India Observers

Prime Video  has announced the premiere date of its highly anticipated Tamil Original series, Sweet Kaaram Coffee, which will debut on July 6, 2023. The eight-episode series revolves around the journey of three women from different generations as they rediscover their love for life and explore self-reliance and self-discovery. The series is created by Reshma Ghatala, directed by Bejoy Nambiar, Krishna Marimuthu, and Swathi Raghuraaman, and features renowned actors Lakshmi, Madhoo, and Santhy in the lead roles. Sweet Kaaram Coffee is Prime Video’s first family-oriented Tamil Original series, showcasing its commitment to diverse content options. Aparna Purohit, the head of content for Prime Video India, expressed confidence in the series and praised the collaboration with Lion Tooth Studios for bringing it to the screen. The show aims to portray realistic family bonds, highlighting the ups and downs, affection, disappointments, and reconciliations that make it relatable and entertain...

  Telegram, the popular messaging app, is responding to user demands by introducing a new feature called Stories in early July. Despite initial hesitation due to the prevalence of Stories on other platforms, Telegram decided to listen to its users and innovate on existing formats. Similar to Instagram Stories,   Telegram   Stories will offer a range of features and allow users to control who can view their stories, with options for everyone, contacts, selected individuals, or close friends. The feature will include photo and video editing tools, the ability to post content from both front and rear cameras, and customizable disappearing time frames. In addition, Telegram Stories will allow users to save stories permanently on their profile pages, similar to Instagram’s Story highlights, enhancing profile information. Another notable feature is the ability to repost messages from channels to stories, increasing exposure and potential for viral content. CEO Pavel Durov menti...

  In a recent interview, renowned actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui showered praise on producer and prominent actress   Kangana Ranaut  for her fearless and honest nature in addressing issues within the film industry. Siddiqui commended her for being transparent and unafraid to call out problems that others may hesitate or fear to address. According to him, Kangana’s outspokenness has initiated a much-needed conversation, as many individuals in the industry prefer to ignore the darker side of Bollywood. Nawazuddin Siddiqui acknowledged that few individuals have the audacity to discuss the prevailing issues in the film industry, making Kangana truly remarkable. Having worked with her as a producer for his film “Tiku Weds Sheru,” Siddiqui expressed his desire to collaborate with Kangana onscreen as well. Although they haven’t received an offer to work together as co-stars yet, he hopes to join forces with her in a compelling story film in the near future. Kangana Ranaut’s  rep...

Candy Crush, a popular gaming app, became a trending topic after former Indian cricket captain,  Mahendra Singh Dhoni , was seen playing the game on an Indigo flight. The app’s parody account claimed on Twitter that Candy Crush Saga received 3.6 million downloads within three hours of Dhoni being spotted playing it. This led to the hashtag #CandyCrush trending on Twitter. In a viral video, Dhoni can be seen enjoying the game while an air hostess offers him chocolates. The video garnered attention, with fans expressing their admiration for Dhoni’s simplicity and humility. Some social media users even mentioned downloading Candy Crush after watching the video, suggesting that the game’s popularity might increase due to Dhoni’s involvement. Dhoni , known for his kind gestures, has always held a special place in the hearts of fans. Despite recently undergoing knee surgery, he continues to maintain a positive attitude and is often praised for his down-to-earth nature. Dhoni’s actions an...

  YouTube is introducing an AI-powered feature called Aloud that aims to simplify the process of dubbing videos in multiple languages. Developed by Google’s Area 120 incubator, Aloud translates video content, provides a transcription for creators to review, and facilitates the dubbing process. This feature allows content creators to reach a wider audience by making their videos accessible regardless of language or geographical location. Dubbing videos can be time-consuming and expensive, but  YouTube  claims that Aloud’s dubbing service is user-friendly and simplifies the process. Currently available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Aloud plans to support more languages in the future. YouTube has conducted tests with hundreds of creators using the service and plans to enhance audio tracks for a more authentic experience. YouTube has also updated its policies to scrutinize fan channels that appear to impersonate larger original channels, aiming to draw a clear line bet...

  The emergence of   WhatsApp  scams, such as the recent WhatsApp Pink scam, has raised concerns over the increasing difficulty in dealing with them. The cybercrime unit of the North Region tweeted a “Red Alert For Android Users” regarding WhatsApp Pink, which has caused worry among various police departments. This risky scam involves a viral message circulating on WhatsApp, enticing users with the promise of a new WhatsApp design and extra features through a download link. However, once downloaded, the malicious app poses serious threats by stealing sensitive data like bank account information, contacts, and OTP. Additionally, hackers can even install spyware to gain full access to victims’ smartphones. To ensure security, it is crucial to uninstall the risky WhatsApp Pink app immediately if it was unintentionally downloaded. This can be done by selecting the uninstall option under Settings > Apps > WhatsApp (pink logo). It is essential to exercise caution when int...

  Several significant agreements have been signed between India and the United States during   Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit , covering various industries, including healthcare. One notable collaboration involves the establishment of an AI-enabled digital pathology platform for cancer diagnosis and AI-based automated radiation treatment for certain malignancies. The U.S. National Cancer Institute will work alongside Indian experts to develop these initiatives. Furthermore, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases will sign a contract to advance research on diabetes. The focus will be on fundamental, clinical, and translational research, utilizing AI to aid medical practitioners in patient care and intelligent health systems. This includes using machine learning and deep learning techniques for disease diagnosis, drug discovery, and patient risk detection. The application of AI in healthca...

