Amit Shah to inaugurate Startup Conclave 2025 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar

The Gujarat government’s Education Department is set to organize a two-day Startup Conclave from September 23 to 24, aiming to set a new benchmark in India’s startup ecosystem. The event will bring together some of the country’s most dynamic voices in innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment on a single platform.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and State Higher and Technical Education Minister Rushikesh Patel are expected to participate in the opening ceremony, reported news agency IANS. The conclave will feature over 1,000 startups, 5,000 innovators, 100 industry mentors, more than 50 venture funds, and leading policymakers, all working together to boost India’s startup landscape.

One of the key highlights of the event will be the investor pitching sessions. More than 50 shortlisted startups will pitch their ideas across multiple parallel tracks before some of India’s top venture capitalists. These sessions are anticipated to unlock funding opportunities worth Rs 250 crore, building upon the success of the Startup Conclave 2023.

Even before the event, investor interest has already resulted in letters of intent and financial commitments amounting to Rs 150 crore for promising startups, as reported by IANS.

The conclave will be inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah and will showcase over 170 startups from 20 states. Participating startups have been selected by prominent initiatives such as Startup India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).

Exhibitions will cover critical sectors including defence, aerospace, healthcare, clean energy, agritech, deep tech, and social impact innovations. This broad representation underlines India’s entrepreneurial drive towards achieving ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India).

The opening session will also see the release of several important publications, including the Startup Conclave Coffee Table Book, the NEP-2020 Dashboard, and the Indian Knowledge System Compendium.

Additionally, the Gujarat state government will facilitate the signing of 50 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between startups, investors, and financial institutions. Funding cheques and Letters of Intent will be distributed to selected ventures during the event, further strengthening the support ecosystem for India’s innovators and entrepreneurs.

(With inputs from IANS)
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/amit-shah-to-inaugurate-startup-conclave-2025-at-mahatma-mandir-in-gandhinagar-23595420

Audi to launch third-generation Q3 SUV in India next year

**Audi to Launch Third-Generation Q3 SUV in India Next Year**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | Sep 23, 2025, 01:18 PM*

Audi is gearing up to introduce its third-generation Q3 SUV in the Indian market by the third quarter of 2026. The model made its global debut in June and is set to launch in Europe next month, signaling Audi’s commitment to expanding its premium SUV lineup in India.

### Launch Plans and Upcoming Models

Alongside the new Q3, Audi plans to bring several other models to India. These include the new A5 sedan, the next-generation Q5, and the A6, all featuring combustion engines. Additionally, Audi is preparing to introduce its electric range with models such as the Q6 e-tron and the A6 e-tron Sportback, broadening its electric vehicle portfolio for Indian consumers.

### Vehicle Details: Engine Options and Dimensions

The third-generation Audi Q3 is built on the latest iteration of the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform. While the European version offers petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid variants, the Indian market will receive a 204 hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Dimension-wise, the new Q3 is approximately 40mm longer than its predecessor and features a more pronounced front overhang, contributing to a bolder road presence.

### Design and Interior Upgrades

The new Audi Q3 showcases a modern design language with distinctive split headlamps, sharper body lines, and split taillamps that emphasize its sporty character. It will be available in both the standard SUV and the Sportback (coupe-SUV) body styles, catering to diverse customer preferences.

Inside, the SUV receives a significant technology upgrade. The dashboard houses a large 12.8-inch touchscreen, accompanied by 11.9-inch digital instrument dials and a head-up display, enhancing the overall driving experience and connectivity.

### Market Positioning and Pricing

In terms of pricing, the new Audi Q3 is expected to be positioned around INR 50 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. This places it in direct competition with premium compact SUVs like the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, making the refreshed Q3 a strong contender in the luxury SUV segment.

