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Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Philips i9000 Review: Premium design, reliable performance
Philips is a well-known brand in India's grooming space with products ranging from trimmers to hair dryers and shavers. The Dutch company recently launched its new i9000 electric shaver, which promises a comfortable shaving experience tailored to each user with the help of AI. But how well does it hold up to that promise? Let's find out in this review. Opening the box of the Philips i9000 shaver, you're greeted with the device itself, a charging cable, and a premium-feeling travel case. The charging cable connects from USB-A to a proprietary pin, which feels like a missed opportunity for a premium product since USB-C has become the standard across most accessories. The shaver itself feels premium in hand despite being made of polycarbonate. There's a power button in the middle with a small display just below it, while the shaving heads sit on top. Philips claims the i9000 offers a personalized shaving experience via its GroomTribe app, but I was unable to get the shaver paired with the Android app and therefore couldn't test these features. Battery life, however, is impressive. While I didn't completely drain it to the claimed 60-minute runtime, my usage suggests it's more or less accurate. The shaver uses a triple-action lift-and-cut system powered by dual steel precision blades that Philips says can perform 7–8 million cutting motions per minute. The i9000 is great for tackling small stubble (up to a week old), but if you have a longer beard, you'll need to trim it down before shaving. In practice, the process is straightforward: press the button, and the shaver kicks into action. It does feel like it adapts to the contours of your face as you go. As a first-time user, there is a slight learning curve, but once you get comfortable, the device really grows on you. At ₹ 17,999, the Philips i9000 electric shaver isn't for everyone. But for premium users who want a grooming tool that combines performance with convenience, it's a compelling option. It delivers on comfort and design, though app connectivity issues and the lack of USB-C leave room for improvement.
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
India restarts trade deal talk with Russia-led EAEU bloc amid Trump's tariffs, ‘dead economies' jibe
India and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on Wednesday kickstarted negotiations for a trade deal as talks with the US broke down after US President Donald Trump called India a 'dead economy' and raised tariffs on Indian products to 50 per cent, the highest globally. The restart of trade negotiations with EAEU, which has a combined GDP of $6.5 trillion, comes after New Delhi has ostensibly begun a pivot towards China, Russia and Brazil in the face of US economic coercion. After the fallout with the US over trade deal negotiations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held phone calls with Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Russian President Vladimir Putin and is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. The trade deal talks with EAEU were stalled in early 2022 after the Ukraine war. The grouping comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, apart from Russia. 'India and the EAEU comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to launch negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) today in Moscow. The ToR was signed by Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce Ajay Bhadoo, and Deputy Director, Trade Policy Department, EEC, Mikhail Cherekaev,' the commerce and industry ministry said. The ministry said that the ToR provides the framework for negotiations and is expected to unlock untapped trade potential, increase investments and establish a stronger, durable India–EAEU economic partnership. 'Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the early conclusion of the agreement and to building a long-term institutional framework for trade cooperation,' the ministry said in a statement. The trade turnover between India and the EAEU stood at $69 billion in 2024, a 7 per cent increase over 2023. 'With a combined GDP of $6.5 trillion, the proposed FTA is expected to expand market access for Indian exporters, support diversification into new sectors and geographies, enhance competitiveness against non-market economies, and deliver significant benefits to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),' the ministry said. Challenges in Russia-India trade The India-Russia trade dynamics have undergone significant changes following the Ukraine war. While India's exports to Russia have only doubled from $2.39 billion in FY19 to $4.88 billion in FY25, India's imports from Russia have skyrocketed. Russia is now India's largest oil import source, widening the trade deficit to over $60 billion. To balance the trade with Russia, India has also restarted taking measures to ease rupee-ruble trade. Talk of setting up rupee-ruble trade with Russia collapsed last year. Government officials said that fresh talks have begun. In contrast, Russia-China have set up a mechanism for trade in domestic currency, reducing the reliance on the US dollar. With India facing steep US tariffs, exporters are looking for newer markets. Exporters said that Russia is a key market for Indian textile and pharmaceutical products. Stress on India over US tariffs A Kotak Research report on Wednesday said that the US' reciprocal tariff of 25 per cent on Indian exports, even without the additional penal 25 per cent tariff effective August 21, could exert pressure on goods exports. 'Depending on the extent of tariff pass-through and the price elasticity of US imports, annual export losses could be in the range of US$0-35 bn, with risks skewed toward the higher end. In a scenario where tariffs rise to 50 per cent, the entire non-exempted export basket (around US$55 bn) could be at risk annually,' the report said.
Mint
12 hours ago
- Mint
Funds Cut Long Bets on European Gas at Fastest Pace Since Winter
(Bloomberg) -- Funds cut speculative long bets that European gas prices will rise at the fastest pace since last winter, signaling growing conviction that supply worries are set to ease as traders ramp up stockpiling ahead of the heating season. In the past five weeks, the net-long position in benchmark Dutch gas futures held by investment funds has slumped more than 50%, according to data from Intercontinental Exchange Inc. That's the biggest decline for a similar period starting in the middle of February. It's also the longest stretch of weekly losses since the summer of 2023, the data released on Wednesday show. The slump in wagers indicates a change in sentiment that the region will have enough fuel to navigate the coldest months as traders accelerate injections. Incremental progress in US President Donald Trump's latest diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine has raised expectations that additional Russian energy may return to global markets, decreasing competition for supplies. The plunge in net-long positions also coincides with futures dropping to their lowest level in year late last week. Still, European gas prices remain above the range they typically traded in before the energy crisis that began more than three years ago when Russia invaded Ukraine. It's also a reversal from the start of the stockpiling season, when supply worries mounted after the region's vast storage facilities erupted depleted from winter. Geopolitical concerns, from the war in the Middle East to intensification of Russia's attacks in Ukraine, also contributed to the elevated bullish positions. More stories like this are available on
