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<ul class="summary-list"><li>India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Russia to visit its president Vladimir Putin. </li><li>It's a visit that risks annoying India's ally the US. </li></ul>When India's prime minister arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, he greeted Russia's famously chilly president, Vladimir Putin, with an exuberant bear hug.It was a move likely <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/modi-putin-russia-india-relationship-not-worried-us-biden-mad-2024-7">to rile the US, </a>India's most important geopolitical ally, which has placed pressure on New Delhi to loosen its ties with Russia over Putin's invasion of Ukraine.But Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fear of China — a key Russian ally — means that he's willing to risk American anger to keep Putin close."New Delhi sees Moscow as an important buffer in their relationship due to Moscow's strong ties with Beijing," Sarang Shidore, an analyst at the Quincy Institute, told Business Insider."It is not in Russia's interest to have China and India at loggerheads, so it could, to a degree, act as a restraining agent."<h2 id="0ad4840d-1eb0-4f3e-a27c-3953a5a682f0">India ignores US pressure to cut Russia ties</h2>During the Cold War, the Soviet Union was among India's most important allies, with the Kremlin providing military support during India's clashes with Pakistan.They've remained close ever since, but the relationship is being tested anew in the fallout from the Ukraine war.The US has attempted to persuade India to take part <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-nations-general-assembly-biden-narendra-modi-india-82c9273cf3143cf16e9da23c3dd48170">in its campaign to isolate</a> Russia over the Ukraine invasion — but with little success."Russia is one of India's oldest strategic partners, and New Delhi wants to maintain this relationship regardless of Russia's diplomatic isolation following the war in Ukraine," Rahul Bhatia, an analyst at the Eurasia Group, told BI.India has increased its purchase of Russian goods, including oil and fertilizer, at reduced prices after the US imposed sanctions on Russia.It continues to buy Russian armaments, with around <a target="_blank" href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/more-than-60-70-of-india-armed-forces-equipped-with-russian-origin-weapons-indian-envoy/articleshow/76903811.cms?from=mdr">70% of its weapons systems believed to be Russian</a>-made, and its military reliant on the Kremlin for spare parts and upgrades."Taking a hardline position against Russia could have both economic and security ramifications for India," said Richard Rossow, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.<h2 id="a68bd311-605c-44db-97ac-44c2056c27c0">China's threat to India increases</h2>The threat from Chinese leader Xi Jinping is another key factor in Modi's determination to ignore US pressure and retain good ties with Putin.China's regional might is growing, and it's menacing India, Asia's other major economic power.In 2020, a long-simmering border dispute resulted in deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese troops. China ha<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-produces-vast-undersea-maps-submarine-warfare-report-says-2024-1">s bolstered its presence in the Indian Ocean</a>, and the two are jostling for influence in countries in the region.China has built stronger ties with Russia in the wake of the Ukraine invasion, hoping a Russian victory<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/xi-china-putin-russia-frenemies-limits-power-sphere-influence-2024-7"> will damage US power and enhance its own global</a> might. And it's this friendship Modi's seeking to drive a wedge between."There is a real chance of future conflicts, and India would prefer to avoid Russia exporting advanced military hardware to China," said Rossow.Some Indian analysts believe that China poses a greater threat to Russia than NATO in the long term and that India can exploit those differences."The Russia-China 'alliance' may be short-term in nature, and that historical conflicts between the two, such as over their long border and under-developed natural resources in Russia's east, will resurface and trigger renewed tensions," said Morrow.But for the time being, Russia's new "no limits"<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-china-no-limits-partnership-yuan-bank-loans-sanctions-2024-2"> partnership has got Modi worried</a>, and he'll likely be hoping for a swift end to the Ukraine war. By maintaining good relations with Putin he's hoping he can contain the fallout."The war does not at all benefit its interests. The war also opens the door to legitimizing violations of territorial integrity, and endangers a principle that New Delhi has backed strongly," said Shidore.

Fear of China is behind India's exuberant display of friendship with Vladimir Putin 

On Thursday evening, a significant <keyword id="22471557" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-cyber-outage" source="keywords">global cyber outage</keyword> began, causing a massive disruption to Microsoft Windows users around the world. This event impacted users in countries including India, Australia, Germany, the United States, and the UK, with affected systems displaying the dreaded <keyword id="22469490" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Blue-Screen-of-Death" source="keywords">Blue Screen of Death</keyword> (BSOD). This malfunction led to automatic system restarts or shutdowns, severely hampering productivity and operations across various sectors. The root cause, as identified by companies like Dell Technologies, was linked to a recent update from the <keyword id="19906883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cybersecurity" source="keywords">cybersecurity</keyword> firm <keyword id="20424191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CrowdStrike" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="CrowdStrike" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="CrowdStrike">CrowdStrike</keyword>. The outage had far-reaching consequences, particularly for essential systems used by several airlines. In the US, carriers such as American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Allegiant, and Sun Country experienced operational disruptions. Similarly, in India, IndiGo and other airlines were affected. Beyond the aviation industry, the outage also disrupted banks, supermarkets, media outlets, and other businesses who are extensively reliant on Microsoft's cloud services. <h2>What is CrowdStrike?</h2>CrowdStrike is a leading cybersecurity company known for its advanced security solutions designed to protect against <keyword id="19973480" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-breaches" source="keywords">data breaches</keyword>, <keyword id="19955190" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ransomware" source="keywords">ransomware</keyword>, and <keyword id="19945689" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyber-attacks" source="keywords">cyber attacks</keyword>. Founded in 2012 by former McAfee employee George Kurtz, CrowdStrike has become a critical player in the cybersecurity landscape, serving a diverse clientele that includes global investment banks, universities, and major corporations. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111858142" title="Global cyber outage: Microsoft users report &amp;#39;blue screen of death&amp;#39;; flights cancelled" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>At the heart of CrowdStrike's offerings is the <keyword id="21411329" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Falcon-platform" source="keywords">Falcon platform</keyword>. This comprehensive cybersecurity solution uses a single sensor and a unified threat interface to provide real-time indicators of attacks, hyper-accurate detection, and automated protection. The platform is designed to correlate attacks across endpoints, workloads, and identities, effectively stopping identity-driven breaches in real time. The recent issues stemmed from an update to CrowdStrike’s Falcon sensor. This update reportedly caused the sensor to malfunction, leading to conflicts with Windows systems and resulting in the widespread blue screen errors. CrowdStrike acknowledged the error and has since been actively working on a resolution. The company assured users that there was no need to open a support ticket and promised to provide updates as they become available. <h2>CrowdStrike, Sony, and <keyword id="19910206" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="North-Korea" source="keywords">North Korea</keyword></h2>CrowdStrike is no stranger to the spotlight, having been involved in several high-profile cyber investigations. One notable case is the 2014 Sony Pictures hack, where a group called the Guardians of Peace, believed to be affiliated with North Korea, hacked into Sony Pictures Entertainment. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111856595" title="Microsoft outage – London Stock Exchange, banks and airlines across the world affected" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>GoP stole vast amounts of information and threatened acts of terrorism against movie theatres unless Sony cancelled the release of "The Interview," a comedy about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In this investigation, CrowdStrike discovered evidence that seemed to definitively connect North Korean players to the Sony hacking. <h2>The “Blue Screen of Death” explained</h2>The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is a critical error screen displayed on Windows operating systems when a severe system issue occurs, preventing safe operation. This error forces the computer to restart unexpectedly, often resulting in data loss. In the recent incident, the BSOD error message indicated that the PC ran into a problem and needed to restart, leaving users frustrated and businesses scrambling for solutions. While Microsoft has confirmed that the Azure outage has been resolved, the incident has brought a spotlight to the potential risks associated with heavy reliance on cloud services. Meanwhile, CrowdStrike has offered solutions on its members-only platform and continues to address the fallout from the outage.

