Search Results

< Back AI 171’s emergency power generator running before crash: WSJ 18 Jun 2025 It triggers the question of whether the plane’s engines were properly functioning during takeoff. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) propeller deploys automatically from the 787 Dreamliner fuselage and functions as a backup generator in case both engines fail, hydraulic system pressures are low, the aircraft’s electric motor pumps stop working, or if cockpit instruments lose power. RAT can generate enough power to enable critical aircraft components to work properly. Investigators believe the RAT was working for AI 171 before it crashed, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Lone survivor, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh’s testimony about hearing a loud bang followed by the flickering of cabin lights conforms with RAT deployment, as per aviation experts. Meanwhile, DGCA’s investigation revealed no safety concerns in Air India’s 787 fleet. AI 171 had its right engine replaced in March 2025. Singapore Airlines’ SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) is under scrutiny for being involved in Air India’s aircraft maintenance. It is also developing AI’s maintenance facilities in Bengaluru. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next

< Back Reliance Retail expanding B2B apparel distribution, targets 50% new format stores 13 Dec 2023 Country’s largest retailer is increasing the distribution of branded clothing and fashion products to third party stores. Country’s largest fashion retailer, Reliance Retail, is expanding its distribution of exclusive branded clothing and fashion products in third party stores across India beyond its own stores. The company already has over 50 exclusive brands in its portfolio, which will rise 2-3 times over the next few years. Reliance Retail is running a pilot program under Ajio Business, which will be expanded by the summer of 2024. Eventually, the company will launch its apparel brands across Western and Indian wear, lingerie and innerwear, jewellery, fashion accessories, and footwear in the mid to premium range. Its products will be available across third party sellers. Reliance expects the B2B apparel business to grow more revenue than its retail stores within five years. It owns 4,000 stores across brands and 2,600 Trends stores. Trends outlets will be expanded by 15% and newer retail formats by 50% yearly in the next few years. Previous Next

< Back OpenAI makes ChatGPT accessible via phone, WhatsApp 6 Feb 2025 It can be accessed by calling the US number 1-800-ChatGPT (1-800-242-8478) or messaging this number via WhatsApp. ChatGPT widened its accessibility via phone and WhatsApp in December 2024. Anyone can call their 1-800 US number without creating an account. These phone calls will not be used to train their chatbot. Initially, users get up to 15 minutes per month of free usage for phone calls and there is a daily limit for WhatsApp messages. Pro and Plus subscribers may also be able to login to use paid services like GPT-40, 01 mini, 01, and 03-mini via WhatsApp. On February 4th, ChatGPT rolled out another update enabling voice and image inputs on WhatsApp. This will allow users to upload photos and voice messages to interact with the bot and receive text responses. Google had introduced a similar service, GOOG-411, in 2007 to offer free voice-based directory services. It was discontinued in 2010, possibly once Google had gathered enough voice inputs to improve its speech recognition. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Previous Next

< Back How ZestMoney nosedived from a $440 mn valuation to shutting operations? 11 Dec 2023 The startup began operations in September 2015. Its valuation reached $440 million in June 2022 but nosedived to $8 million in July 2023. On December 5th, fintech startup ZestMoney announced the closure of operations and lending activities by the end of the month. The company had secured $134 million in equity funding, a $440 million valuation in June 2022, and $4 million in emergency funding this year. ZestMoney founders quit the company earlier this financial year, followed by the announcement of 100 job cuts. Unjustifiable valuation ruined its $300 million merger plans with PhonePe. Moreover, funding slowdown, poor loan recoveries, and increasing Non-Performing Assets added to their financial woes. The new management, who joined in May, could not stop the downward spiral. ZestMoney had 17 million registered users and more than 10,000 online merchants. It had over 20 partnerships with financial institutions, of which most were suspended by August 2023. Its investors included Goldman Sachs, PayU, Naspers, and Omidyar. It used AI to underwrite eCommerce consumer loans and provide EMIs to online shoppers. Previous Next

