Author: Aadarsh Satwant

At just $12, or 299 rupees, a new mobile phone is set to bridge the digital divide between India’s urban and rural population when it comes to mobile internet access.Launched by India’s telecom giant Reliance Communications, the Jio Bharat is a “feature phone” designed for first-time internet users, offering basic functions without the complexity – and cost – of a smartphone, CNBC reports. This 4G phone could help close India’s digital divide. Image: Jio Addressing the digital divide While India is the second-largest smartphone market in the world, around 250 million mobile phone users in India are still using 2G networks, which mainly…

A fan shared a video of how the movie Jailer was suddenly paused in the hall as everyone suddenly stood up and started cheering out loudly Rajinikanth fans were seen cheering for the superstar during his whistle-worthy entry scene in the film ‘Jailer’, which lead to pausing the movie in a theatre in Mumbai.  A video was captured on X, formerly called Twitter, by a fan who was present at the theatre and displayed a short clip of how the movie Jailer was suddenly paused in the hall as everyone suddenly stood up and started cheering out loud and clapping.  Just the stylish…

A U.S. watchdog says it has disclosed to Congress information about diversion and control of international humanitarian assistance by de facto Taliban authorities in Afghanistan. “We have just uncovered, as part of our response to the House Foreign [Affairs] Committee, some really horrific information about the problems with the U.N. operations in Afghanistan,” John Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), told an event at King’s College London on Thursday. Sopko did not offer more details about his findings saying the foreign affairs committee had tasked SIGAR to investigate and report to it whether U.S. aid to Afghanistan benefited…

Many Mumbaikars had to take a rain check on their Friday afternoon plans as three hours of downpour-between 11.30am and 2.30pm, Santacruz weather station recorded 89mm, categorised as heavy rainfall for 24 hours-combined with a high tide caused waterlogging in many areas and not only disrupted road traffic but also hit CR services hard. Harbour Down line services from Wadala to Mankhurd were suspended for nearly half an hour. July rainfall crossed the 1,000mm mark on Friday. Colaba and Santacruz recorded 93.2mm and 120mm in the 12 hours ending 8.30pm. For Saturday, an orange alert has been sounded for Mumbai…

RIYADH: A Saudi delegation is taking part in the fourth G20 Space Economy Leaders Meeting, which began on Thursday in Bengaluru, India. Mohammed Al-Tamimi, CEO of the Saudi Space Agency, is leading the Kingdom’s team at the two-day gathering, during which participants will discuss ways to enhance the role of the space economy and its tangible contributions to efforts to address global challenges and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The delegates include representatives of space agencies and related organizations from G20 member states, along with invited guests from other countries and the heads of…

India has reiterated its willingness to play a ‘constructive role’ in supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts for recovery from the worst economic crisis, said India’s Deputy High Commissioner Vinod K Jacob while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Construction, Power, and Energy Expo 2023 in Colombo on Friday.  He said that recent developments in India-Sri Lanka ties have strengthened the friendship and all-around cooperation between the two countries, according to the news agency PTI.  “We were the first creditor nation in January this year to convey the financing assurances needed to kick start the IMF process. India will continue to play a constructive…

Desirous of a career in the hospitality industry, Shane switched lanes and went on to study law in order to take over the legal battle from his father. October 20, 2011 was a night that altered the course of several lives. Two—Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandez, victims of the notorious Amboli Bar murders—were snuffed out and several others scarred beyond redemption. The killings also changed the life of Keenan’s younger brother, Shane, who was barely 19 then. Desirous of a career in the hospitality industry, Shane switched lanes and went on to study law in order to take over the…

Police in India’s Mumbai city have opened an investigation into the murder of a woman, allegedly by her live-in partner of three years. They say 32-year-old Saraswati Vaidya’s body was found in her apartment in Mira Road district on Wednesday. Police have arrested her partner Manoj Sane, 56, on charges of murder. They allege he “brutally killed” Vaidya and dismembered the body. Mr Sane is in custody and has not yet made any public statement. Police say they reached Mr Sane’s apartment on Wednesday evening after some residents of the building complained of “a foul smell” coming from the house.…

On 16 June 2013, a cloudburst in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand caused devastating floods and landslides that destroyed several villages and towns. Thousands of people were swept away, and many bodies were never recovered. Ten years after the disaster, Ram Karan Beniwal – who was in the temple town of Kedarnath, one of the worst-affected areas – recalls the day the floods tore apart his family. On 9 June 2013, my wife and I and five others (my two brothers, their wives and one more relative) left for Kedarnath from our home town of Jodhpur in Rajasthan. My…

India Meteorological Department has issued a heatwave alert for seven states, officials said on Sunday. Heat wave conditions are very likely over some areas of Uttar Pradesh and Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, south Haryana, West Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and north Madhya Pradesh, according to the department. Hot and discomforting weather is expected over Odisha during the next five days, as well as over Konkan region, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala until Monday. As the blistering summer heat continues to grip several states, people have been flocking to ice cream shops and cold drink joints in search of relief.