Global Cyber Outage: What is CrowdStrike? How is it linked to the global Microsoft outage?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>China is building up and modernizing its military as the US strives to maintain its edge.</li><li>The focus on advanced technologies has put the two countries into a different kind of arms race.</li></ul>China is "in a race for technological superiority" with the US, the Air Force secretary said this week, noting that as China becomes increasingly confident in its armed forces and its ability to use them to advance its national interests, "we'll be in a period of much greater risk."In some areas, such as missiles, China appears to have an edge over American forces, he said, and its pursuit of advanced satellites and automated battle management systems have grabbed the attention of American officials as the US considers <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-not-ready-china-war-military-economy-2023-5">what a potential conflict between the two powers could look like</a>. This race goes much deeper, though.On Tuesday, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said China has been effectively modernizing the People's Liberation Army, fielding systems with the intent of challenging US forces, especially its high-value combat assets like carriers and satellites.Kendall <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://vimeo.com/event/4681487/aae7018489?utm_campaign=2024%20Microelectronics%20Commons&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_hVVt4JaJrhQkWlVRye5kJaIPAdVqBEZfwQ2uHjr0IVycuutTNsV5x5foMMHDwRhDKcPic1qw5pETOa_xtxan-DGFXdxyv3uucu8GfciSheefg0Lc&amp;_hsmi=331115123&amp;utm_content=331115123&amp;utm_source=hs_automation">said</a> at the Microelectronics Commons Annual Meeting and National Semiconductor Technology Center Symposium this week that China had long been taking notes on how the US military operates, "and they were not just designing their equipment and the things they were buying around being able to defeat the US," he said, "their entire military was being designed around that."<div type="image" title="A video released by China shows off the missiles it could fire at Taiwan in a mass attack." height="1136" width="2141" msid="114792219" hostid="261" sizebytes="73808"></div>The Department of Defense has tracked monumental growth in the Chinese military for years, documenting investments in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-shipbuilding-power-players-making-warships-at-a-rapid-pace-2024-9">warships</a>, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-china-missile-problem-getting-worse-2024-5">bolstered missile capabilities and stockpiles</a>, and advanced space and cyber assets. The US military refers to Beijing as its "pacing challenge," putting emphasis on the Indo-Pacific.But despite US efforts to keep up-to-date with China's modernization, Kendall said, in some ways, "we've let them steal a march on us, quite frankly, in the systems they've fielded, that includes cruise and ballistic missiles, hypersonics," and "hundreds of satellites designed to target our joint force," as well as advanced battle management systems to integrate and control combat assets with a high degree of automation.China has built up its Rocket Force, developing capabilities that put US military assets at <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-pacific-bases-aircraft-vulnerable-to-chinese-missiles-lawmakers-2024-5">military bases and airfields across the Indo-Pacific within striking range</a>. Its force includes more traditional systems, as well as newer weapons, like the DF-17 hypersonic missile.Kendall also noted some of the Chinese air force's air-to-air missiles have the ranges to go after tankers and command-and-control aircraft, for example, which "traditionally have operated out or range of the threats and been able to operate pretty much with impunity," he said. "That's being erased; we don't have that capability anymore."<div type="image" title="A US aircraft carrier sails in the Pacific Ocean with a cloudy sunset in the background." height="1474" width="2211" msid="114792221" hostid="261" sizebytes="76930"></div>The battlespace is changing, and across the board, the developments being made in advanced warfighting technologies have created what Kendall has called "a race for technological superiority" rather than a "classic arms race." It's no longer just about how many warships a country has.A key part of the new arms race is artificial intelligence, which "China is moving forward aggressively in," Kendall said, adding that the applications of AI are already being seen in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drones-in-ukraine-war-soon-wont-need-human-pilots-commander-2024-9">the war in Ukraine</a> and in the Middle East, "changing the character of warfare."The Air Force secretary said that he doesn't think people who say that AI is "going to determine who's the winner in the next battlefield" are "all that far off."Like China and other militaries, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-allies-ai-target-enemies-like-would-war-first-time-2024-8">US has also made AI a top priority in its military developments</a> across the joint force, pursuing autonomous capabilities and ways to implement AI into decision-making, pattern recognition, and various assets and weapons.For the US Air Force, for example, that line of effort has been evident in its testing of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-militarys-ai-fighter-jet-pilot-making-dramatic-advances-officer-2024-6">AI agents flying fighter jets</a> and in the collaborative combat aircraft and "loyal wingman" programs. Earlier this year, Kendall flew in an AI-controlled F-16, which squared off in a dogfight against a manned F-16.<div type="image" title="A screenshot from video footage of the real-world test of a dogfight between an AI-controlled fighter and a manned fighter." height="1564" width="2880" msid="114792223" hostid="261" sizebytes="94014"></div>Officials said at the time that the testing marked "an important milestone" for the program and spoke to growing "confidence in the state of combat autonomy." Previous testing of AI agents has also proven effective, with officials noting that AI programs can quickly be adjusted based on new data, scenarios, and performance.In another example, the Marines, working with the Air Force and Navy, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-marines-unmanned-aircraft-targeting-data-for-f-35-jets-2024-10">recently tested a "loyal wingman" experimental autonomous unmanned aerial combat vehicle</a> alongside F-35 stealth fighters, showing how the military is pushing the manned-unmanned teaming concept "a step further" for the joint force, an official said.As the US and other powers pursue this emerging new technology at breakneck speeds, there have been questions about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-using-ai-gaza-targets-terrifying-glimpse-at-future-war-2024-4">what the role of AI will be in the military and future warfare</a>. War analysts and strategists have said the US military and others need a plan for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/future-of-warfare-is-catastrophic-and-robotic-former-general-says-2023-5">AI and autonomy</a> sooner rather than later.

