Top News

Infinix launches smartphone with 6,000mAh battery in India

admin 0

Available in three colour variants — Galaxy White, Timber Black and Shiny Gold, users can purchase this new smartphone at Rs 6,999 (inclusive bank offers) starting March 9 on Flipkart.

Published Date – 1 March 2024, 01:01 PM


Infinix launches smartphone with 6,000mAh battery in India

Infinix Smart 8 Plus

New Delhi: Smartphone brand Infinix on Friday launched its latest device in India, the Smart 8 Plus, with a massive 6000mAh battery.

Available in three colour variants — Galaxy White, Timber Black and Shiny Gold, users can purchase this new smartphone at Rs 6,999 (inclusive bank offers) starting March 9 on Flipkart.

“The latest smartphone by Infinix offers a plethora of features that combine style, innovation, and performance,” the company said.

The Smart 8 Plus features a 50MP Dual AI Camera, complemented by a Quad-LED ring flash for professional-grade photography in any lighting condition.

The device comes with an 8MP front camera with LED flash for taking selfies, 128GB internal storage and up to 8GB of RAM (4 GB +4GB Virtual RAM).

According to the company, the Smart 8 Plus’s side-mounted fingerprint scanner and facial recognition technology ensure the highest level of safety and security for users’ data.

Powered by the MediaTek Helio G36 2.2 GHz Octa Core Processor, the Smart 8 Plus delivers fast performance and seamless multitasking capabilities.

The device runs on Android 13 Go (XOS 13), offering a seamless and intuitive user experience.

Top News

Watch: Collision With Teammate Sees Kane Williamson Lose 12-Year Streak

admin 0

New Zealand are squaring off against Australia in the first Test of the two-match series in Wellington. Asked to bat first, Australia posted a whopping total of 383, despite struggling at 89/4. All-rounder Cameron Green was the main architect of Australia’s innings as he remained unbeaten at 174. For the Kiwis, Matt Henry registered an impressive five-wicket haul. Apart from all this action, this match also grabbed everyone’s attention due to the bizarre dismissal of Kane Williamson on Day 2.

New Zealand were reeling at 12/1 when Williamson came out to bat in the fifth over by Mitchell Starc. The star batter played a shot towards the mid-off and ran for a single. However, Will Young, who was standing at non-striker’s end, kept on watching the ball and ended up colliding with Williamson while running for the single.

Marnus Labuschagne, who received the ball, made no mistake and threw it towards the non-striker’s end to dismiss Williamson for duck. It was for the first time in 12 years that the former New Zealand skipper got run out.

Coming back to the match, Australia took five quick wickets to leave New Zealand in big trouble at tea on day two of the first Test on Friday after Green smashed an unbeaten 174 to steer the tourists to an imposing 383.

At the break the hosts were 42-5 at Wellington’s Basin Reserve after Josh Hazlewood was the last man out for Australia following a 116-run last-wicket stand with Green.

Tom Blundell was not-out five at tea with Glenn Phillips unbeaten on eight.

New Zealand made a horror start when opener Tom Latham (five) played on in the fourth over, unable to deal with the pace of Mitchell Starc.

It got worse when Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra fell for ducks within the space of five balls.

Green earlier picked up where he left off by peppering the Basin Reserve boundary, adding to his overnight 103 by clobbering a six to push the visitors past 300, having started the day at 279-2.

(With AFP Inputs)

Topics mentioned in this article

Middle East

Iran, Turkey urge coordination to support Palestine

admin 0

In a telephone conversation on Thursday evening, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan talked about a range of bilateral, regional and international issues, including the latest developments in Palestine.

Pointing to plans for a ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation about the Gaza crisis, the Iranian foreign minister expressed hope that it would result in tangible results and effective measures to stop the apartheid Israeli regime’s genocidal crimes.

He also referred to the bilateral agreements made during the official visit that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi paid to Turkey in January, stressing the need for constant mutual efforts to carry out the deals.

Fidan, for his part, highlighted Turkey’s determination to promote cooperation with Iran following the Iranian president’s major and historic visit to Ankara.

The Turkish foreign minister also emphasized the necessity for close coordination among the Islamic nations to counter and stop the Israeli regime’s aggression against Palestine.

At least 30,035 Palestinian people have been killed and 70,457 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.

