EMBER
World switches on to electrification; India holds back
COP31 in Antalya emphasizes electrification, with Turkiye targeting 35% by 2035 and several countries signing the pledge. India, despite its growing electricity demand and near-universal grid access, has not yet joined the initiative. Concerns about new commitments and clean energy targets are influencing India's decision. The International Energy Agency predicts a significant increase in India’s electricity share by 2035.
India seeks to triple clean energy capacity to 900 gigawatts by 2035, but major hurdles remain
India has announced an ambitious goal to install 900 gigawatts of clean energy by 2035. The government has approved nearly $20 billion to improve power grid infrastructure. Experts emphasize that grid enhancements are crucial for this energy transition. While coal remains a significant energy source, the shift toward renewables is essential. Meeting future demands will require integrated solutions for electricity generation and storage.
Sundar Pichai pens welcome note to Mark Zuckerberg, says 'excited to serve Google Cloud customers'
Google CEO Sundar Pichai welcomed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's announcement that three of the company's AI models are now available on Google Cloud's Model Garden. The models feature multimodal capabilities and context windows of up to 1 million tokens, marking a collaboration between the two tech giants.
Mark Zuckerberg reveals Meta’s Muse AI models are now available on Google Cloud, here's what Sundar Pichai said
Mark Zuckerberg announced that Muse Ember, Muse Spark 1.3, and Muse Wonder are now available on Google Cloud. The announcement received a positive response from Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who expressed his excitement. Muse Ember is designed for cost-efficient repetitive tasks and handles coding and document processing. Muse Wonder focuses on complex software engineering tasks with multi-step workflow capabilities and advanced reasoning.
Meta unveils India pricing for AI agent Muse ahead of local launch
Meta has announced the pricing details for its AI companion, Muse, in India. The subscription options are set at ₹1,799 for the 'Power' tier and ₹8,999 for the 'Maximum' tier. Users currently outside supported markets can register via a VPN. Muse aims to enhance user experience by integrating with various Meta services, positioning itself against local competitors like Instinct, available worldwide.
Meta launches Muse Ember, its most efficient AI model to handle repetitive tasks; know what it can do and here's how it works
Meta has said that Muse Ember is significantly cheaper than competitors like Haiku and Luna. Despite being designed as a lightweight execution model, Ember can process different types of information. Meta claims it supports text, images and audio. The objective is to make the AI agents faster and cheaper to operate.
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Mumbai and Thane authorities ground aerial firecrackers after Diwali blazes
Authorities in Mumbai and Thane implemented a ban on aerial firecrackers following a significant rise in fire incidents. Reports indicate that the Mumbai Fire Brigade responded to numerous fire calls, primarily due to firecrackers. This ban aims to prevent fire hazards, especially from falling embers onto flammable materials. Violators of the ban may face legal consequences under the Disaster Management Act.

Enough of COP Jamborees
Falling solar and battery costs have made renewable energy commercially competitive with coal in India. As COP31 begins in Turkiye, the focus should shift to accelerating electrification of transport, promoting agrivoltaics, investing in transmission and grid stability, and ensuring reliable payments by discoms to sustain the country's green transition.

How China's clean-tech machine is reshaping the global climate fight
In 2024, China took the lead as the top investor in global clean technology, directing $132 billion to developing nations to aid carbon reduction efforts. This unprecedented infusion of resources could potentially reshape the landscape of international climate finance.

Massive fire breaks out at a factory in Ghaziabad; six fire tenders douse blaze; no casualties reported
A massive fire broke out in a factory located in the Tronica City Industrial Area of Ghaziabad. Firefighters took nearly three and a half hours to control the blaze. The fire began on the first floor, which was used for packaging operations. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or casualties during the incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation as firefighters ensured the flames did not spread further.

Chapter Home raises Rs 63 crore from Bessemer, Stride Ventures, others
The startup plans to use the capital to strengthen product development, expand into new categories, invest in technology and brand building, and scale up distribution.

Why Bengalis Perform Dhunuchi Naach During Durga Puja: The Ritual, Meaning and Story Behind the Dance
Dhunuchi Naach is a cherished ritual during Durga Puja that beautifully fuses music, dance, and spirituality. Participants, holding ceremonial incense burners, sway gracefully to the infectious rhythm of the dhak. This captivating performance not only signifies devotion but also showcases the vibrant cultural essence of the community, especially highlighted during Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami. As incense wafts through the air, it cultivates an ambiance of purification and deep respect.

