Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>The <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Economic-Survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-24 was tabled by the <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Finance Minister" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Finance Minister">Finance Minister</keyword> in the Lok Sabha.</li><li>The report was tabled a day before FM Nirmala Sitharaman is slated to present the budget.</li><li>The report has highlighted the need for private investments in infrastructure.</li></ul>Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday tabled the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-live-news-top-things-every-indian-should-know-about-the-economic-survey-2023-24/articleshow/111918064.cms">Economic Survey</a> 2023-2024 in the Lok Sabha, a day ahead of the Budget being tabled. According to the report, India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 8.2% in FY24. The report has revealed that large-scale infrastructure projects in the country have largely been funded by <keyword id="22504538" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-sector-investment" source="keywords">public sector investment</keyword> in recent years. The government has highlighted a need for private sector investment in infrastructure building. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111923191" title="Economic Survey 2024 – industries grow by 9.5%, fueling economic growth to 8.2%" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> In the five years between 2019 and 2023, the central and state Governments contributed 49% and 29% of the total investments in infrastructure, while, the private sector's contribution was just 22%. “There is significant scope for boosting India’s <keyword id="20018651" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="private-investment" source="keywords">private investment</keyword>, especially in the context of investment requirements facing the Indian economy in the areas of infrastructure, green transition, etc,” as per the Economic Survey 2024. <h2>National highways triple, railways receive a boost</h2>In the last decade, the pace of construction of national highways has reportedly tripled. According to the Economic Survey 2024, the pace of construction of national highways has increased from 11.7 km per day in FY14 to around 34 km per day by FY24. The capital expenditure in railways has increased by 77% in the last five years, with significant investments directed at the construction of new lines, gauge conversion and doubling. The passenger handling capacity at airports in the country has increased by 62 million passengers per annum in FY24 with new terminal buildings being opened at 21 airports. There is now a need to add more airports and expand the existing airports. The clean energy sector in India saw new investment of ₹8.5 lakh crore between 2014 and 2023. <h2>Metro and rapid train connectivity to soon double</h2>At present, 945 km of metro rail or RRTS lines are operational, out of which 86 km was added in FY24. This is set to soon double as 993 km of metro and RRTS lines are under construction in 27 cities across the country. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-live-news-top-things-every-indian-should-know-about-the-economic-survey-2023-24/articleshow/111918064.cms">Economic Survey highlights: Top 10 things every Indian should know from the Economic Survey 2023-24</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/economic-survey-2024-industries-grow-by-9-5-fueling-economic-growth-to-8-2/articleshow/111923191.cms">Economic Survey 2024 – industries grow by 9.5%, fueling economic growth to 8.2%</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/article/economic-survey-2023-2024-highlights-emerging-job-trends-in-ai-cybersecurity-3d-printing-and-web-development/articleshow/111923746.cms">Economic Survey 2023-2024 highlights emerging job trends in AI, Cybersecurity, 3D Printing and Web Development</a>

Economic Survey highlights public sector investment's role in driving infra growth; Underlines need for private sector to step up

