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<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> is planning a <keyword id="22964001" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="repairability-index" source="keywords">repairability index</keyword> for <keyword id="20016418" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mobile-phones" source="keywords">mobile phones</keyword> and electronic products to address the growing <keyword id="19932462" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-waste" source="keywords">e-waste</keyword> problem and encourage manufacturers to produce more easily repairable items, officials said on Thursday. The <keyword id="20026051" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Consumer-Affairs-Ministry" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Consumer Affairs Ministry" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Consumer Affairs Ministry">Consumer Affairs Ministry</keyword> is spearheading the initiative, which will provide a score on key parameters to inform consumers about the ease with which a product can be repaired, the officials said at a national workshop on the issue. Addressing the workshop, <keyword id="20003684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-affairs" source="keywords">Consumer Affairs</keyword> Secretary Nidhi Khare said: "As India emerges as the third largest economy in the world, we should have a vibrant and tech-savvy repair system." She also added, "India can become a repair hub for the world." The proposed index will be similar to initiatives in other countries, such as France's repairability index. It will rate products on criteria including availability of technical documents, ease of disassembly, spare parts availability and pricing. The workshop was aimed at establishing a consensus among industry stakeholders on "key parameters for accessing and evaluating repairability index" besides promoting longevity in product design, and democratizing repair information to enhance consumer experiences in reusing the mobile and <keyword id="19896834" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electronics" source="keywords">electronics</keyword> products they own. Additional Secretary Bharat Khera emphasized the need for transparent and affordable repair solutions, increased consumer awareness, and support for local repairers. Joint Secretary Anupam Mishra highlighted concerns about the lack of genuine spare parts in local markets, compatibility issues with product components, and the absence of information for consumers to repair their own devices. He also mentioned that the Repairability Index of France rates products on five criteria, while the EU has additional parameters. <keyword id="20032279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="HCL-Technologies" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="HCL Technologies" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="HCL Technologies">HCL Technologies</keyword> Founder Ajai Chowdhry called for legislation to drive change. "Today, most products are not repairable. We need to design products which can be repaired.... Unless we create a law, things will not change," he said. The government has already launched a <keyword id="22964002" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Right-to-Repair-Portal" source="keywords">Right to Repair Portal</keyword>, with 63 companies onboard, including 23 from the mobile and electronics sector. India is the third largest electronic waste producer globally after China and the US. The initiative aims to reduce e-waste, promote <keyword id="20128078" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-practices" source="keywords">sustainable practices</keyword>, and create opportunities for third-party repairers in India's growing electronics market.

India plans repairability index for mobile, electronics to tackle e-waste

The <keyword id="19905108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-defence" source="keywords">Ministry of Defence</keyword> has sanctioned over Rs 300 crore through its <keyword id="20416767" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="technology-development-fund" source="keywords">Technology Development Fund</keyword> (TDF) to create an ecosystem aimed at enhancing capabilities in cutting-edge technology and promoting '<keyword id="20460685" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aatmanirbharta" source="keywords">Aatmanirbharta</keyword>' in defence, an official statement said on Thursday. The Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Defence, executed by <keyword id="19948662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drdo" source="keywords">DRDO</keyword> under the '<keyword id="20018809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="make-in-india" source="keywords">Make in India</keyword>' initiative. Under this initiative, the government provides grants-in-aid to Indian industries, including <keyword id="19910977" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="msmes" source="keywords">MSMEs</keyword> and <keyword id="19945815" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="startups" source="keywords">startups</keyword>, as well as academic and scientific institutions, for the development of defence and dual-use technologies that are currently not available in the Indian defence industry. With these initiatives, the Ministry aims to engage private industries, especially MSMEs and startups, to foster a culture of design and development in military technology and support them with grants-in-aid. The TDF seeks to enhance the capacity and capability of Indian industries for the design and development of defence technologies in the country. It aims to create an R&amp;D ecosystem where industry and academia work together to meet the current and future requirements of the Armed Forces and the defence sector. The government aims to achieve 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence technology by building a robust defence manufacturing ecosystem in the country. The <keyword id="19910956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="defence-ministry" source="keywords">Defence Ministry</keyword> on Wednesday highlighted several successful startups benefiting from the scheme. Pune-based startup <keyword id="22281521" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Combat-Robotics" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Combat Robotics" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Combat Robotics">Combat Robotics</keyword>, with the help of the scheme, has successfully developed an innovative simulator for <keyword id="20146841" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unmanned-vehicles" source="keywords">unmanned vehicles</keyword>. This multi-domain simulator supports unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), serving as an excellent development tool for agencies working on autonomous systems. Another Pune-based defence equipment startup, ChiStats Labs Private Limited, is developing virtual sensors for aero gas turbine engine health monitoring, which helps to increase the operational reliability and longevity of the engines. The system is built on modern artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) technologies. Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies Pvt. Ltd., under the project titled 'Autonomous Drone as First Responder for Search and Report Operations in Enclosed/Indoor Environments', has created a cutting-edge UAV capable of exploring indoor environments under various conditions, including zero light. The success of this project will open up various applications, including search and rescue operations, surveillance, industrial inspections, environmental monitoring, and hazardous environment exploration, contributing significantly to technological advancements in unmanned aerial systems, the Ministry added. The technology has been developed under the technical guidance and mentorship of CAIR, Bengaluru.