The US is in a technological arms race with China, Air Force secretary says, and AI could decide who wins

Last week, the President of the United States, <keyword id="19919748" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="joe-biden" source="keywords">Joe Biden</keyword>, announced significant tariffs on a range of <keyword id="20139085" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chinese-products" source="keywords">Chinese products</keyword> to protect American workers from unfair trade practices. The targetted measures include a 100% tariff on <keyword id="6354973" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicles" source="Orion">electric vehicles</keyword>, a 50% tariff on semiconductors and solar cells, and a 25% tariffs on batteries, steel and aluminium products, some critical minerals, and essential health equipment like medical gloves, syringes and needles. In his address from the Rose Garden of the White House, Biden said America can continue to buy any kind of car they want, "but we're never going to allow China to unfairly control the market for these cars. Period." He claimed that the Chinese government has been investing state funds in various Chinese companies for years, spanning industries across the above-mentioned sectors. How does this brewing geopolitical <keyword id="20736760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="trade-war" source="keywords">trade war</keyword> impact <keyword id="20742235" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-firms" source="keywords">Indian firms</keyword>? Experts say the impact could be in two ways, benefitting some sectors, while harming the few others. Let’s start with the bad news. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Threat to Indian firms" comment="subhead" text="Threat to Indian firms">Threat to Indian firms</cmsannotation> Beijing offers significant subsidies on most of these products, leading to surplus production that exceeds domestic and even regular export demand. Subsequently, Chinese companies are known to flood the global markets with surplus products at unreasonably low prices, forcing local manufacturers out of business in many countries, including <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>. A prime example of this in practice can be found in the steel sector, where weak domestic demand is pushing the world’s largest steel producer China to offload surplus production into Indian markets at cheaper prices. Indian steel manufacturers are already struggling to compete with a glut of cheaper Chinese steel, with shipments nearly doubling year-on-year in the financial year ending March 2024. “India is already under grave threat of import because all major steel consuming economies are shutting their doors on these steel producing countries. We are highly vulnerable to surging and predatory import,” said Alok Sahay, secretary general of the Indian Steel Association, to Reuters. Global trade experts say that a majority of Chinese products are sold at unreasonably low prices in global markets because the companies in these sectors do not have to worry about profits. They are heavily subsidised by the Chinese government. <keyword id="20279291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Steel-Authority-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Steel Authority of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Steel Authority of India">Steel Authority of India</keyword>’s (SAIL) chairman Amarendu Prakash also said that they are keenly watching Chinese imports after the US tariff increases. Additionally, China has been accused of employing anti-competitive strategies like compelling foreign companies to transfer their technology in order to operate in China. These factors have led to the US effectively shutting its door on several Chinese products through heightened tariffs, and other developed markets like Canada are also likely to follow suit. White House also emphasised that it continues to consult with its partners and allies who are facing similar threats from China’s unfair trade practices and are keen on taking action. If more and more global markets restrict entry of Chinese products, the risk of the majority of such products being dumped in neighbouring India increases drastically. Trying to block Chinese excess production "is like squeezing a balloon. It shrinks in one place and pops out in another," William Reinsch, a trade expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, tells Reuters. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="An opportunity also arises" comment="subhead" text="An opportunity also arises">An opportunity also arises</cmsannotation> While some products risk being dumped into the Indian market, in a few other cases, Indian firms could benefit from fresh openings in the lucrative US market. "Of the products affected, India has opportunities in face masks, PPE, syringes &amp;needles, medical gloves, aluminium, iron, and steel. Opportunity may come in China also with retaliation, provided we have market access in products targeted by China," Ajay Sahai, Director General of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), told ANI. However, China is not likely to retaliate against the US tariffs at the moment, say experts, though the country’s Ministry of Commerce said it would take 'resolute measures to safeguard its own rights and interests' "China's economy is fragile. With household spending and the property market on the wane, manufacturing for export markets is one of its few bright spots. Beijing will not want to cut off its nose to spite its face. More broadly, China is desperately trying to encourage new foreign investment. Rash retaliatory action could spoil its case," Moody's Analytics explained in a recent report. Out of China's USD 420 billion exports to the US, only USD 18 billion is impacted due to the latest hike in tariffs — representing slightly over 4% and therefore considered marginal. But Sahai says that this market will continue to grow with time and provides an opportunity to India and other competitors to chip in the supply gap. Ajay Srivastava, the founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), also echoes Sahai’s opinions. He emphasised that the increased duties on Chinese face masks, syringes, needles, medical gloves, and natural graphite offer a substantial opportunity for India, as quoted by ANI. "By ramping up production and export of these in-demand products, India could enhance its trade footprint in the US market," he added. In terms of products like electric vehicles and semiconductors, India remains a net importer, and therefore, may not be in a position to capitalise right now. In the long term, however, as India begins semiconductor production at scale in 2025, there will be opportunities to export some of it to the US and other European countries, offering fresh impetus for domestic manufacturing. As the security risks associated with importing Chinese semiconductors prompts more and more trade barriers from the Western countries, demand for supply from India is likely to grow. Efforts are already underway for the establishment of four large semiconductor plants in India, with three located in Gujarat and one in Assam. Last fiscal year, Indian exports to the US dipped marginally by 1.32 per cent to $77.5 billion as against $78.54 billion in 2022-23. The new development now gives an unique opportunity to turn the tide over the next few years. Overall, some sectors like steel and aluminium do face a serious challenge due to the fresh US tariffs on Chinese products. However, the development will open new avenues for Western market entry and expansion for several other products. (With inputs from agencies)

US-China tariff war could benefit several sectors in India while harming a few others

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Elon Musk just made a quick trip to China, where he met with senior officials and struck a deal.</li><li>Trade tensions between China and the US have ratcheted up in the past year, including over EVs.</li></ul>Elon Musk's two-day trip to Beijing looks like a mutually beneficial win for Tesla and China — and a snub for India.The tech billionaire made his second trip to China in less than a year. He left on Monday after meeting with senior officials, including Premier Li Qiang, China's second-highest-ranking politician, to discuss the rollout of Tesla's <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-fsd">Full Self-Driving technology</a> in the world's biggest auto market.China's search-engine giant Baidu agreed to grant Tesla access to its mapping license so Tesla could collect data on China's roads, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/baidu-tesla-agree-mapping-deal-fsd-china-sources-say-2024-04-29/">Reuters</a> reported. And Tesla's vehicles cleared a key hurdle with a Chinese data-security regulator on Monday.That's a big step for Tesla toward launching FSD in the country, a potential revenue booster just as the company wraps up one of its most tumultuous months. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/tsla-stock">Tesla's stock</a> is down 23% year to date.In April, Tesla reported <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-having-terrible-year-tesla-lawsuits-compensation-2024-4">disappointing first-quarter deliveries</a>, went through a messy <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cancels-some-layoff-separation-agreements-2024-4">10% global layoff</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-recalls-cybertrucks-accelerator-fault-pad-pedal-electric-vehicle-truck-2024-4">recalled nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks</a> because of faulty accelerators, and cut prices — a move reciprocated by <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-waging-price-war-against-chinese-rivals-2024-4">Chinese electric-vehicle rivals</a>, which cut theirs even further.Tesla has about 1.6 million cars in China, representing a huge potential market for FSD. Other carmakers could also pay to license the technology.The Wedbush analyst Dan Ives told the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/a2104f00-d9c8-4999-9400-7a712d022f79">Financial Times</a> that the FSD approval in China was a "watershed moment" for Tesla. Ives said the company's huge valuation — hundreds of billions of dollars more than other automakers — hinged on autonomous technology.Local regulators may keep a particularly close eye on Tesla's software. In January, the company had to <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-recalls-over-1-6-million-cars-in-china-to-fix-autopilot-locks-1032947021">recall all of its cars</a> in China made from 2014 to 2023 to fix problems with its Autopilot feature and locks. Both problems could be fixed with a free software update.<h2>A win for China and a slight for India</h2>Musk has long been eager to make nice with China, sometimes with antics that would raise eyebrows for other CEOs.To celebrate a new Shanghai factory in 2020, he performed what a Business Insider reporter at the time deemed a "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-just-dad-danced-at-teslas-new-shanghai-gigafactory-2020-1">dad-dance striptease</a>." On the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-marvels-at-chinas-economic-prosperity-communist-party-anniversary-2021-7">100th anniversary of the Communist Party</a> in 2021, he tweeted fawning praise of the country.China, for its part, has given him a royal welcome on past trips. His trip in May last year included a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-china-trip-feast-restaurant-beijing-2023-5">16-course meal</a> with a battery executive and a storm of local social-media praise.As Tesla expands in China, the country must balance its desire to work with the US juggernaut with its inclination to protect local giants such as BYD. In the first quarter, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-manufacturers-profits-dip-carmakers-surge-us-concern-overproduction-factory-2024-4">Chinese automakers' profit jumped 32%</a> from a year ago, according to statistics released Saturday.Musk needs China, but China also needs Musk as a sign that the country is open for business with high-profile US companies.Trade tensions between China and the US have ratcheted up in the past year amid US concerns about Chinese manufacturing and data security.Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, and Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, have each visited China in the past month. They warned of Chinese companies undercutting other manufacturers through overproduction, including in EV and battery production.China has ramped up EV production, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xi-jinping-crush-tesla-elon-musk-american-ev-industry-2024-2">major threat to Tesla</a>. BYD beat Tesla as the best-selling EV maker last year, and Musk said in January that Chinese EVs would "pretty much demolish" other American carmakers if allowed to enter the US.Tesla's work in China may help the country court foreign investment. Businesses have been scared off by government crackdowns — including raids on top global firms such as Bain — and by roiling property and stock markets. This year, weakened consumer demand has hit companies such as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gucci-kering-income-decline-stock-down-hit-china-sales-slump-2024-4">Gucci</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-china-iphone-shipments-fell-february-data-smartphones-2024-3">Apple</a>, which have built big businesses as Chinese consumers' disposable income has risen.While Musk made time for this quick trip to Beijing, he skipped a planned trip to India earlier this month to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Musk's visit was going to include an announcement about Tesla entering India, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/teslas-elon-musk-postpones-india-trip-sources-say-2024-04-20/">Reuters</a> reported."Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed, but I do very much look forward to visiting later this year," Musk posted on X.A key Tesla executive who was helping to lead the company's entrance into India left this month, Reuters reported.Musk's India visit would have been a win for Modi, who's seeking to boost India's status as a manufacturing hub, especially as businesses leave China.