SD/TSN

Business

Oil Companies hike commercial LPG cylinder prices from March 1-Telangana Today

admin 0

Insiders disclose that the price of 19 kg commercial LPG gas cylinders has been increased by Rs 25.50, affecting consumers in several metro areas

Published Date – 1 March 2024, 12:50 PM


Oil Companies hike commercial LPG cylinder prices from March 1


New Delhi: Oil marketing companies have announced a significant increase in the prices of commercial Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) gas cylinders, effective from March 1.

Sources reveal that the rate of 19 kg commercial LPG gas cylinders has been raised by Rs 25.50, impacting consumers across various metro cities.

The revision in prices comes amid ongoing fluctuations in fuel costs and market dynamics.
According to the latest updates, the retail sales price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi will stand at Rs 1795 from March 1 onwards. This adjustment reflects the evolving landscape of fuel pricing and its implications for consumers.

Comparing the revised prices with previous rates offers insights into the extent of the increase. In metro cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai, the prices of 19 kg Indane gas cylinders have also been revised upwards.

Kolkata will witness a price hike to Rs 1911, while Mumbai and Chennai will see prices rise to Rs 1749 and Rs 1960.50, respectively.

The escalation in prices follows a series of consecutive revisions in recent months. Previous prices of 19 kg Indane gas cylinders on January 1 and February 1, highlight the upward trajectory of fuel costs.

On February 1, the prices of Indane gas cylinders varied across metro cities, with Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai each having distinct rates.

In Delhi, the price stood at Rs 1769.50, while Kolkata recorded Rs 1887, Mumbai Rs 1723.50, and Chennai Rs 1937. These prices served as the baseline for consumers at the beginning of the month.

However, with the advent of March 1, consumers witnessed a notable increase in the prices of Indane LPG gas cylinders across all metro cities.

In Delhi, the price surged by 1.44 per cent (Rs 25.5), reaching a new rate of Rs 1795. Similarly, Kolkata experienced an increase of 1.27 per cent (Rs 24), resulting in a revised price of Rs 1911.

Mumbai saw a rise of 1.48 per cent (Rs 25.5), bringing the price up to Rs 1749, while Chennai witnessed an increase of 1.21 per cent (Rs 23.5), setting the new rate at Rs 1960.50.

The impact of these price hikes is felt across various segments of society, highlighting the broader economic ramifications of fluctuations in fuel prices.

The increases underscore the challenges faced by consumers amidst fluctuating fuel prices and economic uncertainties.

While the precise reasons behind the price hike remain undisclosed, various factors such as changes in international oil prices, shifts in taxation policies, and supply-demand dynamics likely contribute to such adjustments.

The consecutive revisions emphasize the volatile nature of the energy market and its implications for households and businesses reliant on commercial LPG cylinders.

Top News

Obesity Drugs Won't Solve Our Billion-Person Problem, WHO Warns

admin 0

Obesity Drugs Won't Solve Our Billion-Person Problem, WHO Warns

Rates of obesity have leveled off in some wealthy countries – particularly in Europe.

Effective, popular obesity medications won’t be enough to solve a worldwide problem that now affects more than 1 billion people, World Health Organization officials warned. 

Obesity has quadrupled among children and teens and more than doubled among adults since 1990, with about one in every eight people in the world living with the condition, the health agency said Thursday in the first global public analysis of the condition since 2017. 

While rates of obesity have leveled off in some wealthy countries – particularly in Europe – the research team found rapid increases in low- and middle-income countries. The problem of low weight due to malnourishment has been replaced by obesity as a leading issue in many nations, the team said, in a study published in The Lancet. 

New obesity drugs such as Novo Nordisk A/S’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly & Co.’s Zepbound could be an $80 billion market by 2030. However, they will probably contribute to the growing problem of inequality around weight-loss treatment, said Majid Ezzati, a professor of global environmental health at Imperial College London and the senior author of the study. 

“These drugs are definitely an important tool, but they should not be seen as a solution to the problem,” said Francesco Branca, director of the department of nutrition and food safety at WHO, who was also a co-author of the study. “The solution is still the transformation of food systems and the environment.” 

Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

WHO member states in 2022 adopted an obesity response plan that includes a broad range of proposed policy changes, including promoting breastfeeding, restrictions on marketing unhealthy food and drinks to children, nutrition labeling and physical activity standards for schools. Climate change, war and disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic may drive the cost of healthy food higher and lead to even higher rates of both obesity and underweight, said Guha Pradeepa, a study co-author from the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation. 

WHO researchers worked on the study with the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, a worldwide network of scientists that provides data on non-communicable diseases like obesity. 

