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< Back EPFO may allow PF withdrawal via an ATM card from Jan’25 13 Dec 2024 The Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is upgrading its IT infrastructure to be at par with banking systems. By January 2025, EPFO plans to upgrade its IT infrastructure to improve service delivery, simplify claim settlements, and streamline PF withdrawals. The new system 2.1 will offer a PF withdrawal card that can be used in ATMs to pull out up to 50% of the PF balance. Under the new system, a beneficiary, claimant, or insured person will be able to withdraw PF money from the ATM. Beneficiaries will be able to use it in case of the member’s death. This may be possible once beneficiaries connect their bank accounts with the deceased member’s PF account. However, the overall PF rules remain unchanged. Employees cannot withdraw PF while employed. 75% of their PF becomes available if someone is unemployed for a month. 100% is available for withdrawal after two months of unemployment. Members can withdraw a part of PF in case of a medical emergency, marriage, house purchase or renovation. Previous Next

< Back Tata JLR, China’s Chery to develop EVs in China 25 Jun 2024 Tata Motor’s subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chinese Chery Automobile Company have formed a 50:50 joint venture, Chery-Jaguar Land Rover (CJLR). Chery Jaguar Land Rover will manufacture petrol, diesel, and electric vehicles in China. To date, it has produced five different models: the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque L, Jaguar E-PACE, Jaguar XFL, and Jaguar XEL. JLR is ready to license the Freelander brand to CJLR. This brand was produced between 1997 and 2015 and was succeeded by Discovery Sport in 2016. The new model developed by CJLR will be a mainstream electric vehicle (EV) for the Chinese market, slated for global export later. JLR has also announced the production of Range Rover in India. The brand was previously manufactured in the UK. Making it in India is expected to reduce the waiting period and bring the cost down by 18 to 22 per cent. As Chinese brands BYD and NIO entered India, Tata partnered with Chery to comply with the laws regarding foreign companies doing business in China. Previous Next

< Back Market manipulation or negotiation? The reason for Trump’s tariff reversal 10 Apr 2025 Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs for 75 nations that reached out to negotiate tariff deals. After the global market crash, several trade allies queued up to negotiate better deals with the US. In return, President Donald Trump paused their tariffs for 90 days for 75 nations. They will now face just the baseline 10% tariffs. On April 9th, Trump asked the global investors to “be cool” and declared that“this is a great time to buy”. Later, he announced the tariff pause, inciting mixed reactions. After the announcement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was always part of the plan. As global stock markets rebound, Trump hiked tariffs on China to 125% as a punishment for retaliation, but he remains open to a deal. For Canada and Mexico, the Fentanyl and non-USMCA (US- Mexico- Canada Trade Agreement) tariffs remain intact at 25%. India, the only country to pursue negotiations since the beginning of the Trump administration, will face the baseline 10% tariffs. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next

< Back Google to make Pixel 8 smartphones in India from 2024 Ishita Nigam 2 Nov 2023 The device carries the Tensor chip designed in India by Google and made by Samsung for global production. Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced his plans to start manufacturing Pixel 8 smartphones in India in early 2024. These phones are known to carry 5-nanometer Tensor chips and other crucial components designed in India for the world. Moreover, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, has asked Google to start making Tensor chips in India within the next three years. Tensor chips can recognise spoken language more accurately, facilitate proper camera utilisation for better imaging, automatic face recognition, brightness adjustment, and Magic Eraser tool that removes larger distractions by accurately predicting the background. This move will push India closer to becoming a chip manufacturing hub. It’s been two years since the government began facilitating semiconductor manufacturing. Since then, American memory chip maker Micron Technologies partnered with Tata Projects to build an assembly line for its chip packaging plant in Gujarat in September this year. Previous Next

< Back UK, US sending team to investigate AI plane crash 13 Jun 2025 Of the two black boxes aboard AI 171, the rear unit has been retrieved along with a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the Air India AI 171 plane crash investigation. The leading and global assisting teams will follow the international protocols of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) sent an investigation team. Led by British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, they will work under the ‘expert status’ following the death of 53 British nationals in the crash. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the lone survivor, is a British citizen of Indian origin. The US is sending the National Transportation Safety Board officials to assist with the investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) team will offer technical support and review safety data. Boeing and GE Aerospace engineers will analyse the crash wreckage and engine performance. The crash site temperature reached nearly 1,000 degrees, making the rescue attempts difficult. Tata Group has offered the victims' families an ₹1 crore ex-gratia payment. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next

< Back Govt assessing 3D Scanners' utility for Indian airports 16 Dec 2024 It is evaluatin how useful the 3D computed tomography X-ray (CTX) and Full Body Scanners (FBS) will be for Indian airports. 3D CTX scanners, commonly used in the US and Europe, allow passengers to keep liquids and electronics in their cabin luggage while screening. While earlier these were expected at Indian airports by May 2024, an influential multi-agency committee set up by the government is evaluating whether 3D CTX and FBS scanners can address the nation’s specific security and cultural requirements. Indians often wear religious items like metallic bangles, which are sometimes difficult to remove. The agency is in discussions with the manufacturers about making India-specific scanners and guidelines. Their utility guidelines will also be customised to suit the Indian perspective. The committee is evaluating an FBS especially tailored for India that will promote less intrusive security checks and eliminate the need for physical pat-downs. Indian airports face long queues and a constant supply of plastic trays, which increases during winter when an additional tray is needed to keep the jackets. Previous Next

