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LIVE news updates: 2 dead, 6 missing after flash floods near Dharamshala
Today's top news updates: Two people have died and six others remain missing following heavy rainfall and rising water levels near the Manuni stream in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, officials reported. According to authorities, the SDRF, volunteers, and project personnel evacuated individuals from camping areas to a safer location near the Ambedkar building in Kaniara, where food and water were provided. Officials further stated that a sudden surge of water, triggered by heavy rain, inundated a residential colony within 15 minutes, leading to the tragic incident. In other developments, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recruited three researchers from OpenAI to advance his company's superintelligence initiative, according to the Wall Street Journal. The hires — Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai — were previously based at OpenAI's Zurich office. Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has begun procuring two additional Mobile BSL-3 (MBSL-3) laboratories to enhance outbreak response capabilities and improve healthcare access in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Known as RAMBAAN, these mobile labs are the first-of-their-kind, fully indigenous Rapid Action Mobile BSL-3 units, designed for field deployment and equipped to handle diagnostic demands during outbreaks involving both known and novel high-risk pathogens. Developed under the Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission by ICMR in collaboration with Klenzaids Contamination Controls Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, the RAMBAAN labs are currently stationed at the National Institute of Virology in Pune and the RMRC in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. These units were first deployed during the Nipah virus outbreak in Kozhikode, Kerala, in September 2023, and again in Malappuram district in July 2024.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
LIVE news updates: India refuses to sign SCO statement over lack of mention of cross-border terror
New Delhi Today's top news updates: Two people have died and six others remain missing following heavy rainfall and rising water levels near the Manuni stream in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, officials reported. According to authorities, the SDRF, volunteers, and project personnel evacuated individuals from camping areas to a safer location near the Ambedkar building in Kaniara, where food and water were provided. Officials further stated that a sudden surge of water, triggered by heavy rain, inundated a residential colony within 15 minutes, leading to the tragic incident. In other developments, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recruited three researchers from OpenAI to advance his company's superintelligence initiative, according to the Wall Street Journal. The hires — Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai — were previously based at OpenAI's Zurich office. Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has begun procuring two additional Mobile BSL-3 (MBSL-3) laboratories to enhance outbreak response capabilities and improve healthcare access in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Known as RAMBAAN, these mobile labs are the first-of-their-kind, fully indigenous Rapid Action Mobile BSL-3 units, designed for field deployment and equipped to handle diagnostic demands during outbreaks involving both known and novel high-risk pathogens. Developed under the Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission by ICMR in collaboration with Klenzaids Contamination Controls Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, the RAMBAAN labs are currently stationed at the National Institute of Virology in Pune and the RMRC in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. These units were first deployed during the Nipah virus outbreak in Kozhikode, Kerala, in September 2023, and again in Malappuram district in July 2024. 12:21 PM 2 killed, 50 injured as double-decker bus overturns on Lucknow-Agra Expressway Two passengers were killed and about 50 were injured when a double-decker bus travelling from Bihar to Delhi overturned and plunged into a ditch on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in the Saifai area early Thursday, police said. The accident occurred near the Mandi village when the speeding bus lost control while attempting to overtake a truck. 10:05 AM Encounter breaks out between security forces, Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur An exchange of fire took place between security forces and Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Thursday, according to a police official. The gunfight erupted in the Abhujmaad forest during an anti-Naxalite operation, which was launched by a joint team of security personnel following intelligence reports about the presence of Maoist operatives. Connect with us on WhatsApp
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
AI valuations are verging on the unhinged
Vibe coding, or the ability to spin up a piece of software using generative artificial intelligence (AI) rather than old-school programming skills, is all the rage in Silicon Valley. But it has a step-sibling. Call it vibe valuing. This is the ability of venture capitalists to conjure up vast valuations for AI startups with scant regard for old-school spreadsheet measures. Exhibit A is Mira Murati, formerly the chief technologist of OpenAI, who has vaulted almost overnight into the plutocracy. Her AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab, has reportedly raised $2bn at a $10bn valuation in its first fundraising round, before it has much of a strategy, let alone revenue. Ms Murati's success can be explained by her firm's roster of ex-OpenAI researchers. Tech giants like Meta are offering megabucks for such AI superstars. Yet venture-capital (VC) grandees say that even for less exalted startups, traditional valuation measures such as projected revenue growth, customer churn and cash burn are less sacrosanct than they used to be. This is partly because AI is advancing so quickly, making it hard to produce reliable forecasts. But it is also a result of the gusher of investment flowing into generative AI. The once-reliable measure most at risk of debasement is annual recurring revenue (ARR), central to many startup valuations. For companies selling software as a service, as most AI firms do, it used to be easy to measure. Take a typical month of subscriptions, based on the number of users, and multiply by 12. It was complemented by strong retention rates. Churn among customers was often less than 5% a year. As marginal costs were low, startups could burn relatively little cash before profits started to roll in. It was, by and large, a stable foundation for valuations. Not so for AI startups. The revenue growth of some has been unusually rapid. Anysphere, which owns Cursor, a hit coding tool, saw its ARR surge to $500m this month, five times the level in January. Windsurf, another software-writing tool, also saw blistering growth before OpenAI agreed to buy it in May for $3bn. But how sustainable is such growth? Jamin Ball of Altimeter Capital, a VC firm, notes that companies experiment with many AI applications, which suggests they are enthusiastic but not committed to any one product. He quips that this 'easy-come, easy-go" approach from customers produces ERR, or 'experimental run rate", rather than ARR. Others say churn is often upwards of 20%. It doesn't help that, in some cases, AI startups are charging based on usage rather than users (or 'seats"), which is less predictable. Add to this the fact that competition is ferocious, and getting more so. However fast an AI startup is growing, it has no guarantee of longevity. Many create applications on top of models built by big AI labs such as OpenAI or Anthropic. Yet these labs are increasingly offering applications of their own. Generative AI has also made it easier than ever to start a firm with just a few employees, meaning there are many more new entrants, says Max Alderman of FE International, an advisory firm. Even well known AI firms are far from turning a profit. Perplexity, which has sought to disrupt a search business long dominated by Google, reportedly generated revenue of $34m last year, but burned around $65m of cash. That has been no hurdle to a punchy valuation. Perplexity's latest fundraising round reportedly valued it at close to $14bn—a multiple of more than 400 times last year's revenue (compared with about 6.5 times for stocks traded on the Nasdaq exchange). OpenAI, which torched about $5bn of cash last year, is worth $300bn. The willingness of venture investors to look past the losses reflects their belief that the potential market for AI is enormous and that costs will continue to plummet. In Perplexity's case, the startup may be a takeover target, too. In time, trusty old approaches to valuations may come back into vogue, and cooler heads prevail. 'I'm the old-fashioned person who still believes I need [traditional measures] to feel comfortable," says Umesh Padval of Thomvest, another VC firm. For now, just feel the vibes. © 2025, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Early Clues, Lifelong Impact: Understanding Sickle Cell DiseaseUntitled Story
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is one of India's persistent public health concerns. It is a genetic blood disorder that alters the shape and function of red blood cells. These cells become sickle-shaped, stiff, and sticky, causing them to block blood flow. This can result in a range of complications, from pain crisis, extreme fatigue, infections, delayed growth, and organ damage. India faces 1.4 million SCD cases, with 20 million carriers nationwide SCD has a significant prevalence in India, particularly in certain high-risk regions across central and eastern states. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), approximately 20 million individuals carry the sickle cell trait, with over 1.4 million cases of SCD reported nationwide. Early identification remains the most effective way to prevent long-term damage. Why Early Detection Matters Many babies are screened for SCD at birth in countries with strong neonatal screening programs. In India, however, awareness is still growing, and universal screening is being scaled gradually under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission. Launched by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2023, this mission aims to screen over 7 crore people by 2026 and eliminate the disease as a public health issue by 2047. Source: PIB – National Sickle Cell Mission, July 2023 Unfortunately, in the absence of early diagnosis, children with SCD may go undiagnosed until they experience a severe health episode. Subtle signs often mistaken for common ailments can be early indicators that something is wrong. Early Signs You Shouldn't Ignore 1. Unexplained Fatigue or Weakness Children with SCD often suffer from anaemia, resulting in chronic fatigue or breathlessness even after mild exertion. 2. Swollen Hands or Feet in Infants A condition known as "dactylitis," or painful swelling in hands and feet, can be one of the earliest signs of blocked blood flow due to sickled cells. 3. Recurring Infections The spleen, which plays a key role in fighting infections, may become damaged early in children with SCD, making them more vulnerable to fevers, pneumonia, and other bacterial infections. 4. Yellowing of the Eyes or Skin Jaundice is common in children with SCD due to the rapid breakdown of defective red blood cells. 5. Delayed Growth and Puberty Lack of healthy red blood cells can impact physical growth and hormonal development. 6. Pain Episodes or 'Pain Crises' Even without visible injury, children may complain of severe pain in the chest, abdomen, bones, or joints. These episodes can last hours or days. 'Sickle Cell Disease is not curable in all cases, but it is preventable and manageable. Early screening—especially premarital or prenatal—can significantly reduce the disease burden. And for those diagnosed, timely medical care can vastly improve quality of life,' says Dr. Dipty Jain, Former Chair, Dept of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Nagpur, and Chairman of the Task Force on SCD Elimination. Taking Action If your child or someone in your family is showing multiple signs listed above—or if there is a family history of the disease—consult a medical professional. A simple blood test, such as the haemoglobin electrophoresis test or solubility test, can detect whether someone is a carrier or has the disease. Treatment and Management Options While there is currently no universal cure, treatment options can help manage the disease effectively: Hydroxyurea: A medication that reduces pain episodes and the need for transfusions. Vaccinations & Antibiotics: Essential to reduce infection risk, especially in young children. Routine Monitoring: Regular health checkups to monitor organ function and growth. Bone Marrow Transplant: The only known potential cure for some patients, especially children with matched donors. A National Call to Action India's National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission is now operational in 17 states and 278 districts. As of March 2024, June 2025, over 5,79,35,688 crore individuals have been screened. The mission prioritizes awareness, outreach, and community engagement, especially in regions with higher genetic prevalence. Source: In Closing Sickle Cell Disease rarely announces itself loudly. It enters quietly, through pain episodes, fatigue, mild fevers, or a child who seems to fall ill too often. But by recognising the early signs, seeking testing, and beginning treatment, we can change the story. Every timely diagnosis is a step towards healthier, longer lives and a future free from the burden of this inherited condition. Sources: National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission Guidelines – NHM, MoHFW Press Information Bureau: National Sickle Cell Mission Launch – July 2023 UN Resolution A/RES/63/237 – Recognition of World Sickle Cell Day PIB: Progress Update – March 2024 Note: This article has been produced on behalf of the brand by HT Brand Studio and does not have the journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. The information provided does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a registered medical practitioner for health-related concerns.