Defence ministry allocates Rs 300 cr for technology development fund to promote Make in India products

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Apple has been banned from selling the iPhone 16 in Indonesia.</li><li>The Indonesian government said Apple hasn't met a requirement for 40% of parts to be sourced locally.</li></ul>The Indonesian government has blocked Apple from selling its latest <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/iphone-16-review">iPhone 16</a> in the country because it does not meet local regulations.The latest iPhone, launched in September, has not passed the Southeast Asian nation's requirement that 40% of the material in smartphones and tablets sold nationally come from Indonesian producers. The policy is intended to protect domestic manufacturers and attract foreign investment.Indonesia's Ministry of Industry said in a statement on Friday that iPhone 16s cannot be imported for sale as Apple has yet to fulfill its investment commitment to obtain "local content level" certification.The ministry said 9,000 iPhone 16 products had already entered the country. It added that it would monitor the circulation of the devices and warned that if traded, the products would be classed as illegal.Apple's older products can still be sold in Indonesia, and visitors can use the iPhone 16 for personal use.Earlier this month, the Ministry of Industry said that Apple's investment of Rp1.5 trillion ($95 million) was still short of its Rp1.7 trillion commitment, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ft.com/content/698d07af-c163-4bc9-9a30-b82ca479e3e8">the FT</a> reported.Apple has already built four developer academies in Indonesia. In April, CEO Tim Cook said that the company was investigating the feasibility of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-tim-cook-indonesia-production-india-china-iphone-2024-4">establishing local manufacturing facilities</a> as it diversifies production away from China.<div type="image" title="Indonesian President Joko Widodo (R) meets Apple CEO Tim Cook (2nd R) at the National Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 17, 2024." height="3518" width="4690" msid="114698217" hostid="261" sizebytes="474336"></div>With over 280 million citizens, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous nation and a growing market for Apple.The iPhone maker saw a 6% year-on-year increase in its share of the premium smartphone market in Indonesia and now makes up 40% of sales of smartphones costing more than $600, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/indonesia-smartphone-market-q2-2024/">Counterpoint</a>, a technology market research firm.However, overall sales in Indonesia remain low compared to global levels, meaning the ban is unlikely to significantly dent Apple's sales. Of the 235 million smartphones Apple sold globally last year, the company only sold about 3.4 million in Indonesia, the FT reported.Apple did not immediately reply to a request for comment, made outside normal working hours.It comes at the start of a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-announcing-major-mac-updates-ai-rollout-earnings-week-2024-10">big week for Apple</a>, in which it reports earnings and is expected to introduce software and hardware updates, including its Apple Intelligence features.

