Category: Tech

Chandrayaan-3 Has Covered About Two-Thirds of Distance to the Moon: ISRO

The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, which was launched on GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota on July 14, has covered about two-thirds of the distance to the Moon. 

“The spacecraft has covered about two-thirds of the distance to the moon. Lunar Orbit Injection (LOI) set for Aug 5, 2023, around 19:00 hours IST,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) tweeted Friday.

Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar exploration mission, will make India the fourth country after US, China, and Russia, to land its spacecraft on the surface of the moon and demonstrate the country’s abilities for safe and soft landing on the lunar surface.

The spacecraft was successfully launched onboard LVM-3 on July 14, 2023, at 2:35 PM IST. The spacecraft is currently undergoing a series of orbit manoeuvres with the objective of reaching the moon’s orbit.

Chandrayaan-3 will take nearly 33 days from the launch date to reach the orbit of the moon. Upon landing, it will operate for one lunar day, which is approximately 14 Earth days. One day on the Moon is equal to 14 days on Earth.

Chandrayaan-3 components include various electronic and mechanical subsystems intended to ensure a safe and soft landing such as Navigation sensors, propulsion systems, guidance & control among others. Additionally, there are mechanisms for the release of Rover, two-way communication-related antennas and other onboard electronics.

The stated objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are safe and soft landing, rover roving on the moon’s surface, and in-situ scientific experiments.

The approved cost of Chandrayaan-3 is Rs. 250 crores (Excluding Launch Vehicle Cost).

Chandrayaan-3’s development phase commenced in January 2020 with the launch planned sometime in 2021. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought an unforeseen delay to the mission’s progress.

Chandrayaan-3 is the ISRO’s follow-up attempt after the Chandrayaan-2 mission faced challenges during its soft landing on the lunar surface in 2019 and was eventually deemed to have failed its core mission objectives.

The key scientific outcomes from Chandrayaan-2 include the first-ever global map for lunar sodium, enhancing knowledge on crater size distribution, unambiguous detection of lunar surface water ice with IIRS instrument and more. The mission has been featured in almost 50 publications.

Moon serves as a repository of the Earth’s past and a successful lunar mission by India will help enhance life on Earth while also enabling it to explore the rest of the solar system and beyond.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company’s new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Google Parent Alphabet Slashes Nearly 90 Percent Stake in Robinhood Markets

Google-parent Alphabet said on Friday it had slashed its stake in Robinhood Markets by nearly 90 percent, days after the trading app said it had turned a profit for the first time as a public company.

Robinhood has been struggling to regain its footing after emerging as the breakout financial technology app during the pandemic, when several retail traders were drawn to its platform because of its commission-free trades and easy-to-use interface.

The Federal Reserve’s tightening cycle last year hammered equities, especially high-flying tech stocks in which there was a lot of retail interest, denting Robinhood’s business. 

Shares of the company, whose trading platform was at the center of a meme stock frenzy in January 2021, have lost 86 percent since hitting their peak in August of the same year. 

Earlier this week, Robinhood said it had earned 3 cents (nearly Rs. 0.12) per share in the second quarter, while analysts were expecting a loss of 1 cent (nearly Rs. 0.01), according to Refinitiv data.

However, as retail traders stayed cautious due to volatile market conditions, monthly active users at the platform decreased to 10.8 million, one million fewer compared to the first quarter and 3.2 million lesser than last year.

To counter this weakness in its mainstay trading business, Menlo Park, California-based Robinhood is looking for new revenue streams. In June, it agreed to buy financial technology and credit card firm X1 for about $95 million (nearly Rs. 787 crore).

In its regulatory filing, Alphabet said it had around 612,214 shares in Robinhood as of June 30, compared with 4.9 million shares in the first quarter ended March 31.

