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The plot only gets thicker from here, as even after multiple rounds of talks, Softbank has not been able to convince the early-stage investors in Gurgaon-based  Snapdeal   for a sale which would help the Japanese major exit from the company.  According to four sources privy to the developments, while early-stage investors in  Snapdeal – Kalaari Capital  and Nexus Venture Partners – are confident of the company's present business plan and want it to go for an initial public offering (IPO) in the next two years, Softbank   wants to immediately sell its stake and hedge its bets in other e-commerce ventures, something which has caused a major rift between the two parties. Also, according to sources, while Softbank is trying to sell its stake in Snapdeal, where it is the biggest shareholder and has invested close to a billion dollars, it has also assured the e-commerce company of giving close to $200 ...

A day after Supreme Court's ban on non-BS-IV compliant vehicles, two-wheeler companies are giving heavy discounts to clear inventories. Discount level is going as high as upto Rs 12,500. While requesting anonymity, two wheeler-companies have confirmed high discounts are offered at dealerships to clear the stocks. Hero   is offering discount of upto Rs 12,500 apart from free insurance on Hero's BS-III two wheelers until March 31 or till stocks last.  Honda India   on its Facebook page said that it is offering a cashback of upto Rs 22,000 on any Honda BS III compliant models on Wednesday night. The offer is applicable only to Honda's BS-III motorcycles and automatic scooters and the limited period offer is valid only till March 31, 2017. The scheme is subject to the actual availability of the concerned BS-III model at the dealership.  The company's Facebook responses reveal that CB Hornet 160R is sold at a discount of u...

Homegrown smartphone maker  Micromax   on Wednesday announced the launch of 4G VoLTE-ready smartphone'Dual 5'. Priced at Rs 24,999, the new device marks Micromax's foray into the premium handset segment.  The company will start selling Dual 5 from April 10. Enhanced security and better after-sales customer service, aside from the massive 13 MP front camera, are some of the key selling features of the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow-based device.  Here are the key features of the new device:   1)  Enhanced security is one of the features Micromax is banking on with the Dual 5. According to a report by  The Mint , the Dual 5 will come equipped with a standalone security chip, built into its hardware, which will allow encrypted storage of passwords. The report said that the company claims that the device will provide securityequivalent to military grade EAL 5+ standards.  2) ...

Amazon   India is running a two day long mobile carnival that started on 29 March and is expiring on 30 March, 2017. In the mobile carnival, the e-commerce giant is offering deals, discounts, cashback and exchange offers on smartphones. The Amazon exclusive smartphones like OnePlus 3T, Xiaomi Redmi 4A, Coolpad Cool 1, HuaweiHonor 6X etc. are also eligible in the mobile carnival. Let’s look at the major deals currently running in Amazon Mobile Carnival iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus   The latest from the stable of iPhone – the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus – are retailing at a discount of Rs 10,000. The iPhone 7 base model with 32 GB storage and premium model with 128 GB storage is currently available at Rs 49,999 and 59,979, respectively. The elder sibling, iPhone 7 Plus premium model with 128 GB storage is available at Rs 71,899, down from Rs 82,000. OnePlus 3T Oneplus 3T is one of the hottest selling smartphones on Amazon India. In Amazon ...

Samsung Galaxy S8   is all set to be launched at an event in New York at 11am EDT (9:30pm IST) on Wednesday. It is one of the most highly anticipated launches of the year, and a very important one of Samsung after the controversy surrounding the Galaxy Note 7. The phone will represent Samsung’s best—if not only—chance to remedy a PR disaster after last year’s embarrassing Galaxy Note 7 recall after some handsets caught fire.   The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2017 event will be live streamed on the company site.  As with most major launches these days, almost everything about the Samsung Galaxy S8 is known ahead of the actual unveiling. From design to price and specifications, everything about the Samsung Galaxy S8and its anticipated larger sibling, the Galaxy S8+, has been leaked, according to a report published by  NDTV .  Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are expected to sport 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch Super AMOLED pr...

Before the internet, people interested in body modification – not just tattoo and piercing enthusiasts, but those drawn to more unusual practices like ear pointing, tongue splitting, suspension, scarification and the voluntary amputation of limbs and organs – had a difficult time meeting others who shared their interests. The internet, of course, changed everything: You can chat and connect with anyone from your computer. And in 1994 – more than a decade before  Facebook launched  – body modification enthusiasts started their own social media platform: the Body Modification E-zine, or BME.   First operating as a bulletin board service (an early form of online message boards), BME eventually added features and functions that were forerunners before now-familiar online tools: blogging, wikis, online dating and podcasts. But as sites like Facebook and Myspace emerged, BME fo...

