the material in hot water and then performing analyses called liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry.
Organic astrochemist and study co-author Yoshinori Takano of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) said he is now looking forward to the results of analyses on samples being returned to Earth in September from another asteroid. The U.S. space agency NASA during its OSIRIS-REx mission collected samples in 2020 from the asteroid Bennu.
Oba said uracil and niacin were found at both landing sites on Ryugu, which is about a half-mile (900 meters) in diameter and is classified as a near-Earth asteroid. The concentrations of the compounds were higher at one of the sites than the other.
The sample from the site with the lower concentrations was derived from surface material more susceptible to degradation induced by energetic particles darting through space, Oba said. The sample from the other site was mainly derived from subsurface material more protected from degradation, Oba added.
Asteroids are rocky primordial bodies that formed in the early solar system. The researchers suggest that the organic compounds found on Ryugu may have been formed with the help of chemical reactions caused by starlight in icy materials residing in interstellar space.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
After facing headwinds in India last year, Xiaomi is all set to take on the competition in 2023. What are the company's plans for its wide product portfolio and its Make in India commitment in the country? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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OpenAI-Integrated Microsoft Bing Outperforms Google in Page Visits Growth
The integration of OpenAI's technology into Microsoft-owned Bing has driven people to the little-used search engine and helped it compete better with market leader Google in page visits growth, according to data from analytics firm Similarweb.
Page visits on Bing have risen 15.8 percent since Microsoft unveiled its artificial intelligence-powered version on February 7, compared with a near 1 percent decline for the Alphabet-owned search engine, data till March 20 showed.
The figures are an early sign of the lead the Windows maker has taken in its fast-moving race with Google for generative AI dominance, thanks to the technology behind ChatGPT, the viral chatbot that many experts have called AI's "iPhone moment".
They also underscore a rare opportunity for Microsoft to make inroads in the over $120 billion (nearly Rs. 9,89,600 crore) search market, where Google has been the dominant player for decades with a share of more than 80 percent.
Gil Luria, an analyst at DA Davidson & Co, said that he expects Bing to gain market share in search over the next coming months, especially if Google continues to delay the integration of generative AI into its product.
While Bing AI has been available to most users around the world since February, Google began the public release of its chatbot Bard only on Tuesday.
"Bing has less than a tenth of Google's market share, so even if it converts 1 percent or 2 percent of users it will be materially beneficial to Bing and Microsoft," Luria said.
App downloads for Bing have also jumped eight times globally after AI integration, according to app research firm Data.ai. Downloads for the Google search app fell 2 percent in the same period, the data showed.
Still, some analysts said that Google, which in the early 2000s unseated then leader Yahoo to become the dominant search player, could overcome the early setbacks to maintain its lead.
"Google's ranking algorithm can have a competitive edge over that of competitors", Yongjei Jeong, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities in South Korea said, referring to how Google's algorithm helped it beat Yahoo Search.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
From smartphones with rollable displays or liquid cooling, to compact AR glasses and handsets that can be repaired easily by their owners, we discuss the best devices we've seen at MWC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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EU Proposes Rule to Let Consumers Get Worn-Out Electronics Repaired From Producers for Up to 10 Years
The European Union wants to give consumers the right to have worn-out products like washing machines and televisions repaired by producers even after the sales guarantee has expired, to cut waste and make goods last longer.
The European Commission proposed rules on Wednesday that would oblige producers to offer repairs for a product for between five and ten years after it was sold — regardless of whether or not the legal guarantee is still valid.
The rules would apply to fridges, vacuum cleaners, televisions, washing machines and other goods that are deemed "repairable" under EU law. The EU is negotiating rules that would extend the requirement to smartphones and tablets.
European consumers and businesses routinely throw away goods that could be repaired, piling up waste and tossing away parts that could be recovered and reused.
A 2020 survey on behalf of Germany's Environment Agency found that the "first-use" lifespan for products including televisions and large household appliances has decreased in recent years.
