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5G phones, triggered by the likely availability of more aggressively priced devices in the sub-₹10,000 range. Top handset brands seeking to clear this year's inventory of base 5G devices at discounts exceeding a sixth of the sticker prices should push volumes further, handset industry trackers said. Market researcher Counterpoint Research estimates pan-India penetration of base 5G smartphones will jump to 43% by end-2025 from an estimated 3% in year 2024, amid falling device prices, rising adoption of the next-gen wireless broadband service and a likely pick-up in upgrades to 5G devices at the entry-level. «The recent launch of sub-₹10,000 5G phones by the likes of Poco (C75) and Xiaomi (A4 5G) is set to intensify competition and potentially drive rival handset brands to also cut pricing of base 5G smartphone models down to similar levels. This is expected to sharply increase the pan-India penetration of entry-level 5G phones in 2025,» Counterpoint's research director Tarun Pathak told ET.

Data centre capacity addition in the colocation space is expected to reach approximately 230 MW (IT load) by the end of 2024, with a similar or higher capacity addition anticipated in 2025, according to Cushman & Wakefield data. In 2025, while the majority of capacity creation will occur in Mumbai, other cities such as Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, and Chennai are also expected to see significant growth. India has the potential to become a global data centre hub due to its low construction, land and power costs compared to other countries, coupled with a well-established IT and digitally enabled services ecosystem. According to Cushman & Wakefield, the median cost of constructing a data centre in India is estimated at $6.8 million per MW of capacity, significantly lower than most APAC nations-Australia is at $9.17 million, Japan is at $12 million.

Held under the leadership of Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Arun Giri Ji, the 'Chhavni Pravesh' procession started from the local ashram of Aawahan Akhara in Madouka with a number saints marching to the cantonment area on horses and camels chanting 'Har Har Mahadev'. Mahant Gopal Giri of the Akhara said more than a dozen Mahamandaleshwars and 51 Shri Mahants, besides a large number of Naga saints, participated in the Yatra.

Jitendra Singh will inaugurate the National Workshop on 'Good Governance' practices tomorrow in New Delhi. The workshop will take place at Bhim Auditorium, Ambedkar International Centre. According to a statement from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, the minister will also inaugurate an exhibition showcasing the best practices of the Swachhata Campaign 4.0, curated by various ministries, and release the assessment report.

Central banks play a central role in monetary policymaking and a key operational role in current account management. In countries like India, with capital controls and a structural current account deficit (CAD), these roles elide. The task involves careful policy calibration and skilful deployment of a wide set of tools available for current account management, importantly exchange rate management, but also credit, trade and investment policy. This, therefore, requires a 'whole-of-government' strategy with clearly defined macroeconomic objectives. Much commentary on exchange rate policy is simplistic and polarised. At one extreme, we have those who believe in a 'strong' exchange rate, as evidence of a nation's economic testosterone. While this view is normally weird enough to be dismissed as absurd, it gains credibility because the view from the other extreme-the 'mainstream' of the economics profession-is equally doctrinaire and simplistic.

National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved the demerger scheme of Raymond Ltd, paving the way for the reorganisation of its real estate business into a separate entity, Raymond Realty. The move is aimed at unlocking the growth potential of the group's real estate vertical and attract strategic investors. Raymond Ltd, the demerged company, will transfer its real estate assets and operations to Raymond Realty Limited, the resulting company, effective from April 1, 2025. As part of the scheme of this demerger exercise, existing Raymond shareholders will be receiving one equity share of Raymond Realty for every share held in Raymond Ltd.

Discovery decided not to renew its contract with the streaming platform, Max, which has been its home since 2016, as mentioned in a report by People. With the fate of the show hanging in the balance, here’s what we know about Sesame Street’s future.

ALSO READ: Why applying for a Schengen visa is 'humiliating' for Indians The year marks a Jubilee Year, also known as the Holy Year – a momentous occasion for Catholic worshippers who flock to Rome and Vatican City to seek forgiveness for their sins, says a Condé Nast Traveller report. During this time, Rome becomes a “focal point” for Catholic faith and traditions, the report adds. Held once every 25 years, the upcoming Jubilee Year will commence on Christmas Eve 2024 and conclude on January 6, 2026. Pilgrims will have a unique chance to walk through the Holy Doors of four papal basilicas—St. Peter’s Basilica, St. John Lateran, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, and Saint Mary Major—which are opened solely for this sacred occasion.