<ul><li><keyword id="19912297" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nvidia" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Nvidia" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Nvidia">Nvidia</keyword> wants to partner with <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> to develop new <keyword id="20830356" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-chip" source="keywords">AI chip</keyword></li><li>The discussions are in prelim stage</li><li>Nvidia hasn't announced anything officially</li></ul> When it comes to AI, Nvidia is one of the frontrunners in the race. In the last few months, we have heard ample reports about how much Nvidia's AI chips are in demand. Now, latest reports say that the tech giant is looking forward to partner with India and use its huge talent pool to develop a new AI chip. According to a report in ET, Nvidia is looking to forge a partnership with India to create a new semiconductor chip tailored to the nation’s technological needs. As per the report, this initiative was discussed earlier this year between <keyword id="19979316" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jensen-Huang" source="keywords">Jensen Huang</keyword>, Nvidia’s CEO, and Indian Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword>. The collaboration aims to blend India’s robust semiconductor design skills with Nvidia’s cutting-edge technology to meet the increasing demands of the Indian tech market. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113902265" title="Nvidia’s ChatRTX could be your alternative to ChatGPT for reading long documents, and it doesn’t need an internet connection" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> As Nvidia’s graphics processing unit (GPU) chips continue to play a crucial role in the AI revolution, the company’s valuation has skyrocketed, now standing as the second most valuable company globally. Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s union minister for electronics and IT, confirmed that discussions are underway, although they remain in the early stages. He told ET, “Yes, we are discussing with Nvidia the development of an AI chip; discussions are at a preliminary stage.” Meanwhile, Nvidia has not said anything yet. With around 19% of the world’s chip designers based in India—many working for renowned global firms—Nvidia is reportedly eager to leverage this rich talent pool. The partnership would focus on developing chips that cater to specific requirements within India, including AI-driven solutions for government initiatives, enhancements in infrastructure, and support for startups. Meanwhile, <keyword id="20553835" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="huang" source="keywords">Huang</keyword> is scheduled to visit India soon, marking his annual trip, during which he hopes to deepen ties with the nation. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114040583" title="I talked to an AI-powered NPC thanks to Nvidia! True to her character, she surprised me with her princess attitude" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The report added that the envisioned chip would be specifically tailored for Indian applications, potentially enhancing systems like the Kavach security initiative for Indian Railways. This collaboration aims to provide the government, startups, and various businesses with a chip that supports diverse applications in line with India’s AI mission. Currently, the government is working on details such as cost, benefits, and use cases related to this co-development effort. If this chip collaboration materialises, Nvidia plans to design the core components in partnership with firms like Arm or AMD, while Indian entities, including the <keyword id="20051560" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="centre-for-development-of-advanced-computing" source="keywords">Centre for Development of Advanced Computing</keyword> (C-DAC) and private firms, would handle the customisation of the top 10-20% of the chip design, the ET report added.

Nvidia eyes partnership with India to develop a new AI chip, all you need to know

Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> on Tuesday asked the automotive industry to bring global best practices to <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>, while also working on green and <keyword id="7340072" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="clean-mobility" source="Orion">clean mobility</keyword>. In a written address to the annual convention of the <keyword id="20163832" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="society-of-indian-automobile" source="keywords">Society of Indian Automobile</keyword> Manufacturers (SIAM), Modi said the automotive industry will drive even higher economic growth and in turn, thrive on demand growth. "As we shift gears towards our collective goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, I am confident that organisations like SIAM will continue to bring together all stakeholders and become a force multiplier in this mission," he said. The prime minister said the road ahead demands that the country's progress is rapid, while also being sustainable. "Working (on) greener and cleaner mobility is a vital step in this direction. It is important that this climate-conscious and sustainable vision resonates with domestic and international partners," he asserted. "Further, at this critical juncture for India and the world, it is essential that our automobile sector set not only an example for others to follow, but also work towards bringing global best practices to India. I am confident that the discussions and deliberations during the Annual Convention will serve as a catalyst for this," he added. He further said, "Through innovation and enterprise, I am sure that the automotive industry will drive even higher economic growth and in turn, thrive on the demand growth that inevitably creates." He said over the last decade, India's automotive sector has witnessed tremendous and unprecedented growth. "This is as much a testament to our nation's expanding economic growth, as it is to the pivotal role played by the automotive industry," Modi said. The success story of Indian mobility is noteworthy. The nation is witnessing the creation of future-ready infrastructure, such as state-of-the-art expressways, high-speed railways and other forms of multi-modal connectivity that reaches every corner, the prime minister noted. "The holistic approach is ensuring that the benefits of growth are not just confined to a few, but shared by all," Modi said.

