The new iPhone is here!

Written by: Aarthi Ramnath, Aakriti Anand & Raghav Bikhchandani

The new iPhone is here!

Apple upped the smart in the smartphone—unveiling the first artificially intelligent iPhone. It sounds grand—but the iPhone 16 only has a limited number of AI features as of now:

One: A camera control button on the side of the phone gives you “visual intelligence”—i.e. information on whatever you’re looking at. Point it at a restaurant and you’ll get reviews, the menu, and how to make a reservation.

Two: Siri also got smarter. The assistant can do useful things with your text messages:

Siri will now be able to pull from users’ text messages, meaning it can remind you of TV and music recommendations sent by friends, said Federighi. For example, you can say, “Send Erica the photos from Saturday’s barbecue,” and Siri will understand which photos to send and automatically text them to the right person.

Nice, but maybe not all that useful in a country addicted to WhatsApp.

Three: The iPhone 16 has 17% more system memory to support the AI (bracing for overheating complaints)—and a glass-ceramic screen that is 50% tougher. The processor is 40% faster.

The ‘plus’ version: is a bit predictable. Yes, it’s bigger. “The iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Plus offers a larger 6.7-inch screen.” OTOH, the Pro version is bigger by 0.2 inches—the entry-level iPhone 16 Pro is 6.3 inches and the Pro Max is 6.9 inches. Why not just call it an iPad and be done with it. And since this is Apple, the camera features are extra-fancy:

The new high-end iPhone 16 also lets you shoot in 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, with the ability to make the video slow-motion after recording a clip, rather than trying to grab the right setting as the action is happening. The Pro line is also getting an audio recording boost, including spatial audio with reduced background noise, enabling videos to pick conversations from the people centred in the video out from the ambient noise around them.

It’s not clear which iPhone user (premium or not) was clamouring for this.

The good news: The price is still the same. The basic model starts at $799 (around Rs 67,000)—while the iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899 (around Rs 75,500). But the India prices are expectedly higher:

In India, the iPhone 16 is priced at Rs 79,900 and the iPhone 16 Plus will be available at Rs 89,900. The iPhone 16 Pro, on the other hand, comes with a starting price tag of Rs 1,19,900 in India. The most premium, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, will cost you Rs 1,44900 in the Indian market.

The bad news for Apple: Despite the tech rush to embrace AI, it isn’t a selling point for phone buyers.

Read more: CNN has loads more on the new Watches and Airpods. New York Times is underwhelmed by the AI reveal. See the iPhone promo vid below.

Israeli jobs for Indians… maybe not!

The context: In November, the Israeli government announced plans to hire 100,000 Indians—to replace the 90,000 Palestinian workers banned due to the Gaza invasion. The jobs were mainly in construction—and promised an average monthly salary of over Rs 190,000. They were vetted either by government departments—or by private agencies.

The problem: Most of those selected—by the government—did not have the required skills. According to Israeli industry execs, many were “20-year-olds who had never worked in construction…They came from jobs like farming and hair-cutting, some did not even know how to hold a hammer.” As a result, Israeli builders refused to let them work on construction sites—and shifted them to unskilled jobs such as cleaning, loading etc.

The fallout: Although the workers hired by agencies seem fine, the growing distrust has affected the entire pool. Builders have cancelled visas and contracts of as many as 2,000 Indian workers since May. Indian Express has lots more on this debacle.

Venice Film Festival: Golden Lions, Gaza & Glamour

Europe’s premier pre-Oscars pitstop festival concluded this past weekend. The big winner in Venice was Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar’s ‘The Room Next Door’, which took home the ultimate prize—the Golden Lion award—a first for the 74-year-old. Check out the trailer for the movie below.

Btw, the movie stars the festival’s fave power couple: Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore—who have a ‘sis-mance’ to match the Damon-Affleck lovefest.

