DeepSeek: Is this China’s ChatGPT moment and a wake-up call for the US?https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/artificial-intelligence/deepseek-is-this-chinas-chatgpt-moment-and-a-wake-up-call-for-the-us-9799686/
Chinese AI lab DeepSeek released two new AI models this month. Their limited use of resources to achieve extraordinary results is making the world take notice.  ..The Chinese lab has created something monumental—they have introduced a powerful open-source AI model that rivals the best offered by the US companies. Since AI companies require billions of dollars in investments to train AI models, DeepSeek’s innovation is a masterclass in optimal use of limited resources.  ..

Even as AI companies in the US were harnessing the power of advanced hardware like NVIDIA H100 GPUs, DeepSeek relied on less powerful H800 GPUs. This could have been only possible by deploying some inventive techniques to maximise the efficiency of these older generation GPUs. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEBiebbeNCA  How China’s New AI Model DeepSeek Is Threatening U.S. Dominance

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/tell-me-about-yourself-xwLDeJHdTNCL5gRUyaYphQ 

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-is-perplexity-ai-AWkRzywZRmKewduLu3tBqg 

https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/27/deepseek-punctures-tech-spending-plans-and-what-analysts-are-saying/   While brokerage firm Jefferies warns that DeepSeek’s efficient approach “punctures some of the capex euphoria” following recent spending commitments from Meta and Microsoft — each exceeding $60 billion this year — Citi is questioning whether such results were actually achieved without advanced GPUs.

Goldman Sachs sees broader implications, suggesting the development could reshape competition between established tech giants and startups by lowering barriers to entry.  especially with recent new models developed at a fraction of the cost of existing ones; 2) from training to more inferencing, with increased emphasis on post-training (including reasoning capabilities and reinforcement capabilities) that requires significantly lower computational resources vs. pre-training; and 3) the potential for further global expansion

https://thewire.in/security/no-takers-for-navys-plan-to-decolonise-services-by-introducing-kurta-pyjama-in-dress-code 

Two of the Indian Navy’s (IN’s) recent initiatives aimed at furthering the BJP-led government’s political agenda of “decolonising” the services in the ongoing “Amrit Kaal era” and fostering indigenous military traditions, have made little or no headway.

One of these proposals that pertained to ‘Indianising’ ranks of 65,000-odd naval personnel below officer rank (PBOR) is believed to have been shelved, due to legal complexities involved in the proposed switchover.

The other proposal of officially incorporating kurta-pyjamas into the Navy’s dress code is observed more in abeyance than practice, as a wide cross-section of senior veterans and some serving officers consider it somewhat de rigueur, and have simply ignored it.

by Rahul Bedi

23/01/2025

Indian court jails first Christians under anti-conversion law https://www.ucanews.com/news/indian-court-jails-first-christians-under-anti-conversion-law/107657 

An official of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which runs the state government, filed a complaint against the couple in January 2023, accusing them of engaging in the religious conversion of people from tribal and socially poor Dalit backgrounds. The couple denied the charge, arguing that they were providing education to children and helping people stop drinking alcohol and quarreling among themselves. The couple had spent eight months in prison until they were granted bail by the Allahabad High Court last September. Christian leaders say judgment will not stand as an actual conversion was not proven

The state recorded 209 anti-Christian incidents in 2024, the highest in any Indian state, according to the New Delhi-based United Christian Forum (UCF), which tracks violence against Christians across the country.

At least 70 Christians, including pastors, are in prison in the state for allegedly violating the stringent anti-conversion law.

 Social media rewires young minds – here’s how https://theconversation.com/social-media-rewires-young-minds-heres-how-243120?
January 20, 2025 

That satisfying feeling after doomscrolling through endless TikTok videos or impulsively shopping online mimics the relief of scratching an itch. This is dopamine at work — a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) responsible for feelings of reward and accomplishment. Whether indulging in viral videos or engaging in new hobbies, dopamine creates a sense of achievement that keeps us coming back for more.

However, reliance on these dopamine hits can lead to lasting brain changes, particularly in teenagers and young adults...Scientists have found that every time you get a notification, a “like”, or even watch a video you enjoy, your brain’s reward system (the nucleus accumbens) gets activated. This is the same system that makes people feel pleasure when they win money or eat their favourite snack.   ocial media is designed to keep you hooked, much like gambling or drinking. Every notification, like and comment triggers dopamine, making it harder to stop. Scientists call this “delay discounting”, which is when you choose the immediate reward (scrolling) over something important, like studying, sleeping or even hanging out with friends in real life.

Most rural kids 14-18 can’t do Class 3 math, over 25% can’t read: ASER 2023  https://indianexpress.com/article/education/over-half-of-rural-youth-struggle-with-basic-division-problems-and-time-calculation-aser-2023-9113201/
The 2023 report reveals that children in India continue to struggle with basic reading and arithmetic skills well into their teenage years, even after reaching senior classes such as standard 10 and the higher secondary levels of education (Classes 11 and 12)

The Power of Quantum Thinking | Dr. Vandana Shiva at Consciousness Symposium (2024)  https://youtu.be/b4t8Xt_QqGE  Shiva draws from the wisdom of quantum pioneers like Max Planck, Erwin Schrödinger, and David Bohm, whose work shows that consciousness is not confined to the brain but instead serves as the foundation of reality itself. Reflecting on ancient teachings from the Vedas and Upanishads, Shiva challenges the illusion of separateness that dominates modern thought and highlights the importance of seeing biodiversity and ecological systems as interconnected living networks. Her ideas bridge quantum physics with practical solutions for seed sovereignty, sustainable agriculture, and ecological participation.

https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/birthright-citizenship-order-terrified-indian-parents-line-up-for-urgent-c-sections-as-trumps-feb-19-deadline-nears-11737631966186.html The new birthright citizenship order is expected to impact thousands of Indian parents as many hold H-1B and L1 visas; many are even in the queue for Green Cards to become American citizens. Some parents were hoping that their children's US citizenship could serve as a pathway to their own residency in the country.

 Immigrant and civil rights advocates — including the American Civil Liberties Union — also filed a lawsuit against the order on Monday. - https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/what-is-us-birthright-citizenship-and-how-donald-trumps-executive-order-could-impact-millions-explained-in-5-points-11737454486340.html   It also stops federal agencies from issuing or recognising relevant documentation proving US citizenship for such children. The order targets children born to both unauthorised immigrants and people who are legally in the US on temporary visas.

https://x.com/HateDetectors/status/1882284451226337569?t=kGv4_UTsNQndkMSeXqpB1A&s=08 

https://x.com/i/status/1882284451226337569 

 https://www.news9live.com/india/16-mysterious-deaths-in-rajouri-sit-steps-in-activists-slam-govts-slow-action-2797655  https://twitter.com/i/status/1879461334775206209  five locals died of an unknown illness.... extensive testing on 3,500 local residents, analysing water and food samples, but found no evidence of a contagious disease...  Despite these initial negative findings, subsequent waves of deaths continued in the area. J&K Health Minister Sakinoo Itoo confirmed three distinct instances of deaths, totalling around 15, but emphasised that the absence of recurring infections suggests an alternate cause..extensive microbiological studies ruled out viral, bacterial, or microbial infections in 13 of the 38 affected individuals, pointing towards alternative explanations.... Locals blamed the slow response of teams, saying that the delay in action contributed to the rising death toll. Those affected by the unidentified illness were left without proper treatment in time, leading to unnecessary losses,” said advocate and social activist Shabnam Mir.