Not gold, GDP, military strength or rare earths: Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, says this hidden metric reveals true economic strength
Elon Musk has offered a different way to judge the strength of a major economy. In an October 10 post on X, the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive argued that electricity production is the best measure of a country's economic strength.

Nana Patekar once risked his life to save an actor from an angry mob, then drove him away in an autorickshaw
Nana Patekar was known for his powerful performances, but one incident from his theatre days showed a different side of the late actor. During a performance of Hamidabaichi Kothi, an angry crowd turned violent after many spectators could not see the stage properly. Patekar realised Ashok Saraf could be targeted, pulled him away from the crowd and drove him to safety.

Kitchen appliance startup EDT raises $2.4 million in funding led by Sauce VC
The round also saw participation from venture debt firm Alteria Capital, Raul Rai, co-founder of Nicobar, Shibam Das and Arindam Paul of Atomberg, Ajith Pai, chief operating officer of Delhivery, and Anushree Tainwala, chief business officer of Samsonite, South Asia, alongside existing investors.

VCs work up an appetite for new-age kitchen startups
Investors say kitchen brands are witnessing the premiumisation trend seen in categories such as beauty, mattresses, furniture, and home appliances, where consumers are increasingly willing to shell out more for products that offer a better experience.

VCs hungry for kitchen startups; Vala Afshar’s blueprint for India’s AI future
Happy Thursday! Venture capital investors are betting on the premiumisation wave wafting into Indian kitchens. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

India’s power needs are surging. So why is solar going to waste?
India struggles to use all its clean power despite high demand. Renewable energy providers curtail output as the grid cannot handle excess generation. Insufficient transmission and storage capacity hinder the integration of clean energy sources. Building new power lines takes longer than renewable energy projects. India needs more batteries and a flexible grid to meet future energy targets.

Cookware brand Ember raises $3.2 million in funding
HNIs, family offices, and existing investors led the funding round, which also saw participation from health food brand Yogabar cofounder Suhasini Sampath and chef and entrepreneur Saransh Goila. The fresh funds will be used to strengthen the cookware brand’s R&D, scale manufacturing, and expand market presence.

China’s green push may cut global fossil use by 2030, says Ember
This shift challenges reliance on fossil fuel exports and demonstrates that green goals can reinforce economic growth.

Study finds big gap in Australia's methane emissions
Australian coal mines may have vastly underestimated historical methane emissions, according to analysis of the potent greenhouse gas published Wednesday. Energy think tank Ember used satellite imagery to calculate methane emissions from a string of Australian coal mines.

India may miss key climate goal of 500-GW RE capacity by 2030 due to high capital cost
India's goal of 500 GW renewable energy by 2030 is at risk due to delays in project commissioning and increased financing costs, warns an Ember report. To meet the target, annual funding must grow by 20% annually, reaching $68 billion by 2032. Cumulative investments need to total $300 billion, with targeted mitigation measures crucial for cost control.

Los Angeles fire how it started: Authorities may have found main responsible factor for deadly wildfire
Los Angeles fire has caused big worries among people and celebrities of Hollywood.

India overtook Japan to become world's 3rd largest solar power generator in 2023
India accelerated its solar energy deployment, surpassing Japan to rank as the world's third-largest solar power generator in 2023. This growth aligns with global trends, emphasizing the importance of clean electricity to meet rising demand and combat climate change.

India's solar imports from China down nearly 80% by $2 billion in H1 2023: Ember
The total solar module imports declined 76% to 2.3 GW between January and June 2023 from 9.8 GW in a similar period from a year ago, according to an ET analysis of Ember’s data, as India tries to wean away from export dependence and build its domestic manufacturing capabilities.

In this remote Goan village, people celebrate Holi with a fire shower!
Known as Sheni Ujo, this ritual includes people touching red-hot embers!

Growth in renewables slowing down rise in fossil fuel power generation in India: Report
However, it said the use of coal in India rose 10 percent because of a sharp rebound in electricity demand from the lows early last year when the Covid-19 pandemic struck hardest. In China, the growth in wind and solar led to a three reduction in fossil fuel power. In the US, it slowed down the rise in fossil fuel power from 7 per cent to just 1 per cent.

ISI attempt to stoke Khalistan embers?
Nearly 15-20 terrorists who were trained by ISI, which also issued funds for the anti-India strikes, were acquainted with Sikh traditions and Gurmukhi script at Kartarpur Sahib.
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