PM Modi asks automakers to bring global best practices to India, focus on clean mobility

Anticipation is steadily building for the Union Budget of 2024, which President Murmu has hinted could be “historic”. Stakeholders are optimistic about policies aimed at enhancing domestic production and fostering economic growth. Consumers, on the other hand, eagerly await the potential benefits coming their way—including ones from the upcoming <keyword id="12026484" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Railway-budget" source="Orion">Railway budget</keyword>. According to reports thus far, the Union Budget of 2024 is expected to place a significant emphasis on the Railway industry—one of the three cores of the Indian economy. This time, there is a strong expectation that the Railway budget will address various consumer-centric issues, including travel safety and overall experience quality. As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Union Budget on July 23, here are some key expectations for the Railway industry: <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Highest-ever allocation for Indian Railways budget" comment="subhead" text="Highest-ever allocation for Indian Railways budget">Highest-ever allocation for <keyword id="6355455" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Railways" source="Orion">Indian Railways</keyword> budget</cmsannotation> <keyword id="15478236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="Orion">Budget 2024</keyword> is anticipated to heavily focus on several aspects of the railway sector. In the interim budget of 2024, the <keyword id="19905911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Railways" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ministry of Railways" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ministry of Railways">Ministry of Railways</keyword> was allocated Rs 2.55 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. However, the upcoming budget is expected to increase this allocation significantly, ET NOW reports. It could potentially reach Rs 3 lakh crore, marking the highest-ever allocation for this sector. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Increased focus on passenger safety and capacity" comment="subhead" text="Increased focus on passenger safety and capacity">Increased focus on passenger safety and capacity</cmsannotation> During the Lok Sabha elections, the <keyword id="6360676" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="railways" source="Orion">railways</keyword> ministry faced significant criticism for various safety incidents and overcrowding in general coaches. To address these issues, the ministry is expected to allocate substantial funds to prevent operational mishaps, expand rail capacity and reduce congestion, the Business Standard reports. The government is expected to focus on the implementation of Kavach, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection System. Experts welcome the government’s emphasis on safety upgrades, particularly the network-wide implementation of train protection systems and the mechanisation of maintenance operations. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Enhancing passenger travel experience and quality" comment="subhead" text="Enhancing passenger travel experience and quality">Enhancing passenger travel experience and quality</cmsannotation> The budget is also anticipated to focus on improving facilities for passengers, modernising amenities and enhancing the overall quality of railway travel, as per Goodreturns. Capital expenditure will likely be directed towards upgrading coaches, with an initial plan to upgrade 40,000 bogies, and improving sanitation facilities. Passenger comfort and safety will continue to be priorities as the public increasingly values comfort over cost. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Possible reinstatement of Senior Citizen Railway Concession" comment="subhead" text="Possible reinstatement of Senior Citizen Railway Concession">Possible reinstatement of <keyword id="22455972" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Senior-Citizen-Railway-Concession" source="keywords">Senior Citizen Railway Concession</keyword></cmsannotation> There is growing anticipation about the potential reinstatement of the Senior Citizen Railway Concession during Budget 2024, according to Business Today. This move is seen as particularly significant ahead of the upcoming general elections later this year. In March 2020, the Indian Railways discontinued discounts on train fares for senior citizens and women, requiring them to pay full fares like other passengers. Previously, the Senior Citizen Railway Concession was available for all classes of mail and express trains. Reports and RTI inquiries have revealed that the withdrawal of these concessions led to significant additional revenue for the Railways. During the suspension period, the Indian Railways accrued Rs 5,062 crore from eight crore senior citizens, with Rs 2,242 crore resulting from the absence of concessions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Prioritising infrastructure spending" comment="subhead" text="Prioritising infrastructure spending">Prioritising infrastructure spending</cmsannotation> The <keyword id="19935166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget-2024" source="keywords">Union Budget 2024</keyword> is expected to prioritise infrastructure spending, the Goodreturns report adds. The focus is likely to be on rapid development and completion of tracks, rolling stock manufacturing and delivery of passenger freight services. Capital funds are likely to be allocated for expanding the metro network, NaMo Bharat corridors, Vande Bharat trains, high-speed corridors and economic corridors. Plans also include developing a high-speed rail network like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route and allocating funds towards the Rapid Rail Transport System.

