Technology

Mumbai, March 20 (IANS) Maharashtra Minister of Information Technology Ashish Shelar on Thursday told the state council that under India's current National Education Policy, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not an alternative to education but a complementary tool and the government is formulating Maharashtra's AI policy with this perspective in mind.

The state’s AI policy is currently under development, and this aspect is being carefully considered.

He said that AI has become an integral part of human life, and its global influence is set to expand significantly in the future. Several schools in Maharashtra have already incorporated AI-based education methods to keep up with this rapid evolution.

However, concerns about potential risks in the education system were raised by BJP legislator Shrikant Bharatiya under Legislative Council Rule 97. Legislators Anil Parab, Amit Gorakhe, Amol Mitkari and Shashikant Shinde also spoke during the debate.

Responding to these concerns, Shelar highlighted that AI is advancing rapidly worldwide, creating new opportunities in employment, industry and technology.

To ensure that India does not lag behind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already initiated the development of a national AI policy. In alignment with this vision, Maharashtra is pioneering its own AI policy, making it the first state in the country to do so. A committee of experts has been formed to draft this policy, and discussions are underway.

Among the key focus areas of the policy are the impact of AI on education and cybersecurity concerns.

Shelar assured that the AI policy being developed will support and enhance the Indian education system, not disrupt it.

He further addressed apprehensions regarding job displacement due to new technologies, emphasising that whenever technological advancements emerge, fears about job security and associated risks arise.

Recognising these challenges, Maharashtra is proactively crafting an AI policy that considers both its potential and risks to ensure a balanced and forward-thinking approach.

This landmark policy will set a precedent, ensuring that Maharashtra stays ahead in technological innovation while safeguarding education, employment and cybersecurity, he added.

--IANS

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Seoul, March 14 (IANS) The president of Homeplus, a major discount store chain in South Korea, offered a public apology on Friday to retailers and investors affected by the company's court-led rehabilitation process.

"I would like to sincerely apologise to all of our partners, store owners, investors and others who are experiencing inconvenience due to this rehabilitation process," Homeplus President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joh Joo-yun said during a press conference at the company's headquarters in western Seoul.

"We will do our best to normalise the company as soon as possible to minimise the damage and inconvenience to many people."

She stressed that Homeplus remains financially stable, saying that the company had paid 340 billion won (US$234 million) in commercial receivables as of Thursday and holds 160 billion won in cash, reports Yonhap news agency.

The CEO vowed to make a full payment of remaining debt to avoid any damage involving the rehabilitation process.

Earlier this month, Homeplus "preemptively" entered court-led rehabilitation proceedings after two local credit rating agencies lowered the rating of its corporate bonds to A3- from A3, citing the retailer's lack of efforts to improve its financial health.

Over the past week, some local companies have suspended supplying products to Homeplus out of concerns that the retailer may not pay for the delivered goods.

Homeplus said it will submit its self-help plans to the court by June 3.

Meanwhile, the financial regulator said it will look into whether there were any flaws in the process of Homeplus selling its asset-backed short-term debts (ABSTBs).

ABSTBs are short-term bonds backed by future receivables as collateral.

On February 25, Homeplus issued ABSTBs worth 82 billion won through Shinyoung Securities Co.

The controversy boils down to whether the retailer had sold such debts even after it was notified that its credit rating would likely be lowered.

The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said earlier it has launched an inspection into financial institutions, including Shinyoung Securities Co., focusing on whether the securities firm had issued the bonds while already aware of Homeplus' imminent credit rating downgrade.

—IANS

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New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) Western diet, often high in salt, sugar and fat, has the potential to raise the risk of cancer in the lungs, finds a study.

Previous research has shown the link between poor diet and cancers of organs like the liver and pancreas; thus the long-term impact of diet has been well studied.

"Lung cancer has not traditionally been thought of as a dietary-related disease," said Ramon Sun, Associate Professor and director of the University of Florida’s Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule Research.

"Diseases like pancreatic cancer or liver cancer, yes. However, when it comes to lung cancer, the idea that diet could play a role is rarely discussed," Sun added.

For the study, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, the team focussed on glycogen accumulation -- a storage molecule, made up of glucose, or a simple sugar. It has been found to accumulate at high levels across a variety of cancers and other diseases.

Through lab models and computer-guided models of glycogen stores in the lung, the researchers showed that in lung cancer, glycogen acts as an oncogenic metabolite, akin to a "giant lollipop for cancer's sweet tooth."

The more glycogen in the cancer cells, the bigger and worse the tumour growth.

When scientists fed mice a high-fat, high-fructose Western diet that supported more glycogen in the blood, lung tumours grew. When glycogen levels decreased, tumour growth did, too.