To get a comprehensive picture of the rate of obesity around the world, more than 1,500 researchers surveyed weight and height from more than 220 million people across more than 190 countries. Obesity was classified as a BMI of 30 or over in adults and was measured on a sliding scale depending on weight and age in children. They found that more than 879 million adults and 159 million children probably had obesity in 2022.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Middle East

Gaza aid seekers' massacre: Palestinian envoy urges 'paralyzed' UNSC to condemn Israel

admin 0

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour has appealed to the Security Council to condemn the loss of more than 100 Palestinian lives and injury of nearly 700 individuals in an Israeli attack on a crowd waiting for food in Gaza City.

“The Security Council should say enough is enough,” Riyad Mansour told reporters on Thursday ahead of a closed-door meeting by the body, which came at the request of Algeria.

The meeting was held to discuss Israel’s targeting of civilians awaiting humanitarian aid in Gaza. The health ministry in the besieged coastal territory said 112 people were killed in the attack and another 760 injured.

“This outrageous massacre is a testimony to the fact that as long as the Security Council is paralyzed and vetoes (are) casted, then it is costing the Palestinian people their lives,” Mansour said.

The Palestinian ambassador to the UN went on to note that 14 members of the 15-member Security Council have “supported” a draft declaration put forth by Algeria, which expresses “deep concern” over the latest episode in Gaza and states that the situation is “due to opening fire by Israeli forces.”

Mansour said he met earlier in the day with US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

“I implored her that the Security Council has to produce a product of condemning this killing and to go after those responsible for this massacre,” he said.

If the Security Council has “a spine and determination to put an end to these massacres from happening all over again, what we need is a ceasefire,” the Palestinian diplomat pointed out.

UN chief denounces murder of Palestinians waiting for aid

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israeli forces for opening fire on starving Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid south of Gaza City.

“The Secretary-General condemns the incident today in northern Gaza in which more than a hundred people were reportedly killed or injured while seeking life-saving aid,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for Antonio Guterres, said in a briefing.

Dujarric reiterated Guterres’ demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and said the UN chief “once again calls for urgent steps so that critical humanitarian aid can get into and across Gaza to all those in need.”

“The continued hostilities and other challenges continue to impede our efforts to reach civilians in Gaza with life-saving health and nutrition care,” Dujarric noted.

Israel’s targeting of aid seekers ‘evidence’ of intent to wipe out Palestinians

Turkey also said the Israeli assault on an aid convoy in Gaza City’s al-Rasheed Street shows that the regime intends to “destroy the entire Palestinian population.”

“The fact that Israel, which has been using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza, is now targeting innocent civilians who are seeking life-saving aid is evidence of Israel’s intention to destroy the entire Palestinian population,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Israel has “committed yet another crime against humanity” with the mass shooting of aid seekers, the ministry said, warning that “the atrocity in Gaza is about to become a global catastrophe with repercussions far beyond the region.

“We therefore call on all those with influence over Israel to stop the ongoing violence in Gaza.”

The Turkish Foreign Ministry finally called on Israel to end its military operations in Gaza immediately, arguing that the regime does not have the common sense or the conscience to take the decision though.

Israel waged its brutal war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

According to Gaza Health Ministry, more than 30,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in aerial and ground strikes. 

The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a “complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

Top News

6 Rebel Himachal Congress MLAs To Move High Court Over Disqualification

admin 0

6 Rebel Himachal Congress MLAs To Move High Court Over Disqualification

A Himachal Pradesh cabinet minister held a meeting with the rebel MLAs.

New Delhi:

The six Congress MLAs who were disqualified by Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Thursday will seek legal recourse and approach the High Court to challenge the decision. 

The six rebel Congress MLAs – Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma, and Devinder Kumar Bhutto – had defied the party whip during the recent Rajya Sabha polls by abstaining from voting on the finance bill in the assembly. The ruling Congress party sought their disqualification on the grounds of violating the party’s directive.

According to sources, a Himachal Pradesh cabinet minister held a meeting with the rebel MLAs at a hotel last night. The six rebel MLAs, are reportedly working on their petition to the High Court.

This disqualification move has resulted in vacancies in assembly constituencies Dharamshala, Lahaul and Spiti, Sujanpur, Barsar, Gagret, and Kutlehar. This unprecedented disqualification under the anti-defection law has reduced the effective strength of the House from 68 to 62, with the Congress MLAs decreasing from 40 to 34. The opposition BJP now holds 25 seats.