Sobha group, plans to set up homes under Devi Home in Moolamcode, Palakkad. This philanthropic initiative is designed to provide a safe housing facility for orphaned girls aged 10 years and below and elderly women aged 50 years and above. Spread over 26,000 sq ft of land, the facility of 42,000 sq ft of built-up area will provide necessities like food, clothing, and shelter. In addition, it will offer educational support for young girls and skill-training workshops for elderly women, enhancing their productivity and overall well-being. PNC Menon, Founder & Chairman Emeritus of Sobha Limited said, «The name ‘Devi’ stands for resilience, care, and the nurturing spirit, which is the very foundation of this project. Devi Home is our endeavour to provide a safe and compassionate philanthropic home for young girls and elderly women who are often overlooked by society. At Sobha, we believe in creating meaningful opportunities for those in need, and this initiative embodies our vision of fostering dignity, respect, and a sense of belonging.»

cargo handling this year. V O Chidambaranar Port has handled a cargo volume of 29.70 million tonnes including 5.62 lakh TEUs of containers till December 19, 2024 this is an overall growth of 1.87 per cent and 6.74 per cent, respectively. «With the ever-increasing trend in cargo handling, the Port has initiated several strategic capacity augmentation and cargo evacuation initiatives to increase cargo throughput, enhance handling efficiency and expand its market share in the region,» a press release said on Sunday.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary said on Sunday. «There is no confusion,» he said during a press conference at the BJP headquarters when asked to comment on speculation that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could do a rethink on projecting Kumar as its leader in the polls. He was responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent interview to a news channel in which he was asked if the NDA could go to the polls in Bihar without declaring a chief ministerial candidate, like it recently did with great success in Maharashtra. Shah, a former BJP president who is still regarded as the party's principal strategist, had replied after a pause, «We will sit together and decide. We will let you know after we have made a decision.»

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. In the continuing chip war between Washington and Beijing, the U.S. has the clear upper hand on the most cutting-edge technology.

United States and Pakistan have escalated recently following revelations that Pakistan is developing long-range nuclear missiles capable of reaching major US locations. This includes efforts to build intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), a move that has raised alarms in Washington. US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer disclosed that Pakistan had falsely presented its space programme as a cover for its missile development, a strategy that was eventually uncovered by the US. In response, Washington imposed strict sanctions on companies linked to Pakistan's missile programme.

Qatar will stop shipping gas to the EU if member states strictly enforce a new law cracking down on forced labour and environmental damage, Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, approved this year, requires larger companies operating in the European Union to check whether their supply chains use forced labour or cause environmental damage and to take action if they do. Penalties include fines of up to 5% of global turnover. «If the case is that I lose 5% of my generated revenue by going to Europe, I will not go to Europe. I'm not bluffing, Kaabi told the newspaper, adding that „5% of generated revenue of QatarEnergy means 5% of generated revenue of the Qatar state. This is the people's money,  so I cannot lose that kind of money — and nobody would accept losing that kind of money.“

Shoaib Iqbal as its candidate for Delhi's Matia Mahal Assembly constituency in the upcoming polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to replace him with his son, Aaley Muhammad Iqbal, sources said on Sunday. The ruling party fielded incumbent Shoaib Iqbal from Matia Mahal when it released its fourth list of candidates for the Delhi assembly elections on December 15. The sources claimed former Delhi Deputy Mayor Aaley is set to replace his father as AAP's candidate, as Shoaib has expressed his inability to contest the election.

A US airline is in the line of fire for downgrading a first-class passenger. Reason — a dog. Reportedly, a Delta Air Lines passenger was moved from a first-class seat to make room for a service dog, which has now sparked a heated online debate. The incident happened recently on a Delta flight, according to a report of the New York Post.

Garena Free Fire is reportedly making its return to India soon. Rumors about the return of Garena Free Fire to India has spread like wildfire. The popular battle royale game was previously banned, but recent activity suggests a possible relaunch. The rumours started after Garena posted job openings on LinkedIn for positions in India, includiang data analysis, marketing, esports, and strategic operations. This has led to speculation that the company is preparing to reintroduce the game, potentially under the name Free Fire India. While a September 5, 2023 launch date was previously rumored, it did not happen. Garena has not officially confirmed a new release date, nor have they commented on the speculation surrounding the job postings. Some fans believe the game may launch in 2025.

Both pilots were recovered alive, with one suffering minor injuries, but the incident underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become after a year of ongoing attacks on shipping by Yemen's Houthi rebels despite U.S. and European military coalitions patrolling the area. The U.S. military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels at the time, though the U.S. military's Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was.

It Ends With Us. The documents presented in court detail a crisis management strategy, including discussions about manipulating public opinion using references to Taylor Swift and Hailey Bieber. Lively claims the emotional toll has been severe, affecting her mental health and her family, including her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, and their four children.

The Ukrainian, who forced the pace and repeatedly tagged Fury with his accurate left hook, was awarded the fight 116-112 by all three judges, handing Fury his second straight loss. Usyk's win takes him to 23-0 with 14 knockouts and extends one of the all-time best careers that includes Olympic gold and undisputed champion at cruiserweight.

Ohio Jeep plant less than three weeks after the abrupt resignation of Chief Executive Carlos Tavares, the Franco-Italian automaker said late on Saturday. The company has decided not to put any employees on indefinite layoff from Jan. 5 due to a previously announced shift reduction and will instead extend a worker adjustment and retraining notification notice, a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Employees are expected to return to work as scheduled after the new year, the spokesperson said.