**Stay tuned for more updates on Audi’s upcoming launches and detailed reviews once the new Q3 hits Indian roads.**
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/auto/audi-to-launch-new-gen-q3-suv-in-india-by-2026/story

Akshay Kumar slams AI videos of him in Valmiki’s role

**Akshay Kumar Slams AI-Generated Videos Showing Him as Maharishi Valmiki**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | September 23, 2025, 02:14 PM*

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has spoken out against the circulation of artificial intelligence-generated videos that depict him in the role of Maharishi Valmiki. The actor took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify that these videos, resembling movie trailers, are entirely fake and created using AI technology.

In his statement, Kumar expressed concern over the misinformation spreading rapidly online. He wrote, “I have recently come across some AI-generated videos of a film trailer showing me in the role of Maharishi Valmiki. I want to clarify that all such videos are fake and created using AI. What’s worse, some news channels decide to pick these up as ‘news’ without even verifying if these are real or morphed.”

Kumar urged both fans and media outlets to exercise caution when consuming or sharing such content. He emphasized the importance of responsible journalism in the age of rampant AI manipulation, stating, “In today’s time, when misleading content is being produced at great speed through manipulative AI, I sincerely request media houses to verify and report only after authenticating the information.”

This incident highlights the increasing challenge posed by AI-generated content, which is making it difficult for audiences and media to distinguish genuine clips from fabricated ones.

**On the Work Front: ‘Jolly LLB 3’ Performing Well at the Box Office**

Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar’s latest film, *Jolly LLB 3*, is currently running successfully in theaters. Directed by Subhash Kapoor, the courtroom comedy released on September 19 and has been well received by audiences.

Despite a slight dip in earnings on its first Monday following a strong opening weekend, *Jolly LLB 3* has grossed over ₹59 crore in India within just four days of release, according to trade analyst Sacnilk.

*Stay tuned for more updates on Akshay Kumar and the latest Bollywood news.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/akshay-kumar-denounces-ai-generated-videos-as-fake/story

Japan’s First Ordinance Limits Smartphone Use to Two Hours a Day

The new measure, set to take effect on October 1st, marks the first time in Japan that smartphone usage guidelines have been established for all residents. Notably, no penalties will be imposed for any violations of this ordinance.

The primary goal of the policy is to ensure children get sufficient sleep while also encouraging increased communication within families. To support this, the ordinance sets specific smartphone cut-off times for minors.

Elementary school students and younger are advised to stop using smartphones by 9 PM. For junior high school students and older minors (under 18 years old), the recommended cut-off time is 10 PM.

By promoting healthier smartphone habits, the measure aims to foster better sleep patterns and strengthen family interactions.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/146984.php

Battle for Global Talent: UK Mulls Offering Free Visas for Top Talent as Trump Enforces $100k H-1B Fee

In a high-stakes transatlantic showdown for the world’s brightest minds, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is aiming to eliminate visa fees for elite scientists and digital experts to supercharge Britain’s economic growth. This bold move comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s executive order on 19 September 2025, which imposed a $100,000 (approximately £74,000) annual fee on new H-1B visas, reshaping high-skilled immigration overnight.

As global competition for top talent intensifies, Britain’s strategy signals a clear pivot to attract world-class innovators amid America’s tightening immigration policies.

### Scrapping Fees: UK’s Strategic Lure for High-Skilled Innovators

Starmer’s global talent taskforce, co-chaired by Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance and business adviser Varun Chandra, is pushing to abolish application costs for outstanding foreign professionals.

“We’re talking about the sort of people who have attended the world’s top five universities or have won prestigious prizes. We’re kicking around the idea of cutting costs to zero,” an official told the *Financial Times* on 22 September 2025.

The proposal extends to waiving fees for partners and children, easing family relocation for individuals in science, engineering, and digital technology fields.

The Home Office supports the initiative, stating it will “attract and retain high-skilled talent, particularly in science, research, and technology, to maintain the UK’s status as a leading international hub for emerging talent and innovation.”