In short, the typical Western diet increases glycogen levels and glycogen feeds lung cancer tumours by providing their building blocks for growth, said the researchers.

Glycogen is an "exceptionally good predictor" of tumour growth and death in lung cancer patients, Sun said.

Sun called for greater emphasis on public awareness and policy-driven strategies to promote healthier dietary choices much like the anti-smoking campaign.

"Prioritising a nutrient-rich diet, maintaining an active lifestyle and minimising alcohol intake are foundational strategies for long-term health," the team said.

--IANS

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Seoul, March 14 (IANS) South Korean stocks ended lower for the second consecutive session in Friday amid US President Donald Trump's determination to push forward with his controversial tariff policies. The local currency stayed unchanged against the greenback from the previous session.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 7.28 points, or 0.28 percent, to close at 2,566.36.

Trade volume was moderate at 357.3 million shares worth 9.8 trillion won ($6.74 billion). Winners, however, outpaced losers 508 to 356, reports Yonhap news agency.

Foreign investors and institutions together sold a net 310.7 billion won, while retail investors bought a net 209.4 billion won.

Overnight, Wall Street lost ground after Trump stressed his commitment to tariffs on steel, aluminum and cars, as claims of policy inconsistency lingered due to his administration's recent adjustments to the imposition of levies on Canadian and Mexican goods.

The S&P 500 shed 1.39 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq plummeted 1.96 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.3 percent.

Market watchers predict that as the Constitutional Court's ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial approaches, the domestic stock market could experience choppy trading near the 2,600 level next week.

"The local stock market has remained relatively strong when compared to volatility in the U.S., but investors should be cautious about the potential escalation of political risks," Kim Ji-won, an analyst at KB Securities, said.

In Seoul, battery manufacturers and bio shares lost ground. LG Energy Solution slid 4.11 percent to 326,500 won, and Samsung Biologics shed 0.19 percent to 1,051,000 won.

Energy-related shares also retreated, with leading refiner SK Innovation plunging 5.17 percent to 132,000 won, and LG Chem down 4.74 percent 231,000 won.

Steel and automotive shares, sectors exposed to U.S. tariff risks, lost ground as well. Top steelmaker POSCO Holdings fell 2.56 percent to 304,500 won and leading automaker Hyundai Motor slipped 1.24 percent to 198,500 won.

Chipmakers, however, prevented the market from incurring further losses. SK hynix gained 2.4 percent to 204,500 won, while Samsung Electronics remains unchanged at 54,700 won.

The local currency was trading at 1,453.8 won against the U.S. dollar at 3:30 p.m., unchanged from the previous session.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, fell. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 2.6 basis points to 2.596 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds added 1.5 basis points to end at 2.640 percent.

—IANS

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Seoul, March 14 (IANS) Automaker Kia on Friday appointed Song Ho-sung to the company's chief executive officer (CEO) position for another three-year term through an approval at the company's shareholders' meeting in Seoul.

Since leading Kia from 2020, Song has overseen the record-breaking performance of South Korea's No. 2 automaker during his past two terms, including the feat of achieving 100 trillion won (US$68.7 billion) in annual sales for the first time last year, reports Yonhap news agency.

At the meeting, Song outlined Kia's strategic direction for the year, emphasising the company's commitment to accelerating electric vehicle (EV) adoption and expanding its purpose-built vehicle (PBV) business.

Shareholders also approved an increase in the maximum board member compensation limit from 8 billion won to 17.5 billion won.

The company said the increase was made to accommodate the salary of Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung.

While Chung has previously received compensation from Hyundai Motor Co. and Hyundai Mobis Co., he had not received any compensation from Kia despite serving as a registered executive.

According to a Hyundai Motor regulatory filing, Chung received around 11.5 billion won in compensation from Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Mobis together last year.

Additionally, shareholders approved an amendment to Kia's articles of incorporation, adding real estate development to the company's business objectives. Kia said the amendment was reflective of its plan to construct flagship stores.

Kia also said it will buy back 3.49 million common stocks worth 350 billion won during the trading hours from March 20 through June 11 to enhance shareholder value.

The company plans to cancel all of the stocks during the third quarter.

Kia’s monthly sales for February rose 4.5 per cent from a year before, as the company saw increases in demand both at home and abroad.

Kia, an affiliate of local industry leader Hyundai Motor Co., sold 253,850 vehicles last month, up from 242,917 units in the same month last year, the company said.