Union Budget 2024 for Railways: Expectations focused on improving passenger safety, experience, infrastructure

<keyword id="20018917" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Capital-expenditure" source="keywords">Capital expenditure</keyword> on the <keyword id="19914937" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Railways" source="keywords">Railways</keyword> has increased by 77 per cent over the past five years with significant investments in the construction of <keyword id="22505706" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-lines" source="keywords">new lines</keyword>, <keyword id="20375816" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gauge-conversion" source="keywords">gauge conversion</keyword> and doubling, the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Economic-Survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-24 said on Monday. According to the survey tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword>, in the financial year 2019-2020, the capital expenditure was 1.48 lakh crore which was increased to ₹2.62 lakh crore in 2023-24. "<keyword id="19909154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Railways" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Railways" meta.hostid="346" meta.entityid="Indian Railways">Indian Railways</keyword>, with over 68,584 route km (as of March 31, 2024) and 12.54 lakh employees (as of April 1, 2024), is the fourth largest network in the world under single management," the survey said. Highlighting the initiatives taken by the Railway Ministry for the enhancement of operations and services, the survey mentioned Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project and Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) with the progress made in these respective <keyword id="19900581" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="projects" source="keywords">projects</keyword>. According to the survey, Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, launched in August 2023 for development of stations on a continuous basis, involves preparation of master plans and its phased implementation to improve amenities, building improvements, multimodal integration, and sustainability. It said that 1,324 stations have been identified for upgradation so far. Talking about another initiative, Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, the survey said that under this 508-km project, executed with cooperation from the government of Japan, land acquisition and civil conduct award have been completed. "Overall physical progress of 41.7 per cent has been achieved and financial expenditure of ₹59,291 crore was incurred until 31st March, 2024," the survey said. "Two DFCs are under implementation namely the eastern DFC with route length of 1,337 kilometre and the western DFC with route length of 1,506 kilometre," it added. It further stated that by the end of FY24, 96.1 per cent of the total DFC route length has been completed. Highlighting other major achievements, the survey said that the Railways achieved its highest-ever production for both locomotives and wagons in FY24. "Fifty one pairs of <keyword id="19922877" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vande-bharat" source="keywords">Vande Bharat</keyword> have been introduced until March 2024. The fast pace of infrastructure augmentation has been the result of a substantial increase in financial allocation along with close project monitoring and regular follow-up with stakeholders for expeditious land acquisition and clearances," the survey said. It added, "High-speed, long-distance Vande sleeper trainset coaches having features like quick acceleration, diffused lighting, automatic doors and global positioning system-based passenger information system are under development." According to the survey, the Railways is also planning to introduce Vande metro trainset coaches with features such as sealed wider gangways, centrally controlled automatic sliding doors, CCTVs for safety and surveillance, route map indicator, passenger information and infotainment system, fire detection system and aerosol-based fire suppression system. "The first lot is expected to be turned out in FY25," it said. "Railways has taken several initiatives for providing a clean environment in and around railway stations and trains, such as replacement of conventional toilets with bio-toilets on coaches leading to clean tracks, segregation of bio-degradable/non bio-degradable waste, solid waste management and discouraging use of single use plastic," the survey added.

