Tech Trums

 In the past few weeks, Donald Trump has repeatedly adjusted his stance on tariffs—imposing them, postponing them, tweaking percentages, then reversing those tweaks, only to announce new dates and new numbers all over again. To many, it looked like a classic case of indecisiveness. But now, sources close to the former president have revealed the real reason behind all this back-and-forth: he was trying to beat China at ping pong. Yes, ping pong—or as it’s known in more serious circles, table tennis. We all know China has been the undisputed global powerhouse in table tennis for decades. Their players have dominated the Olympics, the World Championships, and pretty much any event where a tiny ball and lightning reflexes are involved. While Trump publicly focused on competing with China in technology, AI, and military strength, he apparently carried a private obsession: defeating them in a game where America has long been an underdog. According to an insider, who spoke to TT on...

After a series of flip-flops on tariffs, the number of U-turns taken by Trump has surpassed those taken by Kejriwal. Turner Analytics, the agency that keeps count of such incidents, told TT in an exclusive interview that Kejriwal is no longer... (he coughed a bit here) the person with the highest number of U-turns. Kejriwal’s AAP party, lovingly called the PAAP party by its supporters, has alleged foul play, as their chief was dethroned from the top position. “There were tariffs on 57 countries, and when they were reverted, it was counted as 57 U-turns, which is unfair. It should have been counted as one incident. But challenge accepted — when we come to power next time, we will set such a high benchmark for U-turns that it will remain unbroken for the next 50 years,” the party’s senior leader Atishi Marlena said in a press conference. The Trump administration, on the other hand, has threatened to slap another 10% import duty on Chinese goods if Kejriwal does not accept defeat. “I...

We all knew it intuitively, but now we have the data. There is a massive surge in tourism across the country, which is generally attributed to rising disposable incomes. However, a major factor that’s usually not discussed openly is the rise of social media. We have all seen our friends enjoying themselves at a hill station or a beach, and boy, do we feel jealous! And not to be left behind, the phenomenon popularly called FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), drives us to book a ticket to Goa, even though our pockets may not allow it. The same goes for our love for Royal Enfield. We may not be a bullet enthusiast per se, but after watching our friends take that dream Ladakh trip on their fat bikes, we cannot resist the temptation of owning one. Now, with Facebook and Instagram expected to be affected by a solar storm in 2025, there is a drop in bookings to tourist destinations like Goa, Kerala, and Nainital. Some people have even canceled the bookings they had made. “If I cannot post my phot...

The day after their CEO died, Samsung Electronics offices all over the world were abuzz with speculation about what might have led to the incident. Here are a few theories overheard around the coffee machines. 1.        He had a performance review meeting the next day, and his heart was expecting a pounding. To avoid this, it thought stopping was the best option. 2.        Since he was the super boss, he couldn’t bitch around with his colleagues about his boss. Lesson – it’s important to have an idiot boss because you must have someone to vent about, for the health of your heart. 3.        After running like a rat for decades and reaching the pinnacle, he realized – “Is that all? is this what I was running for? Is it where the race ends? This is a lousy place.” So he just logged out. 4.        When he joined Samsung as a fresh engineer, he bonded with colleague...

In a groundbreaking development (literally), billionaire Elon Musk has reportedly agreed to collaborate with a Gurugram-based property dealer to sell plots on Mars. Here are the key developments in this cosmic real estate venture: 1.       Initial Skepticism : Musk was hesitant when first approached by Dream Properties, pointing out that humans are still at least 30 years away from landing on Mars. However, Dream Properties had an airtight response. 2.       The Winning Pitch : The property dealer reportedly convinced Musk by saying, “We sell apartments in Gurugram, promising delivery in three years, but they usually take eight to ten years to complete. For Mars, it’s fine if we book now and the grandson finally gets to see his piece of land. If nothing works, we can always generate AI videos of Mars and show people what their plot ‘could’ look like.” 3.       Reality Check in Gurugram : Musk was finally co...

  There is an undercurrent of a tea price increase in India. The price had been stable at 10 rupees for a long time, but now, citing inflation, some chai-waalas want to raise it to 15 rupees. However, this idea hasn't gained wide acceptance. Some hesitant chai-waalas believe that raising the price to 15 rupees will lead to protests outside their shops. Yet, they don't want to miss out, so they've opted for a middle-ground approach and raised the price to 13 rupees instead. Meanwhile, some more daring types— dekh lenge —have already increased the price to 15 rupees. They believe that taking risks is part of business, and they've fully embraced this mindset. On the other hand, some risk-averse chai-waalas fear that raising the price will drive customers away and leave their shops deserted. As a result, they've kept the price at 10 rupees. Meanwhile, government is silent on this crucial issue. While Modi is honeymooning in Mauritius, Trump was expected to addre...