Apple can't sell the new iPhone in the world's 4th most populous country

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russian troops have been using Discord to coordinate drone attacks, but it was banned on Tuesday.</li><li>Federal regulators said they blocked the gaming messaging platform because it could be used for crime.</li></ul>Russian state media reported on Tuesday that authorities have banned <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/discord-members-say-pentagon-leak-suspect-wanted-to-show-off-2023-4">Discord</a>, a US-based messaging and voice-call platform that's popular among gamers but more recently has been used for battlefield communication in Ukraine.Internet and media regulator Roskomnadzor told the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tass.ru/ekonomika/22073811">TASS agency </a>the messenger was blocked over concerns it may be used to sell drugs, spread illicit material, and facilitate "terrorist and extremist purposes."The regulator cited an earlier request for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/discord-grow-ad-business-video-format-ipo-2024-10">Discord</a> to remove 947 pieces of "illegal material," but said some of the content was not taken down. It added that Discord was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tass.com/economy/1850059">previously fined $100,000</a> for not removing child-sexual-abuse images and failing to regulate content posted by its users.Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the Russian State Duma's committee on information policy, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/webstrangler/3766">accused Discord on Tuesday</a> of ignoring Moscow's laws, saying the platform has been "brought to the point of no return."Several legislators voiced concern about the ban on Tuesday, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/davankov/1214">Vladislav Davankov, deputy chair of the State Duma,</a> who said the platform is used widely in Russia and often by students and online tutors.Davankov said he would appeal the decision by Roskomnadzor.The effects of the ban are likely to hit the front lines in Ukraine as well, where both Kyiv and Moscow's troops have been seen using <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://mil.in.ua/en/news/discord-is-used-in-the-command-posts-of-the-armed-forces-of-ukraine/">Discord to coordinate drone operations.</a>Several videos posted online have shown <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://vk.com/video-104764077_456286993?list=2607dee3b94aa0dae9">uniformed men watching surveillance drone feeds</a> on the platform, including one clip said to have captured the interior of a command post in Bakhmut.Discord allows users to join a closed group voice call and livestream to other users from their screens or cameras.Ekaterina Mizulina, head of the para-governmental internet group Safe Internet League, warned that Discord is "very actively used in the SVO," the Russian abbreviation for special military operation."There are separate closed conferences for watching videos from drones and other equipment. Discord gives the highest quality picture," Mizulina wrote on her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/ekaterina_mizulina/10940">Telegram channel</a>, calling the ban a mistake.That's a notable reversal from Mizulina's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/ekaterina_mizulina/968">previous call</a> in 2022 for Discord and streaming platform Twitch to be shut down in Russia due to concerns they can feed gaming addiction.Analyst and pundit Roman Alekhine described Roskomnadzor's move as a civilian decision that would damage Russia's front-line operations and potentially increase its military losses."Do they really want to win there?" Alekhine wrote on his <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/Alekhin_Telega/11842">Telegram channel.</a>He expected Russian authorities to cite concerns of intelligence leaks on a non-military messaging platform but said they should provide troops with a replacement service.Several military bloggers wrote that drone operations had already been disrupted in some units."At the control points of dozens of units, broadcasts from drones operating through closed Discord rooms have fallen," <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/rustroyka1945/18268">wrote the blogger Troika</a>, complaining that Russian forces had been set back "to the level of March 2022."News of Discord's impending ban spread in late September among Russian pundits, but bloggers said their calls for the platform to stay online were ignored.One pundit channel, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/milinfolive/132376">Military Informant</a>, blasted Roskomnadzor's decision as "madness," while another <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/infomil_live/10926">sarcastically thanked</a> the regulator for giving Russian troops another challenge to "bypass the consequences of another wise decision."The platform's removal in Russia comes as Moscow has cracked down on Western websites and social media since the war began. Moscow has closed off access to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/04/russia-completely-blocks-access-to-facebook-and-twitter">Facebook and X,</a> throttled <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/youtube-slowdown-russia-darkens-freedom-speech-outlook-2024-08-08/">YouTube</a>, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1vvdry5gx7o">blocked scores of European news sites</a>.Meanwhile, VK, Russia's biggest domestic social media network, saw its annual revenue surge 19% year-on-year in 2022 and 36% year-on-year in 2023, per its annual reports.According <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://corp.vkcdn.ru/media/files/VK_AR2023_ENG_06.06_ASdbSN6.pdf">to its 2023 report</a>, the company's main social media platform, VKontakte, grew its daily audience count by 19.4%, from 73.4 million users in Q1 2022 to 87.7 million users in Q4 2023.Discord, Roskomnadzor, and the Russian defense ministry did not immediately respond to comment requests sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Russia cut off its troops from Discord, the video gaming comms tool they use to coordinate attacks in Ukraine