Capital expenditure on Railways increased by 77% over 5 years: Economic Survey

Is the only thing that’s keeping you from leaving Earth and its gazillion problems behind to move to Mars the commute time? Worry not, <keyword id="19935155" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NASA" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="NASA" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="NASA">NASA</keyword>’s got you. NASA has set its sights on six mind-blowing tech concepts that seem ripped straight from science fiction. These visionary ideas, chosen for further development by the <keyword id="21564291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NIAC" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="NIAC" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="NIAC">NIAC</keyword> (NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts) program, could revolutionise space exploration as we know it. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="A telescope made of liquid" comment="subhead" text="A telescope made of liquid">A telescope made of liquid</cmsannotation> The FLUTE, or Fluidic Telescope, project proposes a massive space observatory that uses special fluids to create its shape, allowing for a much larger viewing area than ever before. This could unlock secrets of distant galaxies and even Earth-like exoplanets. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Need a quicker ride to Mars?" comment="subhead" text="Need a quicker ride to Mars?">Need a quicker ride to Mars?</cmsannotation> The <keyword id="21564286" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pulsed-Plasma-Rocket" source="keywords">Pulsed Plasma Rocket</keyword> might be the answer. This innovative engine uses powerful fission-generated packets of plasma to propel spacecraft, potentially slashing travel times between Earth and other planets. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Mega constellation of satellites" comment="subhead" text="Mega constellation of satellites">Mega constellation of satellites</cmsannotation> The GO-LoW (Great Observatory for Long Wavelengths) project envisions a network of thousands of tiny satellites working together as one giant radio telescope. This could revolutionise our understanding of the early universe and alien worlds. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Solar power gets an upgrade" comment="subhead" text="Solar power gets an upgrade">Solar power gets an upgrade</cmsannotation> The <keyword id="21564288" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Radioisotope-Thermoradiative-Cell" source="keywords">Radioisotope Thermoradiative Cell</keyword> offers a new, potentially more efficient way to power spacecraft. This could be a game-changer for smaller missions venturing far from the sun's rays, like probes exploring the outer reaches of our solar system or rovers scouting the icy moons of Jupiter or Saturn. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Picture a lunar railway!" comment="subhead" text="Picture a lunar railway!">Picture a lunar railway!</cmsannotation> The FLOAT (Flexible Levitation on a Track) project proposes a futuristic transportation system on the Moon. Imagine cargo gliding effortlessly across a track, supporting the construction and daily operations of future lunar bases. This efficient and reliable transport system could ferry supplies and materials around the lunar surface, paving the way for a sustainable human presence on the Moon. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="ScienceCraft takes sails to a whole new level" comment="subhead" text="ScienceCraft takes sails to a whole new level"><keyword id="21564290" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ScienceCraft" source="keywords">ScienceCraft</keyword> takes sails to a whole new level</cmsannotation> Imagine a solar sail unfurling not just to capture the sun's energy for propulsion, but also to gather invaluable scientific data as it journeys past distant objects! This concept involves embedding tiny, quantum dot-based sensors into a solar sail, transforming it into a giant space imager. This lightweight design could send powerful scientific observatories across the solar system at a fraction of the cost. Overall, NASA's vision for the future is looking brighter than ever. John Nelson, who oversees the NIAC program, is impressed by the latest round of futuristic ideas. He sees them as a springboard for groundbreaking discoveries in the years to come. With continued development, these concepts could transform space travel, scientific discovery, and our understanding of the cosmos.