As of Robinhood’s last close on Thursday, Alphabet’s stake would be worth just about $7 million (nearly Rs. 57 crore), according to Reuters calculations.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company’s recently launched handset and what it has to offer on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Apple, Samsung, HP Halt India Laptop Imports After Sudden Curbs

Apple, Samsung Electronics and HP are among the biggest names freezing new imports of laptops and tablets to India after the South Asian country abruptly banned inbound shipments without a license.

Regulators on Thursday surprised the world’s biggest PC makers when they made licenses mandatory for import of electronics from small tablets to all-in-one PCs without a license. Laptop makers had been bracing for some government measures aimed at reducing reliance on imports and boosting local production, but the sudden licensing imposition caught the industry off-guard, people familiar with the matter said, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Tech firms are now engaging with New Delhi on how to most quickly obtain licenses at a period of heightened consumer interest with India’s Diwali shopping season and back-to-school period approaching, the people said. It’s unclear how long it would take for Apple et al to get licenses, but the halt is already disrupting a multibillion-dollar trade in foreign PCs at a crucial time.

Representatives for India’s trade ministry, Apple, Samsung and HP did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The requirement creates additional headaches for manufacturers already grappling with a global glut of inventory and few triggers to restart sales growth. It could result in delayed India launches or even product shortages in a maket that’s still largely reliant on shipments from overseas.

The import restriction, an example of India’s sudden policy shifts, adds to longstanding measures designed to discourage bringing in foreign electronics. It’s intended in part to realize longer-term ambitions to create a world-class tech manufacturing industry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is currently seeking applications for a Rs. 170 billion financial incentive plan to draw makers of laptops, tablets and other hardware to the world’s most populous nation as companies look to diversify supply chains beyond China.

© 2023 Bloomberg LP

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company’s new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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What is the Controversial Worldcoin Project All About and Why are Nations Concerned: Details

Worldcoin, a billion-dollar startup founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has created ripples in the Web3 space in the last two weeks. Officially launched on July 24, Worldcoin is aiming to create a network of ‘real humans’ and no robots. The San Francisco, US-based company is looking to assign ‘World IDs’ to global citizenry. With this ‘international proof of personhood’, Worldcoin believes that people will no longer need to share their personal details like names, numbers, and email IDs in order to connect with websites.

Within two weeks of its launch, over two million people from around the world have signed up with Worldcoin. People who sign-up for their World IDs are also eligible to claim the WLD token, which is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain-based project.

At the time of writing, each WLD token was priced at $2.26 (roughly Rs. 187), showed CoinMarketCap. The total market cap of the WLD token currently stands at $266 million (roughly Rs. 2,207 crore).

Soon after the project went live, Worldcoin sign-up booths were installed in different countries. In India, several metro stations in and around the National Capital Region (NCR) and some in India’s tech hub Bengaluru have Worldcoin booths with people queuing up for registrations.

While the cause that Altman’s Worldcoin is trying to chase may seem noble in terms of offering security to user data, the project has received major backlash from several nations.

Those looking to register themselves for their World IDs are required to submit their biometrics with the company. Taking eye scans via its orb is Worldcoin’s way of ensuring verification of each signing-up user.

This requirement has raised concerns among world governments with regards to security of their citizens as well as their countries. Policymakers are also worried about people being exposed to free WLD tokens that are being given as incentives for people signing up.

Kenya is among the first nations to take a stringent step towards controlling the Worldcoin craze — by suspending it indefinitely for the time being.

In an official statement this week, Kenya’s ministry of interior and national administration said, “Relevant security, financial services, and data protection agencies have commenced inquiries to establish the authenticity and legality of the aforesaid activities”.

To oversee and tackle the Worldcoin frenzy in France and Germany, regulators of the European Union are reportedly opening probes on the project.

India has released no such notice for Worldcoin, as of now.

For now, neither Altman nor the Worldcoin team has reacted to Kenya’s suspension.

“Worldcoin aims to establish universal access to the global economy regardless of country or background. It is designed to become the world’s largest human identity and financial network, giving ownership to everyone. All with the intention of welcoming every person on the planet and establishing a place for all of us to benefit in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI),” the project’s website reads.

