Last week, the Indonesian government ordered Apple and Google to remove Chinese e-commerce app Temu from their app stores.
A government statement quotes Communications and Information Minister Budi Aryeh Setiadi as explaining that Temu is not registered to operate in Indonesia. He is also concerned about competition issues.
“Local MSME products need government protection from foreign markets that sell foreign products directly from factories because their prices are so low. This is unhealthy competition and threatens the sustainability of local MSME businesses. threatens the country,” the minister said.
The government statement also said, “Based on the experience in several countries, applications from China are harmful not only to consumers but also to local MSMEs. The quality of products sold by Temu also does not meet quality standards. “This is causing harm to consumers and buyers.”
The minister also made comments suggesting that another Chinese e-commerce app, Shein, is on the horizon.
China has made offshore growth for its e-commerce giants a national priority, and Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, is a natural target for its ambitions. But a number of governments are investigating Mr. Thame and Mr. Shein for matters ranging from human rights to tax evasion. Indonesia is fiercely protecting its local market as it seeks to grow its own digital giant.
– Simon Sherwood
Infosys stops sending recruitment emails to combat fraud
Infosys, the Indian IT services giant, has reportedly stopped sending job information via email or letter.
New employees and internal transfers now log on to the outsourcing company’s intranet. This change comes after the industry uncovered a large number of fraudulent job offers and needed to clean up the resulting mess.
Infosys’ hiring practices have recently come under question after it promised jobs to about 2,000 new graduates and then made them wait two years to receive offers.
India removes space debris for first time in 7 years
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said last week that it had deorbited the upper stage of a rocket launched in 2017, declaring that this was a sign of good citizenship in disposing of space debris in a timely manner. .
In the February 2017 launch, India sent a PSLV-37 rocket into orbit carrying 104 satellites, which it claimed was a record. As is often the case, the rocket’s upper stage remained in orbit.”
“After satellite injection and passivation, the upper stage (PS4) was left in an orbit of approximately 494 km. It is regularly tracked by USSPACECOM as an object with NORAD ID 42052 and its The orbital altitude decreased slowly,” the Indian space agency explained.
By early October 2024, the orbit had decayed significantly, leading the Space Force to predict a closely monitored but uncontrolled reentry. The collision occurred in the North Atlantic Ocean.
This event is in line with international space debris mitigation guidelines that limit the post-mission orbital life of LEO extinct objects to 25 years. ISRO boasted that it had achieved its goal through “proper design.” [a] “Passivation sequence that lowers the trajectory of PS4.”
ISRO is working to reduce this to five years through proactive measures such as deorbit and controlled reentry efforts.
Australia calls for mandatory ransom payment reporting
The Australian government tabled a cybersecurity bill last week that, if passed, would require some local organizations to report payments due to ransomware infections.
The bill also proposes security standards for Internet of Things devices and a system that would allow government agencies to share information about security incidents.
The bill was sent to committee for further consideration.
– Simon Sherwood
Former Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata dies at 86
Tributes poured in for former Tata Group chairman Rata Tata, who passed away last week at the age of 86.
Bill Gates called Tata “a visionary leader whose dedication to improving lives has left an indelible mark on India and the world.” He added that the two companies have “partnered on numerous initiatives to help people live healthier, more fulfilling lives.”
Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said Tata is “helping guide and develop modern business leadership in India.” He wrote that the two “talked about Waymo’s progress and was inspired by his vision.”
“He has provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious companies,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Samsung India strike continues
This was announced by the Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). register Samsung employees on strike in India reportedly rejected a settlement offer from Samsung regarding wage increases.
According to CITU, the proposed settlement includes a monthly allowance of 5,000 rupees ($60) until March, more air-conditioned buses to transport workers to factories, diversification of cafeteria menus and 24-hour allowance in case of childbirth. The items included dollar gift cards.
Workers have been on strike since September 9, demanding better wages and the right to form a union. Production at the facility, which brings in about $2.4 billion a year to Samsung, has reportedly been significantly disrupted.
Baidu’s robotaxi service expands to Hong Kong
According to Chinese media, China’s Baidu is expanding its self-driving taxi “Apollo Go” service beyond mainland China to Hong Kong.
Other media outlets have cited Singapore and the Middle East as future targets.
APAC Deal Book
Recent partnerships and deals discovered by register Here are some region-wide examples from last week:
- In China, Microsoft has partnered with Doushen Education, a leading provider of education services, as well as information security and general IT consulting, to power AI-driven content using GraphRAG technology.
- Microsoft also agreed to work with Infosys to accelerate global adoption of generative AI and Microsoft Azure among joint customers, leveraging Infosys’ Cobalt, Topaz, and Aster.
- Singapore-based telecommunications company Singtel has announced the launch of an AI cloud infrastructure called RE:AI. Singtel says the platform “combines cutting-edge AI computing infrastructure, such as graphics processing units (GPUs), storage, AI workspaces and tools, with diverse networks such as 5G, fixed or quantum-safe networks.” “Customers can deploy, manage, and scale AI applications without worrying about complex infrastructure overhead.” The Leg Singapore last week found its AI services to be more reliable than Singtel’s network during an unprecedented island-wide outage that left emergency services phone numbers unavailable for the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) and police. I’m looking forward to it.
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