Some products were not designed to be easily repaired, while for others it was cheaper to buy a new product than repair an old one, the study found. In many cases, consumers simply replaced still-functioning goods because they wanted a newer version.
Under the EU rules, companies would have to repair a defective product for free within the two-year legal guarantee period, if the cost of repair is cheaper or equal to replacing the product.
After that date, companies must still offer repairs, either for free or for a charge. The EU also wants to launch an online service to help consumers find local repairers and thinks competition with other repairers will keep a lid on costs.
European Consumer Organisation BEUC welcomed the proposal, but said it would have made more sense to extend the legal guarantee period for long-lasting products like fridges.
The EU is negotiating a handful of policies designed to nudge companies towards making more sustainable products, and give consumers clearer information about the environmental impact of what they consume.
A second law, proposed by Brussels on Wednesday, would force companies to verify claims that their products are "green" or "eco-friendly".
EU countries and the European Parliament must negotiate and approve both laws, a process that typically takes more than a year.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
The iQoo Neo 7 packs a lot of power at an affordable price. But did the company cut the right corners to keep the price low? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Fed delivers small rate hike, says 'some additional' tightening possible
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, but indicated it was on the verge of pausing further increases in borrowing costs amid recent turmoil in financial markets spurred by the collapse of two US banks.
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Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Rajasthan becomes first state to guarantee right to health
Rajasthan on Tuesday passed a landmark Right to Health (RTH) Bill under which private hospitals will not be able to charge emergency patients and will be compensated by the state — a “controversial” provision according to such hospitals and doctors who continued protests against the move for the second day and were later joined by government doctors.
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SC slams trial courts for seeking needless custody
The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed shock over some trial courts not complying with its July 2022 order to be liberal and grant bail to accused in cases when custody is not needed. Asking the courts not to pass detention orders in a routine and mechanical way and thus deny liberty to the accused, the SC said such judges needed to be sent to academies for “upgrading their knowledge”.
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Rajasthan becomes first state to guarantee right to health
Rajasthan on Tuesday passed a landmark Right to Health (RTH) Bill under which private hospitals will not be able to charge emergency patients and will be compensated by the state — a “controversial” provision according to such hospitals and doctors who continued protests against the move for the second day and were later joined by government doctors.
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WPL: Delhi Capitals enter final with 5-wicket win over UP Warriorz
Monday, March 20, 2023
India’s arms exports have reached Rs 13,399 crore this fiscal: MoD
India’s export of arms and defence technologies has reached Rs 13,399 crore in the ongoing 2022-23 financial year, the government told Parliament on Monday. Giving details of the “value of defence exports” over the last five years in a written answer in Rajya Sabha, junior defence minister Ajay Bhatt said they were Rs 4,682 crore in 2017-18, Rs 10,746 crore in 2018-19, Rs 9,116 crore in 2019-20, Rs 8,435 crore in 2020-21 and Rs 12,815 crore in 2021-22.
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End conflict, finalise MoP, House panel tells govt, SC
The Parliamentary standing committee on law has asked the government and the Supreme Court to “weed out their differences” and finalise the revised memorandum of procedure for appointment of judges in higher judiciary. The MoP is pending for over seven years, the panel observed, while expressing concern at over 30% vacancies in high courts across the country.
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Facebook Parent Meta Sued by Kenyan Content Moderators for Unlawful Redundancy
Facebook content moderators in Kenya are suing the social media site's parent company Meta and two outsourcing companies for unlawful redundancy, a rights group said on Monday.
The 43 applicants say they lost their jobs with Sama, a Kenya-based firm contracted to moderate Facebook content, for organising a union. They also say they were blacklisted from applying for the same roles at another outsourcing firm, Majorel, after Facebook switched contractors.
Last month Meta filed an appeal in Kenya challenging a ruling which said it could be sued in a separate lawsuit brought by a moderator over alleged poor working conditions, even though it has no official presence in the east African country.
The court cases could have implications for how Meta works with content moderators globally. The US company works with thousands of moderators around the world, tasked with reviewing graphic content posted on its platform.