Enter, Gaza: Sarah Friedland won the Luigi de Laurentiis Best Director award for her debut feature ‘Familiar Touch’ in the festival’s ‘Horizzonti’ category which focuses on first-time directors. But it was her acceptance speech which attracted attention—the Jewish filmmaker expressed solidarity with Palestinians and didn’t mince her words: “I am accepting this award on the 336th day of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and 76th year of occupation.” You can watch it below. (Deadline)

On a lighter note: The red carpet at Venice put the bland Oscars to shame. Check out French legend Isabelle Huppert’s papal gown at the closing ceremony:

Also: Taylor Russell OMG!

Lady Gaga turned heads with her dracula-meets-Mother Monster look at the ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ premiere.

Pedro was ‘pretty in pink’ for ‘The Room Next Door’ premiere.

Want more? The Guardian has an excellent collection of reviews of the movies that premiered—including the highly anticipated ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’. Harper’s Bazaar has an excellent round up of the red carpet.

Adani and Bangladesh ki “unsustainable” jodi

The context: During a state visit to Bangladesh in 2015, PM Modi announced a deal between the Adani Group and Dhaka. Adani’s power project in Godda, Jharkhand would supply coal-powered electricity to Bangladesh. In July 2023, the pipeline became operational—making Godda the only Indian power plant to export its entire 1600 MW supply to another country. Reminder: Sheikh Hasina—who is extremely cosy with New Delhi—was the prime minister at the time.

What happened now: Hasina has been expelled—and is stewing in exile in India. But the deal she cut may send Bangladesh into a financial crisis. Dhaka owes Adani $500 million in overdue payments—which the company is calling “unsustainable.” OTOH, interim PM Muhammad Yunus blames the mess on “opaque, expensive infrastructure deals negotiated under Sheikh Hasina for tipping the country.. into a financial hole.” The total amount owed to Adani: $800 million. What’s next: Dhaka is on the hunt for loans—from the World Bank and others.

What’s next: Adani says he has no plans to cut off electricity to Bangladesh. And Dhaka says it has no plans of reneging on its payments. But it flags a new burden for an already overwhelmed Yunus government. (Financial Times, paywall, Indian Express)

The Boeing Starliner has come home

The greatly jinxed Boeing Starliner (see: this Big Story) finally returned to Earth on Saturday—without its crew—93 days after it launched. The capsule landed at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. For all the panic around its helium leaks—that led to hamaari Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore staying back at the ISS till February 2025—the capsule made a “near flawless” reentry. FYI: This is the first US-made spacecraft to land on ground rather than splashing down the ocean. See the landing below: (CNN)

ANI sues Netflix over Kandahar hijack series

The context: Last week, ‘IC814: The Kandahar Hijack’ ran into trouble for retaining the aliases used by real-life Pakistani hijackers. The problem: Two of these aliases were Hindu. Netflix buckled under government pressure—and announced plans to “conduct a content review and guarantee that all future content on their platform will be sensitive to and in accordance with the nation's sentiments.” But the series remained on the platform—unedited except for an extended disclaimer making clear that the hijackers were Pakistani.

What happened now: ANI has now sued Netflix for “trademark infringement and copyright violations”—for using its news footage without permission. These are shots of Pakistani president Parvez Musharraf, PM Atal Bihari Vajpapyee, and the key terrorist Masood Azhar—who was released in exchange for hostages. ANI is especially unhappy that its content was used for a show that is “not only controversial but anti-national and unpatriotic in the eyes of the public.” ANI wants Netflix to take down four episodes that use its footage—more so as its logo is visible on the screen.

