< Back 81 Cr Indian's data hacked in nation's largest data breach Ishita Nigam 1 Nov 2023 Aadhaar and passport number, name, age and even address of 4 lakh Indians has been hacked and uploaded on the dark web. In what is being termed as probably India's largest data breach ever, personal records of around 81 crore Indians have been hacked room the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) servers. The breach was unearthed by American cyber security firm, Resecurity, on October 10th. The hacker named 'pwn0001' is auctioning up to 90 GB of data he extracted from the ICMR servers. Last year, AIIMS New Delhi had lost 4 crore records, i.e. 1.3 TB data in November 2022. Data was later retrieved in December. Hackers had demanded ₹200 crore from the hospital authorities in ransom. Experts believe this latest ransomware attack could demand above ₹1,000 crores. This breach can lead to identity theft for lakhs of Indians and culminate in other costs. The government could already be in negotiations with the hackers. Previous Next

< Back India, UK, EU stop postal deliveries to the US 28 Aug 2025 The US is suspending the de minimis exemption as of August 29th. The American de minimis exemption allowed duty-free entry of packages worth less than $800. With this, the US government aims to curb cheap imports. However, the US postal services have not welcomed this sudden change, as it has left them unprepared for the drop in imports. India, the UK, and several European nations have refused to send small parcels to the US in the absence of proper clarity on import duties. Airlines from these nations have also declined to carry packages to the US. The de minimis exemption was introduced in 1938, when the US allowed free entry for goods valued at $1 or less. In the 1990s, Congress considered it a trade facilitation tool instead of an efficiency booster. In 2016, the limit was raised from $200 to $800. de minimis shipments to the US jumped from 153 million in 2015 to over one billion in 2023. Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES, on Amazon Kindle. Previous Next

< Back New GDP series with 2022-23 base year to roll out in Feb 2 Dec 2025 India currently uses 2011-12 as the base year, which is missing digital transactions, gig work, and many new industries. India uses around 700 granular indicators, like digital transactions, transport and logistics data, sector-wise production figures, price indices, and employment and consumption surveys. These highly detailed, specific data points are the building blocks for National Account Statistics (NAS), which provide an overall picture of the economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) rated India’s NAS ‘C’, citing shortfalls hampering surveillance. The other datasets, like price indices, government finance, monetary statistics, and sector-wise production, received a ‘B’ rating. The Indian GDP surged to 8.2% in the July-September quarter, the highest in six months, and far surpassing the expected growth rate of 7.2%. Strong domestic demand, GST rate cuts, robust services exports, and stronger industrial output drove GDP growth. The US Bureau of Economic Analysis rebases every five years. In 2013, they included R&D and investments, thereby significantly raising the GDP and aligning it with the United Nations’ 2008 System of National Accounts. 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 Coke, Pepsi planning to launch cheaper beverages 24 Oct 2024 To compete with Reliance Industries’ Campa, Coke and Pepsi may introduce 15-20% cheaper beverages in regional markets. Reliance Industries' consumer products division offers retailers disruptive pricing and higher margins for its beverage brand, Campa. This has pushed the two cola giants to prepare counter strategies like cheaper products through B-brands without diluting the brand image and trade margins of their flagship drinks, an ET report said. Coke also plans to improve the distribution of returnable glass bottles at ₹10, especially in tier-2 cities. One such brand at the ready for Coke is its local beverage RimZim Jeera, which was launched temporarily and has limited supply. Campa sells a 200ml bottle for ₹10 compared to 250ml bottles of Coke or Pepsi sold for ₹20. Campa’s 500ml bottle goes for ₹20 while Coke sells it for ₹30 and Pepsi for ₹40. Reliance Consumer offers its distributors a 6-8% margin, compared with 3.5-5% provided by its competitors. Coke and Pepsi are running tactical retail promotions without reducing the price. 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 Tesla begins hiring in India 18 Feb 2025 India recently reduced the import duty from 110% to 70% on high-end cars above $40,000, thus making it lucrative for Tesla. Elon Musk always showed keen interest in setting up manufacturing in India, provided the carmaker is first permitted to sell and service its vehicles and import duty is lowered. Less than a week after he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tesla announced hiring in India. It announced hiring for 13 positions in Mumbai and one in Pune. It is hiring for advisory roles across service, parts, and inside sales; service manager and technician; business and delivery operations; customer support and engagement; and store manager. Reduced import duties and the demand for EVs make India an attractive market. In April 2024, The Asia Group, Tesla’s advisor, also attended the stakeholders meeting on the new EV policy organised by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) in New Delhi. Other attendees of this meeting included Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast, Maruti Suzuki, Tata, Mahindra, Kia, Renault, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next

< Back Trump’s Pro-Russia, Anti-Russia stance 5 Aug 2025 Imports of several minerals and metals from Russia are at a steady rise despite the Oval Office’s building pressure on New Delhi. US imports from Russia increased 23% year-on-year to $2.1 billion between 2025 and May. The US International Trade Commission (USITC) reports that fertiliser imports from Russia rose 21%, uranium by 28% for its nuclear industry, and palladium by 37% for EV manufacturing this year. EU, too, logged goods trade worth €67.5 billion with Russia in 2024. Trump’s backlash at India, as per global analysts, is due to the building frustration after the diplomatic outreach efforts with Russia collapsed. Trump announced he would end the Ukraine War in one week of taking office. He sent his close aide, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow four times for direct negotiations with the Russian officials. In February 2025, the US blocked a UN resolution, which condemned Russia as the aggressor in the Ukraine War, and proposed a counter-resolution omitting any mention of Russian aggression. When the shocked EU nations included “full-scale invasion” in the counter-resolution, the US abstained from voting for its own proposal. After repeated defeats to get Moscow to agree, Trump self-declared August 8 th a non-negotiable deadline for Russia to stop the aggression in Ukraine. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next