New Delhi: The <keyword id="19938513" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Department-of-Consumer-Affairs" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Department of Consumer Affairs" meta.hostid="268" meta.entityid="Department of Consumer Affairs">Department of Consumer Affairs</keyword> has constituted a committee of experts to recommend a robust framework for a <keyword id="22964001" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Repairability-Index" source="keywords">Repairability Index</keyword> aimed at empowering consumers and promoting <keyword id="20128078" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-practices" source="keywords">sustainable practices</keyword> within the tech industry. The committee, chaired by Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) Additional Secretary Bharat Khera, will develop the Repairability Index to provide consumers with greater transparency on repair information for their products and foster a more sustainable technology industry. The National Workshop on the Right to Repair in the <keyword id="20881182" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mobile-and-electronics" source="keywords">Mobile and Electronics</keyword> Sector, convened on August 29, brought together industry stakeholders to establish a consensus on the framework for evaluating components for the Repairability Index, fostering longevity in product design and democratising access to repair information and spare parts. "The framework on Repairability Index aimed to provide consumers with essential information about product repairability besides seamless access to spare parts will enable informed purchasing decisions," the DoCA said in a statement. The committee, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and industry stakeholders, is expected to submit a comprehensive report on the Repairability Index framework by November 15. The key components of the proposed Repair Ecosystem include comprehensive repair information, accessible spare parts, affordable tools, modular product design and ensuring the economic feasibility of repairs for consumers. "By standardising the assessment of repairability, the index will create an ecosystem where consumers can easily compare products and choose options that align with the ethos of mindful consumption and sustainability," the DoCA statement said.

Government set to introduce Repairability Index for mobile, electronics products

Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> urged CEOs of US majors to take advantage of India's growth story as the country is making all efforts to become the third largest economy of the world in his third term. India is currently the fifth largest economy of the world after the US, China, Germany and Japan with a GDP of around USD 3.9 trillion. India has been the fastest growing large economies of the world with GDP growth rate of over 7 per cent for the last three consecutive years. Addressing CEOs of the large US tech firms on Sunday, Modi said India will make every effort to become the third largest economy in the world in his third term (2024-29). Companies should take advantage of India's growth story for collaboration and innovation by co-developing, co-designing, and co-producing in India for the world, harnessing the opportunities from the country's economic and technological growth, he said. Assuring the business leaders of India's deep commitment to the protection of intellectual property and to fostering tech innovation, Modi highlighted the economic transformation happening in the country, particularly in electronics and information technology manufacturing and semiconductors. Modi asserted that his government was committed to making India a "global hub of <keyword id="20073013" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="semiconductor-manufacturing" source="keywords">semiconductor manufacturing</keyword>". The meeting took place at the Lotte <keyword id="19904497" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-York" source="keywords">New York</keyword> Palace Hotel on Sunday during the second leg of Modi's three-day US visit. It saw the participation of CEOs of 15 major US-based firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors. "Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India," Modi said in a post on X. During the conference, Modi said technology collaboration and efforts such as the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) lie at the core of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, according to a Ministry of External Affairs press release. Organised by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering, the CEOs of top US tech firms, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayena, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang attended the meeting. Others who participated in the roundtable included AMD CEO Lisa Su, HP Inc. CEO Enrique Lores, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Dr Noubar Afeyan, Chairman of Moderna, and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg. Modi also talked about India's BIO E3 (biotechnology for environment, economy and employment) policy to develop the country into a biotech powerhouse and on the topic of AI, noted that India's policy is to promote AI for all, underpinned by its ethical and responsible use. The CEOs appreciated India's growing prominence as a global technology hub, driven by its innovation-friendly policies and flourishing market opportunities. They also expressed strong interest in investing and collaborating with India, agreeing that investing in startups would be a synergistic opportunity to innovate and develop newer technologies in the country. Others who attended the conference included Biogen Inc CEO Chris Viehbacher, CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb, Chris Boerner, Eli Lilly and Company CEO David A. Ricks, LAM Research CEO Tim Archer, GlobalFoundries CEO Thomas Caulfield, and the CEO of Kyndryl, Martin Schroeter. "Further cementing technology and business connect. PM @narendramodi interacted with the top tech leaders and CEOs of USA, in a Roundtable hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering, in New York today. PM emphasised India's growth prospects and discussed initiatives to foster collaborations and innovation across diverse sectors," the official account of the MEA said in a post on X. The prime minister had a separate meeting with Krishna P Singh, CEO of Holtec International, which is into nuclear and solar power generation. They discussed Holtec's plan for expanding manufacturing in India and advancing energy cooperation, PMO India said in a post on X. Earlier on Sunday, Modi addressed the <keyword id="20115166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-diaspora" source="keywords">Indian diaspora</keyword> at the packed Nassau Veterans Coliseum on Long Island in New York. He also held bilateral meetings with world leaders at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here. Modi reached New York on Saturday after attending the Quad Leaders' Summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113516805" title="Why is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the US this weekend?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