But, but, but: The producers say they bought the footage from third-party companies for Rs 1.7 crore (17 million). These companies got the film from Reuters—which has a stake in ANI. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for Friday. (Scroll)

what caught our eye

business & tech

The Conversation has a good read on a US antitrust case against Google that could have major consequences for online advertising.
Indian EV scooter maker Ather plans to raise $370 million in its upcoming IPO.
Economic Times assesses the odds of SpiceJet’s survival—and concludes that all eyes are now on promoter and chairman Ajay Singh.
The Indian government has banned over two dozen websites that were allegedly laundering money from illegal offshore betting apps.
Read the small print on your next job contract—companies are hiring law firms to create watertight rules around working from home.
India’s “largest shopping mall” is set to be built in…Ahmedabad, thanks to a $480 million investment from the UAE’s Lulu Group. No delulus here?
An AI model developed by Ashoka University may be able to predict the risk of domestic violence. It has an accuracy rate of 78%.

sports & entertainment

The Established has a must-read on how India’s women athletes are chasing excellence despite terrible facilities.
Rishabh Pant is making his long-awaited return to men’s test cricket—he is part of the India’s squad that will face Bangladesh next week.
Sri Lanka have beaten England in men’s test cricket for the first time in a decade. In ESPNCricinfo, Andrew Fidel Fernando takes you through their famous victory.
The 2025 Super Bowl halftime show headliner will be…Kendrick Lamar!
Stat Significant crunches the numbers to determine the G.O.A.T Hollywood actor—who is Leonardo DiCaprio.
Farewell to legendary voice actor James Earl Jones—the man behind Darth Vader has died aged 93.

as for the rest

Residents of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, brace yourselves—the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heavy rainfall and flash flood warnings.
The Delhi government has banned the production and sale of firecrackers until the New Year to combat air pollution.
The News Minute has a good read on Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar’s commitment to a Bengaluru grand tunnel project that appears to defy all logic.
An update on the RG Kar rape-murder case—the Supreme Court has ordered removal of photos of the victim across social media, and says there was a “14-hour delay” in the registration of the FIR.
“Deeply pained by the continuing death of innocent civilians”—India has taken a stronger line on Gaza—moving away from its ‘balanced support of Tel Aviv. It was delivered by the External Affairs Minister on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, of course.
In what is expected to be tricky diplomatic territory for India, Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal will seek extradition of Sheikh Hasina from India.
Europe is addressing its ‘overtourism’ problem (check out our Big Story). Greece will impose restrictions on cruise ships docking at Greek islands during the summer season, while Italy will put in place entry fees on the previously free to visit Trevi fountain.
The European Union (EU) needs to spend a whopping €800 billion ($882.6 million) per year in order to remain competitive in the global economy.
Apollo Quiboloy—an influential Filipino pastor who is also on the FBI wanted list—was arrested after a two-week manhunt. The charges: child abuse, sex trafficking, and sexual abuse of minors.
Presenting…the new gel version of Ozempic, or ‘Gelzempic’, that could make it easier for people to take weight loss drugs.
Lightning strikes more frequently in more polluted skies, with pollutants acting as “cloud nuclei”, a new study shows.
Over two-thirds of Australia’s tourism sites will disappear due to global warming, according to a new report.
SpaceX’s test rocket that exploded twice in a botched November 2023 launch blew holes in the Earth’s atmosphere, according to scientists.
Speaking of SpaceX, Elon Musk claims that they’ll land on Mars within two years.
Orange juice is becoming a relative luxury, thanks to severe drought and widespread crop disease in Brazil, the world’s largest OJ exporter.

Four things to see

One: Kate Middleton released a new video announcing she has completed her chemotherapy. She plans to return to public life.

Two: Typhoon Yagi—the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, with wind speeds between 150-166 kmph (93-103 mph)—has killed 46 people in Vietnam.

Three: The Indian diaspora has turned up for Kamala Harris in true—and predictable—American desi style. Behold the music video to the tune of—what else—‘Naatu Naatu’. (NDTV)

Four: For the first time ever, scientists have mapped the movement of tectonic plates over the last 1.8 billion years—that’s about 40% of Earth’s history. The result is this animation. Watch what is now India move south to form the continent of Gondwana. The Conversation has more on the study.