In March, the company said that the simplest way to use World ID is as a sign-in method.

“Upon selecting Sign in with Worldcoin on a website, mobile app or crypto dapp, you approve or reject the request from your self-custodial wallet to authenticate and prove you’re a real and unique person. No one, not even Worldcoin contributors or application developers, can track you across websites, identify the World ID connected to your account or generally know more about you,” the firm noted.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company’s new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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India’s Import Ban on Laptops, Tablets, PC to Boost Domestic Manufacturing, Says MoS IT

India’s decision to impose a licensing requirement for imports of laptops, tablets, and personal computers will boost domestic manufacturing and ensure its tech ecosystem uses verified systems only, its deputy IT minister said on Friday.

Current regulations in India allow companies to import laptops freely, but the new rule mandates a special license for these products similar to restrictions India imposed in 2020 for inbound TV shipments.

The government in its notification on Thursday gave no reason for the move, which could affect technology companies such as Apple, Dell, and Samsung and force them to boost local manufacturing.

Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, that “it is the government’s objective to ensure trusted hardware and systems”, reduce dependence on imports and increase domestic manufacturing of such products.

The move is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” plan, which promotes local manufacturing and discourages imports.

Besides boosting local manufacturing, the move is aimed at curbing supplies from China, as it has security concerns regarding such products, a government source told Reuters.

The new rule will ensure India’s tech eco-system uses “trusted and verified systems only that are imported and/or domestically manufactured trusted systems/products,” Chandrasekhar added.

Apple, Dell, and Samsung have not responded to requests for comment.  

 

© Thomson Reuters 2023 

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company’s new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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India Saw Massive Surge in Ransomware, IoT Cyber Attacks in H1 2023: Report

India saw a huge surge in ransomware and IoT cyber attacks in the first half of 2023, as criminals shifted to stealthier means of malicious activities, according to a report by SonicWall.

While major economies like the US and the UK witnessed a decline in ransomware attacks, India (up 133 percent) and Germany (52 percent) are among the countries that saw a huge surge in such attacks, the 2023 SonicWall Mid-Year Cyber Threat Report for the January-June period stated.

At the global level, a variety of other attacks have trended up, including cryptojacking (399 percent), IoT malware (37 percent), and encrypted threats (22 percent), the report said.

At the global level, there was a decline of 41 percent in ransomware attacks.

Cybercriminals are diversifying and expanding their skill sets to attack critical infrastructure, making the threat landscape even more complex and forcing organizations to reconsider their security needs, the report mentioned.

“While India saw a lesser rise in crypto attacks, there has been a huge growth in ransomware and IoT attacks overall.

“These rises in cyberattacks pose great risks to India’s economic ambitions, with industries from manufacturing to pharmaceuticals becoming more vulnerable as they continue to digitize operations,” Debasish Mukherjee, Vice President of Regional Sales, APJ, SonicWall said.

The data suggests increased law enforcement activity, heavy sanctions and victims’ refusal to pay ransom demands have altered criminal conduct, and threat actors are targeting other means of revenue, the report said while explaining the reason for the fall in ransomware attacks at the global level.

“The seemingly endless digital assault on enterprises, governments, and global citizens is intensifying, and the threat landscape continues to expand,” said SonicWall President and CEO Bob VanKirk.

Data indicated that threat actors are more opportunistic than ever, targeting schools, state and local governments, and retail organizations at unprecedented rates, the report said.

Prominent attacks continued to plague enterprises, cities, airlines, and K-12 schools, causing widespread system downtime, economic loss, and reputational damage, it said.

Cryptojacking attacks on education surged by 320 times, on government by 89 times, and on healthcare by 69 times, according to the report.

Global volume of IoT malware rose 37 percent, totaling almost 78 million hits by the end of June As connected devices continue to rapidly multiply, bad actors are targeting weak points of entry as potential attack vectors into organizations.