< Back Car prices slide after GST reduction 8 Sept 2025 Effective September 22nd, car makers in India are offering rate cuts proportional to the GST reduction. Mahindra, Toyota, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Renault, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have announced significant rate cuts effective September 22 nd . Petrol, CNG, and LPG variants with a length of up to 4 metres and an engine capacity of up to 1200cc will have an 18% GST rate applicable, instead of the earlier 28%. Diesel variants with an engine capacity of up to 1500cc and a length of up to 4 metres will also attract an 18% GST. Petrol, CNG, and LPG cars longer than 4 metres or with an engine capacity above 1200cc or diesel cars above 1500cc will be eligible for a 40% GST instead of the earlier 50% (=28% GST and 17-22% compensation cess). These car makers in India have announced benefits up to: Mahindra: ₹1-1.56 lakh Hyundai: ₹2.4 lakh Tata Motors: ₹1.55 lakh Toyota: ₹3.49 lakh Skoda: ₹5.8 lakh Renault: ₹96,000 BMW: ₹8.9 lakh Mercedez-Benz: ₹2.6-11 lakh Kia: ₹75,000 Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES, on Amazon Kindle. Previous Next

< Back Indian govt may allow commercial usage of airport land 11 Mar 2025 It is considering amending the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Act, 1994, to permit non-aviation linked businesses on the airport land. If the Indian government goes through with the amendment to the AAI Act, it will allow private operators to establish commercial hubs on the airport land and offer non-aviation linked services. This could include shopping hubs, centres for corporate events and conferences and offices around airports. The Civil Aviation Ministry is conducting inter-ministerial discussions, which could lead to a bill being introduced in the Parliament. This entire effort is part of the broader plan to privatise 11 airports in tier II cities, including Amritsar, Bhubaneshwar, Varanasi, and Raipur, by the end of FY2026. The amendment will maintain restrictions on polluting activities, while unlocking a prime land parcel for commercial projects from the private sector. Chapter 3, Section 12 of the AAI Act,1994, allows commercial activities at airports limited to hotels, restaurants, and warehouses; other real estate development is not allowed. The government will keep land usage provisions flexible. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next

< Back Wipro wins $500 mn contract from Nokia for five years 12 Jun 2024 Wipro will offer managed services for some Nokia products and industry solutions for five years. On June 6th, Wipro announced securing a $500 million contract from Nokia, a leading American communication services provider. As per the contract, Wipro will build a customised cloud-based AI-powered solution for Nokia’s 86,700 employees across 130 countries. The solution will provide faster, smoother, and real-time IT support and an improved service desk for Nokia’s employees. The software will be omni-channel, always on, and experience-driven. It will be powered by Designit, a Wipro company, and facilitate a hybrid work environment. In the last quarter of FY2024, Wipro won deals worth $3.6 billion while its order book for the whole year was $14.9 billion. Wipro closed 18 big deals in Q4 compared to 14 in Q3. The deal happened two months after Srinivas Pallia became the new CEO. Last December, the departure of Wipro’s Chief Growth Officer and Head of Large Deals, Stephanie Trautman, made it challenging for the company to secure big deals. Previous Next

< Back Drone attack on UAE nuclear plant raises alarm across West Asia 18 May 2026 UAE intercepted two drones. One reached nuclear site’s outer area; officials warn the attack marks a serious escalation in regional tensions. A drone strike sparked a fire on the perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region, the UAE’s only nuclear power facility. The blaze broke out at an electrical generator outside the inner security perimeter. Authorities reported no injuries, no radiological leak. All four reactor units continued operating normally with safety systems unaffected. As per the UAE Defence Ministry, three drones entered from the “western border”; air defences intercepted two, while one hit the generator. An investigation is underway to identify the perpetrators, and no group has claimed responsibility so far. The UAE, India, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar condemned the incident as a “dangerous escalation” and a “terrorist attack,”. It sparks fears that targeting Barakah, which supplies around a quarter of the UAE’s electricity, could further destabilise an already fragile US‑Iran ceasefire and broader West Asian security. Check out my books, The Black Flames , The Flames Turn White , and crawlers , a poetry collection on KINDLE . Previous Next

< Back Fear of ‘Economic nuclear winter‘ looms as global stock markets crash 7 Apr 2025 Bill Ackman, a billionaire investor, recently called out the looming fear of an economic "nuclear winter" due to the ongoing global trade war. With the US tariff hikes on 60 countries taking effect on April 2nd, some Asian indices reported their worst decline in 14 years. Indian indices fell by around 5%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng by 12%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 by 8%, Taiwan's Taiex by 9.8%, China's CSI 300 by 8.08%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 by 4.4%, South Korea's Kospi by over 5%, and Shanghai’s SSE Composite index dropped by 8%. US indices, including the Nasdaq and S&P 500, suffered their worst two-day decline since March 2020, dropping by almost 6%. Dow Jones Industrial Average nosedived 2,200 points in one day, thus erasing over $6.6 trillion in overall market value. Global Brent crude oil benchmark tanked by 2.94% to $63.51 per barrel, its lowest in three years, and oil prices dissolved by 4% to $59.49 a barrel. Saudi Arabia reduced its crude oil prices by $2.30 per barrel for Asian buyers. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next