  India showcased their dominance with a resounding 4–0 victory over Pakistan in a football match reminiscent of a top seed versus a qualifier. Led by captain   Sunil Chhetri , India’s star player, who scored a hat-trick including two gifted goals, and Udanta Singh’s contribution, India maintained their impressive form following their recent Intercontinental Cup win. However, the match was marred by the sending-off of coach Igor Stimac. Meanwhile, Sunil Chhetri, on the verge of a significant milestone in his career, aims to reach a total of 90 international goals if he scores in the upcoming match. Despite Pakistan’s valiant effort in cricket, their team faced defeat by a margin of 4–0 against India. Arriving in two separate batches earlier on match day, the team displayed determination and put up a fight against their in-form opponents, even without adequate training or practice time. In a stunning display of skill, Chhetri led the charge for  Indian Football , taking ad...

  A   submersible   carrying five individuals has gone missing during an expedition to explore the Titanic wreckage. The submersible, called Titan, was part of an eight-day journey organized by OceanGate Expeditions. Despite extensive search efforts involving multiple agencies and private groups, the vessel has not been located. The missing individuals, along with the submersible, are facing a race against time as their oxygen supply is limited. Rescue operations  face significant challenges due to the remote location, adverse weather conditions, and the deep ocean depth where the submersible disappeared. Efforts to pinpoint the submersible’s location, provide rescue equipment, and safely bring it to the surface are underway. The urgency is heightened by the passengers’ dwindling oxygen supply, adding pressure to the international search mission. This incident raises concerns about the safety of deep-sea tourism and brings attention to previous mechanical problems an...

  During Indian   Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States , he had a meeting with Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of Twitter. Musk expressed his admiration for Modi, describing the meeting as fantastic and recalling their previous interaction at Tesla’s factory in California. Musk expressed his excitement about India’s future, stating that he believes the country holds more promise than any other large nation. He also expressed confidence in Tesla’s presence in India, emphasizing that it will happen as soon as possible. Modi, in a tweet after the meeting, appreciated Musk’s efforts in making technology accessible and affordable and invited him to explore investment opportunities in India, particularly in electric mobility and the commercial space sector. The meeting between Modi and  Elon Musk  took place during Modi’s three-day state visit to the US, which aimed to strengthen trade and defense ties between the two countries. Musk’s positive s...

  Tata Power Company   has emerged as the most attractive employer brand in India, according to the Randstad Employer Brand Research (REBR) 2023 report. The company’s strong financial health, positive reputation, and promising career progression opportunities propelled it from the 9th position in 2022 to the top spot this year. Amazon, the e-commerce giant, secured the second position, followed by Tata Steel. Other notable companies in the top 10 included Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, and Infosys. The report also highlighted Big Basket as the most attractive startup employer brand. The automotive sector was rated the most attractive industry by employees, followed by IT, ITeS, Telecom, FMCG, Retail, and e-commerce. When it comes to factors influencing the workforce’s choice of an employer, work-life balance, good reputation, and attractive salary and benefits were identified as the top three drivers. The report also emphasized that women tend to prioritize work-life ba...

  The fourth day of the release of the movie   Adipurush , starring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan, witnessed a significant decline in box office collections. This drop in revenue coincided with a growing backlash against the film. Adipurush, based on the holy epic Ramayan and directed by Om Raut, has faced criticism for its poorly written dialogues and visual effects, among other issues. Despite reportedly having a successful opening weekend, the film’s first Monday collection saw a substantial decline of 75 to 77 percent at the box office. The latest box office figures for the Hindi version of Adipurush reveal that it collected only Rs 8.5 crores nett on its fourth day in theaters, representing a significant decline. However, the film had amassed a collection of Rs 108.50 crores nett in India, thanks to its initial popularity among audiences. While the movie initially made headlines for surpassing the Rs 340 crore mark at the global box office during its opening wee...

  The ongoing protest against Reddit’s API pricing change has taken a new turn as   hackers  join forces with app developers and page moderators. This collaboration adds a significant dimension to the movement, as these groups unite to make their voices heard and push for change. Hackers have escalated the situation by demanding a $4.5 million ransom from Reddit while insisting on the revocation of the new API policy. This development intensifies the battle against Reddit’s pricing change and raises concerns about the platform’s security. In February, Reddit fell victim to a phishing campaign orchestrated by ransomware attackers known as BlackCat. This attack targeted Reddit employees and resulted in the theft of over 80GB of company data. Now, hackers have issued threats to Reddit, demanding specific actions from the company. If these demands are not met, the hackers threaten to release confidential data to the public. This situation heightens worries about the security ...

  Bollywood film “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani,” starring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, has caught the attention of fans. Directed by   Karan Johar , the film marks his return to the director’s chair after a break and promises to be a family drama centered around the Randhawa and Chatterjee families. The teaser for the film, set to release tomorrow, has generated excitement among eager fans Karan Johar took to social media to announce the impending release of the teaser, signaling a new era of love in his career. The film boasts a stellar cast including Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, and Jaya Bachchan, further intensifying anticipation. Drawing inspiration from a real-life family anecdote shared by Karan’s late father, the film adds a personal touch to the narrative. The teaser glimpse offers the trademark elements associated with Dharma Productions, showcasing Alia Bhatt in beautiful chiffon sarees, romancing Ranveer Singh in the breathtaking Swiss Alps. It promises vibrant song...

  Google has recently announced the discontinuation of its Album Archive service starting from July 19, 2023. Users are being informed about this decision via email and are advised to use the Takeout feature to download any important data before the specified date. Album Archive is a platform that stores images and videos from various Google services, including Hangout.   Google   has also introduced a new feature that allows users to conveniently access all their photos from any device they were sent on, enabling them to view their entire collection in one place. It has come to light that Google will delete content exclusively available in Album Archive after July 19. This includes background images uploaded through the Gmail theme picker before 2018 and Google Hangouts data currently stored in the Album Archive. Small thumbnail photos, album comments, and likes saved within the Album Archive will also be deleted. The decision has surprised many users who relied on the f...