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, in a press conference, announced the disqualification, citing the violation of the anti-defection law as the reason. Mr Pathania said that the disqualified MLAs had defied the party whip and, as a result, ceased to be members of the House immediately.

Senior advocate Satya Pal Jain, representing the disqualified Congress MLAs, argued that the mandatory seven days’ time for replying to the notice was not given, and key documents were not supplied.

The disqualification comes amidst the backdrop of a major setback for the ruling Congress in the state, as the BJP secured the Himachal’s lone Rajya Sabha seat.  In a 30-page order, Mr Pathania underscored the necessity of a swift judgment in such cases to maintain the dignity of democracy and curb the “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram” phenomenon, referencing historical instances of party-switching by legislators.

Congress’ central observer DK Shivakumar on Thursday said that the political turmoil in the state has now subsided.

At a joint press conference attended by party leaders Bhupinder Hooda, Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and Himachal Congress chief Pratibha Singh, Mr Shivakumar declared that all internal differences had been ironed out, adding that a coordination committee has been formed to address any future internal matters, with the assurance that the Congress government will complete its full term in the hill state.

“All the MLAs have assured and taken an oath to work together to save the party and the government,” Mr Shivakumar said.

Chief Minister Sukhu, who shouldered the responsibility for Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi’s defeat in the Rajya Sabha polls, expressed confidence in his government. 

India

Dolly Chaiwala shares story of serving tea to Bill Gates, initially didn’t recognize him

admin 0

Expanding on the encounter, he explained, “We didn’t exchange words. He stood next to me while I was occupied with my tasks. After taking a sip of my tea, he remarked, ‘Wow, Dolly ki Chai.’

Updated On – 1 March 2024, 11:49 AM


Dolly Chaiwala shares story of serving tea to Bill Gates, initially didn’t recognize him


Nagpur: Dolly Chaiwala, who took the internet by storm after a video of him serving tea to Bill Gates went viral, opened up about his interaction with him and said that he did not recognise the Microsoft co-founder initially until the viral clip surfaced on social media.

In a candid conversation with ANI on the same, the tea seller from Nagpur said, “I was not aware at all. I thought that he was some guy from a foreign country so I should serve him tea. The next day, when I came back to Nagpur, I realised who I served tea to. (Agle din pata chala maine kisko chai pilaya),” he said.

Adding further, he said, “We did not speak at all. He was standing just beside me and I was busy with my work. After sipping on my tea, he (Bill Gates) said, ‘Wow, Dolly ki Chai.”

When asked about the unique outfit the Nagpur tea seller dons, Dolly said, “I haven’t adopted this style, just copied it from the South movies I watch.”

The tea seller also expressed his desire to sell tea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “Today, I feel that I have become ‘Nagpur ka Dolly Chaiwala .’ In the future, I wish to serve tea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

“I just want to sell tea to everybody with a smile all my life and receive all those smiles back,” said the Chaiwala gleefully.

The video that is surfacing on social media opens with Bill Gates in the frame, requesting, “One chai, please”.

The tea seller’s unique method of preparing tea on his cart is a highlight, offering a glimpse into the artistry of making this beloved beverage.

As soon as the video surfaced online, it garnered millions of views.

Dolly Chaiwala earlier said that initially it was decided that the video would be filmed in Nagpur, where his tea stall is located, but it was then shifted to Hyderabad.

He was invited to Hyderabad to prepare tea in his signature style but wasn’t told about Bill Gates, said the popular tea seller.

Dolly Chaiwala enjoys a massive fan following on Instagram and other social media platforms, where he stays connected with his followers by sharing his reels and pictures.

Sports

BCCI to conduct women’s red-ball tournament from March: Reports

admin 0

The tournament is scheduled to commence immediately after the conclusion of the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL), slated to end on March 17th.

Published Date – 1 March 2024, 12:29 PM


BCCI to conduct women’s red-ball tournament from March: Reports


New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has devised a plan to introduce women’s red-ball cricket within the country by organising a multi-day competition, say reports.

The tournament is set to take place soon after the conclusion of the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL), which will conclude on March 17.

It kickstarts on March 29 in Pune and will feature teams representing six zones – East, West, North, South, Central, and NorthEast – competing in a series of five matches, a Cricbuzz report said.