PM Modi invites US CEOs to take a 'byte' out of India's growing technology sector

The government has dropped the permit requirement for untested AI models but emphasised the need to label AI-generated content, according to a latest advisory on <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">Artificial Intelligence</keyword> technology. Instead of permission for AI models under development, the fresh advisory issued by the <keyword id="19966789" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-electronics" source="keywords">Ministry of Electronics</keyword> and IT on Friday evening fine-tuned the compliance requirement as per IT Rules of 2021. "The advisory is issued in suppression of advisory...dated 1st March 2024," the advisory said. It has been observed that IT firms and platforms are often negligent in undertaking due diligence obligations underlined under the <keyword id="19930099" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="information-technology" source="keywords">Information Technology</keyword> (Intermediary Guidelines and <keyword id="20033095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-media-ethics-code" source="keywords">Digital Media Ethics Code</keyword> ) Rules, 2021, according to the new advisory. The government has asked firms to label content generated using their AI software or platform and inform users about the possible inherent fallibility or unreliability of the output generated using their AI tools. "Where any intermediary through its software or any other computer resource permits or facilitates synthetic creation, generation or modification of a text, audio, visual or audio-visual information, in such a manner that such information may be used potentially as misinformation or deepfake, it is advised that such information created generated or modified through its software or any other computer resource is labelled....that such information has been created generated or modified using the computer resource of the intermediary," the advisory said. In case any changes are made by the user, the metadata should be so configured to enable identification of such user or computer resource that has effected such change, it added. After a controversy over a response of Google's AI platform to queries related to Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword>, the government on March 1 issued an advisory for social media and other platforms to label under-trial AI models and prevent hosting unlawful content. The <keyword id="19959928" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-electronics-and-information-technology" source="keywords">Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</keyword>, in the advisory issued to intermediaries and platforms, warned of criminal action in case of non-compliance. The previous advisory has asked the entities to seek approval from the government for deploying under trial or unreliable artificial intelligence (AI) models and deploy them only after labelling them of "possible and inherent fallibility or unreliability of the output generated". SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/new-ev-policy-elon-musks-tesla-may-soon-enter-india-as-import-taxes-slashed-for-electric-vehicles/articleshow/108527306.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/new-ev-policy-elon-musks-tesla-may-soon-enter-india-as-import-taxes-slashed-for-electric-vehicles/articleshow/108527306.cms" target="_blank">New EV Policy: Elon Musk’s Tesla may soon enter India as import taxes slashed for electric vehicles</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/benq-w5800-home-cinema-projector-launched-in-india-with-a-price-tag-of-6-5-lakh/articleshow/108523671.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/benq-w5800-home-cinema-projector-launched-in-india-with-a-price-tag-of-6-5-lakh/articleshow/108523671.cms" target="_blank">BenQ W5800 home cinema projector launched in India with a price tag of ₹6.5 lakh</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-a35-and-galaxy-a55-launched-in-india-starting-at-30999/articleshow/108512386.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-a35-and-galaxy-a55-launched-in-india-starting-at-30999/articleshow/108512386.cms" target="_blank">Samsung Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 launched in India starting at ₹30,999</a>

Govt removes permit requirement for untested AI models; calls for labelling content