"This is a union-busting operation masquerading as a mass redundancy. You can't just switch suppliers and tell recruiters not to hire your workers because they are 'troublemakers' – that is, because they have the temerity to stand up for themselves," said Cori Crider from Foxglove, a technology rights group which is supporting the latest lawsuit.
Meta, Majorel and Sama did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In January, 260 content moderators working at Facebook's moderation hub in Nairobi were told they would be made redundant by Sama, the outsourcing firm which has run the office since 2019, Foxglove said in a statement.
The moderators accuse Meta of instructing Majorel not to hire any moderators previously employed by Sama, according to the court petition.
"The redundancy being undertaken is unlawful because no genuine nor justifiable reason was given for the redundancy," the moderators said in their application.
"The moderators have been given varying and confusing
explanations for the redundancy which do not add up."
© Thomson Reuters 2023
The OnePlus 11 5G was launched at the company's Cloud 11 launch event which also saw the debut of several other devices. We discuss this new handset and all of OnePlus' new hardware on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Apple to Open India's First Flagship Retail Store in Mumbai Next Month, Delhi Store to Follow Soon: Report
Apple is reportedly planning to open its first flagship India retail store in Mumbai. While there has been no official confirmation about the same from the Cupertino-based tech giant, the flagship store will reportedly open by next month, in April. Apple currently sells its in the country products through partner retail stores throughout India. Earlier this year, it was reported that the company is hiring workers for its retail stores in Mumbai as well as Delhi. Hence, the Apple Delhi store can also be expected to open in the coming months.
According to an Economic Times report, citing two industry executives familiar with the plan, Apple is planning to commence its first flagship store in Mumbai by April 2023. This will be reportedly followed by opening of another Apple flagship store in New Delhi in the coming weeks.
In Mumbai, Apple's flagship store is expected to be located in the Reliance Industries' Jio World Drive mall, covering an are of 22,000 sq ft. The Mumbai store will reportedly be a retail landmark on a scale similar retail stores in Los Angeles, New York, Beijing, and Singapore.
On the other hand, the second store in Delhi is said to be 10,000 to 12,000 sq ft in size, and will be located at Select CityWalk mall. This one is expected to launch between April and June.
It was reported earlier this year that the company has started hiring workers across India for the two retail store. The report mentioned Apple's website displaying over a hundred vacant job positions in India. The retail positions were listed for various locations within the country.
While Apple did not confirm the previous development or the latest buzz, it will not be an exaggeration to say that the company has been doing well in the Indian markets.
In December 2022, Tata Group's Infiniti Retail announced to become an Apple-authorised reseller in India, setting up over 100 retail stores.
Apple supplier Foxconn has also heavily invested in India. It recently announced to invest more than $200 million (roughly Rs. 1,650 crore) at a facility in Telangana.
Is 2023 the year when you should finally buy a foldable phone? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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US prepares for unprecedented likely arrest of Trump
America readied itself Monday ahead of the possible historic indictment of Donald Trump over a hush-money case, with the former president calling for mass demonstrations if he is charged.Trump supporters were scheduled to protest in New York later Monday as Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg weighs charging the ex-president over a payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels in 2016.
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Sunday, March 19, 2023
Uttarakhand to open 15 little-known jungle trails to trekkers
From some never-seen-before trek trails in dense coniferous forests of Chakrata to stargazing in Molta and geological excursion at 1,000ft in Kharamba, the highest point of Doon valley, the Uttarakhand forest department is gearing up to offer unique trekking experiences to travellers this summer.
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India summons UK envoy over pulling down of Tricolour at Indian HC
India on Sunday night summoned the British deputy high commissioner and demanded an explanation over the complete "absence of security" after videos of pulling down of the Indian flag at the Indian mission in London during a protest by pro-Khalistan elements emerged on social media. In a strongly-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India finds "unacceptable" the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK.
