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Tech wrap June 17: Apple's back-to-school offers, Sony Bravia 8 II and more

Tech wrap June 17: Apple's back-to-school offers, Sony Bravia 8 II and more

Apple announces 'Back to School' offers on iPads, Macs in India: Details Apple has introduced its annual 'Back to School' promotional campaign in India, providing bundle offers and educational discounts on selected iPads and MacBooks. This limited-time offer runs from June 17 to September 30 and is accessible through Apple Store Online, the Apple Store app, and official retail stores in Delhi and Mumbai. Sony launches Bravia 8 II QD-OLED series TVs in India at Rs 246,990 onwards Sony has added a new lineup to its Bravia TVs in India with the unveiling of the Bravia 8 II QD-OLED series. These models are powered by the XR processor with integrated AI functionality. According to the company, the XR Contrast Booster improves both brightness and color depth, ensuring realistic picture quality and immersive audio for a theatre-like experience. The series includes 55-inch and 65-inch variants with support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Samsung Galaxy Watch to get sleep, heart, fitness tools with OneUI 8 update Samsung is preparing to release the One UI 8 Watch update for its Galaxy Watch line. This major software upgrade brings features aimed at enhancing sleep tracking, cardiovascular health, fitness goals, and nutrition insights. Initially, the update will be available through a beta program for select users. Asus launches Vivobook S14, S16 series with Intel, Qualcomm chips in India Asus has launched four new laptops in India as part of its Vivobook series: Vivobook S14 (models S3407QA and S3407CA) and Vivobook S16 (models S3607CA and S3607VA). Prices start at Rs 74,990 for the S14 and Rs 69,990 for the S16. These laptops offer AI-ready performance, premium metal construction, vibrant displays, and come preloaded with Microsoft Office Home 2024 with lifetime access. Additionally, buyers receive one-year access to 100GB of Microsoft 365 Basic OneDrive cloud storage. boAt Aavante Prime 5.1 5000DA Dolby Atmos soundbar launched at Rs 14,999 Homegrown brand boAt has introduced the Aavante Prime 5.1 5000DA soundbar system in India. Featuring Dolby Atmos support, this 5.1-channel setup delivers 500W RMS power and includes a central soundbar with left, right, and center speakers, a wired subwoofer, and dual wired rear satellite speakers. Trump Mobile launches T1 Phone and 47 Plan The Trump Organization, operated by Donald Trump's sons, has ventured into the smartphone space with the launch of the T1 Phone. Priced at $499, the device includes a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is currently available for pre-order on the Trump Mobile website and will go on sale in the US this September. Finished in gold, the phone is said to be both designed and manufactured in the United States. Amazfit unveils Active 2 Square smartwatch with 160 sports modes Chinese wearable brand Amazfit has launched the Active 2 Square smartwatch, a square-faced version of its recently introduced Active 2 model. Designed for users who prefer a geometric aesthetic, the smartwatch retains the same specifications as its round counterpart while offering a distinct visual identity. It is available with a black strap and an additional red strap. OnePlus Summer Launch: Nord 5, CE5, Buds 4 set to debut in India on July 8 OnePlus has announced its upcoming 'Summer Launch' event for July 8. At the event, the company will unveil two smartphones—Nord 5 and Nord CE5—along with a new pair of wireless earbuds, the OnePlus Buds 4. While specifications for the Nord 5 and Buds 4 have been shared, details on the Nord CE5 are yet to be disclosed. DRDO, IIT-Delhi demonstrate experimental progress in quantum communication India has made a notable advancement in quantum communication, which could pave the way for practical use in cyber security, as per the defence ministry. "The free-space quantum secure communication using quantum entanglement over a distance of more than one km was achieved via a free-space optical link established on the IIT-Delhi campus," it said in a statement on Monday. WhatsApp to start showing ads to users in parts of messaging app On Monday, WhatsApp confirmed that it will begin displaying advertisements within specific sections of the app. The move is part of Meta Platforms' broader initiative to monetize the messaging platform. Ads will appear in the Updates tab, which sees use from up to 1.5 billion people daily. Personal chat areas, however, will remain ad-free, developers confirmed. OpenAI wins $200 mn contract with Pentagon to pilot AI for defence tasks OpenAI has secured a $200 million deal with the US Department of Defense to explore the use of artificial intelligence in various administrative and security-related tasks. The one-year pilot project marks a significant move by the ChatGPT developer to expand its offerings to the government sector. AI Barbie incoming? Mattel taps OpenAI to power next-gen smart toys, games Toymaker Mattel has partnered with OpenAI to co-develop generative AI-enabled toys and games. The company—famous for brands like Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price—says this collaboration aims to bring innovative, age-appropriate AI experiences to children's playtime while prioritizing safety and privacy. Why OpenAI may be considering antitrust complaint against partner Microsoft The long-standing alliance between OpenAI and Microsoft appears to be under pressure, with OpenAI reportedly mulling over filing an antitrust case. According to The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI is considering accusing Microsoft of monopolistic control over critical infrastructure, tools, and future development within the partnership. Explained: India's 1-km quantum leap that makes eavesdropping impossible Remember Salman Khan in Judwaa—the double-role comedy with synchronized twins? Surprisingly, that analogy serves as a playful introduction to a concept that even baffled Einstein: quantum entanglement. India now a powerhouse in digital economy: Google India head Preeti Lobana India's rapid digital transformation has solidified its role as a major force in the global digital economy, according to Preeti Lobana, Country Manager and Vice President at Google India. She emphasized that continued growth hinges on maintaining trust and ensuring security, especially in the age of artificial intelligence.
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SBI to approach CBI after tagging Anil Ambani and RCom as ‘fraud'
SBI to approach CBI after tagging Anil Ambani and RCom as ‘fraud'

