Mobile Financial News

Mumbai has stirred concerns about passenger safety as a citizen captured footage of an Uber driver watching videos on his mobile phone while navigating through busy streets. The passenger, identified as Venkat, shared the video on social media, expressing alarm over the driver's unsafe behaviour during the ride. In the video, the Uber driver is seen scrolling through content on his phone, which was placed on his lap while driving. Venkat took to social media, posting, «I am not feeling safe to travel in @Uber_India these days as the drivers are driving dangerously.

Bengaluru, there's a discussion about extending the Namma Metro rail network to suburban areas, and not everyone is excited about it. Many people are asking, «Why go outside the city when the main parts are still not connected?» The deputy chief minister, DK Shivakumar, recently talked to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to get permission for this extension. The plan is to reach places like Bidadi, Hoskote, Harohalli, and Nelamangala. However, some are not happy with this idea.

Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment & Promotion Board has initiated the application process for the recruitment of 921 Sub Inspector (SI) and Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) positions. The online application and fee deposit period commenced on January 7, concluding on January 28. Applicants can make fee adjustments and amend their applications until January 30, 2024.

Dave, a fintech firm specializing in financial services through its mobile application, is set to acquire a $100-million convertible promissory note previously issued to FTX Ventures, the venture capital arm of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX. 

metro ridership as daily ridership across metro systems in the country has already crossed the 10 million mark, and is expected to exceed 12.5 million in a year or two, according to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. This comes after UK-based publication, The Economist claimed that India's metro rail systems are failing to attract enough passengers in its year-ending 'Christmas Double' issue, dated December 23 last year. According to a press release by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs highlights the significant growth of metro rail in the country, emphasizing that daily ridership across all metro rail systems has surpassed 10 million, reflecting the evolving aspirations of a rapidly urbanizing young India. The UK publication was criticized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for factual inaccuracies and lacking necessary context, contending that none of India's metro rail systems have achieved even half of their projected ridership. The ministry rebutted claims made by UK publications, emphasizing that over three-fourths of India's current metro rail network has been conceptualized, constructed, and operationalized in less than a decade. In 2023, India's metro rail ridership increased three times from 2019. This can be attributed to traffic congestion and a preference for faster transit options.

Netflix is reportedly planning to generate revenue from its gaming business by adding in-app purchases and advertisements. The company has had discussions in recent months about how to generate revenue from its games, reports The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the discussions. For two years, Netflix subscribers have been able to download tons of mobile games, all free with their subscription. The company offers more than 75 mobile games, like Grand Theft Auto, Love Is Blind, Monument Valley and Oxenfree. According to the report, Netflix is planning to put a price tag on premium gaming titles and placing ads on games. Netflix was yet to comment on the report. The company last year said it was not worried about ads and in-game payments. «We want to have a differentiated gaming experience and part of that is giving game creators the ability to think about building games purely from the perspective of player enjoyment and not having to worry about other forms of monetization, whether it be ads or in-game payment,» Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters had said during the earnings call. In August, Netflix rolled out its games across devices — TVs, computers, and mobile — and announced the first public tests of its cloud-streamed games.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were attacked on Friday in North 24 Parganas district's Sandeshkhali allegedly by Trinamool supporters, with three officers receiving serious injuries, as they tried to raid the residence of local Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh in connection with the ration distribution case. The vehicles of CISF and ED were also vandalised allegedly by the Trinamool followers of Sheikh, sources said. Apart from the ED officials, CISF and some mediapersons were also beaten and assaulted by the Trinamool miscreants. As ED officials reached Sheikh’s residence this morning, his house was cordoned off by the CISF.

automobile sector, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Friday. He said that India has come to the centre stage of auto manufacturing not only in assembling but also in the whole value chain. The industry has strengthened itself in all areas, including making auto grade steel, components and tyres, besides exporting these goods, he said.

Piyush Goyal on Friday urged the automobile industry to set a target of increasing the share of vehicles being exported to 50% of all passenger vehicles produced in the country by 2030 from 14% in the last fiscal. “With our arbitrage in labour costs and skilled manpower pool, India should have 50% export share in the auto sector. The auto industry should not limit itself to achieving a 25% export share and instead aim for at least a 50% export share,” Goyal said at the curtain raiser of Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024, which is scheduled to be held from February 1-3 February. India’s contribution to the world is increasing rapidly with share of vehicles being exported from 14% at present, to about 25% of all passenger vehicles produced in India by 2030.

antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager will meet the chief executives of Apple, Alphabet, Broadcom and Nvidia in the United States next week, her communications advise said on Friday. The meetings come a month after Vestager resumed her job following her failed bid to head the Luxembourg-based European Investment Bank, with antitrust experts expecting her to show a tougher line towards companies in both merger and competition investigations.

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has recently confronted allegations by Senator Elizabeth Warren regarding the employment of former government officials. Warren's claims suggest that these hires may hinder the progress of digital asset regulations. Coinbase, represented by Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad, has fervently denied these allegations.

Key reasons for analysts maintaining positive outlook- These include reasonable valuations the stock now trades at. Furthermore, the expectations remain high for consumer-oriented businesses as that of telecom and retail that now contribute more than half to Reliance Industries consolidated operating profits. The Capex cycle is behind, and the profitability improvement may be driven further by any tariff hikes in Jio.

₹51 per share, as per primary market expert. IBL Finance IPO will open for subscription Tuesday, January 9, and will close on Thursday, January 11.

defence pensioners due in the month of November 2023 have been extended till January 2024. According to the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts ) pension website, “Annual identification for pensioners due in month of November 2023 have been extended till January 2024. Please submit your life certificate to ensure continuation of pension after Jan 2024. Please submit your life certificate to ensure continuation of pension after Jan 2024.” Defence pensioners must perform annual identification which can be done using Aadhaar, or providing life certificates issued by designated authorities to have the entitled pension credited to their bank account.

North Korea fired artillery rounds near its disputed sea boundary with South Korea on Friday in violation of a fragile 2018 military agreement, officials said, prompting the South to plan similar drills. The rivals' drills are the first in about a year and are expected to deepen their already-serious animosity. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired 200 rounds in the waters north of their disputed western sea boundary.

Vodafone Idea and will be entitled to receive future payments related to existing ATC India receivables, it said. “Proceeds from the transaction are expected to be used to repay American Tower’s existing indebtedness." The acquisition further diversifies Brookfield’s existing portfolio of about 175,000 towers it acquired from Reliance Industrial Investments in 2020.

(Reuters) — Telecom tower operator American Tower (NYSE:AMT) said on Thursday it would sell its India operations to Canada's Brookfield Asset Management (TSX:BAM) for $2.5 billion.

By Krystal Hu and Pritam Biswas

Some Rogers mobile customers will be paying a little more for their wireless plans this year.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has announced significant changes to its official signage and advertising rules. This update, the first since 2006, aims to extend the confidence and assurance traditionally provided by the FDIC's physical signage to the rapidly evolving digital banking landscape.

telecom equipment maker Nokia said on Thursday it had signed a 5G patent agreement with one of China's leading smartphone makers Honor, but its legal battles with other Chinese companies over patents continue. Nokia, once the world's number one mobile phone maker, holds a significant patent portfolio of some key technologies needed in phone manufacturing and the resulting licensing revenue represented 39% of operating profit in 2022.