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Daily Covid cases cross 1k after 130 days; 19 deaths in 7 days
A week after hitting the 500 mark, daily cases of Covid-19 in India crossed 1,000 on Saturday for the first time in 130 days, as the case count, which has been inching up for five weeks, rose more sharply in the past seven days. While west and south India accounted for most of the new cases, infections have started rising in the north as well.
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Give Rs 300 MSP for rubber, will back BJP: Kerala church leader
A Kerala archbishop has said rubber planters and their families will “ensure” an MP for BJP from the state if the Centre fixes a minimum price of Rs 300/kg for their produce — over twice the current level of Rs 120/kg. Thalassery archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany’s call comes amid sustained efforts by the BJP national leadership to build bridges with Church leaders with an eye on Christian votes in the state.
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Police visit Rahul 's house over sexual assault remark
Delhi Police on Sunday served a fresh notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remark during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar that “women are still being sexually assaulted”. A team led by special commissioner of police (law and order) Sagar Preet Hooda, visited Gandhi’s residence at 12, Tughlaq Lane around 10am and asked him to provide details of the sexual abuse survivors he had claimed to have met during the yatra. “We served a notice, which was accepted by his office,” said Hooda.
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UBS to buy Credit Suisse in historic deal to end crisis: Report
In what is being described as the "merger of the century", UBS Group on Sunday agreed to buy Credit Suisse Group for $2 billion in a historic, government-brokered deal.The deal, aimed at containing a crisis of confidence that threatened to spread across global financial markets, came after a hectic day of negotiations between the two lenders.
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Saturday, March 18, 2023
Attacked by crocodile, 8 swept away while crossing Chambal, 3 die
Poco F5 5G Expected to Launch in India on April 6, Could Feature Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC
Xiaomi-owned subsidiary brand Poco just launched the Poco X5 mid-range smartphone in India on March 14. However, the company is reportedly not resting yet, and already gearing up to launch a new smartphone, the Poco F5 5G. The upcoming handset is believed to be a rebranded version of the unreleased Redmi Note 12 Turbo, which ships with the recently announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC. This could mean that the Poco F5 5G smartphone could also be equipped with Qualcomm's SoC.
According to a report by 91mobiles, the Poco FG smartphone, which is said to be the rebranded version of the Redmi Note 12 Turbo, may feature
a 6.67-inch QHD+ AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 1,400 nits brightness, HDR10+ support, and 1,920Hz PWM dimming.
Redmi recently confirmed that the Redmi Note 12 Turbo will get a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC. This means the Poco F5 5G could also feature the same chipset. The mid-range 5G smartphone could pack up to 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The 5G handset is expected to run on the latest version of Android 13 OS with a skin on top.
In terms of optics, the upcoming Poco F5 5G smartphone could feature a triple camera rear setup led by a 50-megapixel primary camera, followed by an 8-megapixel and a 2-megapixel secondary shooter. Adjacent to the triple camera setup could be placed an LED flash. Meanwhile, for selfies, the Poco F5 5G is expected to feature a 16-megapixel camera. The 5G smartphone could feature a 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging and 30W wireless fast charging.
However, it is important to note that Xiaomi or Poco have not made any announcements or confirmations regarding the launch, specifications, or design of the purported Poco F5 5G smartphone.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro has a hefty price tag compared to the company's 2022 flagship model. How does it fare against other high-end phones launched in 2023? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Compensation paid in just 6% of hit-and-run cases since 2017-18
The government has paid claims in barely 5,036 hit-and-run cases — 3,209 for deaths and 1,827 for persons left grievously injured — since 2017-18, according to official data. This is only 6% of the number of persons killed and left injured every year in hit and run cases on Indian roads. On an average, 80,000 people either lose their lives or are left seriously injured in hit and run cases annually.
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'Mismatch in cop’s version cast doubt in 2014 Morani case'
A special MCOCA court, while acquitting 12 accused in the firing at the Juhu bungalow of producers Karim and Ali Morani in 2014, has observed that it appeared one of the cops investigating the case cooked up a story regarding certain aspects and discrepancies appearing in his evidence create a shadow of doubt about the happening of the incident. While 12 accused, including alleged gangster Obaid Radiowala, were acquitted on Thursday, the judgment was made available on Friday.
