German firm JSWD wins competition to design mixed-use RIYMAR Towers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The new version of the Toyota Fortuner is preparing for release, with its official presentation scheduled for December 1 on the global market. The company plans to introduce this SUV in South Africa. Although the updated Fortuner will also go on sale in India, the exact date of its launch has not been announced, and it might only be released in India in 2027.

Before the official start of sales, the vehicle underwent testing and was spotted during trials in Argentina. It should be noted that in Argentina and Brazil, this vehicle will be sold under the name SW4. According to the latest spy shots, the SUV was seen with mesh grille elements and sharp lighting elements, consistent with the design of the Hilux, which will appear on the global market.

The main modifications will affect the front end of the vehicle. Despite the model seen being covered in camouflage, details of the minor changes are unknown. The car looks more raised, and it will feature new air intakes and a front bumper. The sides will also undergo slight changes.

Additionally, it may be fitted with new wheels. Updated taillights, an integrated LED light strip, and redesigned rear doors are also expected. The interior space will receive several improvements, including a new steering wheel and an updated instrument cluster. The company may also equip it with a new infotainment system.

The vehicle's safety system will also be modernized, potentially including an ADAS package. This vehicle will share components with the Tacoma pickup, which is available globally, alongside the Hilux. More detailed information about other vehicle specifications is currently unavailable.

In India, the company may release this model next year. It will utilize the existing 2.8-liter diesel engine. Furthermore, the company will offer both automatic and manual transmissions. There is a possibility that the manufacturer might bring back a 2.7-liter gasoline engine.

When young people from Northeast India approached Professor (Dr.) Tej Chingtam with questions about starting their own businesses, he could not always provide them with ready answers. Many of them returned from other parts of the country hoping to create something of their own, but the region lacked the necessary support system.

In a conversation with Shraddha Sharma, founder and CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project, Tej Chingtam recounted how these interactions prompted him in 2016 to take a closer look at the region's startup ecosystem. At that time, he was a professor of computer science and had no plans to create an incubation center.

However, the attempt to understand the difficulties faced by local entrepreneurs ultimately led him to establish such a center. Today, he is the CEO of Atal Incubation Centre - Sikkim Manipal University Technology Business Incubation Foundation (AIC-SMUTBI), which collaborates with over 200 startups. The broader Northeast ecosystem has grown to more than 2000 startups.

In 2016, while traveling through the Northeastern states, Chingtam discovered entrepreneurs and several isolated initiatives to support them. There was no system capable of uniting these efforts and providing founders with consistent guidance. Mentors from cities like Bengaluru and Delhi would visit the region, spending several weeks or a month with entrepreneurs, before leaving. Chingtam felt that such short visits could not provide the sustainable support needed by startups.

He began developing a model that would motivate mentors to spend more time in the region. His idea combined mentorship with tourism, giving experts the opportunity to explore the Northeast while helping local entrepreneurs develop their businesses.

In 2018, he had the opportunity to found what he calls the first Northeast incubator. This task was new to him. Chingtam had never visited or worked in an incubator, so he had to independently master the process of establishing the institution and implementing its support systems. Work began on September 27, 2018. A few months later, on December 12, Chingtam was diagnosed with Stage III lung cancer. He continued treatment while working on building the center. AIC-SMUTBI began operating in June 2019.

Tej Chingtam's ambitions were not limited to creating an incubation center only in Sikkim. He wished for entrepreneurs across the entire Northeast to have access to mentorship and support that was often easier to find in established startup hubs. The incubator gradually expanded its collaboration to all eight Northeastern states. Chingtam thanks those who supported this initiative, especially those who helped bring together entrepreneurs and local stakeholders in their respective states.

Speaking with Shraddha, he emphasized that this effort went beyond the work of a single organization. According to him, there are now over 2000 startups in the region, with more than 200 working with AIC-SMUTBI, meaning the incubator is connected to approximately one in every ten startups in the Northeast. He sees significant potential in the region's natural resources, biodiversity, and local industry. Even its geographical location, as all eight Northeastern states share international borders, can provide opportunities for entrepreneurs who understand the local context.