A train on the Moon? NASA’s new space tech includes lunar railways, Martian rockets and more

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia is investing in rail transportation to bypass Western sanctions.</li><li>Key rail lines are being upgraded to link Russia with China, India, Iran, and countries in the Persian Gulf.</li></ul>Forget ships — Russia is turning to rail transportation to skirt Western sanctions.Moscow was already planning to pour billions of dollars into <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/russia-china-trade-oil-rail-system-sanctions-west-ukraine-war-2024-3">upgrading two key eastern rail lines</a> that connect Russia with China, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-07/russia-to-bolster-famed-eastern-railroads-as-china-trade-booms">Bloomberg</a> reported last week.And it's now also linking south toward India and countries in the Persian Gulf, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/13/world/europe/russia-trade-economy-ukraine.html">The New York Times</a> reported on Wednesday. This includes a new 100-mile stretch of railway that costs $1.7 billion and is designed to link up Russia and ports in Iran — which in turn will help Russia connect to the Indian trading hub of Mumbai, the Times reported. The construction of the railway is scheduled to start this year.Russia hyped its train line with Iran as a new link that could rival the Suez Canal as a major trade route, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/russias-putin-irans-raisi-oversee-railway-deal-signing-2023-05-17/">Reuters</a> reported in May when the two sides signed a deal for the railway.In addition, Russia is also restoring another railway line that would allow it to access Turkey, the Times reported on Wednesday.Russia's push for rail freight follows two years of Western sanctions against the country over its war in Ukraine. The restrictions hit Russia's trade with Europe, traditionally its single largest market.But Russia has managed to keep its economy humming by pivoting its trade to alternative markets including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-divert-oil-exports-europe-india-china-circumvent-sanctions-2023-12">India, China</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/dedollarization-russia-iran-agreement-us-dollar-currency-bilateral-trade-2023-12">Iran</a>, the last of which is also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statista.com/chart/27015/number-of-currently-active-sanctions-by-target-country/">heavily sanctioned</a> by the West.The new rail connections stand to help Russia maintain imports amid sanctions.As Ram Ben Tzion, the CEO of the freight-vetting platform Publican, told the Times, Russia is creating "a trade route for the pariahs.""Developing relations with the global south is basically one of Russia's biggest priorities," David Szakonyi, a political-science professor at George Washington University, told Business Insider.Szakonyi, who's the author of "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-64876-20&amp;h=475f26c5df082792371de5350bda738415a028e68a7931dcb0cbb4875ef3676e&amp;postID=65f258b148eec3d3e78987fb&amp;postSlug=russia-economy-building-trade-route-train-rail-india-iran-2024-3&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPolitics-Profit-Elections-Policymaking-Comparative%2Fdp%2F1108491634">Politics for Profit: Business, Elections, and Policymaking in Russia</a>," said the new trade links wouldn't just aid Russia's oil and gas sales to alternative markets but would also help the country import goods that it cannot produce itself because of a lack of advanced technology or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-lacks-workers-ukraine-war-labor-crisis-worker-shortage-2023-12">manpower</a>."To have this economy not collapse, the Russian government needs to continue to cultivate strong ties with just about any country that is not sanctioned yet," he said. "So I think we're going to see a lot more of that type of economic diplomacy in the next couple of years."Russia has been creative in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-putin-preparing-west-sanctions-decade-since-ukraine-crimea-annexation-2022-6">skirting sanctions</a> since it annexed Crimea in 2014, so the West should "think like they do" and be one step ahead of Moscow to beat them at their game, Szakonyi said."We should expect the Russians to adapt and evolve," he said, "rather than pretend that this current set of measures is going to fix the problem forever."