Discussions between Number 10 and the Treasury intensified following Trump’s announcement, with insiders noting it “put wind in the sails” of immigration reform ahead of the 26 November 2025 Budget.

Importantly, no job offer is required under this visa, which fast-tracks settlement for leaders in their fields and is endorsed by organizations such as UK Research and Innovation. Official statistics show grants surged 76% to 3,901 in the year to June 2023.

### Trump’s H-1B Hammer: $100k Fee Upends US Tech Hiring

Trump’s executive order mandates a $100,000 (approximately £74,000) annual fee for new H-1B visa petitions, affecting fresh applicants from the February 2026 lottery.

Since 2004, the H-1B program has been capped at 85,000 visas annually and faced criticism for suppressing wages. Yet, tech giants like Amazon — which secured 12,000 approvals in early 2025 — remain heavily reliant on it.

White House aide Abigail Jackson clarified on 20 September 2025 that existing visa holders will be exempt from the fee, urging those currently abroad to return quickly.

India accounted for 71% of 2024 approvals, and China 11.7%, according to US data.

US Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is reviewing prevailing wage regulations to better protect American workers.

This order forms part of Trump’s broader immigration clampdown initiated in January 2025 and has alarmed sectors such as IT, prompting companies to scramble amid talent shortages.

Elon Musk backed the measure for addressing genuine workforce gaps, while critics warn it could stifle innovation.

### UK Gains Edge in High-Skilled Immigration Tug-of-War

Starmer’s May 2025 white paper raised skilled worker thresholds to RQF level 6 and increased the Immigration Skills Charge by 32%, now standing at £2,400 for small firms and £6,600 for large ones.

Despite these hikes, elite visa pathways remain open for AI pioneers and engineers, with no salary floors applied.

“This isn’t about diluting our determination to bring down net migration, but it’s about getting the brightest and best into Britain,” Lord Vallance affirmed.

Trump’s hefty H-1B fee may reroute 7,000 to 8,000 workers annually, benefiting UK firms under the current minimum cap of 41,700 visas from 22 July 2025.

English language requirements for visa extensions will also rise to B2 level.

*Financial Times* journalist John Reed posted on X: “Will America’s loss be Britain’s gain? UK explores plan to drop visa fees for top global talent.”

Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering tax adjustments for non-domiciled residents to further boost the UK’s appeal.

With net migration approaching one million by June 2023, this strategy reflects a delicate balance between immigration control and ambitious economic growth.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/battle-global-talent-uk-mulls-offering-free-visas-top-talent-trump-enforces-100k-h-1b-fee-1744982

Japan’s First Ordinance Limits Smartphone Use to Two Hours a Day

The new measure, set to take effect on October 1st, marks a significant first for Japan by establishing smartphone usage guidelines applicable to all residents. Notably, no penalties will be imposed for any violations of these guidelines.

The primary goal of this ordinance is to ensure that children get sufficient sleep and to encourage more family communication. To support this, the measure introduces specific cut-off times for minors: elementary school students and younger are advised to stop using smartphones by 9 PM, while junior high school students and older (under 18 years old) are advised to cease usage by 10 PM.

By promoting healthier smartphone habits, the ordinance aims to foster better well-being and stronger family connections across the country.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/146984.php

AI Boom By 2030: $2 Trillion In Annual Revenue Needed To Power Global Computing Demand

New Delhi: A new report by Bain & Company reveals that at least $2 trillion in annual revenue will be required to fund the computing power needed to meet the anticipated global AI demand by 2030. Despite potential AI-related savings, the world still faces an $800 billion shortfall to keep pace with this growing demand.

According to the report, global incremental AI compute requirements could reach 200 gigawatts by 2030, with the United States accounting for half of this power consumption. Even if US companies redirected all their on-premise IT budgets to the cloud and reinvested AI-generated savings from sales, marketing, customer support, and R&D into capital spending on new data centers, the funds would still be insufficient to cover the full investment needed. This is because AI’s compute demand is increasing at more than twice the rate of Moore’s Law, Bain noted.

“By 2030, technology executives will face the challenge of deploying about $500 billion in capital expenditures and securing roughly $2 trillion in new revenue to profitably meet demand,” explained David Crawford, chairman of Bain’s Global Technology Practice. He added that since AI compute demand is outpacing semiconductor efficiency, there will be dramatic increases in power supply requirements on grids that have not expanded capacity for decades.

The report also highlights the complexities created by the competitive arms race among nations and leading technology providers. This dynamic brings risks of both overbuilding and underbuilding infrastructure, making strategic planning more challenging than ever. Navigating potential innovations, infrastructure constraints, supply shortages, and algorithmic improvements will be critical in the coming years, Crawford emphasized.

While computational demand surges, many leading companies have transitioned from piloting AI capabilities to profiting from AI at scale. Organizations applying AI across core workflows have achieved earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) gains ranging from 10% to 25% over the past two years. However, the report notes that most companies remain in experimental stages with AI and are content with modest productivity improvements.

Bain also found that tariffs, export controls, and government efforts worldwide to develop sovereign AI capabilities are accelerating the fragmentation of global technology supply chains. Cutting-edge fields like AI have evolved beyond being mere catalysts for economic growth to becoming essential instruments of political power and national security.

“Sovereign AI capabilities are increasingly regarded as a strategic advantage comparable to economic and military strength,” said Anne Hoecker, head of Bain’s Global Technology Practice.

*Disclaimer: This story is from a syndicated feed. Only the headline has been modified.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/ai-boom-by-2030-2-trillion-in-annual-revenue-needed-to-power-global-computing-demand

Japan’s First Ordinance Limits Smartphone Use to Two Hours a Day

The measure, set to take effect on October 1st, marks the first time in Japan that smartphone usage guidelines will apply to all residents. Notably, no penalties will be imposed for any violations of the ordinance.

The primary aim of this new regulation is to ensure that children get sufficient sleep and to promote increased communication within families. To support this goal, the ordinance establishes specific cut-off times for smartphone use among minors.

Elementary school students and younger are advised to stop using smartphones by 9 PM. For junior high school students and older minors (under 18 years old), the recommended cut-off time is 10 PM.

By setting these guidelines, the measure hopes to foster healthier habits and strengthen family interactions across the country.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/146984.php

Japan’s First Ordinance Limits Smartphone Use to Two Hours a Day

The new ordinance, set to take effect on October 1st, marks the first of its kind in Japan by establishing smartphone usage guidelines for all residents. Notably, no penalties will be imposed for any violations of these guidelines.

The primary goal of this measure is to ensure that children get sufficient sleep, while also encouraging increased communication within families. To support this, the ordinance outlines specific cut-off times for minors when using smartphones.

Elementary school students and younger are advised to stop using their smartphones by 9 PM. Meanwhile, junior high school students and older minors (under 18 years old) are encouraged to cease smartphone use by 10 PM.

By promoting healthier smartphone habits, this initiative aims to foster better sleep and strengthen family relationships across the community.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/146984.php

Japan’s First Ordinance Limits Smartphone Use to Two Hours a Day

The new ordinance, set to take effect on October 1st, marks a first in Japan by establishing smartphone usage guidelines for all residents. Notably, no penalties will be imposed for any violations of these guidelines.

The primary aim of this measure is to ensure that children get sufficient sleep and to foster increased communication within families. To support this goal, the ordinance specifies recommended smartphone cut-off times for minors.

Elementary school students and younger are advised to stop using smartphones by 9 PM. Meanwhile, junior high school students and older minors (under 18 years old) are encouraged to cease usage by 10 PM.

Through these guidelines, the ordinance seeks to promote healthier habits and strengthen family bonds across the country.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/146984.php

Exit mobile version