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  • India and France Have Agreed to Use UPI for Payments in Rupees Says PM Modi

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently allowed Indian tourists visiting France to make payments using India’s UPI payment mechanism, marking an impressive step for digital payments in India and helping people avoid carrying large sums of cash and using foreign exchange cards for transactions.

    UPI (Unified Payment Interface) enables fund transfers, bill payments and peer-to-peer collect requests with scheduled delivery dates at ease from multiple bank accounts through one mobile application. It has quickly become a hit across India; even small vendors such as tea sellers are offering this facility.

    UPI (Universal Payment Interface) has rapidly evolved over the last four years from a small feature on smartphones into one of the world’s leading mobile payment platforms, connecting over 11,000 banks and over 40,000 merchants – many apps like PhonePe, Paytm and Amazon Pay also support UPI.

    PM Modi, on a two-day visit to France, said the new initiative would enable both Indians living in France and French citizens visiting India to make seamless payments while they are there. He called this “a significant step” toward digital integration of Indians overseas.

    At the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed how closely India and France have collaborated over time in multiple fields. Recalling his role as founding member of an Alliance Francaise cultural centre located in Ahmedabad over 40 years ago in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad state, PM Modi noted how digital infrastructure helps strengthen bilateral relationships between both nations.

    Archaeological missions being conducted by both countries were also mentioned. He mentioned how archaeological missions can strengthen relationships between both nations, with archaeological missions working toward deepening ties between them. Finally, he stated that India will soon provide long-term five-year visas for students who pursue masters programs in France – this represents an improvement over earlier arrangements where only two year work visas were available to Indian students pursuing such programs.

    PM Modi spoke of India’s progress in combatting poverty and how recent declarations by the International Monetary Fund indicate extreme poverty is nearly eliminated in India. Such efforts not only benefit India but all humanity as a whole.

    PM Modi also encouraged Indian diaspora members to contribute to India’s development and growth, noting its phenomenal economic expansion that will soon see it reach $5 trillion economy status. He thanked Wimbledon champion Roger Federer for calling him Thalaiva as an indication of strength of Indian community worldwide; and thanked India’s young entrepreneurs for leading such an unprecedented surge in economic expansion.

  • EA Sports FC 24 Revealed

    EA Sports series have been around for some time and FC 24 could mark its final installment under the FIFA banner. Instead, this year the company is planning on revamping and revitalising the title with some major adjustments and additions.

    HyperMotion V, developed by EA Sports and designed to recreate the rhythm of real-world soccer in virtual reality, analyzes footage from 180 top-level matches before creating precise gameplay animations within days based on that data. Furthermore, HyperMotion can even enhance existing movements by adding subtleties or speed.

    Another major addition this year is “Evolutions,” a player type designed to increase rating, stats and Play Styles of selected squad members. According to the company, Evolutions require players to complete specific objectives before watching their characters improve; watching as their abilities increase while their card designs transform as well. There are various methods by which Evolutions can be unlocked, including challenges and events within Ultimate Team.

    EA will bring a fresh new look and feel to their Ultimate Team mode in 2019, adding more diverse teams and offering greater rewards. Furthermore, there will be features allowing players to add one of the stars from this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup directly into their teams, along with collaborations between EA Sports, Adidas Beats & Pepsi for even greater customization options and rewards!

    The standard edition of The Last Guardian will release on September 29 for PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch platforms. Pre-orders will gain three days early access.

    Fans can purchase the Ultimate Edition to commemorate this release, featuring Manchester City player on its cover as well as other exclusives. Ordering before August 22 will earn players an untradeable UCL and UWCL Hero item in November!

    EA Sports will still use Frostbite engine for FC 24, but has added exciting and revolutionary new elements that push its visual capabilities in new and innovative ways. These include GPU-driven cloth physics and Hypermotion Volumetric technology which adds depth to visuals; latter harnessing power of PlayStation 5 for realistic looking motion capture.

    This year’s game will include 700 teams across 30 leagues. These leagues include Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga Santander, CONMEBOL Libertadores and NWSL; with both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League set to make an appearance as well. Although few details have been shared so far about this year’s release yet, a gameplay trailer will be made available on July 13.

  • Chandrayaan 3 Launch Successful Lander Expected to Land on Moon on August 23

    On July 14th, India’s space agency successfully launched Chandrayaan 3, its mission to the Moon with hopes that India might join only four other countries to successfully soft land a spacecraft on the lunar surface. Vikram and Pragyan, two spacecraft in this mission are involved. Together they aim to study its composition.