Meet the enigmatic manager who oversees Larry Page's Google fortune 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Elon Musk has been busy attacking Brazil on free speech grounds following its X ban.</li><li>It contrasts the silence of the self-proclaimed "free speech absolutist" on China's long-running X ban.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk">Elon Musk's</a> support for free speech seems to differ depending on the country he's dealing with.Since <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-brazil-x-ban-feud-content-moderation-free-speech-2024-9">Brazil decided to ban X last week</a>, the billionaire social media baron and self-proclaimed "free speech absolutist" has been very public about his dismay over the move and the threat he thinks it poses to democracy."Free speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes," <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1829624142452195334">Musk wrote on X</a> following Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes's order to suspend the social media company. Brazil is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-brazil-x-ban-feud-content-moderation-free-speech-2024-9">X's fifth-largest market</a>, so Musk's fury over the decision also makes sense from a business point of view. Musk remains firmly in a battle to retain users on the platform he spent $44 billion to acquire almost two years ago.That said, it's worth asking why Musk's free speech absolutism hasn't extended to another country he's deeply involved in.China — a country in which Musk has been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-china-trip-feast-restaurant-beijing-2023-5">lavished with five-star treatment</a> and been given access to some of its most prolific political and business leaders — has long banned Western social media companies. Among those is X, which has been blocked in China since 2009.Authorities in Beijing made the move to block access to the app, then known as Twitter, just days before the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. At the time, the app was gaining popularity among internet users seeking a platform to share their views.There's good reason for the stark contrast. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla">Tesla</a>, the most important company in Musk's corporate empire, needs China onside.<h2 id="b1ca878c-37a4-4615-afb7-5f6a3adb5dad">The Tesla-sized gap between Brazil and China</h2><div type="image" title="Tesla logo and Model 3 car in a showroom in China" height="2666" width="4000" msid="113123300" hostid="261" sizebytes="439820"></div>There's no mistaking how important China is to Tesla.The electric vehicle maker opened its first store there over a decade ago in 2013. Six years later, in 2019, it began construction on a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-gigafactory">gigafactory in Shanghai.</a> And in that time it has turned China into its most important market outside the US.In 2023, almost a quarter, or $21.7 billion, of its $96.8 billion revenues came from China. In Tesla's financial reports, <a target="_blank" href="https://ir.tesla.com/_flysystem/s3/sec/000162828024032662/tsla-20240630-gen.pdf">China is the only international market</a> with a separate line representing revenue figures. All markets beyond the US and China fall under an "other international" label.Speaking out on free speech matters is likely to be trickier for Musk in China, particularly at a time when Tesla faces growing competition from domestic players such as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-rival-byd-chinese-evs-expands-in-europe-new-factory-2024-7">BYD.</a> Tesla experienced a decline in sales in China in the first half of the year, per filings. Its market share of EV sales in China fell to 6.5% between January and July, down from close to 9% in the same period last year, per data from Shanghai consultancy Automobility reported by The Financial Times.Rocking the boat could make life tougher for Tesla in China.On top of that, China has become a vital place for Tesla to make its robotaxi ambitions a reality. Following an unannounced visit to China in April, Tesla's shares surged by over 15% after news emerged that Musk had <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-china-visit-self-driving-autonomous-electric-cars-2024-4">secured a deal with Chinese internet giant Baidu</a> to boost his company's efforts to roll out driverless car technology in the country.In the midst of the trip, Musk shared on X — presumably with the helping hand of a VPN to bypass China's "Great Firewall" — that he was "honored" to meet with Premier Li Qiang. "We have known each other now for many years, since early Shanghai days," he wrote. Brazil, meanwhile, has yet to become an official market for Tesla.Though people have been seen cruising in Teslas across the country, they have typically made their way there having been imported from the US or Europe. No official dealer exists in the country; Chile is listed as the only South American country on its website.According to Luke Gear, principal analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a research firm examining the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-vehicle-misconceptions-about-the-ev-transition-market-sales-2024-5">EV market</a> and its supply chains, Brazil has been a "relatively small market" for electric vehicles to date, with just 50,000 plug-in EVs sold there in 2023.That said, Gear told Business Insider that the market there is "growing rapidly", with last year's 50,000 sales number surpassed in June this year. Growth is "driven by low-cost imports from BYD", he added.Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, said in 2020 that the opportunity to bring Tesla to his home country was part of his agenda for a trip to the US.He met Musk two years later, in May 2022, as the billionaire was preparing his Twitter takeover — a move described by Bolsonaro as a "breath of hope" in comments reported by Reuters. But a deal to take Tesla to Brazil never materialized.Han Yang, a political observer who says he was formerly in China's foreign affairs ministry and now lives in Australia, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/polijunkie_aus/status/1830051537172992287">wrote on X</a> this month that Musk "pretends to be a champion for free speech" but hasn't uttered "a single word of disapproval" of China's president Xi Jinping, whom he notes has banned X in the country.So long as Tesla remains dependent on China, it seems free speech is far from absolute for Musk.X did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

X is banned in Brazil and China, but Elon Musk is only in a spat with one. The secret? Tesla.