< Back TikTok to shut down in the US on Jan 19 17 Jan 2025 A federal ban on TikTok will take effect on Sunday as per the law signed in April 2024. Outgoing President Joe Biden signed a law in April 2024 mandating ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest its American assets to a non-Chinese buyer by January 19th, 2025, or face a ban on the app’s downloads on Android and Apple stores. To comply with the law, TikTok announced its plan to shut down its US app on Sunday. However, President-elect Donald Trump is contemplating an executive order to suspend enforcing this law by 60 to 90 days. His term begins on January 20th. Trump’s National Security Advisor designate, Mike Waltz, said that the administration is searching for a way to let TikTok operate in the US while protecting user data. TikTok’s CEO has also been invited to attend the President-elect’s inauguration and sit in a position of honour on the dais. Many US officials are supporting TikTok to be granted more time to sell the app and avoid the ban. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Previous Next

< Back The Pros and Perils of E20 fuel 18 Aug 2025 India rolled out 20% ethanol-based petrol in July 2025, five years ahead of its 2030 target. India began blending 1.5% ethanol with petrol in 2014, increased it to 10% in 2022, and to 20% in July 2025. It is now available across 1,900 retail outlets. Ethanol emits 65% less CO 2 than petrol and has a higher octane rating (around 108.5). It helps burn petrol better and reduces carbon emissions. Being domestically produced, it reduced India’s oil import dependence and saved ₹1.44 lakh crore in foreign exchange since 2014. Reduced mileage, rust-related damage, and clogged filters are a few issues Indians are reporting due to consistent ethanol usage. Ethanol absorbs moisture, thus accelerating corrosion. Its low energy content causes efficiency reduction. New cars manufactured after 2024 are compliant with E20, but the older versions are not. Non-compatible engines may face corrosion and lubrication issues. As per the government, E20 usage will not void insurance. However, the warranty may be compromised due to fuel compatibility issues. Check out my DEBUT BOOK, The Black Flames on Amazon Kindle. Previous Next

< Back Volcanic ash expected to leave India by today evening 26 Nov 2025 The plume entered Gujarat and began moving eastward to Rajasthan, NCR, and Punjab at 100-120 kmph. The Ethiopian volcano Hayli Gubbi erupted on November 23 rd after almost 10,000 years, thus triggering flight disruptions across the region. The ash and plume have already reached the North and Northwest region, impacting Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, NCR, and Haryana. Several carriers, including IndiGo and Akasa, cancelled and diverted their flights to avoid the ash-impacted airspace, even from South India. Air India has cancelled 13 flights since Monday. Delhi witnessed seven cancellations and 12 delays for international arrivals and departures on Tuesday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Meteorological Department confirmed that ash was confined to altitudes of 10-15 km. However, it may cause a hazy sky, a rise in temperature, and some ash precipitation. Authorities have advised wearing masks as a precaution against a dip in air quality. The ash cloud is expected to move out of Indian skies towards China by around 7:30 pm today. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back Indian space tech startup to test Satellite Launch Vehicle with 3D printed engine 30 Nov 2023 Last month, Agnikul raised $26.7 million from Rocketship.vc and Celesta Capital. Its customers will be anyone building a small satellite and targeting a low Earth orbit. Chennai-based space tech startup Agnikul plans to test its first flight with the world’s first 3D printed engine before this year ends. The company was incubated in IIT Madras and specialises in building Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV). If the test is successful, Agnikul will become India’s second private manufacturer to build small SLVs. The first company to do it was Skyroot Aerospace, that launched Vikram S in November 2022. Agnikul plans its first commercial orbital launch next year. This final technology demonstrator test will be conducted on the IIT Madras campus. The launch vehicle is ready, and once the team receives the final nod from ISRO, the SLV will be all set to go. Their rocket, Agnibaan, will lift off vertically and follow a predetermined path. The world’s first 3D printed is patented. It was fully designed and built in India and successfully test fired in early 2021. Previous Next