    At 2:35 local time on Nov. 20, a rocket lifted off from Sriharikota spaceport at 2:35 PM local time, carrying both the lunar lander and rover toward space for their month-long mission to explore it. Over 1.4 million viewers tuned into ISRO’s YouTube livestream of liftoff to watch, many offering congratulations or shouts of “Victory to India!” (Jai Hind).

    If all goes as planned, India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft will land on the lunar surface August 23. Once on board, its rover is expected to explore and measure seismic activity before returning home on its own accord in less than 75 million. Achieved at such low cost – while also drawing private firms into space exploration. This landmark event would mark an incredible accomplishment for India’s space ecosystem as an achievement worth celebrating while helping attract private firms into low cost exploration efforts.

    Chandrayaan-3 differs from past missions by targeting less accessible equatorial regions on the moon; rather, Chandrayaan-3 will travel to its south pole – an area of particular interest to governments and private enterprises because it could contain water ice resources for future human missions. To increase chances of landing successfully, scientists redesigned and upgraded Chandrayaan-3’s lander, strengthening legs to allow higher velocity landing speeds; broadening ranges for touchdown speeds within which spacecrafts touch down range; upgrading avionics also allows spacecrafts to assess speed through lunar atmosphere descent – in short enhancing chances of landing successfully.

    Even when all goes according to plan, landing is still extremely challenging; three of four attempts made previously by ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2 to land have failed during its final descent and crashed as planned in 2019. Before the launch, scientists conducted extensive testing to identify any likely failure points and find ways to prevent them. According to ISRO chairman S. Somanath at a press briefing held July 6, they took an “anti-failure design approach”. “We have identified potential failures, and devised plans to prevent them. One such measure involves employing new software that interprets spacecraft speed from video images instead of solely static pictures as Chandrayaan-2 did.” Somanath called this new technology “a game-changer”, noting its importance in ensuring safe landing of spacecraft and rovers on lunar surfaces. Furthermore, Somanath noted how similar systems could be utilized for future missions by cooperating nations or training astronauts for space travel.

  • Oppenheimer Cast Walk Out of London Premiere in Solidarity With Actors on Strike

    Oppenheimer cast members walked out of its London premiere Thursday evening in solidarity with US actor’s union SAG-AFTRA’s call for strike over contract negotiations with Hollywood studios. Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Florence Pugh left an hour before it was due to start at Odeon Luxe theatre in Leicester Square to show their support of US actors union SAG-AFTRA calling for action in contract negotiations negotiations between Hollywood studios and SAG-AFTRA.

    Since 1952, two major Hollywood guilds have gone on strike together and halted production – for the first time in 60 years! Actors’ demands align with those of the Writers Guild of America which has been picketing since May 2 in an effort to secure higher wages and streaming residuals.

    The strike is scheduled to last until a new agreement has been struck, which could impact award shows, premieres and events in the immediate future. There is also concern that it could disrupt shoots and rehearsals across the US where most filming occurs; consequently it is anticipated that Tuesday’s 75th Annual Emmy Awards nominations announcement may have to be postponed in light of this potential strike.

    SAG-AFTRA’s 160,000 film and television performers voted to strike after failing to reach an agreement with studio bosses over improved pay, healthcare access and protection against artificial intelligence. Negotiations failed on Wednesday evening; its contract had previously run through May 2 but has now expired.

    US producers have stated they cannot reach an agreement that provides similar benefits as those currently provided to writers, directors and cinematographers. Furthermore, a pay rise for performers would not be financially sustainable and so they want to reduce work hours required of them.

    Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolan’s biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man responsible for leading the US nuclear bomb project. Starring Peaky Blinders star Peter Murphy as Oppenheimer as well as Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Rami Malek – it will hit cinemas nationwide July 21.

    The UK cast of this movie features predominantly British actors who do not fall under SAG-AFTRA contracts but instead must join Equity union in Britain. Reportedly, UK actors joined US actors in leaving the event en masse, although it remains unclear if this action was done as an act of solidarity or simply because they desired to attend other events. House of Cards’ cast has also joined in support of strikers by boycotting premier events for premiere episodes shot within the US and internationally. Equity has issued guidance to its members stating they do not have legal protection from dismissal for striking in solidarity with international unions, due to UK labor law which forbids employees from leaving work without notice or penalty.

