The 974 Stadium, built for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is now being torn apart. The stadium was built in record time for the tournament, and being the first-ever stadium that can be dismantled, is being deconstructed.
‘974’ is the long distance code for calling Qatar, and also refers to the number of steel containers that were used to erect the stadium for the World Cup. The cooling system used in the stadium redistributed the breeze from the Persian Gulf, which is 10 km East of downtown Doha.
974 Stadium now extinct following 2022 World Cup
The first match played at the stadium was between Mexico and Poland during the group stage. Its official capacity was 44,089 which was among the lower ones in the city.
Stadium 974 — a 40,000-seat stadium built out of 974 shipping containers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — will be dismantled after today's match.
The stadium cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build and was used for just SEVEN MATCHES. pic.twitter.com/fzyg0wGzZ8
The use of recyclable materials has allowed for the stadium to be dismantled, and has also minimised the cost it took to construct the ground. The estimated cost was about $200 million, and the site is now expected to become a site for an oil company.
The last match was Brazil’s victory over Korea in the Round of 16. Fixtures such as Portugal vs Ghana, France vs Denmark, Brazil vs Switzerland, Poland vs Argentina and Serbia vs Switzerland were also played there.
As of now, it is unclear as to where the recycled materials from the 974 Stadium will be sent to. Or, what will become of the site of the stadium. But, it is a testament to the technological innovation of the 21st century that a stadium can be completely dismantled in the way it is now, amongst conversations over sustainability becoming more frequent.
Morocco have pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the World Cup, eliminating Portugal to become the first African and Arabic side to compete in the semi-final of the competition.
Youssef En-Nesyri scored the only goal of the game, nodding in a header after a cross from the left flank. Diogo Costa was responsible for the error that led to the goal, as it was supposed to be an easy claim for him. Even though he came out to gather it, he missed it completely and the striker headed it in from close range.
Portugal defeated in quarter finals of the World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears as he walked down the tunnel after Portugal's loss. pic.twitter.com/FS6C7WMxbd
Bono emerged as the saviour for his team yet again. The goalkeeper was in fine form, and made numerous important saves throughout the game to help his side keep a clean sheet. The only goal that Morocco have conceded this World Cup is an own goal – they are yet to be scored against by any team that they have played.
In what could be the last appearance for Cristiano Ronaldo in a Portugal shirt, the striker left the pitch in tears. He broke down completely en route to the locker room, as he joins the list of players to have never won the World Cup despite being legendary in their own right.
Portugal have been eliminated at the quarter final stage for the first time, since they have made it to the semi-finals every time that they have advanced out of the Round of 16. They failed to get a hold of the game, and beat Morocco’s low block, which has been nothing short of a fortress over the last few weeks.
France have made it through to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, beating England 2-1 in their quarter final fixture to advance. Didier Deschamps’ injury list has not been a problem at all, with the defending champions now two wins away from successfully defending their title.
Aurelien Tchouameni opened the scoring for France 17 minutes into the game with a long range effort that found the back of the net. Les Blues could not create a lot of chances, but were able to convert their chance when it came.
France defeat England to advance to semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup
Harry Kane was able to convert a penalty early in the second half to equalise and make it 1-1. With his second goal at the World Cup, Kane has equalised Wayne Rooney for the most goals scored for England at 53.
FRANCE ARE THE FIRST REIGNING CHAMPIONS TO REACH THE SEMI-FINALS SINCE 1998! 🇫🇷🐓 pic.twitter.com/qsjnT5D3P9
But, Olivier Giroud added to his tally at the tournament with yet another vital goal in the 78th minute to make it 2-1. Kane could have equalised from the spot yet again, presented with a golden opportunity. But, the Tottenham Hotspur striker could not beat his club teammate, Hugo Lloris, for the second time, blasting his effort over the bar.
And despite putting in a strong showing throughout the match, Gareth Southgate’s team were not able to trouble their opponents enough to get a result. On the other hand, France will be facing Morocco in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
We could see a repeat of the 2018 finals if Croatia can beat Argentina in the other semi-final. On the other hand, Morocco could also claim an upset victory, considering the kind of performances that they have been putting in.
Morocco’s 2022 World Cup campaign has been nothing short of sensational. Not only did they become the first African and Arabic team to reach the semi-finals of the tournament, but they did so without being scored against.
The only goal that they conceded in five games was an own goal in the game against Canada during their group stage. Moreover, they made it out of their group which consisted of Croatia, Belgium and Canada.
Morocco’s unbelievable performance at the 2022 World Cup
The Atlas Lions have not been scored against by any team at the World Cup. Their defensive performance has been nothing short of spectacular, with the team mastering their low block against fluid attacking opposition.
Morocco are in the World Cup semifinals and not a single team has scored on them all tournament 😳 pic.twitter.com/s7ibpQN3QH
The likes of Belgium, Spain and Portugal were all frustrated given how disciplined and tight the African side were without the ball. Their goalkeeper, Bono, has played a huge role in their victories. He was able to win against Spain in the penalty shootout with 10 saves in the game, and also kept a clean sheet against Portugal to advance.