In a major move to enhance the <keyword id="23342045" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism-experience" source="keywords">tourism experience</keyword> across India, the <keyword id="20246604" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Tourism" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ministry of Tourism" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ministry of Tourism">Ministry of Tourism</keyword> has launched an ambitious initiative titled '<keyword id="23342044" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paryatan-Mitra" source="keywords">Paryatan Mitra</keyword>' and 'Paryatan Didi' on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The initiative is designed to foster responsible tourism and create local ambassadors who will serve as guides and hosts, enriching the travel experience for visitors while promoting <keyword id="20467200" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-tourism" source="keywords">sustainable tourism</keyword> practices. The program, which was launched as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader vision of using tourism for social inclusion, employment generation, and economic progress, is aimed at empowering locals in some of India’s most visited destinations. The Ministry of Tourism is seeking to build a network of <keyword id="22391259" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism-ambassadors" source="keywords">tourism ambassadors</keyword>, rooted within <keyword id="21350228" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="local-communities" source="keywords">local communities</keyword>, to act as proud custodians of their regions. Initially piloted in six diverse tourist hotspots — Orchha (Madhya Pradesh), Gandikota (Andhra Pradesh), Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Aizawl (Mizoram), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), and Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands) — the program has already begun training locals in these areas. By August 15, over 3,000 individuals had undergone training, becoming official Paryatan Mitras, dedicated to offering tourists a more informed, friendly, and memorable experience. <h2>Enhancing hospitality and local storytelling</h2>The key objective of this initiative is to make tourism a vehicle for local pride and storytelling. By offering specialised training to those who frequently interact with tourists — such as cab drivers, hotel staff, restaurant workers, tour guides, street vendors, and even police personnel — the Ministry hopes to elevate the tourist experience to new heights. The training program emphasises the importance of cleanliness, safety, sustainability, and top-quality hospitality, all aligned with India’s age-old philosophy of 'Athithi Devo Bhava', meaning “The guest is equivalent to God.” This initiative goes beyond mere hospitality training. Each participant is also educated about their destination's hidden gems, historical significance, and <keyword id="19911712" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cultural-heritage" source="keywords">cultural heritage</keyword>, turning every local into a knowledgeable storyteller. This not only improves the quality of the tourist experience but also helps locals take pride in their heritage and contribute meaningfully to the country’s tourism ecosystem. <h2><keyword id="20646064" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="empowering-women" source="keywords">Empowering women</keyword> and youth</h2>One of the most remarkable aspects of the Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi programs is their focus on empowering women and young people. By training them to offer new tourism experiences such as heritage walks, food tours, craft experiences, and nature treks, the initiative opens up exciting employment opportunities. Many of these individuals are also trained to become homestay operators, tour guides, and food and culture experience providers, allowing them to monetize their skills and knowledge in tourism-driven local economies. In a nod to modern technology, the initiative also incorporates <keyword id="20055241" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-literacy" source="keywords">digital literacy</keyword> training, equipping locals with the tools to make their tourism offerings more discoverable to both national and international visitors. By leveraging digital platforms, trained individuals can now market their homestays, tours, and cultural experiences online, allowing for a broader reach and better economic opportunities. At its core, this program reflects the Ministry of Tourism’s commitment to creating a collaborative tourism experience that benefits both visitors and locals. The initiative is not just about training individuals to work in tourism but is also about fostering a sense of community and ownership over the tourism experience, which in turn helps preserve cultural and natural heritage. As more individuals join the program, tourism in India could see a shift toward more sustainable practices, with local communities playing a crucial role in shaping how tourists experience their destinations. By connecting visitors to trained locals with a passion for their culture and environment, the Ministry of Tourism is taking a major step toward creating memorable, responsible, and sustainable tourism across the country. (With inputs from ANI)

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