India Today

time16 minutes ago

  • India Today

SBI to approach CBI after tagging Anil Ambani and RCom as ‘fraud'

State Bank of India (SBI) has declared Reliance Communications (RCom) and its promoter director Anil D Ambani as 'fraud' and is now in the process of filing a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), reported news agency was stated in Parliament on Monday, according to the report. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, said that the classification was made on June 13, 2025, following the Reserve Bank of India's guidelines on fraud risk management and SBI's internal informed that the bank reported the fraud classification to the RBI on June 24, 2025, and is now taking steps to lodge a formal complaint with the July 1, 2025, the Resolution Professional for RCom informed the Bombay Stock Exchange about SBI's decision as part of the company's disclosure exposure to Reliance Communications includes a fund-based principal outstanding of Rs 2,227.64 crore, along with interest and expenses since August 26, 2016. In addition, there is a non-fund based bank guarantee exposure of Rs 786.52 Communications is currently undergoing the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The company's resolution plan has already been approved by its Committee of Creditors and was filed with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai, on March 6, 2020. A final decision from the NCLT is still also said that SBI has initiated personal insolvency proceedings against Anil Ambani under the same insolvency law, and the case is being heard by the NCLT in is not the first time the bank has classified the account as fraud. SBI had earlier tagged RCom and Ambani as 'fraud' on November 10, 2020, and had filed a complaint with the CBI on January 5, 2021. However, that complaint was returned due to a status quo order issued by the Delhi High Court on January 6, a Supreme Court ruling on March 27, 2023, in the case of State Bank of India & Others Vs Rajesh Agarwal & Others, lenders are now required to give borrowers a chance to respond before labelling their accounts as on that ruling, SBI had withdrawn the fraud tag on September 2, 2023. However, after restarting the process and adhering to the RBI's updated rules from July 15, 2024, the bank has once again classified the account as 'fraud'.- Ends advertisement

Are Indian homebuyers growing wealth or buying liabilities? Explains consultant
Are Indian homebuyers growing wealth or buying liabilities? Explains consultant