What was even more impressive was that he did not concede a single penalty against Spain in the shootout as they went through. And this earned him the man of the match award in consecutive games during the knockout stage.
Since the appointment of Walid Regragui, the team has been unbeaten across all competitions. And Morocco’s progression into the last four of the World Cup is without a doubt the biggest achievement for all of African and Arabic football, turning a new page in their history.
Brazil’s World Cup hopes ended after their penalty shootout defeat against Croatia in the quarter finals of the 2022 edition. The South American giants were one of the favourites to lift the title heading into the tournament.
They are the number 1 ranked side in the world by FIFA, and have one of the best squad depths in the entire world. Their performance during the group stage, as well as the game against South Korea, was nothing short of brilliant. But, they were not able to overcome a resolute Croatian side to advance to the last four.
Brazil eliminated despite being one of the best sides in the world
The 2022 edition of the World Cup has had surprises and shocks at every turn. And Brazil going out against Croatia was surely one of them. Dominik Livakovic turned up to deny Rodrygo and Marquinhos from the spot.
Their thrilling and fluid attacking output which was present against South Korea was not to be found against Croatia due to their tight defending. And despite being one of the best in the world, they have been knocked out.
The likes of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Richarlison and Antony are all young and will only mature into better footballers. On the other hand, this was probably the last time for veterans like Thiago Silva, Neymar, Dani Alves and Casemiro.
While the World Cup dream might be over for Brazil at the 2022 edition, the 2026 edition will also see the Selecao as one of the top teams. However, they will be without their seasoned veterans who could add a lot of leadership and stability to the squad.
Apple 20-inch foldable gadget rumours have been circulating for some time. According to a new claim, Apple has initiated development of a 20-inch foldable display, possibly for a new MacBook Pro model.
According to The Elec, citing industry sources, Apple has already began the research process for a 20-inch foldable display. The display will be a 20.5-inch OLED panel produced by an unnamed South Korean supplier. When folded, the display shrinks to 15.3 inches, which is larger than the display on the iPad Pro. It will, however, be smaller than the new 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Given that the screen size is in its early 20 inches when unfolded, the project product is likely to be in a form close to a MacBook (laptop). Assuming a 20-inch product is 20.25 inches, it will be 15.3 inches in size when folded. The currently available Apple MacBook Series screen sizes are mid-to-late 10 inches, and the iPad (tablet) series screen sizes are between less than 10 inches and early 10 inches.
credit: wccftech
According to the source, Apple intends to commercially introduce the smartphone with a 20-inch foldable display in 2026 or 2027.
However, the business would ensure that the iPad and Mac switches to OLED screens before releasing its foldable tablet. At the moment, only the Apple Watch and high-end iPhone models have OLED displays, while the remainder of the goods have LCD displays.
Market analysts believe that Samsung will overtake Xiaomi to become India’s leading smartphone brand by volume in the coming year, owing to the Korean conglomerate’s growing online sales and financing plans, as well as its Chinese rival’s ongoing regulatory troubles.
Market analysts also estimate that exports in 2023 will be pulled down by macroeconomic challenges that will endure at least through the first half of 2023, resulting in a second consecutive year of contraction, or at most low single-digit growth. Except for the first Covid-hit year of 2020, smartphone shipments in 2022 are projected to dip year on year for the first time.
The expansion of 5G networks will also drive people to purchase more expensive gadgets, pushing average selling costs of smartphones above $250, according to analysts. “Samsung might capture 23-24% market share by the second quarter of 2023, overtaking Xiaomi, who will continue to own 19-20% share of the market,” said Faisal Kawoosa, chief analyst at Techarc.
He added that Samsung’s financing schemes have been accepted well by the retailers, which has helped it to push more premium devices to consumers. “They are also offering a good spread of devices, catering to different segments. Now that markets are not as polarised in terms of opportunity, with both the budget and premium segments offering good business, Samsung has a good chance in beating Xiaomi to the top.”
Experts predict that as the market moves up the price ladder, with average selling prices approaching Rs 20,000, China’s Xiaomi would face consumer resistance. The majority of the company’s revenue has come from the mass volume entry-level market, which is today failing to generate the same volume and revenue as before. This, paired with the company’s heavy scrutiny from government officials, may cause Xiaomi to struggle to increase market share.
“Xiaomi’s acceptability beyond Rs 20,000 is much less. Plus, the issues Xiaomi is going through will play out in the minds of retailers stocking the company’s devices, if not the end users,” Kawoosa said.
According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung is already the industry leader in terms of revenue share.
credit: economictimes
During the third quarter ended September 2022, the company increased by double digits, outpacing the general market growth in revenues. According to the research organisation, the Korean brand was the only one increasing among the top five over the critical holiday season.
According to IDC India, overall shipments in 2023 are projected to return to levels seen in 2019, totaling around 140 million units, compared to an expected 150 million units in 2022. However, the Rajasthan government has placed a big order of 13 million smartphones for women heads of low-income families.