  • Google Play Games For PC Beta Launches in India

    Technology giant Google has unveiled the beta launch of their Android Google Play Games for PCs, giving gamers access to an assortment of mobile titles on Windows computers without needing an emulator – taking advantage of larger screens and improved controls while playing! The tech titan states this move allows gamers more convenience.

    Google Play Games for PC also supports cross-platform functionality so gamers can continue their progress across devices. Furthermore, Google states it will work closely with developers to optimize the experience on PC as well as introduce new features based on player feedback.

    Google Play Games for PC will offer Indian gamers access to a diverse collection of mobile titles designed for a larger screen with improved controls made possible through keyboards and mice, such as Ludo King and Hitwicket Games from local developers as well as globally acclaimed titles like Eversoul, Lords Mobile, Evony: The King’s Return. In addition, users will enjoy features such as keymapping to customize their gaming experience.

    Google has made their service even more accessible by lowering the minimum PC requirements necessary for running its platform. These requirements now include at least 8GB RAM, an SSD with 10 GB free storage space, and an Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU or similar for running the software on. Furthermore, compatible phones running the latest Android version must also be present so as to connect to this PC and access its services.

    Google’s announcement that they would rollout Google Play Games PC version in India marks an important moment for gamers across all devices, signaling its commitment to provide this experience and improve it based on user feedback.

    Google Play Games is currently in beta and will initially be offered in English and Hindi for users in India. Google plans on gradually expanding this service across more regions over time.

    Google recently unveiled multiple services geared specifically towards India. This included integrating its UPI Lite mobile payments app into Google Pay and adding support for multiple Indian languages in Bard, its generative AI chatbot. Furthermore, they integrated Google Assistant with UPI Lite app so as to facilitate voice and text queries in Hindi; this initiative aimed at providing better connectivity and ease of use while using UPI Lite app in rural areas as part of government plans to bring digital financial inclusion. Furthermore, Google partnered with India’s largest bank for customers via digital loans that were provided digital loans by that bank to meet government vision of digital financial inclusion goals; additionally they partnered with India’s largest bank to offer digital loans directly.

  • Nothing Phone 2 Design May Soon Be Cloned by Infinix for Upcoming Phone

    Last year, London-based startup Nothing surprised everyone by unveiling something completely unique with their Phone 1. Featuring LEDs on its back that not only provided aesthetic value but also functioned as physical indicators of notifications such as calls and apps as well as charging status indicators, this transparent handset stood out due to its innovative design. Though not the most powerful smartphone available at that time, its unique look certainly stood out among competitors.

    Since releasing its Phone 1 back in 2023, Nothing has not altered their design much – likely for good reason. Their new Phone 2, however, almost resembles its predecessor with minor differences to the Glyph Interface and center-aligned hole punch selfie camera cutout. Furthermore, it likely includes a curved glass rear panel and larger 4,700mAh battery and will run the latest version of Nothing OS which was announced back in January 2023.

    Though it doesn’t offer major innovations, the new Phone 2 should still provide an enjoyable user experience. Unlike many Android phones, the Phone 2 doesn’t bloat itself with unnecessary features that you might not need or want – instead providing an uncluttered user interface free from ads and 5G bands support as well as meeting European Parliament regulations requiring smartphones be designed with replaceable batteries.

    Nothing may also focus on its software with the new Phone 2 to improve its OS, offering enhanced fingerprint support and further features utilizing Glyph Interface such as a Glyph Timer which displays how long your cab or food delivery will be taking and integration with Uber and Zomato to display an ETA via LEDs on the Phone 2.

    Infinix hasn’t officially confirmed its plans to develop a smartphone similar to the Nothing Phone 2. However, they posted a teaser tweet suggesting so – with what appears to be LED strips visible on its rear panel.

    Carl Pei, Infinix CEO responded to Infinix CEO Jack Ma’s tweet by suggesting it’s “time to get the lawyers ready,” which was followed by an amused smiley. A lawsuit may not be in the cards yet, but it will be interesting to see how close the Infinix phone will come in comparison to Nothing Phone 2. You can listen in on our discussion of Orbital about Nothing Phone 2 on Spotify, JioSaavn, Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts or wherever else you get podcasts – until then catch up here or here on Orbital episodes that may already exist!

