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< Back McDonald’s and Crocs launch footwear merchandise 20 Nov 2023 The brand will offer a fast food themed footwear collection inspired by McDonald’s characters Grimace, Birdie, and Hamburglar. McDonald's has partnered with Crocs to sell its fast food themed footwear in select countries, in some Crocs retail and wholesale outlets and Crocs.com . The footwear range falls between $70 and $75, inspired by McDonald’s Birdie, Grimace, and Hamburglar characters. The Grimace-inspired shoes are faux fur lined sandals, while the other two are clogs. The red and yellow coloured clogs in sync with the brand’s theme will also be available. Customers can also get the option to buy matching socks starting at $20. The merchandise includes McDonald’s themed Jibbitz charms like the brand’s golden arches, the Big Mac, and French fires that can be attached to the clogs. The fast food giant had partnered with British skate brand PALACE in August to launch limited edition merchandise. This is McDonald’s first-ever shoe collaboration as the brand attempts to utilise the similar fanbase the two brands share. Previous Next

< Back Air India introduces Wi-Fi on domestic, int’l flights 6 Jan 2025 From January 1st, 2025, Air India introduced the service on all flights operated by Airbus A350, a few Airbus A321neo, and Boeing 787-9. On January 1st, Air India became the first Indian carrier to introduce Wi-Fi onboard domestic and international routes. The service will be available to all passengers free of cost during the introductory period. The airline hasn’t yet specified till when the complementary period will last. Users can use Wi-Fi on Android and iOS smartphones, laptops, and tablets and connect multiple devices above an altitude of 10,000 feet. To use Wi-Fi, users can select the ‘Air India Wi-Fi’ network from Wi-Fi settings. On being directed to the Air India portal on the browser, enter the PNR and last name to access complimentary internet service. The national carrier conducted a pilot programme on international routes to New York, Singapore, London, and Paris. In-flight Wi-Fi connectivity depends on satellite systems, routes, government regulations, and bandwidth availability. However, Air India intends to gradually extend the services to more aircraft in its fleet. Previous Next

< Back MS Teams app to be launched on Android Auto in February 8 Jan 2024 Users will be able to join meetings and make calls directly from the calendar view mirrored on the car’s screen via the Android Auto app. After a year’s delay, the Microsoft Teams app will finally be available on Android Auto starting in February. The app will allow users to make calls via speed dial and join meetings directly from the calendar view on the Teams app. Although driving and working are incompatible and illegal in many cities, this feature could come in handy, especially for parked cars, joining conference calls, or narrating tasks. However, MS Teams won’t allow video calls, and users will have to park their cars and take video calls from their mobile phones. More details are awaited by the company. The Teams app has been available on iOS CarPlay since 2021. Android Auto is Google’s app that mirrors phone functions onto the car screen. It offers enlarged icons, easy-to-browse menus and voice-activated controls to make it easier to command while driving. Previous Next

< Back India’s renewable power generation rises 86% since 2014 9 Oct 2024 Global investors pledged to invest ₹32 lakh crore at the RE-Invest 2024 Summit. India’s renewable energy (RE) rose to 360 billion units in 2024 from 193.5 billion units in 2014. Its capacity has increased 175% from 75 gigawatts (GW) to 208 GW against its target of 500 GW renewable energy by 2030. Projects for 91 GW of power are currently in tendering. India now ranks 4th globally in renewable energy installed and wind power capacity. Its solar energy capacity has grown 33 times since 2014. In 2023, India achieved two Nationally Determined Contribution targets ahead of time. Between 2005 and 2019, the share of carbon emissions intensity to GDP was reduced by 33%, against the target of 33-35% by 2030. It also had a target to achieve an overall electric power installed capacity from renewable sources of around 40% by 2030. On October 31st, 2023, it recorded this capacity from renewable sources at 186.46 MW, which is 43.81% of the total installed capacity. Previous Next

