Miscellany

AS anticipated by some analysts the Apple Inc has decided to cut the production of its new iPhone models X and 8 by at least 20 per cent this year due to shrinking demand and spiked competition. 

The tech giant expects to ship 80 million iPhones this year, 20 per cent down from what it had planned at the same time last year, Japanese daily Nikkei reported.

The California-based firm has asked suppliers to make about 20 per cent fewer components for the three new iPhones it plans to launch in the second half of 2018, compared to last year’s plans, the report said.

The government on Thursday notified its decision to fix the ex-factory sugar price at Rs 29 per kg as well as the monthly stock holding limit on mills as part of measures to help cash-starved industry to clear cane arrears, which have crossed Rs 22,000 crore.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had approved these decisions on Wednesday. The food ministry notified the Sugar Price (Control) Order, 2018 to empower itself to fix the minimum selling price of the sweetener.

E-commerce might be adding new customers at a reasonable pace. But the frequency of purchase and the average order value is growing in single digits. E-commerce market can grow to $50 billion by 2020, if it can clock a higher growth on all these fronts.

The e-tailing industry is adding new shoppers at a compounded annual growth rate of 27 per cent, while the frequency at which shoppers buy from online platform is growing by just 8 per cent. The average order value is growing at an abysmally low one per cent, finds a study by RedSeer Consulting.

The United States military is increasing spending on a secret research effort to use artificial intelligence to help anticipate the launch of a nuclear-capable missile, as well as track and target mobile launchers in North Korea and elsewhere.

Global airline chiefs gathering in Sydney this week are mapping out the future of an industry that transports a big chunk of the world’s population. Good luck finding a woman among them.

It’s hard to describe the International Air Transport Association as anything other than a boys’ club, at least at the highest echelon. 

In an indirect instruction to US-based Apple to fall in line with Indian laws on ‘do not disturb’ (DND) rules, the latest Trai regulations make it compulsory for all devices to provide access to call logs and SMSes. The access is required for the functioning of DND kind of mobile apps. Apple is the only company that has refused access to call logs and SMSes that are required for filing complaints through DND app.

Arare menu from Britain’s first Indian restaurant fetched USD 11,344 and surprisigly it was established by a Bihar-born businessman, who was among the very early migrants to England from India. 

Hindoostane Dinner and Hooka Smoking Club was established by Sake Dean Mahomed in 1809 at Portman Square in London to bring the taste of Indian food to the UK.

Cricket lovers watched the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches as an excuse to gorge on some of their favourite foods. Food ordering apps saw increased business during the IPL days as compared to normal days.

Swiggy saw 25 per cent growth in orders during the 51-day long tournament, which concluded last Sunday. Swiggy received the highest number of orders on the day of the final.

Former Tata group chief Cyrus Mistry has hit out at R Venkataramanan, a Ratan Tata loyalist and managing trustee of the Tata Trusts, for dragging his name in the AirAsia India bribery case saying it was a “ridiculous attempt” to question CBI’s independence and to cloak his own “alleged misadventures” at the airline.

Infosys co-founder and chairman Nandan Nilekani, his wife Rohini Nilekani, and three Indian-origin billionaires have joined the philanthropic initiative created by philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, pledging to commit more than half of their wealth to charitable causes.