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WPL: Devine's blitzkrieg propels RCB to 8-wicket win over Gujarat
Friday, March 17, 2023
Probe finds illegal accounts in hospital to use pharma donations
An inquiry has found that heads of 11 departments of J J Hospital’s Grant Medical College (GMC) opened and operated unauthorised bank accounts in the name of respective departments. A sum of Rs 6 crore was collected in these accounts and almost half of it was then used for expenses such as foreign trips without permission, said state medical education minister Girish Mahajan and added that strong action will be taken within one month against those found guilty.
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1st week of Budget session’s 2nd leg one of least productive
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day on Friday due to slogan-shouting by the opposition and protests by BJP over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent “democracy under threat” remarks in London. The first week of the second leg of the budget session in Lok Sabha was one of the least productive as proceedings were stalled for five days in a row with BJP insisting on an apology from Rahul and the Opposition seeking a JPC probe into the Adani issue.
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Explained: What Is Generative AI, the Technology Behind OpenAI's ChatGPT?
Generative artificial intelligence has become a buzzword this year, capturing the public's fancy and sparking a rush among Microsoft and Alphabet to launch products with technology they believe will change the nature of work.
Here is everything you need to know about this technology.
What is Generative AI?
Like other forms of artificial intelligence, generative AI learns how to take actions from past data. It creates brand new content — a text, an image, even computer code — based on that training, instead of simply categorising or identifying data like other AI.
The most famous generative AI application is ChatGPT, a chatbot that Microsoft-backed OpenAI released late last year. The AI powering it is known as a large language model because it takes in a text prompt and from that writes a human-like response.
GPT-4, a newer model that OpenAI announced this week, is "multimodal" because it can perceive not only text but images as well. OpenAI's president demonstrated on Tuesday how it could take a photo of a hand-drawn mock-up for a website he wanted to build, and from that generate a real one.
What is it good for?
Demonstrations aside, businesses are already putting generative AI to work.
The technology is helpful for creating a first-draft of marketing copy, for instance, though it may require cleanup because it isn't perfect. One example is from CarMax, which has used a version of OpenAI's technology to summarise thousands of customer reviews and help shoppers decide what used car to buy.
Generative AI likewise can take notes during a virtual meeting. It can draft and personalize emails, and it can create slide presentations. Microsoft and Alphabet's Google each demonstrated these features in product announcements this week.
What's wrong with that?
Nothing, although there is concern about the technology's potential abuse.
School systems have fretted about students turning in AI-drafted essays, undermining the hard work required for them to learn. Cybersecurity researchers have also expressed concern that generative AI could allow bad actors, even governments, to produce far more disinformation than before.
At the same time, the technology itself is prone to making mistakes. Factual inaccuracies touted confidently by AI, called "hallucinations," and responses that seem erratic like professing love to a user are all reasons why companies have aimed to test the technology before making it widely available.
Is this just about Google and Microsoft?
Those two companies are at the forefront of research and investment in large language models, as well as the biggest to put generative AI into widely used software such as Gmail and Microsoft Word. But they are not alone.
Large companies like Salesforce as well as smaller ones like Adept AI Labs are either creating their own competing AI or packaging technology from others to give users new powers through software.
How is Elon Musk involved?
He was one of the co-founders of OpenAI along with Sam Altman. But the billionaire left the startup's board in 2018 to avoid a conflict of interest between OpenAI's work and the AI research being done by Telsa — the electric-vehicle maker he leads.
Musk has expressed concerns about the future of AI and batted for a regulatory authority to ensure development of the technology serves public interest.
"It's quite a dangerous technology. I fear I may have done some things to accelerate it," he said towards the end of Tesla Inc's Investor Day event earlier this month.
"Tesla's doing good things in AI, I don't know, this one stresses me out, not sure what more to say about it."
© Thomson Reuters 2023
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