His broader goal is to encourage youth to realize that they can build things at home. Instead of viewing the Northeast only as a place to leave in search of work, he wants them to see it as a place where business can grow.

Access to funding remains one of the challenges for startups in the region. Tej Chingtam notes that relatively few investors visit the Northeast, which often forces entrepreneurs to focus on building a customer base and generating revenue to sustain their business. He estimates the five-year survival rate of startups supported by the incubator to be around 80%. In his view, this is a result of their focus on customers and sustainable operations, rather than chasing high valuations.

He believes the ecosystem needs more early-stage mentorship, especially experts who can help founders validate their ideas before incorporating or engaging with funding and regulatory requirements. Policies that simplify investment could also stimulate capital inflow into the region. Chingtam suggested tax holidays for a certain period to attract investors.

In conversation with Shraddha, he summarized what the Northeast needs from the investment community with a phrase he frequently repeated: 'We need not so much venture capitalists as adventurers.' He calls on investors to travel through the region, understand its potential, and engage with businesses that may not be based in the country's conventional startup centers.

Tej Chingtam believes the Northeast needs more startups relative to its population. Reaching this point will require sustained mentorship, supportive policies, and investors willing to explore opportunities outside established markets. He also quickly points out that the incubator's journey was never the work of one person. Its progress depended on the people, institutions, and partners who helped strengthen the startup ecosystem across the region. His aspiration goes beyond increasing the number of enterprises associated with AIC-SMUTBI; he wants more young people to view entrepreneurship as a viable career and utilize resources in their states to build businesses. The incubator started with an attempt to answer the question constantly asked by young entrepreneurs to Chingtam: how to build something in the Northeast? Today, it works to ensure the next generation has a stronger support system and more reasons to find the answer at home.

Tensions have increased following the dismissal of Jeffrey Huang from NVIDIA in China, leading to a crisis in several Chinese artificial intelligence projects. It is speculated that Huang's departure could cause delays or complete halts to these projects, as they rely heavily on NVIDIA technologies.

According to the report, Huang's exit and intensified scrutiny may result in China facing either disruptions in AI chip supplies or the need for costly equipment redesigns. This occurred shortly after his name was linked to a Chinese businesswoman alleged to be a Chinese spy, raising suspicions among US officials regarding Beijing's ties to US intelligence services.

Reuters reported that an analysis of over 150 procurement notices, investment plans, construction contracts, and corporate disclosures in China revealed projects and equipment agreements valued at over 23 billion yuan ($3.2 billion USD). These projects are located in both China's wealthy coastal regions and in technology hubs of remote western provinces.

The findings indicated that despite US attempts to restrict China's access to advanced AI chips, demand for NVIDIA hardware in China persists. It is noted that the demand for NVIDIA technologies is sustained by projects involving startups, universities, and regional computing centers supported by local authorities.

This assessment included planned investments, signed contracts, and completed installations, covering not only NVIDIA chip costs but also construction, power supply systems, and other infrastructure.

Developers and institutions continue to implement multi-billion dollar AI data center projects designed around limited NVIDIA H100, H200, and H800 processors. Some facilities are operational or under construction, while others remain in the planning stage. For instance, thousands of NVIDIA chips were expected to be installed in Gansu province in the northwest by the end of the year, although it is unclear whether the processors have arrived.

Huang's departure may reduce NVIDIA's lobbying influence, as US senators push for stricter export controls. Previously, he actively advocated for easing restrictions, stating last year that NVIDIA's market share in China had dropped from 95% to zero.

NVIDIA stated that US export controls have excluded it from the AI data center market in China and removed revenue from Chinese data centers from its forecasts. However, an IDC report suggests that NVIDIA's share in AI accelerator shipments to China will be 34% in the first half of 2026.

Reuters emphasized that the projects identified were unrelated to allegations against MegaSpeed or Huang. MegaSpeed denies illegally shipping NVIDIA chips to China. NVIDIA's board of directors has launched an independent investigation, stating that there is no basis to believe the company compromised its secrets or US national security. No public conclusions regarding Huang violating export control laws have been made.

Washington began restricting advanced NVIDIA processors in 2022, and controls have since become stricter. The US administration also took measures in January to review H200 export licenses for relevant Chinese clients on a case-by-case basis.