Musk's visit to China was a much-needed win for both sides &mdash; and a snub to India      

The Centre has blocked over 100 websites involved in facilitating organised illegal investments related to economic crimes and task-based part-time job frauds. According to an official statement, these websites were being operated by overseas actors and targets were mostly retired employees, women and unemployed youth looking for part time jobs. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), a wing of the Union Home Ministry, through its vertical National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU) had last week identified and recommended that these websites be blocked. Following this, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), invoking its power under the Information Technology Act, 2000, has blocked these websites, the statement said. These websites, which facilitated task-based organised illegal investment related to economic crimes, were learnt to be operated by overseas actors and were using digital advertisement, chat messengers and mule and rented accounts. The proceeds from the large scale economic frauds were seen to be laundered out of <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> using card network, crypto currency, overseas ATM withdrawals and international Fintech companies, the statement said. The I4C is an initiative of the Home Ministry to deal with cyber crimes in the country in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. <keyword id="6366773" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="citizens" source="Orion">Citizens</keyword> have been advised to promptly report phone numbers and social media handles used by such fraudsters to the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), the statement said. It said several complaints have been received through 1930 helpline and the NCRP and these offences were posing significant threat to the citizens and also involved data security concerns. These frauds, typically, involve a number of steps that include targeted digital advertisements launched on platforms like Google and Meta using key words like "Ghar baithe job" (Do jobs sitting at home), "Ghar baithe kamai kaise karen" (How to earn by sitting at home) etc. in multiple languages from overseas advertisers. Upon clicking the advertisement, an agent using WhatsApp or Telegram starts conversation with the potential victim, who convinces him or her to perform some tasks like video likes and subscribe, maps rating, etc. Upon completion of task, the victim is given some commission, initially and is asked to invest more to get more returns against given task. After gaining confidence, when victim deposits larger sum, deposits are frozen and thus the victim is duped. As precautionary measure, it is advised to exercise due diligence before investing in any such very high commission paying online schemes sponsored over internet. If an unknown person contacts anyone over WhatsApp or Telegram, refrain from performing financial transactions without verification, the statement said Verify the name of receiver mentioned in UPI App. If receiver is any random person, it may be a mule account and scheme may be fraudulent.Similarly, check the source from where initial commission is received, it said. Citizens should refrain from doing transactions with unknown accounts, as these could be involved in money laundering and even terror financing and lead to blocking of accounts by police and other legal action, the statement said. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/top-selling-cars-in-india-in-november-2023/slidelist/105775116.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/top-selling-cars-in-india-in-november-2023/slidelist/105775116.cms" target="_blank">WagonR to Creta – Top selling cars in India in November</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-announced-new-flagship-smartphone-oneplus-12-with-up-to-24gb-ram/articleshow/105756057.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-announced-new-flagship-smartphone-oneplus-12-with-up-to-24gb-ram/articleshow/105756057.cms" target="_blank">OnePlus 12 debuts with bigger battery, up to 24GB RAM and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ola-electric-and-tvs-motor-leading-electric-two-wheeler-sales-in-nov-2023-month/articleshow/105719702.cms">Electric two-wheeler sales rise in Nov as Ola Electric scales a new high</a>

Over 100 websites blocked for facilitating organised illegal investments

<ul class="summary-list"><li>China's hacking capabilities dwarf the FBI's, says FBI chief Christopher Wray.</li><li>"The PRC has a bigger hacking program than every other major nation combined," Wray told Congress.</li></ul>The FBI is outnumbered and outgunned when it comes to tackling China's hackers, says FBI director Christopher Wray."The PRC has a bigger hacking program than every other major nation combined," Wray said at a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/speeches/director-wrays-remarks-to-the-house-select-committee-on-the-chinese-communist-party">congressional hearing</a> on China on Wednesday. "In fact, if each one of the FBI's cyber agents and intelligence analysts focused exclusively on the China threat, China's hackers would still outnumber FBI cyber personnel by at least 50 to 1," Wray continued.The FBI chief had earlier accused China's hackers of seeking to "wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities."The hackers, Wray said, weren't just focusing on political or military targets, but civilian infrastructure as well."We can see from where they position themselves, across civilian infrastructure, that low blows aren't just a possibility in the event of a conflict," Wray said. "Low blows against civilians are part of China's plan."This isn't the first time Wray has sounded the alarm on China's hacking prowess.In October, Wray told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-stealing-technology-secrets-five-eyes-intelligence-leaders-warn-60-minutes-transcript/">60 Minutes</a> that China has stolen more US data "than every nation, big or small, combined.""So as we sit here while important budget discussions are underway, I'll note that this is a time to be keeping ahead of the threat by investing in our capabilities rather than cutting them," Wray told lawmakers on Wednesday.Wray's assessment of China echoes that of his CIA counterpart, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cia-chief-ukraine-war-failure-for-russia-on-many-levels-2024-1">William J. Burns</a>.In a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/cia-spycraft-and-statecraft-william-burns">Foreign Affairs </a>op-ed on Tuesday, the CIA chief said that his agency has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cia-doubled-budget-china-greater-threat-russia-cia-chief-2024-1">more than doubled its budget for China in the past two years</a>."While Russia may pose the most immediate challenge, China is the bigger long-term threat," Burns said in his article.