  • iPhone 15 Pro Max to Be More Expensive Than iPhone 14 Pro Max

    Apple’s policy of gradually rolling Pro features into standard iPhone models makes an intuitive development strategy, but can leave entry-level iPhones feeling neglected. The forthcoming iPhone 15 series is no exception: according to leaks, it may feature a powerful new processor for multitasking apps as well as enhanced low light capability in its camera upgrade – though be prepared for an increase in price if you want one of these phones!

    CNBC quoted Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives’ warning that iPhone 15 average selling prices (ASPs) will see significant increases, according to multiple other analysts and insiders including Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities. Ives was not alone in making this prediction: other analysts such as Jeff Pu have made similar assertions as well.

    Pu’s most recent note suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro will be more expensive at launch than its predecessor – currently selling at $1,099 asking price – due to rumor about including periscope lens to enhance optical zoom capabilities. Pro Max variant may experience the largest increase in price.

    A periscope lens uses mirrors to direct light entering a camera’s telephoto lens toward its image sensor, allowing for longer telephoto setup and 5-6x optical zoom compared to 3x zoom found on iPhone 14 Pro models.

    Another factor contributing to an iPhone 15 Pro price increase could be its more powerful processor, the A17. Reportedly built on 3nm technology for optimal efficiency, it could provide up to 15% faster speeds with 30% lower energy use compared to Apple’s current 5nm chip; making this device overall more energy-efficient than the iPhone 14.

    Depending on whether the rumors about the camera are confirmed, now may be an exciting time to purchase an iPhone. Apple usually unveils their latest lineup around September.

    MacRumors recently provided us with video of dummy units for the iPhone 15 series that include rounded edges, USB-C ports, and taptic buttons whose vibrations will mimic being touched even when not physically moving.

    Rumor has it that you could get your hands on an iPhone 15 Pro Max starting in September for around $1,099/PS1,449. Keep in mind, however, that its price could rise as more desirable features make their way down into its base model – although if waiting is an option more affordable alternatives exist.

  • EU Announces New Data Transfer Pact With US Faces Fresh Challenges

    Brussels — The EU officially unveiled on Monday a data transfer pact between itself and the United States to end legal uncertainty for thousands of companies that transfer Europeans’ personal information across the Atlantic for services ranging from cloud infrastructure to payroll services. This agreement seeks to reassure multinationals they can safely move data despite concerns over electronic spying by the National Security Agency; furthermore it allows European citizens multiple avenues for redress, according to the Commission.

    The data transfer pact marks Brussels’ third attempt to find an acceptable arrangement for personal data to flow between Europe and the US, after two previous agreements were invalidated by Europe’s highest court over concerns related to alleged National Security Agency surveillance of Europeans’ private information. Failing to reach an agreement could force companies to cease operations within EU or cease transfers altogether – potentially hurting GDP growth and jobs creation.

    Establishment of an independent Data Protection Review Court will create a new redress mechanism, hearing complaints by Europeans about data being transferred to the United States. European data protection authorities can take enforcement actions if they believe companies have breached the new framework while the redress court may order suspension or deletion of transfers by certain firms of personal data.

    Data flows between the EU and US are essential for both economic growth and social progress, given their respective roles as attractive investment markets for European firms. A recent study estimated that without cross-Atlantic transfers the global economy would suffer by losing an estimated annual $1 trillion; to restore trust to this exchange pact’s redress court and binding safeguards.

    But the new pact faces immediate obstacles: non-profit privacy and digital rights group noyb, led by Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems, has already stated its intentions of challenging it before the European Court of Justice (CJEU), noting its changes seem minimal, insufficiently addressing concerns over bulk surveillance activities conducted by NSA and failing to adequately address concerns over bulk surveillance activities conducted by US spying services like NSA.

    Holger Lutz of Clifford Chance law firm agrees, noting that although redress and binding safeguards are beneficial, they fall short in providing essential equivalence that European courts require when assessing compliance of data transfer agreements with European laws. He notes that although the Redress Court will certainly add value in adjudicating complaints effectively or suspend or delete transfers.

    EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders stated on Monday that he anticipates the European Redress Court will be established by 2023. Reynders noted that for it to function effectively, changes need to be made in U.S. surveillance laws to address issues raised by Europe’s top court.