India Today

time16 minutes ago

  • India Today

Are Indian homebuyers growing wealth or buying liabilities? Explains consultant

Many Indian families dream of owning a house, but what if buying a home is actually stopping them from growing real wealth? Real-estate consultant Aishwaraya shri Kapoor explains why India's middle class is falling behind while the top 5% keep multiplying their money.'Most Indian homebuyers aren't building wealth. They're buying liabilities,' Kapoor wrote, pointing out that costs like stamp duty, GST, registration, and pre-EMI can eat up over Rs 50 lakh even before a Rs 2 crore property starts to gain value. advertisementWHY THE MIDDLE CLASS LOSESKapoor says the middle class often believes that once they get possession of a house, they're making progress. But she warns, 'Most believe possession equals progress. It doesn't.'Many people end up with what she calls 'dead capital,' money locked away that doesn't grow fast THE WEALTHY PLAY IT DIFFERENTLYSo how do India's richest keep winning? Kapoor says they follow what she calls the Value Mogration Model. Instead of waiting for years to get the keys, they buy early, exit before the crowd, and reinvest wisely. 'The Top 5% Think Differently. They don't wait for handover. They rotate capital,' Kapoor explains. According to her, the smart ones enter early at around Rs 12–14K per square foot, exit fast when rates touch Rs 18–20K per square foot, Reinvest in better assets like shop-cum-offices (SCOs), branded spaces, or rented floors and repeat every 2–3 years to keep returns above 25%Kapoor added that early investors in DLF made Rs 3–4 crore before they even got possession of their flats. But those who bought late were stuck with fewer gains and less flexibility. 'Same project. Different capital IQ,' she VS STRATEGYSo where does the middle class go wrong? Kapoor believes they buy homes with their hearts, not their heads. 'They buy for emotion. The wealthy buy for timing, exit, and rotation,' she concluded her post by saying, 'Ownership isn't outcome. Real wealth in real estate is engineered — not inherited, not imagined. It's time India's buyers start behaving like investors.'- Ends

Trump, India, Pahalgam: When Terrorists Are Easier To Deal With Than Tariffs
Trump, India, Pahalgam: When Terrorists Are Easier To Deal With Than Tariffs