Chinese hackers would outnumber FBI cyber agents by 50 to 1 even if the agency threw all its resources at China: FBI chief

<ul class="summary-list"><li>China and Russia are competing with the US for influence in Latin America, a top US commander said.</li><li>Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson cited China's Belt and Road Initiative and Russia's deepening ties.</li></ul>Russia and China are trying to compete with the US for influence in Latin America, according to the US Southern Command commander.Speaking at the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3843634/russia-china-vying-for-influence-in-southern-hemisphere-with-us/">Aspen Security Forum</a> in Colorado last week, Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson pointed to Russia's growing economic and diplomatic ties with countries in the region, as well as China's Belt and Road Initiative expanding across Latin America."I'd say China is playing chess — they have a long-term view — they're setting the theater," she said, pointing to the 25 Latin American countries that have already signed up to its global infrastructure development plan.Richardson said China's investments "cover almost the entire region," in projects ranging from metro stations to railways, telecommunications, and dams "under the guise of economics."She expressed concerns in particular about Chinese investments in critical infrastructure, like deep-water ports, cybersecurity, energy, and space, being used for military purposes."This is a global problem," she added.While China is "playing chess," Richardson said Russia is "playing checkers."She cited its short-term objectives of destabilizing the US democratic system through the media, as well as its diplomatic ties.Russian officials paid visits to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/MID_Russia/43382">Nicaragua</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/MID_Russia/43388">Cuba</a> last week, and Russian observers are set to be in Venezuela for the upcoming presidential elections on July 28, Russian State Duma Chairperson Vyacheslav Volodin <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.interfax.ru/world/971759">told Interfax-Russia</a>.According to a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-21-2024">report</a> by the Institute for the Study of War, this is likely part of ongoing Kremlin efforts to project its influence in the Western hemisphere and rally states against the US and the West.Belarus — a close Russian ally — also paid visits to Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua to sign bilateral economic and trade deals, possibly as part of Russian plans to use Belarus to evade Western sanctions, the ISW said.The US, meanwhile, has suffered from "South blindness" and has overlooked the region, Richardson <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3100865/southcom-commander-this-is-our-neighborhood/">said</a>."We need to realize how resource-rich this neighborhood is and how close our competitors and adversaries are in the region," she told forum attendees.In 2021 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-special-operations-countering-russia-chinese-influence-2021-4">testimony</a> to Congress, Adm. Craig Faller, the then-SOUTHCOM commander, said his command was partnering with US Special Operations Command to counter Russian and Chinese information operations aimed at shaping local perspectives in their favor.Kevin Riehle, a former FBI counterintelligence officer, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-world-deep-cover-russia-spies-infiltrating-west-putin-agents-2023-12">told BI</a> last December that Russia was using South America to obtain fake identities for its spies.And in a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/suspected-china-spy-bases-cuba-growing-near-us-sites-report-2024-7">report</a> last month, the Washington, DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies identified potential spy bases in Cuba that are believed to be linked to China.Daniel P. Erikson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Western Hemisphere, also warned of Chinese and Russian threats in Latin America at an Atlantic Council <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3674516/defense-official-says-countering-china-russia-in-western-hemisphere-requires-mu/">event</a> in February.Erikson said it was "critical" for the US to engage with the region — be it in defense, cyber, or other areas — to meet the core national security needs of the countries there."I also think that across US industry, there really needs to be a deeper dive into what we can do to provide Latin American and Caribbean countries with the capabilities that they require at a price that they can afford," he added.Evan Ellis, a research professor of Latin American studies at the US Army War College Strategic Studies Institute, said that, given the region's importance, US Southern Command has dedicated "far" too few resources to it.Ellis, who previously served on the secretary of state's policy planning staff with responsibility for Latin America and the Caribbean, said the lack of resources may reflect a focus on the Indo-Pacific due to China's growing strength and aggression in the region, as well as the US' attention on other regions, including the Middle East and Ukraine.Latin America, in the post-Cold War era, has not seen major wars, the prospect of nuclear weapons, or US rivals seeking to establish military bases and alliances directly, he said."Nonetheless, the economic needs of Latin America and weak governance in many cases have opened the door for predatory, non-transparent deals, particularly with the PRC, which has expanded its influence," he said, using the initials of the People's Republic of China.Meanwhile, "authoritarian regimes in some states, such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, have also been willing to open their doors to Russia and Iran, which pose strategic threats to the United States," he said.