< Back 45-day Mahakumbh begins today 13 Jan 2025 Over six million devotees took a holy dip at Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, today. January 13th marked the beginning of the 45-day-long Mahakumbh, organised every twelve years. It will end on February 26th. This year’s Mahakumbh is notable for the rare celestial alignment occurring every 144 years. Visitors from across India and different countries will take a dip in Sangam, the convergence point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mystical Saraswati rivers. The Mahakumbh is the largest peaceful gathering of people globally. Around 400 million devotees are expected to attend the festival. In 2017, UNESCO inscribed the Kumbh Mela on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a collection of cultural practices recognised by communities and individuals. A million devotees will observe the Kalpvas ritual by fasting, planting Tulsi, bananas, and barley, and embracing a disciplined lifestyle. Steve Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell, is attending the Mahakumbh for a month and has been bestowed with a Hindu name, “Kamala”, out of respect. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Previous Next

< Back AI-created model Kenza Layli becomes the world’s first Miss AI 6 Aug 2024 The robot lady competed against 1500 AI models in the contest organised by Fanvue World AI Creators Awards. In what may come as a surprise, the AI creator platform Fanvue organised a beauty pageant in April, inviting AI creators to register their creations. The participants had to compete in technology, beauty, realism, and social media presence rounds. A panel of human and AI experts picked Kenza Layli from Morocco as the winner. The hijab-wearing AI model Kenza won a $20,000 cash prize for her Moroccan creator, Meriam Bessa, the 40-year-old CEO of Pheonix AI. Kenza has over 2.1 lakh Instagram followers that she connects with 24x7 in seven different languages. She posts to generate awareness about women's empowerment and environmental issues and to bridge the gaps between human beings and AI. French AI Model Lalina Valina, known for her kindness-inspired Instagram content, became the first runner-up. Olivia C, the Portuguese model, won third place for bridging the gap between humans and humanoids via her social media posts. Previous Next

< Back Reliance planning to buy a 29.8% stake in Tata Play 15 Feb 2024 If all goes well, it will be the first deal between Tata Group and Reliance Industries. It will allow Reliance to offer all JioCinema content on Tata Play. Reliance Industries plans to buy Walt Disney’s 29.8% stake in the subscription-based television and video streaming platform Tata Play. Besides Walt Disney, Tata Sons owns 50.2% of Tata Play, and Temasek, a Singapore-based fund, owns 20%. The Mukesh Ambani-led group is also about to merge its India business with Walt Disney, with the deal expected to be finalised this month. Reliance will acquire a 51% stake in the merged entity, and Walt Disney will hold around 40%. The remaining 9% will be owned by Bodhi Tree, a joint venture between James Murdoch and former Disney top boss Uday Shankar. Walt Disney plans to sell its TV content and OTT to Reliance for around $3.9 billion. Its valuation dipped after Zee Entertainment withdrew from a cricket rights deal worth $1.4 billion. With this, Reliance aims to strengthen its share in the $28 billion Indian media industry and TV distribution market. Previous Next

< Back Accor to open 30 hotels in India within 5 years 3 Apr 2024 Luxury hotel brands like Fairmont, Sofitel, and Raffles planned. Accor may consider launching luxury brands like Orient Express, too. European hospitality chain, Accor plans to launch 30 more luxury hotels in India within three to five years, and one hotel every week in Asia this year. In India, it currently operates 62 hotels under 9 brand names from its portfolio of 40 brands worldwide. It will open Raffles in Jaipur this year. The other cities on its radar are New Delhi, Mohali, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Bhubaneswar among others. Novotel, Ibis, and Pullman make up 70% of its entire business. It develops Ibis hotels in India in partnership with InterGlobe Aviation, the owner of IndiGo Airlines. IndiGo's aircraft order last year fueled its plans for expansion in India. Accor launched its luxury and lifestyle division a year and a half ago, offering 24 brands like Delano, Mama Shelter, Mondrian, 25hours, and MGallery. It already offers hotels, trains, and yatchs under Orient Express and is considering launching it in India. Previous Next

< Back Noida Int’l Airport to begin flight testing from Nov 30 17 Nov 2024 The airport in Jewar postponed aircraft landing tests to November 30th. Touted Asia’s largest airport, Noida International Airport in Jewar, will begin testing aircraft landing from November 30th. The trials initially scheduled for November 15th were delayed as the airport did not get permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). As part of the testing, three flights each of IndiGo and Akasa Air will land at the airport daily. After completing the testing phase, DGCA will issue the aerodrome license, thus preparing the airport for commercial operations. The official opening for commercial operations is set for April 25th, 2025. Flight bookings will begin in January 2025, three months before the inaugural flight. The authorities have partnered with Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa and the first flights will depart for Dubai and Singapore. Developed by Yamuna International Airport, a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, Switzerland, this airport has six runways, twice as many as Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. Previous Next

< Back Trump’s $5 million Gold Card may replace EB-5 visa 27 Feb 2025 It will be implemented if the Trump administration receives Congress and the Senate approval. The EB-5 visa introduced by the Congress in 1990, allows foreigners to invest $800,000-1 million in incorporating a company in the US and employing at least 10 people. Between September 2021-22, 8,000 people obtained this visa. However, the EB-5 visas carry the risk of fraud and difficulty in verifying the source of funds. The Trump administration plans to introduce the ‘gold card’ to replace EB-5 within two weeks. It is a green card offering permanent legal residency, or US citizenship, and cancels any taxes on foreign income earned outside the US. The $5 million citizenship fee will ensure only the ultra-rich apply. For business owners, tax savings on significant foreign income can easily cross the $5 million threshold within a few years. Trump aims to reduce the $35-trillion government deficit with it. However, EB-5 is a law. He will have to amend the citizenship law to introduce gold cards. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next