A battle between national security and privacy is brewing. Governments and secret services are asking encrypted messaging services such as  WhatsApp  to allow them access to users’ data. Most recently, in the wake of the March attack at Westminster, Amber Rudd, the UK home secretary, said it was unacceptable that the government couldn’t read the encrypted messages of suspected terrorists. The main argument behind this request is that access to messages will allow authorities to thwart future terror attacks. On the other hand, there are many ordinary people who use messaging apps for daily communication and this request would be a direct breach of their privacy.But this isn’t the only problem – creating a way for the authorities to read encrypted messages would also make the system vulnerable to cyber attacks from criminals and other hackers, removing what makes it a secure way to communicate in the first place. How does encr...

Meat sellers across  Uttar Pradesh (UP)  launched an indefinite strike from Monday against the Adityanathgovernment's crackdown on illegal and mechanised slaughterhouses. "We have decided to intensify our strike from tomorrow. All shops will remain closed. Fish sellers too have joined us and are extending support to us," Lucknow Bakra Gosht Vypar Mandal office bearer Mubeen Qureshi had said on Sunday. He said, in the wake of the crackdown, there was no question of the strike being called off anytime soon. "It will go on indefinitely," he added.   Industry fears being butchered Several butcher shops and slaughterhouses across the state have complained that they are being targeted under the new dispensation. “Authorities are even closing down chicken shops,” a shop owner in Noida told  NDTV . Another said even legal abattoirs were asked to hang curtains in front of their stores, while others alleged that the new administration was not willing...

To encourage more individuals to file returns and widen the tax net, the government is set to introduce a single-page  income tax  (I-T) return form from April 1.   This will be for those with annual salaried income up to Rs 50 lakh, much higher than Rs 5-lakh limit proposed in the Union Budget, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia told  Business Standard .   He added this would only be for those with salaried and one house rent income. There are 290 million PAN card holders (the I-T dept identification) but only 60 mn return filers. Currently, the I-T form is three pages. It was simplified two years ago, when a controversial provision for mandatory disclosure of foreign trips and dormant bank accounts was removed. “To expand the tax net, I also plan to have a simple one-page form to be filed as I-T Return for the category of individuals having taxable income up to Rs 5 lakh, other than business income,” Finance Minister Aru...

It has been almost three months since  Ranbir Kapoor   moved into his new house, but he still cannot stop thanking the interior designer to make it feel like 'home,' and she's none other than the Begum of B-Town Gauri Khan. Celebrated interior designer Gauri Khan took to Instagram and shared a snap of Ranbir's 'thank you' note saying "it was amazing collaborating with you." The note read, "It has been a very inspiring and enjoyable experience working with Gauri. I didn't know what to expect in putting my first home together but working with Gauri was amazing because, in an instance, everything was so personal and to my taste." Earlier, father Rishi Kapoor also appreciated Gauri's interiors and said, "Vastu, Wonderful! Gauri Khan! You have made a home out of Ranbir's house. Beautifully done! Both Neetu and me are overwhelmed. Thank you." On the work front, Ranbir Kapoor is currently shooting for Sanjay Dutt ...

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Apple   Inc. will soon start assembling iPhones in India for the first time, say government officials familiar with its plans, boosting the company's chances of gaining a foothold in the fast-growing market. Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron Corp. will likely start making iPhone 6 and 6S models here in the next four-to-six weeks at its plant in Bangalore, said an official of the southern state of Karnataka where the tech hub is located. It will add Apple's cheapest iPhone model, the SE, to its assembly line in about three months, the official said. "Almost all preparations have been done for launching Apple's first phase project in Bangalore through Wistron," the official told The Wall Street Journal.   "We've been working hard to develop our operations in India," an Apple spokeswoman said. "We appreciate the constructive and open dialogue we've had with government about further expanding our local operations."...

Last year, govt allowed 100% FDI in multi-brand food retail Global e-commerce major   Amazon   is aiming to enter the food retailing sector in India with investment plans of $515 million over the next 5 years. Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Thursday confirmed the company’s investment plans while adding that Metro Cash & Carry has also shown interest in food retailing. Back in January, Amazon had filed its application with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). Online players Grofers and Big Basket also have also submitted FDI proposals regarding retail trading of food items. While Amazon is one of the major e-commerce players in India, Grofers and Big Basket are into online grocery space. Last year, in June, the government allowed 100 per cent FDI in multi-brand food retail, including through e-commerce. However, the food products have to be produced, processed or manufactured in the country. However, while th...

