Tootfinder

India joins Pax Silica, a US-led initiative that aims to build secure supply chains for semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and critical technologies (Rajesh Roy/Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/pax-silica-india-us-trump-modi-994d1ce…

India joins US-led Pax Silica initiative
India joined a U.S.-led initiative to strengthen technology cooperation among strategic allies in a move Friday that underscores the nations’ warming ties after a brief strain over New Delhi’s unabated purchase of discounted Russian oil. The decision aligns India closely with Washington’s efforts to build secure supply chains for semiconductors, advanced manufacturing and critical technologies at a time geopolitical competition with China is intensifying. It also signals a reset in relati…

Forbes plans its "first foray" into e-commerce with Forbes Wine, a fully owned-and-operated wine section and shop, set to launch later this year (Charlotte Tobitt/Press Gazette)
https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/forbes-expands-into-retail-with-wine-c…

Weather tracker: Unseasonal storms hit parts of Pakistan and India https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/20/weather-tracker-unseasonal-storms-hit-parts-of-pakistan-and-india

"Beavers can turn streams into carbon stores – we measured how much"
#Beavers #Animals
https://…

Beavers can turn streams into carbon stores – we measured how much
As beavers reshape rivers, wetlands become a natural storage system for carbon.

General Catalyst plans to invest $5B in India over five years, an increase from the $500M to $1B previously announced, after merging with a local VC in 2024 (Jagmeet Singh/TechCrunch)
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/19/general-catalyst-commits-5b-to-ind…

General Catalyst commits $5B to India over five years | TechCrunch
The pledge marks a sharp jump from General Catalyst's earlier $500 million–$1 billion India earmark.

Peak XV, which split from Sequoia in 2023, raised $1.3B across new India- and Asia-focused funds, bringing its total assets under management to over $10B (Jagmeet Singh/TechCrunch)
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/20/peak-xv-rais…

Peak XV raises $1.3B, doubles down on AI as global VC rivalry in India heats up | TechCrunch
Peak XV says most of its new capital will target India as the firm prioritizes AI, fintech and cross-border bets while navigating recent partner departures.

"Vienna is turning parking spaces into parks and it’s changing the city"
#Vienna #Environment

Vienna is turning parking spaces into parks and it’s changing the city | The Optimist Daily
Vienna is replacing parking spaces with green areas to cool streets, cut traffic, and make room for people. Other cities are taking note.

OpenAI says users aged 18-24 account for ~50% and under-30s represent 80% of ChatGPT usage in India; Indians use ChatGPT mostly for work (Ivan Mehta/TechCrunch)
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/20/openai-says-18-to-24-year-olds-…

OpenAI says 18 to 24-year-olds account for nearly 50% of ChatGPT usage in India | TechCrunch
The company said on Friday that users between 18 and 24 years of age account for nearly 50% of all messages sent by Indians to ChatGPT, and users under 30 accounted for 80% of usage in the country.

Sources: contract electronics manufacturer Zetwerk plans to file for an IPO in India, aiming to raise ~$550M at a ~$4B valuation; it was valued at $3.1B in 2024 (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/zetwerk-plans-conf…

OpenAI plans "an autonomous AI research intern" by September and says its "North Star" is to build a fully automated multi-agent research system by 2028 (Will Douglas Heaven/MIT Technology Review)
https://www.technologyreview…

OpenAI is throwing everything into building a fully automated researcher
An exclusive conversation with OpenAI’s chief scientist, Jakub Pachocki, about his firm's new grand challenge and the future of AI.