NDTV

time16 minutes ago

  • NDTV

Trump, India, Pahalgam: When Terrorists Are Easier To Deal With Than Tariffs

Weeks after the Indian media engaged in a shrill diatribe against US President Donald Trump for claiming that he had ended the escalation between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the public sentiment against the US seems to be softening, thanks to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing that the State Department is going to designate the Terrorist Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist organisation, with a specific reference to the Pahalgam attack. That's a handshake of no mean order, especially after a series of western 'analysts' had desired 'proof' of the outfit's involvement in the attack. All this, of course, occurs in parallel with Trump apparently threatening a 100% secondary tariff on anyone who trades with Russia. But hold on. That is a reference to a proposed legislation supported by both political parties, which demands that 500% tariffs be levied on states trading with Russia - India included. So, the 'tariff man' is being outpaced by his own Congress. Things are not always what they seem. TRF Gets A Handle First, the designation of the TRF as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' has been welcomed by Foreign Minister Jaishankar as a "strong affirmation of Indo-US Counter terrorism cooperation", as indeed it is. Earlier, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had stated that India's efforts at the United Nations to get a similar listing had been blocked by Pakistan, and even a reference to it removed from a press statement by the Security Council on Pahalgam. So, the US move is not something to be set aside lightly. The TRF is an interesting entity. It announced its presence on encrypted platform Telegram after the abrogation of Article 370 and when the Lashkar-e-Taiba took a back seat due to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The TRF's name and imagery seems carefully chosen to avoid any "radical" religious flavour, as also to position itself as indigenous. But a series of attacks it has claimed, including against Makhan Lal Bindroo, a popular owner of a medical shop, as well as those against Sikh and Hindu schoolteachers, were clearly aimed at creating communal tensions. The outfit also threatened journalists and released 'lists' of those it was prepared to kill. Notably, the TRF was the first terrorist group to launch a twin drone attack, on the Jammu air base in 2021. In the Pahalgam incident, the group again claimed the attack on Telegram but back-tracked three days later as it became apparent that India was on the warpath and that the UN was getting ready to release a resolution. Unlike the LeT, the leadership of the TRF is diffused back in Pakistan, and their 'assets' are unknown. But their leaders in Pakistan have known and long-time Lashkar affiliations. One of them, Abu Qatal, who was shot in March this year in Jhelum, uses the same infiltration routes and is part of the United Jihad Council. So, if it walks, talks and looks like the LeT, it should be the LeT. The designation there is uncomfortable business for Rawalpindi - the now-famous 'lunch' of Field Marshal Asim Munir with Trump notwithstanding. Working Groups Are Working Hard Now consider this. Just days earlier, on July 16, the Wavelength Forum held in New Delhi brought together Quad partners to strengthen subsea cable connectivity and resilience across the Indo-Pacific region. Organised under the US State Department's 'CABLES' programme, it highlighted the critical role of subsea cables in supporting the global digital economy and the importance of using trusted vendors for construction, maintenance, and repair. That underlined India's growing importance as a digital hub accounting for some 20% of global internet traffic, and the common concerns of members. This delivered on the Quad foreign ministers' joint statement, which itself was short and crisp, unlike the usual long-winded and fuzzy documents earlier. It announced the first Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, the first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise, and a Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in the works. Separately, a read-out of the meeting between Foreign Minister Jaishankar and Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth was rich in content, noting 'dangers of aggression in the 'Asia Pacific' (a rather surprising nomenclature). Coming up is the signing of the next 10 Year Defense Framework, and progress on advanced technology policy reviews, which will take forward the landmark INDUS-X which has brought together innovators to US shores, as well as the launch of the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA), where our own innovators are racing ahead. Earlier, even as Operation Sindoor was unfolding, the Quad was holding a tabletop logistic exercise in Hawaii, while a joint working group on Aircraft Carrier Technology cooperation was held in May even as the operations wound down. In sum, there are more areas of cooperation that can be listed easily. And that's an ongoing process, set in place years ago, with the US administration showing every inclination to push all of this harder and faster. That Public Glitch Now consider the brouhaha on tariffs, which are announced with much fanfare even as a trade deal is being hinted at. That is not going to be easy as Trump wants access to agriculture, a sensitive area of Indian politicians and a huge voter base. True also that a bill sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham, widely credited with urging a change of heart to Pakistan under Imran Khan, has sponsored a bill calling for the President to "increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported into the United States from countries that knowingly engage in the exchange of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; that's the Trump administration's effort to get Russia to stop a wasteful and vicious war". In Sum... Much can be said about this pointless arm-twisting of countries like India, which did not start the war and have their own populations to think of in terms of inflation from rising oil prices. But the point is, relations between countries are not one composite whole. One may differ violently with one issue even while cooperating closely on another. True, with the Trump administration, there is a deliberate public confrontation in policy, but bureaucracies work quietly behind the scenes on sorting out issues with a country that is otherwise a 'Major Defence Partner', which for the first time, is becoming a two-way street. In other words, it is profitable for US companies to work here in this and other fields. It's a slow journey, but it's got to a place where a certain velocity has been achieved. After all, this is a path undertaken since at least George W Bush's days. The dangers of Trump linking trade with almost everything else persists - like pushing Apple to set up shop elsewhere - but the core relationship is in place. That, in turn, is based on one unchanging principle of US policy; which is never to allow another country to overtake it. As China grows in absolute terms, that is one fundamental that will determine relations with India. The danger is that there are also those in Washington who see India as growing too fast for comfort. US bureaucracy would ideally like all 'partners' to just roll over and play dead. Delhi is hardly in that league, and is a hitch that needs careful manoeuvring. Think of a certain 'warming' of relations with China recently. It's a dangerous game, but it seems the present dispensation seems confident. There are squalls ahead. Meanwhile, prepare to open all sluices as the Quad summit comes up.

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