“SonicWall intelligence suggests that bad actors are pivoting to lower-cost, less risky attack methods with potentially high returns, like cryptojacking,” said SonicWall Vice President of Product Security Bobby Cornwell.

“It also explains the reason we’re seeing higher levels of cybercrime in regions like Latin America and Asia. Hackers search for the weakest points of entry, with the lightest possible repercussions, limiting their risk and maximizing their potential profits.” 

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company’s new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Huawei’s Smartphone Business Recovering, Says Head of Consumer Business

Huawei Technologies’ handset business is “on the road to a comeback” the head of the company’s consumer business Richard Yu said in his keynote at the company’s annual developer conference in the southern city of Dongguan on Friday.

Huawei’s share of the domestic smartphone market share grew by 76.1 percent in the second quarter, and took second spot in the high-end sector, Yu said.

The company held 11.3 percent of the overall China market in the second quarter, behind five competitors led by Vivo and Apple, according to Counterpoint Research.

Counterpoint attributed Huawei’s growth to the resumption of normal product launches after resolving shortages.

Several rounds of US restrictions on US-made technology limited Huawei to producing last-generation 4G handsets, causing its once sizeable handset market share to plummet both at home and abroad.

The US and European governments have labeled Huawei a security risk, a charge the company denies.

Yu said Huawei’s in-house Harmony operating system has “overcome many challenges” in the last four years, noting there were now 2.2 million developers for the system.

Last month research firms told Reuters they expect Huawei to return to making 5G smartphones by the end of the year by procuring chips domestically, in spite of the US restrictions.

Huawei declined to comment. 

© Thomson Reuters 2023 

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company’s new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Bharat Web3 Association Notes India’s Interest in DeFi as Country Posts G20 Presidency Note on Crypto

India is making its name as a lucrative startup hub for Web3 projects with its large pool of developer talent, the Bharat Web3 Association (BWA) has said sharing an analysed observation. India’s own crypto advocacy group, the BWA, was established in November last year, aiming to bridge the communication gap between industry players and the government. In the last nine months, the BWA has observed that Indians could ramp-up experiments with DeFi because it offers almost tax-free, cheap alternatives to traditional, centralised banking services.

DeFi or Decentralised Finance lets financial products appear on a public blockchain network, which is not regulated by a central bank or intermediary. People looking to deposit their money somewhere other than a bank can consider investing in DeFi protocols.

Indians are particularly being drawn towards exploring the DeFi sector because from loans to exchanges, DeFi applications are exploding in numbers and use-cases. As per Finder.com, the value of DeFi transactions for individuals as well as retailers is highest in India. A contributing factor to this trend is the large volume of remittances that is wired back to India from its citizens working abroad, which can be sent faster and more cost-effectively through cryptocurrency.

“India is among the fastest global adopters of DeFi, which can boost financial inclusion through expanded access to credit to the MSME sector and those unable to access credit from banks. The quality of startups being founded in India is top notch,” Dilip Chenoy, Chairman, BWA told Gadgets 360.

Once the nation gets its framework of crypto laws, Chenoy notes that there will be a boom in Web3 initiatives from India.

At present, India, as the president of the G20 nations is working on a set of crypto rules that will work on a global level.

On August 1, the country posted a presidency note on crypto, giving a status update on the crypto laws work.

As per that note, the Interntional Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) are expected to be jointly presenting a synthesis paper on their crypto rules suggestions by the end of this month.

This paper will note the possible impacts of crypto on macro-financial implications while also outlining the risks of crypto to emerging markets and economies under development. In addition, the paper is also expected to highlight ways to spread awareness around crypto, so that everybody who chooses to engage with digital assets are aware of the pros and cons.

India has also submitted a similar note with its ideas, suggestions, and concerns around crypto to the G20 group as its president, Ajay Seth, a senior official of the Indian Finance Ministry had said last month.

“The very nature of virtual digital assets (VDAs) being cross-jurisdictional, has made the case for a coordinated regulatory mechanism for such assets rather than individual countries adopting different stances. The regulatory landscape for virtual digital assets is continuously evolving,” Chenoy said.