Russia and China are gaining ground on the US in Latin America, US commander says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US X-37B and China's Shenlong are unmanned spacecraft that play secretive roles in space.</li><li>Space-based technology has long given the US military an edge.</li></ul>Just before the start of 2024, the United States and China <a target="_blank" href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/x-37-chinese-space-plane-launch/">launched</a> what may be their most secretive spacecraft into orbit to little fanfare.Commonly referred to as space planes, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/missions-experiments-for-space-force-mysterious-x-37b-space-plane-2020-5">American X-37B</a> and the Chinese Shenlong are unmanned spacecraft so secretive that their launches were marked with little more than vague general statements from their governments.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-launched-a-top-secret-military-spaceplane-into-orbit-2023-12">launches</a> are the seventh and third missions for the respective spacecraft, and although they are highly classified, observers have had limited success in tracking some of their movements.The missions demonstrate exceptional leaps in the development of space planes, and come at a time when both the Chinese and US militaries have ramped up their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-must-control-space-in-future-wars-top-marine-general-2023-12">space operations</a> — a new frontier that can determine the course of war.Space-based technology has long given the US military an edge. It can track the movements of enemy weapons with powerful <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manned-orbiting-laboratory-crewed-us-spy-satellite-never-sent-to-space-2024-1">spy lenses</a> and provide the navigation and communications systems ships, aircraft, and troops in the field depend upon.Enter the space plane. From one vantage, they could be robot keepers who keep these large networks fueled and functional, but from another, they could be orbiting spies and saboteurs.What's clear is that their missions are getting more complex, as is their centrality to the strategies of the two countries that fly them.<div type="image" title="The uncrewed X-37B, seen here after its 2019 landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility, is believed to be about 30 feet long." height="1333" width="2000" msid="112761598" hostid="261" sizebytes="82008"></div><h2 id="3dc83e63-5cf2-42d5-8174-a6f3d2577c69">X-37B</h2>A space plane is a reusable spacefaring craft that can maneuver in space independently and also fly and glide within Earth's atmosphere. They are sent into space via a detachable <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-launch-secret-spy-satellites-space-force-government-2022-8">rocket booster</a>, and contain a cargo bay to deploy satellites and other objects for use and experimentation.After completing their mission, they independently return to Earth's atmosphere, land at a designated landing site on their own power, and prepare for their next mission. The most well-known space planes are the American <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/challenger-video-nasa-space-shuttle-program-2016-1">Space Shuttle</a> and the Soviet <a target="_blank" href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/soviet-buran-shuttle-one-flight-long-history">Buran</a>. But in contrast to the Space Shuttle, the X-37B is owned and operated by the military.The X-37B's origin begins in 1999, when the civilian space agency NASA awarded Boeing a contract to develop a small unmanned spacecraft capable of fitting inside the Space Shuttle. What they created was a small space plane measuring approximately 30 feet long and with a wingspan of 15 feet — roughly one-fourth the size of the now-retired Space Shuttle.It also contains a cargo bay measuring about 7 feet by 4 feet, which, in addition to housing satellites and other space cargo also holds a solar panel enabling the space plane to recharge. Boeing says the plane's avionics automate its descent from orbit and landing.In 2004, before a working prototype had even been built, the project was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.space.com/337-nasa-transfers-37-project-darpa.html">transferred</a> to the US Defense Department, specifically the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Glide tests on the first testing prototypes (known as the X-37A), <a target="_blank" href="https://www.space.com/1226-rutan-white-knight-carries-37-space-plane-aloft.html">began in 2005</a>, with the first fully successful free glide occurring in 2006.That same year, the project was transferred from DARPA to the United States Air Force Space Command, which then built another model, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/details-about-air-force-space-plane-that-spent-2-years-in-space-2017-5">the X-37B</a>. Also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), two X-37Bs have been built.They have flown seven flights so far, with each being <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unmanned-craft-us-space-force-lands-2-5-years-orbit-2022-11">longer</a> than the previous one. Though most of the details of the flights and their results remain classified, some information has been released to the public.<div type="image" title="The X-37B launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in 2017." height="1333" width="2000" msid="112761595" hostid="261" sizebytes="88120"></div>The first flight began on April 22, 2010, and saw the first X-37B remain in orbit for a total of 224 days. The second flight, which was the second X-37B's inaugural mission, began on March 5, 2011, and was extended well beyond its original 270-day limit to a total of 468 days. The third flight, beginning on December 11, 2012, marked the first time an X-37B had been reused, and lasted 674 days.The fourth flight began on May 20, 2015. Over the course of 717 days, the space plane tested new propulsion technology for satellites as well as the effects of radiation on certain objects.The X-37B's fifth flight on September 7, 2017 was launched atop Space X's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-9/">Falcon 9</a> rocket (all previous launches were with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/atlas-v">Atlas V</a> rocket). Over the course of 780 days — a little over two years — the space plane performed a number of activities and experiments, including the deployment of multiple <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/topics/cubesats">CubeSat</a> satellites, which NASA foresees as an orbiting sensory network that can solve complex tasks with a "powerful central spacecraft."The sixth flight began on May 17, 2020, and lasted <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unmanned-craft-us-space-force-lands-2-5-years-orbit-2022-11">908 days</a>. It was the first mission conducted under the command of the newly formed U.S. Space Force and may have been one of the busiest missions yet. It exposed select materials to space, tested the effects of space radiation on seeds, and deployed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usafa.edu/research/research-centers/space-systems-research-center/">FalconSat-8</a>, a satellite built by US. Air Force Academy cadets to conduct five experiments.The X-37B's most recent and current flight began on December 28, 2023. Its mission is classified, with the Space Force <a target="_blank" href="https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3583347/department-of-the-air-force-scheduled-to-launch-seventh-x-37b-mission/">stating</a> only that it will be "operating the reusable space plane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA."The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/space-force-guardian-nick-hague-spacex-rocket-iss-2024-2">Space Force</a> has not given the X-37B's flight path, but because it was launched atop SpaceX's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photo-spacex-falcon-heavy-launchpad-blasted-lightning-rocket-spaceflight-musk-2023-5">Falcon Heavy rocket</a>, there has been speculation that the space plane could be headed for a much higher orbit than previous missions, as the rocket is one of the most powerful in the world.<div type="image" title="A Long March-2F rocket blasted off in October carrying a manned spaceship from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Shenlong was launched on December 14 from the same center without images or fanfare." height="1333" width="2000" msid="112761594" hostid="261" sizebytes="201664"></div><h2 id="ef23e953-67f4-4399-8bc9-c452d0019685">Shenlong</h2>Named after the most important dragon god in Chinese mythology and first revealed in 2007, the Shenlong is thought to be a direct Chinese response to the X-37B.The program is surrounded in such extreme secrecy that there are no known images of the space plane in its current form. Images of what is believed to be a Shenlong test prototype <a target="_blank" href="https://www.space.com/18410-china-space-plane-project-mystery.html">mounted under the fuselage of an H-6 strategic bomber</a> in 2007 indicate that the craft is likely to be similar in appearance to the X-37B.Though its specific capabilities remain classified, it is known that, like the X-37B, the Shenlong is unmanned, that it is deployed via a rocket, that it is capable of adjusting its position and maneuvering in space, and that it can carry and deploy satellites and other space objects.Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Shenlong is the speed of its development. Though the exact start date is unknown, academic models of a Chinese space plane were reported as far back as 2000.Years of modelling, wind tunnel testing, and prototype test fights via deployment from H-6 bombers followed, and in 2011, the Shenlong reportedly made its first suborbital flight.On September 4, 2020, the Shenlong made its <a target="_blank" href="https://spacenews.com/chinese-reusable-experimental-spacecraft-releases-object-before-returning-to-earth/">first orbital flight</a>, which lasted two days and saw it release an object into orbit before returning to China on its own power. A second orbital flight began on August 4, 2022, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-lands-secretive-space-plane-after-months-in-orbit-2023-5">lasted</a> nine months.<div type="image" title="The X-37B launched on its sixth flight in May 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station." height="1280" width="2000" msid="112761596" hostid="261" sizebytes="165564"></div>In addition to being considerably longer, the Shenlong's second flight was far more eventful. About two months into its flight, the space plane <a target="_blank" href="https://spacenews.com/chinas-spaceplane-conducted-proximity-and-capture-maneuvers-with-subsatellite-data-suggests/">deployed a subsatellite and then practiced recovering it</a> at least two (and possibly even three) times, a capability for so-called proximity operations that may allow it to snatch an enemy's satellite.The Shenlong embarked on its third and current flight on December 14, 2023, just seven months after its second mission. In May, the Shenlong <a target="_blank" href="https://spacenews.com/chinas-secretive-spaceplane-conducts-proximity-operations-with-small-spacecraft/">released an object from its cargo hold, and began proximity operations</a>, possibly even recapturing it.How much longer the Shenlong will remain in orbit, as well as its future plans more broadly, remain secrets that the Chinese government has shown little appetite for divulging. The government has only <a target="_blank" href="https://app.xinhuanet.com/news/article.html?articleId=b9141bb29a221c45ac2ad0d44dc87fc6">said</a> that the space plane will eventually land in China, and that "reusable technology verification and space science experiments will be carried out as planned to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space."The vague wording resembles previous statements, like those of its builder, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which has previously said that the Shenlong "will provide a more convenient and inexpensive way to access space for the peaceful use of space in the future."<div type="image" title="The satellite networks of the US and its allies could be targeted by enemy spaceplanes." height="1280" width="1920" msid="112761592" hostid="261" sizebytes="362914"></div><h2 id="2f25d6b5-fe78-4384-a750-e76f8663eacb">Satellite threat</h2>Given the immense secrecy of the crafts and what is known about their capabilities, it's easy to understand speculation that the two space planes could be orbiting weapons platforms.The very fact that the US Department of Defense is in charge of the X-37B instead of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/nasa">NASA</a> confirms that the US government believes that there is a military application for the space plane. Similarly, the fact that the Chinese government has been so silent on the Shenlong's activities despite its penchant for boasting about its other space accomplishments may be a tacit indication that there is more to the Shenlong than the 'peaceful use of space.'One of the most impactful possible uses of the space planes is as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-condemns-irresponsible-russian-anti-satellite-test-threatening-space-station-2021-11">anti-satellite assets</a>. Both have deployed satellites from their cargo bays, and the Shenlong's proximity operations may be training runs for attacks on hostile satellites in orbit.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-inspector-satellite-chasing-secret-us-military-satellite-cat-mouse-2023-4">Proximity operations</a> are murky. They could be dress rehearsals for disrupting or eavesdropping on an enemy's satellite, just as they could be drills for missions to refuel and repair one of the country's own satellites.Satellites are among the most important assets for any first-rate military, as they are essential for secure communications, navigation, and intelligence gathering via orbital imaging and communication intercepts. They are even sometimes used to guide smart munitions to hostile targets as well.Neutralizing an enemy's satellites would be one of the most important objectives in any potential conflict between the world's foremost military powers. <a target="_blank" href="https://swfound.org/media/9550/chinese_asat_fact_sheet_updated_2012.pdf">China</a>, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4198/1">US</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2019/04/indias-asat-test-an-incomplete-success?lang=en">India</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2021/11/the-dangerous-fallout-of-russias-anti-satellite-missile-test?lang=en">Russia</a> have each demonstrated a capability to destroy satellites in orbit with anti-satellite missiles, but each of those tests resulted in the creation of large debris fields in orbit that took sometimes took years to disappear. Such debris fields could also pose a very severe threat to friendly satellites as well. China's anti-satellite missile test in 2007 triggered a space debris cloud that was an <a target="_blank" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/hollywood-space-disaster-gravity-uses-kessler-syndrome-for-scares">inspiration</a> for the blockbuster film "Gravity."Having a way to neutralize or even capture satellites, then, could be a better alternative. Tapping into enemy satellites to eavesdrop or shut down their data streams and communications could also serve as a better alternative, and may also be possible with the assistance of space plane (similar to the tapping of underwater cables by submarines).With the militarization of space <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/there-path-counter-russias-space-weapons">seemingly fast becoming</a> reality and with China's space program demonstrating that it can <a target="_blank" href="https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-21-spacecraft-docked-with-and-towed-a-dead-satellite/">tow away satellites</a>, it is likely that space planes will only become more important in the years ahead.Benjamin Brimelow is a freelance journalist covering international military and defense issues. He holds a master's degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in international security from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. His work has appeared in Business Insider and the Modern War Institute at West Point.