The tournament will commence with two quarterfinals set to take place simultaneously on March 29, 30, and 31. Following this stage, the championship will advance to two semifinals, expected to be held concurrently on April 5, 6, and 7. The tournament’s grand final is scheduled for April 9, 10, and 11. However wo teams directly seeded in the semifinals remained unknown at the time, the report added.

This three-day spectacle will act as a crucial evaluation to ascertain the BCCI’s ability to effectively motivate players to partake in domestic events, mirroring the board’s endeavours to ensure that male players accord the same significance to domestic competitions such as the Ranji Trophy as they do to the IPL and international cricket.

Business

WiseLife secures 1.2 cr deal on ‘Shark Tank India 3’-Telangana Today

admin 0

From Gurugram, Prateek Kedia and Shreya Bansal present their creation ‘WiseLife’ on ‘Shark Tank India 3’

Updated On – 1 March 2024, 11:48 AM


WiseLife secures 1.2 cr deal on ‘Shark Tank India 3’


New Delhi: ‘WiseLife’, the yoga and wellness brand has bagged a deal of Rs 1.2 crore with four sharks in the new episode of the entrepreneurial reality show ‘Shark Tank India’ season 3.

Hailing from Gurugram, Prateek Kedia and Shreya Bansal bring their brainchild ‘WiseLife’ to ‘Shark Tank India 3’. Their yoga mats are made from natural rubber, suede, cork thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and have features like — one time rolling, superior grip and extra cushioning.

Talking about the idea behind the business, Prateek said: “Sharks, like lakhs of youngsters, I, too, had made work my life. I would work over 50 hours a week and be under constant stress. I finally realised that life could not go on like this. After all, health is wealth. So, I finally started doing yoga. I ordered a few yoga mats online then I faced problems like the mats not unfolding properly, slipping while doing asanas due to no proper grip, and my elbows and knees were pained because of no proper cushioning.”

“To solve these problems, we present to you Wiselife,” he shared.

Shreya continued saying, “Our mats not only come in attractive designs, but have good quality, affordable and are eco-friendly.”

“We have also launched yoga props like belts, blocks, wheels and others,” she said.

Prateek said that they have one lakh plus customers, and want to take this yoga experience to every Indian household and inspire people to focus on their health and wellness.

Hence, they asked for Rs 60 lakh for 2 per cent equity.

Ritesh Agarwal (Founder and CEO of OYO Rooms), complemented the pitchers and said: “I’m glad to see you barefoot. You’ve incorporated yoga into every aspect of your life.”

Aman Gupta (Co-Founder and CMO of boAt) candidly asked Ritesh: “Do you do yoga?” To which the latter replied: “A little bit. You see, my wife is a yoga trainer.”

Namita Thapar (Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd) said: “I do it regularly and it has changed my life. How did you get into yoga at such a young age?”

Replying to Namita, Prateek said: “We both used to work for PWC. We were doing our CA Articleship there. The Articleship period is extremely hectic. Our health and wellness took a hit at the time. We decided to join a yoga class together. Doing yoga made us feel really better.”

Anupam Mittal (Founder and CEO of Shaadi.com) said: “There’s a Canadian brand…Lululemon. They made activewear and yoga wear super cool. This was the go-to brand, right? Is your brand somewhat positioned along those lines, because I’m getting that feeling?”

Prateek replied: “We are inspired by Lululemon for sure…But this brand is completely Indian. We need to address the Indian market. We have 40 plus yoga mat designs, and they are all 100 per cent sustainable, and natural rubber on the bottom.”

Shreya continued: “We have the entire yoga range. No matter what product you need for yoga, it is available with us.”

Ritesh said: “I believe your product experience truly is world-class. Your yoga-driven designs are a unique competency.”

Anupam went on to say: “Are you just looking for a platform like Shark Tank to get the WiseLife brand out or do you really want to raise funds and take this to the next level?”

Prateek replied saying, “First of all, any amount of marketing is not enough. Our product will go wherever we get marketing. We’re completely self-taught. We don’t have a mentor who could guide us. So, we expect you and your team to share your mantra or secret sauce with us.”

“We had internally set a benchmark for ourselves. Until we didn’t cross a revenue of Rs 1 crore a month, we would not involve external parties. Unless we’re not sure about our business, why should we raise capital and complicate matters? Last month, our gross revenue was Rs 1 crore. This is the first time we’re having a formal discussion with an investor to raise funds,” he added.

Finally they sealed a deal of Rs 1.2 crore for four percent equity with Aman, Anupam, Namita and Ritesh.

‘Shark Tank India 3’ streams on SonyLIV.