He further added that despite India not having a concrete regulation to oversee Web3, the sector has been explicitly brought within the ambit certain provisions.

These include income tax framework for VDAs, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) guidelines to ensure compliance of VDA service providers, the ASCI guidelines for responsible advertising and the latest inclusion of VDA service providers in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) recognising them as reporting entities.

“These developments can signal India moving in the right direction, wherein regulators understand the risks associated,” Chenoy added.

India’s presidency of the G20 will conclude in December this year, which is also around when the first draft of global crypto rules is expected by.

Meanwhile, Chenoy said, Web3 elements like asset tokenisation and the eRupee CBDC are likely to make Indians more comfortable with dabbling in the Web3 sector via real estate, art, supply chain, and gaming among other avenues in the times to come.

Recently, the Telangana government in India announced the launch of its Asset Tokenisation Standard Framework, providing a common set of rules and guidelines for the tokenisation of assets.

After having analysed India’s internal response to making the VDA sector safer, the BWA chief has said under its leadership, the G20 nations could just get the crypto rules detailed and right.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company’s new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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‘Friday Night Plan’ Starring Irrfan Khan’s Son Babil Releasing September 1 on Netflix

Excel Entertainment’s new film Friday Night Plan, starring Babil Khan, will arrive on Netflix on September 1, the streaming platform has announced. Netflix India shared the premiere date of the film on its social media pages on Friday. “Two unsupervised siblings in a room… they might have the most epic #FridayNightPlan! Arrives on 1st September, only on Netflix!” the post read. Produced by Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani and Kassim Jagmagia, the movie is billed as an “unforgettable journey of love and laughter”.

“We at Excel Entertainment are ecstatic to unveil this heartwarming film to the world! It’s our first high school film and all the fun, mischief and growing pains that come with it. It was exciting to work with the stellar cast, led by Babil Khan, and we hope that our labour of love reaches audiences far and wide with Netflix,” Akhtar and Sidhwani said in a joint statement. Vatsal Neelakantan, who has previously worked on Excel’s projects such as Inside Edge and Mirzapur, has directed Friday Night Plan.

In the movie, Babil plays the nerdy older brother, and his character’s partner-in-crime is his mischievous younger brother, portrayed by Amrith Jayan. Babil, who made his acting debut last year with Netflix film Qala, said Friday Night Plan was a relatable subject for him. “Having a younger brother in real life, this film feels so relatable to me. It’s a heartwarming journey that brings back fond memories of our own misadventures. This is my first outing with Excel Entertainment and also marks my second collaboration with Netflix after ‘Qala’, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of this project,” the actor said.

Neelakanthan described the movie as “a warm tale of love, friendship, brotherhood and self discovery that speaks to all audiences.” Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director, Original Films, Netflix India, said after Mismatched and Class, they are excited to bring Friday Night Plan for their young adult audiences. “We are thrilled to bring together an exciting, fresh cast for this novel, a promising tale of two brothers which is sure to strike a chord with audiences as it celebrates the universal theme of sibling love and misadventures on a fateful Friday Night. Partnering with the masters of this genre, Excel Entertainment has been a true delight,” she said. Friday Night Plan also features Aadhya Anand, Medha Rana and Ninad Kama along with Juhi Chawla in a special appearance. 

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company’s new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Kohrra to The Witcher Season 3: Top Movies and TV Series to Watch on Netflix Right Now


Bharat Web3 Association Notes India’s Interest in DeFi as Country Posts G20 Presidency Note on Crypto



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Kohrra to The Witcher Season 3: Top Movies and TV Series to Watch on Netflix Right Now

Despite the public outcry, the changes to Netflix’s password-sharing system have simply helped the streamer grow in power, with nearly 6 million new members joining the platform recently. With the ongoing Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strikes in full effect, I don’t really blame them for it, given the streamer is one of the few studios that’s best prepared for the oncoming content drought with a robust, long-running slate. Coming to this weekend, the slate is led by renowned favourites such as The Witcher season 3 and Bird Box Barcelona, as well as new Indian originals such as Kohrra, a procedural investigation thriller helmed by Paatal Lok creator Sudip Sharma.