< Back Telecom Department, mobile operators target fake int’l callers with Indian numbers 27 May 2024 The ‘Sanchar Saathi’ portal’s RICWIN module will identify international callers with an Indian number and assist users in reporting such callers. The Sanchar Saathi portal, launched by the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) in May 2023, assists in identifying fake international callers with Indian numbers. These international criminals manipulate the Caller Line Identity (CLI) to display local numbers to conduct financial fraud, cybercrime, fake digital arrests, drugs and narcotics in couriers, FedEx scams, and impersonating government and police officials. The Telecom Service Providers already block international callers with Indian landline numbers and have also been directed by the DoT to block mobile calls. Using Sanchar Saathi, users can report fraud cases, check the mobile numbers issued in their names, and disconnect the ones they did not take. The portal’s TAFCOP module assists in checking the genuineness of the device while buying a new mobile phone. The CEIR module can help block and track a lost or stolen phone. The Chakshu mode facilitates reporting fraud, suspecting and unsolicited calls, SMSes, and WhatsApp messages. Previous Next

< Back GIFT City, Gujarat, pulling Indian startup HQs back home Ishita Nigam 19 Sept 2023 International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) set up an International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat to stop Indian startups from setting up headquarters in foreign locations. PhonePe shifted its headquarters back home from Singapore last year, and up to 20 Indian startups are planning to follow suit. Among those who are interested in ‘Desh Wapsi’ or reverse flipping are Groww and Razorpay. These companies set up their base abroad due to high taxes, unsupportive business environment, mandatory guidelines from investors like Y Combinator, and ineffective Intellectual Property Laws. That’s when IFSCA’s International Financial Services Centre was set up in GIFT City, Gujarat. The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is a foreign territory in India, offering tax exemptions and simplified financial norms. The 530+ startups registered there can transact in foreign currency, move their capital and investments in and out of India, and enjoy a business-friendly environment with access to venture capitalists and fintech centres. SEBI, RBI, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) regulate GIFT City’s functioning. Previous Next

< Back Chinese AI entrant sends US stock markets crashing 28 Jan 2025 DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, performed better than ChatGPT with fewer resources. DeepSeek, founded by Liang Wenfeng in May 2023, specialises in efficient and affordable open source large language models (LLMs). Open sourcing makes it available to researchers and developers. It has two models DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1. DeepSeek uses Reinforcement Learning (RL), allowing its models to comprehend and improve more efficiently. Its models were built using 50,000 Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) compared to OpenAI’s 500,000 GPUs. DeepSeek’s cost-effective offerings caused the US tech indices to lose around $1 trillion. Nvidia’s stocks plummeted by 17% on Monday, and the company lost $589 billion in one day, the biggest single-day loss to a US company ever. Nvidia saw a meteoric rise in net profits from $4.8 billion in 2022 to $66.7 billion in 2024 mainly due to its GPUs that sell for $25,000 per piece. DeepSeek’s model used Nvidia’s GPUs for training. With this, Apple became the most valuable company globally again. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Previous Next

< Back No funding, unsellable EVs deepen BluSmart’s troubles 8 Apr 2025 Gensol Engineering, BluSmart’s sister concern, witnessed its market cap slide from ₹4,250 crore in May 2024 to now ₹665 crore. On March 28th, Refex withdrew its deal to buy 2,997 EVs from Gensol. Gensol, founded in 2012, is a listed solar engineering and construction enterprise. BluSmart, founded in 2019, is its sister concern. Anmol Singh Jaggi founded both companies. BluSmart’s rise in Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru is attributed to better-quality cabs, punctuality, and well-trained drivers with minimal cancellations. It raised USD24 million in July 2024 from MS Dhoni’s Family Office, ReNew, and Zurich-based responsibility Investments. BluSmart positioned as a sustainable alternative to Uber and Ola, who hire drivers having their own cars. Gensol took loans from the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) to buy EVs, which BluSmart picked up. BluSmart’s profits did not benefit Gensol as they are separate entities. Gensol now has IREDA’s unpaid loans worth ₹470 crores, thus affecting its credit rating, reputation, and share price. BluSmart entered a leasing partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra, Kinto, and Orix. Never miss another post from SalestorrsNews150. Follow Salestorrs on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next