Russia's grand railway plan to get around Western sanctions is about to get even bigger

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="22530361" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ahmed-Al-Sharif" source="Orion">Ahmed Al Sharif</keyword> works in software engineering and <keyword id="6361185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-electronics" source="Orion">consumer electronics</keyword> and previously worked for <keyword id="19911549" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Meta" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Meta" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Meta">Meta</keyword>.</li><li>The CTO found himself caught up in the outage-induced travel chaos on Friday.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Ahmed Al Sharif, the CTO of Sandsoft, a game developer. Al Sharif was stranded at Barcelona airport on Friday because of the <keyword id="20972526" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="IT-outage" source="keywords">IT outage</keyword> disrupting travel and other services. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I've worked in tech for close to two decades. I've been a <keyword id="19945384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="software-engineer" source="keywords">software engineer</keyword> and startup founder, and have worked for large companies like Electronic Arts and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-ends-restrictions-donald-trump-account-social-media-2024-7">Meta</a>. I was supposed to be flying from Barcelona-El Prat Airport to London Heathrow on business at 11 a.m. local time. I was surprised to arrive and find the flights shuttered. I was also surprised to learn there had been significant <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/crowdstrike-global-it-outage-one-defective-it-update-sparked-chaos-2024-7">malfunctions across multiple Windows-based systems</a> at the airport. It took some digging to find out that it was a global event. Even as an engineer, the outage has been strange to witness. I didn't believe there was this much dependency on a single piece of third-party software or that pushing an update irresponsibly would cause this much havoc. <h2>I realized the IT outage was happening after I arrived to chaos at the airport</h2>I left for the airport at 8 a.m. Before I got there, there were some early signs of something being wrong. I couldn't log in to my online banking app, and things were a bit slow when I logged into my Outlook-based email, but I chalked it up to my hotel WiFi. When I got to the airport at around 8:20 a.m., it was packed. The queues were endless. Several check-in desks displayed blue screens, and no one was being processed. I realized something bigger was happening. I couldn't understand where to queue, and when I asked an airport advisor, they said there was no point queuing now because there was a problem with the ticketing, booking, and reservation systems. I asked if our airport was the only one affected, and they told me that it was happening everywhere. That's when my furious Googling began. I realized that the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/crowdstrike-outage-why-taking-time-companies-recover-2024-7">issue was with CrowdStrike</a>, and it was happening globally. <h2>Disruptions at the airport continued throughout the day</h2>Over the course of the day, baggage-drop machines, vending machines, and most display boards at the airport weren't working. Check-ins were being done manually. Before I was given a handwritten paper ticket, I had to prove I had booked a flight for that day by showing staff my emails as proof of payment. Anyone with checked luggage had to bring it to the gate, and airport staff were throwing it into the cargo hold by hand. <div type="image" title="A handwritten boarding pass" height="565" width="1280" msid="111870426" hostid="261"></div>My own <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mass-it-outage-microsoft-chaos-delays-distruption-shown-in-photos-2024-7">flight has been delayed</a> by six hours, and I'm still in the airport as we're speaking. It's been annoying and inconvenient, but thankfully, the company is covering my travel, and they understand the situation is out of my control. I've spoken to people waiting in the airport for 11 hours. People seem pretty frustrated. <h2>I was surprised to learn about <keyword id="20424191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CrowdStrike" source="keywords">CrowdStrike</keyword>'s dominance on <keyword id="19895622" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microsoft" source="keywords">Microsoft</keyword> devices</h2>During my delay, I've been trying to understand the situation more. It's quite intriguing and reveals that we've taken for granted how interconnected our world is and how dependent we are. I was surprised to learn that the cascading failures were caused by an update CrowdStrike pushed early Friday morning. CrowdStrike is well-known in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-work-in-cybersecurity-expert-advice-2022-1">cybersecurity industry</a>, but until today, I don't think anyone was aware of its dominance as a platform on Windows. It didn't cross my mind that a third-party solution could cause this much damage to Windows-based machines. One of the cardinal rules of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/software-engineers-tech-panicking-golden-age-over-chatgpt-ai-blind-2023-4">software development</a> is that you typically don't want to push a fix later in the week or on a Friday. You'll have less support trying to fix any issues and the weekend is gone. It feels like cardinal rules were broken. However, CrowdStrike might have evidence to suggest that this is a freak accident, so I don't think it's fair to point fingers too much. I've seen people comment on this situation about diversification and companies not relying on just one or two providers. I don't think that's realistic. Windows is commonly used. In any free market economy, the best-performing and most suitable product will dominate the market. We need more stringent reviewing and a better understanding of the tools we use on critical infrastructure. The impact here was so big because it affected infrastructure like airports, railway stations, and hospitals. It's going to cost the economy a lot. Had there been more due diligence or even government regulation, I don't think this would have happened. I'd expect that after this, government authorities will expect widely used platforms like CrowdStrike to notify them before they push changes like this. <h2>Technology will shape our future, so we need to consider how we regulate it</h2>We haven't seen the full impact of this outage, and it's definitely put into perspective how the little devices we keep in our pockets dictate the rhythms of our lives. I don't think anyone really understood the true scope and presence of CrowdStrike before Friday. I still see our future becoming increasingly automated. There will probably be many more situations like this, especially as our society pushes toward more automation. I still think technology is a good thing, but it's made me want to get my bills in the post now and then. It usually takes a horizon event like this for lessons to be learned. I don't think technology is intrinsically good or evil; it depends on how it's used and regulated. Correction: July 20, 2024 — An earlier version of the story misstated how long Al Sharif had worked in tech. He has worked in tech roles for close to two decades, including as a teenager, not "decades," as originally stated.

I'm a software engineer stranded in the IT-outage airport chaos. CrowdStrike broke a cardinal rule of software development, and I can't believe the fallout.     

You Searched For "railways development" and got 8 results

Economic Survey highlights public sector investment's role in driving infra growth; Underlines need for private sector to step up

Sourabh Jain

Nvidia eyes partnership with India to develop a new AI chip, all you need to know

BI India Bureau

PM Modi asks automakers to bring global best practices to India, focus on clean mobility

PTI

Union Budget 2024 for Railways: Expectations focused on improving passenger safety, experience, infrastructure

Kunal Kambli

Capital expenditure on Railways increased by 77% over 5 years: Economic Survey

PTI

A train on the Moon? NASA’s new space tech includes lunar railways, Martian rockets and more

Ashmita Gupta

Russia's grand railway plan to get around Western sanctions is about to get even bigger

Huileng Tan

I'm a software engineer stranded in the IT-outage airport chaos. CrowdStrike broke a cardinal rule of software development, and I can't believe the fallout.

Charissa Cheong

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides