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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
India will leverage AI to lead global creative economy: I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju
Information & Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju said on Thursday that the country was all set to lead the global creative economy with artificial iIntelligence-driven innovation 'In order to ensure inclusive communication and last-mile information delivery in every language across the country, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is moving towards adopting AI-based solutions that can bridge linguistic divides,' the Ministry said in a statement. Mr. Jaju held a meeting with incubators and startups working on AI/ML-based technology solutions at the T-Hub in Hyderabad on Thursday. 'Apart from the CEO of T-Hub and the startups being incubated at T-Hub, participants included representatives of IIT Hyderabad, Centres of Excellence of NITs, and engineering institutions with active innovation cells,' it said. He said in line with the PM's vision to encourage the creator economy, the Ministry has set up the WaveX Startup Accelerator platform, which has launched the Kalaa Setu and Bhasha Setu challenges. Mr. Jaju urged India's leading AI startups to participate in the above challenges and develop indigenous, scalable solutions that reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of the nation. The shortlisted teams will present their solutions before a national jury in Delhi, with the winner receiving an MoU for full-scale development; pilot support for AIR, DD, and PIB; and incubation under the WAVEX Innovation platform.
CNN
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Trump's victory over PBS and NPR ‘bias' will be ‘devastating' for rural areas, station leaders say
Public television stations will be 'forced to make hard decisions in the weeks and months ahead,' PBS CEO Paula Kerger said Thursday, after the Senate voted in the middle of the night to approve a bill that cancels all the federal funding for the network. Once the House passes the bill, as expected, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's budget will be zeroed out for the first time since 1967, back when television stations still broadcast in black and white. It is a long-sought victory for President Trump, who has harshly accused PBS and NPR newscasts of being 'biased,' and a long-dreaded disruption for local stations that bank on taxpayer support. Public media executives say some smaller broadcasters will be forced off the air in the months and years to come. That's because stations in rural areas and smaller communities tend to rely more heavily on the federal subsidy. Stations in larger markets typically have a wider variety of other funding sources, like viewer donations and foundation support. Get Reliable Sources newsletter Sign up here to receive Reliable Sources with Brian Stelter in your inbox. Kerger said in a statement that 'these cuts will significantly impact all of our stations, but will be especially devastating to smaller stations and those serving large rural areas.' She pointed out that the stations 'provide access to free unique local programming and emergency alerts.' The two Republican senators who voted against the rescission, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, both said they valued those aspects of public media, even while criticizing perceived bias of some NPR programming. Most other Republicans, however, concentrated on the bias complaints above all else, and argued that the entire system is obsolete in the streaming age. David Bozell, president of the Media Research Center, which has campaigned against the federal support for decades, celebrated the 'historic rollback' in an X post overnight. 'PBS and NPR were chartered to provide objective journalism,' Bozell wrote. 'Instead, we got drag shows for kids, gushing coverage of Democrats, and silence or smears for conservatives.' Public media officials say critics completely distort what actually airs on stations. Thursday morning's report about the clawback on NPR's 'Morning Edition,' for example, was studiously neutral, and the hosts pointed out that NPR management was not involved in the news coverage of its own funding dilemma. An NPR spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the Senate vote. But the public radio network has previously pointed to polling that showed broad support for public media. Early Thursday morning, America's Public Television Stations, an advocacy group for the stations, argued that the rescission 'defies the will of the American people,' citing both the polls and the fact that Congress actually allocated the next round of funding earlier this year. In 1967, when Congress created the corporation, it declared that noncommercial TV and radio 'for instructional, educational, and cultural purposes' was in the public interest. Shows like 'Sesame Street' and 'Antiques Roadshow' sprang forth. The public media system continued to enjoy bipartisan support from lawmakers for many years, even as conservative activists sought to strip away the taxpayer funding. Congress ignored proposals from past Republican presidents to cut the PBS and NPR budgets. But Trump has proven to be much more assertive. Earlier this year Trump made it a priority to claw back the funding before the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was set to receive it in October. 'For decades, Republicans have promised to cut NPR, but have never done it, until now,' Trump boasted in a Truth Social post last month. The exact impacts are uncertain, given the complex structure of public media and the various other revenue streams that exist. But some local stations are already making changes. In New York, the operator of the powerhouse NPR station WNYC said Wednesday that its CEO LaFontaine Oliver is moving into a new position, executive chair, that's been created in response to the threats to federal funding. Oliver will focus on 'new funding models' and try to find financial support from other non-federal sources, the station said. In San Francisco, the KQED radio and TV network said it is laying off about 15 percent of its staff, citing financial uncertainties. 'Despite today's setback, we are determined to keep fighting to preserve the essential services we provide to the American public,' Kerger said.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
Union Cabinet hails Shukla's space odyssey
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday congratulated astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla for the successful completion of his historic 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station and asserted that it heralded a new chapter in India's space programme. The Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adopted a resolution that termed Shukla's space journey as a moment of pride, glory and joy for the entire nation and represented infinite aspirations of India. "The Cabinet joins the nation in celebrating the return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to Earth, following the successful completion of his historic 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station," Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said reading out the resolution adopted at the meeting. Shukla, a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, and three other astronauts of the private Axiom-4 mission returned to earth on Tuesday after spending 20 days in space of which 18 days were spent at the International Space Station (ISS). The resolution said the successful mission significantly elevates India's global standing in space exploration. "It is a vital stepping stone towards India's own human spaceflight ambition, including the Gaganyaan and the Bharatiya Antariksha Station. It reaffirms India's resolve to be at the forefront of human space exploration," it said. The Axiom-4 mission was launched on June 25, with Shukla as mission pilot. He became the first Indian to travel to the ISS. "It heralds a new chapter in India's space programme and gives a golden glimpse of our future space programme," the resolution said. "Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's mission is not just a personal triumph - it is a beacon of inspiration for a new generation of young Indians. It will ignite the scientific temper, fuel curiosity, and inspire countless youth to pursue careers in science and embrace innovation," the resolution said. The Cabinet commends the Indian Space Research Organisation and the entire community of our scientists and engineers whose relentless efforts have made this achievement possible, it said. During his time aboard the International Space Station, Shukla worked seamlessly with fellow members of the Axiom-4 Crew and Expedition 73, embodying India's growing leadership in international space cooperation. He conducted pioneering experiments in microgravity on subjects such as muscle regeneration, algal and microbial growth, crop viability, microbial survivability, cognitive performance in space, and the behaviour of cyanobacteria. "These studies will deepen global understanding of human spaceflight and microgravity science, and provide critical inputs for India's future missions," the resolution read. The Cabinet also applauded the visionary and decisive leadership of Prime Minister Modi, whose strategic foresight, unwavering belief in India's space potential, and consistent guidance have enabled the country to chart new frontiers and emerge as a leader among spacefaring nations.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana to unify 36 schemes, boost farming in 100 low-performing districts
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the launch of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, an umbrella programme that merges 36 existing schemes to uplift India's agriculture sector. The scheme, with an annual outlay of Rs 24,000 crore, will run for six years and focus on 100 deprived districts across the country, with a minimum of one district selected from each state and Union Territory. Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new initiative is designed to enhance post-harvest storage, improve irrigation infrastructure, raise agricultural productivity, and expand credit facilities for farmers. Nearly 1.7 crore farmers are expected to benefit from the scheme, he added. Officials said the Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana draws inspiration from NITI Aayog's Aspirational Districts Programme, but is unique in being the first initiative focused exclusively on agriculture and allied sectors. 'The scheme aims to enhance agricultural productivity, increase adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices, augment post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, improve irrigation facilities, and facilitate availability of long-term and short-term credit,' Vaishnaw said.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Midday Sports News for 15 July 2025
Midday Sports News for 14 July 2025. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