  • Amid India’s Crypto-Market Euphoria, Retail Investors Are Experimenting With Over-the-Counter Crypto Trading

    As India’s Crypto Market Boasts Excitement, Retail Investors Are Experimenting With Over-the-Counter Trading

    OTC market development is helping Indian investors diversify beyond cryptocurrency investments, which allows for better liquidity and avoidance of wildly volatile market conditions that have made crypto investing so popular. Furthermore, trading OTC allows traders to avoid paying TDS (tax deducted at source).

    This represents a dramatic turning point for an industry which had struggled to establish itself due to regulatory uncertainty. Investors had been wary of investing in crypto startups due to concerns regarding taxes, security and overall viability; venture capital firms had avoided funding crypto startups while institutional investors were unclear how best to map their trading activities with existing norms around accounting for long-term capital gains – this led to an underdeveloped crypto market in India.

    Now, some leading crypto exchanges are providing over-the-counter trading to their users, enabling them to invest directly in digital assets while taking advantage of increased liquidity. Furthermore, these companies offer various other services including remittances and lending facilities for their customers.

    According to experts, India’s OTC crypto market is expanding quickly as more people embrace virtual currencies like bitcoin. This represents an important step towards financial inclusion as more individuals will be able to invest in the sector without going through a cumbersome depositing process at an exchange.

    However, while OTC markets may be expanding quickly, they face their own unique set of obstacles such as consumer ignorance and price fluctuation of cryptocurrency investments. Still, experts consider it to be an attractive investment option for many investors.

    Nischal Shetty, CEO of WazirX, remains confident that India’s OTC crypto market will expand as more stakeholders push for nuanced cryptocurrency regulations to safeguard rupee monetary sovereignty and to regulate this sector effectively. He expresses optimism regarding an expansion in India’s OTC cryptocurrency market as the government strives to regulate it effectively and address threats it poses to rupee monetary sovereignty.

    Meanwhile, the OTC market could help Indian social media and gaming platforms to better meet customer needs by rewarding them for their time, attention and contributions. It also offers them a flexible commercial canvas on which they can promote their products and services. Please be aware that this article serves only for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice, trading recommendations, or forecasts. NDTV cannot accept responsibility for any losses sustained as a result of perceived recommendations or information provided here. Cryptocurrency is a speculative asset not supported by banks or governments and its value may fluctuate – investors should conduct their own research before making decisions based on this advice.

  • Google Currently Testing New GBoard Feature That Can Recover Deleted Text

    Google’s Gboard virtual keyboard has gained wide usage, offering various practical functions like gesture typing and intelligent auto-correction. Unfortunately, however, its app was lacking an essential feature – an “undo” button to undo unintended taps or accidental selections made in text fields.

    Google appears to be working towards changing that, according to reports. They are currently testing out a GBoard feature which will restore deleted text on Android smartphones – similar to desktop operating systems’ “Control+Z” or “Command+Z” commands, it reportedly works like this by allowing users to revert actions and restore deleted texts.

    As reported by 9to5Google, this new GBoard feature is being tested in the latest beta of GBoard and can be accessed through its overflow menu. Google recently enabled customization options for this overflow menu which allow this new button to be brought up higher for easier accessibility – although final implementation could differ and offer further increases in accessibility.

    The video demo posted by the website illustrates how the GBoard “undo” button works as an accidental backspace is accidentally selected and press backspace, the overflow button allows the user to tap an “undo” button that restores all deleted or selected text from search bars; similarly, this method could also be used to undelete text from specific fields in text editors.

    The “undo” button can also be pinned to the toolbar, ensuring it remains at the forefront of all other buttons and menus. Mishaal Rahman, an Android detective who verified this new feature on a Pixel device, conducted tests to confirm its functionality; he confirmed that GBoard undo works just like its desktop equivalent allowing him to recover several paragraphs deleted via backspace key or eraser icon deletion.

    As part of its update, GBoard will reportedly offer support for “Show Clipboard History”, which allows users to track all clips they’ve copied across applications and share them across apps simultaneously. Furthermore, you will have the ability to copy multiple items at the same time using this feature and share them across platforms. Starting today, Pixel devices will begin receiving this new feature as part of Android 13, and other handsets should receive it later this year. It will become part of this latest operating system update. Google’s privacy dashboard will also make its debut later this year on OS, complete with its innovative “show 7 days” option for quickly viewing which applications have accessed your private information over the last seven days. All this will come together as part of Gboard’s next update which also introduces floating keyboard mode and one-handed mode support – for more info, follow us on Twitter for updates!