“We believe the macroeconomic conditions will start easing by the second half of year, which will act as a fillip to sales in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment. People who have held back on purchasing smartphones this year will also go for an upgrade in 2023, which is another factor,” said Prachir Singh, senior analyst, Counterpoint Research.
With the Rajasthan government tender included, Counterpoint Research predicts that the market will expand by 10% year on year. However, it said that the open market will have 4% growth, with macroeconomic conditions projected to ease by the second half of 2023. The market researcher anticipates 163 million unit shipments in 2022.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro will have an IP certification, according to a teaser video released in advance of its official launch on December 11. The phone is certified to withstand dust and water, however the certification level is still unknown. Thus, like its flagship sister, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, the Xiaomi 13 Pro might likely receive an IP68 rating. On Weibo, a teaser for the video was published.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro has a brand-new camera design and a stylish green colour scheme. The camera will be adaptable and capable of taking pictures in any setting. There is also a night mode that enables clear images at night.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro does not have the ability to take night shots. Most of the reasonably priced Xiaomi phones have the IP53 rating, which shields them from light dust and misty rain. The smartphone is substantially more protected from water and dust harm thanks to the IP68 rating. Up to 512GB of storage space and enough of RAM are available with the Xiaomi 13 Pro. It is driven by the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
A bundle that contains the Mi Watch S2 and the Buds 4 Pro also features the smartphone’s distinctive Wilderness Green hue. Additionally, both smart wearables feature the same colour scheme as smartphones.
A sturdy travel case and wrist lanyard are included in the package with the Xiaomi 13 Pro, which will only be sold in a small number.
But before it can be used in device advertisements, the regulator must certify the IP rating. Such certifications are granted by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
SpaceX has discreetly introduced a new government-focused service called Starshield on its website, which it claims provides a “secured satellite network for government entities.” The document, which emerged earlier this week on the SpaceX website, states that while its satellite internet service Starlink is intended at end consumers and businesses, “Starshield is designed for government use.”
The Starshield announcement builds on previous collaborations between SpaceX and governments throughout the world. SpaceX secured a $2 million deal with the US Air Force in August to offer satellite internet connectivity, while Starlink has also proven critical to Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Bloomberg, the Pentagon recently announced that it was testing Starlink broadband in the Arctic as a potential option to provide internet to US troops.
Starshield is advertised with three areas of focus: earth observation, communications, and “hosted payloads,” which CNBC notes would effectively allow governments to customize what its spacecraft can send into space. SpaceX says that Starlink already offers “end-to-end user data encryption” but that Starshield has additional security that can meet “the most demanding government requirements.” However, the exact capabilities and scope of the network were not detailed.
credit: economictimes
Another touted feature is the use of a “inter-satellite laser communications terminal” which would allow SpaceX’s gear to interface with partner satellites and operate as part of the same network.
Although Starlink was initially marketed as a solution for rural users to access faster internet, newer announcements have focused on larger-scale deployments such as satellite internet for commercial jets. This kind of scale is probably going to be required if SpaceX is to meet its previously stated target of producing more than $30 billion from satellite internet connectivity by 2025.
According to The Information, Twitter plans to charge $11 per month for a Twitter Blue subscription on the iPhone in order to account for Apple’s 30% cut on in-app purchases. Twitter Blue will cost $7 per month on the web.
Twitter Blue was charging $7.99 for a subscription before it was suspended, but the price will change before it relaunches. Some staff have been briefed about the new pricing, according to The Information, but Twitter CEO Elon Musk is renowned for making fast decisions, so it is unclear if plans will change.
Because the iPhone is more expensive, Twitter will be able to pay Apple’s 30 percent portion of in-app purchase proceeds without materially impacting Twitter’s bottom line. Because of the price disparity, most customers will most likely subscribe via the web, allowing Twitter to avoid in-app purchase expenses.
Other companies, such as Spotify, have previously charged greater costs on the iPhone than on the web, but this frequently causes consumer confusion because they do not understand why the prices range from device to device. Apple has no problem with companies charging more for subscriptions in apps than they do on the web.
Twitter Blue pricing revisions after a brief conflict between Twitter and Apple.
credit: economictimes
Musk blasted Apple’s App Store fees last week, claiming that Apple had “threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store,” but he then backtracked after meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Musk and Cook met at Apple Park, and Musk later stated that they had a “nice talk” and that there had been a “misunderstanding” about Twitter possibly being removed from the App Store.
Twitter Blue is set to be relaunched on Friday. Subscriptions to Twitter Blue were suspended after Musk included a verification checkmark with Twitter Blue, allowing anyone with $8 to spend to mimic companies, celebrities, and other high-profile individuals. Since November 11, Twitter Blue has been unavailable.
Twitter Blue will be relaunched with various badge colours for corporations, government accounts, and individuals, as well as restrictions on altering usernames and signup limits for newer users.