America's X-37B vs. China's Shenlong: Top space planes and their shadowy role in orbital war

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-pandemic-apocalypse-immortality-life-extension-openai-2023-4">OpenAI CEO Sam Altman</a> outlined a four-point plan for continued US AI dominance.</li><li>Altman emphasized the need for AI safeguards, infrastructure, and global coalition leadership.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-chatgpt-openai-ceo-career-net-worth-ycombinator-prepper-2023-1">OpenAI CEO Sam Altman</a> has a four-point plan to help the United States retain its dominance in the global AI arms race.Altman's goal is to ensure the "future of AI is a future built to benefit the most people possible," he wrote in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/25/sam-altman-ai-democracy-authoritarianism-future/">an editorial</a> published by the Washington Post on Thursday. He called on the United States to lead a "global coalition of like-minded countries" to "make it happen."Here's the TLDR, according to Altman's ChatGPT: "The urgent question of our time is whether the US and its allies will lead the global AI future to benefit democracy or let authoritarian regimes shape it for their own power."To this end, the first step in Altman's plan is to ensure proper safeguards around AI technology. "American AI firms and industry need to craft robust security measures to ensure that our coalition maintains the lead in current and future models and enables our private sector to innovate," he wrote. These measures should include "cyber defense and data center security innovations" that would "prevent hackers from stealing key intellectual property," he added.Next up: Build the right infrastructure. Altman urged American policymakers to "work with the private sector to build significantly larger quantities of the physical infrastructure — from data centers to power plants — that run the AI systems themselves."He said that would help create more jobs and establish AI as a "new industrial base" in the United States. He also said the United States needs to invest in developing a new generation of AI innovators, researchers, and engineers. "They are our true superpower," he wrote.Third, the United States should establish more regulations around trade and the transmission of information across borders. That includes "clarity around how the United States intends to implement export controls and foreign investment rules for the global build out of AI systems," he wrote. That also means establishing rules for where materials — like training data, chips, and code — are stored worldwide. It's "not just about exporting technology," he wrote. "It's about exporting the values that the technology upholds."And finally, Altman suggested that the United States needs to develop a global strategy for AI so that developing nations aren't left behind. Altman proposed several solutions, including creating something similar to an International Atomic Energy Agency for AI, which would help promote peaceful use of the technology.He suggested establishing an investment fund that would pool resources from countries committed to safely developing AI. Another option, he wrote, would be to build a nonprofit similar to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, ICANN, which would be dedicated to "maximizing access to the internet in support of an open, connected, democratic global community."Altman's editorial comes as the threat from China to US AI dominance grows. Last year, the United States took the lead in global AI investment, pouring over $67 billion into the technology, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://hai.stanford.edu/news/ai-index-state-ai-13-charts">Stanford's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence</a>. China came in second, investing close to $8 billion. But most analysts expect that number to rise quickly."We need the democratic — small 'd' democratic — world to win here, and we have the opportunity to do it," Altman <a target="_blank" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/25/axios-interview-altman-urges-us-action-to-beat-china-in-ai-race">told Axios</a>.

Sam Altman says the US has to do 4 things to prevent China from taking the AI throne