< Back Union Cabinet unanimously approves One Nation, One Election report 19 Sept 2024 The panel led by former Indian president Ram Nath Kovind had presented the report in March ahead of the Lok Sabha election announcement. The ‘One Nation, One Election’ report was part of the Law Ministry’s 100-day agenda for the new government. The bill could be introduced during Parliament’s winter session. It suggests several changes in the election format, including simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, thus reducing the election frequency to save resources and boost social cohesion. The polls of local bodies like Municipalities and Panchayats are proposed to be held within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. It also recommended introducing common voter ID and electoral roll cards by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and establishing a specialised Implementation Group to ensure proper execution of this panel’s recommendations. Its complete implementation requires amendments to the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act. A PTI report states that the Law Commission may recommend simultaneous elections at the central, state, and local levels starting in 2029. Previous Next

< Back Tesla signs semiconductor procurement deal with Tata Electronics 15 Apr 2024 Tata Electronics will provide semiconductor chips for Tesla’s global operations. Tesla signed a strategic agreement with Tata Electronics a few months ago to procure semiconductors for operations worldwide. It aims to set up operations in India. Elon Musk is expected to visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the company’s potential investments in the country. This will position Tata Electronics as a trustworthy supplier to major international clients looking to establish a semiconductor value chain in India. This move backs Tesla’s strategy to set up its presence in India. Tata Electronics is strengthening its C-suite by recruiting top-level executives. Tata Electronics invested $14 billion in the semiconductor facilities in Assam, Dholera, and Hosur. Tesla has been looking for sources beyond China for critical EV parts like electric motors and battery packs. Tesla is expected to invest $2-3 billion in establishing electric vehicle manufacturing in India. The top contenders include Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, which have established automotive hubs. Previous Next

< Back Chinese brands secure four of the five top spots in Indian mobile market 19 Jul 2024 The Chinese mobile maker Xiaomi regained the top spot after six quarters when its shipments grew by 24% annually. Fuelled by high demand, Chinese mobile phones are flooding the Indian market and securing top spots. In the first quarter of FY2025, Xiaomi and Vivo held the first and second positions, each with an 18% market share, followed by the Korean brand Samsung, with a 17% share. More Chinese brands, Realme and Oppo, rank fourth and fifth in India with a 12% and an 11% share. The overall market share of Chinese smartphone brands in India spiked to over 75% from 61% in the July-September quarter last year. The June 2024 quarter saw a 1% increase in mobile shipments, with 36.4 million unit sales. The market research firm Canalys says demand for mobile phones dropped in the July-September quarter due to elections, an extreme heatwave across the country, and low seasonal demand. Xiaomi India has been undergoing trial by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its third-party payments since 2014. Previous Next

< Back Merchant Shipping Bill, Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill passed 8 Aug 2025 The Lok Sabha on August 6th passed the Merchant Shipping Bill. On August 7th, the Rajya Sabha passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill. The Merchant Shipping Bill 2024 was introduced by the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Provisions: Aligns Indian laws with global conventions like the Wreck Removal Convention and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Widens ownership eligibility rules so more entities can own vessels and participate in maritime trade. Replaces the old Merchant Shipping Act of 1958. Establishes transparent procedures for investigating marine accidents. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill swaps the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925. Provisions: Modernises the maritime law governing domestic and international cargo movement from Indian ports. Aligns Indian maritime laws with the global conventions, especially the Hague-Visby Rules, followed by the UK and other countries. Redefines the duties, liabilities, rights, and immunities of carriers and shippers. Empowers the central government to govern its implementation. Amends Bills of Lading schedules. Never miss another post from SalestorsNews150. Follow Salestors on WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Facebook , X , and Instagram . Previous Next