—IANS

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Beijing, March 14 (IANS) A research team from north China's Tianjin University has developed a new type of injectable hydrogel that can regulate immune cell metabolism, helping to reduce inflammation and slow down rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful and relentless chronic disease. It occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joints, leading to deformities and disabilities, making everyday life a struggle for millions of people, Xinhua news agency reported.

Scientists have discovered that a key factor in this process is the metabolism of immune cells, particularly macrophages. When these cells' metabolic pathways go off balance, they release excessive inflammatory signals that worsen the disease. If this metabolism could be controlled, it might open up a new way to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

The novel hydrogel developed by the researchers is made from biodegradable alginate and has a special dual-network structure, making it easy to inject and allowing for the controlled release of therapeutic agents.

Once inside the joint, the hydrogel reacts to the acidic environment of the inflamed area, gradually releasing zinc ions and small interfering RNA.

These substances help reprogram the macrophages' metabolism, reducing their ability to trigger inflammation and enhancing their anti-inflammatory function.

"This is the first time metabolic reprogramming has been used in rheumatoid arthritis treatment, and we hope it can be applied to other inflammatory diseases in the future," said Li Nan, who led the team.

The findings were recently published in Advanced Functional Materials.

“Our goal is to provide not just a more effective treatment for RA, but also to explore new ways of tackling inflammation-related conditions at the metabolic level," Nan said.

This innovative hydrogel brings new hope to RA patients, offering a potential game-changer in the fight against this challenging disease.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) Union Minister for Railways, Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Wednesday welcomed Elon Musk’s affordable satellite internet service Starlink to India.

India’s leading telecom giants, Airtel and Jio Platforms, have partnered with SpaceX to bring Starlink Internet services to the country.

“Starlink, welcome to India! Will be useful for remote area railway projects,” the Union Minister posted on X social media platform.

A day after Airtel’s announcement about partnering with SpaceX to bring Starlink internet service to India, Jio Platforms on Wednesday announced a similar pact with the US-based company.

Airtel and SpaceX will explore offering Starlink equipment in Airtel’s retail stores, Starlink services via Airtel to business customers, opportunities to connect communities, schools, and health centres, among many others, in even the most rural parts of India.

Airtel and SpaceX will also explore how Starlink could help expand and enhance the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX’s ability to utilise and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in India, said the company.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, said that a new era of seamless global connectivity beckons for customers. Mittal said that soon, customers will be able to carry their mobiles to the remotest part of the world, with them in the skies and blue oceans.

In his opening remark at the recently concluded ‘Mobile World Congress 2025’ in Barcelona, Mittal made a call to both the telecom and satellite players to work together, combine their strengths, and complete the mission of connecting the unconnected, covering the oceans and the skies as well as difficult-to-reach areas.

“I am glad that this is being followed through with active announcements of partnerships between satellite companies and telecom operators,” he said in a statement.

For the telecom industry, the addition of satellite technology should be no different from bringing new technologies to its customers.

“Just like 4G, 5G, and 6G in the future, we will now have one more technology in our mix, i.e. SAT-G,” said Mittal.

—IANS

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Bengaluru, March 9 (IANS) The first rear fuselage, produced by Indian private sector company Alpha Tocol Engineering Services Private Ltd, for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A, was handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) here in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday.

The Defence Minister described the handing over as a milestone in the historic journey of India’s defence manufacturing. "The ceremony is a testimony to India’s progress towards Aatmanirbharta in defence and the government’s commitment towards enhanced public-private partnership," he remarked.

Rajnath Singh commended the HAL and the private sector for constantly strengthening the armed forces with the latest platforms and technologies. He said that the HAL, through its integrated model and strategies, is not only bolstering the strength of soldiers, but is also opening new dimensions of manufacturing and R&D by collaborating with the private sector.

A fuselage is the main body section of the aircraft which holds the pilot, passengers and cargo, while the rear fuselage supports the tail section and its associated components.

The HAL has already manufactured 12 LCA MK1A rear fuselages, which are on the aircraft in the manufacturing line. With this supply, a major structure module produced by an Indian private partner will be integrated into the LCA Mk1A aircraft, enabling the HAL to meet additional delivery commitments for IAF from 2025-26 onwards.

The Defence Minister described the HAL as the "fuselage" of the country’s defence and aerospace sector, with private companies such as L&T, Alpha Tocol, Tata Advanced Systems and VEM Technologies playing the role of rear fuselage, supporting HAL. "Together with these Indian components, the aircraft which is being manufactured in our defence and aerospace sector will reach greater heights in the times to come," he said.

