For the past few days, the socio-consciousness of the people of the country has been tense and anxious after cases of HMPV have been reported from certain pockets of the country. The Health Ministry also warned that people between 5 and 70 are most susceptible to this virus. The tension arose after the outbreak in China was reported days ago and cases were detected in certain states.
READ MOREAccording to a study conducted by social media portal and survey firm LocalCircles over half of Indian respondents who filed claims in the past three years said their claims were rejected or partially approved for invalid reasons. The survey also found that 83% of respondents believe health insurers lack transparent, web-based communication systems for claim processing.
READ MOREFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to table the Union Budget 2025 in the Lok Sabha on February 1 at 11:00 am. Amid this buzz, citizens and industry leaders across segments are eyeing a slew of measures to be announced that would set the country on a path of sustainable growth. The insurance sector is optimistic before the budget session on reforms that could shape the sector in a futuristic way.
READ MOREChinese electric automaker BYD to focus on launching vehicles in the Rs 25-45 lakh price range in India. BYD’s Head of Electric Passenger Vehicles in India Rajeev Chauhan confirmed this to Business Standard. Rajeev further states that BYD continues to evaluate customer preferences and demand in more affordable segments.
READ MOREChinese automaker BYD has surpassed Tesla to become the largest producer of pure electric cars globally. This milestone underscores BYD's rapid growth and strategic initiatives in the global EV market. In December 2024, BYD delivered 207,734 all-electric vehicles, a 9% increase from the same period the previous year. As reported by the Economic Times, the company delivered about 595,000 vehicles in the 4th quarter, which is more than Tesla's record of just under 496,000 EVs.
READ MOREIn the year 2025, we might witness an increase in sales for electric vehicles (EVs), with green cars launching across various price ranges, most of them SUVs. Nearly every carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, luxury brands Mercedes and Audi, local giants Mahindra and Tata Motors, and China's BYD plans to roll out EVs. This wave comes despite concerns over slow adoption and limited charging infrastructure.
READ MOREHero Moto, the country’s largest two-wheeler maker believe that electric two wheelers will capture 50% of the scooter market by 2030. Even though leadership in the category will be like “Russian roulette” in the short-term as newer and older players fight for market share, electric two wheeler will form maximum share in the scooter market in coming years.
READ MOREIndian electric two-wheeler (e2W) companies believe that “swapping” of batteries is currently unviable and will only increase the cost for a consumer to run the vehicle, making it an unattractive proposition. They were responding to a big push suggested by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in a meeting with auto companies in which he emphasised the need for battery swapping.
READ MOREUber has launched a pilot program in the city called ‘Moto Women’, exclusively for women two-wheeler riders. According to the company, this on-demand service connects female riders with female drivers. Under the ‘Moto Women’ initiative, around 300 women drivers will operate. “According to a KPMG report titled ‘Unlocking the potential of bike taxis in India’, over 280 million bike taxi rides were completed across platforms in 2022.
READ MOREOn January 7, 2025, a fire erupted in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, which is assumed to be driven by severe Santa Ana winds and drought conditions. It rapidly consumed thousands of acres, destroying numerous homes, including those of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Bella Hadid. Simultaneously, the Eaton Fire ignited in Altadena, further contributing to the widespread devastation.
READ MOREAccording to NSE-listed data analytics firm PropEquity, the weighted average price of the newly launched residential projects in top 30 Tier-II cities surged up to 65 percent in the one year to October 2024. In North India, Jaipur saw the highest rise in weighted average price of newly launched projects at 65 percent from Rs 4,240 per square feet (sqft) to Rs 6,979 per sqft in the last one year.
READ MOREA survey done by property consultant Savills India revealed that millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) are gravitating towards home ownership, while Gen X and elders (born between 1965 and 1980 and earlier) are considering to own larger homes.
READ MOREIn 2024, Morocco attracted a record 17.4 million tourists, surpassing Egypt to become Africa’s most visited country. This 20% increase from 2023 is attributed to new air routes, enhanced hotel infrastructure, and effective promotions. Tourism now contributes about 7% to Morocco’s GDP.
READ MOREVietnam aims to welcome 22–23 million international tourists in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This target represents a 31% increase from 2024’s 17.5 million foreign visitors. The government plans to enhance infrastructure and promotional activities to position tourism as a key economic driver.
READ MOREEffective January 1, 2025, Israel has launched an e-Visa system for Indian travelers, streamlining the visa application process by allowing online submissions and eliminating physical paperwork. This initiative aims to strengthen tourism ties between Israel and India, enhancing accessibility for individual tourists.
READ MOREChina’s state planner has announced a crackdown on illegal data handling, targeting black and grey markets that unlawfully obtain, sell, or provide data. The new regulations aim to enhance data security governance and prevent systemic risks to national security and social stability.
READ MOREHuiOne Guarantee, a Telegram-based illicit marketplace, has facilitated over $24 billion in cryptocurrency transactions, surpassing Hydra as the largest online black market. Offering services like money laundering and stolen data, its rapid growth raises significant concerns for global cybersecurity and law enforcement.
READ MOREThe proliferation of SaaS applications has expanded organizational attack surfaces, introducing identity, data security, and third-party risks. Employees frequently create new SaaS accounts, often without IT oversight, increasing vulnerabilities. Effective SaaS governance and continuous monitoring are essential to mitigate these risks.
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