With this update, it is easier to stream your PC gameplay to friends and followers Facebook  users can now go live directly from their desktops using their webcams and also broadcast gameplay from their computers. According to a Facebook blog post on Wednesday, Facebook live on desktops was earlier available for pages only, but now the status update composer will feature a Live button also. Facebook also added a new feature that makes it easy to use streaming software or external hardware when going live from a computer. "With this update, people can seamlessly share their screens, insert graphics, switch cameras, or use professional equipment in Facebook Live videos," the social media giant said. With this update, it is easier to stream your PC gameplay to friends and followers and engage with them while you play. "Opening up on desktop takes Facebook Live beyond Twitter and Periscope's options, and brings it into competition with longer-running serv...

HCL will recruit talented students and train them for entry-level jobs HCL Technologies   has started hiring talented high-school students to offer them a career in software engineering. The fourth largest technology services provider of the country will train 200 students for one year beginning April and absorb them in different entry-level software jobs within the company. Through this early career training programme, HCL will provide a combination of academic learning, in the form of a course, for nine months and on the job training for three months to 100 students each in its Lucknow and Madurai training campuses. As part of the programme, they will learn application development, software or product testing, application support and infrastructure management service. After completion, these students will get a certificate in information technology from SSN College of Engineering. They will also be taken on various projects of HCL Technologies at a starting salary of Rs...

The IndusInd Bank credit card and debit card users are eligible to get 10 per cent discount Xiaomi Redmi 4A , the latest entrant in Xiaomi’s Redmi series, will be available from 12:00 PM exclusively on Amazon India. Manufactured in Xiaomi’s plant in India, the latest Xiaomi Redmi 4A is an entry-level budget smartphone that offers spectacular features at an affordable price tag of Rs 5,999. The Xiaomi Redmi 4A flaunts 5-inch HD display, which is enclosed in a polycarbonate body. The dual-sim smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 425, 64-bit quad-core processor and sports 16 GB internal storage – expandable up to 128 GB via microSD card – coupled with 2 GB of RAM. The Redmi 4A boots Android 6.0 out of the box disguised under Xiaomi’s MIUI 8 theme. On the camera front, the smartphone features 13-megapixel (MP) rear camera and 5 MP front-facing selfie camera. The device is powered by 3,120 mAh battery that keeps the show running. On the connectivity side, the dual-sim de...

60% of BSE 500 companies have seen a drop in pledged shares Rally in the equities and gradual improvement in the stressed sectors of the economy like power and infrastructure has led to a sharp decline in the shares pledged by companies. In the   BSE   500 universe, 107 companies have reduced their pledged holding since April 2015 of which 46 have brought the pledged holding to zero, data compiled from Capitaline showed. Among these, 46 companies have brought their pledged holding to zero during the period. The data takes into account only the 178 companies in BSE 500 which have reported some pledge activity since Q4FY15. Reliance Defence, Unitech,Tata Global Beverages and GMR Infra are some of the big players who have cut down their pledged holdings during the period. On the other hand, India Cements, Tata Communications, Amar Raja Batteries and Century Plywood are among the companies that have brought down their pledged holding to zero since April, 2015, data showe...

Threat level in UK remains 'severe'; no India hurt in the attack Wednesday's terrorist attack in the heart of London   has broken the more than a decade-long lull Britain enjoyed when it came to high-profile terrorist attacks. The attack's relatively lower casualties in comparison to the past attacks in Paris and Brussels has done nothing to dent the sense of shock people have felt, once again, across the world. On Wednesday, a suspected terrorist mowed down pedestrians on a bridge and stabbed a police officer outside Britain's Parliament complex before being shot dead by Scotland Yard officers. According to reports, prior to being shot by police, the attacker had tried to gain entry into the British Parliament via the main entrance. (Read more) Below is a round-up of all the latest news about the attack 1)Death toll rises: Initially, according to reports, four people had died in Wednesday's attack. By Thursday morning, the death toll had risen to fi...

After five years,   Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif are back together , shooting for their upcoming film 'Tiger Zinda Hai' in Austria. The 'Sultan' of Bollywood, today, shared an adorable picture on his Twitter handle where both the stars are seen romantically staring at each other. The 51-year-old captioned the picture as, "BACK TOGETHER , IN TIGER ZINDA HAI" While Salman is seen sporting a printed black tuxedo with white shirt and bow tie, Katrina looks gorgeous in an off-shoulder pink dress. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, 'Tiger Zinda Hai' is a sequel to the 2012 spy thriller 'Ek Tha Tiger'.   Read More