< Back More eCommerce brands levy flat booking fees on orders Ishita Nigam 5 Oct 2023 Zomato, Swiggy and Instamart, Zepto, Blinkit, and BB Now levy per order or per booking flat fee of ₹2-5. Uber also started charging a distance-based booking fee that rises with the kilometres on a ride. In a bid to turn profitable by slicing down the per order cost, B2C eCommerce firms like Zomato, Big Basket’s BB Now, Swiggy and Instamart, Blinkit, and Zepto started levying a per order or per booking flat fee between ₹2-5. Uber recently began charging a distance-wise fee for every ride. eCommerce companies struggling to charge restaurant partners and drivers started charging the consumers a few extra bucks on every order to turn profitable and push up margins. Zomato experimented with a charge of ₹2 per order in metro cities and will now expand the flat fee structure to more locations and even hike the fee to ₹3. Quick commerce companies have been levying handling charges for quite some time to stay financially sustainable and provide exceptional services. BB Now levies ₹5 handling fees per order while Instamart charges ₹4, and Zepto includes ₹5 fees on all orders. Previous Next

< Back Russia accepts all of India’s demands in Su-57 fighter deal 19 Nov 2025 It accepted all of India’s demands and offered full technology transfer, including AESA radar, engines, AI elements, optics, and low-signature tech. The deal involving Su-57 stealth fighters is part of a six-decade Indo-Russian defence partnership. Russia is offering direct deliveries of the fighter planes, assistance for local production, and joint development that will make India a co-designer and a co-producer of the aircraft. India’s demands that Russia unconditionally accepted are: Full technology transfer: Unrestricted access to the fifth generation fighter technologies. Integration of Indian weapons: Su-57 should be able to integrate and carry homegrown systems like Astra missiles and other indigenous payloads. Licensed local production: Russia responded with a phase-wise shift of Su-57 production to India. Joint development of a two-seat variant: Russia agreed to co-develop this new variant to suit Indian needs. Independent upgrade prospects: India wanted the possibility to independently upgrade the tech in the future, and Russia agreed to a long-term collaboration. Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov announced it during Dubai Air Show 2025. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES , on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes novel. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads Previous Next

< Back Meesho to enter fintech, build a credit marketplace 6 Feb 2024 It will launch a credit marketplace for borrowers on behalf of banks and Non-Banking Financial Corporations (NBFCs). Another eCommerce industry unicorn, Meesho, plans to diversify its portfolio by entering the fintech and e-grocery business. It will launch a platform for borrowers on behalf of lending partners like the banks and NBFCs in FY2025. It will earn a commission on every loan disbursed. It will begin with offering merchant loans and slowly move to consumer lending, focusing on smaller cities. At present, 80% of Meesho’s sellers are retail business owners. The brand earns through advertising and seller services. Its competitors, Amazon, Flipkart, and Tata Neu, already offer consumer and merchant lending services. Meesho intends to build an entire credit offering system, including credit underwriting and fraud detection. It will build an in-house credit risk and data science team, too. Meesho scaled down its grocery business in 2022 and rebranded it from Farmiso to Meesho Superstore. It cut 48% losses in FY2023 and turned profitable in July 2023. Previous Next

< Back The Burmans acquire Religare for ₹2,116 crore 24 Feb 2025 The Burmans plan to convert it into a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC). After an 18-month-long legal battle, the Burmans, Dabur’s owners, acquired Religare, the Delhi-based financial services company. They infused ₹2,116 crore for an additional 26% stake and now own over 50%. Religare’s former promoters, Malvinder and Shivinder Mohan Singh (Ranbaxy), were arrested in 2019 for defrauding Religare Finvest, REL’s main lending business, for approximately ₹2,400 crore. Rashmi Saluja was appointed CEO-Chairperson in 2019. The company’s management had been in conflict with the Burmans ever since. She faced charges of financial irregularities and attempts to thwart the Burman acquisition. She was ousted on February 7th, 2025, after failing to secure a reappointment by shareholders. After seven consecutive profitable quarters since March 2023, Religare reported a ₹63 crore loss in the December 2024 quarter. In September 2023, the Burmans increased their ownership in Religare from 20% to 25% and offered to buy an additional 26% from the public by pumping in $255 million. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next