<ul><li>Between January 2020 and June 2023, 75% of cyber crimes in India were attributed to financial frauds.</li><li>Expenses incurred in the retrieval or restoration of lost or corrupted data resulting from malware attacks is covered in policies. </li><li>Financial losses incurred due to online shopping on fraudulent websites are also covered. </li></ul>Online monetary transactions are on the rise every year and as we spend more and more time in the virtual world, the world of crime has seen opportunities and spread its tentacles in this sphere too. Cybersecurity fraud includes various types, including <keyword id="6359049" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phishing" source="Orion">phishing</keyword> attacks that trick users into revealing personal information, ransomware that encrypts data for extortion, <keyword id="429939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="identity-theft" source="Orion">identity theft</keyword> for financial gain, and malware infections exploiting vulnerabilities in systems. Many of these frauds result in <keyword id="514956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-loss" source="Orion">financial loss</keyword> because the bank account of the victim is compromised. A study conducted by a start-up incubated with IIT Kanpur revealed that between January 2020 and June 2023, 75% of cyber crimes in India were attributed to financial frauds. Companies take <keyword id="1672191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyber-insurance" source="Orion">cyber insurance</keyword> to protect themselves from damages due to cyber frauds. Cyber security insurance is also available for individuals. HDFC ERGO, offers a cyber sachet insurance policy, tailored for individuals, including students, women, entrepreneurs, and working professionals. The policy covers a range of cyber threats such as theft of funds, identity theft, social media liability, malware attacks, phishing, and third-party data breaches along with coverage for counselling services to support individuals who experience emotional setbacks due to cyber incidents. Also one can extend the coverage to cover their smart home devices affected by malware attacks. Similarly Bajaj Allianz provides an Individual Cyber Safe Insurance Policy. Cyber insurance acts as a protective measure against potential losses incurred online, offering assurance and coverage in case of adverse incidents. This insurance coverage grants peace of mind, allowing individuals to engage in online activities without constant concern over financial ramifications caused by cyber threats. Such plans can have a sum insured of ₹10,000 to ₹5 crore. Let us take a look at what all is covered under cyber insurance. Financial loss: The coverage extends to financial losses resulting from online frauds, encompassing unauthorised access, phishing, and spoofing incidents affecting bank accounts, credit/debit cards, and digital wallets. “Any sort of financial loss due to any <keyword id="6358845" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyber-fraud" source="Orion">cyber fraud</keyword> is covered up to the sum assured in the policy. For example if someone clicks on a phishing link and then one's account is hacked and one loses money from their bank account the policy will cover it,” says TA Ramalingam, chief technical officer, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance . Identity theft: Coverage includes indemnification for financial losses, credit monitoring expenses, legal fees for prosecution resulting from the unauthorised use of personal information by a third party on the internet. Additionally, it encompasses psychological consultation expenses for the affected individual. Data restoration: Expenses incurred in the retrieval or restoration of lost or corrupted data resulting from malware attacks is covered. “Cost incurred in restoring lost or corrupted data or replacing hardware due to malware attack,” says Parthanil Ghosh, President, Retail Business HDFC ERGO General Insurance. Hardware replacement: Expenses associated with replacing your personal device or its components that have been impacted or damaged due to a malware attack are covered. Cyber bullying: Coverage includes legal expenses, expenses related to removing objectionable content posted by cyber-bullies, and psychological consultation costs for the affected individual. Online shopping: Financial losses may be incurred due to online shopping on fraudulent websites. “Online shopping fraud where an item is not received even after making a full payment is covered,” says Ghosh. What is not covered Any losses resulting out of dishonest or improper conduct is not covered. Any losses arising out of racist, pornographic or other immoral services or restricted websites are also not covered. Some of the other exclusions include coverage for investment activities like selling shares and losses in cryptocurrency. It is the onus of the policyholder to follow basic safety procedures. “One needs to behave as if one is not insured. So if someone makes basic mistakes like sharing one’s PIN or OTP or writing the PIN at the back of an ATM card, the insurance company won't cover any damages,” says Ramalingam. If you are a heavy mobile phone or Internet user, having cyber insurance can give you a safety net. However, remember, it pays to stay vigilant.

Online financial crimes on the rise – How to secure your digital world

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US sought the help of non-allies to try to dissuade Russia from carrying out a nuclear strike in 2022.</li><li>The US feared a Ukrainian counteroffensive against Kherson could trigger Putin.</li></ul>The US asked non-allies for help in an attempt to dissuade Russia from carrying out a nuclear strike in 2022, a senior US administration official told CNN."One of the things we did was not only message them directly but strongly urge, press, encourage other countries, to whom they might be more attentive, to do the same thing," they said, per the report.The official said their assessment was that input from the likes of India, China, and others "may have had some effect" on Russia's thinking."The concern from key countries for Russia and the Global South, was also a helpful, persuasive factor and showed them what the cost of all this could be," another US official told the outlet.<div type="image" title="Xi/Putin" height="701" width="1024" msid="108355650" hostid="261" sizebytes="37592"></div>Worries that Putin might resort to using nuclear weapons spread in 2022 after Russian forces faced a series of defeats and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-troops-enter-kherson-humiliate-for-putin-as-russia-retreats-2022-11">Ukraine launched a counteroffensive against the prized city of Kherson</a> in southern Ukraine."If significant numbers of Russian forces were ­overrun —­ if their lives were shattered as such —­ that was a sort of precursor to a potential threat directly to Russian territory or the Russian state," one of the senior officials said.And the Biden administration feared that this might trigger Putin to use nuclear weapons as a deterrent to avoid further losses, as he viewed the captured town of Kherson as part of Russia itself, per the CNN report.<h2>Russia's 'dirty bomb' claim</h2>In October 2022, Russian propagandists also began circulating a story suggesting that Ukraine was planning to use a "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-baseless-claim-ukraine-dirty-bomb-ploy-to-scare-west-2022-10">dirty bomb</a>," a device containing both radioactive material and regular explosives.Sergei Shoigu, Russia's defense minister, put the claim to the US and a number of its allies.<div type="image" title="sergei shoigu" height="1174" width="1500" msid="108355652" hostid="261" sizebytes="78780"></div>"Russian public messaging came way out of the left field on the potential for Ukraine to use a dirty bomb, which we saw not grounded in reality," one of the administration officials said.But they added that there were fears Russia was making the claims as "a pretext for them to do something crazy or as a cover for something they themselves were looking at doing."The Institute for the Study of War think tank <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1584304801495814144">said</a> at the time that the move "likely sought to slow or suspend Western military aid" and "possibly weaken the NATO alliance in scare-mongering calls."Nevertheless, one official said, "the risk level seemed to be going up, beyond where it had been at any other point in time."In June 2023, President Joe Biden said Russia's nuclear threat remained "real" following the news that Russia had moved nuclear weapons into neighboring Belarus.Last month, Putin made some of his most explicit nuclear threats so far after French President Emmanuel Macron suggested NATO could send troops to aid Ukraine — despite the idea being rejected by the US and other NATO allies."(Western nations) must realise that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory," he said, per <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-warns-west-risk-nuclear-war-says-moscow-can-strike-western-targets-2024-02-29/">Reuters</a>. "All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilisation. Don't they get that?"

You Searched For "India China cyber threat" and got 12 results

Fear of China is behind India's exuberant display of friendship with Vladimir Putin

Tom Porter

Global Cyber Outage: What is CrowdStrike? How is it linked to the global Microsoft outage?

BI India Bureau

The US is in a technological arms race with China, Air Force secretary says, and AI could decide who wins

Chris Panella

US-China tariff war could benefit several sectors in India while harming a few others

Deekshith Pinto

Musk's visit to China was a much-needed win for both sides and a snub to India

Meghan Morris

Over 100 websites blocked for facilitating organised illegal investments

PTI

Chinese hackers would outnumber FBI cyber agents by 50 to 1 even if the agency threw all its resources at China: FBI chief

Kwan Wei Kevin Tan

Russia and China are gaining ground on the US in Latin America, US commander says

Thibault Spirlet

America's X-37B vs. China's Shenlong: Top space planes and their shadowy role in orbital war

Benjamin Brimelow

Sam Altman says the US has to do 4 things to prevent China from taking the AI throne

Lakshmi Varanasi

Online financial crimes on the rise – How to secure your digital world

Anagh Pal

US asked China and India for help to prevent Russia from carrying out a nuclear strike in 2022, report says

Cameron Manley

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