Rajnath Singh credited the bravery and dedication of the air warriors as well as the equipment being manufactured by Indian public and private sector companies for the growing strength of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

“While our courageous air warriors have made an invaluable contribution, the equipment being manufactured indigenously is providing them the added strength, with which they protect our borders,” the minister said. He exuded confidence that the HAL and the private sector will continue to overcome every challenge and strengthen the armed forces in every way.

The HAL had placed orders with various Indian private companies such as L&T, Alpha Tocol Engineering Services, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), VEM Technologies and Lakshmi Mission Works (LMW) for supplying major modules for the 83 LCA Mk1A contract.

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, HAL CMD D.K. Sunil, Alpha Tocol Engineering Services CEO and Director, Wing Commander Baran Sen (Retd), VEM Technologies CMD V. Venkataraju, Larsen & Toubro Senior VP Arun T. Ramchandani, TASL VP Ganesh Raghavan, LMW-ATC President Krishna Kumar, directors, and senior officers were also present on the occasion.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) With an aim to boost the domestic electronic toy sector, the IT Ministry on Sunday said it has organised first-ever “e-Toycathon 2025” event that showcased engaging and educational toys that foster creativity, learning and child development.

Organised by C-DAC under MeitY’s research initiatives, ‘e-Toycathon 2025’ aimed at fostering innovation in the toy sector by providing a platform for young researchers and innovators to develop indigenous, sustainable solutions.

Sri Krishna college of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, won the top prize while Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, was awarded the second prize and National Institute of Technology, Durgapur secured the the third position.

The first prize was awarded for ‘Play Mat Toy’, a fun and attractive play mat that has piano functional keys, animal pictures and sounds, drums, music and rhymes, etc.

The mat is made up of soft material so that it can be folded. Children can engage in both playing the piano and dancing; this allows them to enjoy the music for entertainment, while improving their music intelligence and visual training.

The second prize was awarded for ‘Robo-Mentor AI’ which is an innovative educational toy designed to empower children by combining the excitement of robotics with the supportive capabilities of generative AI.

The primary goal is to create a learning experience where kids can build and program their robots while receiving dynamic, personalised guidance that enhances their sense of agency and achievement, according to the a Ministry statement.

The National Institute of Technology, Durgapur secured the third place for Interactive Educational Chart. This chart is made to engage children in learning about India through activities. It is in English language with feature of choosing any regional language as well.

The chart is in interactive mode; children can press on a particular picture and get response with sounds and light.

National Institute of Technology, Srinagar and Indian Institute of Information Technology, Senapati, Manipur were given consolation prizes for Compact Mini Drone Toy and Electronic Cashier Machine Toy, respectively.

India's fast-growing toy industry is poised to capture a larger share of the global toy market, which is estimated to reach $179.4 billion by 2032.

India's toy imports have declined by as much as 79 per cent from $304 million in FY2018-19 to $65 million in FY2023-24. Meanwhile, exports have grown by 40 per cent during the same period, rising from $109 million to $152 million. As a result, India has become a net exporter of toys.

—IANS

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Pune, March 9 (IANS) MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU), Pune, on Sunday, said that it has developed a smart Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled tablet and capsule dispenser to improve medication management by ensuring precise and timely dispensing while allowing remote monitoring.

Traditional medication dispensers often require manual handling and lack real-time monitoring. To address this issue, the Pune-based university has designed a modular system with IoT connectivity.

The dispenser features an equilateral-shaped container, a motorised dispensing system, and a smart controller that follows user-defined schedules.

The device works through a system of dispensing units arranged in a circular manner, connected by sprockets and powered by a motor.

At scheduled times, the controller unit sends commands to dispense the required medicine automatically.

"In today's fast-paced world, maintaining consistent medication adherence is a significant challenge, particularly for individuals managing complex medical regimens," Dr Amol Tagalpallewar, Professor, School of Pharmacy at MIT-WPU said.

He added that this innovative IoT-enabled pill dispenser represents a leap forward in addressing the challenge.

“By automating the dispensing process and providing remote monitoring capabilities, we are empowering patients and their caregivers with greater control and peace of mind," Tagalpallewar mentioned.

He further stated that the device is not just about dispensing pills; it's about improving health literacy and enhancing the quality of life.

With IoT integration, caregivers and healthcare professionals can monitor medication adherence in real-time, ensuring patients follow their prescribed schedules correctly.

This innovative dispenser is designed for use in home care, assisted living, and hospitals.

“Furthermore, this device represents a significant step towards the future of healthcare delivery, where technology and human-centred design converge to create more accessible, efficient, and effective solutions," Dr C.H. Patil, Associate Professor, School of Computer Science and Engineering said.

"We envision a future where technology is not just a tool, but a partner in promoting well-being and enhancing the quality of life for all," he added.

--IANS

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