Every week, Netflix compiles a list of its most trending content, from compelling dramas to more action-oriented affairs such as Hidden Strike, the new pair-up between Jackie Chan and John Cena. Of course, content such as Lust Stories 2 is going to rank high up on the list for expected reasons, though I was surprised to see the Randeep Hooda-led crime-thriller series CAT up on there, apparently having spent six weeks among India’s Top 10 list. You can check out the entire hierarchy by visiting the official website, but for now, let’s focus on some of the best films and TV series you could binge-watch on Netflix right now.

One Piece to Ahsoka, The Biggest Web Series Releasing in July

Maamannan

It’s always interesting to see comic actors like Vadivelu take on intense roles, with Maamannan putting him in the shoes of the titular veteran statesman and his son Veera (Udhayanidhi Stalin), who are pulled into a violent power struggle when a cold-blooded politician charts his rise to power. Fahadh Faasil plays the vengeful and entitled Rathnavelu, Salem’s district secretary, who discriminates against people based on caste, often at loggerheads over political shifts with his rival, insisting how even progressive ideals would fall prey to casteism in time. The film also stars Keerthy Suresh (Dasara) as an educator for the less privileged, and Lal (2018) as the fictional Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

The Witcher Season 3: Vol. 2

Over the years, The Witcher series took a nosedive from being a highly-praised fantasy epic, to gradually veering from the source material to focus on its world-building and politics. In what serves as the last hurrah for Henry Cavill’s portrayal of the monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, it was revealed that the mysterious mage Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu) had been sowing discord across the Continent. Our trio of heroes Geralt, Sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), and Ciri (Freya Allan) must now face hordes of monsters and mages to thwart evil, as the stone-cold witcher slowly comes to terms with his feelings.

Hidden Strike

Hidden Strike puts iconic death-defying actor Jackie Chan and WWE legend John Cena on the same team, to escort a group of civilians across the Iraqi roads after an oil refinery gets attacked by mercenaries. Tonally, it’s something along the lines of the Rush Hour films, a buddy-comedy filled with endless banter and over-the-top action sequences, as our heroes dodge RPGs, blast rooftops during old-fashioned standoffs, and fail to understand the simple mechanics of a hand-grenade. Scott Waugh — best known for Need for Speed — directs the film, which also stars Game of Thrones veteran Pilou Asbæk as the mercenaries’ leader Owen Paddock.

Bird Box Barcelona

The events of Bird Box Barcelona run parallel to the ones in the US, which you might have already seen in the original Sandra Bullock-led version. Threatened by a mysterious force that has begun annihilating the human population by forcing them to kill themselves, a father and daughter — Sebastián (Mario Casas) and Anna (Alejandra Howard) — venture through the desolate streets of the titular Spanish city, in hopes of finding a safe haven. But when they run into a group of other blindfolded strangers, they learn of another imminent threat that seems more formidable than the unseen creatures. Helmed by returning directors Àlex and David Pastor, the movie also enlists Georgina Campbell (Barbarian) and Diego Calva (Babylon) in the cast lineup.

Kohrra

When an NRI Punjabi named Paul is found murdered just before his arranged marriage in the countryside of Jagrana, Punjab, two police officers — Amarpal Jasjit Garundi (Barun Sobti) and Balbir Singh (Suvinder Vicky) — must work together to unravel the mystery, which opens a pandora’s box of a dysfunctional family’s secrets, deceit, and infidelity. To make matters worse, the victim’s close friend Liam (Ivantiy Novak), a British national, goes missing, prompting an investigation process more serious than regular routine checks. Kohrra explores the customs of the NRI community which makes up a sizeable population in greater Punjab, in addition to themes of masculine ego.

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